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Erasmus' Principles
From the Enchridion Militis Christiani: A Guide for the Righteous Protector, by Erasmus 1503, extracted by Sergeant Chris Pascoe, Michigan State Police.
First Rule
INCREASE YOUR FAITH
Even if the world appears mad
Second Rule
ACT UPON YOUR FAITH
Even if you must undergo the loss of everything
Third Rule
ANALYZE YOUR FEARS
You will find that things are not as bad as they appear
Fourth Rule
MAKE VIRTUE THE ONLY GOAL OF YOUR LIFE
Dedicate all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure as well as your business
Fifth Rule
TURN AWAY FROM MATERIAL THINGS
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit
Sixth Rule
TRAIN YOUR MIND TO DISTINGUISH GOOD AND EVIL
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good
Seventh Rule
NEVER LET ANY SETBACK STOP YOU ON YOUR QUEST
We are not perfect - this only means we should try harder
Eighth Rule
IF YOU HAVE FREQUENT TEMPTATIONS, DO NOT WORRY
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil
Ninth Rule
ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR AN ATTACK
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace
Tenth Rule
SPIT, AS IT WERE, IN THE FACE OF DANGER
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement
Eleventh Rule
THERE ARE TWO DANGERS: ONE IS GIVING UP, THE OTHER IS PRIDE
After you have performed some worthy task, give all the credit to someone else
Twelfth Rule
TURN YOUR WEAKNESS INTO VIRTUE
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving
Thirteenth Rule
TREAT EACH BATTLE AS THOUGH IT WERE YOUR LAST
And you will finish, in the end, victorious!
Fourteenth Rule
DO NOT ASSUME THAT DOING GOOD ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP A FEW VICES
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you
Fifteenth Rule
WEIGH YOUR ALTERNATIVES CAREFULLY
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right way
Sixteenth Rule
NEVER ADMIT DEFEAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN WOUNDED
The good soldier's painful wounds spur him to gather his strength
Seventeenth Rule
ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION
So when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do
Eighteenth Rule
CALM YOUR PASSIONS BY SEEING HOW LITTLE THERE IS TO GAIN
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no real importance
Nineteenth Rule
SPEAK WITH YOUR SELF THIS WAY:
If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it?
Twentieth Rule
VIRTUE HAS ITS OWN REWARD
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything
Twenty-First Rule
LIFE CAN BE SAD, DIFFICULT AND QUICK: MAKE IT COUNT FOR SOMETHING
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably every day
Twenty-Second Rule
REPENT YOUR WRONGS
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear
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