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54 BYWAYS TO BLESSEDNESS

transform the ways of men and the face of the world by the might and magic of his silently-
directed energy. He wastes no time and force in tinkering with the ever-changing and artificial
surface of things, but goes to the living vital centre, and works therefrom and thereon; and in due
season, perhaps when his perishable form is withdrawn from the world, the fruits of his obscure
but imperishable labours come forth to gladden the world. But the words of the talker perish. The
world reaps no harvest from the sowing of sound.
He who conserves his mental forces also conserves his physical forces. The strongly quiet, calm
man lives to a greater age, and in the possession of better health than the hurrying, noisy man.
Quiet, subdued mental harmony is conducive to physical harmony — health. The followers of
George Fox are today the healthiest, longest-lived and most successful portion of the British
community, and they live quiet, unostentatious, purposeful lives, avoiding all worldly excitements

and unnecessary words. They are a silent people, all their meetings being conducted on the
principle that “Silence is Power.”
Silentness is powerful because it is the outcome of self-conquest, and the more successfully a
man governs himself the more silent he becomes. As he succeeds in living to a purpose and not to
the pleasures of self he withdraws himself from the outer discords of the world and reaches to the
inward music of peace. Then when he speaks there is purpose and power behind his words, and
when he maintains silence there is equal or even greater power therein. He does not utter that
which is followed by pain and tears; does not do that which is productive of sorrow and remorse.
But, saying and doing those things only which are ripe with thoughtfulness, his conscience is quiet,
and all his days are blessed.