The dust-up between U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and challenger Stewart Mills III — in which both sides have now been targeted by old photographs dug up by operatives on the other side ("Nolan duel with GOP 'young gun' heats up early," Jan. 10) — puts me in mind of the advice of the classical Roman statesmen and philosophers who warned their young people of the need to "keep thy honor bright." This slogan is as important today, perhaps more so, as it was in ancient times. We do not know when our past may come back to haunt us by revealing words and deeds that may interfere with our hopes, dreams and success years later.

LARAINE TRACY, Bloomington