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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9105-8.txt b/9105-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0711857 --- /dev/null +++ b/9105-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5624 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Reflections, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reflections + Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims + +Author: Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9105] +Posting Date: August 9, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + + + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + +By Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac + + +Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with introduction, notes, +and some account of the author and his times. + +By J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B and J. Hain Friswell + +Simpson Low, Son, and Marston, 188, Fleet Street. + +1871. + + +{TRANSCRIBERS NOTES: spelling variants are preserved (e.g. labour +instead of labor, criticise instead of criticize, etc.); the +translators' comments are in square brackets [...] as they are in the +text; footnotes are indicated by * and appear immediately following the +passage containing the note (in the text they appear at the bottom of +the page); and, finally, corrections and addenda are in curly brackets +{...}.} + + + +ROCHEFOUCAULD + +"As Rochefoucauld his maxims drew From Nature--I believe them true. They +argue no corrupted mind In him; the fault is in mankind."--Swift. + +"Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des gens +d'esprit."--Montesquieu. + +"Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations."--Sir J. Mackintosh. + +"Translators should not work alone; for good Et Propria Verba do not +always occur to one mind."--Luther's Table Talk, iii. + + + +CONTENTS + + + Preface (translator's) + Introduction (translator's) + Reflections and Moral Maxims + First Supplement + Second Supplement + Third Supplement + Reflections on Various Subjects + Index + + + + +Preface. + + {Translators'} +Some apology must be made for an attempt "to translate the +untranslatable." Notwithstanding there are no less than eight English +translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly any are readable, none are free +from faults, and all fail more or less to convey the author's meaning. +Though so often translated, there is not a complete English edition +of the Maxims and Reflections. All the translations are confined +exclusively to the Maxims, none include the Reflections. This may be +accounted for, from the fact that most of the translations are taken +from the old editions of the Maxims, in which the Reflections do +not appear. Until M. Suard devoted his attention to the text of +Rochefoucauld, the various editions were but reprints of the preceding +ones, without any regard to the alterations made by the author in the +later editions published during his life-time. So much was this the +case, that Maxims which had been rejected by Rochefoucauld in his last +edition, were still retained in the body of the work. To give but one +example, the celebrated Maxim as to the misfortunes of our friends, was +omitted in the last edition of the book, published in Rochefoucauld's +life-time, yet in every English edition this Maxim appears in the body +of the work. + +M. Aimé Martin in 1827 published an edition of the Maxims and +Reflections which has ever since been the standard text of Rochefoucauld +in France. The Maxims are printed from the edition of 1678, the last +published during the author's life, and the last which received his +corrections. To this edition were added two Supplements; the first +containing the Maxims which had appeared in the editions of 1665, 1666, +and 1675, and which were afterwards omitted; the second, some additional +Maxims found among various of the author's manuscripts in the Royal +Library at Paris. And a Series of Reflections which had been previously +published in a work called "Receuil de pièces d'histoire et de +littérature." Paris, 1731. They were first published with the Maxims in +an edition by Gabriel Brotier. + +In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled "Reflexions, ou Sentences et +Maximes Morales, augmentées de plus deux cent nouvelles Maximes et +Maximes et Pensées diverses suivant les copies Imprimées à Paris, chez +Claude Barbin, et Matre Cramoisy 1692,"* some fifty Maxims were added, +ascribed by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his family allowed them +to be published under his name, it seems probable they were genuine. +These fifty form the third supplement to this book. + + *In all the French editions this book is spoken of as + published in 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the + Cambridge University Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called + "Reflexions Morales." + + +The apology for the present edition of Rochefoucauld must therefore be +twofold: firstly, that it is an attempt to give the public a complete +English edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a moralist. The body of the +work comprises the Maxims as the author finally left them, the first +supplement, those published in former editions, and rejected by the +author in the later; the second, the unpublished Maxims taken from the +author's correspondence and manuscripts, and the third, the Maxims first +published in 1692. While the Reflections, in which the thoughts in the +Maxims are extended and elaborated, now appear in English for the first +time. And secondly, that it is an attempt (to quote the preface of the +edition of 1749) "to do the Duc de la Rochefoucauld the justice to make +him speak English." + + + + +Introduction + + {Translators'} +The description of the "ancien regime" in France, "a despotism tempered +by epigrams," like most epigrammatic sentences, contains some truth, +with much fiction. The society of the last half of the seventeenth, and +the whole of the eighteenth centuries, was doubtless greatly influenced +by the precise and terse mode in which the popular writers of that date +expressed their thoughts. To a people naturally inclined to think that +every possible view, every conceivable argument, upon a question is +included in a short aphorism, a shrug, and the word "voilà," truths +expressed in condensed sentences must always have a peculiar charm. It +is, perhaps, from this love of epigram, that we find so many eminent +French writers of maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La Rochefoucauld, La Bruyère, +Montesquieu, and Vauvenargues, each contributed to the rich stock of +French epigrams. No other country can show such a list of brilliant +writers--in England certainly we cannot. Our most celebrated, Lord +Bacon, has, by his other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their fame +is, to a great measure, obscured. The only Englishman who could have +rivalled La Rochefoucauld or La Bruyère was the Earl of Chesterfield, +and he only could have done so from his very intimate connexion +with France; but unfortunately his brilliant genius was spent in the +impossible task of trying to refine a boorish young Briton, in "cutting +blocks with a razor." + +Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefoucauld is at once the +most widely known, and the most distinguished. Voltaire, whose opinion +on the century of Louis XIV. is entitled to the greatest weight, says, +"One of the works that most largely contributed to form the taste of +the nation, and to diffuse a spirit of justice and precision, is the +collection of maxims, by Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld." + +This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac, +the author of the maxims, was one of the most illustrious members of the +most illustrious families among the French noblesse. Descended from the +ancient Dukes of Guienne, the founder of the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a +younger branch of the House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of +the eleventh century the Seigneur of a small town, La Roche, in the +Angounois. Our chief knowledge of this feudal lord is drawn from +the monkish chronicles. As the benefactor of the various abbeys and +monasteries in his province, he is naturally spoken of by them in terms +of eulogy, and in the charter of one of the abbeys of Angouleme he is +called, "vir nobilissimus Fulcaldus." His territorial power enabled him +to adopt what was then, as is still in Scotland, a common custom, to +prefix the name of his estate to his surname, and thus to create and +transmit to his descendants the illustrious surname of La Rochefoucauld. + +From that time until that great crisis in the history of the French +aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the family of La Rochefoucauld have +been, "if not first, in the very first line" of that most illustrious +body. One Seigneur served under Philip Augustus against Richard Coeur de +Lion, and was made prisoner at the battle of Gisors. The eighth +Seigneur Guy performed a great tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according +to Froissart) to the Lists by some two hundred of his kindred and +relations. The sixteenth Seigneur Francais was chamberlain to Charles +VIII. and Louis XII., and stood at the font as sponsor, giving his name +to that last light of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was created +a baron, and was afterwards advanced to a count, on account of his great +service to Francis and his predecessors. + +The second count pushed the family fortune still further by obtaining +a patent as the Prince de Marsillac. His widow, Anne de Polignac, +entertained Charles V. at the family chateau at Verteuil, in so princely +a manner that on leaving Charles observed, "He had never entered a +house so redolent of high virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that +mansion." + +The third count, after serving with distinction under the Duke of +Guise against the Spaniards, was made prisoner at St. Quintin, and only +regained his liberty to fall a victim to the "bloody infamy" of St. +Bartholomew. His son, the fourth count, saved with difficulty from that +massacre, after serving with distinction in the religious wars, was +taken prisoner in a skirmish at St. Yriex la Perche, and murdered by the +Leaguers in cold blood. + +The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis XIII., after fighting +against the English and Buckingham at the Ile de Ré, was created a duke. +His son Francis, the second duke, by his writings has made the family +name a household word. + +The third duke fought in many of the earlier campaigns of Louis XIV. at +Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and was dangerously wounded at the passage of +the Rhine. From his bravery he rose to high favour at Court, and was +appointed Master of the Horse (Grand Veneur) and Lord Chamberlain. His +son, the fourth duke, commanded the regiment of Navarre, and took part +in storming the village of Neerwinden on the day when William III. was +defeated at Landen. He was afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and +Marquis de Liancourt. + +The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., became the friend of +the philosopher Voltaire. + +The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the last of the long line +of noble lords who bore that distinguished name. In those terrible days +of September, 1792, when the French people were proclaiming universal +humanity, the duke was seized as an aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and +put to death behind his own carriage, in which sat his mother and +his wife, at the very place where, some six centuries previously, his +ancestor had been taken prisoner in a fair fight. A modern writer has +spoken of this murder "as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson +for the writings and conduct of the grandfather." But M. Sainte Beuve +observes as to this, he can see nothing admirable in the death of the +duke, and if it proves anything, it is only that the grandfather was not +so wrong in his judgment of men as is usually supposed. + +Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December 1615. M. Sainte Beuve +divides his life into four periods, first, from his birth till he was +thirty-five, when he became mixed up in the war of the Fronde; the +second period, during the progress of that war; the third, the twelve +years that followed, while he recovered from his wounds, and wrote his +maxims during his retirement from society; and the last from that time +till his death. + +In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of his history by +the name of one of the muses, so each of these four periods of La +Rochefoucauld's life may be associated with the name of a woman who was +for the time his ruling passion. These four ladies are the Duchesse de +Chevreuse, the Duchesse de Longueville, Madame de Sablé, and Madame de +La Fayette. + +La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; his father, occupied +in the affairs of state, either had not, or did not devote any time to +his education. His natural talents and his habits of observation soon, +however, supplied all deficiencies. By birth and station placed in +the best society of the French Court, he soon became a most finished +courtier. Knowing how precarious Court favour then was, his father, when +young Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, sent him into the army. +He was subsequently attached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but +sixteen he was present, and took part in the military operations at the +siege of Cassel. The Court of Louis XIII. was then ruled imperiously +by Richelieu. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was strongly opposed to the +Cardinal's party. By joining in the plots of Gaston of Orleans, he gave +Richelieu an opportunity of ridding Paris of his opposition. When those +plots were discovered, the Duke was sent into a sort of banishment to +Blois. His son, who was then at Court with him, was, upon the pretext of +a liaison with Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting on the +Queen (Anne of Austria), but in reality to prevent the Duke learning +what was passing at Paris, sent with his father. The result of the exile +was Rochefoucauld's marriage. With the exception that his wife's name +was Mdlle. Vivonne, and that she was the mother of five sons and three +daughters, nothing is known of her. While Rochefoucauld and his father +were at Blois, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, one of the beauties of +the Court, and the mistress of Louis, was banished to Tours. She and +Rochefoucauld met, and soon became intimate, and for a time she was +destined to be the one motive of his actions. The Duchesse was engaged +in a correspondence with the Court of Spain and the Queen. Into this +plot Rochefoucauld threw himself with all his energy; his connexion with +the Queen brought him back to his old love Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and led +him to her party, which he afterwards followed. The course he took shut +him off from all chance of Court favour. The King regarded him with +coldness, the Cardinal with irritation. Although the Bastile and the +scaffold, the fate of Chalais and Montmorency, were before his eyes, +they failed to deter him from plotting. He was about twenty-three; +returning to Paris, he warmly sided with the Queen. He says in his +Memoirs that the only persons she could then trust were himself and +Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he should take both of them +from Paris to Brussels. Into this plan he entered with all his youthful +indiscretion, it being for several reasons the very one he would wish to +adopt, as it would strengthen his influence with Anne of Austria, place +Richelieu and his master in an uncomfortable position, and save Mdlle. +d'Hautefort from the attentions the King was showing her. + +But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and Rochefoucauld was, +of course, sent to the Bastile. He was liberated after a week's +imprisonment, but banished to his chateau at Verteuil. + +The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal desired to win +Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. A command in the army was offered +to him, but by the Queen's orders refused. + +For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at Verteuil, waiting the +time for his reckoning with Richelieu; speculating on the King's death, +and the favours he would then receive from the Queen. During this period +he was more or less engaged in plotting against his enemy the Cardinal, +and hatching treason with Cinq Mars and De Thou. + +M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first part of +Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never understand his maxims. The bitter +disappointment of the passionate love, the high hopes then formed, the +deceit and treachery then witnessed, furnished the real key to their +meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality was built on the ruins of +that chivalrous ambition and romantic affection. He saw his friend Cinq +Mars sent to the scaffold, himself betrayed by men whom he had trusted, +and the only reason he could assign for these actions was intense +selfishness. + +Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld returned to Court, and found +Anne of Austria regent, and Mazarin minister. The Queen's former friends +flocked there in numbers, expecting that now their time of prosperity +had come. They were bitterly disappointed. Mazarin relied on hope +instead of gratitude, to keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The +most that any received were promises that were never performed. In after +years, doubtless, Rochefoucauld's recollection of his disappointment led +him to write the maxim: "We promise according to our hopes, we perform +according to our fears." But he was not even to receive promises; he +asked for the Governorship of Havre, which was then vacant. He was +flatly refused. Disappointment gave rise to anger, and uniting with +his old flame, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, who had received the same +treatment, and with the Duke of Beaufort, they formed a conspiracy +against the government. The plot was, of course, discovered and crushed. +Beaufort was arrested, the Duchesse banished. Irritated and disgusted, +Rochefoucauld went with the Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the +army, on a campaign, and here he found the one love of his life, the +Duke's sister, Mdme. de Longueville. This lady, young, beautiful, and +accomplished, obtained a great ascendancy over Rochefoucauld, and was +the cause of his taking the side of Condé in the subsequent civil war. +Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the army. He was badly wounded at +the siege of Mardik, and returned from thence to Paris. On recovering +from his wounds, the war of the Fronde broke out. This war is said +to have been most ridiculous, as being carried on without a definite +object, a plan, or a leader. But this description is hardly correct; it +was the struggle of the French nobility against the rule of the Court; +an attempt, the final attempt, to recover their lost influence over the +state, and to save themselves from sinking under the rule of cardinals +and priests. + +With the general history of that war we have nothing to do; it is far +too complicated and too confused to be stated here. The memoirs of +Rochefoucauld and De Retz will give the details to those who desire to +trace the contests of the factions--the course of the intrigues. We may +confine ourselves to its progress so far as it relates to the Duc de la +Rochefoucauld. + +On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Condé and Conti, and the Duc de +Longueville, to be arrested, Rochefoucauld and the Duchess fled into +Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into Poitou, of which province +he had some years previously bought the post of governor. He was there +joined by the Duc de Bouillon, and he and the Duke marched to, and +occupied Bordeaux. Cardinal Mazarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie +advanced in force on Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody battle +followed. Rochefoucauld defended the town with the greatest bravery, +and repulsed the Cardinal. Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers of +Bordeaux were anxious to make peace, and save the city from destruction. +The Parliament of Bordeaux compelled Rochefoucauld to surrender. He did +so, and returned nominally to Poitou, but in reality in secret to Paris. + +There he found the Queen engaged in trying to maintain her position by +playing off the rival parties of the Prince Condé and the Cardinal +De Retz against each other. Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old +party--that of Condé. In August, 1651, the contending parties met in the +Hall of the Parliament of Paris, and it was with great difficulty they +were prevented from coming to blows even there. It is even said that +Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder De Retz. + +Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disappointment. While +occupied with party strife and faction in Paris, Madame de Chevreuse +left him, and formed an alliance with the Duc de Nemours. Rochefoucauld +still loved her. It was, probably, thinking of this that he afterwards +wrote, "Jealousy is born with love, but does not die with it." He +endeavoured to get Madame de Chatillon, the old mistress of the Duc de +Nemours, reinstated in favour, but in this he did not succeed. The Duc +de Nemours was soon after killed in a duel. The war went on, and after +several indecisive skirmishes, the decisive battle was fought at Paris, +in the Faubourg St. Antoine, where the Parisians first learnt the use +or the abuse of their favourite defence, the barricade. In this battle, +Rochefoucauld behaved with great bravery. He was wounded in the head, a +wound which for a time deprived him of his sight. Before he recovered, +the war was over, Louis XIV. had attained his majority, the gold of +Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, had been successful, the French nobility +were vanquished, the court supremacy established. + +This completed Rochefoucauld's active life. + +When he recovered his health, he devoted himself to society. Madame +de Sablé assumed a hold over him. He lived a quiet life, and occupied +himself in composing an account of his early life, called his "Memoirs," +and his immortal "Maxims." + +From the time he ceased to take part in public life, Rochefoucauld's +real glory began. Having acted the various parts of soldier, politician, +and lover with but small success, he now commenced the part of moralist, +by which he is known to the world. + +Living in the most brilliant society that France possessed, famous +from his writings, distinguished from the part he had taken in public +affairs, he formed the centre of one of those remarkable French literary +societies, a society which numbered among its members La Fontaine, +Racine, Boileau. Among his most attached friends was Madame de +La Fayette (the authoress of the "Princess of Cleeves"), and this +friendship continued until his death. He was not, however, destined to +pass away in that gay society without some troubles. At the passage of +the Rhine in 1672 two of his sons were engaged; the one was killed, the +other severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was much affected by this, but +perhaps still more by the death of the young Duc de Longueville, who +perished on the same occasion. + +Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that young life were the +only fruits of the war of the Fronde. Madame de Sévigné, who was with +him when he heard the news of the death of so much that was dear to +him, says, "I saw his heart laid bare on that cruel occasion, and his +courage, his merit, his tenderness, and good sense surpassed all I ever +met with. I hold his wit and accomplishments as nothing in comparison." +The combined effect of his wounds and the gout caused the last years of +Rochefoucauld's life to be spent in great pain. Madame de Sévigné, +who was {with} him continually during his last illness, speaks of the +fortitude with which he bore his sufferings as something to be admired. +Writing to her daughter, she says, "Believe me, it is not for nothing he +has moralised all his life; he has thought so often on his last moments +that they are nothing new or unfamiliar to him." + +In his last illness, the great moralist was attended by the great +divine, Bossuet. Whether that matchless eloquence or his own philosophic +calm had, in spite of his writings, brought him into the state Madame +de Sévigné describes, we know not; but one, or both, contributed to +his passing away in a manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a +French philosopher. On the 11th March, 1680, he ended his stormy life in +peace after so much strife, a loyal subject after so much treason. + +One of his friends, Madame Deshoulières, shortly before he died sent +him an ode on death, which aptly describes his state-- "Oui, soyez alors +plus ferme, Que ces vulgaires humains Qui, près de leur dernier terme, +De vaines terreurs sont pleins. En sage que rien n'offense, Livrez-vous +sans resistance A d'inévitables traits; Et, d'une demarche égale, Passez +cette onde fatal Qu'on ne repasse jamais." + +Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the one, Memoirs of his +own time, the other the Maxims. The first described the scenes in which +his youth had been spent, and though written in a lively style, and +giving faithful pictures of the intrigues and the scandals of the court +during Louis XIV.'s minority, yet, except to the historian, has ceased +at the present day to be of much interest. It forms, perhaps, the true +key to understand the special as opposed to general application of the +maxims. + +Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that "there are few people so +bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer the Memoirs of La Rochefoucauld +to the Commentaries of Caesar," or the statement of Voltaire, "that the +Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims are learnt by heart," few +persons at the present day ever heard of the Memoirs, and the knowledge +of most as to the Maxims is confined to that most celebrated of all, +though omitted from his last edition, "There is something in the +misfortunes of our best friends which does not wholly displease us." Yet +it is difficult to assign a cause for this; no book is perhaps oftener +unwittingly quoted, none certainly oftener unblushingly pillaged; upon +none have so many contradictory opinions been given. + +"Few books," says Mr. Hallam, "have been more highly extolled, or more +severely blamed, than the maxims of the Duke of Rochefoucauld, and that +not only here, but also in France." Rousseau speaks of it as, "a sad and +melancholy book," though he goes on to say "it is usually so in youth +when we do not like seeing man as he is." Voltaire says of it, in the +words above quoted, "One of the works which most contributed to form the +taste of the (French) nation, and to give it a spirit of justness +and precision, was the collection of the maxims of Francois Duc de la +Rochefoucauld, though there is scarcely more than one truth running +through the book--that 'self-love is the motive of everything'--yet +this thought is presented under so many varied aspects that it is +nearly always striking. It is not so much a book as it is materials for +ornamenting a book. This little collection was read with avidity, it +taught people to think, and to comprise their thoughts in a lively, +precise, and delicate turn of expression. This was a merit which, before +him, no one in Europe had attained since the revival of letters." + +Dr. Johnson speaks of it as "the only book written by a man of fashion, +of which professed authors need be jealous." + +Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, "Till you come to +know mankind by your experience, I know no thing nor no man that can +in the meantime bring you so well acquainted with them as Le Duc de la +Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, which I would advise you to +look into for some moments at least every day of your life, is, I fear, +too like and too exact a picture of human nature. I own it seems to +degrade it, but yet my experience does not convince me that it degrades +it unjustly." + +Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book in no measured terms. +"There is a strange affectation," says the bishop, "in some people of +explaining away all particular affection, and representing the whole +life as nothing but one continued exercise of self-love. Hence arise +that surprising confusion and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, +Hobbes, the author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set of +writers, of calling actions interested which are done of the most +manifest known interest, merely for the gratification of a present +passion." + +The judgment the reader will be most inclined to adopt will perhaps be +either that of Mr. Hallam, "Concise and energetic in expression, reduced +to those short aphorisms which leave much to the reader's acuteness and +yet save his labour, not often obscure, and never wearisome, an evident +generalisation of long experience, without pedantry, without method, +without deductive reasonings, yet wearing an appearance at least of +profundity; they delight the intelligent though indolent man of the +world, and must be read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . +yet they bear witness to the contracted observation and the precipitate +inferences which an intercourse with a single class of society scarcely +fails to generate." Or that of Addison, who speaks of Rochefoucauld "as +the great philosopher for administering consolation to the idle, the +curious, and the worthless part of mankind." + +We are fortunately in possession of materials such as rarely exist to +enable us to form a judgment of Rochefoucauld's character. We have, with +a vanity that could only exist in a Frenchman, a description or portrait +of himself, of his own painting, and one of those inimitable living +sketches in which his great enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief +actors in the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass across the +stage before us. + +We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has left us of himself: +"I am," says he, "of a medium height, active, and well-proportioned. My +complexion dark, but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, +black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick but well placed. I +am rather embarrassed in talking of my nose, for it is neither flat nor +aquiline, nor large; nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, +it is too large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too low. I +have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, neither shaped well nor +badly. I have white teeth, and fairly even. I have been told I have +a little too much chin. I have just looked at myself in the glass to +ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to decide. As to the shape of +my face, it is either square or oval, but which I should find it very +difficult to say. I have black hair, which curls by nature, and thick +and long enough to entitle me to lay claim to a fine head. I have in my +countenance somewhat of grief and pride, which gives many people an idea +I despise them, although I am not at all given to do so. My gestures are +very free, rather inclined to be too much so, for in speaking they +make me use too much action. Such, candidly, I believe I am in outward +appearance, and I believe it will be found that what I have said +above of myself is not far from the real case. I shall use the same +truthfulness in the remainder of my picture, for I have studied myself +sufficiently to know myself well; and I will lack neither boldness to +speak as freely as I can of my good qualities, nor sincerity to freely +avow that I have faults. + +"In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am melancholy, and I have +hardly been seen for the last three or four years to laugh above three +or four times. It seems to me that my melancholy would be even endurable +and pleasant if I had none but what belonged to me constitutionally; but +it arises from so many other causes, fills my imagination in such a way, +and possesses my mind so strongly that for the greater part of my time +I remain without speaking a word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am +extremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am not very open with +the greater part of those I do. It is a fault I know well, and I should +neglect no means to correct myself of it; but as a certain gloomy air I +have tends to make me seem more reserved than I am in fact, and as it is +not in our power to rid ourselves of a bad expression that arises from +a natural conformation of features, I think that even when I have cured +myself internally, externally some bad expression will always remain. + +"I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, as for what purpose +should I pretend otherwise. So great circumvention, and so great +depreciation, in speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a +little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily to try to make +others believe in greater virtues than are imputed to us. On my part +I am content not to be considered better-looking than I am, nor of a +better temper than I describe, nor more witty and clever than I am. Once +more, I have ability, but a mind spoilt by melancholy, for though I +know my own language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a mode +of thought not particularly confused, I yet have so great a mixture of +discontent that I often say what I have to say very badly. + +"The conversation of gentlemen is one of the pleasures that most amuses +me. I like it to be serious and morality to form the substance of it. +Yet I also know how to enjoy it when trifling; and if I do not make +many witty speeches, it is not because I do not appreciate the value of +trifles well said, and that I do not find great amusement in that manner +of raillery in which certain prompt and ready-witted persons excel so +well. I write well in prose; I do well in verse; and if I was envious of +the glory that springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour +I could acquire some reputation. I like reading, in general; but that in +which one finds something to polish the wit and strengthen the soul +is what I like best. But, above all, I have the greatest pleasure in +reading with an intelligent person, for then we reflect constantly upon +what we read, and the observations we make form the most pleasant and +useful form of conversation there is. + +"I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose that are shown me; +but perhaps I speak my opinion with almost too great freedom. Another +fault in me is that I have sometimes a spirit of delicacy far too +scrupulous, and a spirit of criticism far too severe. I do not dislike +an argument, and I often of my own free will engage in one; but I +generally back my opinion with too much warmth, and sometimes, when the +wrong side is advocated against me, from the strength of my zeal for +reason, I become a little unreasonable myself. + +"I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and so strong a desire +to be a wholly good man that my friend cannot afford me a greater +pleasure than candidly to show me my faults. Those who know me most +intimately, and those who have the goodness sometimes to give me the +above advice, know that I always receive it with all the joy that could +be expected, and with all reverence of mind that could be desired. + +"I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty well under control. +I am hardly ever seen in a rage, and I never hated any one. I am not, +however, incapable of avenging myself if I have been offended, or if my +honour demanded I should resent an insult put upon me; on the contrary, +I feel clear that duty would so well discharge the office of hatred in +me that I should follow my revenge with even greater keenness than other +people. + +"Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few things, and I do not fear +death in the least. I am but little given to pity, and I could wish I +was not so at all. Though there is nothing I would not do to comfort an +afflicted person, and I really believe that one should do all one can to +show great sympathy to him for his misfortune, for miserable people are +so foolish that this does them the greatest good in the world; yet +I also hold that we should be content with expressing sympathy, and +carefully avoid having any. It is a passion that is wholly worthless in +a well-regulated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, and which +should be left to ordinary persons, who, as they never do anything from +reason, have need of passions to stimulate their actions. + +"I love my friends; and I love them to such an extent that I would not +for a moment weigh my interest against theirs. I condescend to them, +I patiently endure their bad temper. But, also, I do not make much of +their caresses, and I do not feel great uneasiness in their absence. + +"Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the majority of things +that stir up curiosity in other men. I am very secret, and I have less +difficulty than most men in holding my tongue as to what is told me in +confidence. I am most particular as to my word, and I would never fail, +whatever might be the consequence, to do what I had promised; and I have +made this an inflexible law during the whole of my life. + +"I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I do not believe I have +ever said anything before them which could cause them annoyance. When +their intellect is cultivated, I prefer their society to that of men: +one there finds a mildness one does not meet with among ourselves, +and it seems to me beyond this that they express themselves with more +neatness, and give a more agreeable turn to the things they talk about. +As for flirtation, I formerly indulged in a little, now I shall do so no +more, though I am still young. I have renounced all flirtation, and I am +simply astonished that there are still so many sensible people who can +occupy their time with it. + +"I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate greatness of soul, and +although, in the uneasiness they give rise to, there is a something +contrary to strict wisdom, they fit in so well with the most severe +virtue, that I believe they cannot be censured with justice. To me who +have known all that is fine and grand in the lofty aspirations of love, +if I ever fall in love, it will assuredly be in love of that nature. But +in accordance with the present turn of my mind, I do not believe that +the knowledge I have of it will ever change from my mind to my heart." + +Such is his own description of himself. Let us now turn to the other +picture, delineated by the man who was his bitterest enemy, and whom (we +say it with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to murder. + +Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:-- "In M. de la Rochefoucauld there was +ever an indescribable something. From his infancy he always wanted to +be mixed up with plots, at a time when he could not understand even +the smallest interests (which has indeed never been his weak point,) +or comprehend greater ones, which in another sense has never been his +strong point. He was never fitted for any matter, and I really cannot +tell the reason. His glance was not sufficiently wide, and he could not +take in at once all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect +in theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning ways, his +pleasing manners, which are perfect, should more than compensate for +his lack of penetration. He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I +cannot say to what this irresolution is to be attributed. It could not +arise in him from the wealth of his imagination, for that was anything +but lively. I cannot put it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, +although he was not prompt in action, he had a good store of reason. We +see the effects of this irresolution, although we cannot assign a +cause for it. He was never a general, though a great soldier; never, +naturally, a good courtier, although he had always a good idea of being +so. He was never a good partizan, although all his life engaged in +intrigues. That air of pride and timidity which your see in his private +life, is turned in business into an apologetic manner. He always +believed he had need of it; and this, combined with his 'Maxims,' which +show little faith in virtue, and his habitual custom, to give up matters +with the same haste he undertook them, leads me to the conclusion that +he would have done far better to have known his own mind, and have +passed himself off, as he could have done, for the most polished +courtier, the most agreeable man in private life that had appeared in +his century." + +It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the Duc is not painted in +such dark colours as we should have expected, judging from what we know +of the character of De Retz. With his marvellous power of depicting +character, a power unrivalled, except by St. Simon and perhaps by Lord +Clarendon, we should have expected the malignity of the priest would +have stamped the features of his great enemy with the impress of infamy, +and not have simply made him appear a courtier, weak, insincere, +and nothing more. Though rather beyond our subject, the character of +Cardinal de Retz, as delineated by Mdme. Sévigné, in one of her letters, +will help us to form a true conclusion on the different characters of +the Duc and the Cardinal. She says:-- "Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz +possesses great elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, +and more of the ostentation than of the true greatness of courage. He +has an extraordinary memory, more energy than polish in his words, an +easy humour, docility of character, and weakness in submitting to +the complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little piety, some +appearances of religion. He appears ambitious without being really so. +Vanity and those who have guided him, have made him undertake great +things, almost all opposed to his profession. He excited the greatest +troubles in the State without any design of turning them to account, and +far from declaring himself the enemy of Cardinal Mazarin with any view +of occupying his place, he thought of nothing but making himself an +object of dread to him, and flattering himself with the false vanity of +being his rival. He was clever enough, however, to take advantage of +the public calamities to get himself made Cardinal. He endured his +imprisonment with firmness, and owed his liberty solely to his own +daring. In the obscurity of a life of wandering and concealment, his +indolence for many years supported him with reputation. He preserved the +Archbishopric of Paris against the power of Cardinal Mazarin, but after +the death of that minister, he resigned it without knowing what he +was doing, and without making use of the opportunity to promote the +interests of himself and his friends. He has taken part in several +conclaves, and his conduct has always increased his reputation. + +"His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he labours with +activity in pressing business, and reposes with indifference when it is +concluded. He has great presence of mind, and knows so well how to turn +it to his own advantage on all occasions presented him by fortune, +that it would seem as if he had foreseen and desired them. He loves +to narrate, and seeks to dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his +extraordinary adventures, and his imagination often supplies him with +more than his memory. The generality of his qualities are false, and +what has most contributed to his reputation is his power of throwing +a good light on his faults. He is insensible alike to hatred and to +friendship, whatever pains he may be at to appear taken up with the one +or the other. He is incapable of envy or avarice, whether from virtue or +from carelessness. He has borrowed more from his friends than a private +person could ever hope to be able to repay; he has felt the vanity of +acquiring so much on credit, and of undertaking to discharge it. He has +neither taste nor refinement; he is amused by everything and pleased +by nothing. He avoids difficult matters with considerable address, +not allowing people to penetrate the slight acquaintance he has with +everything. The retreat he has just made from the world is the most +brilliant and the most unreal action of his life; it is a sacrifice he +has made to his pride under the pretence of devotion; he quits the court +to which he cannot attach himself, and retires from a world which is +retiring from him." + +The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a preface by Segrais. +This preface was omitted in the subsequent editions. The first edition +contained 316 maxims, counting the last upon death, which was not +numbered. The second in 1666 contained only 102; the third in 1671, and +the fourth in 1675, 413. In this last edition we first meet with the +introductory maxim, "Our virtues are generally but disguised vices." The +edition of 1678, the fifth, increased the number to 504. This was the +last edition revised by the author, and published in his lifetime. The +text of that edition has been used for the present translation. The next +edition, the sixth, was published in 1693, about thirteen years after +the author's death. This edition included fifty new maxims, attributed +by the editor to Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were his writing, as +the fact was never denied by his family, through whose permission they +were published. They form the third supplement to the translation. This +sixth edition was published by Claude Barbin, and the French editions +since that time have been too numerous to be enumerated. The great +popularity of the Maxims is perhaps best shown from the numerous +translations that have been made of them. No less than eight English +translations, or so-called translations, have appeared; one American, a +Swedish, and a Spanish translation, an Italian imitation, with parallel +passages, and an English imitation by Hazlitt. The titles of the English +editions are as follows:-- i. Seneca Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. +London, 1689. She calls the author the Duke of Rushfucave. ii. Moral +Maxims and Reflections, in four parts. By the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. +Now made English. London, 1694. 12 mo. iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections +of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Newly made English. London, 1706. 12 +mo. iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Translated +from the French. With notes. London, 1749. 12 mo. v. Maxims and Moral +Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Revised and improved. +London, 1775. 8 vo. vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la +Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and improved, by L. D. London, +1781. 8 vo. vii. The Gentleman's Library. La Rochefoucauld's Maxims +and Moral Reflections. London, 1813. 12 mo. viii. Moral Reflections, +Sentences, and Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly translated +from the French; with an introduction and notes. London, 1850. 16 mo. +ix. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld: with a +Memoir by the Chevalier de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo. + +The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every reader to a greater +or less degree, in accordance with the extent of his reading, parallel +passages, and similar ideas. Of ancient writers Rochefoucauld most +strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern writers, Junius most strongly +reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some examples from both are given in the +notes to this translation. It is curious to see how the expressions +of the bitterest writer of English political satire to a great extent +express the same ideas as the great French satirist of private life. +Had space permitted the parallel could have been drawn very closely, and +much of the invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefoucauld. + +One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and protected, was +the great French fabulist, La Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by +La Fontaine giving, in one of his fables, "L'Homme et son Image," an +elaborate defence of his patron. After there depicting a man who fancied +himself one of the most lovely in the world, and who complained he +always found all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real +image reflected in the water. He thus applies his fable:-- "Je parle +à tous: et cette erreur extrême, Est un mal que chacun se plait +d'entretenir, Notre âme, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui même, Tant +de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. Miroirs, de nos défauts les +peintres légitimes, Et quant au canal, c'est celui Qui chacun sait, le +livre des MAXIMES." + +It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we all see ourselves. +This has made it so unpopular. It is too true. We dislike to be told +of our faults, while we only like to be told of our neighbour's. +Notwithstanding Rousseau's assertion, it is young men, who, before they +know their own faults and only know their neighbours', that read and +thoroughly appreciate Rochefoucauld. + +After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more and seems far +truer than he is in reality, it is impossible to give any general +conclusion of such distinguished writers on the subject. Each reader +will form his own opinion of the merits of the author and his book. To +some, both will seem deserving of the highest praise; to others both +will seem deserving of the highest censure. The truest judgment as to +the author will be found in the remarks of a countryman of his own, as +to the book in the remarks of a countryman of ours. + +As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:--"C'était un misanthrope poli, +insinuant, souriant, qui précédait de bien peu et préparait avec charme +l'autre MISANTHROPE." + +As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:--"Among the books in ancient and +modern times which record the conclusions of observing men on the moral +qualities of their fellows, a high place should be reserved for the +Maxims of Rochefoucauld". + + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + +Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. + +[This epigraph which is the key to the system of La Rochefoucauld, is +found in another form as No. 179 of the maxims of the first edition, +1665, it is omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, and reappears for the first +time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as at present, at the head of the +Reflections.--Aimé Martin. Its best answer is arrived at by reversing +the predicate and the subject, and you at once form a contradictory +maxim equally true, our vices are most frequently but virtues +disguised.] + + +1.--What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and +divers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage to arrange; +and it is not always from valour or from chastity that men are brave, +and women chaste. + +"Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like +the meanest slave; Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, His pride +in reasoning, not in acting, lies." Pope, Moral Essays, Ep. i. line 115. + + +2.--Self-love is the greatest of flatterers. + + +3.--Whatever discoveries have been made in the region of self-love, +there remain many unexplored territories there. + +[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to develope. He +wishes to find in vice a motive for all our actions, but this does not +suffice him; he is obliged to call other passions to the help of his +system and to confound pride, vanity, interest and egotism with self +love. This confusion destroys the unity of his principle.--Aimé Martin.] + + +4.--Self love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world. + + +5.--The duration of our passions is no more dependant upon us than the +duration of our life. [Then what becomes of free will?--Aimé; Martin] + + +6.--Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even sometimes +renders the most foolish man clever. + + +7.--Great and striking actions which dazzle the eyes are represented by +politicians as the effect of great designs, instead of which they are +commonly caused by the temper and the passions. Thus the war between +Augustus and Anthony, which is set down to the ambition they entertained +of making themselves masters of the world, was probably but an effect of +jealousy. + + +8.--The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are +a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man +with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without. + +[See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.] + + +9.--The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which +makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust +them even when they appear most trustworthy. + + +10.--In the human heart there is a perpetual generation of passions; so +that the ruin of one is almost always the foundation of another. + + +11.--Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to +prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through +weakness and daring though timidity. + + +12.--Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under the appearances +of piety and honour, they are always to be seen through these veils. + +[The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps better--"however +we may conceal our passions under the veil, etc., there is always some +place where they peep out."] + + +13.--Our self love endures more impatiently the condemnation of our +tastes than of our opinions. + + +14.--Men are not only prone to forget benefits and injuries; they even +hate those who have obliged them, and cease to hate those who have +injured them. The necessity of revenging an injury or of recompensing a +benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling to submit. + + +15.--The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win the affections +of the people. + + +["So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by clemency, so greatly +does it raise their fame and endear them to their subjects, that it +is generally happy for them to have an opportunity of displaying +it."--Montesquieu, Esprit Des Lois, Lib. VI., C. 21.] + + +16.--This clemency of which they make a merit, arises oftentimes from +vanity, sometimes from idleness, oftentimes from fear, and almost always +from all three combined. + +[La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which he lived. Here +the clemency spoken of is nothing more than an expression of the policy +of Anne of Austria. Rochefoucauld had sacrificed all to her; even the +favour of Cardinal Richelieu, but when she became regent she bestowed +her favours upon those she hated; her friends were forgotten.--Aimé +Martin. The reader will hereby see that the age in which the writer +lived best interprets his maxims.] + + +17.--The moderation of those who are happy arises from the calm which +good fortune bestows upon their temper. + + +18.--Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt +which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a +vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men +at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their +fortune. + + +19.--We have all sufficient strength to support the misfortunes of +others. + +[The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucretius, lib. ii., +line I:-- "Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis E terra magnum +alterius spectare laborem."] + + +20.--The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the +agitation of their hearts. + +[Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. This definition of +constancy is a result of maxim 18.] + + +21.--Those who are condemned to death affect sometimes a constancy and +contempt for death which is only the fear of facing it; so that one may +say that this constancy and contempt are to their mind what the bandage +is to their eyes. + +[See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.] + + +22.--Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but +present evils triumph over it. + + +23.--Few people know death, we only endure it, usually from +determination, and even from stupidity and custom; and most men only die +because they know not how to prevent dying. + + +24.--When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the continuance +of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by ambition, +and not by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes are made like +other men. + +[Both these maxims have been rewritten and made conciser by the author; +the variations are not worth quoting.] + + +25.--We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune. + +["Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} best +discover virtue."--Lord Bacon, Essays{, (1625), "Of Adversity"}.] + +{The quotation wrongly had "does" for "doth".} + + +26.--Neither the sun nor death can be looked at without winking. + + +27.--People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but +envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare avow +her. + + +28.--Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, as it tends to +preserve a good which belongs, or which we believe belongs to us, on the +other hand envy is a fury which cannot endure the happiness of others. + + +29.--The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution and +hatred as our good qualities. + + +30.--We have more strength than will; and it is often merely for an +excuse we say things are impossible. + + +31.--If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting +those of others. + + +32.--Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an end or becomes a fury as +soon as it passes from doubt to certainty. + + +33.--Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when it casts away +vanity. + +[See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take from our other +faults we add to our pride.] + + +34.--If we had no pride we should not complain of that of others. + +["The proud are ever most provoked by pride."--Cowper, Conversation +160.] + + +35.--Pride is much the same in all men, the only difference is the +method and manner of showing it. + +["Pride bestowed on all a common friend."--Pope, Essay On Man, Ep. ii., +line 273.] + + +36.--It would seem that nature, which has so wisely ordered the organs +of our body for our happiness, has also given us pride to spare us the +mortification of knowing our imperfections. + + +37.--Pride has a larger part than goodness in our remonstrances with +those who commit faults, and we reprove them not so much to correct as +to persuade them that we ourselves are free from faults. + + +38.--We promise according to our hopes; we perform according to our +fears. + +["The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long to grant the +favours he had promised, was because he was persuaded that hope was much +more capable of keeping men to their duty than gratitude."--Fragments +Historiques. Racine.] + + +39.--Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays all sorts of +characters; even that of disinterestedness. + + +40.--Interest blinds some and makes some see. + + +41.--Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often +become incapable of great things. + + +42.--We have not enough strength to follow all our reason. + + +43.--A man often believes himself leader when he is led; as his mind +endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him towards +another. + + +44.--Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; they are really only +the good or happy arrangement of our bodily organs. + + +45.--The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical than that of +Fortune. + + +46.--The attachment or indifference which philosophers have shown to +life is only the style of their self love, about which we can no more +dispute than of that of the palate or of the choice of colours. + + +47.--Our temper sets a price upon every gift that we receive from +fortune. + + +48.--Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we +are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what others +like. + + +49.--We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose. + + +50.--Those who think they have merit persuade themselves that they are +honoured by being unhappy, in order to persuade others and themselves +that they are worthy to be the butt of fortune. + + +["Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable men take comfort +that they were supreme in misery; and certain it is{, that where} we +cannot distinguish ourselves by something excellent, we begin to take +a complacency in some singular infirmities, follies, or defects of one +kind or other." --Burke, {On The Sublime And Beautiful, (1756), Part I, +Sect. XVII}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite Speech On Conciliation With America. +Also, Burke does not actually write "Ambition has been...", he writes +"It has been..." when speaking of ambition.} + + +51.--Nothing should so much diminish the satisfaction which we feel +with ourselves as seeing that we disapprove at one time of that which we +approve of at another. + + +52.--Whatever difference there appears in our fortunes, there is +nevertheless a certain compensation of good and evil which renders them +equal. + + +53.--Whatever great advantages nature may give, it is not she alone, but +fortune also that makes the hero. + + +54.--The contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to +avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune, by despising the +very goods of which fortune had deprived them; it was a secret to guard +themselves against the degradation of poverty, it was a back way by +which to arrive at that distinction which they could not gain by riches. + +["It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior ranks of +mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that pomp and pleasure +which fortune has placed beyond their reach. The virtue of the primitive +Christians, like that of the first Romans, was very frequently guarded +by poverty and ignorance."--Gibbon, Decline And Fall, Chap. 15.] + + +55.--The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT +possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it +evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not +being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the +world. + + +56.--To establish ourselves in the world we do everything to appear as +if we were established. + + +57.--Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are +not so often the result of a great design as of chance. + + +58.--It would seem that our actions have lucky or unlucky stars to which +they owe a great part of the blame or praise which is given them. + + +59.--There are no accidents so unfortunate from which skilful men will +not draw some advantage, nor so fortunate that foolish men will not turn +them to their hurt. + + +60.--Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she +smiles. + + +61.--The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less upon their +dispositions than their fortunes. + +["Still to ourselves in every place consigned Our own felicity we make +or find." Goldsmith, Traveller, 431.] + + +62.--Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few +people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the +confidence of others. + + +63.--The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our +words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our +conversation. + + +64.--Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its counterfeits do +evil. + + +65.--There is no praise we have not lavished upon Prudence; and yet she +cannot assure to us the most trifling event. + +[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 it is No. +75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last edition it stands as at +present. In the first he quotes Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. " Nullum +numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, +coeloque locamus." Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, +and with much greater force.] + + +66.--A clever man ought to so regulate his interests that each will fall +in due order. Our greediness so often troubles us, making us run after +so many things at the same time, that while we too eagerly look after +the least we miss the greatest. + + +67.--What grace is to the body good sense is to the mind. + + +68.--It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul +it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a sympathy, and in the body +it is a hidden and delicate wish to possess what we love--Plus many +mysteries. + +["Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be singularly +beloved."--Hobbes{Leviathan, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + +{Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' mistakenly +have "singularity" for the first "singularly" and (2) Hobbes does not +actually write "Love is the..."--he writes "Love of one..." under the +heading "The passion of Love."} + + +69.--If there is a pure love, exempt from the mixture of our other +passions, it is that which is concealed at the bottom of the heart and +of which even ourselves are ignorant. + + +70.--There is no disguise which can long hide love where it exists, nor +feign it where it does not. + + +71.--There are few people who would not be ashamed of being beloved when +they love no longer. + + +72.--If we judge of love by the majority of its results it rather +resembles hatred than friendship. + + +73.--We may find women who have never indulged in an intrigue, but it is +rare to find those who have intrigued but once. + +["Yet there are some, they say, who have had None}; But those who +have, ne'er end with only one}." {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, {Canto} iii., +stanza 4.] + + +74.--There is only one sort of love, but there are a thousand different +copies. + + +75.--Neither love nor fire can subsist without perpetual motion; both +cease to live so soon as they cease to hope, or to fear. + +[So Lord Byron{Stanzas, (1819), stanza 3} says of Love-- "Like chiefs of +faction, His life is action."] + + +76.--There is real love just as there are real ghosts; every person +speaks of it, few persons have seen it. + +["Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art-- An unseen seraph, we believe +in thee-- A faith whose martyrs are the broken heart,-- But never yet +hath seen, nor e'er shall see The naked eye, thy form as it should be." +{--Lord Byron, }Childe Harold, {Canto} iv., stanza 121.] + + +77.--Love lends its name to an infinite number of engagements +(Commerces) which are attributed to it, but with which it has no more +concern than the Doge has with all that is done in Venice. + + +78.--The love of justice is simply in the majority of men the fear of +suffering injustice. + + +79.--Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts himself. + + +80.--What renders us so changeable in our friendship is, that it is +difficult to know the qualities of the soul, but easy to know those of +the mind. + + +81.--We can love nothing but what agrees with us, and we can only follow +our taste or our pleasure when we prefer our friends to ourselves; +nevertheless it is only by that preference that friendship can be true +and perfect. + + +82.--Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire to better our +condition, a weariness of war, the fear of some unlucky accident. + +["Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. The Duke de la +Rochefoucauld desired peace because of his dangerous wounds and ruined +castles, which had made him dread even worse events. On the other side +the Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful to her too ambitious +friends, did not cease to feel the bitterness of their resentment. 'I +wish,' said she, 'it were always night, because daylight shows me so +many who have betrayed me.'"--Memoires De Madame De Motteville, Tom. +IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these maxims are in some cases +of universal application, they were based entirely on the experience of +the age in which the author lived.] + + +83.--What men term friendship is merely a partnership with a collection +of reciprocal interests, and an exchange of favours--in fact it is but a +trade in which self love always expects to gain something. + + +84.--It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be deceived by our +friends. + + +85.--We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful +than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give +our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to +receive. + + +86.--Our distrust of another justifies his deceit. + + +87.--Men would not live long in society were they not the dupes of each +other. + +[A maxim, adds Aimé Martin, "Which may enter into the code of a vulgar +rogue, but one is astonished to find it in a moral treatise." Yet we +have scriptural authority for it: "Deceiving and being deceived."--2 +TIM. iii. 13.] + + +88.--Self love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our +friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them, and we +judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us. + + +89.--Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his judgment. + + +90.--In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by +our good qualities. + + +91.--The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it +meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object. + + +92.--To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him +as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in +believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. + +[That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, son of Pythodorus. +His brother Crito cured him, when he infinitely regretted the time of +his more pleasant madness.--See Aelian, Var. Hist. iv. 25. So Horace-- +------------"Pol, me occidistis, amici, Non servastis," ait, "cui sic +extorta voluptas Et demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error." HOR. EP. +ii--2, 138, of the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.] + + +93.--Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact +that they can no longer set bad examples. + + +94.--Great names degrade instead of elevating those who know not how to +sustain them. + + +95.--The test of extraordinary merit is to see those who envy it the +most yet obliged to praise it. + + +96.--A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less chargeable with +ingratitude than his benefactor is. + + +97.--We are deceived if we think that mind and judgment are two +different matters: judgment is but the extent of the light of the mind. +This light penetrates to the bottom of matters; it remarks all that can +be remarked, and perceives what appears imperceptible. Therefore we must +agree that it is the extent of the light in the mind that produces all +the effects which we attribute to judgment. + + +98.--Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding. + + +99.--Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined +thoughts. + + +100.--Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty things in an agreeable +manner. + + +101.--Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could +make them after much labour. + + +102.--The head is ever the dupe of the heart. + +[A feeble imitation of that great thought "All folly comes from +the heart."--Aimé Martin. But Bonhome, in his L'art De Penser, says +"Plusieurs diraient en période quarré que quelques reflexions que fasse +l'esprit et quelques resolutions qu'il prenne pour corriger ses travers +le premier sentiment du coeur renverse tous ses projets. Mais il +n'appartient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de dire tout en un mot que +l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur."] + + +103.--Those who know their minds do not necessarily know their hearts. + + +104.--Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge +rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never +judge rightly but at a distance. + + +105.--A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. +A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it. + + +106.--To understand matters rightly we should understand their details, +and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always +superficial and imperfect. + + +107.--One kind of flirtation is to boast we never flirt. + + +108.--The head cannot long play the part of the heart. + + +109.--Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its blood, age retains +its tastes by habit. + + +110.--Nothing is given so profusely as advice. + + +111.--The more we love a woman the more prone we are to hate her. + + +112.--The blemishes of the mind, like those of the face, increase by +age. + + +113.--There may be good but there are no pleasant marriages. + + +114.--We are inconsolable at being deceived by our enemies and betrayed +by our friends, yet still we are often content to be thus served by +ourselves. + + +115.--It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as to deceive others. + + +116.--Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking and giving advice. +The person asking seems to pay deference to the opinion of his friend, +while thinking in reality of making his friend approve his opinion and +be responsible for his conduct. The person giving the advice returns the +confidence placed in him by eager and disinterested zeal, in doing which +he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation. + +["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was which on many +occasions I have heard from people of good understanding, 'That as to +what related to private conduct no one was ever the better for advice.' +But upon further examination I have resolved with myself that the maxim +might be admitted without any violent prejudice to mankind. For in +the manner advice was generally given there was no reason I thought to +wonder it should be so ill received, something there was which strangely +inverted the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For by what +I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, that which we called +giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our own wisdom +at another's expense. On the other side to be instructed or to receive +advice on the terms usually prescribed to us was little better than +tamely to afford another the occasion of raising himself a character +from our defects."--Lord Shaftesbury, Characteristics, i., 153.] + + +117.--The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares +that we know are set for us. We are never so easily deceived as when +trying to deceive. + + +118.--The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. + + +119.--We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that at +last we are disguised to ourselves. + +["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what does not +belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant both of the +character they leave{,} and of the character they assume."--Burke, +{Reflections On The Revolution In France, (1790), Paragraph 19}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite Thoughts On The Cause Of The Present +Discontents.} + + +120.--We often act treacherously more from weakness than from a fixed +motive. + + +121.--We frequently do good to enable us with impunity to do evil. + + +122.--If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness than +from our strength. + + +123.--If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure. + + +124.--The most deceitful persons spend their lives in blaming deceit, so +as to use it on some great occasion to promote some great interest. + + +125.--The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it generally +happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect themselves +lay themselves open to attack in another. + +["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the +place of being wise." Churchill, Rosciad, 117.] + + +126.--Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity. + + +127.--The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than +others. + + +128.--Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is +the most substantial cleverness. + + +129.--It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived +by cunning men. + + +130.--Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured. + + +131.--The smallest fault of women who give themselves up to love is to +love. [------"Faciunt graviora coactae Imperio sexus minimumque libidine +peccant." Juvenal, Sat. vi., 134.] + + +132.--It is far easier to be wise for others than to be so for oneself. + +[Hence the proverb, "A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his +client."] + + +133.--The only good examples are those, that make us see the absurdity +of bad originals. + + +134.--We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those +that we affect to have. + + +135.--We sometimes differ more widely from ourselves than we do from +others. + + +136.--There are some who never would have loved if they never had heard +it spoken of. + + +137.--When not prompted by vanity we say little. + + +138.--A man would rather say evil of himself than say nothing. + +["Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of himself, and as +often happens to vain men, he would rather talk of his own failings than +of any foreign subject."-- Hallam, Literature Of Europe.] + + +139.--One of the reasons that we find so few persons rational and +agreeable in conversation is there is hardly a person who does not think +more of what he wants to say than of his answer to what is said. The +most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we +perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering +from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say. Instead +of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try +thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer +well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation. + +["An absent man can make but few observations, he can pursue nothing +steadily because his absences make him lose his way. They are very +disagreeable and hardly to be tolerated in old age, but in youth they +cannot be forgiven." --Lord Chesterfield, Letter 195.] + + +140.--If it was not for the company of fools, a witty man would often be +greatly at a loss. + + +141.--We often boast that we are never bored, but yet we are so +conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others. + + +142.--As it is the mark of great minds to say many things in a few +words, so it is that of little minds to use many words to say nothing. + +["So much they talked, so very little said." Churchill, Rosciad, 550. + +"Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an argument or wish +to avoid it, are willing enough to suppose that much has been proved +because much has been said."-- Junius, Jan. 1769.] + + +143.--It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we +exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we +praise them we wish to attract their praise. + + +144.--We do not like to praise, and we never praise without a +motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies +differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as +the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and +knowledge. + + +145.--We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those +we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means. + + +146.--Usually we only praise to be praised. + + +147.--Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to +praise which is treacherous. + + +148.--Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach. + +["Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without sneering, +teach the rest to sneer." Pope {Essay On Man, (1733), Epistle To Dr. +Arbuthnot.}] + + +149.--The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice. + +[The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a desire to +be praised more highly. Edition 1665.] + + +150.--The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our +good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to +increase them. + + +151.--It is easier to govern others than to prevent being governed. + + +152.--If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of others would not +hurt us. + +["Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate credentis." Tacit. +Ann. xvi.] + + +153.--Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to work. + + +154.--Fortune cures us of many faults that reason could not. + + +155.--There are some persons who only disgust with their abilities, +there are persons who please even with their faults. + + +156.--There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and doing +stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if they change their +manners. + + +157.--The fame of great men ought always to be estimated by the means +used to acquire it. + + +158.--Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity gives currency. + + +159.--It is not enough to have great qualities, we should also have the +management of them. + + +160.--However brilliant an action it should not be esteemed great unless +the result of a great motive. + + +161.--A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we +desire to estimate the effects that they produce. + + +162.--The art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, and +often acquires more reputation than real brilliancy. + + +163.--Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} motives are most +wise and weighty. + + +164.--It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we do not fill than for +those we do. + + +165.--Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, luck that of the +people. + + +166.--The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit than merit +itself. + + +167.--Avarice is more opposed to economy than to liberality. + + +168.--However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on pleasantly to +the end of life. + +["Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die." Pope: Essay On Man, +Ep. ii.] + + +169.--Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue +often gets the praise. + +["Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur." Tacitus Hist. I.] + + +170.--If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide +whether it is the effect of integrity or skill. + + +171.--As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in self. + + +172.--If we thoroughly consider the varied effects of indifference we +find we miscarry more in our duties than in our interests. + + +173.--There are different kinds of curiosity: one springs from interest, +which makes us desire to know everything that may be profitable to us; +another from pride, which springs from a desire of knowing what others +are ignorant of. + + +174.--It is far better to accustom our mind to bear the ills we have +than to speculate on those which may befall us. + +["Rather bear th{ose} ills we have Than fly to others that we know not +of." {--Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene I, Hamlet.}] + + +175.--Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy which causes our +heart to attach itself to all the qualities of the person we love +in succession, sometimes giving the preference to one, sometimes to +another. This constancy is merely inconstancy fixed, and limited to the +same person. + + +176.--There are two kinds of constancy in love, one arising from +incessantly finding in the loved one fresh objects to love, the other +from regarding it as a point of honour to be constant. + + +177.--Perseverance is not deserving of blame or praise, as it is merely +the continuance of tastes and feelings which we can neither create or +destroy. + + +178.--What makes us like new studies is not so much the weariness we +have of the old or the wish for change as the desire to be admired by +those who know more than ourselves, and the hope of advantage over those +who know less. + + +179.--We sometimes complain of the levity of our friends to justify our +own by anticipation. + + +180.--Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the ill we have done as +fear of the ill that may happen to us. + + +181.--One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or weakness of mind, +and makes us accept everyone's opinion, and another more excusable comes +from a surfeit of matter. + + +182.--Vices enter into the composition of virtues as poison into that of +medicines. Prudence collects and blends the two and renders them useful +against the ills of life. + + +183.--For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest +misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their crimes. + + +184.--We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity the evil we have +done in the opinion of others. + +[In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. We never admit our +faults except through vanity.] + + +185.--There are both heroes of evil and heroes of good. + +[Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, habebaturque +non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. --Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + + +186.--We do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all who +have not virtues. + +["If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of use to +us."--Junius, 5th Oct. 1771.] + + +187.--The name of virtue is as useful to our interest as that of vice. + + +188.--The health of the mind is not less uncertain than that of the +body, and when passions seem furthest removed we are no less in danger +of infection than of falling ill when we are well. + + +189.--It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed the bounds of his +virtues and vices. + + +190.--Great men should not have great faults. + + +191.--We may say vices wait on us in the course of our life as the +landlords with whom we successively lodge, and if we travelled the road +twice over I doubt if our experience would make us avoid them. + + +192.--When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves with the idea we have +left them. + + +193.--There are relapses in the diseases of the mind as in those of +the body; what we call a cure is often no more than an intermission or +change of disease. + + +194.--The defects of the mind are like the wounds of the body. Whatever +care we take to heal them the scars ever remain, and there is always +danger of their reopening. + + +195.--The reason which often prevents us abandoning a single vice is +having so many. + + +196.--We easily forget those faults which are known only to ourselves. + +[Seneca says "Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens testem non +conscientiam."] + + +197.--There are men of whom we can never believe evil without having +seen it. Yet there are very few in whom we should be surprised to see +it. + + +198.--We exaggerate the glory of some men to detract from that of +others, and we should praise Prince Condé and Marshal Turenne much less +if we did not want to blame them both. + +[The allusion to Condé and Turenne gives the date at which these maxims +were published in 1665. Condé and Turenne were after their campaign with +the Imperialists at the height of their fame. It proves the truth of +the remark of Tacitus, "Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit."-- Tac. Ann. +xiv.] + + +199.--The desire to appear clever often prevents our being so. + + +200.--Virtue would not go far did not vanity escort her. + + +201.--He who thinks he has the power to content the world greatly +deceives himself, but he who thinks that the world cannot be content +with him deceives himself yet more. + + +202.--Falsely honest men are those who disguise their faults both +to themselves and others; truly honest men are those who know them +perfectly and confess them. + + +203.--He is really wise who is nettled at nothing. + + +204.--The coldness of women is a balance and burden they add to their +beauty. + + +205.--Virtue in woman is often the love of reputation and repose. + + +206.--He is a truly good man who desires always to bear the inspection +of good men. + + +207.--Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one appears wise 'tis +but because his folly is proportioned to his age and fortune. + + +208.--There are foolish people who know and who skilfully use their +folly. + + +209.--Who lives without folly is not so wise as he thinks. + + +210.--In growing old we become more foolish--and more wise. + + +211.--There are people who are like farces, which are praised but for a +time (however foolish and distasteful they may be). + +[The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.] + + +212.--Most people judge men only by success or by fortune. + + +213.--Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, the desire to make +life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate others are +often causes of that bravery so vaunted among men. + +[Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, "He was as brave as a total +absence of all feeling and reflection could make him."--21st Jan. 1769.] + + +214.--Valour in common soldiers is a perilous method of earning their +living. + +["Men venture necks to gain a fortune, The soldier does it ev{'}ry day, +(Eight to the week) for sixpence pay." {--Samuel Butler,} Hudibras, Part +II., canto i., line 512.] + + +215.--Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two extremes rarely found. +The space between them is vast, and embraces all other sorts of courage. +The difference between them is not less than between faces and tempers. +Men will freely expose themselves at the beginning of an action, and +relax and be easily discouraged if it should last. Some are content to +satisfy worldly honour, and beyond that will do little else. Some are +not always equally masters of their timidity. Others allow themselves +to be overcome by panic; others charge because they dare not remain at +their posts. Some may be found whose courage is strengthened by small +perils, which prepare them to face greater dangers. Some will dare a +sword cut and flinch from a bullet; others dread bullets little and fear +to fight with swords. These varied kinds of courage agree in this, that +night, by increasing fear and concealing gallant or cowardly actions, +allows men to spare themselves. There is even a more general discretion +to be observed, for we meet with no man who does all he would have done +if he were assured of getting off scot-free; so that it is certain that +the fear of death does somewhat subtract from valour. + +[See also "Table Talk of Napoleon," who agrees with this, so far as to +say that few, but himself, had a two o'clock of the morning valour.] + + +216.--Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do before +all the world. + +["It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are in the eyes +of them that look on."--Bacon, Advancement Of Learning{, (1605), Book I, +Section II, paragraph 5}.] + + +217.--Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul which raises it +above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which the sight of great +perils can arouse in it: by this strength heroes maintain a calm +aspect and preserve their reason and liberty in the most surprising and +terrible accidents. + + +218.--Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. + +[So Massillon, in one of his sermons, "Vice pays homage to virtue in +doing honour to her appearance." + +So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, "You have done as much +mischief to the community as Machiavel, if Machiavel had not known that +an appearance of morals and religion are useful in society."--28 Sept. +1771.] + + +219.--Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, +few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make +the design for which they expose themselves succeed. + + +220.--Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men brave and +women chaste. + +["Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters chaste and +courteous. But why do we need her instruction?"--Sterne, Sermons.] + + +221.--We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to gain glory, and this +makes brave men show more tact and address in avoiding death, than +rogues show in preserving their fortunes. + + +222.--Few persons on the first approach of age do not show wherein their +body, or their mind, is beginning to fail. + + +223.--Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: it holds commerce +together; and we do not pay because it is just to pay debts, but because +we shall thereby more easily find people who will lend. + + +224.--All those who pay the debts of gratitude cannot thereby flatter +themselves that they are grateful. + + +225.--What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, is that the +pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as to the value of the +benefit. + +["The first foundation of friendship is not the power of conferring +benefits, but the equality with which they are received, and may be +returned."--Junius's Letter To The King.] + + +226.--Too great a hurry to discharge of an obligation is a kind of +ingratitude. + + +227.--Lucky people are bad hands at correcting their faults; they always +believe that they are right when fortune backs up their vice or folly. + +["The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for the happy +impute all their success to prudence and merit."--Swift, Thoughts On +Various Subjects] + + +228.--Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay. + + +229.--The good we have received from a man should make us excuse the +wrong he does us. + + +230.--Nothing is so infectious as example, and we never do great good or +evil without producing the like. We imitate good actions by emulation, +and bad ones by the evil of our nature, which shame imprisons until +example liberates. + + +231.--It is great folly to wish only to be wise. + + +232.--Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it is always interest +or vanity that causes them. + + +233.--In afflictions there are various kinds of hypocrisy. In one, under +the pretext of weeping for one dear to us we bemoan ourselves; we +regret her good opinion of us, we deplore the loss of our comfort, our +pleasure, our consideration. Thus the dead have the credit of tears +shed for the living. I affirm 'tis a kind of hypocrisy which in these +afflictions deceives itself. There is another kind not so innocent +because it imposes on all the world, that is the grief of those who +aspire to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. After Time, +which absorbs all, has obliterated what sorrow they had, they still +obstinately obtrude their tears, their sighs their groans, they wear a +solemn face, and try to persuade others by all their acts, that their +grief will end only with their life. This sad and distressing vanity is +commonly found in ambitious women. As their sex closes to them all paths +to glory, they strive to render themselves celebrated by showing an +inconsolable affliction. There is yet another kind of tears arising from +but small sources, which flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to +achieve a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps to be +bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace of not weeping! + +["In grief the {Pleasure} is still uppermost{;} and the affliction we +suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which is always odious, and +which we endeavour to shake off as soon as possible."--Burke, Sublime +And Beautiful{, (1756), Part I, Sect. V}.] + + +234.--It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so +obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, +and we do not want to be the last. + + +235.--We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of our friends when they +enable us to prove our tenderness for them. + + +236.--It would seem that even self-love may be the dupe of goodness +and forget itself when we work for others. And yet it is but taking the +shortest way to arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of +giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and delicate manner. + + +237.--No one should be praised for his goodness if he has not strength +enough to be wicked. All other goodness is but too often an idleness or +powerlessness of will. + + +238.--It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as to do them too +much good. + + +239.--Nothing flatters our pride so much as the confidence of the great, +because we regard it as the result of our worth, without remembering +that generally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a secret. + + +240.--We may say of conformity as distinguished from beauty, that it is +a symmetry which knows no rules, and a secret harmony of features both +one with each other and with the colour and appearance of the person. + + +241.--Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, although all do not +practise it, some being restrained by fear, others by sense. + +["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes both in the mode +and object according to her opinions."-- Rousseau, Emile.] + + +242.--We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them. + + +243.--Few things are impossible in themselves; application to make them +succeed fails us more often than the means. + + +244.--Sovereign ability consists in knowing the value of things. + + +245.--There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one's ability. + +["You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy when you have made +others think that you have only very average abilities."--La Bruyère.] + + +246.--What seems generosity is often disguised ambition, that despises +small to run after greater interest. + + +247.--The fidelity of most men is merely an invention of self-love +to win confidence; a method to place us above others and to render us +depositaries of the most important matters. + + +248.--Magnanimity despises all, to win all. + + +249.--There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the eyes and in the +air of a speaker than in his choice of words. + + +250.--True eloquence consists in saying all that should be, not all that +could be said. + + +251.--There are people whose faults become them, others whose very +virtues disgrace them. + +["There are faults which do him honour, and virtues that disgrace +him."--Junius, Letter Of 28th May, 1770.] + + +252.--It is as common to change one's tastes, as it is uncommon to +change one's inclinations. + + +253.--Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and vices. + + +254.--Humility is often a feigned submission which we employ to supplant +others. It is one of the devices of Pride to lower us to raise us; and +truly pride transforms itself in a thousand ways, and is never so well +disguised and more able to deceive than when it hides itself under the +form of humility. + +["Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for business."--Junius, +Letter To The Duke Of Grafton. + +"He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, +And the devil was pleased, for his darling sin Is the pride that apes +humility." Southey, Devil's Walk.] + +{There are numerous corrections necessary for this quotation; I will +keep the original above so you can compare the correct passages: + +"He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, +And he owned with a grin, That his favourite sin Is pride that apes +humility." --Southey, Devil's Walk, Stanza 8. + +"And the devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that apes +humility." --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Devil's Thoughts} + + +255.--All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, gestures and +looks, and this harmony, as it is good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, +makes people agreeable or disagreeable. + + +256.--In all professions we affect a part and an appearance to seem what +we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors. + +["All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely +players."--Shakespeare, As You Like It{, Act II, Scene VII, Jaques}. + +"Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the hero should +preserve his consistency to the last."--Junius.] + + +257.--Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body invented to conceal +the want of mind. + +["Gravity is the very essence of imposture."--Shaftesbury, +Characteristics, p. 11, vol. I. "The very essence of gravity is design, +and consequently deceit; a taught trick to gain credit with the world +for more sense and knowledge than a man was worth, and that with all its +pretensions it was no better, but often worse, than what a French wit +had long ago defined it--a mysterious carriage of the body to cover the +defects of the mind."--Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. I., chap. ii.] + + +258.--Good taste arises more from judgment than wit. + + +259.--The pleasure of love is in loving, we are happier in the passion +we feel than in that we inspire. + + +260.--Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and to be esteemed +polite. + + +261.--The usual education of young people is to inspire them with a +second self-love. + + +262.--There is no passion wherein self-love reigns so powerfully as in +love, and one is always more ready to sacrifice the peace of the loved +one than his own. + + +263.--What we call liberality is often but the vanity of giving, which +we like more than that we give away. + + +264.--Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the ills of others. +It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into which we may fall. We +help others that on like occasions we may be helped ourselves, and these +services which we render, are in reality benefits we confer on ourselves +by anticipation. + +["Grief for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth from the +imagination that a like calamity may befal himself{;} and therefore is +called compassion."--Hobbes' Leviathan{, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + + +265.--A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do not easily believe what +we cannot see. + +["Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong." Dryden, Absalom And +Achitophel{, line 547}.] + + +266.--We deceive ourselves if we believe that there are violent +passions like ambition and love that can triumph over others. Idleness, +languishing as she is, does not often fail in being mistress; she +usurps authority over all the plans and actions of life; imperceptibly +consuming and destroying both passions and virtues. + + +267.--A quickness in believing evil without having sufficiently examined +it, is the effect of pride and laziness. We wish to find the guilty, and +we do not wish to trouble ourselves in examining the crime. + + +268.--We credit judges with the meanest motives, and yet we desire our +reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, +either from their jealousy or pre-occupation or want of intelligence, +opposed to us--and yet 'tis only to make these men decide in our favour +that we peril in so many ways both our peace and our life. + + +269.--No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does. + + +270.--One honour won is a surety for more. + + +271.--Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the fever of reason. + +["The best of life is but intoxication."--{Lord Byron, } Don Juan{, +Canto II, stanza 179}. In the 1st Edition, 1665, the maxim finishes +with--"it is the fever of health, the folly of reason."] + + +272.--Nothing should so humiliate men who have deserved great praise, as +the care they have taken to acquire it by the smallest means. + + +273.--There are persons of whom the world approves who have no merit +beyond the vices they use in the affairs of life. + + +274.--The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower to the fruit; it +lends a lustre which is easily lost, but which never returns. + + +275.--Natural goodness, which boasts of being so apparent, is often +smothered by the least interest. + + +276.--Absence extinguishes small passions and increases great ones, as +the wind will blow out a candle, and blow in a fire. + + +277.--Women often think they love when they do not love. The business of +a love affair, the emotion of mind that sentiment induces, the natural +bias towards the pleasure of being loved, the difficulty of refusing, +persuades them that they have real passion when they have but +flirtation. + +["And if in fact she takes a {"}Grande Passion{"}, It is a very serious +thing indeed: Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or fashion, Coquetry, +or a wish to take the lead, The pride of a mere child with a new sash +on. Or wish to make a rival's bosom bleed: But the {Tenth} instance will +be a tornado, For there's no saying what they will or may do." {--Lord +Byron, }Don Juan, canto xii. stanza 77.] + + +278.--What makes us so often discontented with those who transact +business for us is that they almost always abandon the interest of their +friends for the interest of the business, because they wish to have the +honour of succeeding in that which they have undertaken. + + +279.--When we exaggerate the tenderness of our friends towards us, it is +often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own merit. + + +280.--The praise we give to new comers into the world arises from the +envy we bear to those who are established. + + +281.--Pride, which inspires, often serves to moderate envy. + + +282.--Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that we should judge badly +were we not deceived. + + +283.--Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing how to use than in +giving good advice. + + +284.--There are wicked people who would be much less dangerous if they +were wholly without goodness. + + +285.--Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its name, nevertheless one +can say it is the good sense of pride, the most noble way of receiving +praise. + + +286.--It is impossible to love a second time those whom we have really +ceased to love. + + +287.--Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so many resources on +the same matter, as the lack of intelligence makes us hesitate at each +thing our imagination presents, and hinders us from at first discerning +which is the best. + + +288.--There are matters and maladies which at certain times remedies +only serve to make worse; true skill consists in knowing when it is +dangerous to use them. + + +289.--Affected simplicity is refined imposture. + +[Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium litterarum et +amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret animum et fratris aemulationi +subduceretur.--Tacitus, Ann. iv.] + + +290.--There are as many errors of temper as of mind. + + +291.--Man's merit, like the crops, has its season. + + +292.--One may say of temper as of many buildings; it has divers aspects, +some agreeable, others disagreeable. + + +293.--Moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and overcoming +Ambition: they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and +sloth of the soul, Ambition its activity and heat. + + +294.--We always like those who admire us, we do not always like those +whom we admire. + + +295.--It is well that we know not all our wishes. + + +296.--It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, but it is no less +so to love those whom we esteem much more than ourselves. + + +297.--Bodily temperaments have a common course and rule which +imperceptibly affect our will. They advance in combination, and +successively exercise a secret empire over us, so that, without our +perceiving it, they become a great part of all our actions. + + +298.--The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving +greater benefits. + +[Hence the common proverb "Gratitude is merely a lively sense of favors +to come."] + + +299.--Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying small debts; many +people show gratitude for trifling, but there is hardly one who does not +show ingratitude for great favours. + + +300.--There are follies as catching as infections. + + +301.--Many people despise, but few know how to bestow wealth. + + +302.--Only in things of small value we usually are bold enough not to +trust to appearances. + + +303.--Whatever good quality may be imputed to us, we ourselves find +nothing new in it. + + +304.--We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot forgive those whom we +bore. + + +305.--Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds often should be +praised for our good deeds. + + +306.--We find very few ungrateful people when we are able to confer +favours. + + +307.--It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is ridiculous to be so +in company. + + +308.--Moderation is made a virtue to limit the ambition of the great; +to console ordinary people for their small fortune and equally small +ability. + + +309.--There are persons fated to be fools, who commit follies not only +by choice, but who are forced by fortune to do so. + + +310.--Sometimes there are accidents in our life the skilful extrication +from which demands a little folly. + + +311.--If there be men whose folly has never appeared, it is because it +has never been closely looked for. + + +312.--Lovers are never tired of each other,--they always speak of +themselves. + + +313.--How is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least +triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how +often we have told it to the same person? + +["Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, and forget how often +they have told them, are most tedious companions."--Montaigne, {Essays, +Book I, Chapter IX}.] + + +314.--The extreme delight we take in talking of ourselves should warn us +that it is not shared by those who listen. + + +315.--What commonly hinders us from showing the recesses of our heart +to our friends, is not the distrust we have of them, but that we have of +ourselves. + + +316.--Weak persons cannot be sincere. + + +317.--'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is +unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel. + + +318.--We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, but there are none +to set straight a cross-grained spirit. + + +319.--If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults we cannot +long preserve the feelings we should hold towards our friends and +benefactors. + + +320.--To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is but to +reproach them with impunity. + +["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by Pope from a poem +which has not survived, "The Garland," by Mr. Broadhurst. "In some cases +exaggerated or inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire."-- +Scott, Woodstock.] + + +321.--We are nearer loving those who hate us, than those who love us +more than we desire. + + +322.--Those only are despicable who fear to be despised. + + +323.--Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune than our goods. + + +324.--There is more self-love than love in jealousy. + + +325.--We often comfort ourselves by the weakness of evils, for which +reason has not the strength to console us. + + +326.--Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour itself. + +["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, but it cannot +dishonour; it is vice which confers dishonour."] + + +327.--We own to small faults to persuade others that we have not great +ones. + + +328.--Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. + + +329.--We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery --we only dislike the +method. + +["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, He says he does, being +then most flattered." Shakespeare, Julius Caesar {,Act II, Scene I, +Decius}.] + + +330.--We pardon in the degree that we love. + + +331.--It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress when one is +happy, than when we are ill-treated by her. + +[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.--Ovid, Amores, ii. 19.] + + +332.--Women do not know all their powers of flirtation. + + +333.--Women cannot be completely severe unless they hate. + + +334.--Women can less easily resign flirtations than love. + + +335.--In love deceit almost always goes further than mistrust. + + +336.--There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids jealousy. + + +337.--There are certain good qualities as there are senses, and those +who want them can neither perceive nor understand them. + + +338.--When our hatred is too bitter it places us below those whom we +hate. + + +339.--We only appreciate our good or evil in proportion to our +self-love. + + +340.--The wit of most women rather strengthens their folly than their +reason. + +["Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, but for solid +reasoning and good sense I never knew one in my life that had it, +and who reasoned and acted consequentially for four and twenty hours +together."--Lord Chesterfield, Letter 129.] + + +341.--The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety than the coldness +of age. + + +342.--The accent of our native country dwells in the heart and mind as +well as on the tongue. + + +343.--To be a great man one should know how to profit by every phase of +fortune. + + +344.--Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance +discovers. + + +345.--Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves. + + +346.--If a woman's temper is beyond control there can be no control of +the mind or heart. + + +347.--We hardly find any persons of good sense, save those who agree +with us. + +["That was excellently observed, say I, when I read an author when his +opinion agrees with mine."--Swift, Thoughts On Various Subjects.] + + +348.--When one loves one doubts even what one most believes. + + +349.--The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate flirtation. + + +350.--Why we hate with so much bitterness those who deceive us is +because they think themselves more clever than we are. + +["I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I cannot forgive +his supposing me capable of the gross folly of being duped by his +professions."--Sir Walter Scott, Quentin Durward.] + + +351.--We have much trouble to break with one, when we no longer are in +love. + + +352.--We almost always are bored with persons with whom we should not be +bored. + + +353.--A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a beast. + + +354.--There are certain defects which well mounted glitter like virtue +itself. + + +355.--Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our regret is greater +than our grief, and others for whom our grief is greater than our +regret. + + +356.--Usually we only praise heartily those who admire us. + + +357.--Little minds are too much wounded by little things; great minds +see all and are not even hurt. + + +358.--Humility is the true proof of Christian virtues; without it we +retain all our faults, and they are only covered by pride to hide them +from others, and often from ourselves. + + +359.--Infidelities should extinguish love, and we ought not to be +jealous when we have cause to be so. No persons escape causing jealousy +who are worthy of exciting it. + + +360.--We are more humiliated by the least infidelity towards us, than by +our greatest towards others. + + +361.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with +it. + + +362.--Most women do not grieve so much for the death of their lovers for +love's-sake, as to show they were worthy of being beloved. + + +363.--The evils we do to others give us less pain than those we do to +ourselves. + + +364.--We well know that it is bad taste to talk of our wives; but we do +not so well know that it is the same to speak of ourselves. + + +365.--There are virtues which degenerate into vices when they arise from +Nature, and others which when acquired are never perfect. For example, +reason must teach us to manage our estate and our confidence, while +Nature should have given us goodness and valour. + + +366.--However we distrust the sincerity of those whom we talk with, we +always believe them more sincere with us than with others. + + +367.--There are few virtuous women who are not tired of their part. + +["Every woman is at heart a rake."--Pope. Moral Essays, ii.] + + +368.--The greater number of good women are like concealed treasures, +safe as no one has searched for them. + + +369.--The violences we put upon ourselves to escape love are often more +cruel than the cruelty of those we love. + + +370.--There are not many cowards who know the whole of their fear. + + +371.--It is generally the fault of the loved one not to perceive when +love ceases. + + +372.--Most young people think they are natural when they are only +boorish and rude. + + +373.--Some tears after having deceived others deceive ourselves. + + +374.--If we think we love a woman for love of herself we are greatly +deceived. + + +375.--Ordinary men commonly condemn what is beyond them. + + +376.--Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirtation by true love. + + +377.--The greatest mistake of penetration is not to have fallen short, +but to have gone too far. + + +378.--We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct. + + +379.--As our merit declines so also does our taste. + + +380.--Fortune makes visible our virtues or our vices, as light does +objects. + + +381.--The struggle we undergo to remain faithful to one we love is +little better than infidelity. + + +382.--Our actions are like the rhymed ends of blank verses (Bouts-Rimés) +where to each one puts what construction he pleases. + +[The Bouts-Rimés was a literary game popular in the 17th and 18th +centuries--the rhymed words at the end of a line being given for others +to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole being given, "brook, why, crook, I," +returned the burlesque verse-- "I sits with my toes in a Brook, And +if any one axes me Why? I gies 'em a rap with my Crook, 'Tis constancy +makes me, ses I."] + + +383.--The desire of talking about ourselves, and of putting our +faults in the light we wish them to be seen, forms a great part of our +sincerity. + + +384.--We should only be astonished at still being able to be astonished. + + +385.--It is equally as difficult to be contented when one has too much +or too little love. + + +386.--No people are more often wrong than those who will not allow +themselves to be wrong. + + +387.--A fool has not stuff in him to be good. + + +388.--If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at least she makes them +totter. + + +389.--What makes the vanity of others unsupportable is that it wounds +our own. + + +390.--We give up more easily our interest than our taste. + + +391.--Fortune appears so blind to none as to those to whom she has done +no good. + + +392.--We should manage fortune like our health, enjoy it when it is +good, be patient when it is bad, and never resort to strong remedies but +in an extremity. + + +393.--Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the camp, never in the court. + + +394.--A man is often more clever than one other, but not than all +others. + +["Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, omnes neminem +fefellerunt."--Pliny{ the Younger, Panegyricus, LXII}.] + + +395.--We are often less unhappy at being deceived by one we loved, than +on being deceived. + + +396.--We keep our first lover for a long time--if we do not get a +second. + + +397.--We have not the courage to say generally that we have no faults, +and that our enemies have no good qualities; but in fact we are not far +from believing so. + + +398.--Of all our faults that which we most readily admit is idleness: we +believe that it makes all virtues ineffectual, and that without utterly +destroying, it at least suspends their operation. + + +399.--There is a kind of greatness which does not depend upon fortune: +it is a certain manner what distinguishes us, and which seems to destine +us for great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon ourselves; +it is by this quality that we gain the deference of other men, and it is +this which commonly raises us more above them, than birth, rank, or even +merit itself. + + +400.--There may be talent without position, but there is no position +without some kind of talent. + + +401.--Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty woman. + + +402.--What we find the least of in flirtation is love. + + +403.--Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, and there are +tiresome people whose deserts would be ill rewarded if we did not desire +to purchase their absence. + + +404.--It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents +and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have the power +of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more true and +more perfect than art could possibly do. + + +405.--We reach quite inexperienced the different stages of life, and +often, in spite of the number of our years, we lack experience. + +["To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship which +illumine only the track it has passed."-- Coleridge.] + + +406.--Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous of their lovers, to +conceal their envy of other women. + + +407.--It may well be that those who have trapped us by their tricks do +not seem to us so foolish as we seem to ourselves when trapped by the +tricks of others. + + +408.--The most dangerous folly of old persons who have been loveable is +to forget that they are no longer so. + +["Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome. The +suspicion of age no woman, let her be ever so old, forgives."--Lord +Chesterfield, Letter 129.] + + +409.--We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the world +only saw the motives which caused them. + + +410.--The greatest effort of friendship is not to show our faults to a +friend, but to show him his own. + + +4ll.--We have few faults which are not far more excusable than the means +we adopt to hide them. + + +412.--Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it is almost always in our +power to re-establish our character. + +["This is hardly a period at which the most irregular character may not +be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin find a retreat in patriotism, those +of the other in devotion." --Junius, Letter To The King.] + + +413.--A man cannot please long who has only one kind of wit. + +[According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine and Boileau, who, +despising ordinary conversation, talked incessantly of literature; but +there is some doubt as to Segrais' statement.--Aimé Martin.] + + +414.--Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit. + +415.--Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity. + + +416.--The vivacity which increases in old age is not far removed from +folly. + + +["How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester."-- Shakespeare, +King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, King}. + +"Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of life? Can +grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there no period to be reserved +for meditation or retirement."-- Junius, To The Duke Of Bedford, 19th +Sept. 1769.] + + +417.--In love the quickest is always the best cure. + + +418.--Young women who do not want to appear flirts, and old men who +do not want to appear ridiculous, should not talk of love as a matter +wherein they can have any interest. + + +419.--We may seem great in a post beneath our capacity, but we oftener +seem little in a post above it. + + +420.--We often believe we have constancy in misfortune when we have +nothing but debasement, and we suffer misfortunes without regarding +them as cowards who let themselves be killed from fear of defending +themselves. + + +421.--Conceit causes more conversation than wit. + + +422.--All passions make us commit some faults, love alone makes us +ridiculous. + +["In love we all are fools alike."--Gay{, The Beggar's Opera, (1728), +Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.] + + +423.--Few know how to be old. + + +424.--We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we have, +thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy. + + +425.--Penetration has a spice of divination in it which tickles our +vanity more than any other quality of the mind. + + +426.--The charm of novelty and old custom, however opposite to each +other, equally blind us to the faults of our friends. + +["Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom and novelty."-La +Bruyère, Des Judgements.] + + +427.--Most friends sicken us of friendship, most devotees of devotion. + + +428.--We easily forgive in our friends those faults we do not perceive. + + +429.--Women who love, pardon more readily great indiscretions than +little infidelities. + + +430.--In the old age of love as in life we still survive for the evils, +though no longer for the pleasures. + +["The youth of friendship is better than its old age." --Hazlitt's +Characteristics, 229.] + + +431.--Nothing prevents our being unaffected so much as our desire to +seem so. + + +432.--To praise good actions heartily is in some measure to take part in +them. + + +433.--The most certain sign of being born with great qualities is to be +born without envy. + +["Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae." --Cicero In +Marc Ant.] + + +434.--When our friends have deceived us we owe them but indifference to +the tokens of their friendship, yet for their misfortunes we always owe +them pity. + + +435.--Luck and temper rule the world. + + +436.--It is far easier to know men than to know man. + + +437.--We should not judge of a man's merit by his great abilities, but +by the use he makes of them. + + +438.--There is a certain lively gratitude which not only releases +us from benefits received, but which also, by making a return to our +friends as payment, renders them indebted to us. + +["And understood not that a grateful mind, By owing owes not, but is at +once Indebted and discharged." Milton. Paradise Lost.] + + +439.--We should earnestly desire but few things if we clearly knew what +we desired. + + +440.--The cause why the majority of women are so little given to +friendship is, that it is insipid after having felt love. + +["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect friendship, and +those who have united themselves to friendship have nought to do with +love."--La Bruyère. Du Coeur.] + + +441.--As in friendship so in love, we are often happier from ignorance +than from knowledge. + + +442.--We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth to correct. + + +443.--The most violent passions give some respite, but vanity always +disturbs us. + + +444.--Old fools are more foolish than young fools. + +["Malvolio. Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} make the +better fool. Clown. God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} for the +better increasing of your folly."--Shakespeare. Twelfth Night{, Act I, +Scene V}.] + + +445.--Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice. + + +446.--What makes the grief of shame and jealousy so acute is that vanity +cannot aid us in enduring them. + + +447.--Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most obeyed. + +[Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is bound to +conform....Those things which honour forbids are more rigorously +forbidden when the laws do not concur in the prohibition, and those +it commands are more strongly insisted upon when they happen not to be +commanded by law.--Montesquieu, {The Spirit Of Laws, }b. 4, c. ii.] + + +448.--A well-trained mind has less difficulty in submitting to than in +guiding an ill-trained mind. + + +449.--When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office without +having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised our +hopes, it is well nigh impossible to occupy it well, and to appear +worthy to fill it. + + +450.--Our pride is often increased by what we retrench from our other +faults. + +["The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and compensated by +spiritual pride."--Gibbon. Decline And Fall, chap. xv.] + + +451.--No fools so wearisome as those who have some wit. + + +452.--No one believes that in every respect he is behind the man he +considers the ablest in the world. + + +453.--In great matters we should not try so much to create opportunities +as to utilise those that offer themselves. + +[Yet Lord Bacon says "A wise man will make more opportunities than he +finds."--Essays, {(1625), "Of Ceremonies and Respects"}] + + +454.--There are few occasions when we should make a bad bargain by +giving up the good on condition that no ill was said of us. + + +455.--However disposed the world may be to judge wrongly, it far oftener +favours false merit than does justice to true. + + +456.--Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion. + + +457.--We should gain more by letting the world see what we are than by +trying to seem what we are not. + + +458.--Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us +than we do in our opinion of ourselves. + + +459.--There are many remedies to cure love, yet none are infallible. + + +460.--It would be well for us if we knew all our passions make us do. + + +461.--Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of life all the +pleasures of youth. + + +462.--The same pride which makes us blame faults from which we believe +ourselves free causes us to despise the good qualities we have not. + + +463.--There is often more pride than goodness in our grief for our +enemies' miseries; it is to show how superior we are to them, that we +bestow on them the sign of our compassion. + + +464.--There exists an excess of good and evil which surpasses our +comprehension. + + +465.--Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the same protection as +crime. + + +466.--Of all the violent passions the one that becomes a woman best is +love. + + +467.--Vanity makes us sin more against our taste than reason. + + +468.--Some bad qualities form great talents. + + +469.--We never desire earnestly what we desire in reason. + + +470.--All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, both the good as +well as the bad, and nearly all are creatures of opportunities. + + +471.--In their first passion women love their lovers, in all the others +they love love. + +["In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all her others what +she loves is love." {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, Canto iii., stanza 3. "We +truly love once, the first time; the subsequent passions are more or +less involuntary." La Bruyère: Du Coeur.] + + +472.--Pride as the other passions has its follies. We are ashamed to own +we are jealous, and yet we plume ourselves in having been and being able +to be so. + + +473.--However rare true love is, true friendship is rarer. + +["It is more common to see perfect love than real friendship."--La +Bruyère. Du Coeur.] + + +474.--There are few women whose charm survives their beauty. + + +475.--The desire to be pitied or to be admired often forms the greater +part of our confidence. + + +476.--Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy. + + +477.--The same firmness that enables us to resist love enables us to +make our resistance durable and lasting. So weak persons who are always +excited by passions are seldom really possessed of any. + + +478.--Fancy does not enable us to invent so many different +contradictions as there are by nature in every heart. + + +479.--It is only people who possess firmness who can possess true +gentleness. In those who appear gentle it is generally only weakness, +which is readily converted into harshness. + + +480.--Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to blame in those we desire +to cure of it. + + +481.--Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those who think they have +it are generally only pliant or weak. + + +482.--The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit to whatever is easy +or pleasant. This habit always places bounds to our knowledge, and no +one has ever yet taken the pains to enlarge and expand his mind to the +full extent of its capacities. + + +483.--Usually we are more satirical from vanity than malice. + + +484.--When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion it is +proner to take up a new one than when wholly cured. + + +485.--Those who have had great passions often find all their lives made +miserable in being cured of them. + + +486.--More persons exist without self-love than without envy. + +["I do not believe that there is a human creature in his senses arrived +at maturity, that at some time or other has not been carried away by +this passion (envy) in good earnest, and yet I never met with any who +dared own he was guilty of it, but in jest."--Mandeville: Fable Of The +Bees; Remark N.] + + +487.--We have more idleness in the mind than in the body. + + +488.--The calm or disturbance of our mind does not depend so much on +what we regard as the more important things of life, as in a judicious +or injudicious arrangement of the little things of daily occurrence. + + +489.--However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the +enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either +pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her. + + +490.--We often go from love to ambition, but we never return from +ambition to love. + +["Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do not find a quieter +seat while they remain there."--La Bruyère: Du Coeur.] + + +491.--Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, there is no passion +which is oftener further away from its mark, nor upon which the present +has so much power to the prejudice of the future. + + +492.--Avarice often produces opposite results: there are an infinite +number of persons who sacrifice their property to doubtful and distant +expectations, others mistake great future advantages for small present +interests. + +[Aimé Martin says, "The author here confuses greediness, the desire +and avarice--passions which probably have a common origin, but produce +different results. The greedy man is nearly always desirous to possess, +and often foregoes great future advantages for small present interests. +The avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes present advantages for +the great expectations of the future. Both desire to possess and +enjoy. But the miser possesses and enjoys nothing but the pleasure of +possessing; he risks nothing, gives nothing, hopes nothing, his life is +centred in his strong box, beyond that he has no want."] + + +493.--It appears that men do not find they have enough faults, as they +increase the number by certain peculiar qualities that they affect to +assume, and which they cultivate with so great assiduity that at length +they become natural faults, which they can no longer correct. + + +494.--What makes us see that men know their faults better than we +imagine, is that they are never wrong when they speak of their conduct; +the same self-love that usually blinds them enlightens them, and gives +them such true views as to make them suppress or disguise the smallest +thing that might be censured. + + +495.--Young men entering life should be either shy or bold; a solemn and +sedate manner usually degenerates into impertinence. + + +496.--Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side. + + +497.--It is valueless to a woman to be young unless pretty, or to be +pretty unless young. + + +498.--Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that they are as far +removed from real defects as from substantial qualities. + + +499.--We do not usually reckon a woman's first flirtation until she has +had a second. + + +500.--Some people are so self-occupied that when in love they find a +mode by which to be engrossed with the passion without being so with the +person they love. + + +501.--Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more by its ways than by +itself. + + +502.--A little wit with good sense bores less in the long run than much +wit with ill nature. + + +503.--Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one that is least +pitied by those who cause it. + + +504.--Thus having treated of the hollowness of so many apparent virtues, +it is but just to say something on the hollowness of the contempt for +death. I allude to that contempt of death which the heathen boasted they +derived from their unaided understanding, without the hope of a future +state. There is a difference between meeting death with courage and +despising it. The first is common enough, the last I think always +feigned. Yet everything that could be has been written to persuade us +that death is no evil, and the weakest of men, equally with the bravest, +have given many noble examples on which to found such an opinion, still +I do not think that any man of good sense has ever yet believed in it. +And the pains we take to persuade others as well as ourselves amply show +that the task is far from easy. For many reasons we may be disgusted +with life, but for none may we despise it. Not even those who commit +suicide regard it as a light matter, and are as much alarmed and +startled as the rest of the world if death meets them in a different +way than the one they have selected. The difference we observe in the +courage of so great a number of brave men, is from meeting death in a +way different from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer +at one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens that having +despised death when they were ignorant of it, they dread it when they +become acquainted with it. If we could avoid seeing it with all its +surroundings, we might perhaps believe that it was not the greatest of +evils. The wisest and bravest are those who take the best means to avoid +reflecting on it, as every man who sees it in its real light regards +it as dreadful. The necessity of dying created all the constancy of +philosophers. They thought it but right to go with a good grace when +they could not avoid going, and being unable to prolong their lives +indefinitely, nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, and +to save from the general wreck all that could be saved. To put a good +face upon it, let it suffice, not to say all that we think to ourselves, +but rely more on our nature than on our fallible reason, which might +make us think we could approach death with indifference. The glory of +dying with courage, the hope of being regretted, the desire to leave +behind us a good reputation, the assurance of being enfranchised from +the miseries of life and being no longer dependent on the wiles of +fortune, are resources which should not be passed over. But we must not +regard them as infallible. They should affect us in the same proportion +as a single shelter affects those who in war storm a fortress. At a +distance they think it may afford cover, but when near they find it +only a feeble protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to imagine +that death, when near, will seem the same as at a distance, or that our +feelings, which are merely weaknesses, are naturally so strong that they +will not suffer in an attack of the rudest of trials. It is equally as +absurd to try the effect of self-esteem and to think it will enable us +to count as naught what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in +which we trust to find so many resources will be far too weak in the +struggle to persuade us in the way we wish. For it is this which betrays +us so frequently, and which, instead of filling us with contempt of +death, serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. The most +it can do for us is to persuade us to avert our gaze and fix it on other +objects. Cato and Brutus each selected noble ones. A lackey sometime +ago contented himself by dancing on the scaffold when he was about to be +broken on the wheel. So however diverse the motives they but realize the +same result. For the rest it is a fact that whatever difference there +may be between the peer and the peasant, we have constantly seen both +the one and the other meet death with the same composure. Still there +is always this difference, that the contempt the peer shows for death is +but the love of fame which hides death from his sight; in the peasant it +is but the result of his limited vision that hides from him the extent +of the evil, end leaves him free to reflect on other things. + + + + +THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT + +[The following reflections are extracted from the first two editions +of La Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed by the author in succeeding +issues.] + +I.--Self-love is the love of self, and of all things for self. It +makes men self-worshippers, and if fortune permits them, causes them to +tyrannize over others; it is never quiet when out of itself, and only +rests upon other subjects as a bee upon flowers, to extract from them +its proper food. Nothing is so headstrong as its desires, nothing so +well concealed as its designs, nothing so skilful as its management; +its suppleness is beyond description; its changes surpass those of the +metamorphoses, its refinements those of chemistry. We can neither plumb +the depths nor pierce the shades of its recesses. Therein it is hidden +from the most far-seeing eyes, therein it takes a thousand imperceptible +folds. There it is often to itself invisible; it there conceives, there +nourishes and rears, without being aware of it, numberless loves and +hatreds, some so monstrous that when they are brought to light it +disowns them, and cannot resolve to avow them. In the night which covers +it are born the ridiculous persuasions it has of itself, thence come its +errors, its ignorance, its silly mistakes; thence it is led to believe +that its passions which sleep are dead, and to think that it has lost +all appetite for that of which it is sated. But this thick darkness +which conceals it from itself does not hinder it from seeing that +perfectly which is out of itself; and in this it resembles our eyes +which behold all, and yet cannot set their own forms. In fact, in great +concerns and important matters when the violence of its desires +summons all its attention, it sees, feels, hears, imagines, suspects, +penetrates, divines all: so that we might think that each of its +passions had a magic power proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong +as its attachments, which, in sight of the extreme misfortunes which +threaten it, it vainly attempts to break. Yet sometimes it effects that +without trouble and quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power +and in the course of years, whence we may fairly conclude that it is +by itself that its desires are inflamed, rather than by the beauty and +merit of its objects, that its own taste embellishes and heightens them; +that it is itself the game it pursues, and that it follows eagerly +when it runs after that upon which itself is eager. It is made up of +contraries. It is imperious and obedient, sincere and false, piteous +and cruel, timid and bold. It has different desires according to the +diversity of temperaments, which turn and fix it sometimes upon riches, +sometimes on pleasures. It changes according to our age, our fortunes, +and our hopes; it is quite indifferent whether it has many or one, +because it can split itself into many portions, and unite in one as +it pleases. It is inconstant, and besides the changes which arise +from strange causes it has an infinity born of itself, and of its own +substance. It is inconstant through inconstancy, of lightness, love, +novelty, lassitude and distaste. It is capricious, and one sees it +sometimes work with intense eagerness and with incredible labour to +obtain things of little use to it which are even hurtful, but which it +pursues because it wishes for them. It is silly, and often throws its +whole application on the utmost frivolities. It finds all its pleasure +in the dullest matters, and places its pride in the most contemptible. +It is seen in all states of life, and in all conditions; it lives +everywhere and upon everything; it subsists on nothing; it accommodates +itself either to things or to the want of them; it goes over to +those who are at war with it, enters into their designs, and, this is +wonderful, it, with them, hates even itself; it conspires for its own +loss, it works towards its own ruin--in fact, caring only to exist, and +providing that it may be, it will be its own enemy! We must therefore +not be surprised if it is sometimes united to the rudest austerity, and +if it enters so boldly into partnership to destroy her, because when it +is rooted out in one place it re-establishes itself in another. When it +fancies that it abandons its pleasure it merely changes or suspends its +enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full flight, we find that +it triumphs in its own defeat. Here then is the picture of self-love +whereof the whole of our life is but one long agitation. The sea is its +living image; and in the flux and reflux of its continuous waves there +is a faithful expression of the stormy succession of its thoughts and of +its eternal motion. (Edition of 1665, No. 1.) + +II.--Passions are only the different degrees of the heat or coldness of +the blood. (1665, No. 13.) + +III.--Moderation in good fortune is but apprehension of the shame which +follows upon haughtiness, or a fear of losing what we have. (1665, No. +18.) + +IV.--Moderation is like temperance in eating; we could eat more but we +fear to make ourselves ill. (1665, No. 21.) + +V.--Everybody finds that to abuse in another which he finds worthy of +abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.) + +VI.--Pride, as if tired of its artifices and its different +metamorphoses, after having solely filled the divers parts of the comedy +of life, exhibits itself with its natural face, and is discovered by +haughtiness; so much so that we may truly say that haughtiness is but +the flash and open declaration of pride. (1665, No. 37.) + +VII.--One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be +miserable. (1665, No. 53.) + +VIII.--When we do not find peace of mind (REPOS) in ourselves it is +useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, No. 53.) + +IX.--One should be able to answer for one's fortune, so as to be able to +answer for what we shall do. (1665, No. 70.) + +X.--Love is to the soul of him who loves, what the soul is to the body +which it animates. (1665, No. 77.) + +XI.--As one is never at liberty to love or to cease from loving, the +lover cannot with justice complain of the inconstancy of his mistress, +nor she of the fickleness of her lover. (1665, No. 81.) + +XII.--Justice in those judges who are moderate is but a love of their +place. (1665, No. 89.) + +XIII.--When we are tired of loving we are quite content if our mistress +should become faithless, to loose us from our fidelity. (1665, No. 85.) + +XIV.--The first impulse of joy which we feel at the happiness of our +friends arises neither from our natural goodness nor from friendship; +it is the result of self-love, which flatters us with being lucky in our +own turn, or in reaping something from the good fortune of our friends. +(1665, No. 97.) + +XV.--In the adversity of our best friends we always find something which +is not wholly displeasing to us. (1665, No. 99.) + +[This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated "Verses on his own Death." +The four first are quoted opposite the title, then follow these lines:-- +"This maxim more than all the rest, Is thought too base for human +breast; In all distresses of our friends, We first consult our private +ends; While nature kindly bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance +to please us." + +See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; "they who +know the deception and wickedness of the human heart will not be either +romantic or blind enough to deny what Rochefoucauld and Swift have +affirmed as a general truth."] + +XVI.