Page 50 - English

Two angels guide
The path of man, both aged and yet young,
As angels are, ripening through endless years.
On one he leans: some call her Memory,
And some, Tradition; and her voice is sweet
With deep mysterious accords: the other,
Floating above, holds down a lamp which streams
A light divine and searching on the earth,
Compelling eyes and footsteps. Memory yields,
Yet clings with loving cheek, and shines anew
Reflecting all the rays of that bright lamp
Our angel Reason holds. We had not walked
But for Tradition; we walk evermore
To higher paths, by brightening Reason’s lamp.
The Spanish Gypsy—GEORGE ELIOT.

Was it not for Tradition we would not travel this far. We are still
walking to brighter steps by shining our brains. What little intellect
we have, if it was well shined, it might do a great deal.
***
Man is guided by two spirits, evil and good, and if the evil spirit
(before he was a good one) had been a good one, man would not
have been created.
***
Man’s path guides two angels. One is old and one is young. Ones
names Memory and one is Tradition. One floats round and hunts for
things on the earth. Memory clings to the cheek and shines the lamp
that Reason holds. Tradition helps us to walk and we brighten up
Reason’s lamp.
***
Two great Powers or Forces guide men and women in this world
whether they be young or old, and these powers are still growing
through numbers of years.
***

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