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PEACE, POWER, AND PLENTY - 17. THE SUN-DIAL'S MOTTO - Orison Swett Marden (1909)

PEACE, POWER, AND PLENTY - 17. THE SUN-DIAL'S MOTTO - Orison Swett Marden (1909)

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 PEACE, POWER, AND PLENTY - 17. THE SUN-DIAL'S MOTTO - Orison Swett Marden (1909) - HQ Full Book.„Your ideal is a prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.“In Chapter 17 of Peace, Power, and Plenty, titled “The Sun-Dial’s Motto,” Orison Swett Marden offers a deeply inspiring meditation on the power of positive thought and the vital importance of cultivating mental harmony. Drawing his lesson from a simple, beautiful inscription—“I record none but hours of sunshine”—etched on a sun-dial, Marden presents a profound principle for living a fuller, more peaceful, and prosperous life: forget the shadows and dwell only in the light. This chapter stands out as a compelling appeal for mental clarity, emotional discipline, and moral strength. Marden urges readers to intentionally forget the disagreeable and retain only what uplifts, heals, and strengthens. Much like the sun-dial that refuses to record cloudy or rainy hours, we too, he says, should refuse to allow sorrow, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, or defeat to cast lasting shadows across our inner lives. Marden contrasts two types of individuals. One dwells endlessly on misfortunes, past injuries, and fears. This person lives as if rain dominates the weather of life—remembering only the painful and the difficult, and frequently sharing tales of woe. The other type chooses to focus on blessings, joyful moments, and opportunities, even amid hardship. Such people radiate good cheer, spread hope, and are remembered and loved because they make others feel lighter simply by being present. The difference lies not in external events but in how each chooses to interpret and internalize them. At the core of Marden’s philosophy is the assertion that thought shapes character. What we hold in mind consistently becomes the material from which our personality, attitude, and entire life are formed. A mind dominated by resentment or fear cannot produce a joyous life. Conversely, a mind saturated with beauty, gratitude, and optimism radiates strength and attracts harmony. He describes how a character steeped in charity, love, and cheerfulness naturally draws others and lifts the collective spirit. He likens some minds to junk shops—full of disorder and useless clutter, lacking selectivity. Such minds retain everything, good or bad, because they fear throwing away what “might be useful.” This mental hoarding blocks clarity, effectiveness, and progress. Marden recommends a regular “housecleaning” of the mind: discard bitterness, erase resentments, and organize thoughts around beauty, truth, and constructive ideas. A striking metaphor he uses compares some people’s minds to public cabs that pick up any and every thought indiscriminately, whether good or evil. Without discrimination or moral filter, they absorb harmful influences just as easily as helpful ones. Such minds, Marden says, can never be pure or focused. They become weighed down by the spiritual equivalent of pollution and noise. True mastery lies in the ability to order the mind—to become gatekeeper rather than passive recipient. No great work can be done in a mind clouded by fear, regret, or anger. Marden asserts that our minds must be filled with “sunshine”—with love, clarity, joy, and confidence. We must bury what hurts, instead of letting it bury us. Dwelling on the past saps energy from the present and limits what we can accomplish. The mind is a temple, he says, designed to hold grand purposes and noble ideals, not the trash of negativity and regret. He doesn’t merely condemn holding onto bitterness—he equates it with moral and emotional self-destruction. Hatred, jealousy, revenge, and criticism act like poison in the soul. Not only do they darken our own consciousness, but they warp how we see others and diminish our humanity. Every grudge held, every insult remembered, drains the light from life. On the other hand, benevolent thoughts act like a salve. Marden emphasizes that holding the love thought, the forgiving thought, the hopeful thought heals not only us but positively influences others. Even one person who consistently radiates good cheer and sees the divine in others can shift the mood of a room, inspire change, and soften hardened hearts. He gives the example of a woman who, despite personal loss and grief, made a vow never to sadden others with her troubles. She chose laughter over weeping, smiles over self-pity, and carried a brightness that lifted everyone around her. In doing so, she herself became happier—not because her burdens vanished, but because her attitude transmuted them. This is the central transformative power Marden teaches: that thoughts have expulsive power. A stronger, higher idea can drive out a weaker, negative one. If you’re anxious, inject courage. If you’re angry, summon compassion. If you’re discouraged, affirm hope. The mind cannot be filled with both darkness and light simultaneously. As water puts out fire, ...
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