X.

To pardon those absurdites in ourselves, which we cannot suffer in others, is neither better nor worse than to be more willing to be fools ourselves, than to have others so.

XI.

A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser to day than he was yesterday.

XII.

Our passions are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for the time, leave us weaker ever after.

XIII.

To be angry, is to revenge the fault of others upon

ourselves.

XIV.

A brave man thinks no one his superiour, who does him an injury; for he has it then in his power to make himself superiour to the other, by forgiving it.

XV.

To relieve the oppressed, is the most glorious act a man is capable of; it is in some measure doing the business of God and Providence.

XVI.

Superstition is the spleen of the soul.

BB 4

XVII. Atheists

XVII.

Atheists put on a false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions: like children, who, when they go in the dark, will sing for

fear.

XVIII.

An atheist is but a mad, ridiculous derider of piety but a hypocrite makes a sober jest of God and religion. He finds it easier to be upon his knees, than to rise to do a good action; like an impudent debtor, who goes every day and talks familiarly to his creditor, without ever paying what he

owes.

XIX.

What Tully says of war, may be applied to disputing; it should be always so managed as to remember, that the only end of it is peace: but generally true disputants are like true sportsmen, their whole delight is in the pursuit: and a disputant no more cares for the truth, than the sportsman for the hare.

XX.

The Scripture, in time of disputes, is like an open town in time of war, which serves indifferently the occasions of both parties: each makes use of it for the present turn, and then resigns it to the next comer to do the same.

XXI.

Such as are still observing upon others, are like those who are always abroad at other men's houses, reforming every thing there, while their own run to

ruin.

XXII. When

XXII.

When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings.

XXIII.

When we are young, we are slavishly employed in procuring something whereby we may live comfortably when we grow old; and when we are old, we perceive it is too late to live as we proposed.

XXIV.

People are scandalized, if one laughs at what they call a serious thing. Suppose I were to have my head cut off to morrow, and all the world were talking of it to day, yet why might not I laugh to think, what a bustle is here about my head?

XXV.

The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world, is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the fool.

XXVI.

We ought in humanity, no more to despise a man for the misfortunes of the mind, than for those of the body, when they are such as he cannot help. Were this thoroughly considered, we should no more laugh at one for having his brains cracked, than for having his head broke.

XXVII.

A man of wit is not incapable of business, but above it. A sprightly generous horse is able to carry a packsaddle as well as an ass, but he is too good to be put to the drudgery.

XXVIII. Wherever

XXVIII.

Wherever I find a great deal of gratitude in a poor man, I take it for granted, there would be as much generosity if he were a rich man.

XXIX.

Flowers of rhetorick, in sermons and serious discourses, are like the blue and red flowers in corn, pleasing to them who come only for amusement, but prejudicial to him who would reap the profit.

XXX.

When two people compliment each other with the choice of any thing, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.

XXXI.

He who tells a lie, is not sensible how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

XXXII.

Giving advice, is, many times, only the privilege of saying a foolish thing one's self, under pretence of hindering another from doing one.

XXXIII.

It is with followers at court as with followers on the road, who first bespatter those that go before, and then tread on their heels.

XXXIV.

False happiness is like false money; it passes for a time as well as the true, and serves some ordinary occasions but when it is brought to the touch, we find the lightness and allay, and feel the loss.

XXXV. Das

XXXV.

Dastardly men are like sorry horses, who have but just spirit and mettle enough left to be mischievous.

XXXVI.

Some people will never learn any thing, for this reason, because they understand every thing too

soon.

XXXVII.

A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labour of the bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.

XXXVIII.

A man of business may talk of philosophy, a man who has none may practise it *.

XXXIX.

There are some solitary wretches, who seem to have left the rest of mankind, only as Eve left Adam, to meet the devil in private.

XL.

The vanity of human life is, like a river, constantly passing away, and yet constantly coming on.

XLI.

I seldom see a noble building, or any great piece of magnificence and pomp, but I think, how little is all this to satisfy the ambition, or to fill the idea, of an immortal soul !

The same sentiment occurs in a letter from Bolingbroke to Swift.

XLII. It