--How shall we hope that another person will keep our secret if we +do not keep it ourselves. (1665, No. 100.) + +XVII.--As if it was not sufficient that self-love should have the power +to change itself, it has added that of changing other objects, and +this it does in a very astonishing manner; for not only does it so well +disguise them that it is itself deceived, but it even changes the state +and nature of things. Thus, when a female is adverse to us, and she +turns her hate and persecution against us, self-love pronounces on her +actions with all the severity of justice; it exaggerates the faults till +they are enormous, and looks at her good qualities in so disadvantageous +a light that they become more displeasing than her faults. If however +the same female becomes favourable to us, or certain of our interests +reconcile her to us, our sole self interest gives her back the lustre +which our hatred deprived her of. The bad qualities become effaced, +the good ones appear with a redoubled advantage; we even summon all our +indulgence to justify the war she has made upon us. Now although all +passions prove this truth, that of love exhibits it most clearly; for we +may see a lover moved with rage by the neglect or the infidelity of her +whom he loves, and meditating the utmost vengeance that his passion can +inspire. Nevertheless as soon as the sight of his beloved has calmed the +fury of his movements, his passion holds that beauty innocent; he only +accuses himself, he condemns his condemnations, and by the miraculous +power of selflove, he whitens the blackest actions of his mistress, and +takes from her all crime to lay it on himself. + +{No date or number is given for this maxim} + +XVIII.--There are none who press so heavily on others as the lazy ones, +when they have satisfied their idleness, and wish to appear industrious. +(1666, No. 91.) + +XIX.--The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride; +it seems to nourish and augment it, it deprives us of knowledge of +remedies which can solace our miseries and can cure our faults. (1665, +No. 102.) + +XX.--One has never less reason than when one despairs of finding it in +others. (1665, No. 103.) + +XXI.--Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not diminished crimes by +their precepts; they have only used them in the building up of pride. +(1665, No. 105.) + +XXII.--It is a proof of little friendship not to perceive the growing +coolness of that of our friends. (1666, No. 97.) + +XXIII.--The most wise may be so in indifferent and ordinary matters, but +they are seldom so in their most serious affairs. (1665, No. 132.) + +XXIV.--The most subtle folly grows out of the most subtle wisdom. (1665, +No. 134.) + +XXV.--Sobriety is the love of health, or an incapacity to eat much. +(1665, No. 135.) + +XXVI.--We never forget things so well as when we are tired of talking of +them. (1665, No. 144.) + +XXVII.--The praise bestowed upon us is at least useful in rooting us in +the practice of virtue. (1665, No. 155.) + +XXVIII.--Self-love takes care to prevent him whom we flatter from being +him who most flatters us. (1665, No. 157.) + +XXIX.--Men only blame vice and praise virtue from interest. (1665, No. +151.) + +XXX.--We make no difference in the kinds of anger, although there is +that which is light and almost innocent, which arises from warmth of +complexion, temperament, and another very criminal, which is, to speak +properly, the fury of pride. (1665, No. 159.) + +XXXI.--Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more +virtues than the common, but those only who have greater designs. (1665, +No. 161.) + +XXXII.--Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they make them bear +what value they will, and one is forced to receive them according to +their currency value, and not at their true worth. (1665, No. 165.) + +[See Burns{, For A' That An A' That}-- "The rank is but the guinea's +stamp, {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that." Also Farquhar and other +parallel passages pointed out in Familiar Words.] + +XXXIII.--Natural ferocity makes fewer people cruel than self-love. +(1665, No. 174.) + +XXXIV.--One may say of all our virtues as an Italian poet says of the +propriety of women, that it is often merely the art of appearing chaste. +(1665, No. 176.) + +XXXV.--There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious by their +brilliancy,* their number, or their excess; thus it happens that public +robbery is called financial skill, and the unjust capture of provinces +is called a conquest. (1665, No. 192.) + + *Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as + those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte + Corday--further than this the maxim is satire. + + +XXXVI.--One never finds in man good or evil in excess. (1665, No. 201.) + +XXXVII.--Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not +easily suspect others. (1665, No. {2}08.) + +{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It is 208.} + +XXXVIII.--The pomp of funerals concerns rather the vanity of the living, +than the honour of the dead. (1665, No. 213.) + +XXXIX.--Whatever variety and change appears in the world, we may remark +a secret chain, and a regulated order of all time by Providence, which +makes everything follow in due rank and fall into its destined course. +(1665, No. 225.) + +XL.--Intrepidity should sustain the heart in conspiracies in place of +valour which alone furnishes all the firmness which is necessary for the +perils of war. (1665, No. 231.) + +XLI.--Those who wish to define victory by her birth will be tempted to +imitate the poets, and to call her the Daughter of Heaven, since they +cannot find her origin on earth. Truly she is produced from an infinity +of actions, which instead of wishing to beget her, only look to the +particular interests of their masters, since all those who compose an +army, in aiming at their own rise and glory, produce a good so great and +general. (1665, No. 232.) + +XLII.--That man who has never been in danger cannot answer for his +courage. (1665, No. 236.) + +XLIII.--We more often place bounds on our gratitude than on our desires +and our hopes. (1665, No. 241.) + +XLIV.--Imitation is always unhappy, for all which is counterfeit +displeases by the very things which charm us when they are original +(Naturelles). (1665, No. 245.) + +XLV.--We do not regret the loss of our friends according to their +merits, but according to OUR wants, and the opinion with which we +believed we had impressed them of our worth. (1665, No. 248.) + +XLVI.--It is very hard to separate the general goodness spread all over +the world from great cleverness. (1665, No. 252.) + +XLVII.--For us to be always good, others should believe that they cannot +behave wickedly to us with impunity. (1665, No. 254.) + +XLVIII.--A confidence in being able to please is often an infallible +means of being displeasing. (1665, No. 256.) + +XLIX.--The confidence we have in ourselves arises in a great measure +from that that we have in others. (1665, No. 258.) + +L.--There is a general revolution which changes the tastes of the mind +as well as the fortunes of the world. (1665, No. 250.) + +LI.--Truth is foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for +of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be beautiful and perfect +unless it be truly that she should be, and possess truly all that she +should have (1665, No. 260.) + +[Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{--John Keats, "Ode on a a Grecian Urn," +(1820), Stanza 5}] + +LII.--There are fine things which are more brilliant when unfinished +than when finished too much. (1665, No. 262.) + +LIII.--Magnanimity is a noble effort of pride which makes a man master +of himself, to make him master of all things. (1665, No. 271.) + +LIV.--Luxury and too refined a policy in states are a sure presage of +their fall, because all parties looking after their own interest turn +away from the public good. (1665, No. 282.) + +LV.--Of all passions that which is least known to us is idleness; she +is the most ardent and evil of all, although her violence may be +insensible, and the evils she causes concealed; if we consider her +power attentively we shall find that in all encounters she makes herself +mistress of our sentiments, our interests, and our pleasures; like the +(fabled) Remora, she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden +rock, more dangerous in the most important matters than sudden squalls +and the most violent tempests. The repose of idleness is a magic charm +which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most obstinate +resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this passion we must add +that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles us for all losses +and fills the vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. 290.) + +LVI.--We are very fond of reading others' characters, but we do not like +to be read ourselves. (1665, No. 296.) + +LVII.--What a tiresome malady is that which forces one to preserve your +health by a severe regimen. (Ibid, No. 298.) + +LVIII.--It is much easier to take love when one is free, than to get rid +of it after having taken it. (1665, No. 300.) + +LIX.--Women for the most part surrender themselves more from weakness +than from passion. Whence it is that bold and pushing men succeed better +than others, although they are not so loveable. (1665, No. 301.) + +LX.--Not to love is in love, an infallible means of being beloved. +(1665, No. 302.) + +LXI.--The sincerity which lovers and mistresses ask that both should +know when they cease to love each other, arises much less from a wish +to be warned of the cessation of love, than from a desire to be assured +that they are beloved although no one denies it. (1665, No. 303.) + +LXII.--The most just comparison of love is that of a fever, and we have +no power over either, as to its violence or its duration. (1665, No. +305.) + +LXIII.--The greatest skill of the least skilful is to know how to submit +to the direction of another. (1665, No. 309.) + +LXIV.--We always fear to see those whom we love when we have been +flirting with others. (16{74}, No. 372.) + +LXV.--We ought to console ourselves for our faults when we have strength +enough to own them. (16{74}, No. 375.) + +{The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited as 1665 in +the text. I found this date immediately suspect because the translators' +introduction states that the 1665 edition only had 316 maxims. In fact, +the two maxims only appeared in the fourth of the first five editions +(1674).} + + + + +SECOND SUPPLEMENT. + +REFLECTIONS, EXTRACTED FROM MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.* + + *A La Bibliotheque Du Roi, it is difficult at present (June + 1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection of + books in Paris, the property of the nation. + + +LXVI.--Interest is the soul of self-love, in as much as when the body +deprived of its soul is without sight, feeling or knowledge, without +thought or movement, so self-love, riven so to speak from its interest, +neither sees, nor hears, nor smells, nor moves; thus it is that the same +man who will run over land and sea for his own interest becomes suddenly +paralyzed when engaged for that of others; from this arises that sudden +dulness and, as it were, death, with which we afflict those to whom we +speak of our own matters; from this also their sudden resurrection when +in our narrative we relate something concerning them; from this we find +in our conversations and business that a man becomes dull or bright +just as his own interest is near to him or distant from him. (Letter To +Madame De Sablé, Ms., Fol. 211.) + +LXVII.--Why we cry out so much against maxims which lay bare the heart +of man, is because we fear that our own heart shall be laid bare. (Maxim +103, MS., fol. 310.*) + + *The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the + Maxims previously given, sometimes the author has carefully + polished them; at other times the words are identical. Our + numbers will indicate where they are to be found in the + foregoing collection. + + +LXVIII.--Hope and fear are inseparable. (To Madame De Sablé, Ms., Fol. +222, MAX. 168.) + +LXIX.--It is a common thing to hazard life to escape dishonour; +but, when this is done, the actor takes very little pain to make the +enterprise succeed in which he is engaged, and certain it is that they +who hazard their lives to take a city or to conquer a province are +better officers, have more merit, and wider and more useful, views than +they who merely expose themselves to vindicate their honour; it is very +common to find people of the latter class, very rare to find those of +the former. (Letter To M. Esprit, Ms., Fol. 173, MAX. 219.) + +LXX.--The taste changes, but the will remains the same. (To Madame De +Sablé, Fol. 223, Max. 252.) + +LXXI.--The power which women whom we love have over us is greater than +that which we have over ourselves. (To The Same, Ms., Fol. 211, Max. +259) + +LXXII.--That which makes us believe so easily that others have defects +is that we all so easily believe what we wish. (To The Same, Ms., Fol. +223, Max. 397.) + +LXXIII.--I am perfectly aware that good sense and fine wit are tedious +to every age, but tastes are not always the same, and what is good +at one time will not seem so at another. This makes me think that few +persons know how to be old. (To The Same, Fol. 202, Max. 423.) + +LXXIV.--God has permitted, to punish man for his original sin, that he +should be so fond of his self-love, that he should be tormented by it in +all the actions of his life. (Ms., Fol. 310, Max. 494.) + +LXXV.--And so far it seems to me the philosophy of a lacquey can go; I +believe that all gaity in that state of life is very doubtful indeed. +(To Madame De Sablé, Fol. 161, Max. 504.) + +[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman about to be broken +on the wheel danced on the scaffold. He seems to think that in his day +the life of such servants was so miserable that their merriment was very +doubtful.] + + + + +THIRD SUPPLEMENT + +[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth Edition of the +Pensées De La Rochefoucauld, published by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more +than twelve years after the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The +reader will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable maxims.] + +LXXVI.--Many persons wish to be devout; but no one wishes to be humble. + +LXXVII.--The labour of the body frees us from the pains of the mind, and +thus makes the poor happy. + +LXXVIII.--True penitential sorrows (mortifications) are those which are +not known, vanity renders the others easy enough. + +LXXIX.--Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer +him his sacrifices. + +LXXX.--Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make +a fool content; that is why most men are miserable. + +LXXXI.--We trouble ourselves less to become happy, than to make others +believe we are so. + +LXXXII.--It is more easy to extinguish the first desire than to satisfy +those which follow. + +LXXXIII.--Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the body. + +LXXXIV.--The great ones of the earth can neither command health of body +nor repose of mind, and they buy always at too dear a price the good +they can acquire. + +LXXXV.--Before strongly desiring anything we should examine what +happiness he has who possesses it. + +LXXXVI.--A true friend is the greatest of all goods, and that of which +we think least of acquiring. + +LXXXVII.--Lovers do not wish to see the faults of their mistresses until +their enchantment is at an end. + +LXXXVIII.--Prudence and love are not made for each other; in the ratio +that love increases, prudence diminishes. + +LXXXIX.--It is sometimes pleasing to a husband to have a jealous wife; +he hears her always speaking of the beloved object. + +XC.--How much is a woman to be pitied who is at the same time possessed +of virtue and love! + +XCI.--The wise man finds it better not to enter the encounter than to +conquer. + +[Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage-- "Who quits {a} world where +strong temptations try, And since 'tis hard to co{mbat}, learns to +fly."] + +XCII.--It is more necessary to study men than books. + +["The proper study of mankind is man."--Pope {Essay On Man, (1733), +Epistle II, line 2}.] + +XCIII.--Good and evil ordinarily come to those who have most of one or +the other. + +XCIV.--The accent and character of one's native country dwells in the +mind and heart as on the tongue. (Repitition Of Maxim 342.) + +XCV.--The greater part of men have qualities which, like those of +plants, are discovered by chance. (Repitition Of Maxim 344.) + +XCVI.--A good woman is a hidden treasure; he who discovers her will do +well not to boast about it. (See Maxim 368.) + +XCVII.--Most women do not weep for the loss of a lover to show that they +have been loved so much as to show that they are worth being loved. (See +Maxim 362.) + +XCVIII.--There are many virtuous women who are weary of the part they +have played. (See Maxim 367.) + +XCIX.--If we think we love for love's sake we are much mistaken. (See +Maxim 374.) + +C.--The restraint we lay upon ourselves to be constant, is not much +better than an inconstancy. (See Maxim 369, 381.) + +CI.--There are those who avoid our jealousy, of whom we ought to be +jealous. (See Maxim 359.) + +CII.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with +it. (See Maxim 361.) + +CIII.--When we love too much it is difficult to discover when we have +ceased to be beloved. + +CIV.--We know very well that we should not talk about our wives, but we +do not remember that it is not so well to speak of ourselves. (See Maxim +364.) + +CV.--Chance makes us known to others and to ourselves. (See Maxim 345.) + +CVI.--We find very few people of good sense, except those who are of our +own opinion. (See Maxim 347.) + +CVII.--We commonly praise the good hearts of those who admire us. (See +Maxim 356.) + +CVIII.--Man only blames himself in order that he may be praised. + +CIX.--Little minds are wounded by the smallest things. (See Maxim 357.) + +CX.--There are certain faults which placed in a good light please more +than perfection itself. (See Maxim 354.) + +CXI.--That which makes us so bitter against those who do us a shrewd +turn, is because they think themselves more clever than we are. (See +Maxim 350.) + +CXII.--We are always bored by those whom we bore. (See Maxim 352.) + +CXIII.--The harm that others do us is often less than that we do +ourselves. (See Maxim 363.) + +CXIV.--It is never more difficult to speak well than when we are ashamed +of being silent. + +CXV.--Those faults are always pardonable that we have the courage to +avow. + +CXVI.--The greatest fault of penetration is not that it goes to the +bottom of a matter--but beyond it. (See Maxim 377.) + +CXVII.--We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it. +(See Maxim 378.) + +CXVIII.--When our merit declines, our taste declines also. (See Maxim +379.) + +CXIX.--Fortune discovers our vices and our virtues, as the light makes +objects plain to the sight. (See Maxim 380.) + +CXX.--Our actions are like rhymed verse-ends (Bouts-Rimés) which +everyone turns as he pleases. (See Maxim 382.) + +CXXI.--There is nothing more natural, nor more deceptive, than to +believe that we are beloved. + +CXXII.--We would rather see those to whom we have done a benefit, than +those who have done us one. + +CXXIII.--It is more difficult to hide the opinions we have than to feign +those which we have not. + +CXXIV.--Renewed friendships require more care than those that have never +been broken. + +CXXV.--A man to whom no one is pleasing is much more unhappy than one +who pleases nobody. + + + + +REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD + +I. On Confidence. + +Though sincerity and confidence have many points of resemblance, they +have yet many points of difference. + +Sincerity is an openness of heart, which shows us what we are, a love +of truth, a dislike to deception, a wish to compensate our faults and to +lessen them by the merit of confessing them. + +Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are stricter, it requires +more prudence and reticence, and we are not always free to give it. It +relates not only to ourselves, since our interests are often mixed +up with those of others; it requires great delicacy not to expose +our friends in exposing ourselves, not to draw upon their goodness to +enhance the value of what we give. + +Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It is a tribute we pay +to their merit, a deposit we commit to their trust, a pledge which +gives them a claim upon us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily +submit. I do not wish from what I have said to depreciate confidence, +so necessary to man. It is in society the link between acquaintance and +friendship. I only wish to state its limits to make it true and real. +I would that it was always sincere, always discreet, and that it had +neither weakness nor interest. I know it is hard to place proper limits +on being taken into all our friends' confidence, and taking them into +all ours. + +Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a love of talking, a +wish to win the confidence of others, and make an exchange of secrets. + +Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards whom we have no +motive for confiding. With them we discharge the obligation in keeping +their secrets and trusting them with small confidences. + +Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to us, but we confide in +them by choice and inclination. + +We should hide from them nothing that concerns us, we should always show +them with equal truth, our virtues and our vices, without exaggerating +the one or diminishing the other. We should make it a rule never to +have half confidences. They always embarrass those who give them, and +dissatisfy those who receive them. They shed an uncertain light on what +we want hidden, increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to know +more, giving them leave to consider themselves free to talk of what they +have guessed. It is far safer and more honest to tell nothing than to be +silent when we have begun to tell. There are other rules to be observed +in matters confided to us, all are important, to all prudence and trust +are essential. + +Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does +not agree as to the nature and importance of secresy. Too often we +consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. +There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them +will not last for ever. + +With those friends whose truth we know we have the closest intimacy. +They have always spoken unreservedly to us, we should always do the same +to them. They know our habits and connexions, and see too clearly not +to perceive the slightest change. They may have elsewhere learnt what we +have promised not to tell. It is not in our power to tell them what has +been entrusted to us, though it might tend to their interest to know it. +We feel as confident of them as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the +hard fate of losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being +faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the hardest test of +fidelity, but it should not move an honest man; it is then that he can +sacrifice himself to others. His first duty is to rigidly keep his trust +in its entirety. He should not only control and guard his and his voice, +but even his lighter talk, so that nothing be seen in his conversation +or manner that could direct the curiosity of others towards that which +he wishes to conceal. + +We have often need of strength and prudence wherewith to oppose the +exigencies of most of our friends who make a claim on our confidence, +and seek to know all about us. We should never allow them to acquire +this unexceptionable right. There are accidents and circumstances which +do not fall in their cognizance; if they complain, we should endure +their complaints and excuse ourselves with gentleness, but if they are +still unreasonable, we should sacrifice their friendship to our duty, +and choose between two inevitable evils, the one reparable, the other +irreparable. + +II. On Difference of Character. + +Although all the qualities of mind may be united in a great genius, +yet there are some which are special and peculiar to him; his views are +unlimited; he always acts uniformly and with the same activity; he sees +distant objects as if present; he comprehends and grasps the greatest, +sees and notices the smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, +just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, and he often +finds truth in spite of the obscurity that hides her from others. + +A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, +and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with +all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from +its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable. + +A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid and overcome +difficulties. Bending easily to what it wants, it understands the +inclination and temper it is dealing with, and by managing their +interests it advances and establishes its own. + +A well regulated mind sees all things as they should be seen, appraises +them at their proper value, turns them to its own advantage, and adheres +firmly to its own opinions as it knows all their force and weight. + +A difference exists between a working mind and a business-like mind. We +can undertake business without turning it to our own interest. Some are +clever only in what does not concern them, and the reverse in all that +does. There are others again whose cleverness is limited to their own +business, and who know how to turn everything to their own advantage. + +It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and yet to talk +pleasantly and cheerfully. This class of mind is suited to all persons +in all times of life. Young persons have usually a cheerful and +satirical turn, untempered by seriousness, thus often making themselves +disagreeable. + +No part is easier to play than that of being always pleasant; and the +applause we sometimes receive in censuring others is not worth being +exposed to the chance of offending them when they are out of temper. + +Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental +qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear +those who use it too much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed +with spite, and when the person satirised can join in the satire. + +It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without affecting to be +pleased or without loving to jest. It requires much adroitness to +continue satirical without falling into one of these extremes. + +Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession of the imagination, +and shows every object in an absurd light; wit combines more or less +softness or harshness. + +There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that only hits the +faults that persons admit, which understands how to hide the praise it +gives under the appearance of blame, and shows the good while feigning a +wish to hide it. + +An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dissimilar. The first always +pleases; it is unfettered, it perceives the most delicate and sees the +most imperceptible matters. A cunning spirit never goes straight, it +endeavours to secure its object by byeways and short cuts. This conduct +is soon found out, it always gives rise to distrust and never reaches +greatness. + +There is a difference between an ardent and a brilliant mind, a fiery +spirit travels further and faster, while a brilliant mind is sparkling, +attractive, accurate. + +Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating manner which always +pleases when not insipid. + +A mind full of details devotes itself to the management and regulation +of the smallest particulars it meets with. This distinction is usually +limited to little matters, yet it is not absolutely incompatible with +greatness, and when these two qualities are united in the same mind they +raise it infinitely above others. + +The expression "Bel Esprit" is much perverted, for all that one can say +of the different kinds of mind meet together in the "Bel Esprit." Yet as +the epithet is bestowed on an infinite number of bad poets and tedious +authors, it is more often used to ridicule than to praise. + +There are yet many other epithets for the mind which mean the same +thing, the difference lies in the tone and manner of saying them, but +as tones and manner cannot appear in writing I shall not go into +distinctions I cannot explain. Custom explains this in saying that a +man has wit, has much wit, that he is a great wit; there are tones and +manners which make all the difference between phrases which seem all +alike on paper, and yet express a different order of mind. + +So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that he has several, that +he has every variety of wit. + +One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not be a fool even with +very little wit. + +To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It may mean every class of +mind that can be mentioned, it may mean none in particular. It may mean +that he talks sensibly while he acts foolishly. We may have a mind, but +a narrow one. A mind may be fitted for some things, not for others. We +may have a large measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is often +inconvenienced with much mind; still of this kind of mind we may say +that it is sometimes pleasing in society. + +Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, it seems to me, be +thus classified. + +There are some so beautiful that everyone can see and feel their beauty. + +There are some lovely, it is true, but which are wearisome. + +There are some which are lovely, which all the world admire, but without +knowing why. + +There are some so refined and delicate that few are capable even of +remarking all their beauties. + +There are others which, though imperfect, yet are produced with such +skill, and sustained and managed with such sense and grace, that they +even deserve to be admired. + +III. On Taste. + +Some persons have more wit than taste, others have more taste than wit. +There is greater vanity and caprice in taste than in wit. + +The word taste has different meanings, which it is easy to mistake. +There is a difference between the taste which in certain objects has +an attraction for us, and the taste that makes us understand and +distinguish the qualities we judge by. + +We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently fine and delicate +taste to criticise it accurately. Some tastes lead us imperceptibly to +objects, from which others carry us away by their force or intensity. + +Some persons have bad taste in everything, others have bad taste only +in some things, but a correct and good taste in matters within their +capacity. Some have peculiar taste, which they know to be bad, but which +they still follow. Some have a doubtful taste, and let chance decide, +their indecision makes them change, and they are affected with pleasure +or weariness on their friends' judgment. Others are always prejudiced, +they are the slaves of their tastes, which they adhere to in everything. +Some know what is good, and are horrified at what is not; their opinions +are clear and true, and they find the reason for their taste in their +mind and understanding. + +Some have a species of instinct (the source of which they are ignorant +of), and decide all questions that come before them by its aid, and +always decide rightly. + +These follow their taste more than their intelligence, because they +do not permit their temper and self-love to prevail over their natural +discernment. All they do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. +This harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and form a correct +estimate of their value. But speaking generally there are few who have +a taste fixed and independent of that of their friends, they follow +example and fashion which generally form the standard of taste. + +In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is very rare and +almost impossible to meet with that sort of good taste that knows how to +set a price on the particular, and yet understands the right value that +should be placed on all. Our knowledge is too limited, and that correct +discernment of good qualities which goes to form a correct judgment +is too seldom to be met with except in regard to matters that do not +concern us. + +As regards ourselves our taste has not this all-important discernment. +Preoccupation, trouble, all that concern us, present it to us in another +aspect. We do not see with the same eyes what does and what does not +relate to us. Our taste is guided by the bent of our self-love and +temper, which supplies us with new views which we adapt to an infinite +number of changes and uncertainties. Our taste is no longer our own, +we cease to control it, without our consent it changes, and the same +objects appear to us in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to +perceive what we have seen and heard. + +IV. On Society. + +In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of friendship, for, +though they have some connection, they are yet very different. The +former has more in it of greatness and humility, and the greatest merit +of the latter is to resemble the former. + +For the present I shall speak of that particular kind of intercourse +that gentlemen should have with each other. It would be idle to show how +far society is essential to men: all seek for it, and all find it, but +few adopt the method of making it pleasant and lasting. + +Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advantage at the expense of +others. We prefer ourselves always to those with whom we intend to +live, and they almost always perceive the preference. It is this which +disturbs and destroys society. We should discover a means to hide this +love of selection since it is too ingrained in us to be in our power to +destroy. We should make our pleasure that of other persons, to humour, +never to wound their self-love. + +The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, but it is not merely +sufficient for us to guide it in the different courses it should hold. + +The agreement we meet between minds would not keep society together for +long if she was not governed and sustained by good sense, temper, and by +the consideration which ought to exist between persons who have to live +together. + +It sometimes happens that persons opposite in temper and mind become +united. They doubtless hold together for different reasons, which cannot +last for long. Society may subsist between those who are our inferiors +by birth or by personal qualities, but those who have these advantages +should not abuse them. They should seldom let it be perceived that they +serve to instruct others. They should let their conduct show that +they, too, have need to be guided and led by reason, and accommodate +themselves as far as possible to the feeling and the interests of the +others. + +To make society pleasant, it is essential that each should retain +his freedom of action. A man should not see himself, or he should see +himself without dependence, and at the same time amuse himself. He +should have the power of separating himself without that separation +bringing any change on the society. He should have the power to pass by +one and the other, if he does not wish to expose himself to occasional +embarrassments; and he should remember that he is often bored when he +believes he has not the power even to bore. He should share in what he +believes to be the amusement of persons with whom he wishes to live, but +he should not always be liable to the trouble of providing them. + +Complaisance is essential in society, but it should have its limits, +it becomes a slavery when it is extreme. We should so render a free +consent, that in following the opinion of our friends they should +believe that they follow ours. + +We should readily excuse our friends when their faults are born with +them, and they are less than their good qualities. We should often avoid +to show what they have said, and what they have left unsaid. We should +try to make them perceive their faults, so as to give them the merit of +correcting them. + +There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in the intercourse +among gentlemen, it makes them comprehend badinage, and it keeps +them from using and employing certain figures of speech, too rude +and unrefined, which are often used thoughtlessly when we hold to our +opinion with too much warmth. + +The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without a certain kind of +confidence; this should be equal on both sides. Each should have an +appearance of sincerity and of discretion which never causes the fear of +anything imprudent being said. + +There should be some variety in wit. Those who have only one kind of +wit cannot please for long unless they can take different roads, and not +both use the same talents, thus adding to the pleasure of society, and +keeping the same harmony that different voices and different instruments +should observe in music; and as it is detrimental to the quiet of +society, that many persons should have the same interests, it is yet as +necessary for it that their interests should not be different. + +We should anticipate what can please our friends, find out how to be +useful to them so as to exempt them from annoyance, and when we cannot +avert evils, seem to participate in them, insensibly obliterate without +attempting to destroy them at a blow, and place agreeable objects in +their place, or at least such as will interest them. We should talk of +subjects that concern them, but only so far as they like, and we +should take great care where we draw the line. There is a species of +politeness, and we may say a similar species of humanity, which does not +enter too quickly into the recesses of the heart. It often takes pains +to allow us to see all that our friends know, while they have still the +advantage of not knowing to the full when we have penetrated the depth +of the heart. + +Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once gives them familiarity +and furnishes them with an infinite number of subjects on which to talk +freely. + +Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense fairly to appreciate +many matters that are essential to maintain society. We desire to +turn away at a certain point, but we do not want to be mixed up in +everything, and we fear to know all kinds of truth. + +As we should stand at a certain distance to view objects, so we should +also stand at a distance to observe society; each has its proper point +of view from which it should be regarded. It is quite right that it +should not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly a man who in +all matters allows himself to be seen as he really is. + +V. On Conversation. + +The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is that each +thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the others say, and +that we make bad listeners when we want to speak. + +Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should give them the +time they want, and let them say even senseless things; never contradict +or interrupt them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind and +taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything they say that deserves +praise, and let them see we praise more from our choice than from +agreement with them. + +To please others we should talk on subjects they like and that interest +them, avoid disputes upon indifferent matters, seldom ask questions, and +never let them see that we pretend to be better informed than they are. + +We should talk in a more or less serious manner, and upon more or less +abstruse subjects, according to the temper and understanding of the +persons we talk with, and readily give them the advantage of deciding +without obliging them to answer when they are not anxious to talk. + +After having in this way fulfilled the duties of politeness, we can +speak our opinions to our listeners when we find an opportunity without +a sign of presumption or opinionatedness. Above all things we should +avoid often talking of ourselves and giving ourselves as an example; +nothing is more tiresome than a man who quotes himself for everything. + +We cannot give too great study to find out the manner and the capacity +of those with whom we talk, so as to join in the conversation of those +who have more than ourselves without hurting by this preference the +wishes or interests of others. + +Then we should modestly use all the modes abovementioned to show our +thoughts to them, and make them, if possible, believe that we take our +ideas from them. + +We should never say anything with an air of authority, nor show +any superiority of mind. We should avoid far-fetched expressions, +expressions hard or forced, and never let the words be grander than the +matter. + +It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are reasonable, but we +should yield to reason, wherever she appears and from whatever side +she comes, she alone should govern our opinions, we should follow her +without opposing the opinions of others, and without seeming to ignore +what they say. + +It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the conversation, and +to push a good argument too hard, when we have found one. Civility often +hides half its understanding, and when it meets with an opinionated man +who defends the bad side, spares him the disgrace of giving way. + +We are sure to displease when we speak too long and too often of one +subject, and when we try to turn the conversation upon subjects that we +think more instructive than others, we should enter indifferently upon +every subject that is agreeable to others, stopping where they wish, and +avoiding all they do not agree with. + +Every kind of conversation, however witty it may be, is not equally +fitted for all clever persons; we should select what is to their taste +and suitable to their condition, their sex, their talents, and also +choose the time to say it. + +We should observe the place, the occasion, the temper in which we find +the person who listens to us, for if there is much art in speaking to +the purpose, there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There is +an eloquent silence which serves to approve or to condemn, there is a +silence of discretion and of respect. In a word, there is a tone, an +air, a manner, which renders everything in conversation agreeable or +disagreeable, refined or vulgar. + +But it is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay +down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is +to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that will ever give +ground for regret. + +VI. Falsehood. + +We are false in different ways. There are some men who are false from +wishing always to appear what they are not. There are some who have +better faith, who are born false, who deceive themselves, and who never +see themselves as they really are; to some is given a true understanding +and a false taste, others have a false understanding and some +correctness in taste; there are some who have not any falsity either in +taste or mind. These last are very rare, for to speak generally, there +is no one who has not some falseness in some corner of his mind or his +taste. + +What makes this falseness so universal, is that as our qualities are +uncertain and confused, so too, are our tastes; we do not see things +exactly as they are, we value them more or less than they are worth, +and do not bring them into unison with ourselves in a manner which suits +them or suits our condition or qualities. + +This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of falsities in the taste +and in the mind. Our self-love is flattered by all that presents itself +to us under the guise of good. + +But as there are many kinds of good which affect our vanity and our +temper, so they are often followed from custom or advantage. We follow +because the others follow, without considering that the same feeling +ought not to be equally embarrassing to all kinds of persons, and that +it should attach itself more or less firmly, according as persons agree +more or less with those who follow them. + +We dread still more to show falseness in taste than in mind. Gentleness +should approve without prejudice what deserves to be approved, follow +what deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. But there +should be great distinction and great accuracy. We should distinguish +between what is good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, and +always follow in reason the natural inclination which carries us towards +matters that please us. + +If men only wished to excel by the help of their own talents, and in +following their duty, there would be nothing false in their taste or in +their conduct. They would show what they were, they would judge matters +by their lights, and they would attract by their reason. There would be +a discernment in their views, in their sentiments, their taste would +be true, it would come to them direct, and not from others, they would +follow from choice and not from habit or chance. If we are false in +admiring what should not be admired, it is oftener from envy that we +affix a value to qualities which are good in themselves, but which do +not become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters himself he is +brave, and that he will be able to be bold in certain cases. He should +be as firm and stedfast in a plot which ought to be stifled without fear +of being false, as he would be false and absurd in fighting a duel about +it. + +A woman may like science, but all sciences are not suitable for her, and +the doctrines of certain sciences never become her, and when applied by +her are always false. + +We should allow reason and good sense to fix the value of things, they +should determine our taste and give things the merit they deserve, and +the importance it is fitting we should give them. But nearly all men are +deceived in the price and in the value, and in these mistakes there is +always a kind of falseness. + +VII. On Air and Manner. + +There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of each +individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume another. + +We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never abandon +it, but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason that the +majority of children please. It is because they are wrapt up in the air +and manner nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. They +are changed and corrupted when they quit infancy, they think they should +imitate what they see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. +In this imitation there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. +They have nothing settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being +in reality what they want to appear, they seek to appear what they are +not. + +All men want to be different, and to be greater than they are; they seek +for an air other than their own, and a mind different from what +they possess; they take their style and manner at chance. They make +experiments upon themselves without considering that what suits one +person will not suit everyone, that there is no universal rule for taste +or manners, and that there are no good copies. + +Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many matters without being +a copy of each other, if each follow his natural turn of mind. But in +general a person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. We +often imitate the same person without perceiving it, and we neglect our +own good qualities for the good qualities of others, which generally do +not suit us. + +I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should so wrap himself up +in himself as not to be able to follow example, or to add to his own, +useful and serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. Arts and +sciences may be proper for the greater part of those who are capable for +them. Good manners and politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet +acquired qualities should always have a certain agreement and a certain +union with our own natural qualities, which they imperceptibly extend +and increase. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above ourselves. We +are often engaged in a new profession for which nature has not adapted +us. All these conditions have each an air which belong to them, but +which does not always agree with our natural manner. This change of our +fortune often changes our air and our manners, and augments the air of +dignity, which is always false when it is too marked, and when it is not +united and amalgamated with that which nature has given us. We should +unite and blend them together, and thus render them such that they can +never be separated. + +We should not speak of all subjects in one tone and in the same manner. +We do not march at the head of a regiment as we walk on a promenade; +and we should use the same style in which we should naturally speak of +different things in the same way, with the same difference as we should +walk, but always naturally, and as is suitable, either at the head of +a regiment or on a promenade. There are some who are not content to +abandon the air and manner natural to them to assume those of the rank +and dignities to which they have arrived. There are some who assume +prematurely the air of the dignities and rank to which they aspire. +How many lieutenant-generals assume to be marshals of France, how many +barristers vainly repeat the style of the Chancellor and how many female +citizens give themselves the airs of duchesses. + +But what we are most often vexed at is that no one knows how to conform +his air and manners with his appearance, nor his style and words with +his thoughts and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how far +he is insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly every one falls into +this fault in some way. No one has an ear sufficiently fine to mark +perfectly this kind of cadence. + +Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; thousands +pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the first wish to +appear to be what they are not, the second are what they appear. + +Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received from +nature please in proportion as we know the air, the style, the manner, +the sentiments that coincide with our condition and our appearance, and +displease in the proportion they are removed from that point. + + + + +INDEX + +THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, THE ROMAN +NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS. + + + + Ability, 162, 165, 199, 245, 283, 288. SEE Cleverness + ------, Sovereign, 244. + Absence, 276. + Accent, country, 342, XCIV. + Accidents, 59, 310. + Acquaintances, 426. SEE FRIENDS. + Acknowledgements, 225. + Actions, 1, 7, 57, 58, 160, 161, 382, 409, CXX. + Actors, 256. + Admiration, 178, 294, 474. + Adroitness of mind, R.II. + Adversity, 25. + -------- of Friends, XV. + Advice, 110, 116, 283, 378, CXVII. + Affairs, 453, R II. + Affectation, 134, 493. + Affections, 232. + Afflictions, 233, 355, 362, 493, XCVII, XV. + Age, 222, 405, LXXIII. SEE Old Age. + Agreeableness, 255, R.V. + Agreement, 240. + Air, 399, 495, R.7. + -- Of a Citizen, 393. + Ambition, 24, 91, 246, 293, 490. + Anger, XXX. + Application, 41, 243. + Appearances, 64, 166, 199, 256, 302, 431, 457, R.VII. + ----------, Conformity of Manners with, R.7. + Applause, 272. + Approbation, 51, 280. + Artifices, 117, 124, 125, 126, R.II. + Astonishment, 384. + Avarice, 167, 491, 492. + + + + Ballads, 211. + Beauty, 240, 474, 497, LI. + ------ of the Mind, R.II. + Bel esprit defined, R.II. + Benefits, 14, 298, 299, 301, CXXII. + Benefactors, 96, 317, CXXII. + Blame, CVIII. + Blindness, XIX. + Boasting, 141, 307. + Boredom, 141, 304, 352. SEE Ennui. + Bouts rimés, 382, CXX. + Bravery, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 365, + 504. SEE Courage and Valour. + Brilliancy of Mind, R.II. + Brilliant things, LII. + + + + Capacity, 375. + Caprice, 45. + Chance, 57, 344, XCV. SEE Fortune. + Character, LVI, R.II. + Chastity, 1. SEE Virtue of Women. + Cheating, 114, 127. + Circumstances, 59, 470. + Civility, 260. + Clemency, 15, 16. + Cleverness, 162, 269, 245, 399. + Coarseness, 372. + Comedy, 211, R.III. + Compassion, 463. SEE Pity. + Complaisance, 481, R.IV. + Conduct, 163, 227, 378, CXVII. + Confidants, whom we make, R.I. + Confidence, 239, 365, 475, XLIX, R.1, R.IV. + Confidence, difference from Sincerity + ----------, defined, R.I. + Consolation, 325. + Constancy, 19, 20, 21, 175, 176, 420. + Contempt, 322. + -------- of Death, 504. + Contentment, LXXX. + Contradictions, 478. + Conversation, 139, 140, 142, 312, 313, 314, 364, 391, + 421, CIV, R.V. + Copies, 133. + Coquetry, 241. SEE Flirtation. + Country Manner, 393. + ------ Accent, 342. + Courage, 1, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221, XLII. SEE Bravery. + Covetousness, opposed to Reason, 469 + Cowardice, 215, 480. + Cowards, 370. + Crimes, 183, 465, XXXV, XXXVII. + Cunning, 126, 129, 394, 407. + Curiosity, 173. + + + + Danger, XLII. + Death, 21, 23, 26. + ----, Contempt of, 504. + Deceit, 86, 117, 118, 124, 127, 129, 395, 434. SEE ALSO + Self-Deceit. + Deception, CXXI. + Decency, 447. + Defects, 31, 90, 493, LXXII. SEE Faults. + Delicacy, 128, R.II. + Dependency, result of Confidence, R.I. + Designs, 160, 161. + Desires, 439, 469, LXXXII, LXXXV. + Despicable Persons, 322. + Detail, Mind given to, R.II. + Details, 41, 106. + Devotion, 427. + Devotees, 427. + Devout, LXXVI. + Differences, 135. + Dignities, R.VII. + Discretion, R.V. + Disguise, 119, 246, 282. + Disgrace, 235, 412. + Dishonour, 326, LXIX. + Distrust, 84, 86, 335. + Divination, 425. + Doubt, 348. + Docility, R.IV. + Dupes, 87, 102. + + + + Education, 261. + Elevation, 399, 400, 403. + Eloquence, 8, 249, 250. + Employments, 164, 419, 449. + Enemies, 114, 397, 458, 463. + Ennui, 122, 141, 304, 312, 352, CXII, R.II. + Envy, 27, 28, 280, 281, 328, 376, 433, 476, 486. + Epithets assigned to the Mind, R.II. + Esteem, 296. + Establish, 56, 280. + Evils, 121, 197, 269, 454, 464, XCIII. + Example, 230. + Exchange of secrets, R.I. + Experience, 405. + Expedients, 287. + Expression, refined, R.V. + + + + Faculties of the Mind, 174. + Failings, 397, 403. + Falseness, R.VI. + --------, disguised, 282. + --------, kinds of, R.VI. + Familiarity, R.IV. + Fame, 157. + Farces, men compared to, 211. + Faults, 37, 112, 155, 184, 190, 194, 196, 251, 354, 365, + 372, 397, 403, 411, 428, 493, 494, V, LXV, CX, + CXV. + Favourites, 55. + Fear, 370, LXVIII. + Feeling, 255. + Ferocity, XXXIII. + Fickleness, 179, 181, 498. + Fidelity, 247. + --------, hardest test of, R.I. + -------- in love, 331, 381, C. + Figure and air, R.VII. + Firmness, 19, 479. + Flattery, 123, 144, 152, 198, 320, 329. + Flirts, 406, 418. + Flirtation, 107, 241, 277, 332, 334, 349, 376, LXIV. + Follies, 156, 300, 408, 416. + Folly, 207, 208, 209, 210, 231, 300, 310, 311, 318, + XXIV. + Fools, 140, 210, 309, 318, 357, 414, 451, 456, + ----, old, 444. + ----, witty, 451, 456. + Force of Mind, 30, 42, 237. + Forgetfulness, XXVI. + Forgiveness, 330. + Fortitude, 19. SEE Bravery. + Fortune, 1, 17, 45, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, 154, 212, 227, 323, + 343, 380, 391, 392, 399, 403, 435, 449, IX., CXIX. + Friends, 84, 114, 179, 235, 279, 315, 319, 428. + ------, adversity of, XV. + ------, disgrace of, 235. + ------, faults of, 428. + ------, true ones, LXXXVI. + Friendship, 80, 81, 83, 376, 410, 427, 440, 441, 473, + XXII, CXXIV. + ----------, defined, 83. + ----------, women do not care for, 440. + ----------, rarer than love, 473. + Funerals, XXXVIII. + + + + Gallantry, 100. SEE Flirtation. + -------- of mind, 100. + Generosity, 246. + Genius, R.II. + Gentleness, R.VI. + Ghosts, 76. + Gifts of the mind, R.II. + Glory, 157, 198, 221, 268. + Good, 121, 185, 229, 238, 303, XCIII. + ----, how to be, XLVII. + Goodness, 237, 275, 284, XLVI. + Good grace, 67, R.VII. + Good man, who is a, 206. + God nature, 481. + Good qualities, 29, 90, 337, 365, 397, 462. + Good sense, 67, 347, CVI. + Good taste, 258. + ----------, rarity of, R.III. + ----, women, 368, XCVI. + Government of others, 151. + Grace, 67. + Gracefulness, 240. + Gratitude, 223, 224, 225, 279, 298, 438, XLIII. + Gravity, 257. + Great men, what they cannot acquire, LXXXIV. + Great minds, 142. + Great names, 94. + Greediness, 66. + + + + Habit, 426. + Happy, who are, 49. + Happiness, 48, 61, VII, LXXX, LXXXI. + hatred, 338. + Head, 102, 108. + Health, 188, LVII. + Heart, 98, 102, 103, 108, 478, 484. + Heroes, 24, 53, 185. + Honesty, 202, 206. + Honour, 270. + Hope, 168, LXVIII. + Humility, 254, 358, LXXVI, LXXIX + Humiliation, 272. + Humour, 47. SEE Temper. + Hypocrisy, 218. + -------- of afflictions, 233. + + + + Idleness, 169, 266, 267, 398, 482, 487, XVIII., LV. + Ills, 174. SEE Evils. + Illusions, 123. + Imagination, 478. + Imitation, 230, XLIV, R.V. + Impertinence, 502. + Impossibilities, 30. + Incapacity, 126. + Inclination, 253, 390. + Inconsistency, 135. + Inconstancy, 181. + Inconvenience, 242. + Indifference, 172, XXIII. + Indiscretion, 429. + Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness. + Infidelity, 359, 360, 381, 429. + Ingratitude, 96, 226, 306, 317. + Injuries, 14. + Injustice, 78. + Innocence, 465. + Instinct, 123. + Integrity, 170. + Interest, 39, 40, 66, 85, 172, 187, 232, 253, 305, 390. + Interests, 66. + Intrepidity, 217, XL. + Intrigue, 73. + Invention, 287. + + + + Jealousy, 28, 32, 324, 336, 359, 361, 446, 503, CII. + Joy, XIV. + Judges, 268. + Judgment, 89, 97, 248. + -------- of the World, 212, 455. + Justice, 78, 458, XII. + + + + Kindness, 14, 85. + Knowledge, 106. + + + + Labour of Body, effect of, LXXVII. + Laments, 355. + Laziness, 367. SEE Idleness. + Leader, 43. + Levity, 179, 181. + Liberality, 167, 263. + Liberty in Society, R.IV. + Limits to Confidence, R.I. + Little Minds, 142. + Love, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 136, 259, 262, + 274, 286, 296, 321, 335, 336, 348, 349, 351, 353, + 361, 371, 374, 385, 395, 396, 402, 417, 418, 422, + 430, 440, 441, 459, 466, 471, 473, 499, 500, 501, + X, XI, XIII, LVIII, LX, LXII, LXXXVIII, + XCIX, CIII, CXXI. + ---- defined, 68. + ----, Coldness in, LX. + ----, Effect of absence on, 276. + ---- akin to Hate, 111. + ---- of Women, 466, 471, 499. + ----, Novelty in, 274. + ----, Infidelity in, LXIV. + ----, Old age of, 430. + ----, Cure for, 417, 459. + Loss of Friends, XLV. + Lovers, 312, 362, LXXXVII, XCVII. + Lunatic, 353. + Luxury, LIV. + Lying, 63. + + + + Madmen, 353, 414. + Malady, LVII. + Magistrates, R.VI. + Magnanimity, 248, LIII. + ---------- defined, 285. + Malice, 483. + Manners, R.VII. + Mankind, 436, XXXVI. + Marriages, 113. + Maxims, LXVII. + Mediocrity, 375. + Memory, 89, 313. + Men easier to know than Man, 436. + Merit, 50, 92, 95, 153, 156, 165, 166, 273, 291, 379, + 401, 437, 455, CXVIII. + Mind, 101, 103, 265, 357, 448, 482, CIX. + Mind, Capacities of, R.II. + Miserable, 49. + Misfortunes, 19, 24, 174, 325. + ---------- of Friends. XV. + ---------- of Enemies, 463. + Mistaken people, 386. + Mistrust, 86. + Mockery, R.II. + Moderation, 17, 18, 293, 308, III, IV. + Money, Man compared to, XXXII. + Motives, 409. + + + + Names, Great, 94. + Natural goodness, 275. + Natural, to be, 431. + ------, always pleasing, R.VII. + Nature, 53, 153, 189, 365, 404. + Negotiations, 278. + Novelty in study, 178. + ------ in love, 274. + ------ in friendship, 426. + + + + Obligations, 299, 317, 438. SEE Benefits and Gratitude. + Obstinacy, 234, 424. + -------- its cause, 265. + Occasions. SEE Opportunities. + Old Age, 109, 210, 418, 423, 430, 461. + Old Men, 93. + Openness of heart, R.1. + Opinions, 13, 234, CXXIII, R.V. + Opinionatedness, R.V. + Opportunities, 345, 453, CV. + + + + Passions, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122, 188, 266, 276, 404, + 422, 443, 460, 471, 477, 484, 485, 486, 500, II. + Peace of Mind, VIII. + Penetration, 377, 425, CXVI. + Perfection, R.II. + Perseverance, 177. + Perspective, 104. + Persuasion, 8. + Philosophers, 46, 54, 504, XXI. + Philosophy, 22. + ---------- of a Footman, 504, LXXV. + Pity, 264. + Pleasing, 413, CXXV. + --------, Mode of, XLVIII, R.V. + --------, Mind a, R.II. + Point of view, R.IV. + Politeness, 372, R.V. + Politeness of Mind, 99. + Praise, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 272, 356, + 432, XXVII, CVII. + Preoccupation, 92, R.III. + Pride, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 228, 234, 239, 254, 267, 281, + 450, 462, 463, 472, VI, XIX. + Princes, 15, 320. + Proceedings, 170. + Productions of the Mind, R.II. + Professions, 256. + Promises, 38. + Proportion, R.VI. + Propriety, 447. + -------- in Women, XXXIV. + Prosperity, 25. + Providence, XXXIX. + Prudence, 65, LXXXVIII, R.I. + + + + Qualities, 29, 162, 397, 470, 498, R.VI, R.VII. + --------, Bad, 468. + --------, Good, 88, 337, 462. + --------, Great, 159, 433. + --------, of Mind, classified, R.II. + Quarrels, 496, + Quoting oneself, R.V. + + + + Raillery, R.II, R.IV. + Rank, 401. + Reason, 42, 105, 325, 365, 467, 469, XX, R.VI. + Recollection in Memory{, 313}. + Reconciliation, 82. + Refinement, R.II. + Regret, 355. + Relapses, 193. + Remedies, 288. + -------- for love 459. + Remonstrances, 37. + Repentance, 180. + Repose, 268. + Reproaches, 148. + Reputation, 268, 412. + Resolution, L. + Revenge, 14. + Riches, 54. + Ridicule, 133, 134, 326, 418, 422. + Rules for Conversation, R.V. + Rusticity, 393. + + + + Satire, 483, R.II, R.IV. + Sciences, R.VI. + Secrets, XVI, R.I. + ------, How they should be kept, R.I. + Self-deceit, 115, 452. + Self-love, 2, 3, 4, 228, 236, 247, 261, 262, 339, 494, 500, + I, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, LXVI, LXXIV. + -------- in love, 262. + Self-satisfaction, 51. + Sensibility, 275. + Sensible People, 347, CVI. + Sentiment, 255, R.VI. + Severity of Women, 204, 333. + Shame, 213, 220. + Silence, 79, 137, 138, CXIV. + Silliness. SEE Folly. + Simplicity, 289. + Sincerity, 62, 316, 366, 383, 457. + --------, Difference between it and Confidence, R.I. + --------, defined, R.I. + -------- of Lovers, LXI. + Skill, LXIV. + Sobriety, XXV. + Society, 87, 201, R.IV. + ------, Distinction between it and Friendship, R.IV. + Soul, 80, 188, 194. + Souls, Great, XXXI. + Sorrows, LXXVIII. + Stages of Life, 405. + Strength of mind, 19, 20, 21, 504. + Studies, why new ones are pleasing, 178. + ------, what to study, XCII. + Subtilty, 128. + Sun, 26. + + + + Talents, 468. + ------, latent, 344, XCV. + Talkativeness, 314. + Taste, 13, 109, 252, 390, 467, CXX, R.III, R.VI. + ----, good, 258, R.III. + ----, cause of diversities in, R.III. + ----, false, R.III. + Tears, 233, 373. + Temper, 47, 290, 292. + Temperament, 220, 222, 297, 346. + Times for speaking, R.V. + Timidity, 169, 480. + Titles, XXXII. + Tranquillity, 488. + Treachery, 120, 126. + Treason, 120. + Trickery, 86, 350, XCI. SEE Deceit. + Trifles, 41. + Truth, 64, LI. + Tyranny, R.I. + + + + Understanding, 89. + Untruth, 63. SEE Lying. + Unhappy, CXXV. + + + + Valour, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216. SEE Bravery and Courage. + Vanity, 137, 158, 200, 232, 388, 389, 443, 467, 483. + Variety of mind, R.IV. + Vice, 182, 186, 187, 189, 191, 192, 195, 218, 253, 273, + 380, 442, 445, XXIX. + Violence, 363, 369, 466, CXIII. + Victory, XII. + Virtue, 1, 25, 169, 171, 182, 186, 187, 189, 200, 218, + 253, 380, 388, 442, 445, 489, XXIX. + Virtue of Women, 1, 220, 367, XCVIII. + Vivacity, 416. + + + + Weakness, 130, 445. + Wealth, Contempt of, 301. + Weariness. SEE Ennui. + Wicked people, 284. + Wife jealous sometimes desirable, LXXXIX. + Will, 30. + Wisdom, 132, 210, 231, 323, 444, LXXXIII. + Wise Man, who is a, 203, XCI. + Wishes, 295. + Wit, 199, 340, 413, 415, 421, 502. + Wives, 364, CIV. + Woman, 131, 204, 205, 220, 241, 277, 332, 333, 334, + 340, 346, 362, 367, 368, 418, 429, 440, 466, 471, + 474, LXX, XC. + Women, Severity of, 333. + ----, Virtue of, 205, 220, XC. + ----, Power of, LXXI. + Wonder, 384. + World, 201. + ----, Judgment of, 268. + ----, Approbation of, 201. + ----, Establishment in, 56. + ----, Praise and censure of, 454. + + + + Young men, 378, 495. + Youth, 271, 341. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Reflections, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + +***** This file should be named 9105-8.txt or 9105-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/1/0/9105/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reflections + Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims + +Author: Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9105] +Last Updated: January 25, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + <big>Reflections;</big><br /> or <br /><i><b>Sentences and </b><br /><br /><b><big>Moral + Maxims</big></b></i> + </h1> + <h3> + By + </h3> + <h2> + Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac. + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with<br /> introduction, + notes, and some account of the author and his times. + </h4> + <h4> + By + </h4> + <h4> + J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B and J. Hain Friswell + </h4> + <h4> + Simpson Low, Son, and Marston, 188, Fleet Street. 1871. + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="mynote"> + <p> + {TRANSCRIBERS NOTES: spelling variants are preserved (e.g. labour + instead of labor, criticise instead of criticize, etc.); the + translators' comments are in square brackets [...] as they are in the + text; footnotes are indicated by * and appear immediately following the + passage containing the note (in the text they appear at the bottom of + the page); and, finally, corrections and addenda are in curly brackets + {...}.} + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + ROCHEFOUCAULD + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "As Rochefoucauld his maxims drew From Nature—I believe them true. + They argue no corrupted mind In him; the fault is in mankind."—Swift. + </p> + <p> + "Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des gens d'esprit."—Montesquieu. + </p> + <p> + "Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations."—Sir J. Mackintosh. + </p> + <p> + "Translators should not work alone; for good <i>Et Propria Verba</i> do + not always occur to one mind."—Luther's <i>Table Talk</i>, iii. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#linkpreface">Preface (translator's)</a><br /> <a + href="#linkintroduction">Introduction (translator's)</a><br /> <a + href="#linkmaxims">Reflections and Moral Maxims</a><br /> <a + href="#linksup1">First Supplement</a><br /> <a href="#linksup2">Second + Supplement</a><br /> <a href="#linksup3">Third Supplement</a><br /> <a + href="#linkreflect">Reflections on Various Subjects</a><br /> <a + href="#linkindex">Index</a><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkpreface" id="linkpreface">Translator's Preface.