When President James A. Garfield was a youth, and elderly friend gave him a set of personal principles that he cherished to the end of life. The guide read:
- Never be idle
- Make few promises
- Always speak the truth
- Live within your income
- Never speak evil of anyone
- Keep good company or none
- Live up to your engagements
- Never play games of chance
- Drink no intoxicating drinks
- Good character is above everything else
- Keep your own secrets if you have any
- Never borrow if you can possibly help it
- Do not marry until you are able to support a wife
- When you speak to a person look into his eyes
- Save when you are young to spend when you are old
- Never run into debt unless you see a way out again
- Good company and good conversation are the sinews of virtue
- Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts
- If anybody speaks evil of you let your life be so that no one believes him
- When you retire at night think over what you have done during the day
- If you hands cannot be employed fully, attend to the culture of your mind
- Read the above carefully and thoughtfully at least once a week
(Anonymous)
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