May 9

On Complaining

A heavy waggon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of oxen. The axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen turning around thus addressed the wheels:—“Halloa, there! why do you make so much noise? we bear all the labour, and we, not you, ought to cry out!” Those complain first in our churches who have least to do. The gift of grumbling is largely dispensed among those who have no other talents, or who keep what they have wrapped up in a napkin. FA98

We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. ME94

Every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful, and every time we complain we lose a blessing. PT43

“How much of the staple of our conversation consists in complaint!” (874.313)

“There are some who do little else but complain. They complain of the times, of the weather, of the government, of their families, of their trade; if, for once, they would complain of themselves, they might have a more deserving subject for fault-finding.” (3021.19)