SECT. XVI.

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Mifcellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Action.

O purfue worthy ends by wife means is the whole of active prudence. And this must be done with refolution, diligence, and perfeverance, till the point is gained, or appears impracticable.

To retort an injury, is to be almoft as bad as the aggreffor. When two throw dirt against one another, can either keep himself clean?

Action and contemplation are no way inconfiftent; but rather reliefs to one another. When you are engaged in ftudy, throw bufinefs out of your thoughts. When in bufinefs, think of your business only.

To a man of bufinefs, knowledge is an ornament. To a ftudious man, action is a relief.

If you ever promife at all, take care, at least, that it be fo as nobody may fuffer by trufting to you,

If you have debtors, let not your lenity get the better of your prudence; nor your care of your own intereft make you forget humanity. A prifon is not for the unfortunate, but the knavish.

Tractableness to advice, and firmness against temptation, are no way inconfiftent.

There is more true greatnefs in generously owning a fault, and making proper reparation for it, than in obftinately defending a wrong conduct. But, quitting your purpose, retreat rather like a lion than a cur.

A mind hardened againft affliction, and a body against pain and fickness, are the two fecurities of earthly happiness.

Let a perfon find out his own peculiar weaknefs, and be ever fufpicious of himfelf on that fide. Let a paffionate man, for example, refolve always to fhew lefs refentment than reafon might juftify; there is no danger of his erring on that fide. Let a talkative man re

folve always to fay lefs than the most talkative person in the company he is in. If one has reafon to fufpect himfelf of loving money too much, let him give always at leaft fomewhat more than has been given by a noted mifer.

A man,

A man, who does not know in general his own weaknefs, muft either be a perfon of high rank, or a fool.

How comes it that we judge fo feverely the actions we did a great while ago? It is because we are now at a proper diftance, and look upon them with an indifferent eye, as on thofe of another perfon. The very objects which now employ us fo much, and the conduct we now juftify fo ftrenuoufly, can we fay that the time will not come when we shall look upon them as we now do upon our follies of ten or twenty years backwards? Why can we not view ourfelves, and our own behaviour, at all times in the fame manner? This fhews our partiality for ourselves in a moft abfurd light.

When you are dead, the letters which compose your name will be no more to you than the rest of the alphabet. Leave the rage of fame to wits and heroes. Do you ftrive to live usefully in this world, and you will be happy in the next.

It is best if you can keep quite clear of the great. But if you happen at any time to be thrust into their company, keep up in your behaviour to them the dignity of a man of spirit and worth, which is the only true greatness. If you fneak and cringe, they will trample

upon you.

Beware of mean-fpirited people. They are commonly revengeful and malicious.

The following advantages are likely to make a completely accomplished man. 1. Good natural parts. 2. A good temper. 3. Good and general education, begun early. 4. Choice, not immenfe, reading, and careful digefting. 5. Experience of various fortune. 6. Conversation with men of letters and of bufinefs, 7. Knowledge of the world, gained by conversation, bufinefs, and travel.

If the world fufpect your well-intended defigns, be not uneasy. It only fhews that mankind are themselves falfe and artful, which is the caufe of their being fufpicious.

Never fet up for a jack-in-an-office. Men of real worth are modeft, and decline employment, though much fitter for it than those who thruft themfelves

forward. But if good can be done, do it, if no one elfe will.

How much less trouble it costs a well-difpofed mind to pardon, than to revenge!

If your enemy is forced to have recourfe to a lie to blacken you, confider what a comfort it is to think of your having fupported such a character, as to render it impoffible for malice to hurt you without the aid of falfehood. And trust to the genuine fairness of your character to clear itself in the end.

Whoever has gone through much of life, muft remember, that he has thrown away a great deal of uselefs uneafiness upon what was much worse in his apprehenfion, than in reality.

A mifer will fometimes ferve you any way you please to ask him, purely to fave his money.

