Surely the vilest point of human vanity is exactly that; to ask to be admired for admiring what your admirers do not admire. _Introduction to 'Bleak House.'_ AUGUST 21st There is more simplicity in the man who eats caviar on impulse than in the man who eats grape-nuts on principle. _'Heretics.'_ AUGUST 22nd There was until lately a law forbidding a man to marry his deceased wife's sister; yet the thing happened constantly. There was no law forbidding a man to marry his deceased wife's scullery-maid; yet it did not happen nearly so often. It did not happen because the marriage market is managed in the spirit and by the authority of women. _'What's Wrong with the World.'_ AUGUST 23rd This world and all our powers in it are far more awful and beautiful than we ever know until some accident reminds us. If you wish to perceive that limitless felicity, limit yourself if only for a moment. If you wish to realize how fearfully and wonderfully God's image is made, stand upon one leg. If you want to realize the splendid vision of all visible things--wink the other eye. _'Tremendous Trifles.'_ AUGUST 24th _ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY_ The Secularist says that Christianity produced tumult and cruelty. He seems to suppose that this proves it to be bad. But it might prove it to be very good. For men commit crimes not only for bad things, far more often for good things. For no bad things can be desired quite so passionately and persistently as good things can be desired, and only very exceptional men desire very bad and unnatural things. Most crime is committed because, owing to some peculiar complication, very beautiful and necessary things are in some danger. For instance, if we wanted to abolish thieving and swindling at one blow, the best thing to do would be to abolish babies. Babies, the most beautiful things on earth, have been the excuse and origin of almost all the business brutality and financial infamy on earth. If we could abolish monogamic or romantic love, the country would be dotted with Maiden Assizes. _'Religious Doubts of Democracy.'_ AUGUST 25th There are only three things in the world that women do not understand; and they are Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. _'What's Wrong with the World.'_ AUGUST 26th Modern Nonconformist newspapers distinguish themselves by suppressing precisely those nouns and adjectives which the founders of Nonconformity distinguished themselves by flinging at kings and queens. _'Heretics.'_ AUGUST 27th Many of us live publicly with featureless public puppets, images of the small public abstractions. It is when we pass our own private gate, and open our own secret door, that we step into the land of the giants. _'Charles Dickens.'_ AUGUST 28th