</a> + </h2> + <p> + Some apology must be made for an attempt "to translate the + untranslatable." Notwithstanding there are no less than eight English + translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly any are readable, none are free + from faults, and all fail more or less to convey the author's meaning. + Though so often translated, there is not a complete English edition of the + Maxims and Reflections. All the translations are confined exclusively to + the Maxims, none include the Reflections. This may be accounted for, from + the fact that most of the translations are taken from the old editions of + the Maxims, in which the Reflections do not appear. Until M. Suard devoted + his attention to the text of Rochefoucauld, the various editions were but + reprints of the preceding ones, without any regard to the alterations made + by the author in the later editions published during his life-time. So + much was this the case, that Maxims which had been rejected by + Rochefoucauld in his last edition, were still retained in the body of the + work. To give but one example, the celebrated Maxim as to the misfortunes + of our friends, was omitted in the last edition of the book, published in + Rochefoucauld's life-time, yet in every English edition this Maxim appears + in the body of the work. + </p> + <p> + M. Aimé Martin in 1827 published an edition of the Maxims and + Reflections which has ever since been the standard text of Rochefoucauld + in France. The Maxims are printed from the edition of 1678, the last + published during the author's life, and the last which received his + corrections. To this edition were added two Supplements; the first + containing the Maxims which had appeared in the editions of 1665, 1666, + and 1675, and which were afterwards omitted; the second, some additional + Maxims found among various of the author's manuscripts in the Royal + Library at Paris. And a Series of Reflections which had been previously + published in a work called "Receuil de pièces d'histoire et de littérature." + Paris, 1731. They were first published with the Maxims in an edition by + Gabriel Brotier. + </p> + <p> + In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled "Reflexions, ou Sentences et + Maximes Morales, augmentées de plus deux cent nouvelles Maximes et + Maximes et Pensées diverses suivant les copies Imprimées + à Paris, chez Claude Barbin, et Matre Cramoisy 1692,"* some fifty + Maxims were added, ascribed by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his + family allowed them to be published under his name, it seems probable they + were genuine. These fifty form the third supplement to this book. + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + *In all the French editions this book is spoken of as published in + 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the Cambridge University + Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called "Reflexions Morales." + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + The apology for the present edition of Rochefoucauld must therefore be + twofold: firstly, that it is an attempt to give the public a complete + English edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a moralist. The body of the + work comprises the Maxims as the author finally left them, the first + supplement, those published in former editions, and rejected by the author + in the later; the second, the unpublished Maxims taken from the author's + correspondence and manuscripts, and the third, the Maxims first published + in 1692. While the Reflections, in which the thoughts in the Maxims are + extended and elaborated, now appear in English for the first time. And + secondly, that it is an attempt (to quote the preface of the edition of + 1749) "to do the Duc de la Rochefoucauld the justice to make him speak + English." + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkintroduction" id="linkintroduction">Translator's Introduction</a> + </h2> + <p> + The description of the "ancien regime" in France, "a despotism tempered by + epigrams," like most epigrammatic sentences, contains some truth, with + much fiction. The society of the last half of the seventeenth, and the + whole of the eighteenth centuries, was doubtless greatly influenced by the + precise and terse mode in which the popular writers of that date expressed + their thoughts. To a people naturally inclined to think that every + possible view, every conceivable argument, upon a question is included in + a short aphorism, a shrug, and the word "voilà," truths expressed + in condensed sentences must always have a peculiar charm. It is, perhaps, + from this love of epigram, that we find so many eminent French writers of + maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La Rochefoucauld, La Bruyère, Montesquieu, + and Vauvenargues, each contributed to the rich stock of French epigrams. + No other country can show such a list of brilliant writers—in + England certainly we cannot. Our most celebrated, Lord Bacon, has, by his + other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their fame is, to a great + measure, obscured. The only Englishman who could have rivalled La + Rochefoucauld or La Bruyère was the Earl of Chesterfield, and he + only could have done so from his very intimate connexion with France; but + unfortunately his brilliant genius was spent in the impossible task of + trying to refine a boorish young Briton, in "cutting blocks with a razor." + </p> + <p> + Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefoucauld is at once the + most widely known, and the most distinguished. Voltaire, whose opinion on + the century of Louis XIV. is entitled to the greatest weight, says, "One + of the works that most largely contributed to form the taste of the + nation, and to diffuse a spirit of justice and precision, is the + collection of maxims, by Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld." + </p> + <p> + This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac, + the author of the maxims, was one of the most illustrious members of the + most illustrious families among the French noblesse. Descended from the + ancient Dukes of Guienne, the founder of the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a + younger branch of the House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of the + eleventh century the Seigneur of a small town, La Roche, in the Angounois. + Our chief knowledge of this feudal lord is drawn from the monkish + chronicles. As the benefactor of the various abbeys and monasteries in his + province, he is naturally spoken of by them in terms of eulogy, and in the + charter of one of the abbeys of Angouleme he is called, "vir nobilissimus + Fulcaldus." His territorial power enabled him to adopt what was then, as + is still in Scotland, a common custom, to prefix the name of his estate to + his surname, and thus to create and transmit to his descendants the + illustrious surname of La Rochefoucauld. + </p> + <p> + From that time until that great crisis in the history of the French + aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the family of La Rochefoucauld have + been, "if not first, in the very first line" of that most illustrious + body. One Seigneur served under Philip Augustus against Richard Coeur de + Lion, and was made prisoner at the battle of Gisors. The eighth Seigneur + Guy performed a great tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according to Froissart) + to the Lists by some two hundred of his kindred and relations. The + sixteenth Seigneur Francais was chamberlain to Charles VIII. and Louis + XII., and stood at the font as sponsor, giving his name to that last light + of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was created a baron, and was + afterwards advanced to a count, on account of his great service to Francis + and his predecessors. + </p> + <p> + The second count pushed the family fortune still further by obtaining a + patent as the Prince de Marsillac. His widow, Anne de Polignac, + entertained Charles V. at the family chateau at Verteuil, in so princely a + manner that on leaving Charles observed, "He had never entered a house so + redolent of high virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that mansion." + </p> + <p> + The third count, after serving with distinction under the Duke of Guise + against the Spaniards, was made prisoner at St. Quintin, and only regained + his liberty to fall a victim to the "bloody infamy" of St. Bartholomew. + His son, the fourth count, saved with difficulty from that massacre, after + serving with distinction in the religious wars, was taken prisoner in a + skirmish at St. Yriex la Perche, and murdered by the Leaguers in cold + blood. + </p> + <p> + The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis XIII., after fighting + against the English and Buckingham at the Ile de Ré, was created a + duke. His son Francis, the second duke, by his writings has made the + family name a household word. + </p> + <p> + The third duke fought in many of the earlier campaigns of Louis XIV. at + Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and was dangerously wounded at the passage of the + Rhine. From his bravery he rose to high favour at Court, and was appointed + Master of the Horse (Grand Veneur) and Lord Chamberlain. His son, the + fourth duke, commanded the regiment of Navarre, and took part in storming + the village of Neerwinden on the day when William III. was defeated at + Landen. He was afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and Marquis de + Liancourt. + </p> + <p> + The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., became the friend of the + philosopher Voltaire. + </p> + <p> + The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the last of the long line of + noble lords who bore that distinguished name. In those terrible days of + September, 1792, when the French people were proclaiming universal + humanity, the duke was seized as an aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and + put to death behind his own carriage, in which sat his mother and his + wife, at the very place where, some six centuries previously, his ancestor + had been taken prisoner in a fair fight. A modern writer has spoken of + this murder "as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson for the writings + and conduct of the grandfather." But M. Sainte Beuve observes as to this, + he can see nothing admirable in the death of the duke, and if it proves + anything, it is only that the grandfather was not so wrong in his judgment + of men as is usually supposed. + </p> + <p> + Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December 1615. M. Sainte Beuve + divides his life into four periods, first, from his birth till he was + thirty-five, when he became mixed up in the war of the Fronde; the second + period, during the progress of that war; the third, the twelve years that + followed, while he recovered from his wounds, and wrote his maxims during + his retirement from society; and the last from that time till his death. + </p> + <p> + In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of his history by the name + of one of the muses, so each of these four periods of La Rochefoucauld's + life may be associated with the name of a woman who was for the time his + ruling passion. These four ladies are the Duchesse de Chevreuse, the + Duchesse de Longueville, Madame de Sablé, and Madame de La Fayette. + </p> + <p> + La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; his father, occupied in + the affairs of state, either had not, or did not devote any time to his + education. His natural talents and his habits of observation soon, + however, supplied all deficiencies. By birth and station placed in the + best society of the French Court, he soon became a most finished courtier. + Knowing how precarious Court favour then was, his father, when young + Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, sent him into the army. He was + subsequently attached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but sixteen he + was present, and took part in the military operations at the siege of + Cassel. The Court of Louis XIII. was then ruled imperiously by Richelieu. + The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was strongly opposed to the Cardinal's party. + By joining in the plots of Gaston of Orleans, he gave Richelieu an + opportunity of ridding Paris of his opposition. When those plots were + discovered, the Duke was sent into a sort of banishment to Blois. His son, + who was then at Court with him, was, upon the pretext of a liaison with + Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting on the Queen (Anne of + Austria), but in reality to prevent the Duke learning what was passing at + Paris, sent with his father. The result of the exile was Rochefoucauld's + marriage. With the exception that his wife's name was Mdlle. Vivonne, and + that she was the mother of five sons and three daughters, nothing is known + of her. While Rochefoucauld and his father were at Blois, the Duchesse de + Chevreuse, one of the beauties of the Court, and the mistress of Louis, + was banished to Tours. She and Rochefoucauld met, and soon became + intimate, and for a time she was destined to be the one motive of his + actions. The Duchesse was engaged in a correspondence with the Court of + Spain and the Queen. Into this plot Rochefoucauld threw himself with all + his energy; his connexion with the Queen brought him back to his old love + Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and led him to her party, which he afterwards + followed. The course he took shut him off from all chance of Court favour. + The King regarded him with coldness, the Cardinal with irritation. + Although the Bastile and the scaffold, the fate of Chalais and + Montmorency, were before his eyes, they failed to deter him from plotting. + He was about twenty-three; returning to Paris, he warmly sided with the + Queen. He says in his Memoirs that the only persons she could then trust + were himself and Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he should take + both of them from Paris to Brussels. Into this plan he entered with all + his youthful indiscretion, it being for several reasons the very one he + would wish to adopt, as it would strengthen his influence with Anne of + Austria, place Richelieu and his master in an uncomfortable position, and + save Mdlle. d'Hautefort from the attentions the King was showing her. + </p> + <p> + But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and Rochefoucauld was, of + course, sent to the Bastile. He was liberated after a week's imprisonment, + but banished to his chateau at Verteuil. + </p> + <p> + The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal desired to win + Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. A command in the army was offered to + him, but by the Queen's orders refused. + </p> + <p> + For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at Verteuil, waiting the time + for his reckoning with Richelieu; speculating on the King's death, and the + favours he would then receive from the Queen. During this period he was + more or less engaged in plotting against his enemy the Cardinal, and + hatching treason with Cinq Mars and De Thou. + </p> + <p> + M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first part of + Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never understand his maxims. The bitter + disappointment of the passionate love, the high hopes then formed, the + deceit and treachery then witnessed, furnished the real key to their + meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality was built on the ruins of + that chivalrous ambition and romantic affection. He saw his friend Cinq + Mars sent to the scaffold, himself betrayed by men whom he had trusted, + and the only reason he could assign for these actions was intense + selfishness. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld returned to Court, and found Anne + of Austria regent, and Mazarin minister. The Queen's former friends + flocked there in numbers, expecting that now their time of prosperity had + come. They were bitterly disappointed. Mazarin relied on hope instead of + gratitude, to keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The most that any + received were promises that were never performed. In after years, + doubtless, Rochefoucauld's recollection of his disappointment led him to + write the maxim: "We promise according to our hopes, we perform according + to our fears." But he was not even to receive promises; he asked for the + Governorship of Havre, which was then vacant. He was flatly refused. + Disappointment gave rise to anger, and uniting with his old flame, the + Duchesse de Chevreuse, who had received the same treatment, and with the + Duke of Beaufort, they formed a conspiracy against the government. The + plot was, of course, discovered and crushed. Beaufort was arrested, the + Duchesse banished. Irritated and disgusted, Rochefoucauld went with the + Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the army, on a campaign, and here he + found the one love of his life, the Duke's sister, Mdme. de Longueville. + This lady, young, beautiful, and accomplished, obtained a great ascendancy + over Rochefoucauld, and was the cause of his taking the side of Condé + in the subsequent civil war. Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the + army. He was badly wounded at the siege of Mardik, and returned from + thence to Paris. On recovering from his wounds, the war of the Fronde + broke out. This war is said to have been most ridiculous, as being carried + on without a definite object, a plan, or a leader. But this description is + hardly correct; it was the struggle of the French nobility against the + rule of the Court; an attempt, the final attempt, to recover their lost + influence over the state, and to save themselves from sinking under the + rule of cardinals and priests. + </p> + <p> + With the general history of that war we have nothing to do; it is far too + complicated and too confused to be stated here. The memoirs of + Rochefoucauld and De Retz will give the details to those who desire to + trace the contests of the factions—the course of the intrigues. We + may confine ourselves to its progress so far as it relates to the Duc de + la Rochefoucauld. + </p> + <p> + On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Condé and Conti, and the Duc + de Longueville, to be arrested, Rochefoucauld and the Duchess fled into + Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into Poitou, of which province he + had some years previously bought the post of governor. He was there joined + by the Duc de Bouillon, and he and the Duke marched to, and occupied + Bordeaux. Cardinal Mazarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie advanced in force + on Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody battle followed. + Rochefoucauld defended the town with the greatest bravery, and repulsed + the Cardinal. Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers of Bordeaux were + anxious to make peace, and save the city from destruction. The Parliament + of Bordeaux compelled Rochefoucauld to surrender. He did so, and returned + nominally to Poitou, but in reality in secret to Paris. + </p> + <p> + There he found the Queen engaged in trying to maintain her position by + playing off the rival parties of the Prince Condé and the Cardinal + De Retz against each other. Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old party—that + of Condé. In August, 1651, the contending parties met in the Hall + of the Parliament of Paris, and it was with great difficulty they were + prevented from coming to blows even there. It is even said that + Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder De Retz. + </p> + <p> + Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disappointment. While occupied + with party strife and faction in Paris, Madame de Chevreuse left him, and + formed an alliance with the Duc de Nemours. Rochefoucauld still loved her. + It was, probably, thinking of this that he afterwards wrote, "Jealousy is + born with love, but does not die with it." He endeavoured to get Madame de + Chatillon, the old mistress of the Duc de Nemours, reinstated in favour, + but in this he did not succeed. The Duc de Nemours was soon after killed + in a duel. The war went on, and after several indecisive skirmishes, the + decisive battle was fought at Paris, in the Faubourg St. Antoine, where + the Parisians first learnt the use or the abuse of their favourite + defence, the barricade. In this battle, Rochefoucauld behaved with great + bravery. He was wounded in the head, a wound which for a time deprived him + of his sight. Before he recovered, the war was over, Louis XIV. had + attained his majority, the gold of Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, had been + successful, the French nobility were vanquished, the court supremacy + established. + </p> + <p> + This completed Rochefoucauld's active life. + </p> + <p> + When he recovered his health, he devoted himself to society. Madame de + Sablé assumed a hold over him. He lived a quiet life, and occupied + himself in composing an account of his early life, called his "Memoirs," + and his immortal "Maxims." + </p> + <p> + From the time he ceased to take part in public life, Rochefoucauld's real + glory began. Having acted the various parts of soldier, politician, and + lover with but small success, he now commenced the part of moralist, by + which he is known to the world. + </p> + <p> + Living in the most brilliant society that France possessed, famous from + his writings, distinguished from the part he had taken in public affairs, + he formed the centre of one of those remarkable French literary societies, + a society which numbered among its members La Fontaine, Racine, Boileau. + Among his most attached friends was Madame de La Fayette (the authoress of + the "Princess of Cleeves"), and this friendship continued until his death. + He was not, however, destined to pass away in that gay society without + some troubles. At the passage of the Rhine in 1672 two of his sons were + engaged; the one was killed, the other severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was + much affected by this, but perhaps still more by the death of the young + Duc de Longueville, who perished on the same occasion. + </p> + <p> + Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that young life were the only + fruits of the war of the Fronde. Madame de Sévigné, who was + with him when he heard the news of the death of so much that was dear to + him, says, "I saw his heart laid bare on that cruel occasion, and his + courage, his merit, his tenderness, and good sense surpassed all I ever + met with. I hold his wit and accomplishments as nothing in comparison." + The combined effect of his wounds and the gout caused the last years of + Rochefoucauld's life to be spent in great pain. Madame de Sévigné, + who was {with} him continually during his last illness, speaks of the + fortitude with which he bore his sufferings as something to be admired. + Writing to her daughter, she says, "Believe me, it is not for nothing he + has moralised all his life; he has thought so often on his last moments + that they are nothing new or unfamiliar to him." + </p> + <p> + In his last illness, the great moralist was attended by the great divine, + Bossuet. Whether that matchless eloquence or his own philosophic calm had, + in spite of his writings, brought him into the state Madame de Sévigné + describes, we know not; but one, or both, contributed to his passing away + in a manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a French philosopher. + On the 11th March, 1680, he ended his stormy life in peace after so much + strife, a loyal subject after so much treason. + </p> + <p> + One of his friends, Madame Deshoulières, shortly before he died + sent him an ode on death, which aptly describes his state— "Oui, + soyez alors plus ferme, Que ces vulgaires humains Qui, près de leur + dernier terme, De vaines terreurs sont pleins. En sage que rien n'offense, + Livrez-vous sans resistance A d'inévitables traits; Et, d'une + demarche égale, Passez cette onde fatal Qu'on ne repasse jamais." + </p> + <p> + Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the one, Memoirs of his own + time, the other the Maxims. The first described the scenes in which his + youth had been spent, and though written in a lively style, and giving + faithful pictures of the intrigues and the scandals of the court during + Louis XIV.'s minority, yet, except to the historian, has ceased at the + present day to be of much interest. It forms, perhaps, the true key to + understand the special as opposed to general application of the maxims. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that "there are few people so + bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer the Memoirs of La Rochefoucauld to + the Commentaries of Caesar," or the statement of Voltaire, "that the + Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims are learnt by heart," few + persons at the present day ever heard of the Memoirs, and the knowledge of + most as to the Maxims is confined to that most celebrated of all, though + omitted from his last edition, "There is something in the misfortunes of + our best friends which does not wholly displease us." Yet it is difficult + to assign a cause for this; no book is perhaps oftener unwittingly quoted, + none certainly oftener unblushingly pillaged; upon none have so many + contradictory opinions been given. + </p> + <p> + "Few books," says Mr. Hallam, "have been more highly extolled, or more + severely blamed, than the maxims of the Duke of Rochefoucauld, and that + not only here, but also in France." Rousseau speaks of it as, "a sad and + melancholy book," though he goes on to say "it is usually so in youth when + we do not like seeing man as he is." Voltaire says of it, in the words + above quoted, "One of the works which most contributed to form the taste + of the (French) nation, and to give it a spirit of justness and precision, + was the collection of the maxims of Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld, + though there is scarcely more than one truth running through the book—that + ‘self-love is the motive of everything'—yet this thought is + presented under so many varied aspects that it is nearly always striking. + It is not so much a book as it is materials for ornamenting a book. This + little collection was read with avidity, it taught people to think, and to + comprise their thoughts in a lively, precise, and delicate turn of + expression. This was a merit which, before him, no one in Europe had + attained since the revival of letters." + </p> + <p> + Dr. Johnson speaks of it as "the only book written by a man of fashion, of + which professed authors need be jealous." + </p> + <p> + Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, "Till you come to know + mankind by your experience, I know no thing nor no man that can in the + meantime bring you so well acquainted with them as Le Duc de la + Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, which I would advise you to look + into for some moments at least every day of your life, is, I fear, too + like and too exact a picture of human nature. I own it seems to degrade + it, but yet my experience does not convince me that it degrades it + unjustly." + </p> + <p> + Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book in no measured terms. + "There is a strange affectation," says the bishop, "in some people of + explaining away all particular affection, and representing the whole life + as nothing but one continued exercise of self-love. Hence arise that + surprising confusion and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, Hobbes, the + author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set of writers, of calling + actions interested which are done of the most manifest known interest, + merely for the gratification of a present passion." + </p> + <p> + The judgment the reader will be most inclined to adopt will perhaps be + either that of Mr. Hallam, "Concise and energetic in expression, reduced + to those short aphorisms which leave much to the reader's acuteness and + yet save his labour, not often obscure, and never wearisome, an evident + generalisation of long experience, without pedantry, without method, + without deductive reasonings, yet wearing an appearance at least of + profundity; they delight the intelligent though indolent man of the world, + and must be read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . yet they + bear witness to the contracted observation and the precipitate inferences + which an intercourse with a single class of society scarcely fails to + generate." Or that of Addison, who speaks of Rochefoucauld "as the great + philosopher for administering consolation to the idle, the curious, and + the worthless part of mankind." + </p> + <p> + We are fortunately in possession of materials such as rarely exist to + enable us to form a judgment of Rochefoucauld's character. We have, with a + vanity that could only exist in a Frenchman, a description or portrait of + himself, of his own painting, and one of those inimitable living sketches + in which his great enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief actors in + the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass across the stage before + us. + </p> + <p> + We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has left us of himself: + "I am," says he, "of a medium height, active, and well-proportioned. My + complexion dark, but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, + black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick but well placed. I + am rather embarrassed in talking of my nose, for it is neither flat nor + aquiline, nor large; nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, it + is too large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too low. I have + a large mouth, lips generally red enough, neither shaped well nor badly. I + have white teeth, and fairly even. I have been told I have a little too + much chin. I have just looked at myself in the glass to ascertain the + fact, and I do not know how to decide. As to the shape of my face, it is + either square or oval, but which I should find it very difficult to say. I + have black hair, which curls by nature, and thick and long enough to + entitle me to lay claim to a fine head. I have in my countenance somewhat + of grief and pride, which gives many people an idea I despise them, + although I am not at all given to do so. My gestures are very free, rather + inclined to be too much so, for in speaking they make me use too much + action. Such, candidly, I believe I am in outward appearance, and I + believe it will be found that what I have said above of myself is not far + from the real case. I shall use the same truthfulness in the remainder of + my picture, for I have studied myself sufficiently to know myself well; + and I will lack neither boldness to speak as freely as I can of my good + qualities, nor sincerity to freely avow that I have faults. + </p> + <p> + "In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am melancholy, and I have + hardly been seen for the last three or four years to laugh above three or + four times. It seems to me that my melancholy would be even endurable and + pleasant if I had none but what belonged to me constitutionally; but it + arises from so many other causes, fills my imagination in such a way, and + possesses my mind so strongly that for the greater part of my time I + remain without speaking a word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am + extremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am not very open with the + greater part of those I do. It is a fault I know well, and I should + neglect no means to correct myself of it; but as a certain gloomy air I + have tends to make me seem more reserved than I am in fact, and as it is + not in our power to rid ourselves of a bad expression that arises from a + natural conformation of features, I think that even when I have cured + myself internally, externally some bad expression will always remain. + </p> + <p> + "I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, as for what purpose + should I pretend otherwise. So great circumvention, and so great + depreciation, in speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a + little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily to try to make + others believe in greater virtues than are imputed to us. On my part I am + content not to be considered better-looking than I am, nor of a better + temper than I describe, nor more witty and clever than I am. Once more, I + have ability, but a mind spoilt by melancholy, for though I know my own + language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a mode of thought not + particularly confused, I yet have so great a mixture of discontent that I + often say what I have to say very badly. + </p> + <p> + "The conversation of gentlemen is one of the pleasures that most amuses + me. I like it to be serious and morality to form the substance of it. Yet + I also know how to enjoy it when trifling; and if I do not make many witty + speeches, it is not because I do not appreciate the value of trifles well + said, and that I do not find great amusement in that manner of raillery in + which certain prompt and ready-witted persons excel so well. I write well + in prose; I do well in verse; and if I was envious of the glory that + springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour I could acquire + some reputation. I like reading, in general; but that in which one finds + something to polish the wit and strengthen the soul is what I like best. + But, above all, I have the greatest pleasure in reading with an + intelligent person, for then we reflect constantly upon what we read, and + the observations we make form the most pleasant and useful form of + conversation there is. + </p> + <p> + "I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose that are shown me; but + perhaps I speak my opinion with almost too great freedom. Another fault in + me is that I have sometimes a spirit of delicacy far too scrupulous, and a + spirit of criticism far too severe. I do not dislike an argument, and I + often of my own free will engage in one; but I generally back my opinion + with too much warmth, and sometimes, when the wrong side is advocated + against me, from the strength of my zeal for reason, I become a little + unreasonable myself. + </p> + <p> + "I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and so strong a desire to + be a wholly good man that my friend cannot afford me a greater pleasure + than candidly to show me my faults. Those who know me most intimately, and + those who have the goodness sometimes to give me the above advice, know + that I always receive it with all the joy that could be expected, and with + all reverence of mind that could be desired. + </p> + <p> + "I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty well under control. I + am hardly ever seen in a rage, and I never hated any one. I am not, + however, incapable of avenging myself if I have been offended, or if my + honour demanded I should resent an insult put upon me; on the contrary, I + feel clear that duty would so well discharge the office of hatred in me + that I should follow my revenge with even greater keenness than other + people. + </p> + <p> + "Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few things, and I do not fear + death in the least. I am but little given to pity, and I could wish I was + not so at all. Though there is nothing I would not do to comfort an + afflicted person, and I really believe that one should do all one can to + show great sympathy to him for his misfortune, for miserable people are so + foolish that this does them the greatest good in the world; yet I also + hold that we should be content with expressing sympathy, and carefully + avoid having any. It is a passion that is wholly worthless in a + well-regulated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, and which + should be left to ordinary persons, who, as they never do anything from + reason, have need of passions to stimulate their actions. + </p> + <p> + "I love my friends; and I love them to such an extent that I would not for + a moment weigh my interest against theirs. I condescend to them, I + patiently endure their bad temper. But, also, I do not make much of their + caresses, and I do not feel great uneasiness in their absence. + </p> + <p> + "Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the majority of things that + stir up curiosity in other men. I am very secret, and I have less + difficulty than most men in holding my tongue as to what is told me in + confidence. I am most particular as to my word, and I would never fail, + whatever might be the consequence, to do what I had promised; and I have + made this an inflexible law during the whole of my life. + </p> + <p> + "I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I do not believe I have + ever said anything before them which could cause them annoyance. When + their intellect is cultivated, I prefer their society to that of men: one + there finds a mildness one does not meet with among ourselves, and it + seems to me beyond this that they express themselves with more neatness, + and give a more agreeable turn to the things they talk about. As for + flirtation, I formerly indulged in a little, now I shall do so no more, + though I am still young. I have renounced all flirtation, and I am simply + astonished that there are still so many sensible people who can occupy + their time with it. + </p> + <p> + "I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate greatness of soul, and + although, in the uneasiness they give rise to, there is a something + contrary to strict wisdom, they fit in so well with the most severe + virtue, that I believe they cannot be censured with justice. To me who + have known all that is fine and grand in the lofty aspirations of love, if + I ever fall in love, it will assuredly be in love of that nature. But in + accordance with the present turn of my mind, I do not believe that the + knowledge I have of it will ever change from my mind to my heart." + </p> + <p> + Such is his own description of himself. Let us now turn to the other + picture, delineated by the man who was his bitterest enemy, and whom (we + say it with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to murder. + </p> + <p> + Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:— "In M. de la Rochefoucauld there + was ever an indescribable something. From his infancy he always wanted to + be mixed up with plots, at a time when he could not understand even the + smallest interests (which has indeed never been his weak point,) or + comprehend greater ones, which in another sense has never been his strong + point. He was never fitted for any matter, and I really cannot tell the + reason. His glance was not sufficiently wide, and he could not take in at + once all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect in theories, + combined with his gentleness, his winning ways, his pleasing manners, + which are perfect, should more than compensate for his lack of + penetration. He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I cannot say to + what this irresolution is to be attributed. It could not arise in him from + the wealth of his imagination, for that was anything but lively. I cannot + put it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, although he was not + prompt in action, he had a good store of reason. We see the effects of + this irresolution, although we cannot assign a cause for it. He was never + a general, though a great soldier; never, naturally, a good courtier, + although he had always a good idea of being so. He was never a good + partizan, although all his life engaged in intrigues. That air of pride + and timidity which your see in his private life, is turned in business + into an apologetic manner. He always believed he had need of it; and this, + combined with his ‘Maxims,' which show little faith in virtue, and + his habitual custom, to give up matters with the same haste he undertook + them, leads me to the conclusion that he would have done far better to + have known his own mind, and have passed himself off, as he could have + done, for the most polished courtier, the most agreeable man in private + life that had appeared in his century." + </p> + <p> + It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the Duc is not painted in + such dark colours as we should have expected, judging from what we know of + the character of De Retz. With his marvellous power of depicting + character, a power unrivalled, except by St. Simon and perhaps by Lord + Clarendon, we should have expected the malignity of the priest would have + stamped the features of his great enemy with the impress of infamy, and + not have simply made him appear a courtier, weak, insincere, and nothing + more. Though rather beyond our subject, the character of Cardinal de Retz, + as delineated by Mdme. Sévigné, in one of her letters, will + help us to form a true conclusion on the different characters of the Duc + and the Cardinal. She says:— "Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz + possesses great elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, and + more of the ostentation than of the true greatness of courage. He has an + extraordinary memory, more energy than polish in his words, an easy + humour, docility of character, and weakness in submitting to the + complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little piety, some appearances + of religion. He appears ambitious without being really so. Vanity and + those who have guided him, have made him undertake great things, almost + all opposed to his profession. He excited the greatest troubles in the + State without any design of turning them to account, and far from + declaring himself the enemy of Cardinal Mazarin with any view of occupying + his place, he thought of nothing but making himself an object of dread to + him, and flattering himself with the false vanity of being his rival. He + was clever enough, however, to take advantage of the public calamities to + get himself made Cardinal. He endured his imprisonment with firmness, and + owed his liberty solely to his own daring. In the obscurity of a life of + wandering and concealment, his indolence for many years supported him with + reputation. He preserved the Archbishopric of Paris against the power of + Cardinal Mazarin, but after the death of that minister, he resigned it + without knowing what he was doing, and without making use of the + opportunity to promote the interests of himself and his friends. He has + taken part in several conclaves, and his conduct has always increased his + reputation. + </p> + <p> + "His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he labours with activity + in pressing business, and reposes with indifference when it is concluded. + He has great presence of mind, and knows so well how to turn it to his own + advantage on all occasions presented him by fortune, that it would seem as + if he had foreseen and desired them. He loves to narrate, and seeks to + dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his extraordinary adventures, + and his imagination often supplies him with more than his memory. The + generality of his qualities are false, and what has most contributed to + his reputation is his power of throwing a good light on his faults. He is + insensible alike to hatred and to friendship, whatever pains he may be at + to appear taken up with the one or the other. He is incapable of envy or + avarice, whether from virtue or from carelessness. He has borrowed more + from his friends than a private person could ever hope to be able to + repay; he has felt the vanity of acquiring so much on credit, and of + undertaking to discharge it. He has neither taste nor refinement; he is + amused by everything and pleased by nothing. He avoids difficult matters + with considerable address, not allowing people to penetrate the slight + acquaintance he has with everything. The retreat he has just made from the + world is the most brilliant and the most unreal action of his life; it is + a sacrifice he has made to his pride under the pretence of devotion; he + quits the court to which he cannot attach himself, and retires from a + world which is retiring from him." + </p> + <p> + The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a preface by Segrais. This + preface was omitted in the subsequent editions. The first edition + contained 316 maxims, counting the last upon death, which was not + numbered. The second in 1666 contained only 102; the third in 1671, and + the fourth in 1675, 413. In this last edition we first meet with the + introductory maxim, "Our virtues are generally but disguised vices." The + edition of 1678, the fifth, increased the number to 504. This was the last + edition revised by the author, and published in his lifetime. The text of + that edition has been used for the present translation. The next edition, + the sixth, was published in 1693, about thirteen years after the author's + death. This edition included fifty new maxims, attributed by the editor to + Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were his writing, as the fact was never + denied by his family, through whose permission they were published. They + form the third supplement to the translation. This sixth edition was + published by Claude Barbin, and the French editions since that time have + been too numerous to be enumerated. The great popularity of the Maxims is + perhaps best shown from the numerous translations that have been made of + them. No less than eight English translations, or so-called translations, + have appeared; one American, a Swedish, and a Spanish translation, an + Italian imitation, with parallel passages, and an English imitation by + Hazlitt. The titles of the English editions are as follows:— i. + Seneca Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. London, 1689. She calls the author + the Duke of Rushfucave. ii. Moral Maxims and Reflections, in four parts. + By the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Now made English. London, 1694. 12 mo. + iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Newly + made English. London, 1706. 12 mo. iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld. Translated from the French. With notes. London, 1749. 12 + mo. v. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. + Revised and improved. London, 1775. 8 vo. vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections + of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and improved, by + L. D. London, 1781. 8 vo. vii. The Gentleman's Library. La Rochefoucauld's + Maxims and Moral Reflections. London, 1813. 12 mo. viii. Moral + Reflections, Sentences, and Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly + translated from the French; with an introduction and notes. London, 1850. + 16 mo. ix. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld: + with a Memoir by the Chevalier de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo. + </p> + <p> + The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every reader to a greater or + less degree, in accordance with the extent of his reading, parallel + passages, and similar ideas. Of ancient writers Rochefoucauld most + strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern writers, Junius most strongly + reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some examples from both are given in the + notes to this translation. It is curious to see how the expressions of the + bitterest writer of English political satire to a great extent express the + same ideas as the great French satirist of private life. Had space + permitted the parallel could have been drawn very closely, and much of the + invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefoucauld. + </p> + <p> + One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and protected, was the + great French fabulist, La Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by La + Fontaine giving, in one of his fables, "L'Homme et son Image," an + elaborate defence of his patron. After there depicting a man who fancied + himself one of the most lovely in the world, and who complained he always + found all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real image + reflected in the water. He thus applies his fable:— "Je parle + à tous: et cette erreur extrême, Est un mal que chacun se + plait d'entretenir, Notre âme, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui même, + Tant de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. Miroirs, de nos défauts + les peintres légitimes, Et quant au canal, c'est celui Qui chacun + sait, le livre des MAXIMES." + </p> + <p> + It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we all see ourselves. This + has made it so unpopular. It is too true. We dislike to be told of our + faults, while we only like to be told of our neighbour's. Notwithstanding + Rousseau's assertion, it is young men, who, before they know their own + faults and only know their neighbours', that read and thoroughly + appreciate Rochefoucauld. + </p> + <p> + After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more and seems far truer + than he is in reality, it is impossible to give any general conclusion of + such distinguished writers on the subject. Each reader will form his own + opinion of the merits of the author and his book. To some, both will seem + deserving of the highest praise; to others both will seem deserving of the + highest censure. The truest judgment as to the author will be found in the + remarks of a countryman of his own, as to the book in the remarks of a + countryman of ours. + </p> + <p> + As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:—"C'était un + misanthrope poli, insinuant, souriant, qui précédait de bien + peu et préparait avec charme l'autre MISANTHROPE." + </p> + <p> + As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:—"Among the books in ancient and + modern times which record the conclusions of observing men on the moral + qualities of their fellows, a high place should be reserved for the Maxims + of Rochefoucauld". + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="play"> + <a name="linkmaxims" id="linkmaxims"></a> <br /> + <h2> + REFLECTIONS;<br /> OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + </h2> + <h4> + Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. + </h4> + <p> + [This epigraph which is the key to the system of La Rochefoucauld, is + found in another form as No. 179 of the maxims of the first edition, + 1665, it is omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, and reappears for the first + time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as at present, at the head of the + Reflections.—<i>Aimé Martin.</i> Its best answer is arrived + at by reversing the predicate and the subject, and you at once form a + contradictory maxim equally true, our vices are most frequently but + virtues disguised.] + </p> + <a name="link1" id="link1"></a><br /> + <p> + 1.—What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and + divers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage to arrange; + and it is not always from valour or from chastity that men are brave, + and women chaste. + </p> + <p> + "Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like + the meanest slave; Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, His pride + in reasoning, not in acting, lies." Pope, <i>Moral Essays</i>, Ep. i. + line 115. + </p> + <a name="link2" id="link2"></a><br /> + <p> + 2.—Self-love is the greatest of flatterers. + </p> + <a name="link3" id="link3"></a><br /> + <p> + 3.—Whatever discoveries have been made in the region of self-love, + there remain many unexplored territories there. + </p> + <p> + [This is the first hint of the system the author tries to develope. He + wishes to find in vice a motive for all our actions, but this does not + suffice him; he is obliged to call other passions to the help of his + system and to confound pride, vanity, interest and egotism with self + love. This confusion destroys the unity of his principle.—<i>Aimé + Martin</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link4" id="link4"></a><br /> + <p> + 4.—Self love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the + world. + </p> + <a name="link5" id="link5"></a><br /> + <p> + 5.—The duration of our passions is no more dependant upon us than + the duration of our life. [Then what becomes of free will?—<i>Aimé</i>; + <i>Martin</i>] + </p> + <a name="link6" id="link6"></a><br /> + <p> + 6.—Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even + sometimes renders the most foolish man clever. + </p> + <a name="link7" id="link7"></a><br /> + <p> + 7.—Great and striking actions which dazzle the eyes are + represented by politicians as the effect of great designs, instead of + which they are commonly caused by the temper and the passions. Thus the + war between Augustus and Anthony, which is set down to the ambition they + entertained of making themselves masters of the world, was probably but + an effect of jealousy. + </p> + <a name="link8" id="link8"></a><br /> + <p> + 8.—The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They + are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest + man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without. + </p> + <p> + [See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.] + </p> + <a name="link9" id="link9"></a><br /> + <p> + 9.—The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest + which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should + distrust them even when they appear most trustworthy. + </p> + <a name="link10" id="link10"></a><br /> + <p> + 10.—In the human heart there is a perpetual generation of + passions; so that the ruin of one is almost always the foundation of + another. + </p> + <a name="link11" id="link11"></a><br /> + <p> + 11.—Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes + leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate + through weakness and daring though timidity. + </p> + <a name="link12" id="link12"></a><br /> + <p> + 12.—Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under the + appearances of piety and honour, they are always to be seen through + these veils. + </p> + <p> + [The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps better—"however + we may conceal our passions under the veil, etc., there is always some + place where they peep out."] + </p> + <a name="link13" id="link13"></a><br /> + <p> + 13.—Our self love endures more impatiently the condemnation of our + tastes than of our opinions. + </p> + <a name="link14" id="link14"></a><br /> + <p> + 14.—Men are not only prone to forget benefits and injuries; they + even hate those who have obliged them, and cease to hate those who have + injured them. The necessity of revenging an injury or of recompensing a + benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling to submit. + </p> + <a name="link15" id="link15"></a><br /> + <p> + 15.—The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win the + affections of the people. + </p> + <p> + ["So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by clemency, so greatly + does it raise their fame and endear them to their subjects, that it is + generally happy for them to have an opportunity of displaying it."—Montesquieu, + <i>Esprit Des Lois, Lib. VI., C. 21.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link16" id="link16"></a><br /> + <p> + 16.—This clemency of which they make a merit, arises oftentimes + from vanity, sometimes from idleness, oftentimes from fear, and almost + always from all three combined. + </p> + <p> + [La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which he lived. Here + the clemency spoken of is nothing more than an expression of the policy + of Anne of Austria. Rochefoucauld had sacrificed all to her; even the + favour of Cardinal Richelieu, but when she became regent she bestowed + her favours upon those she hated; her friends were forgotten.—<i>Aimé + Martin</i>. The reader will hereby see that the age in which the writer + lived best interprets his maxims.] + </p> + <a name="link17" id="link17"></a><br /> + <p> + 17.—The moderation of those who are happy arises from the calm + which good fortune bestows upon their temper. + </p> + <a name="link18" id="link18"></a><br /> + <p> + 18.—Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and + contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; + it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the + moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear + greater than their fortune. + </p> + <a name="link19" id="link19"></a><br /> + <p> + 19.—We have all sufficient strength to support the misfortunes of + others. + </p> + <p> + [The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucretius, lib. ii., + line I:— "Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis E terra + magnum alterius spectare laborem."] + </p> + <a name="link20" id="link20"></a><br /> + <p> + 20.—The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the + agitation of their hearts. + </p> + <p> + [Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. This definition of + constancy is a result of maxim 18.] + </p> + <a name="link21" id="link21"></a><br /> + <p> + 21.—Those who are condemned to death affect sometimes a constancy + and contempt for death which is only the fear of facing it; so that one + may say that this constancy and contempt are to their mind what the + bandage is to their eyes. + </p> + <p> + [See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.] + </p> + <a name="link22" id="link22"></a><br /> + <p> + 22.—Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; + but present evils triumph over it. + </p> + <a name="link23" id="link23"></a><br /> + <p> + 23.—Few people know death, we only endure it, usually from + determination, and even from stupidity and custom; and most men only die + because they know not how to prevent dying. + </p> + <a name="link24" id="link24"></a><br /> + <p> + 24.—When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the + continuance of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by + ambition, and not by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes are + made like other men. + </p> + <p> + [Both these maxims have been rewritten and made conciser by the author; + the variations are not worth quoting.] + </p> + <a name="link25" id="link25"></a><br /> + <p> + 25.—We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune. + </p> + <p> + ["Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} best + discover virtue."—Lord Bacon, <i>Essays</i>{, (1625), "Of + Adversity"}.] + </p> + <p> + {The quotation wrongly had "does" for "doth".} + </p> + <a name="link26" id="link26"></a><br /> + <p> + 26.—Neither the sun nor death can be looked at without winking. + </p> + <a name="link27" id="link27"></a><br /> + <p> + 27.—People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, + but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare + avow her. + </p> + <a name="link28" id="link28"></a><br /> + <p> + 28.—Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, as it tends to + preserve a good which belongs, or which we believe belongs to us, on the + other hand envy is a fury which cannot endure the happiness of others. + </p> + <a name="link29" id="link29"></a><br /> + <p> + 29.—The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution + and hatred as our good qualities. + </p> + <a name="link30" id="link30"></a><br /> + <p> + 30.—We have more strength than will; and it is often merely for an + excuse we say things are impossible. + </p> + <a name="link31" id="link31"></a><br /> + <p> + 31.—If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in + noting those of others. + </p> + <a name="link32" id="link32"></a><br /> + <p> + 32.—Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an end or becomes a + fury as soon as it passes from doubt to certainty. + </p> + <a name="link33" id="link33"></a><br /> + <p> + 33.—Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when it casts + away vanity. + </p> + <p> + [See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take from our other + faults we add to our pride.] + </p> + <a name="link34" id="link34"></a><br /> + <p> + 34.—If we had no pride we should not complain of that of others. + </p> + <p> + ["The proud are ever most provoked by pride."—Cowper, <i>Conversation</i> + 160.] + </p> + <a name="link35" id="link35"></a><br /> + <p> + 35.—Pride is much the same in all men, the only difference is the + method and manner of showing it. + </p> + <p> + ["Pride bestowed on all a common friend."—Pope, <i>Essay On Man, + Ep.</i> ii., line 273.] + </p> + <a name="link36" id="link36"></a><br /> + <p> + 36.—It would seem that nature, which has so wisely ordered the + organs of our body for our happiness, has also given us pride to spare + us the mortification of knowing our imperfections. + </p> + <a name="link37" id="link37"></a><br /> + <p> + 37.—Pride has a larger part than goodness in our remonstrances + with those who commit faults, and we reprove them not so much to correct + as to persuade them that we ourselves are free from faults. + </p> + <a name="link38" id="link38"></a><br /> + <p> + 38.—We promise according to our hopes; we perform according to our + fears. + </p> + <p> + ["The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long to grant the + favours he had promised, was because he was persuaded that hope was much + more capable of keeping men to their duty than gratitude."—<i>Fragments + Historiques. Racine.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link39" id="link39"></a><br /> + <p> + 39.—Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays all sorts of + characters; even that of disinterestedness. + </p> + <a name="link40" id="link40"></a><br /> + <p> + 40.—Interest blinds some and makes some see. + </p> + <a name="link41" id="link41"></a><br /> + <p> + 41.—Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often + become incapable of great things. + </p> + <a name="link42" id="link42"></a><br /> + <p> + 42.—We have not enough strength to follow all our reason. + </p> + <a name="link43" id="link43"></a><br /> + <p> + 43.—A man often believes himself leader when he is led; as his + mind endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him + towards another. + </p> + <a name="link44" id="link44"></a><br /> + <p> + 44.—Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; they are really + only the good or happy arrangement of our bodily organs. + </p> + <a name="link45" id="link45"></a><br /> + <p> + 45.—The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical than that of + Fortune. + </p> + <a name="link46" id="link46"></a><br /> + <p> + 46.—The attachment or indifference which philosophers have shown + to life is only the style of their self love, about which we can no more + dispute than of that of the palate or of the choice of colours. + </p> + <a name="link47" id="link47"></a><br /> + <p> + 47.—Our temper sets a price upon every gift that we receive from + fortune. + </p> + <a name="link48" id="link48"></a><br /> + <p> + 48.—Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; + we are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what + others like. + </p> + <a name="link49" id="link49"></a><br /> + <p> + 49.—We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose. + </p> + <a name="link50" id="link50"></a><br /> + <p> + 50.—Those who think they have merit persuade themselves that they + are honoured by being unhappy, in order to persuade others and + themselves that they are worthy to be the butt of fortune. + </p> + <p> + ["Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable men take comfort + that they were supreme in misery; and certain it is{, that where} we + cannot distinguish ourselves by something excellent, we begin to take a + complacency in some singular infirmities, follies, or defects of one + kind or other." —Burke, {<i>On The Sublime And Beautiful,</i> + (1756), Part I, Sect. XVII}.] + </p> + <p> + {The translators' incorrectly cite <i>Speech On Conciliation With + America.</i> Also, Burke does not actually write "Ambition has been...", + he writes "It has been..." when speaking of ambition.} + </p> + <a name="link51" id="link51"></a><br /> + <p> + 51.—Nothing should so much diminish the satisfaction which we feel + with ourselves as seeing that we disapprove at one time of that which we + approve of at another. + </p> + <a name="link52" id="link52"></a><br /> + <p> + 52.—Whatever difference there appears in our fortunes, there is + nevertheless a certain compensation of good and evil which renders them + equal. + </p> + <a name="link53" id="link53"></a><br /> + <p> + 53.—Whatever great advantages nature may give, it is not she + alone, but fortune also that makes the hero. + </p> + <a name="link54" id="link54"></a><br /> + <p> + 54.—The contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden + desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune, by despising + the very goods of which fortune had deprived them; it was a secret to + guard themselves against the degradation of poverty, it was a back way + by which to arrive at that distinction which they could not gain by + riches. + </p> + <p> + ["It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior ranks of + mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that pomp and pleasure which + fortune has placed beyond their reach. The virtue of the primitive + Christians, like that of the first Romans, was very frequently guarded + by poverty and ignorance."—Gibbon, <i>Decline And Fall, Chap. 15</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link55" id="link55"></a><br /> + <p> + 55.—The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of + NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it + evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not + being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the + world. + </p> + <a name="link56" id="link56"></a><br /> + <p> + 56.—To establish ourselves in the world we do everything to appear + as if we were established. + </p> + <a name="link57" id="link57"></a><br /> + <p> + 57.—Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they + are not so often the result of a great design as of chance. + </p> + <a name="link58" id="link58"></a><br /> + <p> + 58.—It would seem that our actions have lucky or unlucky stars to + which they owe a great part of the blame or praise which is given them. + </p> + <a name="link59" id="link59"></a><br /> + <p> + 59.—There are no accidents so unfortunate from which skilful men + will not draw some advantage, nor so fortunate that foolish men will not + turn them to their hurt. + </p> + <a name="link60" id="link60"></a><br /> + <p> + 60.—Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she + smiles. + </p> + <a name="link61" id="link61"></a><br /> + <p> + 61.—The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less upon their + dispositions than their fortunes. + </p> + <p> + ["Still to ourselves in every place consigned Our own felicity we make + or find." Goldsmith, <i>Traveller</i>, 431.] + </p> + <a name="link62" id="link62"></a><br /> + <p> + 62.—Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few + people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the + confidence of others. + </p> + <a name="link63" id="link63"></a><br /> + <p> + 63.—The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our + words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our + conversation. + </p> + <a name="link64" id="link64"></a><br /> + <p> + 64.—Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its + counterfeits do evil. + </p> + <a name="link65" id="link65"></a><br /> + <p> + 65.—There is no praise we have not lavished upon Prudence; and yet + she cannot assure to us the most trifling event. + </p> + <p> + [The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 it is No. 75; + 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last edition it stands as at + present. In the first he quotes Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. " Nullum + numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, + coeloque locamus." Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, + and with much greater force.] + </p> + <a name="link66" id="link66"></a><br /> + <p> + 66.—A clever man ought to so regulate his interests that each will + fall in due order. Our greediness so often troubles us, making us run + after so many things at the same time, that while we too eagerly look + after the least we miss the greatest. + </p> + <a name="link67" id="link67"></a><br /> + <p> + 67.—What grace is to the body good sense is to the mind. + </p> + <a name="link68" id="link68"></a><br /> + <p> + 68.—It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the + soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a sympathy, and in the + body it is a hidden and delicate wish to possess what we love—<i>Plus</i> + many mysteries. + </p> + <p> + ["Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be singularly + beloved."—Hobbes{<i>Leviathan</i>, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + </p> + <p> + {Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' mistakenly have + "singularity" for the first "singularly" and (2) Hobbes does not + actually write "Love is the..."—he writes "Love of one..." under + the heading "The passion of Love."} + </p> + <a name="link69" id="link69"></a><br /> + <p> + 69.—If there is a pure love, exempt from the mixture of our other + passions, it is that which is concealed at the bottom of the heart and + of which even ourselves are ignorant. + </p> + <a name="link70" id="link70"></a><br /> + <p> + 70.—There is no disguise which can long hide love where it exists, + nor feign it where it does not. + </p> + <a name="link71" id="link71"></a><br /> + <p> + 71.—There are few people who would not be ashamed of being beloved + when they love no longer. + </p> + <a name="link72" id="link72"></a><br /> + <p> + 72.—If we judge of love by the majority of its results it rather + resembles hatred than friendship. + </p> + <a name="link73" id="link73"></a><br /> + <p> + 73.—We may find women who have never indulged in an intrigue, but + it is rare to find those who have intrigued but once. + </p> + <p> + ["Yet there are some, they say, who have had {<i>None</i>}; But those + who have, ne'er end with only one}." {—Lord Byron, }<i>Don Juan,</i> + {Canto} iii., stanza 4.] + </p> + <a name="link74" id="link74"></a><br /> + <p> + 74.—There is only one sort of love, but there are a thousand + different copies. + </p> + <a name="link75" id="link75"></a><br /> + <p> + 75.—Neither love nor fire can subsist without perpetual motion; + both cease to live so soon as they cease to hope, or to fear. + </p> + <p> + [So Lord Byron{<i>Stanzas</i>, (1819), stanza 3} says of Love— + "Like chiefs of faction, His life is action."] + </p> + <a name="link76" id="link76"></a><br /> + <p> + 76.—There is real love just as there are real ghosts; every person + speaks of it, few persons have seen it. + </p> + <p> + ["Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art— An unseen seraph, we + believe in thee— A faith whose martyrs are the broken heart,— + But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see The naked eye, thy form as + it should be." {—Lord Byron, }<i>Childe Harold</i>, {Canto} iv., + stanza 121.] + </p> + <a name="link77" id="link77"></a><br /> + <p> + 77.—Love lends its name to an infinite number of engagements (<i>Commerces</i>) + which are attributed to it, but with which it has no more concern than + the Doge has with all that is done in Venice. + </p> + <a name="link78" id="link78"></a><br /> + <p> + 78.—The love of justice is simply in the majority of men the fear + of suffering injustice. + </p> + <a name="link79" id="link79"></a><br /> + <p> + 79.—Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts himself. + </p> + <a name="link80" id="link80"></a><br /> + <p> + 80.—What renders us so changeable in our friendship is, that it is + difficult to know the qualities of the soul, but easy to know those of + the mind. + </p> + <a name="link81" id="link81"></a><br /> + <p> + 81.—We can love nothing but what agrees with us, and we can only + follow our taste or our pleasure when we prefer our friends to + ourselves; nevertheless it is only by that preference that friendship + can be true and perfect. + </p> + <a name="link82" id="link82"></a><br /> + <p> + 82.—Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire to better our + condition, a weariness of war, the fear of some unlucky accident. + </p> + <p> + ["Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. The Duke de la + Rochefoucauld desired peace because of his dangerous wounds and ruined + castles, which had made him dread even worse events. On the other side + the Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful to her too ambitious + friends, did not cease to feel the bitterness of their resentment. + ‘I wish,' said she, ‘it were always night, because daylight + shows me so many who have betrayed me.'"—<i>Memoires De Madame De + Motteville, Tom</i>. IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these + maxims are in some cases of universal application, they were based + entirely on the experience of the age in which the author lived.] + </p> + <a name="link83" id="link83"></a><br /> + <p> + 83.—What men term friendship is merely a partnership with a + collection of reciprocal interests, and an exchange of favours—in + fact it is but a trade in which self love always expects to gain + something. + </p> + <a name="link84" id="link84"></a><br /> + <p> + 84.—It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be deceived by our + friends. + </p> + <a name="link85" id="link85"></a><br /> + <p> + 85.—We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more + powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do + not give our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we + expect to receive. + </p> + <a name="link86" id="link86"></a><br /> + <p> + 86.—Our distrust of another justifies his deceit. + </p> + <a name="link87" id="link87"></a><br /> + <p> + 87.—Men would not live long in society were they not the dupes of + each other. + </p> + <p> + [A maxim, adds Aimé Martin, "Which may enter into the code of a + vulgar rogue, but one is astonished to find it in a moral treatise." Yet + we have scriptural authority for it: "Deceiving and being deceived."—2 + TIM. iii. 13.] + </p> + <a name="link88" id="link88"></a><br /> + <p> + 88.—Self love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of + our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them, and we + judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us. + </p> + <a name="link89" id="link89"></a><br /> + <p> + 89.—Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his judgment. + </p> + <a name="link90" id="link90"></a><br /> + <p> + 90.—In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than + by our good qualities. + </p> + <a name="link91" id="link91"></a><br /> + <p> + 91.—The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when + it meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object. + </p> + <a name="link92" id="link92"></a><br /> + <p> + 92.—To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do + him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in + believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. + </p> + <p> + [That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, son of Pythodorus. + His brother Crito cured him, when he infinitely regretted the time of + his more pleasant madness.—See Aelian, <i>Var. Hist.</i> iv. 25. + So Horace— ——————"Pol, me + occidistis, amici, Non servastis," ait, "cui sic extorta voluptas Et + demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error." HOR. EP. ii—2, 138, of + the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.] + </p> + <a name="link93" id="link93"></a><br /> + <p> + 93.—Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the + fact that they can no longer set bad examples. + </p> + <a name="link94" id="link94"></a><br /> + <p> + 94.—Great names degrade instead of elevating those who know not + how to sustain them. + </p> + <a name="link95" id="link95"></a><br /> + <p> + 95.—The test of extraordinary merit is to see those who envy it + the most yet obliged to praise it. + </p> + <a name="link96" id="link96"></a><br /> + <p> + 96.—A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less chargeable with + ingratitude than his benefactor is. + </p> + <a name="link97" id="link97"></a><br /> + <p> + 97.—We are deceived if we think that mind and judgment are two + different matters: judgment is but the extent of the light of the mind. + This light penetrates to the bottom of matters; it remarks all that can + be remarked, and perceives what appears imperceptible. Therefore we must + agree that it is the extent of the light in the mind that produces all + the effects which we attribute to judgment. + </p> + <a name="link98" id="link98"></a><br /> + <p> + 98.—Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their + understanding. + </p> + <a name="link99" id="link99"></a><br /> + <p> + 99.—Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined + thoughts. + </p> + <a name="link100" id="link100"></a><br /> + <p> + 100.—Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty things in an + agreeable manner. + </p> + <a name="link101" id="link101"></a><br /> + <p> + 101.—Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we + could make them after much labour. + </p> + <a name="link102" id="link102"></a><br /> + <p> + 102.—The head is ever the dupe of the heart. + </p> + <p> + [A feeble imitation of that great thought "All folly comes from the + heart."—<i>Aimé Martin</i>. But Bonhome, in his <i>L'art De + Penser</i>, says "Plusieurs diraient en période quarré que + quelques reflexions que fasse l'esprit et quelques resolutions qu'il + prenne pour corriger ses travers le premier sentiment du coeur renverse + tous ses projets. Mais il n'appartient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de + dire tout en un mot que l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur."] + </p> + <a name="link103" id="link103"></a><br /> + <p> + 103.—Those who know their minds do not necessarily know their + hearts. + </p> + <a name="link104" id="link104"></a><br /> + <p> + 104.—Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge + rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never + judge rightly but at a distance. + </p> + <a name="link105" id="link105"></a><br /> + <p> + 105.—A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational + being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests + it. + </p> + <a name="link106" id="link106"></a><br /> + <p> + 106.—To understand matters rightly we should understand their + details, and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is + always superficial and imperfect. + </p> + <a name="link107" id="link107"></a><br /> + <p> + 107.—One kind of flirtation is to boast we never flirt. + </p> + <a name="link108" id="link108"></a><br /> + <p> + 108.—The head cannot long play the part of the heart. + </p> + <a name="link109" id="link109"></a><br /> + <p> + 109.—Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its blood, age + retains its tastes by habit. + </p> + <a name="link110" id="link110"></a><br /> + <p> + 110.—Nothing is given so profusely as advice. + </p> + <a name="link111" id="link111"></a><br /> + <p> + 111.—The more we love a woman the more prone we are to hate her. + </p> + <a name="link112" id="link112"></a><br /> + <p> + 112.—The blemishes of the mind, like those of the face, increase + by age. + </p> + <a name="link113" id="link113"></a><br /> + <p> + 113.—There may be good but there are no pleasant marriages. + </p> + <a name="link114" id="link114"></a><br /> + <p> + 114.—We are inconsolable at being deceived by our enemies and + betrayed by our friends, yet still we are often content to be thus + served by ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link115" id="link115"></a><br /> + <p> + 115.—It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as to deceive + others. + </p> + <a name="link116" id="link116"></a><br /> + <p> + 116.—Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking and giving + advice. The person asking seems to pay deference to the opinion of his + friend, while thinking in reality of making his friend approve his + opinion and be responsible for his conduct. The person giving the advice + returns the confidence placed in him by eager and disinterested zeal, in + doing which he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation. + </p> + <p> + ["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was which on many + occasions I have heard from people of good understanding, ‘That as + to what related to private conduct no one was ever the better for + advice.' But upon further examination I have resolved with myself that + the maxim might be admitted without any violent prejudice to mankind. + For in the manner advice was generally given there was no reason I + thought to wonder it should be so ill received, something there was + which strangely inverted the case, and made the giver to be the only + gainer. For by what I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, + that which we called giving advice was properly taking an occasion to + show our own wisdom at another's expense. On the other side to be + instructed or to receive advice on the terms usually prescribed to us + was little better than tamely to afford another the occasion of raising + himself a character from our defects."