Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow-men sincerely; To act from honest motives purely; To trust in God and Heaven securely.

The four instructions join clear thought, sincere affection, honest action and religious trust into a picture of a well-lived life. Each asks for consistency between inward intention and outward conduct. The verse treats character as something to practise across several parts of life, rather than display in one gesture.

Context reviewed 28 September 2026