but

Wealth and titles are only the gifts of fortune;

peace and content are the peculiar endowments of a well disposed mind; a mind that can bear affliction without a murmur, and the weight of a plentiful fortune without vain glory; that can be familiar without meanness, and reserved without pride.

The discontents of the poor are much easier allayed than those of the rich.

A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befal us.

The greatest misfortune of all is not to be able to bear misfortune.

If we would begin at the right end, and look with as much compassion on the adversities of some, as we do with envy at the prosperities of others, every man would find cause to sit down contentedly with his own burden.

A man cannot be unhappy under the most de

pressed circumstances, if he uses his reason, not his opinion: and the most exalted fortunes are (if reason be not consulted) the subject of a wise man's pity.

The foundation of content must spring up in a man's own mind; and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing any thing but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove.

Contentment is of that price that it cannot be had at too great a purchase, since without it, the best condition in life cannot make us happy, and with it, it is impossible we should be miserable even in the worst.

This is the foundation of contentment in all conditions, and of patience under sufferings; that death, which is not far off, when it removes us out of this world, will take us from all the sufferings of it.

It was ever my opinion, says Horace, that a cheerful good natured friend, is so great a blessing, that it admits of no comparison but itself.

It is no flattery to give a friend a due character; for commendation is as much the duty of a friend, as reprehension.

More hearts pine away in secret anguish, for unkindness from those who should be their comforters, than for any other calamity in life.

Worthy minds deny themselves many advantages, to satisfy a generous benevolence, which they bear to their friends in distress.

The kindnesses of a friend lie deep; and whether present or absent, as occasion serves, he is solicitous about our concerns.

The greater a man is, the more need he has of a friend, and the more difficulty there is of finding and knowing him.

Anger among friends is unnatural; and therefore, when it happens, is more tormenting.

He will find himself in a great mistake, that either seeks for a friend in a palace, or tries him at a feast.

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy, and dividing of our grief.

If you have not the indulgence to pardon your friends, nor they the same to pardon you, your friendship will last no longer than it can serve both your interests.

The best friendship is to prevent a request, and never put a man to the confusion of asking. To ask, is a word that lies heavily on the tongue, and cannot well be uttered but with a dejected countenance. We should therefore strive to meet our friend in his wishes, if we cannot prevent him.

A man may have a thousand intimate acquaintances, and not a friend among them all. If you have one friend, think yourself happy.

A great advantage of friendship is the opportunity of receiving good advice: it is dangerous relying always upon our own opinion. Miserable is his case, who, when he needs, has none to admonish him.

When once you profess yourself a friend, endeavour to be always such: he can never have any true friends, that will be often changing them.

Though we ought not to love our friends only

for the good they do us yet it is plain they love not us, if they do not assist us when it is in their power.

Being sometimes asunder heightens friendship. The great cause of the frequent quarrels between relations, is, their being so much together.

An enemy that disguises himself under the veil of friendship, is worse than he who declares open hostility.

False is their conceit, who say, the way to have a friend, is, not to make use of him. Nothing can have greater assurance, that two men are friends, than when experience makes them mutually acknowledge it.

As he that has but a few books, and those good, may receive more improvement from them, than another who has a great number of indifferent ones; so it is in the choice of our friends; no matter how few, so they be discreet and virtuous.

Wealth without friends is like life without health the one an uncomfortable fortune; the other a miserable being.