Word: take
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...that the influence of even one man towards correcting these evils would not be lost. Although many offices with large salaries were offered me, I was actuated by a purpose of establishing a centre of learning and refinement, - a republic after Plato's own heart, - and I decided to take the post-office of Skunk's Misery, feeling assured that a man of culture and a philosopher could make the lowliest position honorable and useful. I have not been disappointed. The post-office is near the bar-room of the village tavern. I there delivered the letters alternately with short...
...rising snicker was soon checked by the expression on the Pontifical countenance. Slightly troubled, Antonelli deprecatingly inquired if his venerable friend could n't take a joke; and, as the Pope was beginning to mutter something very much resembling an excommunication "published for general distribution," a sympathizing chorus of inquiries arose, and hopes that no bones were broken...
Leaving our butterfly friends to pursue their happy wanderings in peace, let those who are the "workers" in the literary beehive think for a moment whether they may not profitably take a lesson from these seekers after pleasure and wisdom. Since the plants in the field of letters are almost numberless, no man can hope, in the span of an ordinary life, to find time to study them all thoroughly. Is it always true that "a little learning is a dangerous thing...
...written. Yet what we do read, we should read with moderate care at least; since a novel from which we can learn nothing as to excellence of style, delineation of character, or relation of events, - and none of these benefits can be gained from superficial reading, - ought not to take the time of any one, unless he reads wholly for pleasure. We usually do better, therefore, to skip volumes rather than pages. Because we cannot now read all that we wish on certain subjects, it does not follow that we should neglect them entirely. At some future time...
...related, on the authority of Ovid and Diodorus, that Hercules once attacked a monstrous snake called Hydra, which had nine heads, and if any of them was cut off, two others would spring up to take its place. The only way to stop these heads from growing was by burning them off. I don't believe this story, but merely quote it here because it is an exact parallel to the story of my mustache...