Ignorant Stupid

Given out for gospel to the ignorant

An easy mark

The optimism of ignorance

The prey of profiteers

I am afraid he will be taught by many a sore and scalding lesson

The easy prey of——

He fell into the trap

He nibbled at the bait

The unsuspecting victim of——

HABITUAL

Customary Usual

He had become habituated to——

Of frequent iteration

An inveterate habit

Of immemorial usage

Over a well-beaten path

Addicted to the habit of——

He moves in a rut

Custom calls me to ’t.

Coriolanus, II., 3

Until it shall become an indispensable and delightful habit

HASTE

Rapidity Hurry

A high-pressure haste

With all practical speed

As quick as a wink

A concession to the requirements of brevity

HASTY

Premature Rash

A little premature

Crossing the bridge before we come to it

We need not say good morrow to the devil until we meet him

Unseemly haste

The more haste the worst speed

He shocked the proprieties

It would be premature to forecast the——

He ran before he was sent

It is too early at this time to state the——

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

Romeo and Juliet, II., 6

The letting down of restraint

The loosening of bonds

HESITANT

Reluctant Indecisive

I should hate like sixty to——

His heart was not exactly set upon the matter

In a mixed mood

This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd

With perceptible hesitation

A certain disinclination to——

He was unwilling to go the full length

For a moment I was at fault——

One almost feels reluctant to——

It may make us hesitate in making our dictum too positive

I had little inclination to do so

The paralyzing hesitation of self-consciousness

After a sufficient show of reluctance

I confess it is not without trepidation that——

I am duly sensible of my own limitations

It is not without reluctance that——

HINDERED

Hampered Straits

Hard pressed by the cohorts of——

At a distinct disadvantage

Attended with many inconveniences

A series of singular perplexities

Certain unforeseen emergencies

Entangled in technicalities

As helpless as a sick child

As helpless as animals driven to slaughter

Helplessly caught in the meshes of——

They will doubtless do their worst to bring about a——

Many plans disrupted

It slackens resolution

Impaired its usefulness

Eking out an all too small living

A man who wants bread is ready for anything

Necessity is the mother of invention

The greatest drawback to my comfort is——

For every new method a counter-method

HONORED

Noted Acclaimed

Recipient of most unusual attentions

The thought of him doth breed in us perpetual benediction

A man of splendid merit

His star is in the ascendant

Treated with great consideration

One of nature’s noblemen

No man is a hero in the eyes of his valet

There is none so poor to do him reverence

A name which stands very high on the scroll of fame

A tribute of reverence and love

He reaps golden sheaves who——

A high compliment to——

Whom to have known was a great pleasure

He is easily the foremost man in——

A man whose life is rich in unselfish service

His attitude wins universal admiration

HOPE

Promise Encouragement

Prisoners of hope.

Zech. IX., 12

Heir of all things.

Heb. I., 2

We are saved by hope.

Rom. VIII., 24

The eye of the Lord is upon them that hope in his mercy.

Ps. XXXIII., 18

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast.

Heb. VI., 19

We are perplexed, but not in despair.

II Cor. IV., 8

Thou shalt be secure because there is hope.

Job XI., 18

The children of promise.

Gal. IV., 28

He hath given everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.

II Thess. II., 16

Hope to the end.

I Pet. I., 13

From strength to strength.

Ps. LXXXIV., 7

He staggered not at the promise of God.

