Self-Control

Sir Isaac Newton had a very calm and gentle character. Nothing could make him angry, as you can see from this story.

Newton had a little dog called Diamond. One evening, when Newton went out of his study, he left Diamond there alone. A few minutes later, he came back and saw that the burning candle had fallen onto some papers. The papers were on fire, and the work of many years was being destroyed.

Newton was already an old man, and the loss could not be repaired. But he did not punish his dog. He only said sadly, “Oh, Diamond, Diamond, you do not know what a terrible thing you have done.”