You have probably seen manufacturers of glass frames scoring the surfaces of sheets of glass with a pen-like instrument, then neatly snapping them into two. The cutting edge of this tool is made up of small razor-edged diamonds. Even the huge drills used for boring through hundreds of feet of rock strata in the search for oil are fitted with diamond cutting edges. It is the extreme hardness of the diamond which makes these tools so effective. The diamond is, in fact, the hardest known naturally-occurring substance. It cannot even be scratched. Put it in acid, and there will be no effect. But there is another aspect to this wonderful stone. If it is heated to a very high temperature it will disappear-it will simply sublimate into carbon dioxide, and if struck a sharp blow at exactly the right point, it will break asunder. You have only to look at diamond gemstones to see what exquisite, multi-faceted forms they can be given by jewellers, because, by studying the inner structure of the diamond, they know exactly where and how to break them.[Highlight1]Similarly, when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we should study them carefully, in the way that the jeweller studies his diamond. We should not approach them, carelessly, from the strongest point, but with circumspection, from the weakest. We should not adopt methods which are likely to gain poor results like aggressiveness or violence, for these only engender bitterness and obstinacy in others. We should resort to politeness and diplomacy-eschew harsh language in favour of gentleness and tact.We should consider also that there are certain human beings who are known as "rough diamonds." That is, on the outside they appear to be unattractive and without merit, whereas on the inside they are of great worth. To bring out their worth, so that their true value is apparent to society, it is pointless scratching at the surface or using acid. If the upright human soul is to be revealed in all its beauty it must be given the same delicate handling and treated with the same expertise as the master craftsman lavishes on a superb but fragile piece of jewelry.
Related Articles
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Speaking Tree Website I March 30, 2015 Self-confidence is an important attribute. You need to trust yourself. You need to have the necessary determination to do the task you have set for…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Times of India I January 28, 2011 | Page 15Normally preoccupied with family members and a small circle of friends, most of us do not generally want to become familiar with strangers; we look…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Speaking Tree Website I Monday, April 21, 2014If from a vessel containing water a single drop is found to be brackish, it means that all of the liquid is undrinkable. We need sample only of one…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Sunday Guardian | June 14, 2020The petal of a flower and the feather of a bird are incredibly beautiful, but at the same time both are very delicate. Merely touching them with the hand can…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Speaking Tree Website I Monday, March 10, 2014There is a saying that Mr So and So was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. This saying conveys a wrong connotation. According to it, there is…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | May 05, 2016Almost every day of our lives, we face some kind of bad experience, big or small, which is inescapable. One has two options: either ignore it or try to take…