Rom. IV., 20

When the human heart sings with rejoicing hope

When smiles begin to chase the tears

A real breath of heaven

With radiant face

A draught of heavenly pleasure

A triumphant hour

A lively sense of exultation

The dove of peace sings in our hearts

I begin to discover somewhat of His beauty

Transported with joy

A current of pure and hallowed joys flowing through the channels of the heart

An intense inner happiness

A most happy glimpse into the things of God

Secret essences which turn life into a garden of unspeakable delights

HUMOROUS

Ludicrous Funny

A candidate for the psychotherapeutic clinic

This is one of the consequences of getting into good society

Isn’t that a sad state of affairs

It was excruciatingly funny

I threatened him with unspeakable things if——

Less mobile than I could wish

You are appointed the official——

Can you imagine anything more ludicrous than——

My roseate expectations have recently suffered a very severe setback

A strong spice of Irish wit

Bonds for your good behavior will be required

Irresistibly droll

A fusillade of laughter

An awful illustration of——

I was in stitches

I’m in a pickle

Now will you be good

He has a whimsical way of expressing himself

IMPARTIAL

Just Unbiased

Every man has a deep seated instinct for fair play

The thing must be done decently and in order

Strictly impartial

If we are to make both sides balance we must——

Let us not revert to old animosities

IMPECUNIOSITY

Penniless Involved

In a state of habitual impecuniosity

A hand-to-mouth existence

No woman marries an old man for God’s sake

He has seen better days

In desperate circumstances

The futility of riches

In more affluent days

In reduced circumstances

Deeply involved

In embarrassed circumstances

IMPORTANT

Significant Momentous

It was a high day in the——

It is noteworthy that——

A work of paramount importance

Each man has a vital part to perform

This is no small problem

Of transcendent moment

It is imperative that——

One of the great outstanding features of——

One of the most significant items was——

It is a fact of tremendous significance that——

The notable feature of it all is——

Great days

The crucial question is——

Profoundly significant

Of no little moment

There is the fact and it is one of cardinal importance

The one outstanding reason for——

Back of it lies one fact yet more primal

This is the one thing needful

The dominant note of——

It must weigh sensibly with every one

It is high time that——

It has momentous importance

It is worth making note of that——

I dare not abate my vigilance

IMPOSSIBLE

Hopeless Impracticable

As easily as one could mend a spider’s web

As impossible as to count the stars

It is virtually impossible to——

There is no getting blood from a turnip

A practical impossibility

No more than one can sail past the north star

It is simply out of the question

It is not in the least degree likely that——

INDEPENDENT

Flippant Uncontrolled

With an air of injured innocency

He cares not a fig

It matters not a straw

It matters not a whit whether the——

He cares little for conventionalities

It is not worth shucks

It is not a matter of the slightest consequence

He brushed the matter aside as a vagary

With smug complacency

He held himself perfectly aloof from——

Without blush or tremor

INDICATIVE

Evidential Disclosing

It is a straw pointing with evidential import

Where there is so much smoke there is some fire

Straws show which way the current is set

What an apocalypse that will be when——

There are not wanting signs that——

A most infallible indication of——

INDICTMENT

Arraignment Accusation

None the worse for a spark of decent indignation

The hollow shams and conventionalities of our day

No adequate sense of His holiness

Baser than a beast

No keen and poignant perception of sin

The lessening sense of sin

His own heart as cold as frost

Sad and sinful days

Our hearts hot with wrath and indignation against sin

Evil to its core

The devil’s signet

Of decidedly earthly passions

All dried up in one’s soul

Lust was kindled in his heart

Base, mean, prudential, paying no tribute to the Divine excellence

The parching blight of sin

Beware of artful, designing persons

Sins come in groups, in battalions

Like the frosts of sin which blight the sweet blossoms of youth

And taste the tang of the bitter cup

The hundred and one enemies of our peace, comfort, and efficiency

The burning poison in his veins

There is nothing more likely to betray a man into absurdity than

It vexes, grieves, thwarts, repels, drives off the Spirit of God

Beware of the beginnings of sin

Over head and ears in debt and drink

The peril of riches

A coronet of shame

The secret beginnings of sin

An eternal arraignment of all who——

By so doing, he is sowing the seed of a fatal infection

Trifling with great spiritual realities

Lest it might lead to things undesirable

The horror of a bottomless pit

Habits which quietly sap the foundations of life

Words which will shock some dainty soul

A sickening devotion to the pursuit of wealth

The evils of unrighteousness in civic life

It seems to contradict the designs of Providence

A narrowing effect on the conscience of those who have embraced it

Care lest one be inveigled into perdition

Words which ought to make us twinge

Words of worldly wisdom

A brewing storm of hostility

The world’s hardest battlefields of sin and sorrow

In their hearts the feuds of ages

A wretched, dejected, sin-blasted soul

Carnality in the heart

The great enemy of mankind

The black enormity of sin

A miserable grudge in your heart

The spawn of the evil one

A heritage of hate

A dauntless worldling

From whose very touch one’s delicacies shrink

The fires of a sensitive religious experience no longer glow

The grip of evil forces

All alarming, all hateful, all detestable

A gnawing sense of condemnation in the heart

Those who abuse God’s great gift of speech

Some of these enormities put to blush heathenism itself

No deeply seated opinions of right and wrong

A state of lazy indifference

Apparently destitute of ambition

Worthy neither of respect nor honor

Soft and easy days

Mean, petty, social prejudices

The temptation to fritter away life in interests that are small and mean

Everlasting confusion

The enemy shall come in like a flood

The man that speaketh froward things

The resurrection of damnation

A rebellious house

God resisteth the proud

The works of darkness

Unstable as water

Spreading himself like a green bay-tree

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter but war was in his heart

