The Good Shepherd

by C.S. Forester

for in war the character and personality of the leader is decisive of events much more than minor questions of material.

“Yesterday, and today, and forever,” he said to himself, as he always did when he had passed his own inspection. That was a passage from Hebrews XIII; it marked the fact that he was starting out on a fresh stage of his journey through the temporary world, to the grave and to immortality beyond it.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Let thy words be few, said Ecclesiastes;

We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement.

Plain cowardice was far rarer than idiocy, just as plain courage was more common than nerve.

Every man shall bear his own burden, and this was his—that was a text from Galatians; he could remember learning it, so many years ago—and all he had to do was his duty; no one needed an audience for that.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.

Speak every man truth with his neighbor. Far better to be honest than to pretend to knowledge one did not have.

Those U-boats on the surface must be waiting for darkness to attack. The pestilence that walketh in darkness.

The hours fled by when filled with action and concentrated thought. A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Wait for it. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.

Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.