Improve Your English – 238 [Archives:2004/742/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions: (67)
Felicitations on the
Graduation Day (III)

Graduation symbolizes a highly significant turning point in a young graduate's life and career. It generates in him/her a sense of pride and impels him/her to achieve something spectacular. The good wishes on this occasion serve to trigger in him/her an unconquerable will to scale greater heights of academic excellence and professional glory.

– Congratulations on your success. This marks a special time and so this brings best wishes for you. May happiness be yours today and may future years fulfill every hope and dream for you.
– A warmest note of congratulations and with lots of love. Your tremendous sincerity, integrity enabled you to make your dreams come true. May you progress and prosper beyond measure and enjoy the rewards of success with pleasure.
– Heartiest congratulations! May each beautiful tomorrow bring you lasting happiness. May you meet each goal your heart is dreaming of. May you know how many others share your pride and your joy today.
– Best wishes graduate! Every wish you make today is certain to come true since the future looks wonderful for a graduate like you.
– Special thoughts will be with you on graduation day, along with wishes that the best will always come your way. Congratulations on your graduation.
– For a very special graduate with best wishes. Graduation – a time, too, to look back with satisfaction on all that's become a special moment, a time to look forward with anticipation to all the wonderful possibilities that lie ahead of you. Keep this day for ever, some place deep inside your heart, this happy, hopeful, golden day when you'll see the start of all the dreams you cherish, – and, all along life's highway, keep the special day! Congratulations!

Composition
Expand the central idea contained in the maxim
69: He who never changes his mind has no mind to change

Last week's topic
68: Habit is second nature
Habit is 'an example of customary behavior' or 'somebody's settled practice, especially so melting that it cannot easily be given up.' In so far as a habit is a condition of mind, it determines our attitude, perceptions and the world view. In fact, it won't be an exaggeration to say that we are as our habits are As Aristotle says, 'Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.” And Ovid rightly observes “Habits change into character.” Man is an animal of habits. Great, indeed, is the power of habit, as Cicero remarks. Therefore, Elbert Hubb says “Cultivate only the habits that you are willing should master you.” R.H. Benson tells us “Form small habits, and make them laws.” Undoubtedly, habits have a great potential to crystallize as our second nature.

Pearls from the Holy Quran
“But if ye do good
And practice self-restraint,
Allah is well-acquainted
With all that ye do.”
S4:A128

VI. Words of Wisdom
“For love is heaven, and heaven is love.”
)Sir Walter Scott
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