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him

An unprofitable servant

His mouth is full of deceit and fraud

The wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire

A sad vocation

A heart of adamant

A hardened cynic

The vain things

The enormity of sin

A scoffing world

A defeated one

Tenements of dust

The jealous eye

The everlasting burning

The hell of hate

A despicable heart

A sullen silence

A disdainful glance

A brittle promise

A sorry specimen

INDIFFERENCE

Disregard Apathy

It is not worth a moment’s regard

Let “by-gones” be “by-gones”

It is a matter of no importance

Cast it to the winds

What is past shall go for nothing

Of it I really make no account

Let it pass

Quite apathetic

The exceptions are so few as to be negligible

Extremely trivial

In one ear and out at the other

The edge of my inclination is much taken off

A half-hearted interest at best

INFLUENCE

Control Sway

In the hollow of his hand

What he says has great force

It gripped like steel bands

His words touched me most profoundly

He dominates the situation by the sheer force of his personality

A bright beacon shedding light

The creative influences of——

He succeeded in making his presence felt

One cannot get within gunshot of——

It roused the last smouldering spark of——

It may have far greater consequences than——

In the seats of the mighty

Far reaching in its consequences

It does not have a feather’s weight with practical men

Leaven that is gradually purifying the world

Salt that keeps civilization from decay

INGENIOUS

Shrewd Adroit

A situation that requires artful handling

He understands the fine art of the omission of unessentials

He is temperamentally gaited to do things

It was cleverly done

He carries the torch of his genius into——

Taxing the acutest ingenuity of——

With the intuitive sense of affairs

Shrewdness of perception

A masterly exhibition of adroitness and skill

A first-rate master of affairs

He has conceived the happy idea of——

By hook or by crook

A surprising way of——

They will have to do a lot of political tight-rope walking to——

It must put him to his trumps

A fertility of resource that——

INTERESTING

Fascinating Impressive

On tiptoe with expectation

As eager-hearted as a boy

My eyes have been wide open for——

I am mightily concerned to think out how——

It is a matter in which I have a most heartfelt concern

It is highly interesting to note that——

I was fascinated by——

It has all the fascination of an adventure

Life would be very dull without it

An element of excitement in it

Everything to fascinate the imagination

A fine touch of romance in it

He was very keen to gain possession of——

With unflagging interest

Every man rides his own hobby

What is new is always fine

The signs are multiplying that——

The circumstance which gave it such a thrilling interest is the fact that——

It was decidedly impressive

We are not indifferent to——

Fascinating as a Romance

I read with quickened attention the——

This was his meat and drink

There is a growing disposition among——

You have quite excited my curiosity

As fascinating as a romance

It holds the interest with a good grasp

A fascination for many minds

Of enthralling interest

I know the nicest little secret

I have news for you

INTRODUCTION

(Of Speakers)

I have the esteemed privilege of presenting——

I feel highly honored to have the opportunity to present——

I have the great honor of asking you to welcome——

I esteem myself fortunate to have the privilege of presenting——

I count myself happy in being permitted to——

We have with us to-night ————. It is my very great pleasure to present him

It is my good fortune to be called upon to introduce ———— the speaker of the evening. Let us give him an attentive hearing while he speaks to us upon the topic——

I have very great pleasure in presenting to you the speaker of the evening ————. He will address us upon the topic——

It has fallen to my lot to introduce one who is known to many here. I have great pleasure in presenting ————

INTRODUCTORY

Prefatory Preliminary

(For General Conversation)

