Space Travel In October 1957, the world learnt of a new achievement by the Russian Scientists. They launched into outer space the first man made earth satellite, Sputnik, opening up possibilities of further space probe. A second, much larger satellite containing a dog, the famous Laika, was launched in November. These spectacular achievements of the Russians spurred on the Americans to launch their Explorer in January, 1958. In 1961, it was...

Who is a Gentleman? A gentleman is a gentle man. In this connection, the word “gentle” means “noble”, as it does in the phrase “of gentle birth”. So, originally, a gentleman was one who, by birth and training, belonged to the upper classes. He was of noble blood. Then, because the social manners of the upper classes  were refined, as compared with those of the lower classes, anyone who knew how...

Public Speaking Public speaking is an art; and, like every other art, it has to be learnt, both in practice and theory. For a man to say that he will never deliver a speech until he has learnt to speak, is like saying that he will never go into the water until he has learnt to swim. One cannot learn to swim with-out going into the water, and one can never...

The Dignity of Labour Essay No. 01 By “labour” we generally mean manual work ; that is, work done with the hands, as distinguished from mental work, or work done with the head. In ancient times manual labour was looked down upon, and the manual worker was treated as an inferior being. Most ancient states were based upon slave-labour. Even the Greek city-states consisted of a small number of free citizens,...

“The Virtue of Prosperity is Temperance; The Virtue of Adversity is Fortitude”  “Temperance” is moderation, or self-restraint in conduct and speech. It is the opposite to any kind of excess. When Bacon says that temperance is the virtue of prosperity he means that temperance is the virtue which a prosperous man should cultivate. It is the virtue most needed in prosperity ; not the virtue which prosperity produces. For in prosperity...

Contentment Contentment is the state of being satisfied with one’s lot. The contented man is pleased with what he has. He does not make himself miserable by envying those who have what he has not. Such contentment breeds happiness. It is, therefore, worth cultivating; and this can be done. Even the Apostle Paul could say, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”; and he had a...

Students and Politics The question has always been open to criticism whether students should be kept at arms length from politics or they should be allowed to take an active part in politics. In this age of political advancement and awakening, the students’ life in itself has been a politics for the last many years. More-over, every young man has some inspirations and some sentiments. These inspirations and sentiments can only...

A Cynic is one who Knows the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing In ancient Greece there was a school of austere philosophers who taught a strict and stern morality and banned all pleasure as wicked. The light-hearted Athenians nicknamed them “Cynics”, or snarling dogs ; for the Greek word “cynic” means “dog-like”. The most noted Cynic philosopher was Diogenes, who showed his contempt of comfort by living in...