Grace & Dignity (conclusion)

"There was a German poet back in the 18th century who made a distinction between acting with grace and acting with dignity. Acting with grace is when you know what the right thing is and you’re inclined to do it. Your feelings push you in that direction. But then there are times when you know the right thing to do but it’s hard. It goes against your feelings. And yet you’re able to convince yourself to override your feelings and do the right thing. That’s an act with dignity.

So have appreciation for the opportunities when you can act with grace and use those opportunities to develop the strength of your mind. When the time comes that the right thing requires you to act with dignity, you’ll have the strength to do that as well."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Grace & Dignity"

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