It goes without saying that——

I am obliged to confess that——

It was a happy thought which led me to——

I venture to propose that——

We had great fun when——

I indulge the modest hope that——

It must be very gratifying to you to——

I am deeply persuaded that——

Reverting to another matter——

I ought not omit remarking that——

And so it befell that——

After expatiating on the——

It is a very curious circumstance to see how——

I frankly confess that——

It is really disconcerting to find that——

I am revealing no secret in saying that——

I must not leave you under misapprehensions so——

I am rather inclined to the opinion that——

I do not find anything in the tenets of my religion which requires me to——

I have a peculiar tenderness for——

As I am continually saying——

In a very humble way, I——

My impression is that——

The upshot of it all was——

Far be it from me to——

It is hardly necessary to add that——

You will be very much pleased to hear that——

I will venture to express a hope that——

I have but one rule to guide my conduct and that is——

I have been strongly tempted to——

Besides this there is to be said——

There is but a thousand-to-one chance that——

It is an open secret that——

I have an impression that——

I informed you wrongly when I said that——

If I mistake not, I believe that——

If I may use the expression I think that——

Quite regardless of my remark, you——

I had the inexpressible comfort of knowing that——

He made a touching proof of his regard by——

I flatter myself that——

Is it not a great mercy to have such a helper

Again and again, I——

Inadvertently, I——

I felt like uttering a mild disclaimer when——

I have little predilection for——

I had the rare satisfaction of——

I was strangely moved when I heard that——

There is a certain distinctive advantage in——

I was amazed to find that——

In my poor judgment, I——

I hold in all seriousness that——

Has the tide of victory set in your favor

By what magic have you found out the secrets of——

We have plumed ourselves upon our ability to——

As luck would have it, I——

To be candid, I——

It seems a positive calamity that——

Do you seriously imagine that——

No one could be so rash as to assert that——

I am satisfied that——

I strongly suspect that——

I fancy that——

Further than this——

Paradoxical as it may seem——

I dare say that——

It is with great pleasure that——

It would ill become me to remark that——

For instance,——

The redeeming feature of it all is——

Quite by chance, I——

I have been wondering whether——

In all probability we——

It is not likely that——

Luckily I——

It is a singular coincidence that——

I took particular pains to notice whether——

It is with problems such as these that——

How very fortunate it is that——

It is a particular piece of good fortune that he——

As a matter of fact, I——

None the less, I——

It can be admitted too that——

Certain it is that——

In some quarters it is believed that——

If that be the case, I——

I confess I look with some alarm at——

I have the great good fortune to have heard that——

I realize afresh that——

The art of arts is——

I flatter myself that——

It is from the heart that I can request that——

I am perfectly convinced that——

The full gravity of the situation is seen in the fact that——

Regardless of anything I said——

I am painfully conscious that——

I wasn’t by any means sure I——

It dawned upon him gradually that——

It is seldom that——

We may be quite sure that——

I have repeatedly said that——

It cannot but carry with it instant conviction that——

By some mischance, I——

Prior to this, we——

I was greatly elated to find that——

I am heartily glad that——

I had a happy thought to-day which I——

I cannot but realize that——

It is scarcely conceivable that——

Frankly, I——

It is intellectually unthinkable that——

On the other hand——

I appreciate most deeply the——

I am devoutly thankful for——

At all events——

I rather apprehend that——

I have sometimes thought that——

It must be owned too, that——

I scarcely feel as if I——

I rather imagine that——

To this day I hardly know whether I——

A very striking proof of the fact is——

I will hazard the observation that——

On the other hand——

May I give you an instance

It is quite indifferent to me whether I——

He used frequently to observe that——

Now that I am a little seasoned, I——

I have heard him often lament that——

You may guess what luck——

I regret extremely that——

It would have been quite out of the question for us to——

Recently I came across this——

I was about to inquire what you thought of——

I have the deepest veneration for——

I suppose the inference we are expected to draw is——

I am confident of one thing that——

My principal motive for acting thus was——

I am fully aware that——

I perceive, moreover, that——

It is surely true that——

I marvel that——

I sometimes fancy that——

I humbly conceive that——

I apprehend that——

Of course, I am perfectly aware that——

I presume that——

There are pretty certain indications that

It often amazes me that——

It seems hardly probable that——

I affirm that——

I have the consolation to hope that——

It is still permitted us to hope that——

It would be futile to deny that——

It is reasonable to assume that——

There is no prospect that——

In these circumstances it——

I suppose that——

I warrant that——

I confess I am not indifferent to——

I shrink instinctively from——

I confess a less and less relish for——

I am impatient and querulous under——

It is a sort of presumption to expect that——

I cannot imagine to myself——

I have a kindly yearning toward——

I heartily approve of——

I do not advert to——

I have long believed that——

It has long been the fashion to——

I have been falsely assuring everybody that——

One cannot help noticing that——

There are plenty of evidences that——

The difference, I take it, is this——

The fact of the matter is——

If I rightly remember——

It is a just cause for praise that——

It was a happy circumstance for me that——

I wish with all my heart that——

I am grateful to find that——

I devoutly wish it may prove to be that he——

It is not to be supposed that——

My attention has been directed to the——

I have a mental reservation with regard to——

A very affecting circumstance happened yesterday

I have a story worth telling

I had the rare distinction of——

I had a very civil note from——

If I may hazard a conjecture, I should rather think that——

It was unusual for me to——

He seems to be obsessed with the idea that——

JOY

Gladness Bliss

The nameless responsive thrill of something deep within us

A treasure better than gold

Pleasures pure and lasting

Heaven’s eternal spring

The song lifting its pæan out of the night

In the sweetest fellowship

Strains that sweetly soothe

The exquisite little joys of life

An atmosphere of tranquillity

A new-found joy

Tears of joy and gratitude

Joy which flows like a river

In joyful anticipation

With joyful enthusiasm

Possibilities of which we hardly dreamed

The sweet melodies of heaven

The great glad tidings

The glory of his grace

The sweetest name on earth

The blissful refuge

A balm for the weary

The very friend you need

The priceless gems of God’s book

A joy divine

Songs of sweetest praise

A triumphant hope

Thrones of love

A heaven of love

The kingdom of light

The fullness of his blessing

The life-giving stream

The best of our delights

A world of happy memories

The reckless joy of the Lord

Our gladness of the world

The ultimate source of real happiness

An eternal weight of glory

JUSTICE

Judgment Indignation

He must be brought sharply to book

Brought to the bar of justice

Impartial justice

A noble contempt for deliberate wrong-doers

Fired by righteous indignation

The eternal principles of justice

The foe of tyranny

The well-established right of every citizen

Very intolerant of sin, but not vindictive

A life strictly legal

KEEN

Foxy Cunning

With a special axe to grind

He caught you napping

A piece of sharp practice

A shrewd surmise

A bit of keen reasoning

Too ingenious by half

Neutrals think to tread on eggs and break none

As cunning as a weasel

A mind like a steel-trap

Bait the hook well; the fish will bite.

