Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind, spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies.
Meaning
This prayer, inscribed on Stevenson's memorial in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, asks for steadiness, cheer and the survival of good friendships. Make it practical: before a tense conversation, choose to soften rather than win, and send one friend a short note of thanks.
Source: Prayer inscribed on the Stevenson memorial, St Giles' Cathedral
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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