Not only did he think of it and write it on the battlefield, but at
all times there seemed to come to him more and more wisdom from it.
And he tells us this same thought over and over again in different
words. Sometimes it leads him to say very droll things; for instance:
"Have you any sense in your head? Yes. Why do you not make use of it
then? For if this does its part, for what more can you wish?"[57]
Then, a very good thought which we frequently hear:
"Your manners will very much depend upon what you frequently
think."[58] There are many others, but these show us that the meaning
of his mother's words went deep, teaching that not action must be
guarded but the thought which gives rise to action. Now, what can be
the value of speaking about the Roman lady? Let us see.
In music, the tones are made either by the hands or by the voice. And
to make a tone is to _do_ something. This doing something is an
action, and action comes from thought. No music, then, can be made
unless it be made by thinking. And the right playing of good music
must come from the right thinking of good thoughts. It may be that you
will hear some one say that to think good thoughts is not needed in
making good music. Never believe it! Bad thought never made anything
good, and _never_ will because it never can. In the very first days
you must learn, that good things of all kinds come from good thoughts,
because they can come from nothing else.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89