Much Ado about Nothing, II., 3

Reared in the school of diplomacy

A discipleship with mental reservations

He turns a blow with a jest

KINDNESS

Sympathy Gentleness

Sympathies as wide as the world

A sensibility as tender as it is refreshing

Wider sympathy

Of cosmopolitan sympathies

Poverty-stricken in his sympathies

World-wide sympathies

A great soul

The very heart of kindness

Diffusing the gospel of kindliness

The employments of active benevolence

Full of kindly deeds

The milk of human kindness

A stray word of kindness

Kinder than the kindest

With utmost gentleness

Of gentlest sympathy

Of a kind and forgiving disposition

They exchanged mutual assurances of continued good-will

The secret of contented and fruitful living

The staple interests and occupations of the common life

Heaven and earth brought into strange accord

An unembittered disposition

The sign of God-like charity

Slow to speak ill of any one

Beautiful in the eyes of fond affection

A heaven of love in your heart

A wonderfully kind heart

Members of a forgiving family

Sweet in disposition

Glorifying God in the common round

The gracious inclination of the will

The outcome of a rich experience

The spirit of brotherly kindness and concord

An attitude of brotherly helpfulness

A genuine concern for——

Many calls upon one’s generous impulses

A kindly soul

I could not find it in my heart to——

It pulls upon our heartstrings

Cherishing a cordial good-will to all men

I cannot find it in my heart to——

LATIN

Ab extra, from without

Ab initio, from the beginning

Ad captandum vulgus, for the sake of pleasing the crowd

Ad infinitum, endlessly

Ad interim, in the meanwhile

Ad libitum, at pleasure

Ad nauseam, to the point of disgust

Ad rem, to the matter in hand

Ad valorem, according to the value

A fortiori, all the more surely

Alma mater, fostering mother

Alter idem, another precisely similar

Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord

A posteriori, from facts back to principles

A priori, from principles to facts

Argumentum ad hominem, an appeal to interests rather than to reason

Bona fide, in good faith

Cui bono, who benefits by it

De facto, on the basis of facts

De novo, anew

Deo gratias, thanks to God

Deo volente, with God’s consent

De profundis, out of the depths

Dramatis personæ, the actors in a play

Ecce homo, behold the man

E pluribus unum, one composed of many

Ergo, therefore

Esto perpetua, let it endure forever

Et cetera, and so on

Ex cathedra, with high authority

Ex officio, by virtue of his office

Ex parte, partisan

Ex post facto, after the deed is done

Ex tempore, on the impulse of the moment

Gloria in excelsis, Glory in the highest

Ibid, in the same place

Id est, that is

Idem, the same

Item, also

In articulo mortis, at the point of death

In extenso, at full length

In extremis, in the last extremity

In loco, in the proper place

In medias res, in the midst of things

In memoriam, to the memory of

In perpetuum, forever

In re, in the matter of

In statu quo, in the former state

In toto, completely

In transitu, in passing

Ipsissima verba, the very words

Ipso facto, by virtue of that very fact

Jubilate Deo, rejoice in the Lord

Jus gentium, the law of nations

Labor omnia vincit, labor overcomes every difficulty

Lapsus linguæ, a slip of the tongue

Lis pendens, the pending suit

Magnum opus, a great work

Mala fide, in an underhanded way

Meum et tuum, mine and thine

Mirabile dictu, wonderful to be told

Modus operandi, manner of operation

Multum in parvo, much in little

Ne plus ultra, nothing better

Nil desperandum, no need to despair

Nolens volens, whether he will or not

Non sequitur, it does not follow

Nota bene, mark well

Omnes, all

Paterfamilias, the head of a household

Pater noster, Our Father

