Counsels on Health - Ellen G. White

Do not catch hold of isolated ideas and make
them a test, criticizing others whose practice may
not agree with your opinion; but study the subject
broadly and deeply, and seek to bring your own
ideas and practices into perfect harmony with the
principles of true Christian temperance.
There are many who try to correct the lives of
others by attacking what they regard as wrong
habits. They go to those whom they think in error
and point out their defects, but do not seek to direct
the mind to true principles. Such a course often
comes far short of securing the desired results.
When we make it evident that we are trying to
correct others, we too often arouse their
combativeness and do more harm than good. And
there is danger to the reprover also. He who takes it
upon himself to correct others is likely to cultivate
a habit of faultfinding, and soon his whole interest
will be in picking flaws and finding defects. Do not
watch others, to pick at their faults or expose their
errors. Educate them to better habits by the power
of your own example....
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