It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. — A Tale of Two Cities

My Take – Sydney Carton knew his fate, and went to it with his head high.  Few of us deliberately die for others as he did, but we all do things that are unpleasant or painful for our own good or for the good of others.  The worst moments of my life happened after I looked at myself in the mirror, admitted that what I was about to do would be painful, would last for a very long time, and would stay with me to my grave, but were necessary and I had to get on with it.  Yes, they sucked, and yes I still wince when I think of them, but I’m better off because of them, and I’m glad I went through them.  When those moments come to you, I hope you make the right decision.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman. — Little Dorrit

My Take – This one is a tough one to get a handle on.  I tend to disagree with it.  While past performance may be an indicator of future activities, you can never tell with human beings.  We are a hard bunch to predict.  That guy who has it all under control with a great wife and kids might throw it all away on a girl half his age and a bad coke habit.  The person you see on the street every day on your walk to your office might be all smiles and “Good Morning!” for years, then one day you get mugged.  The best advice I can give is to always be prepared for the worst, even as you hope for the best.

“For the matter o’ that, Phil, argeyment is a gift of Natur. If Natur has gifted a man with powers of argeyment, a man has a right to make the best of ’em, and has not a right to stand on false delicacy, and deny that he is so gifted; for that is a turning of his back on Natur, a flouting of her, a slighting of her precious caskets, and a proving of one’s self to be a swine that isn’t worth her scattering pearls before.” — Barnaby Rudge

My Take – We all have talents, and it is right and proper that we use those talents in a way that is constructive.  Maybe your talent is shooting, or instructing, or arguing for your rights.  Maybe it’s cooking or sewing.  Perhaps you’re a born teacher or healer.  No matter what your talent is, never let anyone tell you that it’s wrong for you to exercise and grow it.

Any man may be in good spirits and good temper when he’s well dressed. There an’t much credit in that. If I was very ragged and very jolly, then I should begin to feel I had gained a point, Mr Pinch. — Martin Chuzzlewit

My Take – It’s easy to be happy and optimistic when everything is going smoothly.  When the road is smooth and straight, you can see your goal from miles away.  When things are bad, it’s hard to see what’s right in front of you, much less down the road.  There will be times when everything hits you at once.  Finances, relationships, jobs, illness, and everything else that can self-destruct, will self-destruct.  You spend so much time ducking and weaving that you stop being able to look ahead.  But you must.  Take the time to figure out what’s wrong in your life, how you’re going to get through it, and what you want to happen after.  Having a plan and knowing that you’re following it will take a world of weight off your shoulders, and things won’t look quite so bad.

When a man bleeds inwardly, it is a dangerous thing for himself; but when he laughs inwardly, it bodes no good to other people. — Pickwick Papers

My Take – I always know when a fight is about to get ugly when the other guy stops shouting.  He’s gathering his strength, tucking in his chin, and getting ready to throw the first punch.

The gun media, including the public relations arms of the SAF, the NRA, as well as gun bloggers, have been very vocal over the past couple of weeks.  We’ve been editorializing our fool heads off.  At the same time, although there have been tweets, Facebook posts, and low-level protests, I haven’t heard much in the media from the organized anti-gun groups.  Yes, the usual gang of useful idiots  have gone in front of the cameras, but where are big press conferences from SPLC and CSGV?  The anti-gun politicians have to know that they can’t get legislation through without having their ‘grass-roots’ exert influence on those in the Congress who are on the fence, and it would appear that they are already mobilized and working.

Robb tells us about a report that his legislators are getting a lot of pressure from the anti-gunners, but not publicly.  His suggestion is that we all get off our butts and contact our own legislators directly.  A commenter over at Tam’s place has excellent suggestions for how to go about doing it.  And Uncle makes a great point in that if every one of us who have bought gun stuff in the past few months would send letters, that would be one heck of a ‘grass-roots’ counterpoint to the anti-gunners.

Our opponent has gone from shrill keening to quiet campaigning.  Please, make your voice heard.  Be respectful, be polite, but be firm.  No new gun control laws, no compromise, no quarter.  Make them feel the full power of this fully informed and operational gun culture.

In love of home, the love of country has its rise. — The Old Curiosity Shop

My Take – When you teach your children to respect you and the rules you set in your home, they learn to respect others and the law.  The parts of our society that seem to have the biggest problem with crime are the ones where the home is broken.  One parent is just plain not there, families are three generations into dependency on the state, and education, respect, hard work, and ethical behavior are not only not taught and demonstrated, but are sometimes denigrated.

Likewise, when you demonstrate how to be a good citizen to your children, they will know how to act when it is their turn at the ballot box, or when jury duty comes around, or when the nation needs young men and women to defend it.  If you give to charity in time, treasure, and talent, then they will know that it is the duty of those who have more to aid those who have less.*  If you don’t teach service to your children when they are young, how can you expect them to be of service to you when you are old?

*You’ll notice I said ‘duty’, which is different from ‘legal responsibility’.

We are not rich in the bank, but we have always prospered and we have quite enough. I never walk out with my husband but I hear the people bless him. I never lie down at night but I know that in the course of that day he has alleviated pain and soothed some fellow creature in the time of need. Is not this to be rich? — Bleak House

My Take – I’m not going to lie and say that Irish Woman and I aren’t doing all right financially.  We both have good jobs, and our pay is good enough that we can live comfortably and still save for a rainy day.  But while we couldn’t do what we do without the money and benefits, I don’t see that as the reason we work.  I enjoy what I do for a living, and I feel that between that and the volunteer work that we both do, we’re both contributing to a society that has given us a lot.

I’m not going to insult anyone who is struggling by saying that money isn’t important, because it is.  I’m also not going to say that someone should only make what I consider “enough”, because what is “enough” for me has nothing to do what you consider “enough” for you.  But as long as you have your necessities covered and have enough that life is enjoyed, not survived, no-one will fault you for being one of the people who keeps the world moving and good to be in.

Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. — Sketches by Boz

My Take – Like I’ve said before, take pleasure from the small things.  They may be all you get.  It’s easy to concentrate on the bad parts of your life, and we all have them.  But not remembering how fortunate you are can drag you down to a very dark place, where the good things simply cease to be.

Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule. — Great Expectations

My Take – There is a lot of rhetoric flying around these days.  Opinions and slogans are stated as facts, and they are used as a cudgel to beat down opposition.  Don’t be fooled by it.  Challenge assertions, demand sources for ‘facts’, and do your own research and thinking.  In other words, become part of the solution, not the problem.

“Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,’ said Scrooge. ‘But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me.” – A Christmas Carol

My Take – In the past, I have been less of a good man than I ought to have been.  Let’s face it, I was a pretty miserable excuse for a human being for the first 10 years or so of adult life.  One of the things that Irish Woman has done for me is to be a constant reminder that I can be a good man and that she and our children deserve just such a man.  We can all look in the mirror, see the good with the bad, and try to change not just our today, but also all of our tomorrows.  I recognize that I’m not there yet, but I at least know enough to see where I need improvement and to try to follow through on it.