Particeps criminis, a sharer in the crime

Peccavi, I have erred

Per annum, by the year

Per capita, by the head

Per centum, by the hundred

Per contra, contrariwise

Per diem, by the day

Per se, intrinsically

Pro bono publico, for the public good

Pro et con, for and against

Pro rata, an equal division

Pro tanto, to a certain extent

Pro tempore, for the time being

Quantum libet, as much as you please

Quid pro quo, an equivalent

Quod vide, which see

Requiescat in pace, peace to his spirit

Scripsit, he wrote it

Semper felix, always fortunate

Semper fidelis, always faithful

Semper eadem, always the same

Seriatim, in sequence

Serus in cœlum redeas, after living for a long time may you enter heaven

Sine cura, without care

Sine die, without a day appointed

Sine qua non, an indispensable prerequisite

Status quo, the current situation the existing condition

Sub rosa, secretly, confidentially

Sui generis, unique

Summum bonum, the highest good

Tempus fugit, time flies

Terra firma, the solid earth

Tuum est, it is your own

Una voce, unanimously

Ut infra, as stated below

Ut supra, as stated above

Verbatim, word for word

Versus, against

Via, by the way of

Vice versa, the terms being exchanged

Vi et armis, by main force

Viva voce, by the living voice

Vox populi est vox Dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God

LAZY

Lackadaisical Dawdling

Altogether disinclined to the effort of exercise

Dawdling over duties

A profitless frame of mind

A strong disposition to inactivity

With folded arms

The tragedy of ease

The picture of placid content

Sleeping in a fool’s paradise

Luxury that unfits the soul

Never stirred by noble ambitions

As motionless as a tombstone

A little flaccid

A lazy ox is little better for the goad

As sleepy as a ground-hog in winter

Nothing is had for nothing

In a half-hearted manner

While away the time

Free from all care

He suffers from acute laziness

He wants to be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease

He treads the path of least resistance

His mind cankers

Predisposed to loiter

LETTERS

(GENERAL PHRASES)

For Letters of Acceptance

I thank you for your very kind invitation which I am happy to accept

It will give me great pleasure to——

I accept with much pleasure your kind invitation to——

I accept with pleasure and will——

It is most kind of you to include me in——

Many thanks for your thoughtfulness in inviting me

I shall be pleased to comply with your request

It was most kind of you to remember me

Thank you so much for your kindness in remembering me

How very thoughtful of you to——

For Letters of Apology

I trust you will pardon me for——

I write to apologize for my failure to——

I hope you will forgive me when I tell you that——

I am sorry I could not do as I had promised to do

I am very much mortified to find that——

Trusting you will forgive my great carelessness

I hope you have not suffered any inconvenience from——

Hoping you will pardon the——

I am afraid you will accuse me of rudeness, but I——

I hasten to repair my apparent neglect of——

You must have felt almost slighted to notice that I——

I am sure you will acquit me of any rudeness when——

For Letters of Condolence

Be assured of my deep sympathy with you in this time of great sorrow

I know too well that words cannot comfort you

Trusting that you will see the bright side of the dark cloud——I am with deep sympathy your friend

How can I attempt to comfort you in the bitter affliction which has befallen you

Would there were more like——

I regret to hear of your continued indisposition and hope that before long you may return to your wonted good health

A sweet and uncomplaining spirit

I should rejoice if I could be with you

I can only send my sympathy and best wishes for your speedy and complete recovery

