From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordGentleness is a considerate, unviolent manner of acting toward another.
- In TraherneThe opening promise offers advancement through peace and love instead of war and dispossession.
- In this edition“Gentleness” is a gathering heading, while “gentle” and “meekly” supply the textual forms.
- A place to beginThe writer promises a gentle education through peace, love, and familiar paths.
Meaning
Gentleness is a considerate, unviolent manner of acting toward another. Its nearest practical companion here is meekness, especially where correction must be joined to continued goodwill.
Use in the book
The opening promise offers advancement through peace and love instead of war and dispossession. Friendship chooses a manner suited to the happiness it intends; loving medicine prefers balm to corrosive treatment. This method is not simple indulgence. Later counsel requires meek rebuke as well as vigorous beneficence. The gentle way aims at the other person’s real good, even when attention to a fault is necessary.
Places to read
In this edition
“Gentleness” is a gathering heading, while “gentle” and “meekly” supply the textual forms. The image of balm expresses the chosen method of love, not a prohibition of every difficult correction.