Introduction
Samuel Johnson, one of England’s literary giants, encourages us to employ as much courtesy and good cheer as we can muster in our dealings with those who disagree with us, appealing to no less than the Apostle St Peter for authority.
THAT a precept of courtesy is by no means unworthy of the gravity and dignity of an apostolical mandate,* may be gathered from the pernicious effects which all must have observed to have arisen from harsh strictness and sour virtue; such as refuses to mingle in harmless gaiety, or give countenance to innocent amusements, or which transacts the petty business of the day with a gloomy ferociousness that clouds existence.
Goodness of this character is more formidable than lovely; it may drive away vice from its presence, but will never persuade it to stay to be amended; it may teach, it may remonstrate, but the hearer will seek for more mild instruction.
To those, therefore, by whose conversation the heathens were to be drawn away from error and wickedness, it is the apostle's precept, that they be courteous, and live with the rest of the world with an amicable reciprocation of cursory civility, that Christianity might not be accused of making men less cheerful as companions, less sociable as neighbours, or less useful as friends.
This passage is extracted from a sermon on 1 Peter 3:8.
Précis
Dr Johnson, the 18th century essayist, discussed a passage in the New Testament urging courtesy in a Christian’s dealings with others. Johnson argued that if virtue is seen as gloomy or cold, it will never win friends or help people to better themselves. We should hold to our good principles, he concludes, but in a warm and approachable way. (59 / 60 words)
Dr Johnson, the 18th century essayist, discussed a passage in the New Testament urging courtesy in a Christian’s dealings with others. Johnson argued that if virtue is seen as gloomy or cold, it will never win friends or help people to better themselves. We should hold to our good principles, he concludes, but in a warm and approachable way.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, may, not, otherwise, unless, whereas, whether, who.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Courtesy. Cursory. Which.
2 Rest. Stay. Wicked.
3 Courteous. Effect. Neighbor.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Presence. 2. Use. 3. Draw. 4. Friend. 5. Stay. 6. Gather. 7. Business. 8. Character. 9. Harm.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
brns (5+1)
bairns. barns. barons. brains. burns.
baronies.
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