If you give away nothing till you die, even your own children will hardly thank you for what you leave them.

A great number of fmall favours will engage fome people more to you, than one great one. And where they hope for more and more, they will be willing to go on to serve you.

An idle perfon is dead before his time.

The great difficulty of behaviour is in cafe of furprise. The trueft objects of charity are those whom modefty conceals.

A generous man does not lose by a generous man.

It will be a great misfortune to you, if an intimate friend, or near relation, falls into poverty. You must either lend your affiftance, or be ill-looked upon. And people are often blamed for niggardlinefs, when, if all the truth were known, (which might be very improper) they would be juftified in having given to the full extent of their abilities.

A man's character and behaviour in public, and at home, are often as different as a lady's looks at a ball, and in a morning before fhe has gone through the ceremony of the toilet. But real merit, like artless beauty, fhines forth at all times diftinguishingly illuftrious. There

There is nothing more agreeable to Human Nature, than to have fomewhat moderately to employ both mind and body. There is nothing more unnatural than for a creature endowed with various active powers to be wholly inactive. Hence the filly and mifchievous inventions of cards, dice, and other aniufements, which empty people have been obliged to have recourse to, as a kind of artificial employments, to prevent human nature from finking into an abfolute lethargy. Why might not our luxurious wafters of Heaven's most ineftimable gift, as well employ the fame eagerness of activity in fomewhat that might turn to account to themfelves and others, as in the infipid and unprofitable drudgery of the card-table?

To ferve your friends to your own ruin, is romantic. To think of none but yourself, is fordid.

Riches and happiness have nothing to do with one another, though extreme poverty and mifery be nearly related.

Judge of yourfelf by that refpect you have voluntarily paid you by men of undoubted integrity and difcernment, and who have no intereft to flatter you. Act up to your character. Support your dignity. But do not make yourself unhappy, if you meet not with the honour you deserve from thofe whofe efteem no one. values.

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Defpife trifling affronts, and they will vanish. little water will put out a fire, which, blown up, would burn a city.

Give away what you can part with. Throw away nothing you know not how much you may miss it.

Provide for after-life, fo as to enjoy the prefent. Enjoy the present, fo as to leave a provifion for the time to

come.

Avoid too many and great obligations. It is running into debt beyond what you may be able to pay.

Conclude at leaft nine parts in ten of what is handed about by common fame to be false.

Wealth is a good fervant, but a bad mafter.

Do not offend a bad man, because he will stick at nothing to be revenged. It is cruel to infult a good

man, who deferves nothing but good. A great man may easily crufh you. And there is none fo mean who cannot do mischief. Therefore follow peace with all

men.

To carry the triumph over a perfon you have got the better of, too far, is mean and imprudent: it is mean, because you have got the better; it is imprudent, because it may provoke him to revenge your infolence in fome defperate way.

Prefents ought to be genteel, not expenfive: they are not valued by generous minds for their own fake, but as marks of love or efteem.

Provide for the worst: but hope the best.

Set about nothing, without first thinking it over carefully. To fay, "I did not think of that," is much the fame as faying, "You must know, I am a fim"pleton."

Whoever anticipates troubles, will find he has thrown away a great deal of terror and anguish to no purpose.

Accuftom yourself to have fome employment for every hour you can prudently fnatch from bufinefs. This book was put together in that manner, else it could never have been writ by its author.

Live fo, as nobody may believe bad reports against you.

Whenever you find you do not care to look into your affairs, you may affure yourself that they will foon not be fit to look into.

Reform yourself firft, and then others.

Do not place your happiness in ease from pain: there is no fuch thing in this world; but in patience under affliction, which is within your reach.

If you are a master, do not deprive yourself of fo great a rarity as a good fervant for a flight offence. If you are a dependent, do not throw yourself out of a good place for a flight affront.

Do what good offices you can: but leave yourself at liberty from promises and engagements.

Let no one overload you with favours: you will find it an unfufferable burden.

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