CHANGE
Make as few changes as you can; trees often transplanted bear little fruit. If you have
difficulties in one place you will have them in another; if you move because it is damp
in the valley, you may find it cold on the hill. Where will the ass go that he will not
have to work? Where can a cow live and not get milked? Where will you find land
without stones, or meat without bones? PT141
Alteration is not always improvement, as the pigeon said when she got out of the net
and into the pie. PT141
What’s the use of travelling to the other end of the world to be worse off than you are? PT160
It’s a bad thing to change horses at all; if you have a good one keep it, for you will not
get a better; if you have a bad one keep it, for ten to one you will buy a worse. PT161
Lovers of change will hardly find in regular Sunday-school work a field for their
fickleness. WCo95
If we could choose our trials, we might well remember the wisdom of the old
philosopher, who told the people oppressed by a tyrant to be content with his
tyranny, “for,” said he, “it is with oppressors as with mosquitoes, let those such
which are now upon you, for if you drive those off, the fresh ones which will succeed
them will be hungrier than those that are there now: better be content with the
tyranny you have, than seek a new one.” 987.231
Not that you should go in a tent, but that you should feel that everything you have,
all round about you, all your possessions, are but frail things, and are apt to change.
I know that you begin to look upon that little property as a very sure thing; be not
deceived, the only sure thing is your God. 2292.41
Many a man has done exceedingly well in one sphere of life, but has not done so well
in another sphere. 3208.367
The unrest of that man’s mind, and the instability of his conduct who is constantly
making a change of his position and purpose, augurs no success for any of his
adventures. Unless he maketh the change very wisely, and hath abundant reason for
it, he will make a change for the worse, as the bird doth that leaveth her nest. 3453.157
The temptations that trouble me I would rather endure than encounter any fresh
ones. 3453.158
Wait upon God for guidance as to any change in life you may determine, and if the
two things be equal—to remain where you are, or to remove elsewhere—choose to
abide still, for the chances are, speaking according to man’s judgment, in its favour. 3453.159