—Lord Shaftesbury, <i>Characteristics</i>, + i., 153.] + </p> + <a name="link117" id="link117"></a><br /> + <p> + 117.—The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for + snares that we know are set for us. We are never so easily deceived as + when trying to deceive. + </p> + <a name="link118" id="link118"></a><br /> + <p> + 118.—The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to + deception. + </p> + <a name="link119" id="link119"></a><br /> + <p> + 119.—We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that + at last we are disguised to ourselves. + </p> + <p> + ["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what does not + belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant both of the + character they leave{,} and of the character they assume."—Burke, + {<i>Reflections On The Revolution In France</i>, (1790), Paragraph 19}.] + </p> + <p> + {The translators' incorrectly cite <i>Thoughts On The Cause Of The + Present Discontents</i>.} + </p> + <a name="link120" id="link120"></a><br /> + <p> + 120.—We often act treacherously more from weakness than from a + fixed motive. + </p> + <a name="link121" id="link121"></a><br /> + <p> + 121.—We frequently do good to enable us with impunity to do evil. + </p> + <a name="link122" id="link122"></a><br /> + <p> + 122.—If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness + than from our strength. + </p> + <a name="link123" id="link123"></a><br /> + <p> + 123.—If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant + pleasure. + </p> + <a name="link124" id="link124"></a><br /> + <p> + 124.—The most deceitful persons spend their lives in blaming + deceit, so as to use it on some great occasion to promote some great + interest. + </p> + <a name="link125" id="link125"></a><br /> + <p> + 125.—The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it + generally happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect + themselves lay themselves open to attack in another. + </p> + <p> + ["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the + place of being wise." Churchill, <i>Rosciad</i>, 117.] + </p> + <a name="link126" id="link126"></a><br /> + <p> + 126.—Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity. + </p> + <a name="link127" id="link127"></a><br /> + <p> + 127.—The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing + than others. + </p> + <a name="link128" id="link128"></a><br /> + <p> + 128.—Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy + is the most substantial cleverness. + </p> + <a name="link129" id="link129"></a><br /> + <p> + 129.—It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being + deceived by cunning men. + </p> + <a name="link130" id="link130"></a><br /> + <p> + 130.—Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured. + </p> + <a name="link131" id="link131"></a><br /> + <p> + 131.—The smallest fault of women who give themselves up to love is + to love. [———"Faciunt graviora coactae Imperio sexus + minimumque libidine peccant." Juvenal, <i>Sat.</i> vi., 134.] + </p> + <a name="link132" id="link132"></a><br /> + <p> + 132.—It is far easier to be wise for others than to be so for + oneself. + </p> + <p> + [Hence the proverb, "A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his + client."] + </p> + <a name="link133" id="link133"></a><br /> + <p> + 133.—The only good examples are those, that make us see the + absurdity of bad originals. + </p> + <a name="link134" id="link134"></a><br /> + <p> + 134.—We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from + those that we affect to have. + </p> + <a name="link135" id="link135"></a><br /> + <p> + 135.—We sometimes differ more widely from ourselves than we do + from others. + </p> + <a name="link136" id="link136"></a><br /> + <p> + 136.—There are some who never would have loved if they never had + heard it spoken of. + </p> + <a name="link137" id="link137"></a><br /> + <p> + 137.—When not prompted by vanity we say little. + </p> + <a name="link138" id="link138"></a><br /> + <p> + 138.—A man would rather say evil of himself than say nothing. + </p> + <p> + ["Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of himself, and as + often happens to vain men, he would rather talk of his own failings than + of any foreign subject."— Hallam, <i>Literature Of Europe</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link139" id="link139"></a><br /> + <p> + 139.—One of the reasons that we find so few persons rational and + agreeable in conversation is there is hardly a person who does not think + more of what he wants to say than of his answer to what is said. The + most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we + perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering + from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say. Instead + of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try + thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer + well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation. + </p> + <p> + ["An absent man can make but few observations, he can pursue nothing + steadily because his absences make him lose his way. They are very + disagreeable and hardly to be tolerated in old age, but in youth they + cannot be forgiven." —Lord Chesterfield, <i>Letter</i> 195.] + </p> + <a name="link140" id="link140"></a><br /> + <p> + 140.—If it was not for the company of fools, a witty man would + often be greatly at a loss. + </p> + <a name="link141" id="link141"></a><br /> + <p> + 141.—We often boast that we are never bored, but yet we are so + conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others. + </p> + <a name="link142" id="link142"></a><br /> + <p> + 142.—As it is the mark of great minds to say many things in a few + words, so it is that of little minds to use many words to say nothing. + </p> + <p> + ["So much they talked, so very little said." Churchill, <i>Rosciad</i>, + 550. + </p> + <p> + "Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an argument or wish to + avoid it, are willing enough to suppose that much has been proved + because much has been said."— Junius, Jan. 1769.] + </p> + <a name="link143" id="link143"></a><br /> + <p> + 143.—It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we + exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we + praise them we wish to attract their praise. + </p> + <a name="link144" id="link144"></a><br /> + <p> + 144.—We do not like to praise, and we never praise without a + motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies + differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as + the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and + knowledge. + </p> + <a name="link145" id="link145"></a><br /> + <p> + 145.—We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon + those we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means. + </p> + <a name="link146" id="link146"></a><br /> + <p> + 146.—Usually we only praise to be praised. + </p> + <a name="link147" id="link147"></a><br /> + <p> + 147.—Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful + to praise which is treacherous. + </p> + <a name="link148" id="link148"></a><br /> + <p> + 148.—Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach. + </p> + <p> + ["Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without sneering, + teach the rest to sneer." Pope {<i>Essay On Man, (1733), Epistle To Dr. + Arbuthnot.</i>}] + </p> + <a name="link149" id="link149"></a><br /> + <p> + 149.—The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice. + </p> + <p> + [The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a desire to + be praised more highly. <i>Edition</i> 1665.] + </p> + <a name="link150" id="link150"></a><br /> + <p> + 150.—The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our + good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to + increase them. + </p> + <a name="link151" id="link151"></a><br /> + <p> + 151.—It is easier to govern others than to prevent being governed. + </p> + <a name="link152" id="link152"></a><br /> + <p> + 152.—If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of others would + not hurt us. + </p> + <p> + ["Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate credentis." Tacit. + Ann. xvi.] + </p> + <a name="link153" id="link153"></a><br /> + <p> + 153.—Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to work. + </p> + <a name="link154" id="link154"></a><br /> + <p> + 154.—Fortune cures us of many faults that reason could not. + </p> + <a name="link155" id="link155"></a><br /> + <p> + 155.—There are some persons who only disgust with their abilities, + there are persons who please even with their faults. + </p> + <a name="link156" id="link156"></a><br /> + <p> + 156.—There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and + doing stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if they change + their manners. + </p> + <a name="link157" id="link157"></a><br /> + <p> + 157.—The fame of great men ought always to be estimated by the + means used to acquire it. + </p> + <a name="link158" id="link158"></a><br /> + <p> + 158.—Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity gives + currency. + </p> + <a name="link159" id="link159"></a><br /> + <p> + 159.—It is not enough to have great qualities, we should also have + the management of them. + </p> + <a name="link160" id="link160"></a><br /> + <p> + 160.—However brilliant an action it should not be esteemed great + unless the result of a great motive. + </p> + <a name="link161" id="link161"></a><br /> + <p> + 161.—A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if + we desire to estimate the effects that they produce. + </p> + <a name="link162" id="link162"></a><br /> + <p> + 162.—The art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, + and often acquires more reputation than real brilliancy. + </p> + <a name="link163" id="link163"></a><br /> + <p> + 163.—Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} motives are + most wise and weighty. + </p> + <a name="link164" id="link164"></a><br /> + <p> + 164.—It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we do not fill + than for those we do. + </p> + <a name="link165" id="link165"></a><br /> + <p> + 165.—Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, luck that of the + people. + </p> + <a name="link166" id="link166"></a><br /> + <p> + 166.—The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit than merit + itself. + </p> + <a name="link167" id="link167"></a><br /> + <p> + 167.—Avarice is more opposed to economy than to liberality. + </p> + <a name="link168" id="link168"></a><br /> + <p> + 168.—However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on + pleasantly to the end of life. + </p> + <p> + ["Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die." Pope: <i>Essay On + Man,</i> Ep. ii.] + </p> + <a name="link169" id="link169"></a><br /> + <p> + 169.—Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our + virtue often gets the praise. + </p> + <p> + ["Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur." Tacitus Hist. I.] + </p> + <a name="link170" id="link170"></a><br /> + <p> + 170.—If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide + whether it is the effect of integrity or skill. + </p> + <a name="link171" id="link171"></a><br /> + <p> + 171.—As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in self. + </p> + <a name="link172" id="link172"></a><br /> + <p> + 172.—If we thoroughly consider the varied effects of indifference + we find we miscarry more in our duties than in our interests. + </p> + <a name="link173" id="link173"></a><br /> + <p> + 173.—There are different kinds of curiosity: one springs from + interest, which makes us desire to know everything that may be + profitable to us; another from pride, which springs from a desire of + knowing what others are ignorant of. + </p> + <a name="link174" id="link174"></a><br /> + <p> + 174.—It is far better to accustom our mind to bear the ills we + have than to speculate on those which may befall us. + </p> + <p> + ["Rather bear th{ose} ills we have Than fly to others that we know not + of." {—Shakespeare, <i>Hamlet</i>, Act III, Scene I, Hamlet.}] + </p> + <a name="link175" id="link175"></a><br /> + <p> + 175.—Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy which causes our + heart to attach itself to all the qualities of the person we love in + succession, sometimes giving the preference to one, sometimes to + another. This constancy is merely inconstancy fixed, and limited to the + same person. + </p> + <a name="link176" id="link176"></a><br /> + <p> + 176.—There are two kinds of constancy in love, one arising from + incessantly finding in the loved one fresh objects to love, the other + from regarding it as a point of honour to be constant. + </p> + <a name="link177" id="link177"></a><br /> + <p> + 177.—Perseverance is not deserving of blame or praise, as it is + merely the continuance of tastes and feelings which we can neither + create or destroy. + </p> + <a name="link178" id="link178"></a><br /> + <p> + 178.—What makes us like new studies is not so much the weariness + we have of the old or the wish for change as the desire to be admired by + those who know more than ourselves, and the hope of advantage over those + who know less. + </p> + <a name="link179" id="link179"></a><br /> + <p> + 179.—We sometimes complain of the levity of our friends to justify + our own by anticipation. + </p> + <a name="link180" id="link180"></a><br /> + <p> + 180.—Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the ill we have done + as fear of the ill that may happen to us. + </p> + <a name="link181" id="link181"></a><br /> + <p> + 181.—One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or weakness of + mind, and makes us accept everyone's opinion, and another more excusable + comes from a surfeit of matter. + </p> + <a name="link182" id="link182"></a><br /> + <p> + 182.—Vices enter into the composition of virtues as poison into + that of medicines. Prudence collects and blends the two and renders them + useful against the ills of life. + </p> + <a name="link183" id="link183"></a><br /> + <p> + 183.—For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest + misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their crimes. + </p> + <a name="link184" id="link184"></a><br /> + <p> + 184.—We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity the evil we + have done in the opinion of others. + </p> + <p> + [In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. We never admit our + faults except through vanity.] + </p> + <a name="link185" id="link185"></a><br /> + <p> + 185.—There are both heroes of evil and heroes of good. + </p> + <p> + [Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, habebaturque + non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. —Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + </p> + <a name="link186" id="link186"></a><br /> + <p> + 186.—We do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all + who have not virtues. + </p> + <p> + ["If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of use to us."—<i>Junius</i>, + 5th Oct. 1771.] + </p> + <a name="link187" id="link187"></a><br /> + <p> + 187.—The name of virtue is as useful to our interest as that of + vice. + </p> + <a name="link188" id="link188"></a><br /> + <p> + 188.—The health of the mind is not less uncertain than that of the + body, and when passions seem furthest removed we are no less in danger + of infection than of falling ill when we are well. + </p> + <a name="link189" id="link189"></a><br /> + <p> + 189.—It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed the bounds of + his virtues and vices. + </p> + <a name="link190" id="link190"></a><br /> + <p> + 190.—Great men should not have great faults. + </p> + <a name="link191" id="link191"></a><br /> + <p> + 191.—We may say vices wait on us in the course of our life as the + landlords with whom we successively lodge, and if we travelled the road + twice over I doubt if our experience would make us avoid them. + </p> + <a name="link192" id="link192"></a><br /> + <p> + 192.—When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves with the idea we + have left them. + </p> + <a name="link193" id="link193"></a><br /> + <p> + 193.—There are relapses in the diseases of the mind as in those of + the body; what we call a cure is often no more than an intermission or + change of disease. + </p> + <a name="link194" id="link194"></a><br /> + <p> + 194.—The defects of the mind are like the wounds of the body. + Whatever care we take to heal them the scars ever remain, and there is + always danger of their reopening. + </p> + <a name="link195" id="link195"></a><br /> + <p> + 195.—The reason which often prevents us abandoning a single vice + is having so many. + </p> + <a name="link196" id="link196"></a><br /> + <p> + 196.—We easily forget those faults which are known only to + ourselves. + </p> + <p> + [Seneca says "Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens testem non + conscientiam."] + </p> + <a name="link197" id="link197"></a><br /> + <p> + 197.—There are men of whom we can never believe evil without + having seen it. Yet there are very few in whom we should be surprised to + see it. + </p> + <a name="link198" id="link198"></a><br /> + <p> + 198.—We exaggerate the glory of some men to detract from that of + others, and we should praise Prince Condé and Marshal Turenne + much less if we did not want to blame them both. + </p> + <p> + [The allusion to Condé and Turenne gives the date at which these + maxims were published in 1665. Condé and Turenne were after their + campaign with the Imperialists at the height of their fame. It proves + the truth of the remark of Tacitus, "Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit."— + Tac. Ann. xiv.] + </p> + <a name="link199" id="link199"></a><br /> + <p> + 199.—The desire to appear clever often prevents our being so. + </p> + <a name="link200" id="link200"></a><br /> + <p> + 200.—Virtue would not go far did not vanity escort her. + </p> + <a name="link201" id="link201"></a><br /> + <p> + 201.—He who thinks he has the power to content the world greatly + deceives himself, but he who thinks that the world cannot be content + with him deceives himself yet more. + </p> + <a name="link202" id="link202"></a><br /> + <p> + 202.—Falsely honest men are those who disguise their faults both + to themselves and others; truly honest men are those who know them + perfectly and confess them. + </p> + <a name="link203" id="link203"></a><br /> + <p> + 203.—He is really wise who is nettled at nothing. + </p> + <a name="link204" id="link204"></a><br /> + <p> + 204.—The coldness of women is a balance and burden they add to + their beauty. + </p> + <a name="link205" id="link205"></a><br /> + <p> + 205.—Virtue in woman is often the love of reputation and repose. + </p> + <a name="link206" id="link206"></a><br /> + <p> + 206.—He is a truly good man who desires always to bear the + inspection of good men. + </p> + <a name="link207" id="link207"></a><br /> + <p> + 207.—Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one appears wise + 'tis but because his folly is proportioned to his age and fortune. + </p> + <a name="link208" id="link208"></a><br /> + <p> + 208.—There are foolish people who know and who skilfully use their + folly. + </p> + <a name="link209" id="link209"></a><br /> + <p> + 209.—Who lives without folly is not so wise as he thinks. + </p> + <a name="link210" id="link210"></a><br /> + <p> + 210.—In growing old we become more foolish—and more wise. + </p> + <a name="link211" id="link211"></a><br /> + <p> + 211.—There are people who are like farces, which are praised but + for a time (however foolish and distasteful they may be). + </p> + <p> + [The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.] + </p> + <a name="link212" id="link212"></a><br /> + <p> + 212.—Most people judge men only by success or by fortune. + </p> + <a name="link213" id="link213"></a><br /> + <p> + 213.—Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, the desire to + make life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate others + are often causes of that bravery so vaunted among men. + </p> + <p> + [Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, "He was as brave as a total + absence of all feeling and reflection could make him."—21st Jan. + 1769.] + </p> + <a name="link214" id="link214"></a><br /> + <p> + 214.—Valour in common soldiers is a perilous method of earning + their living. + </p> + <p> + ["Men venture necks to gain a fortune, The soldier does it ev{'}ry day, + (Eight to the week) for sixpence pay." {—Samuel Butler,} <i>Hudibras</i>, + Part II., canto i., line 512.] + </p> + <a name="link215" id="link215"></a><br /> + <p> + 215.—Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two extremes rarely + found. The space between them is vast, and embraces all other sorts of + courage. The difference between them is not less than between faces and + tempers. Men will freely expose themselves at the beginning of an + action, and relax and be easily discouraged if it should last. Some are + content to satisfy worldly honour, and beyond that will do little else. + Some are not always equally masters of their timidity. Others allow + themselves to be overcome by panic; others charge because they dare not + remain at their posts. Some may be found whose courage is strengthened + by small perils, which prepare them to face greater dangers. Some will + dare a sword cut and flinch from a bullet; others dread bullets little + and fear to fight with swords. These varied kinds of courage agree in + this, that night, by increasing fear and concealing gallant or cowardly + actions, allows men to spare themselves. There is even a more general + discretion to be observed, for we meet with no man who does all he would + have done if he were assured of getting off scot-free; so that it is + certain that the fear of death does somewhat subtract from valour. + </p> + <p> + [See also "Table Talk of Napoleon," who agrees with this, so far as to + say that few, but himself, had a two o'clock of the morning valour.] + </p> + <a name="link216" id="link216"></a><br /> + <p> + 216.—Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do + before all the world. + </p> + <p> + ["It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are in the eyes + of them that look on."—Bacon, <i>Advancement Of Learning</i>{, + (1605), Book I, Section II, paragraph 5}.] + </p> + <a name="link217" id="link217"></a><br /> + <p> + 217.—Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul which raises + it above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which the sight of great + perils can arouse in it: by this strength heroes maintain a calm aspect + and preserve their reason and liberty in the most surprising and + terrible accidents. + </p> + <a name="link218" id="link218"></a><br /> + <p> + 218.—Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. + </p> + <p> + [So Massillon, in one of his sermons, "Vice pays homage to virtue in + doing honour to her appearance." + </p> + <p> + So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, "You have done as much + mischief to the community as Machiavel, if Machiavel had not known that + an appearance of morals and religion are useful in society."—28 + Sept. 1771.] + </p> + <a name="link219" id="link219"></a><br /> + <p> + 219.—Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their + honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to + make the design for which they expose themselves succeed. + </p> + <a name="link220" id="link220"></a><br /> + <p> + 220.—Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men + brave and women chaste. + </p> + <p> + ["Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters chaste and + courteous. But why do we need her instruction?"—Sterne, <i>Sermons</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link221" id="link221"></a><br /> + <p> + 221.—We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to gain glory, and + this makes brave men show more tact and address in avoiding death, than + rogues show in preserving their fortunes. + </p> + <a name="link222" id="link222"></a><br /> + <p> + 222.—Few persons on the first approach of age do not show wherein + their body, or their mind, is beginning to fail. + </p> + <a name="link223" id="link223"></a><br /> + <p> + 223.—Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: it holds + commerce together; and we do not pay because it is just to pay debts, + but because we shall thereby more easily find people who will lend. + </p> + <a name="link224" id="link224"></a><br /> + <p> + 224.—All those who pay the debts of gratitude cannot thereby + flatter themselves that they are grateful. + </p> + <a name="link225" id="link225"></a><br /> + <p> + 225.—What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, is that the + pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as to the value of the + benefit. + </p> + <p> + ["The first foundation of friendship is not the power of conferring + benefits, but the equality with which they are received, and may be + returned."—Junius's <i>Letter To The King.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link226" id="link226"></a><br /> + <p> + 226.—Too great a hurry to discharge of an obligation is a kind of + ingratitude. + </p> + <a name="link227" id="link227"></a><br /> + <p> + 227.—Lucky people are bad hands at correcting their faults; they + always believe that they are right when fortune backs up their vice or + folly. + </p> + <p> + ["The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for the happy + impute all their success to prudence and merit."—Swift, <i>Thoughts + On Various Subjects</i>] + </p> + <a name="link228" id="link228"></a><br /> + <p> + 228.—Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay. + </p> + <a name="link229" id="link229"></a><br /> + <p> + 229.—The good we have received from a man should make us excuse + the wrong he does us. + </p> + <a name="link230" id="link230"></a><br /> + <p> + 230.—Nothing is so infectious as example, and we never do great + good or evil without producing the like. We imitate good actions by + emulation, and bad ones by the evil of our nature, which shame imprisons + until example liberates. + </p> + <a name="link231" id="link231"></a><br /> + <p> + 231.—It is great folly to wish only to be wise. + </p> + <a name="link232" id="link232"></a><br /> + <p> + 232.—Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it is always + interest or vanity that causes them. + </p> + <a name="link233" id="link233"></a><br /> + <p> + 233.—In afflictions there are various kinds of hypocrisy. In one, + under the pretext of weeping for one dear to us we bemoan ourselves; we + regret her good opinion of us, we deplore the loss of our comfort, our + pleasure, our consideration. Thus the dead have the credit of tears shed + for the living. I affirm 'tis a kind of hypocrisy which in these + afflictions deceives itself. There is another kind not so innocent + because it imposes on all the world, that is the grief of those who + aspire to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. After Time, which + absorbs all, has obliterated what sorrow they had, they still + obstinately obtrude their tears, their sighs their groans, they wear a + solemn face, and try to persuade others by all their acts, that their + grief will end only with their life. This sad and distressing vanity is + commonly found in ambitious women. As their sex closes to them all paths + to glory, they strive to render themselves celebrated by showing an + inconsolable affliction. There is yet another kind of tears arising from + but small sources, which flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to + achieve a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps to be + bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace of not weeping! + </p> + <p> + ["In grief the {<i>Pleasure</i>} is still uppermost{;} and the + affliction we suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which is always + odious, and which we endeavour to shake off as soon as possible."—Burke, + <i>Sublime And Beautiful</i>{, (1756), Part I, Sect. V}.] + </p> + <a name="link234" id="link234"></a><br /> + <p> + 234.—It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are + so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places + taken, and we do not want to be the last. + </p> + <a name="link235" id="link235"></a><br /> + <p> + 235.—We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of our friends when + they enable us to prove our tenderness for them. + </p> + <a name="link236" id="link236"></a><br /> + <p> + 236.—It would seem that even self-love may be the dupe of goodness + and forget itself when we work for others. And yet it is but taking the + shortest way to arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of + giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and delicate manner. + </p> + <a name="link237" id="link237"></a><br /> + <p> + 237.—No one should be praised for his goodness if he has not + strength enough to be wicked. All other goodness is but too often an + idleness or powerlessness of will. + </p> + <a name="link238" id="link238"></a><br /> + <p> + 238.—It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as to do them + too much good. + </p> + <a name="link239" id="link239"></a><br /> + <p> + 239.—Nothing flatters our pride so much as the confidence of the + great, because we regard it as the result of our worth, without + remembering that generally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a + secret. + </p> + <a name="link240" id="link240"></a><br /> + <p> + 240.—We may say of conformity as distinguished from beauty, that + it is a symmetry which knows no rules, and a secret harmony of features + both one with each other and with the colour and appearance of the + person. + </p> + <a name="link241" id="link241"></a><br /> + <p> + 241.—Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, although all + do not practise it, some being restrained by fear, others by sense. + </p> + <p> + ["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes both in the mode + and object according to her opinions."— Rousseau, <i>Emile.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link242" id="link242"></a><br /> + <p> + 242.—We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore + them. + </p> + <a name="link243" id="link243"></a><br /> + <p> + 243.—Few things are impossible in themselves; application to make + them succeed fails us more often than the means. + </p> + <a name="link244" id="link244"></a><br /> + <p> + 244.—Sovereign ability consists in knowing the value of things. + </p> + <a name="link245" id="link245"></a><br /> + <p> + 245.—There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one's + ability. + </p> + <p> + ["You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy when you have made + others think that you have only very average abilities."—<i>La + Bruyère</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link246" id="link246"></a><br /> + <p> + 246.—What seems generosity is often disguised ambition, that + despises small to run after greater interest. + </p> + <a name="link247" id="link247"></a><br /> + <p> + 247.—The fidelity of most men is merely an invention of self-love + to win confidence; a method to place us above others and to render us + depositaries of the most important matters. + </p> + <a name="link248" id="link248"></a><br /> + <p> + 248.—Magnanimity despises all, to win all. + </p> + <a name="link249" id="link249"></a><br /> + <p> + 249.—There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the eyes and in + the air of a speaker than in his choice of words. + </p> + <a name="link250" id="link250"></a><br /> + <p> + 250.—True eloquence consists in saying all that should be, not all + that could be said. + </p> + <a name="link251" id="link251"></a><br /> + <p> + 251.—There are people whose faults become them, others whose very + virtues disgrace them. + </p> + <p> + ["There are faults which do him honour, and virtues that disgrace him."—Junius, + <i>Letter Of 28th May, 1770.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link252" id="link252"></a><br /> + <p> + 252.—It is as common to change one's tastes, as it is uncommon to + change one's inclinations. + </p> + <a name="link253" id="link253"></a><br /> + <p> + 253.—Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and vices. + </p> + <a name="link254" id="link254"></a><br /> + <p> + 254.—Humility is often a feigned submission which we employ to + supplant others. It is one of the devices of Pride to lower us to raise + us; and truly pride transforms itself in a thousand ways, and is never + so well disguised and more able to deceive than when it hides itself + under the form of humility. + </p> + <p> + ["Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for business."—Junius, + <i>Letter To The Duke Of Grafton</i>. + </p> + <p> + "He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, And + the devil was pleased, for his darling sin Is the pride that apes + humility." Southey, <i>Devil's Walk</i>.] + </p> + <p> + {There are numerous corrections necessary for this quotation; I will + keep the original above so you can compare the correct passages: + </p> + <p> + "He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, + And he owned with a grin, That his favourite sin Is pride that apes + humility." —Southey, <i>Devil's Walk</i>, Stanza 8. + </p> + <p> + "And the devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that apes + humility." —Samuel Taylor Coleridge, <i>The Devil's Thoughts</i>} + </p> + <a name="link255" id="link255"></a><br /> + <p> + 255.—All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, gestures and + looks, and this harmony, as it is good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, + makes people agreeable or disagreeable. + </p> + <a name="link256" id="link256"></a><br /> + <p> + 256.—In all professions we affect a part and an appearance to seem + what we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors. + </p> + <p> + ["All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."—Shakespeare, + <i>As You Like It</i>{, Act II, Scene VII, Jaques}. + </p> + <p> + "Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the hero should + preserve his consistency to the last."—Junius.] + </p> + <a name="link257" id="link257"></a><br /> + <p> + 257.—Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body invented to + conceal the want of mind. + </p> + <p> + ["Gravity is the very essence of imposture."—Shaftesbury, <i>Characteristics</i>, + p. 11, vol. I. "The very essence of gravity is design, and consequently + deceit; a taught trick to gain credit with the world for more sense and + knowledge than a man was worth, and that with all its pretensions it was + no better, but often worse, than what a French wit had long ago defined + it—a mysterious carriage of the body to cover the defects of the + mind."—Sterne, <i>Tristram Shandy</i>, vol. I., chap. ii.] + </p> + <a name="link258" id="link258"></a><br /> + <p> + 258.—Good taste arises more from judgment than wit. + </p> + <a name="link259" id="link259"></a><br /> + <p> + 259.—The pleasure of love is in loving, we are happier in the + passion we feel than in that we inspire. + </p> + <a name="link260" id="link260"></a><br /> + <p> + 260.—Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and to be + esteemed polite. + </p> + <a name="link261" id="link261"></a><br /> + <p> + 261.—The usual education of young people is to inspire them with a + second self-love. + </p> + <a name="link262" id="link262"></a><br /> + <p> + 262.—There is no passion wherein self-love reigns so powerfully as + in love, and one is always more ready to sacrifice the peace of the + loved one than his own. + </p> + <a name="link263" id="link263"></a><br /> + <p> + 263.—What we call liberality is often but the vanity of giving, + which we like more than that we give away. + </p> + <a name="link264" id="link264"></a><br /> + <p> + 264.—Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the ills of + others. It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into which we may + fall. We help others that on like occasions we may be helped ourselves, + and these services which we render, are in reality benefits we confer on + ourselves by anticipation. + </p> + <p> + ["<i>Grief</i> for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth from the + imagination that a like calamity may befal himself{;} and therefore is + called compassion."—<i>Hobbes' Leviathan</i>{, (1651), Part I, + Chapter VI}.] + </p> + <a name="link265" id="link265"></a><br /> + <p> + 265.—A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do not easily believe + what we cannot see. + </p> + <p> + ["Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong." Dryden, <i>Absalom And + Achitophel</i>{, line 547}.] + </p> + <a name="link266" id="link266"></a><br /> + <p> + 266.—We deceive ourselves if we believe that there are violent + passions like ambition and love that can triumph over others. Idleness, + languishing as she is, does not often fail in being mistress; she usurps + authority over all the plans and actions of life; imperceptibly + consuming and destroying both passions and virtues. + </p> + <a name="link267" id="link267"></a><br /> + <p> + 267.—A quickness in believing evil without having sufficiently + examined it, is the effect of pride and laziness. We wish to find the + guilty, and we do not wish to trouble ourselves in examining the crime. + </p> + <a name="link268" id="link268"></a><br /> + <p> + 268.—We credit judges with the meanest motives, and yet we desire + our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are + all, either from their jealousy or pre-occupation or want of + intelligence, opposed to us—and yet 'tis only to make these men + decide in our favour that we peril in so many ways both our peace and + our life. + </p> + <a name="link269" id="link269"></a><br /> + <p> + 269.—No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does. + </p> + <a name="link270" id="link270"></a><br /> + <p> + 270.—One honour won is a surety for more. + </p> + <a name="link271" id="link271"></a><br /> + <p> + 271.—Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the fever of reason. + </p> + <p> + ["The best of life is but intoxication."—{Lord Byron, } Don Juan{, + Canto II, stanza 179}. In the 1st Edition, 1665, the maxim finishes with—"it + is the fever of health, the folly of reason."] + </p> + <a name="link272" id="link272"></a><br /> + <p> + 272.—Nothing should so humiliate men who have deserved great + praise, as the care they have taken to acquire it by the smallest means. + </p> + <a name="link273" id="link273"></a><br /> + <p> + 273.—There are persons of whom the world approves who have no + merit beyond the vices they use in the affairs of life. + </p> + <a name="link274" id="link274"></a><br /> + <p> + 274.—The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower to the fruit; + it lends a lustre which is easily lost, but which never returns. + </p> + <a name="link275" id="link275"></a><br /> + <p> + 275.—Natural goodness, which boasts of being so apparent, is often + smothered by the least interest. + </p> + <a name="link276" id="link276"></a><br /> + <p> + 276.—Absence extinguishes small passions and increases great ones, + as the wind will blow out a candle, and blow in a fire. + </p> + <a name="link277" id="link277"></a><br /> + <p> + 277.—Women often think they love when they do not love. The + business of a love affair, the emotion of mind that sentiment induces, + the natural bias towards the pleasure of being loved, the difficulty of + refusing, persuades them that they have real passion when they have but + flirtation. + </p> + <p> + ["And if in fact she takes a {"}<i>Grande Passion</i>{"}, It is a very + serious thing indeed: Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or fashion, + Coquetry, or a wish to take the lead, The pride of a mere child with a + new sash on. Or wish to make a rival's bosom bleed: But the {<i>Tenth</i>} + instance will be a tornado, For there's no saying what they will or may + do." {—Lord Byron, }<i>Don Juan</i>, canto xii. stanza 77.] + </p> + <a name="link278" id="link278"></a><br /> + <p> + 278.—What makes us so often discontented with those who transact + business for us is that they almost always abandon the interest of their + friends for the interest of the business, because they wish to have the + honour of succeeding in that which they have undertaken. + </p> + <a name="link279" id="link279"></a><br /> + <p> + 279.—When we exaggerate the tenderness of our friends towards us, + it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own + merit. + </p> + <a name="link280" id="link280"></a><br /> + <p> + 280.—The praise we give to new comers into the world arises from + the envy we bear to those who are established. + </p> + <a name="link281" id="link281"></a><br /> + <p> + 281.—Pride, which inspires, often serves to moderate envy. + </p> + <a name="link282" id="link282"></a><br /> + <p> + 282.—Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that we should judge + badly were we not deceived. + </p> + <a name="link283" id="link283"></a><br /> + <p> + 283.—Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing how to use + than in giving good advice. + </p> + <a name="link284" id="link284"></a><br /> + <p> + 284.—There are wicked people who would be much less dangerous if + they were wholly without goodness. + </p> + <a name="link285" id="link285"></a><br /> + <p> + 285.—Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its name, nevertheless + one can say it is the good sense of pride, the most noble way of + receiving praise. + </p> + <a name="link286" id="link286"></a><br /> + <p> + 286.—It is impossible to love a second time those whom we have + really ceased to love. + </p> + <a name="link287" id="link287"></a><br /> + <p> + 287.—Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so many resources + on the same matter, as the lack of intelligence makes us hesitate at + each thing our imagination presents, and hinders us from at first + discerning which is the best. + </p> + <a name="link288" id="link288"></a><br /> + <p> + 288.—There are matters and maladies which at certain times + remedies only serve to make worse; true skill consists in knowing when + it is dangerous to use them. + </p> + <a name="link289" id="link289"></a><br /> + <p> + 289.—Affected simplicity is refined imposture. + </p> + <p> + [Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium litterarum et + amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret animum et fratris aemulationi + subduceretur.—Tacitus, <i>Ann.</i> iv.] + </p> + <a name="link290" id="link290"></a><br /> + <p> + 290.—There are as many errors of temper as of mind. + </p> + <a name="link291" id="link291"></a><br /> + <p> + 291.—Man's merit, like the crops, has its season. + </p> + <a name="link292" id="link292"></a><br /> + <p> + 292.—One may say of temper as of many buildings; it has divers + aspects, some agreeable, others disagreeable. + </p> + <a name="link293" id="link293"></a><br /> + <p> + 293.—Moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and overcoming + Ambition: they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and + sloth of the soul, Ambition its activity and heat. + </p> + <a name="link294" id="link294"></a><br /> + <p> + 294.—We always like those who admire us, we do not always like + those whom we admire. + </p> + <a name="link295" id="link295"></a><br /> + <p> + 295.—It is well that we know not all our wishes. + </p> + <a name="link296" id="link296"></a><br /> + <p> + 296.—It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, but it is no + less so to love those whom we esteem much more than ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link297" id="link297"></a><br /> + <p> + 297.—Bodily temperaments have a common course and rule which + imperceptibly affect our will. They advance in combination, and + successively exercise a secret empire over us, so that, without our + perceiving it, they become a great part of all our actions. + </p> + <a name="link298" id="link298"></a><br /> + <p> + 298.—The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving + greater benefits. + </p> + <p> + [Hence the common proverb "Gratitude is merely a lively sense of favors + to come."] + </p> + <a name="link299" id="link299"></a><br /> + <p> + 299.—Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying small debts; + many people show gratitude for trifling, but there is hardly one who + does not show ingratitude for great favours. + </p> + <a name="link300" id="link300"></a><br /> + <p> + 300.—There are follies as catching as infections. + </p> + <a name="link301" id="link301"></a><br /> + <p> + 301.—Many people despise, but few know how to bestow wealth. + </p> + <a name="link302" id="link302"></a><br /> + <p> + 302.—Only in things of small value we usually are bold enough not + to trust to appearances. + </p> + <a name="link303" id="link303"></a><br /> + <p> + 303.—Whatever good quality may be imputed to us, we ourselves find + nothing new in it. + </p> + <a name="link304" id="link304"></a><br /> + <p> + 304.—We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot forgive those + whom we bore. + </p> + <a name="link305" id="link305"></a><br /> + <p> + 305.—Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds often should be + praised for our good deeds. + </p> + <a name="link306" id="link306"></a><br /> + <p> + 306.—We find very few ungrateful people when we are able to confer + favours. + </p> + <a name="link307" id="link307"></a><br /> + <p> + 307.—It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is ridiculous to + be so in company. + </p> + <a name="link308" id="link308"></a><br /> + <p> + 308.—Moderation is made a virtue to limit the ambition of the + great; to console ordinary people for their small fortune and equally + small ability. + </p> + <a name="link309" id="link309"></a><br /> + <p> + 309.—There are persons fated to be fools, who commit follies not + only by choice, but who are forced by fortune to do so. + </p> + <a name="link310" id="link310"></a><br /> + <p> + 310.—Sometimes there are accidents in our life the skilful + extrication from which demands a little folly. + </p> + <a name="link311" id="link311"></a><br /> + <p> + 311.—If there be men whose folly has never appeared, it is because + it has never been closely looked for. + </p> + <a name="link312" id="link312"></a><br /> + <p> + 312.—Lovers are never tired of each other,—they always speak + of themselves. + </p> + <a name="link313" id="link313"></a><br /> + <p> + 313.—How is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least + triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how + often we have told it to the same person? + </p> + <p> + ["Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, and forget how often + they have told them, are most tedious companions."—Montaigne, {<i>Essays</i>, + Book I, Chapter IX}.] + </p> + <a name="link314" id="link314"></a><br /> + <p> + 314.—The extreme delight we take in talking of ourselves should + warn us that it is not shared by those who listen. + </p> + <a name="link315" id="link315"></a><br /> + <p> + 315.—What commonly hinders us from showing the recesses of our + heart to our friends, is not the distrust we have of them, but that we + have of ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link316" id="link316"></a><br /> + <p> + 316.—Weak persons cannot be sincere. + </p> + <a name="link317" id="link317"></a><br /> + <p> + 317.—'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it + is unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel. + </p> + <a name="link318" id="link318"></a><br /> + <p> + 318.—We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, but there are + none to set straight a cross-grained spirit. + </p> + <a name="link319" id="link319"></a><br /> + <p> + 319.—If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults we cannot + long preserve the feelings we should hold towards our friends and + benefactors. + </p> + <a name="link320" id="link320"></a><br /> + <p> + 320.—To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is but to + reproach them with impunity. + </p> + <p> + ["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by Pope from a poem + which has not survived, "The Garland," by Mr. Broadhurst. "In some cases + exaggerated or inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire."— + Scott, <i>Woodstock.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link321" id="link321"></a><br /> + <p> + 321.—We are nearer loving those who hate us, than those who love + us more than we desire. + </p> + <a name="link322" id="link322"></a><br /> + <p> + 322.—Those only are despicable who fear to be despised. + </p> + <a name="link323" id="link323"></a><br /> + <p> + 323.—Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune than our goods. + </p> + <a name="link324" id="link324"></a><br /> + <p> + 324.—There is more self-love than love in jealousy. + </p> + <a name="link325" id="link325"></a><br /> + <p> + 325.—We often comfort ourselves by the weakness of evils, for + which reason has not the strength to console us. + </p> + <a name="link326" id="link326"></a><br /> + <p> + 326.—Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour itself. + </p> + <p> + ["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, but it cannot + dishonour; it is vice which confers dishonour."] + </p> + <a name="link327" id="link327"></a><br /> + <p> + 327.—We own to small faults to persuade others that we have not + great ones. + </p> + <a name="link328" id="link328"></a><br /> + <p> + 328.—Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. + </p> + <a name="link329" id="link329"></a><br /> + <p> + 329.—We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery —we only + dislike the method. + </p> + <p> + ["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, He says he does, being + then most flattered." Shakespeare, <i>Julius Caesar</i> {,Act II, Scene + I, Decius}.] + </p> + <a name="link330" id="link330"></a><br /> + <p> + 330.—We pardon in the degree that we love. + </p> + <a name="link331" id="link331"></a><br /> + <p> + 331.—It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress when one is + happy, than when we are ill-treated by her. + </p> + <p> + [Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.—Ovid, <i>Amores,</i> + ii. 19.] + </p> + <a name="link332" id="link332"></a><br /> + <p> + 332.—Women do not know all their powers of flirtation. + </p> + <a name="link333" id="link333"></a><br /> + <p> + 333.—Women cannot be completely severe unless they hate. + </p> + <a name="link334" id="link334"></a><br /> + <p> + 334.—Women can less easily resign flirtations than love. + </p> + <a name="link335" id="link335"></a><br /> + <p> + 335.—In love deceit almost always goes further than mistrust. + </p> + <a name="link336" id="link336"></a><br /> + <p> + 336.—There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids + jealousy. + </p> + <a name="link337" id="link337"></a><br /> + <p> + 337.—There are certain good qualities as there are senses, and + those who want them can neither perceive nor understand them. + </p> + <a name="link338" id="link338"></a><br /> + <p> + 338.—When our hatred is too bitter it places us below those whom + we hate. + </p> + <a name="link339" id="link339"></a><br /> + <p> + 339.—We only appreciate our good or evil in proportion to our + self-love. + </p> + <a name="link340" id="link340"></a><br /> + <p> + 340.—The wit of most women rather strengthens their folly than + their reason. + </p> + <p> + ["Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, but for solid + reasoning and good sense I never knew one in my life that had it, and + who reasoned and acted consequentially for four and twenty hours + together."—Lord Chesterfield, <i>Letter</i> 129.] + </p> + <a name="link341" id="link341"></a><br /> + <p> + 341.—The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety than the + coldness of age. + </p> + <a name="link342" id="link342"></a><br /> + <p> + 342.—The accent of our native country dwells in the heart and mind + as well as on the tongue. + </p> + <a name="link343" id="link343"></a><br /> + <p> + 343.—To be a great man one should know how to profit by every + phase of fortune. + </p> + <a name="link344" id="link344"></a><br /> + <p> + 344.—Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance + discovers. + </p> + <a name="link345" id="link345"></a><br /> + <p> + 345.—Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link346" id="link346"></a><br /> + <p> + 346.—If a woman's temper is beyond control there can be no control + of the mind or heart. + </p> + <a name="link347" id="link347"></a><br /> + <p> + 347.—We hardly find any persons of good sense, save those who + agree with us. + </p> + <p> + ["That was excellently observed, say I, when I read an author when his + opinion agrees with mine."—Swift, <i>Thoughts On Various Subjects.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link348" id="link348"></a><br /> + <p> + 348.—When one loves one doubts even what one most believes. + </p> + <a name="link349" id="link349"></a><br /> + <p> + 349.—The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate flirtation. + </p> + <a name="link350" id="link350"></a><br /> + <p> + 350.—Why we hate with so much bitterness those who deceive us is + because they think themselves more clever than we are. + </p> + <p> + ["I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I cannot forgive his + supposing me capable of the gross folly of being duped by his + professions."—Sir Walter Scott, <i>Quentin Durward.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link351" id="link351"></a><br /> + <p> + 351.—We have much trouble to break with one, when we no longer are + in love. + </p> + <a name="link352" id="link352"></a><br /> + <p> + 352.—We almost always are bored with persons with whom we should + not be bored. + </p> + <a name="link353" id="link353"></a><br /> + <p> + 353.—A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a beast. + </p> + <a name="link354" id="link354"></a><br /> + <p> + 354.—There are certain defects which well mounted glitter like + virtue itself. + </p> + <a name="link355" id="link355"></a><br /> + <p> + 355.—Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our regret is + greater than our grief, and others for whom our grief is greater than + our regret. + </p> + <a name="link356" id="link356"></a><br /> + <p> + 356.—Usually we only praise heartily those who admire us. + </p> + <a name="link357" id="link357"></a><br /> + <p> + 357.—Little minds are too much wounded by little things; great + minds see all and are not even hurt. + </p> + <a name="link358" id="link358"></a><br /> + <p> + 358.—Humility is the true proof of Christian virtues; without it + we retain all our faults, and they are only covered by pride to hide + them from others, and often from ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link359" id="link359"></a><br /> + <p> + 359.—Infidelities should extinguish love, and we ought not to be + jealous when we have cause to be so. No persons escape causing jealousy + who are worthy of exciting it. + </p> + <a name="link360" id="link360"></a><br /> + <p> + 360.—We are more humiliated by the least infidelity towards us, + than by our greatest towards others. + </p> + <a name="link361" id="link361"></a><br /> + <p> + 361.—Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die + with it. + </p> + <a name="link362" id="link362"></a><br /> + <p> + 362.—Most women do not grieve so much for the death of their + lovers for love's-sake, as to show they were worthy of being beloved. + </p> + <a name="link363" id="link363"></a><br /> + <p> + 363.—The evils we do to others give us less pain than those we do + to ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link364" id="link364"></a><br /> + <p> + 364.—We well know that it is bad taste to talk of our wives; but + we do not so well know that it is the same to speak of ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link365" id="link365"></a><br /> + <p> + 365.—There are virtues which degenerate into vices when they arise + from Nature, and others which when acquired are never perfect. For + example, reason must teach us to manage our estate and our confidence, + while Nature should have given us goodness and valour. + </p> + <a name="link366" id="link366"></a><br /> + <p> + 366.—However we distrust the sincerity of those whom we talk with, + we always believe them more sincere with us than with others. + </p> + <a name="link367" id="link367"></a><br /> + <p> + 367.—There are few virtuous women who are not tired of their part. + </p> + <p> + ["Every woman is at heart a rake."—Pope. <i>Moral Essays,</i> ii.] + </p> + <a name="link368" id="link368"></a><br /> + <p> + 368.—The greater number of good women are like concealed + treasures, safe as no one has searched for them. + </p> + <a name="link369" id="link369"></a><br /> + <p> + 369.—The violences we put upon ourselves to escape love are often + more cruel than the cruelty of those we love. + </p> + <a name="link370" id="link370"></a><br /> + <p> + 370.—There are not many cowards who know the whole of their fear. + </p> + <a name="link371" id="link371"></a><br /> + <p> + 371.—It is generally the fault of the loved one not to perceive + when love ceases. + </p> + <a name="link372" id="link372"></a><br /> + <p> + 372.—Most young people think they are natural when they are only + boorish and rude. + </p> + <a name="link373" id="link373"></a><br /> + <p> + 373.—Some tears after having deceived others deceive ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link374" id="link374"></a><br /> + <p> + 374.—If we think we love a woman for love of herself we are + greatly deceived. + </p> + <a name="link375" id="link375"></a><br /> + <p> + 375.—Ordinary men commonly condemn what is beyond them. + </p> + <a name="link376" id="link376"></a><br /> + <p> + 376.—Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirtation by true + love. + </p> + <a name="link377" id="link377"></a><br /> + <p> + 377.—The greatest mistake of penetration is not to have fallen + short, but to have gone too far. + </p> + <a name="link378" id="link378"></a><br /> + <p> + 378.—We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct. + </p> + <a name="link379" id="link379"></a><br /> + <p> + 379.—As our merit declines so also does our taste. + </p> + <a name="link380" id="link380"></a><br /> + <p> + 380.—Fortune makes visible our virtues or our vices, as light does + objects. + </p> + <a name="link381" id="link381"></a><br /> + <p> + 381.—The struggle we undergo to remain faithful to one we love is + little better than infidelity. + </p> + <a name="link382" id="link382"></a><br /> + <p> + 382.—Our actions are like the rhymed ends of blank verses (<i>Bouts-Rimés</i>) + where to each one puts what construction he pleases. + </p> + <p> + [The <i>Bouts-Rimés</i> was a literary game popular in the 17th + and 18th centuries—the rhymed words at the end of a line being + given for others to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole being given, "brook, + why, crook, I," returned the burlesque verse— "I sits with my toes + in a <i>Brook</i>, And if any one axes me <i>Why?</i> I gies 'em a rap + with my <i>Crook,</i> 'Tis constancy makes me, ses I."] + </p> + <a name="link383" id="link383"></a><br /> + <p> + 383.—The desire of talking about ourselves, and of putting our + faults in the light we wish them to be seen, forms a great part of our + sincerity. + </p> + <a name="link384" id="link384"></a><br /> + <p> + 384.—We should only be astonished at still being able to be + astonished. + </p> + <a name="link385" id="link385"></a><br /> + <p> + 385.—It is equally as difficult to be contented when one has too + much or too little love. + </p> + <a name="link386" id="link386"></a><br /> + <p> + 386.—No people are more often wrong than those who will not allow + themselves to be wrong. + </p> + <a name="link387" id="link387"></a><br /> + <p> + 387.—A fool has not stuff in him to be good. + </p> + <a name="link388" id="link388"></a><br /> + <p> + 388.—If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at least she makes + them totter. + </p> + <a name="link389" id="link389"></a><br /> + <p> + 389.—What makes the vanity of others unsupportable is that it + wounds our own. + </p> + <a name="link390" id="link390"></a><br /> + <p> + 390.—We give up more easily our interest than our taste. + </p> + <a name="link391" id="link391"></a><br /> + <p> + 391.—Fortune appears so blind to none as to those to whom she has + done no good. + </p> + <a name="link392" id="link392"></a><br /> + <p> + 392.—We should manage fortune like our health, enjoy it when it is + good, be patient when it is bad, and never resort to strong remedies but + in an extremity. + </p> + <a name="link393" id="link393"></a><br /> + <p> + 393.—Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the camp, never in the + court. + </p> + <a name="link394" id="link394"></a><br /> + <p> + 394.—A man is often more clever than one other, but not than all + others. + </p> + <p> + ["Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, omnes neminem + fefellerunt."—Pliny{ the Younger, <i>Panegyricus,</i> LXII}.] + </p> + <a name="link395" id="link395"></a><br /> + <p> + 395.—We are often less unhappy at being deceived by one we loved, + than on being deceived. + </p> + <a name="link396" id="link396"></a><br /> + <p> + 396.—We keep our first lover for a long time—if we do not + get a second. + </p> + <a name="link397" id="link397"></a><br /> + <p> + 397.—We have not the courage to say generally that we have no + faults, and that our enemies have no good qualities; but in fact we are + not far from believing so. + </p> + <a name="link398" id="link398"></a><br /> + <p> + 398.—Of all our faults that which we most readily admit is + idleness: we believe that it makes all virtues ineffectual, and that + without utterly destroying, it at least suspends their operation. + </p> + <a name="link399" id="link399"></a><br /> + <p> + 399.—There is a kind of greatness which does not depend upon + fortune: it is a certain manner what distinguishes us, and which seems + to destine us for great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon + ourselves; it is by this quality that we gain the deference of other + men, and it is this which commonly raises us more above them, than + birth, rank, or even merit itself. + </p> + <a name="link400" id="link400"></a><br /> + <p> + 400.—There may be talent without position, but there is no + position without some kind of talent. + </p> + <a name="link401" id="link401"></a><br /> + <p> + 401.—Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty woman. + </p> + <a name="link402" id="link402"></a><br /> + <p> + 402.—What we find the least of in flirtation is love. + </p> + <a name="link403" id="link403"></a><br /> + <p> + 403.—Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, and there are + tiresome people whose deserts would be ill rewarded if we did not desire + to purchase their absence. + </p> + <a name="link404" id="link404"></a><br /> + <p> + 404.—It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts + talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have + the power of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more + true and more perfect than art could possibly do. + </p> + <a name="link405" id="link405"></a><br /> + <p> + 405.—We reach quite inexperienced the different stages of life, + and often, in spite of the number of our years, we lack experience. + </p> + <p> + ["To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship which + illumine only the track it has passed."— Coleridge.] + </p> + <a name="link406" id="link406"></a><br /> + <p> + 406.—Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous of their + lovers, to conceal their envy of other women. + </p> + <a name="link407" id="link407"></a><br /> + <p> + 407.—It may well be that those who have trapped us by their tricks + do not seem to us so foolish as we seem to ourselves when trapped by the + tricks of others. + </p> + <a name="link408" id="link408"></a><br /> + <p> + 408.—The most dangerous folly of old persons who have been + loveable is to forget that they are no longer so. + </p> + <p> + ["Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome. The + suspicion of age no woman, let her be ever so old, forgives."—Lord + Chesterfield, <i>Letter</i> 129.] + </p> + <a name="link409" id="link409"></a><br /> + <p> + 409.—We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the + world only saw the motives which caused them. + </p> + <a name="link410" id="link410"></a><br /> + <p> + 410.—The greatest effort of friendship is not to show our faults + to a friend, but to show him his own. + </p> + <a name="link411" id="link411"></a><br /> + <p> + 4ll.—We have few faults which are not far more excusable than the + means we adopt to hide them. + </p> + <a name="link412" id="link412"></a><br /> + <p> + 412.—Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it is almost always + in our power to re-establish our character. + </p> + <p> + ["This is hardly a period at which the most irregular character may not + be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin find a retreat in patriotism, those + of the other in devotion." —Junius, <i>Letter To The King</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link413" id="link413"></a><br /> + <p> + 413.—A man cannot please long who has only one kind of wit. + </p> + <p> + [According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine and Boileau, who, + despising ordinary conversation, talked incessantly of literature; but + there is some doubt as to Segrais' statement.—Aimé Martin.] + </p> + <a name="link414" id="link414"></a><br /> + <p> + 414.—Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit. + </p> + <p> + 415.—Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity. + </p> + <a name="link415" id="link415"></a><br /> + <p> + 416.—The vivacity which increases in old age is not far removed + from folly. + </p> + <a name="link416" id="link416"></a><br /> + <p> + ["How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester."— + {Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, King}. + </p> + <p> + "Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of life? Can + grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there no period to be reserved + for meditation or retirement."— Junius, <i>To The Duke Of Bedford</i>, + 19th Sept. 1769.] + </p> + <a name="link417" id="link417"></a><br /> + <p> + 417.—In love the quickest is always the best cure. + </p> + <a name="link418" id="link418"></a><br /> + <p> + 418.—Young women who do not want to appear flirts, and old men who + do not want to appear ridiculous, should not talk of love as a matter + wherein they can have any interest. + </p> + <a name="link419" id="link419"></a><br /> + <p> + 419.—We may seem great in a post beneath our capacity, but we + oftener seem little in a post above it. + </p> + <a name="link420" id="link420"></a><br /> + <p> + 420.—We often believe we have constancy in misfortune when we have + nothing but debasement, and we suffer misfortunes without regarding them + as cowards who let themselves be killed from fear of defending + themselves. + </p> + <a name="link421" id="link421"></a><br /> + <p> + 421.—Conceit causes more conversation than wit. + </p> + <a name="link422" id="link422"></a><br /> + <p> + 422.—All passions make us commit some faults, love alone makes us + ridiculous. + </p> + <p> + ["In love we all are fools alike."—Gay{,<i> The Beggar's Opera,</i> + (1728), Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.] + </p> + <a name="link423" id="link423"></a><br /> + <p> + 423.—Few know how to be old. + </p> + <a name="link424" id="link424"></a><br /> + <p> + 424.—We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we + have, thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy. + </p> + <a name="link425" id="link425"></a><br /> + <p> + 425.—Penetration has a spice of divination in it which tickles our + vanity more than any other quality of the mind. + </p> + <a name="link426" id="link426"></a><br /> + <p> + 426.—The charm of novelty and old custom, however opposite to each + other, equally blind us to the faults of our friends. + </p> + <p> + ["Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom and novelty."-La + Bruyère, <i>Des Judgements.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link427" id="link427"></a><br /> + <p> + 427.—Most friends sicken us of friendship, most devotees of + devotion. + </p> + <a name="link428" id="link428"></a><br /> + <p> + 428.—We easily forgive in our friends those faults we do not + perceive. + </p> + <a name="link429" id="link429"></a><br /> + <p> + 429.—Women who love, pardon more readily great indiscretions than + little infidelities. + </p> + <a name="link430" id="link430"></a><br /> + <p> + 430.—In the old age of love as in life we still survive for the + evils, though no longer for the pleasures. + </p> + <p> + ["The youth of friendship is better than its old age." —Hazlitt's + <i>Characteristics,</i> 229.] + </p> + <a name="link431" id="link431"></a><br /> + <p> + 431.—Nothing prevents our being unaffected so much as our desire + to seem so. + </p> + <a name="link432" id="link432"></a><br /> + <p> + 432.—To praise good actions heartily is in some measure to take + part in them. + </p> + <a name="link433" id="link433"></a><br /> + <p> + 433.—The most certain sign of being born with great qualities is + to be born without envy. + </p> + <p> + ["Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae." —Cicero + <i>In Marc Ant.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link434" id="link434"></a><br /> + <p> + 434.—When our friends have deceived us we owe them but + indifference to the tokens of their friendship, yet for their + misfortunes we always owe them pity. + </p> + <a name="link435" id="link435"></a><br /> + <p> + 435.—Luck and temper rule the world. + </p> + <a name="link436" id="link436"></a><br /> + <p> + 436.—It is far easier to know men than to know man. + </p> + <a name="link437" id="link437"></a><br /> + <p> + 437.—We should not judge of a man's merit by his great abilities, + but by the use he makes of them. + </p> + <a name="link438" id="link438"></a><br /> + <p> + 438.—There is a certain lively gratitude which not only releases + us from benefits received, but which also, by making a return to our + friends as payment, renders them indebted to us. + </p> + <p> + ["And understood not that a grateful mind, By owing owes not, but is at + once Indebted and discharged." Milton. <i>Paradise Lost.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link439" id="link439"></a><br /> + <p> + 439.—We should earnestly desire but few things if we clearly knew + what we desired. + </p> + <a name="link440" id="link440"></a><br /> + <p> + 440.—The cause why the majority of women are so little given to + friendship is, that it is insipid after having felt love. + </p> + <p> + ["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect friendship, and + those who have united themselves to friendship have nought to do with + love."—La Bruyère. <i>Du Coeur.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link441" id="link441"></a><br /> + <p> + 441.—As in friendship so in love, we are often happier from + ignorance than from knowledge. + </p> + <a name="link442" id="link442"></a><br /> + <p> + 442.—We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth to correct. + </p> + <a name="link443" id="link443"></a><br /> + <p> + 443.—The most violent passions give some respite, but vanity + always disturbs us. + </p> + <a name="link444" id="link444"></a><br /> + <p> + 444.—Old fools are more foolish than young fools. + </p> + <p> + ["<i>Malvolio.</i> Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} make + the better fool. <i>Clown.</i> God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} + for the better increasing of your folly."—Shakespeare. <i>Twelfth + Night</i>{, Act I, Scene V}.] + </p> + <a name="link445" id="link445"></a><br /> + <p> + 445.—Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice. + </p> + <a name="link446" id="link446"></a><br /> + <p> + 446.—What makes the grief of shame and jealousy so acute is that + vanity cannot aid us in enduring them. + </p> + <a name="link447" id="link447"></a><br /> + <p> + 447.—Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most obeyed. + </p> + <p> + [Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is bound to + conform....Those things which honour forbids are more rigorously + forbidden when the laws do not concur in the prohibition, and those it + commands are more strongly insisted upon when they happen not to be + commanded by law.—Montesquieu, {<i>The Spirit Of Laws,</i> }b. 4, + c. ii.] + </p> + <a name="link448" id="link448"></a><br /> + <p> + 448.—A well-trained mind has less difficulty in submitting to than + in guiding an ill-trained mind. + </p> + <a name="link449" id="link449"></a><br /> + <p> + 449.—When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office + without having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised + our hopes, it is well nigh impossible to occupy it well, and to appear + worthy to fill it. + </p> + <a name="link450" id="link450"></a><br /> + <p> + 450.—Our pride is often increased by what we retrench from our + other faults. + </p> + <p> + ["The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and compensated by + spiritual pride."—Gibbon. <i>Decline And Fall,</i> chap. xv.] + </p> + <a name="link451" id="link451"></a><br /> + <p> + 451.—No fools so wearisome as those who have some wit. + </p> + <a name="link452" id="link452"></a><br /> + <p> + 452.—No one believes that in every respect he is behind the man he + considers the ablest in the world. + </p> + <a name="link453" id="link453"></a><br /> + <p> + 453.—In great matters we should not try so much to create + opportunities as to utilise those that offer themselves. + </p> + <p> + [Yet Lord Bacon says "A wise man will make more opportunities than he + finds."—Essays, {(1625), "Of Ceremonies and Respects"}] + </p> + <a name="link454" id="link454"></a><br /> + <p> + 454.—There are few occasions when we should make a bad bargain by + giving up the good on condition that no ill was said of us. + </p> + <a name="link455" id="link455"></a><br /> + <p> + 455.—However disposed the world may be to judge wrongly, it far + oftener favours false merit than does justice to true. + </p> + <a name="link456" id="link456"></a><br /> + <p> + 456.—Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion. + </p> + <a name="link457" id="link457"></a><br /> + <p> + 457.