Courage——hope remains

Time will heal many heartaches

May the Father of Mercies give you the rich consolation of His grace and preserve and strengthen you for your family

May you be sustained in this most bitter trial

The grateful sense of your kindness will never be erased from my mind

If my services can in any way assist you do not hesitate to ask for them

I am sincerely sorry to hear of your loss

He carried the riches of God within himself

He was a royal-hearted man

We are greatly afflicted by the melancholy intelligence which reached us that——

I knew the sterling integrity of his character

May God breathe into your heart peace and cheerful resignation

My mind is filled with very grateful memories

He was greatly beloved

I fall back upon a very delightful verse of Scripture: “He is able to subdue all things unto himself”

My heart is filled with the deepest gratitude as I think of ————

We send our earnest wishes for your speedy recovery

My most affectionate regards to ————

You seem to have your full share of human vicissitudes

He had such a fund of courage and good cheer

Dear, sweet, loving mother

A letter replete with tenderness and affection

All things work together for good to them that love God

A bruised reed shall he not break

Many daughters have done virtuously but thou excellest them all

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting

He giveth his beloved sleep

A very present help in trouble

We took sweet counsel together

God will take us into their goodly company some glad day

Glimpses of the reality which we instinctively feel will sometime be ours

The unmeasured things of hope which God has prepared for men

Our lives we must humbly commit to the guiding hand whose blessing we adore

Filled with strong consolation

There are many avenues by which God would come in and richly bless us

He had the secret of keeping the sacred fires aglow

He knew the deep principles of experimental religion

Ordinary consolations do not avail us

He knew the secret of beautiful living

He was a silent witness of right living

Many admiring friends

One who ministered so carefully and tenderly

All the more tragic because——

And this thought will be our comfort that——

Of gentle presence

All the gentle virtues came into full blossom

Looking forward with a Christian’s bright anticipation of a glad reunion

Persisted in keeping mind and spirit on the sunny side of life however hard the trials and difficulties

Mother’s fortitude and hopefulness is a lesson to us all

We send our united and sincere condolences

The news of your painful loss has been a great surprise to me

I have read of your bereavement with the deepest sorrow

You, who have so often comforted others, are now to be comforted

May you live in the confidence that ———— is in the enjoyment of everlasting happiness

It is a great comfort to us that

Words are inadequate to express my feelings

There are times when one cannot express himself in written words

The pen refuses to express adequately my sympathy to you

I sympathize keenly with you in the loss of your excellent ————

They are not lost to us

God will surely give you a kindly guidance in this hour of trial

The intimations of a future life shall some day be realized and we shall see and know again those whom we have “loved, and lost awhile”

Many beautiful traits made up his character

I join with you and his other friends in mourning his death most sincerely

It shocked me very much

I have heard with the greatest distress of——

I had learned to have a very warm feeling for ————

I had been intimately enough associated with him to feel that I knew him very well

Cast thy burden upon the Lord

Thou hast known my soul in adversities

I know their sorrows

A refuge from the storm

A shadow from the heat

In the furnace of affliction

I will hedge up thy way with thorns

Tribulation worketh patience

Our light affliction

In all their affliction he was afflicted

He healeth the broken in heart

For a small moment have I forgotten thee but with great mercies will I gather thee

God that comforteth those that are cast down comfort you

We shall have to bear our crosses with meekness and patience

So good a friend is capable of making any calamity light

The great loss you have sustained has caused me much uneasiness

I know not how to express my sorrow at the news which I have just received

That God may give you great consolation under this heavy burden is my fervent prayer

I should be glad if I could suggest anything to lighten your trouble and make your path a little more smooth and easy

Such a sad circumstance has come to you

Your sorrow’s night

When one’s heart is unspeakably tender

We extend our heartfelt sympathy

In your hour of trial

She was such a beautiful character, loved by every one

In these lonely hours you must not be cast down for there is help from God

His Word says that they that wait upon Him shall renew their strength

She was God’s good angel in your home

Grief that saps the heart

I account you mine

His name will long linger in our household

We must be brave in the face of trying circumstances

Of gracious memory

She bears up with the utmost fortitude

I received the melancholy intelligence last evening that——

He was the kindest, and most generous of men

The sweet remembrance of the just

A workman that needeth not to be ashamed

If God be for us who can be against us

Of whom the world was not worthy

Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth

Let not your heart be troubled

I know that your heart must be sorely grieved

God shall overcome this King of terrors

It is written, “As thy days so shall thy strength be”

