The Noble Heart and Mind

    Klaus

December 29, 2007 by Klaus  
Filed under Klaus

In times of quickly dwindling hopes of many people I feel inspired to put the cart before the horse. Maybe at the end of this piece I’ll tread the footsteps of other columnists and commentators. So be it!

Pride comes before a fall - but never magnanimity. The dictionary defines magnanimity as in greatness of mind and generosity of heart especially in forgiveness. Filipinos are really magnanimous people. Especially nowadays Filipinos seem to have the quality of being high souled, rising above pettiness or meanness and the generosity in overlooking injury or insult.

The late Harry Emerson Fosdick, a famous Protestant teacher wrote: ” No man ever saved anybody, or served any great or left any enduring impress, who was not willing to forget indignities, bear no grudges. The world’s saviours have all, in one way and another, loved their enemies and done them good!”

Magnanimity, applied to relations between nations and peoples, transforms hostility into helpfulness. Consider the massive assistance the U.S. provided to its former enemies following World War II, enabling them to rebuild their blasted cities and shattered economies. No “West Berlin inhabitant” will forget the U.S. airlift during the East German-Russian blockade, when the so called “raisin bomber planes” kept West-Berlin and its people alive. Once upon a time…

What quality in human character do you consider the most admirable of all? How about tolerance toward another’s viewpoint without smugness? How about refusal to judge another’s actions or motives without first knowing what lies behind them? U.S. writer Clarence W. Hall said before: “Magnanimity must be developed and habitual by practice, but it’s a virtue that sweetens and glorifies life.”

People with a noble heart and mind are fond of day dreams. Of course fantasies don’t have to be a flight from reality, In fact, psychologists are discovering that they can play a creative role in self-development and a better mutual understanding. It’s also one of the best things for the well being of a nation. In this case I really mean the Philippines, because I decided to live here for good.

About the Author:  Klaus is from Germany, but has been living in the Philippines since the late 1990’s. Klaus is a journalist by trade, having written for a number of newspapers, studied also Publishing House Management and Marketing and has also been a Radio Host here in the Philippines.