"The surest way for a man to gain an acquaintance in any given locality is to get acquainted. If he has no opportunity, let him make an opportunity. He will find that all of the necessary material is available if he will look for it; and while he is looking for material with which to build up an acquaintance, why should he not make a business of his undertaking and exercise the same judgment and sense in selecting it that he would exercise in selecting material with which to build a house? When we buy timber to be used in building a house, we try to make our selection in such manner that all parts will fit, so that when they are all put together as they should be, they will make a complete house, do we not? In other words, we use a reasonable degree of intelligence in making our selection." Paul P. Harris "1912 Report to Rotary."

 

 

"Having no children of our own, Jean and I have adopted Rotary International. While our cup of joy at `Comely Bank' has consistently overflowed, we have also had our share of sorrows. For instance: The city fathers established arc lights on Longwood drive. No longer need God pin the curtain of night back with his stars; no longer need the harvest moon shine; no longer need the commuters of our community grope their way back through the darkness, to the warmth and good cheer of their firesides. The city fathers take care of all such matters. Night has, in fact, been banished forever."  Page 274 "My Road to Rotary" 1947 Paul P. Harris

"Upon several occasions, Boards of Rotary International have extended to us invitations to visit the Rotary clubs of other counties; such invitations we have, as a rule, accepted and we have tried to make ourselves ambassadors of good-will. With the cooperation of Rotarians and local governments, I have planted friendship trees in the parks and playgrounds on all the five continents of the world and even on some of the major islands of the seas. Our trees stood as symbols of international understanding and good-will. National and municipal governments have participated in the ceremonies incident to such plantings and monuments bearing bronze plates with appropriate inscriptions, have, in several instances, been erected. Our tree plantings are merely gestures of good-will but they are intelligible to all the citizens of the various countries whatever language they speak." Paul P. Harris page 275 "My Road to Rotary" 1947 Paul P. Harris