We expect to see our loved ones in happier, brighter worlds above

God is able to soothe and sustain the distressed soul

May God’s love shine more and more in our hearts until the day breaks and the shadows flee away

He careth for you

A stronghold in the day of trouble

A covert from the storm

We unite in sending our love and sympathy

With warm regards

We beg you to accept our commiseration

Our hearts sorrow with you

He is such a very great comfort to us

We are uplifted by the assurance that——

A light which sorrow cannot quench

We must all wait the call of God with a calm trust

Let me have the comfort of hearing from you

The hand of God has been heavy

His sterling qualities of character will leave an indelible impress on those with whom he associated

His good life will live on

Dying in the triumphs of faith

Securely anchored in the never failing promises of God

A life of good-will, kindliness of spirit, and firm character

The benediction of his brotherly heart will bless many who knew him

We must live in the blessed anticipation of the glory that is to come

Do not fear, for God knows what is in your heart

Your path seems full of thorns

Your weather is bleak, but the storms will cease

Your sky is dark, but the sun shines

May the everlasting arms sustain you in the flood of sorrow

May God comfort you

Out of the thorn springeth the rose

I know you are in grief and heaviness

We commend you to the mercy and grace of God

The bitterness of affliction

The present floods of sorrow

You will have to cast your anchor in the dark

May your heart be constant

The Lord will surely give you rest from the days of adversity

I would that you should always have the sweet experience of the consolations of God

We all have the good-will of Him who dwelt in the bush

My heart is heavy for you

We must wait till the fair morning of the resurrection

I write my blessing, earnest prayers, the love of God, and the sweet presence of Christ to you and yours

You have suffered a grief which no human friend can assuage

I feel deeply your misfortune

I am grieved to hear that——

We are greatly concerned about——

We are sometimes called to sow in tears, but the harvest will be a series of everlasting joys. This blessed hope softens the trials of life

My times are in the Lord’s hands

I hope it may please God to endue us with a proper temper, and quiet perseverance, and that these trials may help us to purify our motives

One of the severest and most trying dispensations of Providence

Yours is indeed deep sorrow

You have the blessed reflection of having done all that could possibly be done

You have my earnest prayers that the Almighty may graciously support you

That the Almighty may bless, support, and comfort you, is the hearty prayer of——

Be assured of our cordial esteem and fervent prayers

May every consolation and blessing be granted to you

As long as I shall remember anything, I shall remember her virtues and her kindness

I hope I need not tell you how anxious I have been since I first heard of your great loss

May I share with you the deep sorrow you are called upon to bear at the loss of your——

Please accept for yourself my assurance of deep sympathy

Allow me to express my very sincere sympathy for you in the death of your——

Permit me to express on behalf of ———— and myself our deepest sympathy

May I express to you my sincere condolence in your hour of sorrow

Mrs. ———— and I offer you our most sincere sympathy in your great sorrow

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy in your bereavement

I hope you will find some consolation in the tribute of affection and esteem which——

I sympathize deeply with you

I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

II Tim. I., 12

The resurrection of life.

John V., 29

Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I Cor. II., 9

In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John XIV., 2

There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

II Tim. IV., 8

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Heb. IV., 9

We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II Pet. III., 13

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Rev. II., 10

They shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

Rev. III., 4

There shall be no night there.

Rev. XXII., 5

The Lord shall be thy everlasting light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Isa. LX., 20

He is able to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.

Jude, 24

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom. VIII., 18

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

II Cor. IV., 17

The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

Eph. I., 18

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

I Pet. I., 4

So shall we ever be with the Lord.

I Thess. IV., 17

They shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Rev. XXII., 4

The righteous shall go away into life eternal.

Matt. XXV., 46

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.

Ps. XXVII., 14

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Ps. XXXIV., 22

The Lord knoweth them that trust in him.

Nah. I., 7

Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.

I Pet. V., 7

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from hence forth even for ever.

Ps. CXXV., 2

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

Ps. CXII., 6

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Ps. XXX., 5

Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Ps. XXXIV., 19

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Ps. CXXVI., 5-6

Their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more.

Jer. XXXI., 12

I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

Jer. XXXI., 13

A refuge in times of trouble.

Ps. IX., 9

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John XVI., 33

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Ps. LXVIII., 5

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Ps. CXVI., 15

My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

II Cor. XII., 9

I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.

Gen. XV., 1

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Deut. XXXIII., 27

The promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

II Tim. I., 1

A bruised reed shall he not break.

Isa. XLII., 3

For Letters of Congratulation