Gentleness and cheerfulness, these come before all morality; they are the perfect duties.
Meaning
Stevenson places warmth and good humour ahead of rigid rules in his 1892 essay "A Christmas Sermon". He suggests that a kind, cheerful presence does more good than strict virtue. Try greeting the next stressful moment at work or home with patience before you try to fix anything.
Source: Across the Plains, "A Christmas Sermon" (1892)
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist and poet, best known for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
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