—We should gain more by letting the world see what we are than + by trying to seem what we are not. + </p> + <a name="link458" id="link458"></a><br /> + <p> + 458.—Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form + of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves. + </p> + <a name="link459" id="link459"></a><br /> + <p> + 459.—There are many remedies to cure love, yet none are + infallible. + </p> + <a name="link460" id="link460"></a><br /> + <p> + 460.—It would be well for us if we knew all our passions make us + do. + </p> + <a name="link461" id="link461"></a><br /> + <p> + 461.—Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of life all the + pleasures of youth. + </p> + <a name="link462" id="link462"></a><br /> + <p> + 462.—The same pride which makes us blame faults from which we + believe ourselves free causes us to despise the good qualities we have + not. + </p> + <a name="link463" id="link463"></a><br /> + <p> + 463.—There is often more pride than goodness in our grief for our + enemies' miseries; it is to show how superior we are to them, that we + bestow on them the sign of our compassion. + </p> + <a name="link464" id="link464"></a><br /> + <p> + 464.—There exists an excess of good and evil which surpasses our + comprehension. + </p> + <a name="link465" id="link465"></a><br /> + <p> + 465.—Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the same protection + as crime. + </p> + <a name="link466" id="link466"></a><br /> + <p> + 466.—Of all the violent passions the one that becomes a woman best + is love. + </p> + <a name="link467" id="link467"></a><br /> + <p> + 467.—Vanity makes us sin more against our taste than reason. + </p> + <a name="link468" id="link468"></a><br /> + <p> + 468.—Some bad qualities form great talents. + </p> + <a name="link469" id="link469"></a><br /> + <p> + 469.—We never desire earnestly what we desire in reason. + </p> + <a name="link470" id="link470"></a><br /> + <p> + 470.—All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, both the good + as well as the bad, and nearly all are creatures of opportunities. + </p> + <a name="link471" id="link471"></a><br /> + <p> + 471.—In their first passion women love their lovers, in all the + others they love love. + </p> + <p> + ["In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all her others what she + loves is love." {—Lord Byron, }Don Juan, Canto iii., stanza 3. "We + truly love once, the first time; the subsequent passions are more or + less involuntary." La Bruyère: <i>Du Coeur</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link472" id="link472"></a><br /> + <p> + 472.—Pride as the other passions has its follies. We are ashamed + to own we are jealous, and yet we plume ourselves in having been and + being able to be so. + </p> + <a name="link473" id="link473"></a><br /> + <p> + 473.—However rare true love is, true friendship is rarer. + </p> + <p> + ["It is more common to see perfect love than real friendship."—La + Bruyère. <i>Du Coeur.</i>] + </p> + <a name="link474" id="link474"></a><br /> + <p> + 474.—There are few women whose charm survives their beauty. + </p> + <a name="link475" id="link475"></a><br /> + <p> + 475.—The desire to be pitied or to be admired often forms the + greater part of our confidence. + </p> + <a name="link476" id="link476"></a><br /> + <p> + 476.—Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we + envy. + </p> + <a name="link477" id="link477"></a><br /> + <p> + 477.—The same firmness that enables us to resist love enables us + to make our resistance durable and lasting. So weak persons who are + always excited by passions are seldom really possessed of any. + </p> + <a name="link478" id="link478"></a><br /> + <p> + 478.—Fancy does not enable us to invent so many different + contradictions as there are by nature in every heart. + </p> + <a name="link479" id="link479"></a><br /> + <p> + 479.—It is only people who possess firmness who can possess true + gentleness. In those who appear gentle it is generally only weakness, + which is readily converted into harshness. + </p> + <a name="link480" id="link480"></a><br /> + <p> + 480.—Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to blame in those we + desire to cure of it. + </p> + <a name="link481" id="link481"></a><br /> + <p> + 481.—Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those who think they + have it are generally only pliant or weak. + </p> + <a name="link482" id="link482"></a><br /> + <p> + 482.—The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit to whatever is + easy or pleasant. This habit always places bounds to our knowledge, and + no one has ever yet taken the pains to enlarge and expand his mind to + the full extent of its capacities. + </p> + <a name="link483" id="link483"></a><br /> + <p> + 483.—Usually we are more satirical from vanity than malice. + </p> + <a name="link484" id="link484"></a><br /> + <p> + 484.—When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion + it is proner to take up a new one than when wholly cured. + </p> + <a name="link485" id="link485"></a><br /> + <p> + 485.—Those who have had great passions often find all their lives + made miserable in being cured of them. + </p> + <a name="link486" id="link486"></a><br /> + <p> + 486.—More persons exist without self-love than without envy. + </p> + <p> + ["I do not believe that there is a human creature in his senses arrived + at maturity, that at some time or other has not been carried away by + this passion (envy) in good earnest, and yet I never met with any who + dared own he was guilty of it, but in jest."—Mandeville: <i>Fable + Of The Bees</i>; Remark N.] + </p> + <a name="link487" id="link487"></a><br /> + <p> + 487.—We have more idleness in the mind than in the body. + </p> + <a name="link488" id="link488"></a><br /> + <p> + 488.—The calm or disturbance of our mind does not depend so much + on what we regard as the more important things of life, as in a + judicious or injudicious arrangement of the little things of daily + occurrence. + </p> + <a name="link489" id="link489"></a><br /> + <p> + 489.—However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear + the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either + pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her. + </p> + <a name="link490" id="link490"></a><br /> + <p> + 490.—We often go from love to ambition, but we never return from + ambition to love. + </p> + <p> + ["Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do not find a quieter + seat while they remain there."—La Bruyère: <i>Du Coeur</i>.] + </p> + <a name="link491" id="link491"></a><br /> + <p> + 491.—Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, there is no + passion which is oftener further away from its mark, nor upon which the + present has so much power to the prejudice of the future. + </p> + <a name="link492" id="link492"></a><br /> + <p> + 492.—Avarice often produces opposite results: there are an + infinite number of persons who sacrifice their property to doubtful and + distant expectations, others mistake great future advantages for small + present interests. + </p> + <p> + [<i>Aimé Martin</i> says, "The author here confuses greediness, + the desire and avarice—passions which probably have a common + origin, but produce different results. The greedy man is nearly always + desirous to possess, and often foregoes great future advantages for + small present interests. The avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes + present advantages for the great expectations of the future. Both desire + to possess and enjoy. But the miser possesses and enjoys nothing but the + pleasure of possessing; he risks nothing, gives nothing, hopes nothing, + his life is centred in his strong box, beyond that he has no want."] + </p> + <a name="link493" id="link493"></a><br /> + <p> + 493.—It appears that men do not find they have enough faults, as + they increase the number by certain peculiar qualities that they affect + to assume, and which they cultivate with so great assiduity that at + length they become natural faults, which they can no longer correct. + </p> + <a name="link494" id="link494"></a><br /> + <p> + 494.—What makes us see that men know their faults better than we + imagine, is that they are never wrong when they speak of their conduct; + the same self-love that usually blinds them enlightens them, and gives + them such true views as to make them suppress or disguise the smallest + thing that might be censured. + </p> + <a name="link495" id="link495"></a><br /> + <p> + 495.—Young men entering life should be either shy or bold; a + solemn and sedate manner usually degenerates into impertinence. + </p> + <a name="link496" id="link496"></a><br /> + <p> + 496.—Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one + side. + </p> + <a name="link497" id="link497"></a><br /> + <p> + 497.—It is valueless to a woman to be young unless pretty, or to + be pretty unless young. + </p> + <a name="link498" id="link498"></a><br /> + <p> + 498.—Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that they are as far + removed from real defects as from substantial qualities. + </p> + <a name="link499" id="link499"></a><br /> + <p> + 499.—We do not usually reckon a woman's first flirtation until she + has had a second. + </p> + <a name="link500" id="link500"></a><br /> + <p> + 500.—Some people are so self-occupied that when in love they find + a mode by which to be engrossed with the passion without being so with + the person they love. + </p> + <a name="link501" id="link501"></a><br /> + <p> + 501.—Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more by its ways than + by itself. + </p> + <a name="link502" id="link502"></a><br /> + <p> + 502.—A little wit with good sense bores less in the long run than + much wit with ill nature. + </p> + <a name="link503" id="link503"></a><br /> + <p> + 503.—Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one that is least + pitied by those who cause it. + </p> + <a name="link504" id="link504"></a><br /> + <p> + 504.—Thus having treated of the hollowness of so many apparent + virtues, it is but just to say something on the hollowness of the + contempt for death. I allude to that contempt of death which the heathen + boasted they derived from their unaided understanding, without the hope + of a future state. There is a difference between meeting death with + courage and despising it. The first is common enough, the last I think + always feigned. Yet everything that could be has been written to + persuade us that death is no evil, and the weakest of men, equally with + the bravest, have given many noble examples on which to found such an + opinion, still I do not think that any man of good sense has ever yet + believed in it. And the pains we take to persuade others as well as + ourselves amply show that the task is far from easy. For many reasons we + may be disgusted with life, but for none may we despise it. Not even + those who commit suicide regard it as a light matter, and are as much + alarmed and startled as the rest of the world if death meets them in a + different way than the one they have selected. The difference we observe + in the courage of so great a number of brave men, is from meeting death + in a way different from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer + at one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens that having + despised death when they were ignorant of it, they dread it when they + become acquainted with it. If we could avoid seeing it with all its + surroundings, we might perhaps believe that it was not the greatest of + evils. The wisest and bravest are those who take the best means to avoid + reflecting on it, as every man who sees it in its real light regards it + as dreadful. The necessity of dying created all the constancy of + philosophers. They thought it but right to go with a good grace when + they could not avoid going, and being unable to prolong their lives + indefinitely, nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, and + to save from the general wreck all that could be saved. To put a good + face upon it, let it suffice, not to say all that we think to ourselves, + but rely more on our nature than on our fallible reason, which might + make us think we could approach death with indifference. The glory of + dying with courage, the hope of being regretted, the desire to leave + behind us a good reputation, the assurance of being enfranchised from + the miseries of life and being no longer dependent on the wiles of + fortune, are resources which should not be passed over. But we must not + regard them as infallible. They should affect us in the same proportion + as a single shelter affects those who in war storm a fortress. At a + distance they think it may afford cover, but when near they find it only + a feeble protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to imagine that + death, when near, will seem the same as at a distance, or that our + feelings, which are merely weaknesses, are naturally so strong that they + will not suffer in an attack of the rudest of trials. It is equally as + absurd to try the effect of self-esteem and to think it will enable us + to count as naught what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in + which we trust to find so many resources will be far too weak in the + struggle to persuade us in the way we wish. For it is this which betrays + us so frequently, and which, instead of filling us with contempt of + death, serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. The most + it can do for us is to persuade us to avert our gaze and fix it on other + objects. Cato and Brutus each selected noble ones. A lackey sometime ago + contented himself by dancing on the scaffold when he was about to be + broken on the wheel. So however diverse the motives they but realize the + same result. For the rest it is a fact that whatever difference there + may be between the peer and the peasant, we have constantly seen both + the one and the other meet death with the same composure. Still there is + always this difference, that the contempt the peer shows for death is + but the love of fame which hides death from his sight; in the peasant it + is but the result of his limited vision that hides from him the extent + of the evil, end leaves him free to reflect on other things. + </p> + <br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linksup1" id="linksup1"></a> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT + </h2> + <p> + [The following reflections are extracted from the first two editions of La + Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed by the author in succeeding issues.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkI" id="linkI">I</a>.—Self-love is the love <i>of</i> + self, and of all things <i>for</i> self. It makes men self-worshippers, + and if fortune permits them, causes them to tyrannize over others; it is + never quiet when out of itself, and only rests upon other subjects as a + bee upon flowers, to extract from them its proper food. Nothing is so + headstrong as its desires, nothing so well concealed as its designs, + nothing so skilful as its management; its suppleness is beyond + description; its changes surpass those of the metamorphoses, its + refinements those of chemistry. We can neither plumb the depths nor pierce + the shades of its recesses. Therein it is hidden from the most far-seeing + eyes, therein it takes a thousand imperceptible folds. There it is often + to itself invisible; it there conceives, there nourishes and rears, + without being aware of it, numberless loves and hatreds, some so monstrous + that when they are brought to light it disowns them, and cannot resolve to + avow them. In the night which covers it are born the ridiculous + persuasions it has of itself, thence come its errors, its ignorance, its + silly mistakes; thence it is led to believe that its passions which sleep + are dead, and to think that it has lost all appetite for that of which it + is sated. But this thick darkness which conceals it from itself does not + hinder it from seeing that perfectly which is out of itself; and in this + it resembles our eyes which behold all, and yet cannot set their own + forms. In fact, in great concerns and important matters when the violence + of its desires summons all its attention, it sees, feels, hears, imagines, + suspects, penetrates, divines all: so that we might think that each of its + passions had a magic power proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong as + its attachments, which, in sight of the extreme misfortunes which threaten + it, it vainly attempts to break. Yet sometimes it effects that without + trouble and quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power and in the + course of years, whence we may fairly conclude that it is by itself that + its desires are inflamed, rather than by the beauty and merit of its + objects, that its own taste embellishes and heightens them; that it is + itself the game it pursues, and that it follows eagerly when it runs after + that upon which itself is eager. It is made up of contraries. It is + imperious and obedient, sincere and false, piteous and cruel, timid and + bold. It has different desires according to the diversity of temperaments, + which turn and fix it sometimes upon riches, sometimes on pleasures. It + changes according to our age, our fortunes, and our hopes; it is quite + indifferent whether it has many or one, because it can split itself into + many portions, and unite in one as it pleases. It is inconstant, and + besides the changes which arise from strange causes it has an infinity + born of itself, and of its own substance. It is inconstant through + inconstancy, of lightness, love, novelty, lassitude and distaste. It is + capricious, and one sees it sometimes work with intense eagerness and with + incredible labour to obtain things of little use to it which are even + hurtful, but which it pursues because it wishes for them. It is silly, and + often throws its whole application on the utmost frivolities. It finds all + its pleasure in the dullest matters, and places its pride in the most + contemptible. It is seen in all states of life, and in all conditions; it + lives everywhere and upon everything; it subsists on nothing; it + accommodates itself either to things or to the want of them; it goes over + to those who are at war with it, enters into their designs, and, this is + wonderful, it, with them, hates even itself; it conspires for its own + loss, it works towards its own ruin—in fact, caring only to exist, + and providing that it may <i>be</i>, it will be its own enemy! We must + therefore not be surprised if it is sometimes united to the rudest + austerity, and if it enters so boldly into partnership to destroy her, + because when it is rooted out in one place it re-establishes itself in + another. When it fancies that it abandons its pleasure it merely changes + or suspends its enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full flight, + we find that it triumphs in its own defeat. Here then is the picture of + self-love whereof the whole of our life is but one long agitation. The sea + is its living image; and in the flux and reflux of its continuous waves + there is a faithful expression of the stormy succession of its thoughts + and of its eternal motion. (Edition of 1665, No. 1.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkII" id="linkII">II</a>.—Passions are only the different + degrees of the heat or coldness of the blood. (1665, No. 13.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkIII" id="linkIII">III</a>.—Moderation in good fortune + is but apprehension of the shame which follows upon haughtiness, or a fear + of losing what we have. (1665, No. 18.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkIV" id="linkIV">IV</a>.—Moderation is like temperance + in eating; we could eat more but we fear to make ourselves ill. (1665, No. + 21.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkV" id="linkV">V</a>.—Everybody finds that to abuse in + another which he finds worthy of abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkVI" id="linkVI">VI</a>.—Pride, as if tired of its + artifices and its different metamorphoses, after having solely filled the + divers parts of the comedy of life, exhibits itself with its natural face, + and is discovered by haughtiness; so much so that we may truly say that + haughtiness is but the flash and open declaration of pride. (1665, No. + 37.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkVII" id="linkVII">VII</a>.—One kind of happiness is to + know exactly at what point to be miserable. (1665, No. 53.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkVIII" id="linkVIII">VIII</a>.—When we do not find peace + of mind (REPOS) in ourselves it is useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, + No. 53.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkIX" id="linkIX">IX</a>.—One should be able to answer + for one's fortune, so as to be able to answer for what we shall do. (1665, + No. 70.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkX" id="linkX">X</a>.—Love is to the soul of him who + loves, what the soul is to the body which it animates. (1665, No. 77.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXI" id="linkXI">XI</a>.—As one is never at liberty to + love or to cease from loving, the lover cannot with justice complain of + the inconstancy of his mistress, nor she of the fickleness of her lover. + (1665, No. 81.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXII" id="linkXII">XII</a>.—Justice in those judges who + are moderate is but a love of their place. (1665, No. 89.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXIII" id="linkXIII">XIII</a>.—When we are tired of + loving we are quite content if our mistress should become faithless, to + loose us from our fidelity. (1665, No. 85.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXIV" id="linkXIV">XIV</a>.—The first impulse of joy + which we feel at the happiness of our friends arises neither from our + natural goodness nor from friendship; it is the result of self-love, which + flatters us with being lucky in our own turn, or in reaping something from + the good fortune of our friends. (1665, No. 97.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXV" id="linkXV">XV</a>.—In the adversity of our best + friends we always find something which is not wholly displeasing to us. + (1665, No. 99.) + </p> + <p> + [This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated "Verses on his own Death." The + four first are quoted opposite the title, then follow these lines:— + "This maxim more than all the rest, Is thought too base for human breast; + In all distresses of our friends, We first consult our private ends; While + nature kindly bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance to please us." + </p> + <p> + See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; "they who + know the deception and wickedness of the human heart will not be either + romantic or blind enough to deny what Rochefoucauld and Swift have + affirmed as a general truth."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXVI" id="linkXVI">XVI</a>.—How shall we hope that + another person will keep our secret if we do not keep it ourselves. (1665, + No. 100.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXVII" id="linkXVII">XVII</a>.—As if it was not + sufficient that self-love should have the power to change itself, it has + added that of changing other objects, and this it does in a very + astonishing manner; for not only does it so well disguise them that it is + itself deceived, but it even changes the state and nature of things. Thus, + when a female is adverse to us, and she turns her hate and persecution + against us, self-love pronounces on her actions with all the severity of + justice; it exaggerates the faults till they are enormous, and looks at + her good qualities in so disadvantageous a light that they become more + displeasing than her faults. If however the same female becomes favourable + to us, or certain of our interests reconcile her to us, our sole self + interest gives her back the lustre which our hatred deprived her of. The + bad qualities become effaced, the good ones appear with a redoubled + advantage; we even summon all our indulgence to justify the war she has + made upon us. Now although all passions prove this truth, that of love + exhibits it most clearly; for we may see a lover moved with rage by the + neglect or the infidelity of her whom he loves, and meditating the utmost + vengeance that his passion can inspire. Nevertheless as soon as the sight + of his beloved has calmed the fury of his movements, his passion holds + that beauty innocent; he only accuses himself, he condemns his + condemnations, and by the miraculous power of selflove, he whitens the + blackest actions of his mistress, and takes from her all crime to lay it + on himself. + </p> + <p> + {No date or number is given for this maxim} + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXVIII" id="linkXVIII">XVIII</a>.—There are none who + press so heavily on others as the lazy ones, when they have satisfied + their idleness, and wish to appear industrious. (1666, No. 91.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXIX" id="linkXIX">XIX</a>.—The blindness of men is the + most dangerous effect of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment it, + it deprives us of knowledge of remedies which can solace our miseries and + can cure our faults. (1665, No. 102.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXX" id="linkXX">XX</a>.—One has never less reason than + when one despairs of finding it in others. (1665, No. 103.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXI" id="linkXXI">XXI</a>.—Philosophers, and Seneca + above all, have not diminished crimes by their precepts; they have only + used them in the building up of pride. (1665, No. 105.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXII" id="linkXXII">XXII</a>.—It is a proof of little + friendship not to perceive the growing coolness of that of our friends. + (1666, No. 97.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXIII" id="linkXXIII">XXIII</a>.—The most wise may be + so in indifferent and ordinary matters, but they are seldom so in their + most serious affairs. (1665, No. 132.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXIV" id="linkXXIV">XXIV</a>.—The most subtle folly + grows out of the most subtle wisdom. (1665, No. 134.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXV" id="linkXXV">XXV</a>.—Sobriety is the love of + health, or an incapacity to eat much. (1665, No. 135.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXVI" id="linkXXVI">XXVI</a>.—We never forget things so + well as when we are tired of talking of them. (1665, No. 144.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXVII" id="linkXXVII">XXVII</a>.—The praise bestowed + upon us is at least useful in rooting us in the practice of virtue. (1665, + No. 155.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXVIII" id="linkXXVIII">XXVIII</a>.—Self-love takes + care to prevent him whom we flatter from being him who most flatters us. + (1665, No. 157.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXIX" id="linkXXIX">XXIX</a>.—Men only blame vice and + praise virtue from interest. (1665, No. 151.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXX" id="linkXXX">XXX</a>.—We make no difference in the + kinds of anger, although there is that which is light and almost innocent, + which arises from warmth of complexion, temperament, and another very + criminal, which is, to speak properly, the fury of pride. (1665, No. 159.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXI" id="linkXXXI">XXXI</a>.—Great souls are not those + who have fewer passions and more virtues than the common, but those only + who have greater designs. (1665, No. 161.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXII" id="linkXXXII">XXXII</a>.—Kings do with men as + with pieces of money; they make them bear what value they will, and one is + forced to receive them according to their currency value, and not at their + true worth. (1665, No. 165.) + </p> + <p> + [See Burns{, <i>For A' That An A' That</i>}— "The rank is but the + guinea's stamp, {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that." Also Farquhar and + other parallel passages pointed out in <i>Familiar Words</i>.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXIII" id="linkXXXIII">XXXIII</a>.—Natural ferocity + makes fewer people cruel than self-love. (1665, No. 174.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXIV" id="linkXXXIV">XXXIV</a>.—One may say of all our + virtues as an Italian poet says of the propriety of women, that it is + often merely the art of appearing chaste. (1665, No. 176.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXV" id="linkXXXV">XXXV</a>.—There are crimes which + become innocent and even glorious by their brilliancy,* their number, or + their excess; thus it happens that public robbery is called financial + skill, and the unjust capture of provinces is called a conquest. (1665, + No. 192.) + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + *Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as those of + Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte Corday—further + than this the maxim is satire. + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXVI" id="linkXXXVI">XXXVI</a>.—One never finds in man + good or evil in excess. (1665, No. 201.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXVII" id="linkXXXVII">XXXVII</a>.—Those who are + incapable of committing great crimes do not easily suspect others. (1665, + No. {2}08.) + </p> + <p> + {The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It is 208.} + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXVIII" id="linkXXXVIII">XXXVIII</a>.—The pomp of + funerals concerns rather the vanity of the living, than the honour of the + dead. (1665, No. 213.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXXXIX" id="linkXXXIX">XXXIX</a>.—Whatever variety and + change appears in the world, we may remark a secret chain, and a regulated + order of all time by Providence, which makes everything follow in due rank + and fall into its destined course. (1665, No. 225.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXL" id="linkXL">XL</a>.—Intrepidity should sustain the + heart in conspiracies in place of valour which alone furnishes all the + firmness which is necessary for the perils of war. (1665, No. 231.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLI" id="linkXLI">XLI</a>.—Those who wish to define + victory by her birth will be tempted to imitate the poets, and to call her + the Daughter of Heaven, since they cannot find her origin on earth. Truly + she is produced from an infinity of actions, which instead of wishing to + beget her, only look to the particular interests of their masters, since + all those who compose an army, in aiming at their own rise and glory, + produce a good so great and general. (1665, No. 232.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLII" id="linkXLII">XLII</a>.—That man who has never + been in danger cannot answer for his courage. (1665, No. 236.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLIII" id="linkXLIII">XLIII</a>.—We more often place + bounds on our gratitude than on our desires and our hopes. (1665, No. + 241.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLIV" id="linkXLIV">XLIV</a>.—Imitation is always + unhappy, for all which is counterfeit displeases by the very things which + charm us when they are original (<i>Naturelles</i>). (1665, No. 245.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLV" id="linkXLV">XLV</a>.—We do not regret the loss of + our friends according to <i>their</i> merits, but according to OUR wants, + and the opinion with which we believed we had impressed them of our worth. + (1665, No. 248.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLVI" id="linkXLVI">XLVI</a>.—It is very hard to + separate the general goodness spread all over the world from great + cleverness. (1665, No. 252.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLVII" id="linkXLVII">XLVII</a>.—For us to be always + good, others should believe that they cannot behave wickedly to us with + impunity. (1665, No. 254.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLVIII" id="linkXLVIII">XLVIII</a>.—A confidence in + being able to please is often an infallible means of being displeasing. + (1665, No. 256.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXLIX" id="linkXLIX">XLIX</a>.—The confidence we have in + ourselves arises in a great measure from that that we have in others. + (1665, No. 258.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkL" id="linkL">L</a>.—There is a general revolution + which changes the tastes of the mind as well as the fortunes of the world. + (1665, No. 250.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLI" id="linkLI">LI</a>.—Truth is foundation and the + reason of the perfection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may + be, it cannot be beautiful and perfect unless it be truly that she should + be, and possess truly all that she should have (1665, No. 260.) + </p> + <p> + [Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{—John Keats, "Ode on a a Grecian + Urn," (1820), Stanza 5}] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLII" id="linkLII">LII</a>.—There are fine things which + are more brilliant when unfinished than when finished too much. (1665, No. + 262.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLIII" id="linkLIII">LIII</a>.—Magnanimity is a noble + effort of pride which makes a man master of himself, to make him master of + all things. (1665, No. 271.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLIV" id="linkLIV">LIV</a>.—Luxury and too refined a + policy in states are a sure presage of their fall, because all parties + looking after their own interest turn away from the public good. (1665, + No. 282.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLV" id="linkLV">LV</a>.—Of all passions that which is + least known to us is idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, + although her violence may be insensible, and the evils she causes + concealed; if we consider her power attentively we shall find that in all + encounters she makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our interests, + and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, she can stop the greatest + vessels, she is a hidden rock, more dangerous in the most important + matters than sudden squalls and the most violent tempests. The repose of + idleness is a magic charm which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits + and the most obstinate resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this + passion we must add that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles + us for all losses and fills the vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. 290.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLVI" id="linkLVI">LVI</a>.—We are very fond of reading + others' characters, but we do not like to be read ourselves. (1665, No. + 296.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLVII" id="linkLVII">LVII</a>.—What a tiresome malady is + that which forces one to preserve your health by a severe regimen. (<i>Ibid,</i> + No. 298.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLVIII" id="linkLVIII">LVIII</a>.—It is much easier to + take love when one is free, than to get rid of it after having taken it. + (1665, No. 300.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLIX" id="linkLIX">LIX</a>.—Women for the most part + surrender themselves more from weakness than from passion. Whence it is + that bold and pushing men succeed better than others, although they are + not so loveable. (1665, No. 301.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLX" id="linkLX">LX</a>.—Not to love is in love, an + infallible means of being beloved. (1665, No. 302.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXI" id="linkLXI">LXI</a>.—The sincerity which lovers + and mistresses ask that both should know when they cease to love each + other, arises much less from a wish to be warned of the cessation of love, + than from a desire to be assured that they are beloved although no one + denies it. (1665, No. 303.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXII" id="linkLXII">LXII</a>.—The most just comparison + of love is that of a fever, and we have no power over either, as to its + violence or its duration. (1665, No. 305.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXIII" id="linkLXIII">LXIII</a>.—The greatest skill of + the least skilful is to know how to submit to the direction of another. + (1665, No. 309.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXIV" id="linkLXIV">LXIV</a>.—We always fear to see + those whom we love when we have been flirting with others. (16{74}, No. + 372.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXV" id="linkLXV">LXV</a>.—We ought to console + ourselves for our faults when we have strength enough to own them. + (16{74}, No. 375.) + </p> + <p> + {The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited as 1665 in the + text. I found this date immediately suspect because the translators' + introduction states that the 1665 edition only had 316 maxims. In fact, + the two maxims only appeared in the fourth of the first five editions + (1674).} + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linksup2" id="linksup2"></a> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + SECOND SUPPLEMENT. + </h2> + <h3> + REFLECTIONS, EXTRACTED FROM MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.* + </h3> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + *<i>A La Bibliotheque Du Roi</i>, it is difficult at present (June + 1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection of books in + Paris, the property of the nation. + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkLXVI" id="linkLXVI">LXVI</a>.—Interest is the soul of + self-love, in as much as when the body deprived of its soul is without + sight, feeling or knowledge, without thought or movement, so self-love, + riven so to speak from its interest, neither sees, nor hears, nor smells, + nor moves; thus it is that the same man who will run over land and sea for + his own interest becomes suddenly paralyzed when engaged for that of + others; from this arises that sudden dulness and, as it were, death, with + which we afflict those to whom we speak of our own matters; from this also + their sudden resurrection when in our narrative we relate something + concerning them; from this we find in our conversations and business that + a man becomes dull or bright just as his own interest is near to him or + distant from him. (<i>Letter To Madame De Sablé, Ms., Fol</i>. + 211.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXVII" id="linkLXVII">LXVII</a>.—Why we cry out so much + against maxims which lay bare the heart of man, is because we fear that + our own heart shall be laid bare. (<i>Maxim</i> 103, MS., fol. 310.*) + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + *The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the Maxims + previously given, sometimes the author has carefully polished them; at + other times the words are identical. Our numbers will indicate where + they are to be found in the foregoing collection. + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="linkLXVIII" id="linkLXVIII">LXVIII</a>.—Hope and fear are + inseparable. (<i>To Madame De Sablé, Ms., Fol.</i> 222, MAX. 168.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXIX" id="linkLXIX">LXIX</a>.—It is a common thing to + hazard life to escape dishonour; but, when this is done, the actor takes + very little pain to make the enterprise succeed in which he is engaged, + and certain it is that they who hazard their lives to take a city or to + conquer a province are better officers, have more merit, and wider and + more useful, views than they who merely expose themselves to vindicate + their honour; it is very common to find people of the latter class, very + rare to find those of the former. (<i>Letter To M. Esprit, Ms., Fol</i>. + 173, MAX. 219.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXX" id="linkLXX">LXX</a>.—The taste changes, but the + will remains the same. (<i>To Madame De Sablé, Fol.</i> 223, <i>Max.</i> + 252.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXI" id="linkLXXI">LXXI</a>.—The power which women + whom we love have over us is greater than that which we have over + ourselves. (<i>To The Same, Ms., Fol. 211, Max.</i> 259) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXII" id="linkLXXII">LXXII</a>.—That which makes us + believe so easily that others have defects is that we all so easily + believe what we wish. (<i>To The Same, Ms., Fol. 223, Max.</i> 397.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXIII" id="linkLXXIII">LXXIII</a>.—I am perfectly + aware that good sense and fine wit are tedious to every age, but tastes + are not always the same, and what is good at one time will not seem so at + another. This makes me think that few persons know how to be old. (<i>To + The Same, Fol. 202, Max. 423.</i>) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXIV" id="linkLXXIV">LXXIV</a>.—God has permitted, to + punish man for his original sin, that he should be so fond of his + self-love, that he should be tormented by it in all the actions of his + life. (<i>Ms., Fol. 310, Max. 494.</i>) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXV" id="linkLXXV">LXXV</a>.—And so far it seems to me + the philosophy of a lacquey can go; I believe that all gaity in that state + of life is very doubtful indeed. (<i>To Madame De Sablé, Fol. 161, + Max. 504.</i>) + </p> + <p> + [In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman about to be broken on + the wheel danced on the scaffold. He seems to think that in his day the + life of such servants was so miserable that their merriment was very + doubtful.] + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linksup3" id="linksup3"></a> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + THIRD SUPPLEMENT + </h2> + <p> + [The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth Edition of the <i>Pensées + De La Rochefoucauld,</i> published by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more than + twelve years after the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The reader + will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable maxims.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXVI" id="linkLXXVI">LXXVI</a>.—Many persons wish to + be devout; but no one wishes to be humble. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXVII" id="linkLXXVII">LXXVII</a>.—The labour of the + body frees us from the pains of the mind, and thus makes the poor happy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXVIII" id="linkLXXVIII">LXXVIII</a>.—True penitential + sorrows (mortifications) are those which are not known, vanity renders the + others easy enough. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXIX" id="linkLXXIX">LXXIX</a>.—Humility is the altar + upon which God wishes that we should offer him his sacrifices. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXX" id="linkLXXX">LXXX</a>.—Few things are needed to + make a wise man happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why most + men are miserable. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXI" id="linkLXXXI">LXXXI</a>.—We trouble ourselves + less to become happy, than to make others believe we are so. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXII" id="linkLXXXII">LXXXII</a>.—It is more easy to + extinguish the first desire than to satisfy those which follow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXIII" id="linkLXXXIII">LXXXIII</a>.—Wisdom is to the + soul what health is to the body. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXIV" id="linkLXXXIV">LXXXIV</a>.—The great ones of + the earth can neither command health of body nor repose of mind, and they + buy always at too dear a price the good they can acquire. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXV" id="linkLXXXV">LXXXV</a>.—Before strongly + desiring anything we should examine what happiness he has who possesses + it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXVI" id="linkLXXXVI">LXXXVI</a>.—A true friend is + the greatest of all goods, and that of which we think least of acquiring. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXVII" id="linkLXXXVII">LXXXVII</a>.—Lovers do not + wish to see the faults of their mistresses until their enchantment is at + an end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXVIII" id="linkLXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>.—Prudence and + love are not made for each other; in the ratio that love increases, + prudence diminishes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkLXXXIX" id="linkLXXXIX">LXXXIX</a>.—It is sometimes + pleasing to a husband to have a jealous wife; he hears her always speaking + of the beloved object. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXC" id="linkXC">XC</a>.—How much is a woman to be + pitied who is at the same time possessed of virtue and love! + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCI" id="linkXCI">XCI</a>.—The wise man finds it better + not to enter the encounter than to conquer. + </p> + <p> + [Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage— "Who quits {a} world where + strong temptations try, And since 'tis hard to co{mbat}, learns to fly."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCII" id="linkXCII">XCII</a>.—It is more necessary to + study men than books. + </p> + <p> + ["The proper study of mankind is man."—Pope {<i>Essay On Man, + (1733), Epistle II,</i> line 2}.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCIII" id="linkXCIII">XCIII</a>.—Good and evil + ordinarily come to those who have most of one or the other. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCIV" id="linkXCIV">XCIV</a>.—The accent and character + of one's native country dwells in the mind and heart as on the tongue. (<i>Repitition + Of Maxim</i> 342.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCV" id="linkXCV">XCV</a>.—The greater part of men have + qualities which, like those of plants, are discovered by chance. (<i>Repitition + Of Maxim</i> 344.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCVI" id="linkXCVI">XCVI</a>.—A good woman is a hidden + treasure; he who discovers her will do well not to boast about it. (<i>See + Maxim</i> 368.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCVII" id="linkXCVII">XCVII</a>.—Most women do not weep + for the loss of a lover to show that they have been loved so much as to + show that they are worth being loved. (<i>See Maxim</i> 362.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCVIII" id="linkXCVIII">XCVIII</a>.—There are many + virtuous women who are weary of the part they have played. (<i>See Maxim</i> + 367.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkXCIX" id="linkXCIX">XCIX</a>.—If we think we love for + love's sake we are much mistaken. (<i>See Maxim</i> 374.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkC" id="linkC">C</a>.—The restraint we lay upon + ourselves to be constant, is not much better than an inconstancy. (<i>See + Maxim</i> 369, 381.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCI" id="linkCI">CI</a>.—There are those who avoid our + jealousy, of whom we ought to be jealous. (<i>See Maxim</i> 359.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCII" id="linkCII">CII</a>.—Jealousy is always born with + love, but does not always die with it. (<i>See Maxim</i> 361.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCIII" id="linkCIII">CIII</a>.—When we love too much it + is difficult to discover when we have ceased to be beloved. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCIV" id="linkCIV">CIV</a>.—We know very well that we + should not talk about our wives, but we do not remember that it is not so + well to speak of ourselves. (<i>See Maxim</i> 364.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCV" id="linkCV">CV</a>.—Chance makes us known to others + and to ourselves. (<i>See Maxim</i> 345.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCVI" id="linkCVI">CVI</a>.—We find very few people of + good sense, except those who are of our own opinion. (<i>See Maxim</i> + 347.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCVII" id="linkCVII">CVII</a>.—We commonly praise the + good hearts of those who admire us. (<i>See Maxim</i> 356.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCVIII" id="linkCVIII">CVIII</a>.—Man only blames + himself in order that he may be praised. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCIX" id="linkCIX">CIX</a>.—Little minds are wounded by + the smallest things. (<i>See Maxim</i> 357.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCX" id="linkCX">CX</a>.—There are certain faults which + placed in a good light please more than perfection itself. (<i>See Maxim</i> + 354.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXI" id="linkCXI">CXI</a>.—That which makes us so + bitter against those who do us a shrewd turn, is because they think + themselves more clever than we are. (<i>See Maxim</i> 350.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXII" id="linkCXII">CXII</a>.—We are always bored by + those whom we bore. (<i>See Maxim</i> 352.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXIII" id="linkCXIII">CXIII</a>.—The harm that others + do us is often less than that we do ourselves. (<i>See Maxim</i> 363.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXIV" id="linkCXIV">CXIV</a>.—It is never more + difficult to speak well than when we are ashamed of being silent. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXV" id="linkCXV">CXV</a>.—Those faults are always + pardonable that we have the courage to avow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXVI" id="linkCXVI">CXVI</a>.—The greatest fault of + penetration is not that it goes to the bottom of a matter—but beyond + it. (<i>See Maxim</i> 377.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXVII" id="linkCXVII">CXVII</a>.—We give advice, but we + cannot give the wisdom to profit by it. (<i>See Maxim</i> 378.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXVIII" id="linkCXVIII">CXVIII</a>.—When our merit + declines, our taste declines also. (<i>See Maxim</i> 379.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXIX" id="linkCXIX">CXIX</a>.—Fortune discovers our + vices and our virtues, as the light makes objects plain to the sight. (<i>See + Maxim</i> 380.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXX" id="linkCXX">CXX</a>.—Our actions are like rhymed + verse-ends (<i>Bouts-Rimés</i>) which everyone turns as he pleases. + (<i>See Maxim</i> 382.) + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXXI" id="linkCXXI">CXXI</a>.—There is nothing more + natural, nor more deceptive, than to believe that we are beloved. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXXII" id="linkCXXII">CXXII</a>.—We would rather see + those to whom we have done a benefit, than those who have done us one. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXXIII" id="linkCXXIII">CXXIII</a>.—It is more + difficult to hide the opinions we have than to feign those which we have + not. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXXIV" id="linkCXXIV">CXXIV</a>.—Renewed friendships + require more care than those that have never been broken. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkCXXV" id="linkCXXV">CXXV</a>.—A man to whom no one is + pleasing is much more unhappy than one who pleases nobody. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkreflect" id="linkreflect"></a> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkR.I" id="linkR.I"></a> + </p> + <h3> + I. On Confidence. + </h3> + <p> + Though sincerity and confidence have many points of resemblance, they have + yet many points of difference. + </p> + <p> + Sincerity is an openness of heart, which shows us what we are, a love of + truth, a dislike to deception, a wish to compensate our faults and to + lessen them by the merit of confessing them. + </p> + <p> + Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are stricter, it requires + more prudence and reticence, and we are not always free to give it. It + relates not only to ourselves, since our interests are often mixed up with + those of others; it requires great delicacy not to expose our friends in + exposing ourselves, not to draw upon their goodness to enhance the value + of what we give. + </p> + <p> + Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It is a tribute we pay to + their merit, a deposit we commit to their trust, a pledge which gives them + a claim upon us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily submit. I do + not wish from what I have said to depreciate confidence, so necessary to + man. It is in society the link between acquaintance and friendship. I only + wish to state its limits to make it true and real. I would that it was + always sincere, always discreet, and that it had neither weakness nor + interest. I know it is hard to place proper limits on being taken into all + our friends' confidence, and taking them into all ours. + </p> + <p> + Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a love of talking, a wish + to win the confidence of others, and make an exchange of secrets. + </p> + <p> + Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards whom we have no motive + for confiding. With them we discharge the obligation in keeping their + secrets and trusting them with small confidences. + </p> + <p> + Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to us, but we confide in them + by choice and inclination. + </p> + <p> + We should hide from them nothing that concerns us, we should always show + them with equal truth, our virtues and our vices, without exaggerating the + one or diminishing the other. We should make it a rule never to have half + confidences. They always embarrass those who give them, and dissatisfy + those who receive them. They shed an uncertain light on what we want + hidden, increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to know more, giving + them leave to consider themselves free to talk of what they have guessed. + It is far safer and more honest to tell nothing than to be silent when we + have begun to tell. There are other rules to be observed in matters + confided to us, all are important, to all prudence and trust are + essential. + </p> + <p> + Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not + agree as to the nature and importance of secresy. Too often we consult + ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are + few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not + last for ever. + </p> + <p> + With those friends whose truth we know we have the closest intimacy. They + have always spoken unreservedly to us, we should always do the same to + them. They know our habits and connexions, and see too clearly not to + perceive the slightest change. They may have elsewhere learnt what we have + promised not to tell. It is not in our power to tell them what has been + entrusted to us, though it might tend to their interest to know it. We + feel as confident of them as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the hard + fate of losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being + faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the hardest test of + fidelity, but it should not move an honest man; it is then that he can + sacrifice himself to others. His first duty is to rigidly keep his trust + in its entirety. He should not only control and guard his and his voice, + but even his lighter talk, so that nothing be seen in his conversation or + manner that could direct the curiosity of others towards that which he + wishes to conceal. + </p> + <p> + We have often need of strength and prudence wherewith to oppose the + exigencies of most of our friends who make a claim on our confidence, and + seek to know all about us. We should never allow them to acquire this + unexceptionable right. There are accidents and circumstances which do not + fall in their cognizance; if they complain, we should endure their + complaints and excuse ourselves with gentleness, but if they are still + unreasonable, we should sacrifice their friendship to our duty, and choose + between two inevitable evils, the one reparable, the other irreparable. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.II" id="linkR.II"></a> + </p> + <h3> + II. On Difference of Character. + </h3> + <p> + Although all the qualities of mind may be united in a great genius, yet + there are some which are special and peculiar to him; his views are + unlimited; he always acts uniformly and with the same activity; he sees + distant objects as if present; he comprehends and grasps the greatest, + sees and notices the smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, + just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, and he often finds + truth in spite of the obscurity that hides her from others. + </p> + <p> + A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and + natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all + appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its + own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable. + </p> + <p> + A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid and overcome + difficulties. Bending easily to what it wants, it understands the + inclination and temper it is dealing with, and by managing their interests + it advances and establishes its own. + </p> + <p> + A well regulated mind sees all things as they should be seen, appraises + them at their proper value, turns them to its own advantage, and adheres + firmly to its own opinions as it knows all their force and weight. + </p> + <p> + A difference exists between a working mind and a business-like mind. We + can undertake business without turning it to our own interest. Some are + clever only in what does not concern them, and the reverse in all that + does. There are others again whose cleverness is limited to their own + business, and who know how to turn everything to their own advantage. + </p> + <p> + It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and yet to talk pleasantly + and cheerfully. This class of mind is suited to all persons in all times + of life. Young persons have usually a cheerful and satirical turn, + untempered by seriousness, thus often making themselves disagreeable. + </p> + <p> + No part is easier to play than that of being always pleasant; and the + applause we sometimes receive in censuring others is not worth being + exposed to the chance of offending them when they are out of temper. + </p> + <p> + Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental + qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those + who use it too much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, + and when the person satirised can join in the satire. + </p> + <p> + It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without affecting to be pleased + or without loving to jest. It requires much adroitness to continue + satirical without falling into one of these extremes. + </p> + <p> + Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession of the imagination, and + shows every object in an absurd light; wit combines more or less softness + or harshness. + </p> + <p> + There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that only hits the + faults that persons admit, which understands how to hide the praise it + gives under the appearance of blame, and shows the good while feigning a + wish to hide it. + </p> + <p> + An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dissimilar. The first always + pleases; it is unfettered, it perceives the most delicate and sees the + most imperceptible matters. A cunning spirit never goes straight, it + endeavours to secure its object by byeways and short cuts. This conduct is + soon found out, it always gives rise to distrust and never reaches + greatness. + </p> + <p> + There is a difference between an ardent and a brilliant mind, a fiery + spirit travels further and faster, while a brilliant mind is sparkling, + attractive, accurate. + </p> + <p> + Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating manner which always + pleases when not insipid. + </p> + <p> + A mind full of details devotes itself to the management and regulation of + the smallest particulars it meets with. This distinction is usually + limited to little matters, yet it is not absolutely incompatible with + greatness, and when these two qualities are united in the same mind they + raise it infinitely above others. + </p> + <p> + The expression "<i>Bel Esprit</i>" is much perverted, for all that one can + say of the different kinds of mind meet together in the "<i>Bel Esprit</i>." + Yet as the epithet is bestowed on an infinite number of bad poets and + tedious authors, it is more often used to ridicule than to praise. + </p> + <p> + There are yet many other epithets for the mind which mean the same thing, + the difference lies in the tone and manner of saying them, but as tones + and manner cannot appear in writing I shall not go into distinctions I + cannot explain. Custom explains this in saying that a man has wit, has + much wit, that he is a great wit; there are tones and manners which make + all the difference between phrases which seem all alike on paper, and yet + express a different order of mind. + </p> + <p> + So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that he has several, that + he has every variety of wit. + </p> + <p> + One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not be a fool even with very + little wit. + </p> + <p> + To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It may mean every class of + mind that can be mentioned, it may mean none in particular. It may mean + that he talks sensibly while he acts foolishly. We may have a mind, but a + narrow one. A mind may be fitted for some things, not for others. We may + have a large measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is often + inconvenienced with much mind; still of this kind of mind we may say that + it is sometimes pleasing in society. + </p> + <p> + Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, it seems to me, be + thus classified. + </p> + <p> + There are some so beautiful that everyone can see and feel their beauty. + </p> + <p> + There are some lovely, it is true, but which are wearisome. + </p> + <p> + There are some which are lovely, which all the world admire, but without + knowing why. + </p> + <p> + There are some so refined and delicate that few are capable even of + remarking all their beauties. + </p> + <p> + There are others which, though imperfect, yet are produced with such + skill, and sustained and managed with such sense and grace, that they even + deserve to be admired. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.III" id="linkR.III"></a> + </p> + <h3> + III. On Taste. + </h3> + <p> + Some persons have more wit than taste, others have more taste than wit. + There is greater vanity and caprice in taste than in wit. + </p> + <p> + The word taste has different meanings, which it is easy to mistake. There + is a difference between the taste which in certain objects has an + attraction for us, and the taste that makes us understand and distinguish + the qualities we judge by. + </p> + <p> + We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently fine and delicate taste + to criticise it accurately. Some tastes lead us imperceptibly to objects, + from which others carry us away by their force or intensity. + </p> + <p> + Some persons have bad taste in everything, others have bad taste only in + some things, but a correct and good taste in matters within their + capacity. Some have peculiar taste, which they know to be bad, but which + they still follow. Some have a doubtful taste, and let chance decide, + their indecision makes them change, and they are affected with pleasure or + weariness on their friends' judgment. Others are always prejudiced, they + are the slaves of their tastes, which they adhere to in everything. Some + know what is good, and are horrified at what is not; their opinions are + clear and true, and they find the reason for their taste in their mind and + understanding. + </p> + <p> + Some have a species of instinct (the source of which they are ignorant + of), and decide all questions that come before them by its aid, and always + decide rightly. + </p> + <p> + These follow their taste more than their intelligence, because they do not + permit their temper and self-love to prevail over their natural + discernment. All they do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. This + harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and form a correct + estimate of their value. But speaking generally there are few who have a + taste fixed and independent of that of their friends, they follow example + and fashion which generally form the standard of taste. + </p> + <p> + In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is very rare and + almost impossible to meet with that sort of good taste that knows how to + set a price on the particular, and yet understands the right value that + should be placed on all. Our knowledge is too limited, and that correct + discernment of good qualities which goes to form a correct judgment is too + seldom to be met with except in regard to matters that do not concern us. + </p> + <p> + As regards ourselves our taste has not this all-important discernment. + Preoccupation, trouble, all that concern us, present it to us in another + aspect. We do not see with the same eyes what does and what does not + relate to us. Our taste is guided by the bent of our self-love and temper, + which supplies us with new views which we adapt to an infinite number of + changes and uncertainties. Our taste is no longer our own, we cease to + control it, without our consent it changes, and the same objects appear to + us in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to perceive what we have + seen and heard. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.IV" id="linkR.IV"></a> + </p> + <h3> + IV. On Society. + </h3> + <p> + In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of friendship, for, though + they have some connection, they are yet very different. The former has + more in it of greatness and humility, and the greatest merit of the latter + is to resemble the former. + </p> + <p> + For the present I shall speak of that particular kind of intercourse that + gentlemen should have with each other. It would be idle to show how far + society is essential to men: all seek for it, and all find it, but few + adopt the method of making it pleasant and lasting. + </p> + <p> + Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advantage at the expense of + others. We prefer ourselves always to those with whom we intend to live, + and they almost always perceive the preference. It is this which disturbs + and destroys society. We should discover a means to hide this love of + selection since it is too ingrained in us to be in our power to destroy. + We should make our pleasure that of other persons, to humour, never to + wound their self-love. + </p> + <p> + The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, but it is not merely + sufficient for us to guide it in the different courses it should hold. + </p> + <p> + The agreement we meet between minds would not keep society together for + long if she was not governed and sustained by good sense, temper, and by + the consideration which ought to exist between persons who have to live + together. + </p> + <p> + It sometimes happens that persons opposite in temper and mind become + united. They doubtless hold together for different reasons, which cannot + last for long. Society may subsist between those who are our inferiors by + birth or by personal qualities, but those who have these advantages should + not abuse them. They should seldom let it be perceived that they serve to + instruct others. They should let their conduct show that they, too, have + need to be guided and led by reason, and accommodate themselves as far as + possible to the feeling and the interests of the others. + </p> + <p> + To make society pleasant, it is essential that each should retain his + freedom of action. A man should not see himself, or he should see himself + without dependence, and at the same time amuse himself. He should have the + power of separating himself without that separation bringing any change on + the society. He should have the power to pass by one and the other, if he + does not wish to expose himself to occasional embarrassments; and he + should remember that he is often bored when he believes he has not the + power even to bore. He should share in what he believes to be the + amusement of persons with whom he wishes to live, but he should not always + be liable to the trouble of providing them. + </p> + <p> + Complaisance is essential in society, but it should have its limits, it + becomes a slavery when it is extreme. We should so render a free consent, + that in following the opinion of our friends they should believe that they + follow ours. + </p> + <p> + We should readily excuse our friends when their faults are born with them, + and they are less than their good qualities. We should often avoid to show + what they have said, and what they have left unsaid. We should try to make + them perceive their faults, so as to give them the merit of correcting + them. + </p> + <p> + There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in the intercourse among + gentlemen, it makes them comprehend badinage, and it keeps them from using + and employing certain figures of speech, too rude and unrefined, which are + often used thoughtlessly when we hold to our opinion with too much warmth. + </p> + <p> + The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without a certain kind of + confidence; this should be equal on both sides. Each should have an + appearance of sincerity and of discretion which never causes the fear of + anything imprudent being said. + </p> + <p> + There should be some variety in wit. Those who have only one kind of wit + cannot please for long unless they can take different roads, and not both + use the same talents, thus adding to the pleasure of society, and keeping + the same harmony that different voices and different instruments should + observe in music; and as it is detrimental to the quiet of society, that + many persons should have the same interests, it is yet as necessary for it + that their interests should not be different. + </p> + <p> + We should anticipate what can please our friends, find out how to be + useful to them so as to exempt them from annoyance, and when we cannot + avert evils, seem to participate in them, insensibly obliterate without + attempting to destroy them at a blow, and place agreeable objects in their + place, or at least such as will interest them. We should talk of subjects + that concern them, but only so far as they like, and we should take great + care where we draw the line. There is a species of politeness, and we may + say a similar species of humanity, which does not enter too quickly into + the recesses of the heart. It often takes pains to allow us to see all + that our friends know, while they have still the advantage of not knowing + to the full when we have penetrated the depth of the heart. + </p> + <p> + Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once gives them familiarity and + furnishes them with an infinite number of subjects on which to talk + freely. + </p> + <p> + Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense fairly to appreciate many + matters that are essential to maintain society. We desire to turn away at + a certain point, but we do not want to be mixed up in everything, and we + fear to know all kinds of truth. + </p> + <p> + As we should stand at a certain distance to view objects, so we should + also stand at a distance to observe society; each has its proper point of + view from which it should be regarded. It is quite right that it should + not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly a man who in all matters + allows himself to be seen as he really is. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.V" id="linkR.V"></a> + </p> + <h3> + V. On Conversation. + </h3> + <p> + The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is that each + thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the others say, and + that we make bad listeners when we want to speak. + </p> + <p> + Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should give them the + time they want, and let them say even senseless things; never contradict + or interrupt them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind and + taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything they say that deserves + praise, and let them see we praise more from our choice than from + agreement with them. + </p> + <p> + To please others we should talk on subjects they like and that interest + them, avoid disputes upon indifferent matters, seldom ask questions, and + never let them see that we pretend to be better informed than they are. + </p> + <p> + We should talk in a more or less serious manner, and upon more or less + abstruse subjects, according to the temper and understanding of the + persons we talk with, and readily give them the advantage of deciding + without obliging them to answer when they are not anxious to talk. + </p> + <p> + After having in this way fulfilled the duties of politeness, we can speak + our opinions to our listeners when we find an opportunity without a sign + of presumption or opinionatedness. Above all things we should avoid often + talking of ourselves and giving ourselves as an example; nothing is more + tiresome than a man who quotes himself for everything. + </p> + <p> + We cannot give too great study to find out the manner and the capacity of + those with whom we talk, so as to join in the conversation of those who + have more than ourselves without hurting by this preference the wishes or + interests of others. + </p> + <p> + Then we should modestly use all the modes abovementioned to show our + thoughts to them, and make them, if possible, believe that we take our + ideas from them. + </p> + <p> + We should never say anything with an air of authority, nor show any + superiority of mind. We should avoid far-fetched expressions, expressions + hard or forced, and never let the words be grander than the matter. + </p> + <p> + It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are reasonable, but we + should yield to reason, wherever she appears and from whatever side she + comes, she alone should govern our opinions, we should follow her without + opposing the opinions of others, and without seeming to ignore what they + say. + </p> + <p> + It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the conversation, and + to push a good argument too hard, when we have found one. Civility often + hides half its understanding, and when it meets with an opinionated man + who defends the bad side, spares him the disgrace of giving way. + </p> + <p> + We are sure to displease when we speak too long and too often of one + subject, and when we try to turn the conversation upon subjects that we + think more instructive than others, we should enter indifferently upon + every subject that is agreeable to others, stopping where they wish, and + avoiding all they do not agree with. + </p> + <p> + Every kind of conversation, however witty it may be, is not equally fitted + for all clever persons; we should select what is to their taste and + suitable to their condition, their sex, their talents, and also choose the + time to say it. + </p> + <p> + We should observe the place, the occasion, the temper in which we find the + person who listens to us, for if there is much art in speaking to the + purpose, there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There is an + eloquent silence which serves to approve or to condemn, there is a silence + of discretion and of respect. In a word, there is a tone, an air, a + manner, which renders everything in conversation agreeable or + disagreeable, refined or vulgar. + </p> + <p> + But it is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay + down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to + listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that will ever give + ground for regret. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.VI" id="linkR.VI"></a> + </p> + <h3> + VI. Falsehood. + </h3> + <p> + We are false in different ways. There are some men who are false from + wishing always to appear what they are not. There are some who have better + faith, who are born false, who deceive themselves, and who never see + themselves as they really are; to some is given a true understanding and a + false taste, others have a false understanding and some correctness in + taste; there are some who have not any falsity either in taste or mind. + These last are very rare, for to speak generally, there is no one who has + not some falseness in some corner of his mind or his taste. + </p> + <p> + What makes this falseness so universal, is that as our qualities are + uncertain and confused, so too, are our tastes; we do not see things + exactly as they are, we value them more or less than they are worth, and + do not bring them into unison with ourselves in a manner which suits them + or suits our condition or qualities. + </p> + <p> + This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of falsities in the taste + and in the mind. Our self-love is flattered by all that presents itself to + us under the guise of good. + </p> + <p> + But as there are many kinds of good which affect our vanity and our + temper, so they are often followed from custom or advantage. We follow + because the others follow, without considering that the same feeling ought + not to be equally embarrassing to all kinds of persons, and that it should + attach itself more or less firmly, according as persons agree more or less + with those who follow them. + </p> + <p> + We dread still more to show falseness in taste than in mind. Gentleness + should approve without prejudice what deserves to be approved, follow what + deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. But there should be + great distinction and great accuracy. We should distinguish between what + is good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, and always follow + in reason the natural inclination which carries us towards matters that + please us. + </p> + <p> + If men only wished to excel by the help of their own talents, and in + following their duty, there would be nothing false in their taste or in + their conduct. They would show what they were, they would judge matters by + their lights, and they would attract by their reason. There would be a + discernment in their views, in their sentiments, their taste would be + true, it would come to them direct, and not from others, they would follow + from choice and not from habit or chance. If we are false in admiring what + should not be admired, it is oftener from envy that we affix a value to + qualities which are good in themselves, but which do not become us. A + magistrate is false when he flatters himself he is brave, and that he will + be able to be bold in certain cases. He should be as firm and stedfast in + a plot which ought to be stifled without fear of being false, as he would + be false and absurd in fighting a duel about it. + </p> + <p> + A woman may like science, but all sciences are not suitable for her, and + the doctrines of certain sciences never become her, and when applied by + her are always false. + </p> + <p> + We should allow reason and good sense to fix the value of things, they + should determine our taste and give things the merit they deserve, and the + importance it is fitting we should give them. But nearly all men are + deceived in the price and in the value, and in these mistakes there is + always a kind of falseness. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkR.VII" id="linkR.VII"></a> + </p> + <h3> + VII. On Air and Manner. + </h3> + <p> + There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of each + individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume another. + </p> + <p> + We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never abandon it, + but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason that the majority of + children please. It is because they are wrapt up in the air and manner + nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. They are changed and + corrupted when they quit infancy, they think they should imitate what they + see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. In this imitation + there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. They have nothing + settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being in reality what + they want to appear, they seek to appear what they are not. + </p> + <p> + All men want to be different, and to be greater than they are; they seek + for an air other than their own, and a mind different from what they + possess; they take their style and manner at chance. They make experiments + upon themselves without considering that what suits one person will not + suit everyone, that there is no universal rule for taste or manners, and + that there are no good copies. + </p> + <p> + Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many matters without being a + copy of each other, if each follow his natural turn of mind. But in + general a person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. We often + imitate the same person without perceiving it, and we neglect our own good + qualities for the good qualities of others, which generally do not suit + us. + </p> + <p> + I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should so wrap himself up in + himself as not to be able to follow example, or to add to his own, useful + and serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. Arts and sciences + may be proper for the greater part of those who are capable for them. Good + manners and politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet acquired + qualities should always have a certain agreement and a certain union with + our own natural qualities, which they imperceptibly extend and increase. + We are elevated to a rank and dignity above ourselves. We are often + engaged in a new profession for which nature has not adapted us. All these + conditions have each an air which belong to them, but which does not + always agree with our natural manner. This change of our fortune often + changes our air and our manners, and augments the air of dignity, which is + always false when it is too marked, and when it is not united and + amalgamated with that which nature has given us. We should unite and blend + them together, and thus render them such that they can never be separated. + </p> + <p> + We should not speak of all subjects in one tone and in the same manner. We + do not march at the head of a regiment as we walk on a promenade; and we + should use the same style in which we should naturally speak of different + things in the same way, with the same difference as we should walk, but + always naturally, and as is suitable, either at the head of a regiment or + on a promenade. There are some who are not content to abandon the air and + manner natural to them to assume those of the rank and dignities to which + they have arrived. There are some who assume prematurely the air of the + dignities and rank to which they aspire. How many lieutenantgenerals + assume to be marshals of France, how many barristers vainly repeat the + style of the Chancellor and how many female citizens give themselves the + airs of duchesses. + </p> + <p> + But what we are most often vexed at is that no one knows how to conform + his air and manners with his appearance, nor his style and words with his + thoughts and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how far he is + insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly every one falls into this fault + in some way. No one has an ear sufficiently fine to mark perfectly this + kind of cadence. + </p> + <p> + Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; thousands + pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the first wish to + appear to be what they are not, the second are what they appear. + </p> + <p> + Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received from nature + please in proportion as we know the air, the style, the manner, the + sentiments that coincide with our condition and our appearance, and + displease in the proportion they are removed from that point. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkindex" id="linkindex"></a> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + INDEX + </h1> + <h6> + THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, THE ROMAN + NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS. + </h6> + <p> + Ability, <a href="#link162">162</a>, <a href="#link165">165</a>, <a + href="#link199">199</a>, <a href="#link245">245</a>, <a href="#link283">283</a>, + <a href="#link288">288</a>. SEE Cleverness<br /> ———, + Sovereign, <a href="#link244">244</a>.<br /> Absence, <a href="#link276">276</a>.<br /> + Accent, country, <a href="#link342">342</a>, <a href="#linkXCIV">XCIV</a>.<br /> + Accidents, <a href="#link59">59</a>, <a href="#link310">310</a>.<br /> + Acquaintances, <a href="#link426">426</a>. SEE FRIENDS.<br /> + Acknowledgements, <a href="#link225">225</a>.<br /> Actions, <a + href="#link1">1</a>, <a href="#link7">7</a>, <a href="#link57">57</a>, <a + href="#link58">58</a>, <a href="#link160">160</a>, <a href="#link161">161</a>, + <a href="#link382">382</a>, <a href="#link409">409</a>, <a href="#linkCXX">CXX</a>.<br /> + Actors, <a href="#link256">256</a>.<br /> Admiration, <a href="#link178">178</a>, + <a href="#link294">294</a>, <a href="#link474">474</a>.<br /> Adroitness of + mind, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Adversity, <a href="#link25">25</a>.<br /> + ———— of Friends, <a href="#linkXV">XV</a>.<br /> + Advice, <a href="#link110">110</a>, <a href="#link116">116</a>, <a + href="#link283">283</a>, <a href="#link378">378</a>, <a href="#linkCXVII">CXVII</a>.<br /> + Affairs, <a href="#link453">453</a><br /> Affectation, <a href="#link134">134</a>, + <a href="#link493">493</a>.<br /> Affections, <a href="#link232">232</a>.<br /> + Afflictions, <a href="#link233">233</a>, <a href="#link355">355</a>, <a + href="#link362">362</a>, <a href="#link493">493</a>, <a href="#linkXCVII">XCVII</a>, + <a href="#linkXV">XV</a>.<br /> Age, <a href="#link222">222</a>, <a + href="#link405">405</a>, <a href="#linkLXXIII">LXXIII</a>. SEE Old Age.<br /> + Agreeableness, <a href="#link255">255</a>, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> + Agreement, <a href="#link240">240</a>.<br /> Air, <a href="#link399">399</a>, + <a href="#link495">495</a><br /> — Of a Citizen, <a href="#link393">393</a>.<br /> + Ambition, <a href="#link24">24</a>, <a href="#link91">91</a>, <a + href="#link246">246</a>, <a href="#link293">293</a>, <a href="#link490">490</a>.<br /> + Anger, <a href="#linkXXX">XXX</a>.<br /> Application, <a href="#link41">41</a>, + <a href="#link243">243</a>.<br /> Appearances, <a href="#link64">64</a>, <a + href="#link166">166</a>, <a href="#link199">199</a>, <a href="#link256">256</a>, + <a href="#link302">302</a>, <a href="#link431">431</a>, <a href="#link457">457</a>, + <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> —————, + Conformity of Manners with, R.7.<br /> Applause, <a href="#link272">272</a>.<br /> + Approbation, <a href="#link51">51</a>, <a href="#link280">280</a>.<br /> + Artifices, <a href="#link117">117</a>, <a href="#link124">124</a>, <a + href="#link125">125</a>, <a href="#link126">126</a>, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> + Astonishment, <a href="#link384">384</a>.<br /> Avarice, <a href="#link167">167</a>, + <a href="#link491">491</a>, <a href="#link492">492</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Ballads, <a href="#link211">211</a>.<br /> Beauty, <a href="#link240">240</a>, + <a href="#link474">474</a>, <a href="#link497">497</a>, <a href="#linkLI">LI</a>.<br /> + ——— of the Mind, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Bel + esprit defined, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Benefits, <a + href="#link14">14</a>, <a href="#link298">298</a>, <a href="#link299">299</a>, + <a href="#link301">301</a>, <a href="#linkCXXII">CXXII</a>.<br /> + Benefactors, <a href="#link96">96</a>, <a href="#link317">317</a>, <a + href="#linkCXXII">CXXII</a>.<br /> Blame, <a href="#linkCVIII">CVIII</a>.<br /> + Blindness, <a href="#linkXIX">XIX</a>.<br /> Boasting, <a href="#link141">141</a>, + <a href="#link307">307</a>.<br /> Boredom, <a href="#link141">141</a>, <a + href="#link304">304</a>, <a href="#link352">352</a>. SEE Ennui.<br /> Bouts + rimés, <a href="#link382">382</a>, <a href="#linkCXX">CXX</a>.<br /> + Bravery, <a href="#link1">1</a>, <a href="#link213">213</a>, <a + href="#link214">214</a>, <a href="#link215">215</a>, <a href="#link216">216</a>, + <a href="#link217">217</a>, <a href="#link219">219</a>, <a href="#link220">220</a>, + <a href="#link221">221</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>,<br /> <a + href="#link504">504</a>. SEE Courage and Valour.<br /> Brilliancy of Mind, + <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Brilliant things, <a href="#linkLII">LII</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Capacity, <a href="#link375">375</a>.<br /> Caprice, <a href="#link45">45</a>.<br /> + Chance, <a href="#link57">57</a>, <a href="#link344">344</a>, <a + href="#linkXCV">XCV</a>. SEE Fortune.<br /> Character, <a href="#linkLVI">LVI</a>, + <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Chastity, <a href="#link1">1</a>. SEE + Virtue of Women.<br /> Cheating, <a href="#link114">114</a>, <a + href="#link127">127</a>.<br /> Circumstances, <a href="#link59">59</a>, <a + href="#link470">470</a>.<br /> Civility, <a href="#link260">260</a>.<br /> + Clemency, <a href="#link15">15</a>, <a href="#link16">16</a>.<br /> + Cleverness, <a href="#link162">162</a>, <a href="#link269">269</a>, <a + href="#link245">245</a>, <a href="#link399">399</a>.<br /> Coarseness, <a + href="#link372">372</a>.<br /> Comedy, <a href="#link211">211</a>, <a + href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> Compassion, <a href="#link463">463</a>. + SEE Pity.<br /> Complaisance, <a href="#link481">481</a>, <a + href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Conduct, <a href="#link163">163</a>, <a + href="#link277">227</a>, <a href="#link378">378</a>, <a href="#linkCXVII">CXVII</a>.<br /> + Confidants, whom we make, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> Confidence, <a + href="#link239">239</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>, <a href="#link475">475</a>, + <a href="#linkXLIX">XLIX</a>, <a href="#linkR.I">R.1</a>, <a + href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Confidence, difference from Sincerity<br /> + —————, defined, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> + Consolation, <a href="#link325">325</a>.<br /> Constancy, <a href="#link19">19</a>, + <a href="#link20">20</a>, <a href="#link21">21</a>, <a href="#link175">175</a>, + <a href="#link176">176</a>, <a href="#link420">420</a>.<br /> Contempt, + 322.<br /> ———— of Death, <a href="#link504">504</a>.<br /> + Contentment, <a href="#linkLXXX">LXXX</a>.<br /> Contradictions, <a + href="#link478">478</a>.<br /> Conversation, <a href="#link139">139</a>, <a + href="#link140">140</a>, <a href="#link142">142</a>, <a href="#link312">312</a>, + <a href="#link313">313</a>, <a href="#link314">314</a>, <a href="#link364">364</a>, + <a href="#link391">391</a>,<br /> <a href="#link421">421</a>, <a + href="#linkCIV">CIV</a>, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Copies, <a + href="#link133">133</a>.<br /> Coquetry, <a href="#link241">241</a>. SEE + Flirtation.<br /> Country Manner, <a href="#link393">393</a>.<br /> ——— + Accent, <a href="#link342">342</a>.<br /> Courage, <a href="#link1">1</a>, + <a href="#link214">214</a>, <a href="#link215">215</a>, <a href="#link216">216</a>, + <a href="#link219">219</a>, <a href="#link221">221</a>, <a href="#linkXLII">XLII</a>. + SEE Bravery.<br /> Covetousness, opposed to Reason, <a href="#link469">469</a><br /> + Cowardice, <a href="#link215">215</a>, <a href="#link480">480</a>.<br /> + Cowards, <a href="#link370">370</a>.<br /> Crimes, <a href="#link183">183</a>, + <a href="#link465">465</a>, <a href="#linkXXXV">XXXV</a>, <a + href="#linkXXXVII">XXXVII</a>.<br /> Cunning, <a href="#link126">126</a>, + <a href="#link129">129</a>, <a href="#link394">394</a>, <a href="#link407">407</a>.<br /> + Curiosity, <a href="#link173">173</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Danger, <a href="#linkXLII">XLII</a>.<br /> Death, <a href="#link21">21</a>, + <a href="#link23">23</a>, <a href="#link26">26</a>.<br /> ——, + Contempt of, <a href="#link504">504</a>.<br /> Deceit, <a href="#link86">86</a>, + <a href="#link117">117</a>, <a href="#link118">118</a>, <a href="#link124">124</a>, + <a href="#link127">127</a>, <a href="#link129">129</a>, <a href="#link395">395</a>, + <a href="#link434">434</a>. SEE ALSO<br /> Self-Deceit.<br /> Deception, <a + href="#linkCXXI">CXXI</a>.<br /> Decency, <a href="#link447">447</a>.<br /> + Defects, <a href="#link31">31</a>, <a href="#link90">90</a>, <a + href="#link493">493</a>, <a href="#linkLXXII">LXXII</a>. SEE Faults.<br /> + Delicacy, <a href="#link128">128</a>, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> + Dependency, result of Confidence, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> + Designs, <a href="#link160">160</a>, <a href="#link161">161</a>.<br /> + Desires, <a href="#link439">439</a>, <a href="#link469">469</a>, <a + href="#linkLXXXII">LXXXII</a>, <a href="#linkLXXXV">LXXXV</a>.<br /> + Despicable Persons, <a href="#link322">322</a>.<br /> Detail, Mind given + to, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Details, <a href="#link41">41</a>, + <a href="#link106">106</a>.<br /> Devotion, <a href="#link427">427</a>.<br /> + Devotees, <a href="#link427">427</a>.<br /> Devout, <a href="#linkLXXVI">LXXVI</a>.<br /> + Differences, <a href="#link135">135</a>.<br /> Dignities, <a + href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> Discretion, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> + Disguise, <a href="#link119">119</a>, <a href="#link246">246</a>, <a + href="#link282">282</a>.<br /> Disgrace, <a href="#link235">235</a>, <a + href="#link412">412</a>.<br /> Dishonour, <a href="#link326">326</a>, <a + href="#linkLXIX">LXIX</a>.<br /> Distrust, <a href="#link84">84</a>, <a + href="#link86">86</a>, <a href="#link335">335</a>.<br /> Divination, <a + href="#link425">425</a>.<br /> Doubt, <a href="#link348">348</a>.<br /> + Docility, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Dupes, <a href="#link87">87</a>, + <a href="#link102">102</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Education, <a href="#link261">261</a>.<br /> Elevation, <a href="#link399">399</a>, + <a href="#link400">400</a>, <a href="#link403">403</a>.<br /> Eloquence, <a + href="#link8">8</a>, <a href="#link249">249</a>, <a href="#link250">250</a>.<br /> + Employments, <a href="#link164">164</a>, <a href="#link419">419</a>, <a + href="#link449">449</a>.<br /> Enemies, <a href="#link114">114</a>, <a + href="#link397">397</a>, <a href="#link458">458</a>, <a href="#link463">463</a>.<br /> + Ennui, <a href="#link122">122</a>, <a href="#link141">141</a>, <a + href="#link304">304</a>, <a href="#link312">312</a>, <a href="#link352">352</a>, + <a href="#linkCXII">CXII</a>, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Envy, <a + href="#link27">27</a>, <a href="#link28">28</a>, <a href="#link280">280</a>, + <a href="#link281">281</a>, <a href="#link328">328</a>, <a href="#link376">376</a>, + <a href="#link433">433</a>, <a href="#link476">476</a>, <a href="#link486">486</a>.<br /> + Epithets assigned to the Mind, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Esteem, + <a href="#link296">296</a>.<br /> Establish, <a href="#link56">56</a>, <a + href="#link280">280</a>.<br /> Evils, <a href="#link121">121</a>, <a + href="#link197">197</a>, <a href="#link269">269</a>, <a href="#link454">454</a>, + <a href="#link464">464</a>, <a href="#linkXCIII">XCIII</a>.<br /> Example, + <a href="#link230">230</a>.<br /> Exchange of secrets, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> + Experience, <a href="#link405">405</a>.<br /> Expedients, <a href="#link287">287</a>.<br /> + Expression, refined, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Faculties of the Mind, <a href="#link174">174</a>.<br /> Failings, <a + href="#link397">397</a>, <a href="#link403">403</a>.<br /> Falseness, <a + href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> ————, disguised, + <a href="#link282">282</a>.<br /> ————, kinds of, + <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> Familiarity, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> + Fame, <a href="#link157">157</a>.<br /> Farces, men compared to, <a + href="#link211">211</a>.<br /> Faults, <a href="#link37">37</a>, <a + href="#link112">112</a>, <a href="#link155">155</a>, <a href="#link184">184</a>, + <a href="#link190">190</a>, <a href="#link194">194</a>, <a href="#link196">196</a>, + <a href="#link251">251</a>, <a href="#link354">354</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link372">372</a>, <a href="#link397">397</a>, <a href="#link403">403</a>, + <a href="#link411">411</a>, <a href="#link428">428</a>, <a href="#link493">493</a>, + <a href="#link494">494</a>, <a href="#linkV">V</a>, <a href="#linkLXV">LXV</a>, + <a href="#linkCX">CX</a>,<br /> <a href="#linkCXV">CXV</a>.<br /> + Favourites, <a href="#link55">55</a>.<br /> Fear, <a href="#link370">370</a>, + <a href="#linkLXVIII">LXVIII</a>.<br /> Feeling, <a href="#link255">255</a>.<br /> + Ferocity, <a href="#linkXXXIII">XXXIII</a>.<br /> Fickleness, <a + href="#link179">179</a>, <a href="#link181">181</a>, <a href="#link498">498</a>.<br /> + Fidelity, <a href="#link247">247</a>.<br /> ————, + hardest test of, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> ———— + in love, <a href="#link331">331</a>, <a href="#link381">381</a>, <a + href="#linkC">C</a>.<br /> Figure and air, <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> + Firmness, <a href="#link19">19</a>, <a href="#link479">479</a>.<br /> + Flattery, <a href="#link123">123</a>, <a href="#link144">144</a>, <a + href="#link152">152</a>, <a href="#link198">198</a>, <a href="#link320">320</a>, + <a href="#link329">329</a>.<br /> Flirts, <a href="#link406">406</a>, <a + href="#link418">418</a>.<br /> Flirtation, <a href="#link107">107</a>, <a + href="#link241">241</a>, <a href="#link277">277</a>, <a href="#link332">332</a>, + <a href="#link334">334</a>, <a href="#link349">349</a>, <a href="#link376">376</a>, + <a href="#linkLXIV">LXIV</a>.<br /> Follies, <a href="#link156">156</a>, <a + href="#link300">300</a>, <a href="#link408">408</a>, <a href="#link416">416</a>.<br /> + Folly, <a href="#link207">207</a>, <a href="#link208">208</a>, <a + href="#link209">209</a>, <a href="#link210">210</a>, <a href="#link231">231</a>, + <a href="#link300">300</a>, <a href="#link310">310</a>, <a href="#link311">311</a>, + <a href="#link318">318</a>,<br /> <a href="#linkXXIV">XXIV</a>.<br /> Fools, + <a href="#link140">140</a>, <a href="#link210">210</a>, <a href="#link310">309</a>, + <a href="#link318">318</a>, <a href="#link357">357</a>, <a href="#link414">414</a>, + <a href="#link451">451</a>, <a href="#link456">456</a>,<br /> ——, + old, <a href="#link444">444</a>.<br /> ——, witty, <a + href="#link451">451</a>, <a href="#link456">456</a>.<br /> Force of Mind, + <a href="#link30">30</a>, <a href="#link42">42</a>, <a href="#link237">237</a>.<br /> + Forgetfulness, <a href="#linkXXVI">XXVI</a>.<br /> Forgiveness, <a + href="#link330">330</a>.<br /> Fortitude, <a href="#link19">19</a>. SEE + Bravery.<br /> Fortune, <a href="#link1">1</a>, <a href="#link17">17</a>, + <a href="#link45">45</a>, <a href="#link52">52</a>, <a href="#link53">53</a>, + <a href="#link58">58</a>, <a href="#link60">60</a>, <a href="#link61">61</a>, + <a href="#link154">154</a>, <a href="#link212">212</a>, <a href="#link227">227</a>, + <a href="#link323">323</a>,<br /> <a href="#link343">343</a>, <a + href="#link380">380</a>, <a href="#link391">391</a>, <a href="#link392">392</a>, + <a href="#link399">399</a>, <a href="#link403">403</a>, <a href="#link435">435</a>, + <a href="#link449">449</a>, <a href="#linkIX">IX</a>., <a href="#linkCXIX">CXIX</a>.<br /> + Friends, <a href="#link84">84</a>, <a href="#link114">114</a>, <a + href="#link179">179</a>, <a href="#link235">235</a>, <a href="#link279">279</a>, + <a href="#link315">315</a>, <a href="#link319">319</a>, <a href="#link428">428</a>.<br /> + ———, adversity of, <a href="#linkXV">XV</a>.<br /> + ———, disgrace of, <a href="#link235">235</a>.<br /> + ———, faults of, <a href="#link428">428</a>.<br /> ———, + true ones, <a href="#linkLXXXVI">LXXXVI</a>.<br /> Friendship, <a + href="#link80">80</a>, <a href="#link81">81</a>, <a href="#link83">83</a>, + <a href="#link376">376</a>, <a href="#link410">410</a>, <a href="#link427">427</a>, + <a href="#link440">440</a>, <a href="#link441">441</a>, <a href="#link443">473</a>,<br /> + <a href="#linkXXII">XXII</a>, <a href="#linkCXXIV">CXXIV</a>.<br /> —————, + defined, <a href="#link83">83</a>.<br /> —————, + women do not care for, <a href="#link440">440</a>.<br /> —————, + rarer than love, <a href="#link473">473</a>.<br /> Funerals, <a + href="#linkXXXVIII">XXXVIII</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Gallantry, <a href="#link100">100</a>. SEE Flirtation.<br /> ———— + of mind, <a href="#link100">100</a>.<br /> Generosity, <a href="#link246">246</a>.<br /> + Genius, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Gentleness, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> + Ghosts, <a href="#link76">76</a>.<br /> Gifts of the mind, <a + href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Glory, <a href="#link157">157</a>, <a + href="#link198">198</a>, <a href="#link221">221</a>, <a href="#link268">268</a>.<br /> + Good, <a href="#link121">121</a>, <a href="#link185">185</a>, <a + href="#link229">229</a>, <a href="#link238">238</a>, <a href="#link303">303</a>, + <a href="#linkXCIII">XCIII</a>.<br /> ——, how to be, <a + href="#linkXLVII">XLVII</a>.<br /> Goodness, <a href="#link237">237</a>, <a + href="#link275">275</a>, <a href="#link284">284</a>, <a href="#linkXLVI">XLVI</a>.<br /> + Good grace, <a href="#link67">67</a>, <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> + Good man, who is a, <a href="#link206">206</a>.<br /> God nature, <a + href="#link481">481</a>.<br /> Good qualities, <a href="#link29">29</a>, <a + href="#link90">90</a>, <a href="#link337">337</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>, + <a href="#link397">397</a>, <a href="#link462">462</a>.<br /> Good sense, + <a href="#link67">67</a>, <a href="#link347">347</a>, <a href="#linkCVI">CVI</a>.<br /> + Good taste, <a href="#link258">258</a>.<br /> —————, + rarity of, <a href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> ——, women, <a + href="#link368">368</a>, <a href="#linkXCVI">XCVI</a>.<br /> Government of + others, <a href="#link151">151</a>.<br /> Grace, <a href="#link67">67</a>.<br /> + Gracefulness, <a href="#link240">240</a>.<br /> Gratitude, <a + href="#link223">223</a>, <a href="#link224">224</a>, <a href="#link225">225</a>, + <a href="#link279">279</a>, <a href="#link298">298,</a> <a href="#link438">438</a>, + <a href="#linkXLIII">XLIII</a>.<br /> Gravity, <a href="#link257">257</a>.<br /> + Great men, what they cannot acquire, <a href="#linkLXXXIV">LXXXIV</a>.<br /> + Great minds, <a href="#link142">142</a>.<br /> Great names, <a + href="#link94">94</a>.<br /> Greediness, <a href="#link66">66</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Habit, <a href="#link426">426</a>.<br /> Happy, who are, <a href="#link49">49</a>.<br /> + Happiness, <a href="#link48">48</a>, <a href="#link61">61</a>, <a + href="#linkVII">VII</a>, <a href="#linkLXXX">LXXX</a>, <a href="#linkLXXXI">LXXXI</a>.<br /> + hatred, <a href="#link338">338</a>.<br /> Head, <a href="#link102">102</a>, + <a href="#link108">108</a>.<br /> Health, <a href="#link188">188</a>, <a + href="#linkLVII">LVII</a>.<br /> Heart, <a href="#link98">98</a>, <a + href="#link102">102</a>, <a href="#link103">103</a>, <a href="#link108">108</a>, + <a href="#link478">478</a>, <a href="#link484">484</a>.<br /> Heroes, <a + href="#link24">24</a>, <a href="#link53">53</a>, <a href="#link185">185</a>.<br /> + Honesty, 202<a href="#link202"></a>, <a href="#link206">206</a>.<br /> + Honour, <a href="#link270">270</a>.<br /> Hope, <a href="#link168">168</a>, + <a href="#linkLXVIII">LXVIII</a>.<br /> Humility, <a href="#link254">254</a>, + <a href="#link358">358</a>, <a href="#linkLXXVI">LXXVI</a>, <a + href="#linkLXXIX">LXXIX</a><br /> Humiliation, <a href="#link272">272</a>.<br /> + Humour, 47<a href="#link47"></a>. SEE Temper.<br /> Hypocrisy, <a + href="#link218">218</a>.<br /> ———— of afflictions, + <a href="#link233">233</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Idleness, <a href="#link169">169</a>, <a href="#link266">266</a>, <a + href="#link267">267</a>, <a href="#link398">398</a>, <a href="#link482">482</a>, + <a href="#link487">487</a>, <a href="#linkXVIII">XVIII</a>., <a + href="#linkLV">LV</a>.<br /> Ills, <a href="#link174">174</a>. SEE Evils.<br /> + Illusions, <a href="#link123">123</a>.<br /> Imagination, <a href="#link478">478</a>.<br /> + Imitation, <a href="#link230">230</a>, <a href="#linkXLIV">XLIV</a>, <a + href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Impertinence, <a href="#link502">502</a>.<br /> + Impossibilities, <a href="#link30">30</a>.<br /> Incapacity, <a + href="#link126">126</a>.<br /> Inclination, <a href="#link253">253</a>, <a + href="#link390">390</a>.<br /> Inconsistency, <a href="#link135">135</a>.<br /> + Inconstancy, <a href="#link181">181</a>.<br /> Inconvenience, <a + href="#link242">242</a>.<br /> Indifference, <a href="#link172">172</a>, <a + href="#linkXXIII">XXIII</a>.<br /> Indiscretion, <a href="#link429">429</a>.<br /> + Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness.<br /> Infidelity, <a href="#link359">359</a>, + <a href="#link360">360</a>, <a href="#link381">381</a>, <a href="#link429">429</a>.<br /> + Ingratitude, <a href="#link96">96</a>, <a href="#link226">226</a>, <a + href="#link306">306</a>, <a href="#link317">317</a>.<br /> Injuries, <a + href="#link14">14</a>.<br /> Injustice, <a href="#link78">78</a>.<br /> + Innocence, <a href="#link465">465</a>.<br /> Instinct, <a href="#link123">123</a>.<br /> + Integrity, <a href="#link170">170</a>.<br /> Interest, <a href="#link39">39</a>, + <a href="#link40">40</a>, <a href="#link66">66</a>, <a href="#link85">85</a>, + <a href="#link172">172</a>, <a href="#link187">187</a>, <a href="#link232">232</a>, + <a href="#link253">253</a>, <a href="#link305">305</a>, <a href="#link390">390</a>.<br /> + Interests, <a href="#link66">66</a>.<br /> Intrepidity, <a href="#link217">217</a>, + <a href="#linkXL">XL</a>.<br /> Intrigue, <a href="#link73">73</a>.<br /> + Invention, <a href="#link287">287</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Jealousy, <a href="#link28">28</a>, <a href="#link32">32</a>, <a + href="#link324">324</a>, <a href="#link336">336</a>, <a href="#link359">359</a>, + <a href="#link361">361</a>, <a href="#link446">446</a>, <a href="#link503">503</a>, + <a href="#linkCII">CII</a>.<br /> Joy, <a href="#linkXIV">XIV</a>.<br /> + Judges, <a href="#link268">268</a>.<br /> Judgment, <a href="#link89">89</a>, + <a href="#link97">97</a>, <a href="#link248">248</a>.<br /> ———— + of the World, <a href="#link212">212</a>, <a href="#link455">455</a>.<br /> + Justice, <a href="#link78">78</a>, <a href="#link458">458</a>, <a + href="#linkXII">XII</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Kindness, <a href="#link14">14</a>, <a href="#link85">85</a>.<br /> + Knowledge, <a href="#link106">106</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Labour of Body, effect of, <a href="#linkLXXVII">LXXVII</a>.<br /> Laments, + <a href="#link355">355</a>.<br /> Laziness, <a href="#link367">367</a>. SEE + Idleness.<br /> Leader, <a href="#link43">43</a>.<br /> Levity, <a + href="#link179">179</a>, <a href="#link181">181</a>.<br /> Liberality, <a + href="#link167">167</a>, <a href="#link263">263</a>.<br /> Liberty in + Society, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Limits to Confidence, <a + href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> Little Minds, <a href="#link142">142</a>.<br /> + Love, <a href="#link168">68</a>, <a href="#link69">69</a>, <a + href="#link70">70</a>, <a href="#link71">71</a>, <a href="#link72">72</a>, + <a href="#link73">73</a>, <a href="#link74">74</a>, <a href="#link75">75</a>, + <a href="#link76">76</a>, <a href="#link136">136</a>, <a href="#link259">259</a>, + <a href="#link262">262</a>,<br /> <a href="#link274">274</a>, <a + href="#link286">286</a>, <a href="#link296">296</a>, <a href="#link321">321</a>, + <a href="#link335">335</a>, <a href="#link336">336</a>, <a href="#link348">348</a>, + <a href="#link349">349</a>, <a href="#link351">351</a>, <a href="#link353">353</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link361">361</a>, <a href="#link371">371</a>, <a href="#link374">374</a>, + <a href="#link385">385</a>, <a href="#link395">395</a>, <a href="#link396">396</a>, + <a href="#link402">402</a>, <a href="#link417">417</a>, <a href="#link418">418</a>, + <a href="#link422">422</a>,<br /> <a href="#link430">430</a>, <a + href="#link440">440</a>, <a href="#link441">441</a>, <a href="#link459">459</a>, + <a href="#link466">466</a>, <a href="#link471">471</a>, <a href="#link473">473</a>, + <a href="#link499">499</a>, <a href="#link500">500</a>, <a href="#link501">501</a>,<br /> + <a href="#linkX">X</a>, <a href="#linkXI">XI</a>, <a href="#linkXIII">XIII</a>, + <a href="#linkLVIII">LVIII</a>, <a href="#linkLX">LX</a>, <a + href="#linkLXII">LXII</a>, <a href="#linkLXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>,<br /> <a + href="#linkXCIX">XCIX</a>, <a href="#linkCIII"> CIII</a>, <a + href="#linkCXXI">CXXI</a>.<br /> —— defined, <a href="#link68">68</a>.<br /> + ——, Coldness in, <a href="#linkLX">LX</a>.<br /> ——, + Effect of absence on, <a href="#link276">276</a>.<br /> —— akin + to Hate, <a href="#link111">111</a>.<br /> —— of Women, <a + href="#link466">466</a>, <a href="#link471">471</a>, <a href="#link499">499</a>.<br /> + ——, Novelty in, <a href="#link274">274</a>.<br /> ——, + Infidelity in, <a href="#linkLXIV">LXIV</a>.<br /> ——, Old age + of, <a href="#link430">430</a>.<br /> ——, Cure for, <a + href="#link417">417</a>, <a href="#link459">459</a>.<br /> Loss of Friends, + <a href="#linkXLV">XLV</a>.<br /> Lovers, <a href="#link312">312</a>, <a + href="#link362">362</a>, <a href="#linkLXXXVII">LXXXVII</a>, <a + href="#linkXCVII">XCVII</a>.<br /> Lunatic, <a href="#link353">353</a>.<br /> + Luxury, <a href="#linkLIV">LIV</a>.<br /> Lying, <a href="#link63">63</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Madmen, <a href="#link353">353</a>, <a href="#link414">414</a>.<br /> + Malady, <a href="#linkLVII">LVII</a>.<br /> Magistrates, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> + Magnanimity, <a href="#link248">248</a>, <a href="#linkLIII">LIII</a>.<br /> + ————— defined, <a href="#link285">285</a>.<br /> + Malice, <a href="#link483">483</a>.<br /> Manners, <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> + Mankind, <a href="#link436">436</a>,<a href="#linkXXXVI"> XXXVI</a>.<br /> + Marriages, <a href="#link113">113</a>.<br /> Maxims, <a href="#linkLXVII">LXVII</a>.<br /> + Mediocrity, <a href="#link375">375</a>.<br /> Memory, <a href="#link89">89</a>, + <a href="#link313">313</a>.<br /> Men easier to know than Man, <a + href="#link436">436</a>.<br /> Merit, <a href="#link50">50</a>, <a + href="#link92">92</a>, <a href="#link95">95</a>, <a href="#link153">153</a>, + <a href="#link156">156</a>, <a href="#link165">165</a>, <a href="#link166">166</a>, + <a href="#link273">273</a>, <a href="#link291">291</a>, <a href="#link379">379</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link401">401</a>, <a href="#link437">437</a>, <a href="#link455">455</a>, + <a href="#linkCXVIII">CXVIII</a>.<br /> Mind, <a href="#link101">101</a>, + <a href="#link103">103</a>, <a href="#link265">265</a>, <a href="#link357">357</a>, + <a href="#link448">448</a>, <a href="#link482">482</a>, <a href="#linkCIX">CIX</a>.<br /> + Mind, Capacities of, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Miserable, <a + href="#link49">49</a>.<br /> Misfortunes, <a href="#link19">19</a>, <a + href="#link24">24</a>, <a href="#link174">174</a>, <a href="#link325">325</a>.<br /> + ————— of Friends. <a href="#linkXV">XV</a>.<br /> + ————— of Enemies, <a href="#link463">463</a>.<br /> + Mistaken people, <a href="#link386">386</a>.<br /> Mistrust, <a + href="#link86">86</a>.<br /> Mockery, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> + Moderation, <a href="#link17">17</a>, <a href="#link18">18</a>, <a + href="#link293">293</a>, <a href="#link308">308</a>, <a href="#linkIII">III</a>, + <a href="#linkIV">IV</a>.<br /> Money, Man compared to, <a href="#linkXXXII">XXXII</a>.<br /> + Motives, <a href="#link409">409</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Names, Great, <a href="#link95">94</a>.<br /> Natural goodness, <a + href="#link275">275</a>.<br /> Natural, to be, <a href="#link431">431</a>.<br /> + ———, always pleasing, <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> + Nature, <a href="#link53">53</a>, <a href="#link153">153</a>, <a + href="#link189">189</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>, <a href="#link404">404</a>.<br /> + Negotiations, <a href="#link278">278</a>.<br /> Novelty in study, <a + href="#link178">178</a>.<br /> ——— in love, <a + href="#link274">274</a>.<br /> ——— in friendship, <a + href="#link426">426</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Obligations, <a href="#link299">299</a>, <a href="#link317">317</a>, <a + href="#link438">438</a>. SEE Benefits and Gratitude.<br /> Obstinacy, <a + href="#link234">234</a>, <a href="#link424">424</a>.<br /> ———— + its cause, <a href="#link265">265</a>.<br /> Occasions. SEE Opportunities.<br /> + Old Age, <a href="#link109">109</a>, <a href="#link210">210</a>, <a + href="#link418">418</a>, <a href="#link423">423</a>, <a href="#link430">430</a>, + <a href="#link461">461</a>.<br /> Old Men, <a href="#link93">93</a>.<br /> + Openness of heart, R.1.<br /> Opinions, <a href="#link13">13</a>, <a + href="#link234">234</a>, <a href="#linkCXXIII">CXXIII</a>, <a + href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Opinionatedness, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> + Opportunities, <a href="#link345">345</a>, <a href="#link453">453</a>, <a + href="#linkCV">CV</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Passions, <a href="#link5">5</a>, <a href="#link6">6</a>, <a href="#link8">8</a>, + <a href="#link9">9</a>, <a href="#link10">10</a>, <a href="#link11">11</a>, + <a href="#link12">12</a>, <a href="#link122">122</a>, <a href="#link188">188</a>, + <a href="#link266">266</a>, <a href="#link276">276</a>, <a href="#link404">404</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link422">422</a>, <a href="#link443">443</a>, <a href="#link460">460</a>, + <a href="#link471">471</a>, <a href="#link477">477</a>, <a href="#link484">484</a>, + <a href="#link485">485</a>, <a href="#link486">486</a>, <a href="#link500">500</a>, + <a href="#linkII">II</a>.<br /> Peace of Mind, <a href="#linkVIII">VIII</a>.<br /> + Penetration, <a href="#link377">377</a>, <a href="#link425">425</a>, <a + href="#linkCXVI">CXVI</a>.<br /> Perfection, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> + Perseverance, <a href="#link177">177</a>.<br /> Perspective, <a + href="#link104">104</a>.<br /> Persuasion, <a href="#link8">8</a>.<br /> + Philosophers, <a href="#link46">46</a>, <a href="#link54">54</a>, <a + href="#link504">504</a>, <a href="#linkXXI">XXI</a>.<br /> Philosophy, <a + href="#link22">22</a>.<br /> ————— of a + Footman, <a href="#link504">504</a>, <a href="#linkLXXV">LXXV</a>.<br /> + Pity, <a href="#link264">264</a>.<br /> Pleasing, <a href="#link413">413</a>, + <a href="#linkCXXV">CXXV</a>.<br /> ————, Mode of, + <a href="#linkXLVIII">XLVIII</a>, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> ————, + Mind a, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Point of view, <a + href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Politeness, <a href="#link372">372</a>, <a + href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Politeness of Mind, <a href="#link99">99</a>.<br /> + Praise, <a href="#link143">143</a>, <a href="#link144">144</a>, <a + href="#link145">145</a>, <a href="#link146">146</a>, <a href="#link147">147</a>, + <a href="#link148">148</a>, <a href="#link149">149</a>, <a href="#link150">150</a>, + <a href="#link272">272</a>, <a href="#link356">356</a>,<br /> <a + href="#link432">432</a>, <a href="#linkXXVII">XXVII</a>, <a + href="#linkCVII">CVII</a>.<br /> Preoccupation, <a href="#link92">92</a>, + <a href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> Pride, <a href="#link33">33</a>, <a + href="#link34">34</a>, <a href="#link35">35</a>, <a href="#link36">36</a>, + <a href="#link37">37</a>, <a href="#link228">228</a>, <a href="#link234">234</a>, + <a href="#link239">239</a>, <a href="#link254">254</a>, <a href="#link267">267</a>, + <a href="#link281">281</a>,<br /> <a href="#link450">450</a>, <a + href="#link462">462</a>, <a href="#link463">463</a>, <a href="#link472">472</a>, + <a href="#linkVI">VI</a>, <a href="#linkXIX">XIX</a>.<br /> Princes, <a + href="#link15">15</a>, <a href="#link320">320</a>.<br /> Proceedings, <a + href="#link170">170</a>.<br /> Productions of the Mind, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> + Professions, <a href="#link256">256</a>.<br /> Promises, <a href="#link38">38</a>.<br /> + Proportion, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> Propriety, <a + href="#link447">447</a>.<br /> ———— in Women, <a + href="#linkXXXIV">XXXIV</a>.<br /> Prosperity, <a href="#link25">25</a>.<br /> + Providence, <a href="#linkXXXIX">XXXIX</a>.<br /> Prudence, 65, <a + href="#linkLXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Qualities, <a href="#link29">29</a>, <a href="#link162">162</a>, <a + href="#link397">397</a>, <a href="#link470">470</a>, <a href="#link498">498</a>, + <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>, <a href="#linkR.VII">R.VII</a>.<br /> ————, + Bad, <a href="#link468">468</a>.<br /> ————, Good, + <a href="#link88">88</a>, <a href="#link337">337</a>, <a href="#link462">462</a>.<br /> + ————, Great, <a href="#link159">159</a>, <a + href="#link433">433</a>.<br /> ————, of Mind, + classified, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Quarrels, <a href="#link496">496</a>,<br /> + Quoting oneself, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Raillery, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> + Rank, <a href="#link401">401</a>.<br /> Reason, <a href="#link42">42</a>, + <a href="#link105">105</a>, <a href="#link325">325</a>, <a href="#link365">365</a>, + <a href="#link467">467</a>, <a href="#link469">469</a>, <a href="#linkXX">XX</a>, + <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> Recollection in Memory{, <a + href="#link313">313</a>}.<br /> Reconciliation, <a href="#link82">82</a>.<br /> + Refinement, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>.<br /> Regret, <a href="#link355">355</a>.<br /> + Relapses, <a href="#link193">193</a>.<br /> Remedies, <a href="#link288">288</a>.<br /> + ———— for love <a href="#link459">459</a>.<br /> + Remonstrances, <a href="#link37">37</a>.<br /> Repentance, <a + href="#link180">180</a>.<br /> Repose, <a href="#link268">268</a>.<br /> + Reproaches, <a href="#link148">148</a>.<br /> Reputation, <a href="#link268">268</a>, + <a href="#link412">412</a>.<br /> Resolution, <a href="#linkL">L</a>.<br /> + Revenge, <a href="#link14">14</a>.<br /> Riches, <a href="#link54">54</a>.<br /> + Ridicule, <a href="#link133">133</a>, <a href="#link134">134</a>, <a + href="#link326">326</a>, <a href="#link418">418</a>, <a href="#link422">422</a>.<br /> + Rules for Conversation, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Rusticity, <a + href="#link393">393</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Satire, <a href="#link483">483</a>, <a href="#linkR.II">R.II</a>, <a + href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Sciences, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> + Secrets, <a href="#linkXVI">XVI</a>, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> + ———, How they should be kept, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> + Self-deceit, <a href="#link115">115</a>, 452.<br /> Self-love, <a + href="#link2">2</a>, <a href="#link3">3</a>, <a href="#link4">4</a>, <a + href="#link228">228</a>, <a href="#link236">236</a>, <a href="#link247">247</a>, + <a href="#link261">261</a>, <a href="#link262">262</a>, <a href="#link339">339</a>, + <a href="#link494">494</a>, <a href="#link500">500</a>,<br /> <a + href="#linkI">I</a>, <a href="#linkXVII">XVII</a>, <a href="#linkXXVIII">XXVIII</a>, + <a href="#linkXXXIII">XXXIII</a>, <a href="#linkLXVI">LXVI</a>, <a + href="#linkLXXIV">LXXIV</a>.<br /> ———— in love, <a + href="#link262">262</a>.<br /> Self-satisfaction, <a href="#link52">51</a>.<br /> + Sensibility, <a href="#link275">275</a>.<br /> Sensible People, <a + href="#link347">347</a>, <a href="#linkCVI">CVI</a>.<br /> Sentiment, <a + href="#link255">255</a>, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> Severity of + Women, <a href="#link204">204</a>, <a href="#link333">333</a>.<br /> Shame, + <a href="#link213">213</a>, <a href="#link220">220</a>.<br /> Silence, <a + href="#link79">79</a>, <a href="#link137">137</a>, <a href="#link138">138</a>, + <a href="#linkCXIV">CXIV</a>.<br /> Silliness. SEE Folly.<br /> Simplicity, + <a href="#link289">289</a>.<br /> Sincerity, <a href="#link62">62</a>, <a + href="#link316">316</a>, <a href="#link366">366</a>, <a href="#link383">383</a>, + <a href="#link457">457</a>.<br /> ————, Difference + between it and Confidence, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> ————, + defined, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>.<br /> ———— of + Lovers, <a href="#linkLXI">LXI</a>.<br /> Skill, <a href="#linkLXIV">LXIV</a>.<br /> + Sobriety, <a href="#linkXXV">XXV</a>.<br /> Society, <a href="#link87">87</a>, + <a href="#link201">201</a>, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> ———, + Distinction between it and Friendship, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> + Soul, <a href="#link80">80</a>, <a href="#link188">188</a>, <a + href="#link194">194</a>.<br /> Souls, Great, <a href="#linkXXXI">XXXI</a>.<br /> + Sorrows, <a href="#linkLXXVIII">LXXVIII</a>.<br /> Stages of Life, <a + href="#link405">405</a>.<br /> Strength of mind, <a href="#link19">19</a>, + <a href="#link20">20</a>, <a href="#link21">21</a>, <a href="#link504">504</a>.<br /> + Studies, why new ones are pleasing, <a href="#link178">178</a>.<br /> + ———, what to study, <a href="#linkXCII">XCII</a>.<br /> + Subtilty, <a href="#link128">128</a>.<br /> Sun, <a href="#link26">26</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Talents, <a href="#link468">468</a>.<br /> ———, latent, + <a href="#link344">344</a>, <a href="#linkXCV">XCV</a>.<br /> + Talkativeness, <a href="#link314">314</a>.<br /> Taste, <a href="#link13">13</a>, + <a href="#link109">109</a>, <a href="#link252">252</a>, <a href="#link390">390</a>, + <a href="#link467">467</a>, <a href="#linkCXX">CXX</a>, <a + href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>, <a href="#linkR.VI">R.VI</a>.<br /> ——, + good, <a href="#link258">258</a>, <a href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> + ——, cause of diversities in, <a href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> + ——, false, <a href="#linkR.III">R.III</a>.<br /> Tears, <a + href="#link233">233</a>, <a href="#link373">373</a>.<br /> Temper, <a + href="#link47">47</a>, <a href="#link290">290</a>, <a href="#link292">292</a>.<br /> + Temperament, <a href="#link220">220</a>, <a href="#link222">222</a>, <a + href="#link297">297</a>, <a href="#link346">346</a>.<br /> Times for + speaking, <a href="#linkR.V">R.V</a>.<br /> Timidity, <a href="#link169">169</a>, + <a href="#link480">480</a>.<br /> Titles, <a href="#linkXXXII">XXXII</a>.<br /> + Tranquillity, <a href="#link488">488</a>.<br /> Treachery, <a + href="#link120">120</a>, <a href="#link126">126</a>.<br /> Treason, <a + href="#link120">120</a>.<br /> Trickery, <a href="#link86">86</a>, <a + href="#link350">350</a>, <a href="#linkXCI">XCI</a>. SEE Deceit.<br /> + Trifles, <a href="#link41">41</a>.<br /> Truth, <a href="#link64">64</a>, + <a href="#linkLI">LI</a>.<br /> Tyranny, <a href="#linkR.I">R.I</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Understanding, <a href="#link89">89</a>.<br /> Untruth, <a href="#link63">63</a>. + SEE Lying.<br /> Unhappy, <a href="#linkCXXV">CXXV</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Valour, <a href="#link1">1</a>, <a href="#link213">213</a>, <a + href="#link214">214</a>, <a href="#link215">215</a>, <a href="#link216">216</a>. + SEE Bravery and Courage.<br /> Vanity, <a href="#link137">137</a>, <a + href="#link158">158</a>, <a href="#link200">200</a>, <a href="#link232">232</a>, + <a href="#link388">388</a>, <a href="#link389">389</a>, <a href="#link443">443</a>, + <a href="#link467">467</a>, <a href="#link483">483</a>.<br /> Variety of + mind, <a href="#linkR.IV">R.IV</a>.<br /> Vice, <a href="#link182">182</a>, + <a href="#link186">186</a>, <a href="#link187">187</a>, <a href="#link189">189</a>, + <a href="#link191">191</a>, <a href="#link192">192</a>, <a href="#link195">195</a>, + <a href="#link218">218</a>, <a href="#link253">253</a>, <a href="#link273">273</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link380">380</a>, <a href="#link442">442</a>, <a href="#link445">445</a>, + <a href="#linkXXIX">XXIX</a>.<br /> Violence, <a href="#link363">363</a>, + <a href="#link369">369</a>, <a href="#link466">466</a>, <a + href="#linkCXIII">CXIII</a>.<br /> Victory, <a href="#linkXII">XII</a>.<br /> + Virtue, <a href="#link1">1</a>, <a href="#link25">25</a>, <a + href="#link169">169</a>, <a href="#link171">171</a>, <a href="#link182">182</a>, + <a href="#link186">186</a>, <a href="#link187">187</a>, <a href="#link189">189</a>, + <a href="#link200">200</a>, <a href="#link218">218</a>,<br /> <a + href="#link253">253</a>, <a href="#link380">380</a>, <a href="#link388">388</a>, + <a href="#link442">442</a>, <a href="#link445">445</a>, <a href="#link489">489</a>, + <a href="#linkXXIX">XXIX</a>.<br /> Virtue of Women, <a href="#link1">1</a>, + <a href="#link220">220</a>, <a href="#link367">367</a>, <a + href="#linkXCVIII">XCVIII</a>.<br /> Vivacity, <a href="#link416">416</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Weakness, <a href="#link130">130</a>, <a href="#link445">445</a>.<br /> + Wealth, Contempt of, <a href="#link301">301</a>.<br /> Weariness. SEE + Ennui.<br /> Wicked people, <a href="#link284">284</a>.<br /> Wife jealous + sometimes desirable, <a href="#linkLXXXIX">LXXXIX</a>.<br /> Will, <a + href="#link30">30</a>.<br /> Wisdom, <a href="#link132">132</a>, <a + href="#link210">210</a>, <a href="#link231">231</a>, <a href="#link323">323</a>, + <a href="#link444">444</a>, <a href="#linkLXXXIII">LXXXIII</a>.<br /> Wise + Man, who is a, <a href="#link203">203</a>, <a href="#linkXCI">XCI</a>.<br /> + Wishes, <a href="#link295">295</a>.<br /> Wit, <a href="#link199">199</a>, + <a href="#link340">340</a>, <a href="#link413">413</a>, <a href="#link415">415</a>, + <a href="#link421">421</a>, <a href="#link502">502</a>.<br /> Wives, <a + href="#link364">364</a>, <a href="#linkCIV">CIV</a>.<br /> Woman, <a + href="#link131">131</a>, <a href="#link204">204</a>, <a href="#link205">205</a>, + <a href="#link220">220</a>, <a href="#link241">241</a>, <a href="#link277">277</a>, + <a href="#link332">332</a>, <a href="#link333">333</a>, <a href="#link334">334</a>,<br /> + <a href="#link340">340</a>, <a href="#link346">346</a>, <a href="#link362">362</a>, + <a href="#link367">367</a>, <a href="#link368">368</a>, <a href="#link418">418</a>, + <a href="#link429">429</a>, <a href="#link440">440</a>, <a href="#link466">466</a>, + <a href="#link471">471</a>,<br /> <a href="#link474">474</a>, <a + href="#linkLXX">LXX</a>, <a href="#linkXC">XC</a>.<br /> Women, Severity + of, <a href="#link333">333</a>.<br /> ——, Virtue of, <a + href="#link205">205</a>, <a href="#link220">220</a>, <a href="#linkXC">XC</a>.<br /> + ——, Power of, <a href="#linkLXXI">LXXI</a>.<br /> Wonder, <a + href="#link384">384</a>.<br /> World, <a href="#link201">201</a>.<br /> + ——, Judgment of, <a href="#link268">268</a>.<br /> ——, + Approbation of, <a href="#link201">201</a>.<br /> ——, + Establishment in, <a href="#link56">56</a>.<br /> ——, Praise + and censure of, <a href="#link454">454</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Young men, <a href="#link378">378</a>, <a href="#link495">495</a>.<br /> + Youth, <a href="#link271">271</a>, <a href="#link341">341</a>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Reflections, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + +***** This file should be named 9105-h.htm or 9105-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/1/0/9105/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reflections + Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims + +Author: Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9105] +Posting Date: August 9, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + + + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + +By Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac + + +Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with introduction, notes, +and some account of the author and his times. + +By J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B and J. Hain Friswell + +Simpson Low, Son, and Marston, 188, Fleet Street. + +1871. + + +{TRANSCRIBERS NOTES: spelling variants are preserved (e.g. labour +instead of labor, criticise instead of criticize, etc.); the +translators' comments are in square brackets [...] as they are in the +text; footnotes are indicated by * and appear immediately following the +passage containing the note (in the text they appear at the bottom of +the page); and, finally, corrections and addenda are in curly brackets +{...}.} + + + +ROCHEFOUCAULD + +"As Rochefoucauld his maxims drew From Nature--I believe them true. They +argue no corrupted mind In him; the fault is in mankind."--Swift. + +"Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des gens +d'esprit."--Montesquieu. + +"Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations."--Sir J. Mackintosh. + +"Translators should not work alone; for good Et Propria Verba do not +always occur to one mind."--Luther's Table Talk, iii. + + + +CONTENTS + + + Preface (translator's) + Introduction (translator's) + Reflections and Moral Maxims + First Supplement + Second Supplement + Third Supplement + Reflections on Various Subjects + Index + + + + +Preface. + + {Translators'} +Some apology must be made for an attempt "to translate the +untranslatable." Notwithstanding there are no less than eight English +translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly any are readable, none are free +from faults, and all fail more or less to convey the author's meaning. +Though so often translated, there is not a complete English edition +of the Maxims and Reflections. All the translations are confined +exclusively to the Maxims, none include the Reflections. This may be +accounted for, from the fact that most of the translations are taken +from the old editions of the Maxims, in which the Reflections do +not appear. Until M. Suard devoted his attention to the text of +Rochefoucauld, the various editions were but reprints of the preceding +ones, without any regard to the alterations made by the author in the +later editions published during his life-time. So much was this the +case, that Maxims which had been rejected by Rochefoucauld in his last +edition, were still retained in the body of the work. To give but one +example, the celebrated Maxim as to the misfortunes of our friends, was +omitted in the last edition of the book, published in Rochefoucauld's +life-time, yet in every English edition this Maxim appears in the body +of the work. + +M. Aime Martin in 1827 published an edition of the Maxims and +Reflections which has ever since been the standard text of Rochefoucauld +in France. The Maxims are printed from the edition of 1678, the last +published during the author's life, and the last which received his +corrections. To this edition were added two Supplements; the first +containing the Maxims which had appeared in the editions of 1665, 1666, +and 1675, and which were afterwards omitted; the second, some additional +Maxims found among various of the author's manuscripts in the Royal +Library at Paris. And a Series of Reflections which had been previously +published in a work called "Receuil de pieces d'histoire et de +litterature." Paris, 1731. They were first published with the Maxims in +an edition by Gabriel Brotier. + +In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled "Reflexions, ou Sentences et +Maximes Morales, augmentees de plus deux cent nouvelles Maximes et +Maximes et Pensees diverses suivant les copies Imprimees a Paris, chez +Claude Barbin, et Matre Cramoisy 1692,"* some fifty Maxims were added, +ascribed by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his family allowed them +to be published under his name, it seems probable they were genuine. +These fifty form the third supplement to this book. + + *In all the French editions this book is spoken of as + published in 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the + Cambridge University Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called + "Reflexions Morales." + + +The apology for the present edition of Rochefoucauld must therefore be +twofold: firstly, that it is an attempt to give the public a complete +English edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a moralist. The body of the +work comprises the Maxims as the author finally left them, the first +supplement, those published in former editions, and rejected by the +author in the later; the second, the unpublished Maxims taken from the +author's correspondence and manuscripts, and the third, the Maxims first +published in 1692. While the Reflections, in which the thoughts in the +Maxims are extended and elaborated, now appear in English for the first +time. And secondly, that it is an attempt (to quote the preface of the +edition of 1749) "to do the Duc de la Rochefoucauld the justice to make +him speak English." + + + + +Introduction + + {Translators'} +The description of the "ancien regime" in France, "a despotism tempered +by epigrams," like most epigrammatic sentences, contains some truth, +with much fiction. The society of the last half of the seventeenth, and +the whole of the eighteenth centuries, was doubtless greatly influenced +by the precise and terse mode in which the popular writers of that date +expressed their thoughts. To a people naturally inclined to think that +every possible view, every conceivable argument, upon a question is +included in a short aphorism, a shrug, and the word "voila," truths +expressed in condensed sentences must always have a peculiar charm. It +is, perhaps, from this love of epigram, that we find so many eminent +French writers of maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La Rochefoucauld, La Bruyere, +Montesquieu, and Vauvenargues, each contributed to the rich stock of +French epigrams. No other country can show such a list of brilliant +writers--in England certainly we cannot. Our most celebrated, Lord +Bacon, has, by his other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their fame +is, to a great measure, obscured. The only Englishman who could have +rivalled La Rochefoucauld or La Bruyere was the Earl of Chesterfield, +and he only could have done so from his very intimate connexion +with France; but unfortunately his brilliant genius was spent in the +impossible task of trying to refine a boorish young Briton, in "cutting +blocks with a razor." + +Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefoucauld is at once the +most widely known, and the most distinguished. Voltaire, whose opinion +on the century of Louis XIV. is entitled to the greatest weight, says, +"One of the works that most largely contributed to form the taste of +the nation, and to diffuse a spirit of justice and precision, is the +collection of maxims, by Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld." + +This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac, +the author of the maxims, was one of the most illustrious members of the +most illustrious families among the French noblesse. Descended from the +ancient Dukes of Guienne, the founder of the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a +younger branch of the House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of +the eleventh century the Seigneur of a small town, La Roche, in the +Angounois. Our chief knowledge of this feudal lord is drawn from +the monkish chronicles. As the benefactor of the various abbeys and +monasteries in his province, he is naturally spoken of by them in terms +of eulogy, and in the charter of one of the abbeys of Angouleme he is +called, "vir nobilissimus Fulcaldus." His territorial power enabled him +to adopt what was then, as is still in Scotland, a common custom, to +prefix the name of his estate to his surname, and thus to create and +transmit to his descendants the illustrious surname of La Rochefoucauld. + +From that time until that great crisis in the history of the French +aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the family of La Rochefoucauld have +been, "if not first, in the very first line" of that most illustrious +body. One Seigneur served under Philip Augustus against Richard Coeur de +Lion, and was made prisoner at the battle of Gisors. The eighth +Seigneur Guy performed a great tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according +to Froissart) to the Lists by some two hundred of his kindred and +relations. The sixteenth Seigneur Francais was chamberlain to Charles +VIII. and Louis XII., and stood at the font as sponsor, giving his name +to that last light of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was created +a baron, and was afterwards advanced to a count, on account of his great +service to Francis and his predecessors. + +The second count pushed the family fortune still further by obtaining +a patent as the Prince de Marsillac. His widow, Anne de Polignac, +entertained Charles V. at the family chateau at Verteuil, in so princely +a manner that on leaving Charles observed, "He had never entered a +house so redolent of high virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that +mansion." + +The third count, after serving with distinction under the Duke of +Guise against the Spaniards, was made prisoner at St. Quintin, and only +regained his liberty to fall a victim to the "bloody infamy" of St. +Bartholomew. His son, the fourth count, saved with difficulty from that +massacre, after serving with distinction in the religious wars, was +taken prisoner in a skirmish at St. Yriex la Perche, and murdered by the +Leaguers in cold blood. + +The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis XIII., after fighting +against the English and Buckingham at the Ile de Re, was created a duke. +His son Francis, the second duke, by his writings has made the family +name a household word. + +The third duke fought in many of the earlier campaigns of Louis XIV. at +Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and was dangerously wounded at the passage of +the Rhine. From his bravery he rose to high favour at Court, and was +appointed Master of the Horse (Grand Veneur) and Lord Chamberlain. His +son, the fourth duke, commanded the regiment of Navarre, and took part +in storming the village of Neerwinden on the day when William III. was +defeated at Landen. He was afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and +Marquis de Liancourt. + +The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., became the friend of +the philosopher Voltaire. + +The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the last of the long line +of noble lords who bore that distinguished name. In those terrible days +of September, 1792, when the French people were proclaiming universal +humanity, the duke was seized as an aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and +put to death behind his own carriage, in which sat his mother and +his wife, at the very place where, some six centuries previously, his +ancestor had been taken prisoner in a fair fight. A modern writer has +spoken of this murder "as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson +for the writings and conduct of the grandfather." But M. Sainte Beuve +observes as to this, he can see nothing admirable in the death of the +duke, and if it proves anything, it is only that the grandfather was not +so wrong in his judgment of men as is usually supposed. + +Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December 1615. M. Sainte Beuve +divides his life into four periods, first, from his birth till he was +thirty-five, when he became mixed up in the war of the Fronde; the +second period, during the progress of that war; the third, the twelve +years that followed, while he recovered from his wounds, and wrote his +maxims during his retirement from society; and the last from that time +till his death. + +In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of his history by +the name of one of the muses, so each of these four periods of La +Rochefoucauld's life may be associated with the name of a woman who was +for the time his ruling passion. These four ladies are the Duchesse de +Chevreuse, the Duchesse de Longueville, Madame de Sable, and Madame de +La Fayette. + +La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; his father, occupied +in the affairs of state, either had not, or did not devote any time to +his education. His natural talents and his habits of observation soon, +however, supplied all deficiencies. By birth and station placed in +the best society of the French Court, he soon became a most finished +courtier. Knowing how precarious Court favour then was, his father, when +young Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, sent him into the army. +He was subsequently attached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but +sixteen he was present, and took part in the military operations at the +siege of Cassel. The Court of Louis XIII. was then ruled imperiously +by Richelieu. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was strongly opposed to the +Cardinal's party. By joining in the plots of Gaston of Orleans, he gave +Richelieu an opportunity of ridding Paris of his opposition. When those +plots were discovered, the Duke was sent into a sort of banishment to +Blois. His son, who was then at Court with him, was, upon the pretext of +a liaison with Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting on the +Queen (Anne of Austria), but in reality to prevent the Duke learning +what was passing at Paris, sent with his father. The result of the exile +was Rochefoucauld's marriage. With the exception that his wife's name +was Mdlle. Vivonne, and that she was the mother of five sons and three +daughters, nothing is known of her. While Rochefoucauld and his father +were at Blois, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, one of the beauties of +the Court, and the mistress of Louis, was banished to Tours. She and +Rochefoucauld met, and soon became intimate, and for a time she was +destined to be the one motive of his actions. The Duchesse was engaged +in a correspondence with the Court of Spain and the Queen. Into this +plot Rochefoucauld threw himself with all his energy; his connexion with +the Queen brought him back to his old love Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and led +him to her party, which he afterwards followed. The course he took shut +him off from all chance of Court favour. The King regarded him with +coldness, the Cardinal with irritation. Although the Bastile and the +scaffold, the fate of Chalais and Montmorency, were before his eyes, +they failed to deter him from plotting. He was about twenty-three; +returning to Paris, he warmly sided with the Queen. He says in his +Memoirs that the only persons she could then trust were himself and +Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he should take both of them +from Paris to Brussels. Into this plan he entered with all his youthful +indiscretion, it being for several reasons the very one he would wish to +adopt, as it would strengthen his influence with Anne of Austria, place +Richelieu and his master in an uncomfortable position, and save Mdlle. +d'Hautefort from the attentions the King was showing her. + +But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and Rochefoucauld was, +of course, sent to the Bastile. He was liberated after a week's +imprisonment, but banished to his chateau at Verteuil. + +The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal desired to win +Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. A command in the army was offered +to him, but by the Queen's orders refused. + +For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at Verteuil, waiting the +time for his reckoning with Richelieu; speculating on the King's death, +and the favours he would then receive from the Queen. During this period +he was more or less engaged in plotting against his enemy the Cardinal, +and hatching treason with Cinq Mars and De Thou. + +M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first part of +Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never understand his maxims. The bitter +disappointment of the passionate love, the high hopes then formed, the +deceit and treachery then witnessed, furnished the real key to their +meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality was built on the ruins of +that chivalrous ambition and romantic affection. He saw his friend Cinq +Mars sent to the scaffold, himself betrayed by men whom he had trusted, +and the only reason he could assign for these actions was intense +selfishness. + +Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld returned to Court, and found +Anne of Austria regent, and Mazarin minister. The Queen's former friends +flocked there in numbers, expecting that now their time of prosperity +had come. They were bitterly disappointed. Mazarin relied on hope +instead of gratitude, to keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The +most that any received were promises that were never performed. In after +years, doubtless, Rochefoucauld's recollection of his disappointment led +him to write the maxim: "We promise according to our hopes, we perform +according to our fears." But he was not even to receive promises; he +asked for the Governorship of Havre, which was then vacant. He was +flatly refused. Disappointment gave rise to anger, and uniting with +his old flame, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, who had received the same +treatment, and with the Duke of Beaufort, they formed a conspiracy +against the government. The plot was, of course, discovered and crushed. +Beaufort was arrested, the Duchesse banished. Irritated and disgusted, +Rochefoucauld went with the Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the +army, on a campaign, and here he found the one love of his life, the +Duke's sister, Mdme. de Longueville. This lady, young, beautiful, and +accomplished, obtained a great ascendancy over Rochefoucauld, and was +the cause of his taking the side of Conde in the subsequent civil war. +Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the army. He was badly wounded at +the siege of Mardik, and returned from thence to Paris. On recovering +from his wounds, the war of the Fronde broke out. This war is said +to have been most ridiculous, as being carried on without a definite +object, a plan, or a leader. But this description is hardly correct; it +was the struggle of the French nobility against the rule of the Court; +an attempt, the final attempt, to recover their lost influence over the +state, and to save themselves from sinking under the rule of cardinals +and priests. + +With the general history of that war we have nothing to do; it is far +too complicated and too confused to be stated here. The memoirs of +Rochefoucauld and De Retz will give the details to those who desire to +trace the contests of the factions--the course of the intrigues. We may +confine ourselves to its progress so far as it relates to the Duc de la +Rochefoucauld. + +On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Conde and Conti, and the Duc de +Longueville, to be arrested, Rochefoucauld and the Duchess fled into +Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into Poitou, of which province +he had some years previously bought the post of governor. He was there +joined by the Duc de Bouillon, and he and the Duke marched to, and +occupied Bordeaux. Cardinal Mazarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie +advanced in force on Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody battle +followed. Rochefoucauld defended the town with the greatest bravery, +and repulsed the Cardinal. Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers of +Bordeaux were anxious to make peace, and save the city from destruction. +The Parliament of Bordeaux compelled Rochefoucauld to surrender. He did +so, and returned nominally to Poitou, but in reality in secret to Paris. + +There he found the Queen engaged in trying to maintain her position by +playing off the rival parties of the Prince Conde and the Cardinal +De Retz against each other. Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old +party--that of Conde. In August, 1651, the contending parties met in the +Hall of the Parliament of Paris, and it was with great difficulty they +were prevented from coming to blows even there. It is even said that +Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder De Retz. + +Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disappointment. While +occupied with party strife and faction in Paris, Madame de Chevreuse +left him, and formed an alliance with the Duc de Nemours. Rochefoucauld +still loved her. It was, probably, thinking of this that he afterwards +wrote, "Jealousy is born with love, but does not die with it." He +endeavoured to get Madame de Chatillon, the old mistress of the Duc de +Nemours, reinstated in favour, but in this he did not succeed. The Duc +de Nemours was soon after killed in a duel. The war went on, and after +several indecisive skirmishes, the decisive battle was fought at Paris, +in the Faubourg St. Antoine, where the Parisians first learnt the use +or the abuse of their favourite defence, the barricade. In this battle, +Rochefoucauld behaved with great bravery. He was wounded in the head, a +wound which for a time deprived him of his sight. Before he recovered, +the war was over, Louis XIV. had attained his majority, the gold of +Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, had been successful, the French nobility +were vanquished, the court supremacy established. + +This completed Rochefoucauld's active life. + +When he recovered his health, he devoted himself to society. Madame +de Sable assumed a hold over him. He lived a quiet life, and occupied +himself in composing an account of his early life, called his "Memoirs," +and his immortal "Maxims." + +From the time he ceased to take part in public life, Rochefoucauld's +real glory began. Having acted the various parts of soldier, politician, +and lover with but small success, he now commenced the part of moralist, +by which he is known to the world. + +Living in the most brilliant society that France possessed, famous +from his writings, distinguished from the part he had taken in public +affairs, he formed the centre of one of those remarkable French literary +societies, a society which numbered among its members La Fontaine, +Racine, Boileau. Among his most attached friends was Madame de +La Fayette (the authoress of the "Princess of Cleeves"), and this +friendship continued until his death. He was not, however, destined to +pass away in that gay society without some troubles. At the passage of +the Rhine in 1672 two of his sons were engaged; the one was killed, the +other severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was much affected by this, but +perhaps still more by the death of the young Duc de Longueville, who +perished on the same occasion. + +Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that young life were the +only fruits of the war of the Fronde. Madame de Sevigne, who was with +him when he heard the news of the death of so much that was dear to +him, says, "I saw his heart laid bare on that cruel occasion, and his +courage, his merit, his tenderness, and good sense surpassed all I ever +met with. I hold his wit and accomplishments as nothing in comparison." +The combined effect of his wounds and the gout caused the last years of +Rochefoucauld's life to be spent in great pain. Madame de Sevigne, +who was {with} him continually during his last illness, speaks of the +fortitude with which he bore his sufferings as something to be admired. +Writing to her daughter, she says, "Believe me, it is not for nothing he +has moralised all his life; he has thought so often on his last moments +that they are nothing new or unfamiliar to him." + +In his last illness, the great moralist was attended by the great +divine, Bossuet. Whether that matchless eloquence or his own philosophic +calm had, in spite of his writings, brought him into the state Madame +de Sevigne describes, we know not; but one, or both, contributed to +his passing away in a manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a +French philosopher. On the 11th March, 1680, he ended his stormy life in +peace after so much strife, a loyal subject after so much treason. + +One of his friends, Madame Deshoulieres, shortly before he died sent +him an ode on death, which aptly describes his state-- "Oui, soyez alors +plus ferme, Que ces vulgaires humains Qui, pres de leur dernier terme, +De vaines terreurs sont pleins. En sage que rien n'offense, Livrez-vous +sans resistance A d'inevitables traits; Et, d'une demarche egale, Passez +cette onde fatal Qu'on ne repasse jamais." + +Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the one, Memoirs of his +own time, the other the Maxims. The first described the scenes in which +his youth had been spent, and though written in a lively style, and +giving faithful pictures of the intrigues and the scandals of the court +during Louis XIV.'s minority, yet, except to the historian, has ceased +at the present day to be of much interest. It forms, perhaps, the true +key to understand the special as opposed to general application of the +maxims. + +Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that "there are few people so +bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer the Memoirs of La Rochefoucauld +to the Commentaries of Caesar," or the statement of Voltaire, "that the +Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims are learnt by heart," few +persons at the present day ever heard of the Memoirs, and the knowledge +of most as to the Maxims is confined to that most celebrated of all, +though omitted from his last edition, "There is something in the +misfortunes of our best friends which does not wholly displease us." Yet +it is difficult to assign a cause for this; no book is perhaps oftener +unwittingly quoted, none certainly oftener unblushingly pillaged; upon +none have so many contradictory opinions been given. + +"Few books," says Mr. Hallam, "have been more highly extolled, or more +severely blamed, than the maxims of the Duke of Rochefoucauld, and that +not only here, but also in France." Rousseau speaks of it as, "a sad and +melancholy book," though he goes on to say "it is usually so in youth +when we do not like seeing man as he is." Voltaire says of it, in the +words above quoted, "One of the works which most contributed to form the +taste of the (French) nation, and to give it a spirit of justness +and precision, was the collection of the maxims of Francois Duc de la +Rochefoucauld, though there is scarcely more than one truth running +through the book--that 'self-love is the motive of everything'--yet +this thought is presented under so many varied aspects that it is +nearly always striking. It is not so much a book as it is materials for +ornamenting a book. This little collection was read with avidity, it +taught people to think, and to comprise their thoughts in a lively, +precise, and delicate turn of expression. This was a merit which, before +him, no one in Europe had attained since the revival of letters." + +Dr. Johnson speaks of it as "the only book written by a man of fashion, +of which professed authors need be jealous." + +Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, "Till you come to +know mankind by your experience, I know no thing nor no man that can +in the meantime bring you so well acquainted with them as Le Duc de la +Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, which I would advise you to +look into for some moments at least every day of your life, is, I fear, +too like and too exact a picture of human nature. I own it seems to +degrade it, but yet my experience does not convince me that it degrades +it unjustly." + +Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book in no measured terms. +"There is a strange affectation," says the bishop, "in some people of +explaining away all particular affection, and representing the whole +life as nothing but one continued exercise of self-love. Hence arise +that surprising confusion and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, +Hobbes, the author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set of +writers, of calling actions interested which are done of the most +manifest known interest, merely for the gratification of a present +passion." + +The judgment the reader will be most inclined to adopt will perhaps be +either that of Mr. Hallam, "Concise and energetic in expression, reduced +to those short aphorisms which leave much to the reader's acuteness and +yet save his labour, not often obscure, and never wearisome, an evident +generalisation of long experience, without pedantry, without method, +without deductive reasonings, yet wearing an appearance at least of +profundity; they delight the intelligent though indolent man of the +world, and must be read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . +yet they bear witness to the contracted observation and the precipitate +inferences which an intercourse with a single class of society scarcely +fails to generate." Or that of Addison, who speaks of Rochefoucauld "as +the great philosopher for administering consolation to the idle, the +curious, and the worthless part of mankind." + +We are fortunately in possession of materials such as rarely exist to +enable us to form a judgment of Rochefoucauld's character. We have, with +a vanity that could only exist in a Frenchman, a description or portrait +of himself, of his own painting, and one of those inimitable living +sketches in which his great enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief +actors in the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass across the +stage before us. + +We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has left us of himself: +"I am," says he, "of a medium height, active, and well-proportioned. My +complexion dark, but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, +black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick but well placed. I +am rather embarrassed in talking of my nose, for it is neither flat nor +aquiline, nor large; nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, +it is too large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too low. I +have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, neither shaped well nor +badly. I have white teeth, and fairly even. I have been told I have +a little too much chin. I have just looked at myself in the glass to +ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to decide. As to the shape of +my face, it is either square or oval, but which I should find it very +difficult to say. I have black hair, which curls by nature, and thick +and long enough to entitle me to lay claim to a fine head. I have in my +countenance somewhat of grief and pride, which gives many people an idea +I despise them, although I am not at all given to do so. My gestures are +very free, rather inclined to be too much so, for in speaking they +make me use too much action. Such, candidly, I believe I am in outward +appearance, and I believe it will be found that what I have said +above of myself is not far from the real case. I shall use the same +truthfulness in the remainder of my picture, for I have studied myself +sufficiently to know myself well; and I will lack neither boldness to +speak as freely as I can of my good qualities, nor sincerity to freely +avow that I have faults. + +"In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am melancholy, and I have +hardly been seen for the last three or four years to laugh above three +or four times. It seems to me that my melancholy would be even endurable +and pleasant if I had none but what belonged to me constitutionally; but +it arises from so many other causes, fills my imagination in such a way, +and possesses my mind so strongly that for the greater part of my time +I remain without speaking a word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am +extremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am not very open with +the greater part of those I do. It is a fault I know well, and I should +neglect no means to correct myself of it; but as a certain gloomy air I +have tends to make me seem more reserved than I am in fact, and as it is +not in our power to rid ourselves of a bad expression that arises from +a natural conformation of features, I think that even when I have cured +myself internally, externally some bad expression will always remain. + +"I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, as for what purpose +should I pretend otherwise. So great circumvention, and so great +depreciation, in speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a +little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily to try to make +others believe in greater virtues than are imputed to us. On my part +I am content not to be considered better-looking than I am, nor of a +better temper than I describe, nor more witty and clever than I am. Once +more, I have ability, but a mind spoilt by melancholy, for though I +know my own language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a mode +of thought not particularly confused, I yet have so great a mixture of +discontent that I often say what I have to say very badly. + +"The conversation of gentlemen is one of the pleasures that most amuses +me. I like it to be serious and morality to form the substance of it. +Yet I also know how to enjoy it when trifling; and if I do not make +many witty speeches, it is not because I do not appreciate the value of +trifles well said, and that I do not find great amusement in that manner +of raillery in which certain prompt and ready-witted persons excel so +well. I write well in prose; I do well in verse; and if I was envious of +the glory that springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour +I could acquire some reputation. I like reading, in general; but that in +which one finds something to polish the wit and strengthen the soul +is what I like best. But, above all, I have the greatest pleasure in +reading with an intelligent person, for then we reflect constantly upon +what we read, and the observations we make form the most pleasant and +useful form of conversation there is. + +"I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose that are shown me; +but perhaps I speak my opinion with almost too great freedom. Another +fault in me is that I have sometimes a spirit of delicacy far too +scrupulous, and a spirit of criticism far too severe. I do not dislike +an argument, and I often of my own free will engage in one; but I +generally back my opinion with too much warmth, and sometimes, when the +wrong side is advocated against me, from the strength of my zeal for +reason, I become a little unreasonable myself. + +"I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and so strong a desire +to be a wholly good man that my friend cannot afford me a greater +pleasure than candidly to show me my faults. Those who know me most +intimately, and those who have the goodness sometimes to give me the +above advice, know that I always receive it with all the joy that could +be expected, and with all reverence of mind that could be desired. + +"I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty well under control. +I am hardly ever seen in a rage, and I never hated any one. I am not, +however, incapable of avenging myself if I have been offended, or if my +honour demanded I should resent an insult put upon me; on the contrary, +I feel clear that duty would so well discharge the office of hatred in +me that I should follow my revenge with even greater keenness than other +people. + +"Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few things, and I do not fear +death in the least. I am but little given to pity, and I could wish I +was not so at all. Though there is nothing I would not do to comfort an +afflicted person, and I really believe that one should do all one can to +show great sympathy to him for his misfortune, for miserable people are +so foolish that this does them the greatest good in the world; yet +I also hold that we should be content with expressing sympathy, and +carefully avoid having any. It is a passion that is wholly worthless in +a well-regulated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, and which +should be left to ordinary persons, who, as they never do anything from +reason, have need of passions to stimulate their actions. + +"I love my friends; and I love them to such an extent that I would not +for a moment weigh my interest against theirs. I condescend to them, +I patiently endure their bad temper. But, also, I do not make much of +their caresses, and I do not feel great uneasiness in their absence. + +"Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the majority of things +that stir up curiosity in other men. I am very secret, and I have less +difficulty than most men in holding my tongue as to what is told me in +confidence. I am most particular as to my word, and I would never fail, +whatever might be the consequence, to do what I had promised; and I have +made this an inflexible law during the whole of my life. + +"I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I do not believe I have +ever said anything before them which could cause them annoyance. When +their intellect is cultivated, I prefer their society to that of men: +one there finds a mildness one does not meet with among ourselves, +and it seems to me beyond this that they express themselves with more +neatness, and give a more agreeable turn to the things they talk about. +As for flirtation, I formerly indulged in a little, now I shall do so no +more, though I am still young. I have renounced all flirtation, and I am +simply astonished that there are still so many sensible people who can +occupy their time with it. + +"I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate greatness of soul, and +although, in the uneasiness they give rise to, there is a something +contrary to strict wisdom, they fit in so well with the most severe +virtue, that I believe they cannot be censured with justice. To me who +have known all that is fine and grand in the lofty aspirations of love, +if I ever fall in love, it will assuredly be in love of that nature. But +in accordance with the present turn of my mind, I do not believe that +the knowledge I have of it will ever change from my mind to my heart." + +Such is his own description of himself. Let us now turn to the other +picture, delineated by the man who was his bitterest enemy, and whom (we +say it with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to murder. + +Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:-- "In M. de la Rochefoucauld there was +ever an indescribable something. From his infancy he always wanted to +be mixed up with plots, at a time when he could not understand even +the smallest interests (which has indeed never been his weak point,) +or comprehend greater ones, which in another sense has never been his +strong point. He was never fitted for any matter, and I really cannot +tell the reason. His glance was not sufficiently wide, and he could not +take in at once all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect +in theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning ways, his +pleasing manners, which are perfect, should more than compensate for +his lack of penetration. He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I +cannot say to what this irresolution is to be attributed. It could not +arise in him from the wealth of his imagination, for that was anything +but lively. I cannot put it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, +although he was not prompt in action, he had a good store of reason. We +see the effects of this irresolution, although we cannot assign a +cause for it. He was never a general, though a great soldier; never, +naturally, a good courtier, although he had always a good idea of being +so. He was never a good partizan, although all his life engaged in +intrigues. That air of pride and timidity which your see in his private +life, is turned in business into an apologetic manner. He always +believed he had need of it; and this, combined with his 'Maxims,' which +show little faith in virtue, and his habitual custom, to give up matters +with the same haste he undertook them, leads me to the conclusion that +he would have done far better to have known his own mind, and have +passed himself off, as he could have done, for the most polished +courtier, the most agreeable man in private life that had appeared in +his century." + +It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the Duc is not painted in +such dark colours as we should have expected, judging from what we know +of the character of De Retz. With his marvellous power of depicting +character, a power unrivalled, except by St. Simon and perhaps by Lord +Clarendon, we should have expected the malignity of the priest would +have stamped the features of his great enemy with the impress of infamy, +and not have simply made him appear a courtier, weak, insincere, +and nothing more. Though rather beyond our subject, the character of +Cardinal de Retz, as delineated by Mdme. Sevigne, in one of her letters, +will help us to form a true conclusion on the different characters of +the Duc and the Cardinal. She says:-- "Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz +possesses great elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, +and more of the ostentation than of the true greatness of courage. He +has an extraordinary memory, more energy than polish in his words, an +easy humour, docility of character, and weakness in submitting to +the complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little piety, some +appearances of religion. He appears ambitious without being really so. +Vanity and those who have guided him, have made him undertake great +things, almost all opposed to his profession. He excited the greatest +troubles in the State without any design of turning them to account, and +far from declaring himself the enemy of Cardinal Mazarin with any view +of occupying his place, he thought of nothing but making himself an +object of dread to him, and flattering himself with the false vanity of +being his rival. He was clever enough, however, to take advantage of +the public calamities to get himself made Cardinal. He endured his +imprisonment with firmness, and owed his liberty solely to his own +daring. In the obscurity of a life of wandering and concealment, his +indolence for many years supported him with reputation. He preserved the +Archbishopric of Paris against the power of Cardinal Mazarin, but after +the death of that minister, he resigned it without knowing what he +was doing, and without making use of the opportunity to promote the +interests of himself and his friends. He has taken part in several +conclaves, and his conduct has always increased his reputation. + +"His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he labours with +activity in pressing business, and reposes with indifference when it is +concluded. He has great presence of mind, and knows so well how to turn +it to his own advantage on all occasions presented him by fortune, +that it would seem as if he had foreseen and desired them. He loves +to narrate, and seeks to dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his +extraordinary adventures, and his imagination often supplies him with +more than his memory. The generality of his qualities are false, and +what has most contributed to his reputation is his power of throwing +a good light on his faults. He is insensible alike to hatred and to +friendship, whatever pains he may be at to appear taken up with the one +or the other. He is incapable of envy or avarice, whether from virtue or +from carelessness. He has borrowed more from his friends than a private +person could ever hope to be able to repay; he has felt the vanity of +acquiring so much on credit, and of undertaking to discharge it. He has +neither taste nor refinement; he is amused by everything and pleased +by nothing. He avoids difficult matters with considerable address, +not allowing people to penetrate the slight acquaintance he has with +everything. The retreat he has just made from the world is the most +brilliant and the most unreal action of his life; it is a sacrifice he +has made to his pride under the pretence of devotion; he quits the court +to which he cannot attach himself, and retires from a world which is +retiring from him." + +The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a preface by Segrais. +This preface was omitted in the subsequent editions. The first edition +contained 316 maxims, counting the last upon death, which was not +numbered. The second in 1666 contained only 102; the third in 1671, and +the fourth in 1675, 413. In this last edition we first meet with the +introductory maxim, "Our virtues are generally but disguised vices." The +edition of 1678, the fifth, increased the number to 504. This was the +last edition revised by the author, and published in his lifetime. The +text of that edition has been used for the present translation. The next +edition, the sixth, was published in 1693, about thirteen years after +the author's death. This edition included fifty new maxims, attributed +by the editor to Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were his writing, as +the fact was never denied by his family, through whose permission they +were published. They form the third supplement to the translation. This +sixth edition was published by Claude Barbin, and the French editions +since that time have been too numerous to be enumerated. The great +popularity of the Maxims is perhaps best shown from the numerous +translations that have been made of them. No less than eight English +translations, or so-called translations, have appeared; one American, a +Swedish, and a Spanish translation, an Italian imitation, with parallel +passages, and an English imitation by Hazlitt. The titles of the English +editions are as follows:-- i. Seneca Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. +London, 1689. She calls the author the Duke of Rushfucave. ii. Moral +Maxims and Reflections, in four parts. By the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. +Now made English. London, 1694. 12 mo. iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections +of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Newly made English. London, 1706. 12 +mo. iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Translated +from the French. With notes. London, 1749. 12 mo. v. Maxims and Moral +Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Revised and improved. +London, 1775. 8 vo. vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la +Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and improved, by L. D. London, +1781. 8 vo. vii. The Gentleman's Library. La Rochefoucauld's Maxims +and Moral Reflections. London, 1813. 12 mo. viii. Moral Reflections, +Sentences, and Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly translated +from the French; with an introduction and notes. London, 1850. 16 mo. +ix. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld: with a +Memoir by the Chevalier de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo. + +The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every reader to a greater +or less degree, in accordance with the extent of his reading, parallel +passages, and similar ideas. Of ancient writers Rochefoucauld most +strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern writers, Junius most strongly +reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some examples from both are given in the +notes to this translation. It is curious to see how the expressions +of the bitterest writer of English political satire to a great extent +express the same ideas as the great French satirist of private life. +Had space permitted the parallel could have been drawn very closely, and +much of the invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefoucauld. + +One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and protected, was +the great French fabulist, La Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by +La Fontaine giving, in one of his fables, "L'Homme et son Image," an +elaborate defence of his patron. After there depicting a man who fancied +himself one of the most lovely in the world, and who complained he +always found all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real +image reflected in the water. He thus applies his fable:-- "Je parle +a tous: et cette erreur extreme, Est un mal que chacun se plait +d'entretenir, Notre ame, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui meme, Tant +de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. Miroirs, de nos defauts les +peintres legitimes, Et quant au canal, c'est celui Qui chacun sait, le +livre des MAXIMES." + +It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we all see ourselves. +This has made it so unpopular. It is too true. We dislike to be told +of our faults, while we only like to be told of our neighbour's. +Notwithstanding Rousseau's assertion, it is young men, who, before they +know their own faults and only know their neighbours', that read and +thoroughly appreciate Rochefoucauld. + +After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more and seems far +truer than he is in reality, it is impossible to give any general +conclusion of such distinguished writers on the subject. Each reader +will form his own opinion of the merits of the author and his book. To +some, both will seem deserving of the highest praise; to others both +will seem deserving of the highest censure. The truest judgment as to +the author will be found in the remarks of a countryman of his own, as +to the book in the remarks of a countryman of ours. + +As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:--"C'etait un misanthrope poli, +insinuant, souriant, qui precedait de bien peu et preparait avec charme +l'autre MISANTHROPE." + +As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:--"Among the books in ancient and +modern times which record the conclusions of observing men on the moral +qualities of their fellows, a high place should be reserved for the +Maxims of Rochefoucauld". + + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + +Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. + +[This epigraph which is the key to the system of La Rochefoucauld, is +found in another form as No. 179 of the maxims of the first edition, +1665, it is omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, and reappears for the first +time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as at present, at the head of the +Reflections.--Aime Martin. Its best answer is arrived at by reversing +the predicate and the subject, and you at once form a contradictory +maxim equally true, our vices are most frequently but virtues +disguised.] + + +1.--What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and +divers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage to arrange; +and it is not always from valour or from chastity that men are brave, +and women chaste. + +"Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like +the meanest slave; Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, His pride +in reasoning, not in acting, lies." Pope, Moral Essays, Ep. i. line 115. + + +2.--Self-love is the greatest of flatterers. + + +3.--Whatever discoveries have been made in the region of self-love, +there remain many unexplored territories there. + +[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to develope. He +wishes to find in vice a motive for all our actions, but this does not +suffice him; he is obliged to call other passions to the help of his +system and to confound pride, vanity, interest and egotism with self +love. This confusion destroys the unity of his principle.--Aime Martin.] + + +4.--Self love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world. + + +5.--The duration of our passions is no more dependant upon us than the +duration of our life. [Then what becomes of free will?--Aime; Martin] + + +6.--Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even sometimes +renders the most foolish man clever. + + +7.--Great and striking actions which dazzle the eyes are represented by +politicians as the effect of great designs, instead of which they are +commonly caused by the temper and the passions. Thus the war between +Augustus and Anthony, which is set down to the ambition they entertained +of making themselves masters of the world, was probably but an effect of +jealousy. + + +8.--The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are +a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man +with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without. + +[See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.] + + +9.--The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which +makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust +them even when they appear most trustworthy. + + +10.--In the human heart there is a perpetual generation of passions; so +that the ruin of one is almost always the foundation of another. + + +11.--Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to +prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through +weakness and daring though timidity. + + +12.--Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under the appearances +of piety and honour, they are always to be seen through these veils. + +[The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps better--"however +we may conceal our passions under the veil, etc., there is always some +place where they peep out."] + + +13.--Our self love endures more impatiently the condemnation of our +tastes than of our opinions. + + +14.--Men are not only prone to forget benefits and injuries; they even +hate those who have obliged them, and cease to hate those who have +injured them. The necessity of revenging an injury or of recompensing a +benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling to submit. + + +15.--The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win the affections +of the people. + + +["So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by clemency, so greatly +does it raise their fame and endear them to their subjects, that it +is generally happy for them to have an opportunity of displaying +it."--Montesquieu, Esprit Des Lois, Lib. VI., C. 21.] + + +16.--This clemency of which they make a merit, arises oftentimes from +vanity, sometimes from idleness, oftentimes from fear, and almost always +from all three combined. + +[La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which he lived. Here +the clemency spoken of is nothing more than an expression of the policy +of Anne of Austria. Rochefoucauld had sacrificed all to her; even the +favour of Cardinal Richelieu, but when she became regent she bestowed +her favours upon those she hated; her friends were forgotten.--Aime +Martin. The reader will hereby see that the age in which the writer +lived best interprets his maxims.] + + +17.--The moderation of those who are happy arises from the calm which +good fortune bestows upon their temper. + + +18.--Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt +which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a +vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men +at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their +fortune. + + +19.--We have all sufficient strength to support the misfortunes of +others. + +[The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucretius, lib. ii., +line I:-- "Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis E terra magnum +alterius spectare laborem."] + + +20.--The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the +agitation of their hearts. + +[Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. This definition of +constancy is a result of maxim 18.] + + +21.--Those who are condemned to death affect sometimes a constancy and +contempt for death which is only the fear of facing it; so that one may +say that this constancy and contempt are to their mind what the bandage +is to their eyes. + +[See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.] + + +22.--Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but +present evils triumph over it. + + +23.--Few people know death, we only endure it, usually from +determination, and even from stupidity and custom; and most men only die +because they know not how to prevent dying. + + +24.--When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the continuance +of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by ambition, +and not by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes are made like +other men. + +[Both these maxims have been rewritten and made conciser by the author; +the variations are not worth quoting.] + + +25.--We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune. + +["Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} best +discover virtue."--Lord Bacon, Essays{, (1625), "Of Adversity"}.] + +{The quotation wrongly had "does" for "doth".} + + +26.--Neither the sun nor death can be looked at without winking. + + +27.--People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but +envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare avow +her. + + +28.--Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, as it tends to +preserve a good which belongs, or which we believe belongs to us, on the +other hand envy is a fury which cannot endure the happiness of others. + + +29.--The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution and +hatred as our good qualities. + + +30.--We have more strength than will; and it is often merely for an +excuse we say things are impossible. + + +31.--If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting +those of others. + + +32.--Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an end or becomes a fury as +soon as it passes from doubt to certainty. + + +33.--Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when it casts away +vanity. + +[See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take from our other +faults we add to our pride.] + + +34.--If we had no pride we should not complain of that of others. + +["The proud are ever most provoked by pride."--Cowper, Conversation +160.] + + +35.--Pride is much the same in all men, the only difference is the +method and manner of showing it. + +["Pride bestowed on all a common friend."--Pope, Essay On Man, Ep. ii., +line 273.] + + +36.--It would seem that nature, which has so wisely ordered the organs +of our body for our happiness, has also given us pride to spare us the +mortification of knowing our imperfections. + + +37.--Pride has a larger part than goodness in our remonstrances with +those who commit faults, and we reprove them not so much to correct as +to persuade them that we ourselves are free from faults. + + +38.--We promise according to our hopes; we perform according to our +fears. + +["The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long to grant the +favours he had promised, was because he was persuaded that hope was much +more capable of keeping men to their duty than gratitude."--Fragments +Historiques. Racine.] + + +39.--Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays all sorts of +characters; even that of disinterestedness. + + +40.--Interest blinds some and makes some see. + + +41.--Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often +become incapable of great things. + + +42.--We have not enough strength to follow all our reason. + + +43.--A man often believes himself leader when he is led; as his mind +endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him towards +another. + + +44.--Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; they are really only +the good or happy arrangement of our bodily organs. + + +45.--The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical than that of +Fortune. + + +46.--The attachment or indifference which philosophers have shown to +life is only the style of their self love, about which we can no more +dispute than of that of the palate or of the choice of colours. + + +47.--Our temper sets a price upon every gift that we receive from +fortune. + + +48.--Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we +are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what others +like. + + +49.--We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose. + + +50.--Those who think they have merit persuade themselves that they are +honoured by being unhappy, in order to persuade others and themselves +that they are worthy to be the butt of fortune. + + +["Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable men take comfort +that they were supreme in misery; and certain it is{, that where} we +cannot distinguish ourselves by something excellent, we begin to take +a complacency in some singular infirmities, follies, or defects of one +kind or other." --Burke, {On The Sublime And Beautiful, (1756), Part I, +Sect. XVII}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite Speech On Conciliation With America. +Also, Burke does not actually write "Ambition has been...", he writes +"It has been..." when speaking of ambition.} + + +51.--Nothing should so much diminish the satisfaction which we feel +with ourselves as seeing that we disapprove at one time of that which we +approve of at another. + + +52.--Whatever difference there appears in our fortunes, there is +nevertheless a certain compensation of good and evil which renders them +equal. + + +53.--Whatever great advantages nature may give, it is not she alone, but +fortune also that makes the hero. + + +54.--The contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to +avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune, by despising the +very goods of which fortune had deprived them; it was a secret to guard +themselves against the degradation of poverty, it was a back way by +which to arrive at that distinction which they could not gain by riches. + +["It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior ranks of +mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that pomp and pleasure +which fortune has placed beyond their reach. The virtue of the primitive +Christians, like that of the first Romans, was very frequently guarded +by poverty and ignorance."--Gibbon, Decline And Fall, Chap. 15.] + + +55.--The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT +possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it +evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not +being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the +world. + + +56.--To establish ourselves in the world we do everything to appear as +if we were established. + + +57.--Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are +not so often the result of a great design as of chance. + + +58.--It would seem that our actions have lucky or unlucky stars to which +they owe a great part of the blame or praise which is given them. + + +59.--There are no accidents so unfortunate from which skilful men will +not draw some advantage, nor so fortunate that foolish men will not turn +them to their hurt. + + +60.--Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she +smiles. + + +61.--The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less upon their +dispositions than their fortunes. + +["Still to ourselves in every place consigned Our own felicity we make +or find." Goldsmith, Traveller, 431.] + + +62.--Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few +people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the +confidence of others. + + +63.--The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our +words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our +conversation. + + +64.--Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its counterfeits do +evil. + + +65.--There is no praise we have not lavished upon Prudence; and yet she +cannot assure to us the most trifling event. + +[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 it is No. +75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last edition it stands as at +present. In the first he quotes Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. " Nullum +numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, +coeloque locamus." Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, +and with much greater force.] + + +66.--A clever man ought to so regulate his interests that each will fall +in due order. Our greediness so often troubles us, making us run after +so many things at the same time, that while we too eagerly look after +the least we miss the greatest. + + +67.--What grace is to the body good sense is to the mind. + + +68.--It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul +it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a sympathy, and in the body +it is a hidden and delicate wish to possess what we love--Plus many +mysteries. + +["Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be singularly +beloved."--Hobbes{Leviathan, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + +{Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' mistakenly +have "singularity" for the first "singularly" and (2) Hobbes does not +actually write "Love is the..."--he writes "Love of one..." under the +heading "The passion of Love."} + + +69.--If there is a pure love, exempt from the mixture of our other +passions, it is that which is concealed at the bottom of the heart and +of which even ourselves are ignorant. + + +70.--There is no disguise which can long hide love where it exists, nor +feign it where it does not. + + +71.--There are few people who would not be ashamed of being beloved when +they love no longer. + + +72.--If we judge of love by the majority of its results it rather +resembles hatred than friendship. + + +73.--We may find women who have never indulged in an intrigue, but it is +rare to find those who have intrigued but once. + +["Yet there are some, they say, who have had None}; But those who +have, ne'er end with only one}." {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, {Canto} iii., +stanza 4.] + + +74.--There is only one sort of love, but there are a thousand different +copies. + + +75.--Neither love nor fire can subsist without perpetual motion; both +cease to live so soon as they cease to hope, or to fear. + +[So Lord Byron{Stanzas, (1819), stanza 3} says of Love-- "Like chiefs of +faction, His life is action."] + + +76.--There is real love just as there are real ghosts; every person +speaks of it, few persons have seen it. + +["Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art-- An unseen seraph, we believe +in thee-- A faith whose martyrs are the broken heart,-- But never yet +hath seen, nor e'er shall see The naked eye, thy form as it should be." +{--Lord Byron, }Childe Harold, {Canto} iv., stanza 121.] + + +77.--Love lends its name to an infinite number of engagements +(Commerces) which are attributed to it, but with which it has no more +concern than the Doge has with all that is done in Venice. + + +78.--The love of justice is simply in the majority of men the fear of +suffering injustice. + + +79.--Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts himself. + + +80.--What renders us so changeable in our friendship is, that it is +difficult to know the qualities of the soul, but easy to know those of +the mind. + + +81.--We can love nothing but what agrees with us, and we can only follow +our taste or our pleasure when we prefer our friends to ourselves; +nevertheless it is only by that preference that friendship can be true +and perfect. + + +82.--Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire to better our +condition, a weariness of war, the fear of some unlucky accident. + +["Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. The Duke de la +Rochefoucauld desired peace because of his dangerous wounds and ruined +castles, which had made him dread even worse events. On the other side +the Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful to her too ambitious +friends, did not cease to feel the bitterness of their resentment. 'I +wish,' said she, 'it were always night, because daylight shows me so +many who have betrayed me.'"--Memoires De Madame De Motteville, Tom. +IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these maxims are in some cases +of universal application, they were based entirely on the experience of +the age in which the author lived.] + + +83.--What men term friendship is merely a partnership with a collection +of reciprocal interests, and an exchange of favours--in fact it is but a +trade in which self love always expects to gain something. + + +84.--It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be deceived by our +friends. + + +85.--We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful +than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give +our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to +receive. + + +86.--Our distrust of another justifies his deceit. + + +87.--Men would not live long in society were they not the dupes of each +other. + +[A maxim, adds Aime Martin, "Which may enter into the code of a vulgar +rogue, but one is astonished to find it in a moral treatise." Yet we +have scriptural authority for it: "Deceiving and being deceived."--2 +TIM. iii. 13.] + + +88.--Self love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our +friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them, and we +judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us. + + +89.--Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his judgment. + + +90.--In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by +our good qualities. + + +91.--The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it +meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object. + + +92.--To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him +as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in +believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. + +[That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, son of Pythodorus. +His brother Crito cured him, when he infinitely regretted the time of +his more pleasant madness.--See Aelian, Var. Hist. iv. 25. So Horace-- +------------"Pol, me occidistis, amici, Non servastis," ait, "cui sic +extorta voluptas Et demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error." HOR. EP. +ii--2, 138, of the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.] + + +93.--Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact +that they can no longer set bad examples. + + +94.--Great names degrade instead of elevating those who know not how to +sustain them. + + +95.--The test of extraordinary merit is to see those who envy it the +most yet obliged to praise it. + + +96.--A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less chargeable with +ingratitude than his benefactor is. + + +97.--We are deceived if we think that mind and judgment are two +different matters: judgment is but the extent of the light of the mind. +This light penetrates to the bottom of matters; it remarks all that can +be remarked, and perceives what appears imperceptible. Therefore we must +agree that it is the extent of the light in the mind that produces all +the effects which we attribute to judgment. + + +98.--Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding. + + +99.--Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined +thoughts. + + +100.--Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty things in an agreeable +manner. + + +101.--Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could +make them after much labour. + + +102.--The head is ever the dupe of the heart. + +[A feeble imitation of that great thought "All folly comes from +the heart."--Aime Martin. But Bonhome, in his L'art De Penser, says +"Plusieurs diraient en periode quarre que quelques reflexions que fasse +l'esprit et quelques resolutions qu'il prenne pour corriger ses travers +le premier sentiment du coeur renverse tous ses projets. Mais il +n'appartient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de dire tout en un mot que +l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur."] + + +103.--Those who know their minds do not necessarily know their hearts. + + +104.--Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge +rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never +judge rightly but at a distance. + + +105.--A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. +A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it. + + +106.--To understand matters rightly we should understand their details, +and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always +superficial and imperfect. + + +107.--One kind of flirtation is to boast we never flirt. + + +108.--The head cannot long play the part of the heart. + + +109.--Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its blood, age retains +its tastes by habit. + + +110.--Nothing is given so profusely as advice. + + +111.--The more we love a woman the more prone we are to hate her. + + +112.--The blemishes of the mind, like those of the face, increase by +age. + + +113.--There may be good but there are no pleasant marriages. + + +114.--We are inconsolable at being deceived by our enemies and betrayed +by our friends, yet still we are often content to be thus served by +ourselves. + + +115.--It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as to deceive others. + + +116.--Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking and giving advice. +The person asking seems to pay deference to the opinion of his friend, +while thinking in reality of making his friend approve his opinion and +be responsible for his conduct. The person giving the advice returns the +confidence placed in him by eager and disinterested zeal, in doing which +he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation. + +["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was which on many +occasions I have heard from people of good understanding, 'That as to +what related to private conduct no one was ever the better for advice.' +But upon further examination I have resolved with myself that the maxim +might be admitted without any violent prejudice to mankind. For in +the manner advice was generally given there was no reason I thought to +wonder it should be so ill received, something there was which strangely +inverted the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For by what +I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, that which we called +giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our own wisdom +at another's expense. On the other side to be instructed or to receive +advice on the terms usually prescribed to us was little better than +tamely to afford another the occasion of raising himself a character +from our defects."--Lord Shaftesbury, Characteristics, i., 153.] + + +117.--The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares +that we know are set for us. We are never so easily deceived as when +trying to deceive. + + +118.--The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. + + +119.--We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that at +last we are disguised to ourselves. + +["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what does not +belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant both of the +character they leave{,} and of the character they assume."--Burke, +{Reflections On The Revolution In France, (1790), Paragraph 19}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite Thoughts On The Cause Of The Present +Discontents.} + + +120.--We often act treacherously more from weakness than from a fixed +motive. + + +121.--We frequently do good to enable us with impunity to do evil. + + +122.--If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness than +from our strength. + + +123.--If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure. + + +124.--The most deceitful persons spend their lives in blaming deceit, so +as to use it on some great occasion to promote some great interest. + + +125.--The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it generally +happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect themselves +lay themselves open to attack in another. + +["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the +place of being wise." Churchill, Rosciad, 117.] + + +126.--Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity. + + +127.--The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than +others. + + +128.--Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is +the most substantial cleverness. + + +129.--It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived +by cunning men. + + +130.--Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured. + + +131.--The smallest fault of women who give themselves up to love is to +love. [------"Faciunt graviora coactae Imperio sexus minimumque libidine +peccant." Juvenal, Sat. vi., 134.] + + +132.--It is far easier to be wise for others than to be so for oneself. + +[Hence the proverb, "A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his +client."] + + +133.--The only good examples are those, that make us see the absurdity +of bad originals. + + +134.--We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those +that we affect to have. + + +135.--We sometimes differ more widely from ourselves than we do from +others. + + +136.--There are some who never would have loved if they never had heard +it spoken of. + + +137.--When not prompted by vanity we say little. + + +138.--A man would rather say evil of himself than say nothing. + +["Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of himself, and as +often happens to vain men, he would rather talk of his own failings than +of any foreign subject."-- Hallam, Literature Of Europe.] + + +139.--One of the reasons that we find so few persons rational and +agreeable in conversation is there is hardly a person who does not think +more of what he wants to say than of his answer to what is said. The +most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we +perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering +from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say. Instead +of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try +thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer +well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation. + +["An absent man can make but few observations, he can pursue nothing +steadily because his absences make him lose his way. They are very +disagreeable and hardly to be tolerated in old age, but in youth they +cannot be forgiven." --Lord Chesterfield, Letter 195.] + + +140.--If it was not for the company of fools, a witty man would often be +greatly at a loss. + + +141.--We often boast that we are never bored, but yet we are so +conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others. + + +142.--As it is the mark of great minds to say many things in a few +words, so it is that of little minds to use many words to say nothing. + +["So much they talked, so very little said." Churchill, Rosciad, 550. + +"Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an argument or wish +to avoid it, are willing enough to suppose that much has been proved +because much has been said."-- Junius, Jan. 1769.] + + +143.--It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we +exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we +praise them we wish to attract their praise. + + +144.--We do not like to praise, and we never praise without a +motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies +differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as +the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and +knowledge. + + +145.--We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those +we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means. + + +146.--Usually we only praise to be praised. + + +147.--Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to +praise which is treacherous. + + +148.--Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach. + +["Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without sneering, +teach the rest to sneer." Pope {Essay On Man, (1733), Epistle To Dr. +Arbuthnot.}] + + +149.--The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice. + +[The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a desire to +be praised more highly. Edition 1665.] + + +150.--The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our +good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to +increase them. + + +151.--It is easier to govern others than to prevent being governed. + + +152.--If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of others would not +hurt us. + +["Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate credentis." Tacit. +Ann. xvi.] + + +153.--Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to work. + + +154.--Fortune cures us of many faults that reason could not. + + +155.--There are some persons who only disgust with their abilities, +there are persons who please even with their faults. + + +156.--There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and doing +stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if they change their +manners. + + +157.--The fame of great men ought always to be estimated by the means +used to acquire it. + + +158.--Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity gives currency. + + +159.--It is not enough to have great qualities, we should also have the +management of them. + + +160.--However brilliant an action it should not be esteemed great unless +the result of a great motive. + + +161.--A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we +desire to estimate the effects that they produce. + + +162.--The art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, and +often acquires more reputation than real brilliancy. + + +163.--Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} motives are most +wise and weighty. + + +164.--It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we do not fill than for +those we do. + + +165.--Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, luck that of the +people. + + +166.--The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit than merit +itself. + + +167.--Avarice is more opposed to economy than to liberality. + + +168.--However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on pleasantly to +the end of life. + +["Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die." Pope: Essay On Man, +Ep. ii.] + + +169.--Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue +often gets the praise. + +["Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur." Tacitus Hist. I.] + + +170.--If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide +whether it is the effect of integrity or skill. + + +171.--As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in self. + + +172.--If we thoroughly consider the varied effects of indifference we +find we miscarry more in our duties than in our interests. + + +173.--There are different kinds of curiosity: one springs from interest, +which makes us desire to know everything that may be profitable to us; +another from pride, which springs from a desire of knowing what others +are ignorant of. + + +174.--It is far better to accustom our mind to bear the ills we have +than to speculate on those which may befall us. + +["Rather bear th{ose} ills we have Than fly to others that we know not +of." {--Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene I, Hamlet.}] + + +175.--Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy which causes our +heart to attach itself to all the qualities of the person we love +in succession, sometimes giving the preference to one, sometimes to +another. This constancy is merely inconstancy fixed, and limited to the +same person. + + +176.--There are two kinds of constancy in love, one arising from +incessantly finding in the loved one fresh objects to love, the other +from regarding it as a point of honour to be constant. + + +177.--Perseverance is not deserving of blame or praise, as it is merely +the continuance of tastes and feelings which we can neither create or +destroy. + + +178.--What makes us like new studies is not so much the weariness we +have of the old or the wish for change as the desire to be admired by +those who know more than ourselves, and the hope of advantage over those +who know less. + + +179.--We sometimes complain of the levity of our friends to justify our +own by anticipation. + + +180.--Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the ill we have done as +fear of the ill that may happen to us. + + +181.--One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or weakness of mind, +and makes us accept everyone's opinion, and another more excusable comes +from a surfeit of matter. + + +182.--Vices enter into the composition of virtues as poison into that of +medicines. Prudence collects and blends the two and renders them useful +against the ills of life. + + +183.--For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest +misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their crimes. + + +184.--We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity the evil we have +done in the opinion of others. + +[In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. We never admit our +faults except through vanity.] + + +185.--There are both heroes of evil and heroes of good. + +[Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, habebaturque +non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. --Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + + +186.--We do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all who +have not virtues. + +["If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of use to +us."--Junius, 5th Oct. 1771.] + + +187.--The name of virtue is as useful to our interest as that of vice. + + +188.--The health of the mind is not less uncertain than that of the +body, and when passions seem furthest removed we are no less in danger +of infection than of falling ill when we are well. + + +189.--It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed the bounds of his +virtues and vices. + + +190.--Great men should not have great faults. + + +191.--We may say vices wait on us in the course of our life as the +landlords with whom we successively lodge, and if we travelled the road +twice over I doubt if our experience would make us avoid them. + + +192.--When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves with the idea we have +left them. + + +193.--There are relapses in the diseases of the mind as in those of +the body; what we call a cure is often no more than an intermission or +change of disease. + + +194.--The defects of the mind are like the wounds of the body. Whatever +care we take to heal them the scars ever remain, and there is always +danger of their reopening. + + +195.--The reason which often prevents us abandoning a single vice is +having so many. + + +196.--We easily forget those faults which are known only to ourselves. + +[Seneca says "Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens testem non +conscientiam."] + + +197.--There are men of whom we can never believe evil without having +seen it. Yet there are very few in whom we should be surprised to see +it. + + +198.--We exaggerate the glory of some men to detract from that of +others, and we should praise Prince Conde and Marshal Turenne much less +if we did not want to blame them both. + +[The allusion to Conde and Turenne gives the date at which these maxims +were published in 1665. Conde and Turenne were after their campaign with +the Imperialists at the height of their fame. It proves the truth of +the remark of Tacitus, "Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit."-- Tac. Ann. +xiv.] + + +199.--The desire to appear clever often prevents our being so. + + +200.--Virtue would not go far did not vanity escort her. + + +201.--He who thinks he has the power to content the world greatly +deceives himself, but he who thinks that the world cannot be content +with him deceives himself yet more. + + +202.--Falsely honest men are those who disguise their faults both +to themselves and others; truly honest men are those who know them +perfectly and confess them. + + +203.--He is really wise who is nettled at nothing. + + +204.--The coldness of women is a balance and burden they add to their +beauty. + + +205.--Virtue in woman is often the love of reputation and repose. + + +206.--He is a truly good man who desires always to bear the inspection +of good men. + + +207.--Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one appears wise 'tis +but because his folly is proportioned to his age and fortune. + + +208.--There are foolish people who know and who skilfully use their +folly. + + +209.--Who lives without folly is not so wise as he thinks. + + +210.--In growing old we become more foolish--and more wise. + + +211.--There are people who are like farces, which are praised but for a +time (however foolish and distasteful they may be). + +[The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.] + + +212.--Most people judge men only by success or by fortune. + + +213.--Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, the desire to make +life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate others are +often causes of that bravery so vaunted among men. + +[Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, "He was as brave as a total +absence of all feeling and reflection could make him."--21st Jan. 1769.] + + +214.--Valour in common soldiers is a perilous method of earning their +living. + +["Men venture necks to gain a fortune, The soldier does it ev{'}ry day, +(Eight to the week) for sixpence pay." {--Samuel Butler,} Hudibras, Part +II., canto i., line 512.] + + +215.--Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two extremes rarely found. +The space between them is vast, and embraces all other sorts of courage. +The difference between them is not less than between faces and tempers. +Men will freely expose themselves at the beginning of an action, and +relax and be easily discouraged if it should last. Some are content to +satisfy worldly honour, and beyond that will do little else. Some are +not always equally masters of their timidity. Others allow themselves +to be overcome by panic; others charge because they dare not remain at +their posts. Some may be found whose courage is strengthened by small +perils, which prepare them to face greater dangers. Some will dare a +sword cut and flinch from a bullet; others dread bullets little and fear +to fight with swords. These varied kinds of courage agree in this, that +night, by increasing fear and concealing gallant or cowardly actions, +allows men to spare themselves. There is even a more general discretion +to be observed, for we meet with no man who does all he would have done +if he were assured of getting off scot-free; so that it is certain that +the fear of death does somewhat subtract from valour. + +[See also "Table Talk of Napoleon," who agrees with this, so far as to +say that few, but himself, had a two o'clock of the morning valour.] + + +216.--Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do before +all the world. + +["It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are in the eyes +of them that look on."--Bacon, Advancement Of Learning{, (1605), Book I, +Section II, paragraph 5}.] + + +217.--Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul which raises it +above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which the sight of great +perils can arouse in it: by this strength heroes maintain a calm +aspect and preserve their reason and liberty in the most surprising and +terrible accidents. + + +218.--Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. + +[So Massillon, in one of his sermons, "Vice pays homage to virtue in +doing honour to her appearance." + +So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, "You have done as much +mischief to the community as Machiavel, if Machiavel had not known that +an appearance of morals and religion are useful in society."--28 Sept. +1771.] + + +219.--Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, +few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make +the design for which they expose themselves succeed. + + +220.--Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men brave and +women chaste. + +["Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters chaste and +courteous. But why do we need her instruction?"--Sterne, Sermons.] + + +221.--We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to gain glory, and this +makes brave men show more tact and address in avoiding death, than +rogues show in preserving their fortunes. + + +222.--Few persons on the first approach of age do not show wherein their +body, or their mind, is beginning to fail. + + +223.--Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: it holds commerce +together; and we do not pay because it is just to pay debts, but because +we shall thereby more easily find people who will lend. + + +224.--All those who pay the debts of gratitude cannot thereby flatter +themselves that they are grateful. + + +225.--What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, is that the +pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as to the value of the +benefit. + +["The first foundation of friendship is not the power of conferring +benefits, but the equality with which they are received, and may be +returned."--Junius's Letter To The King.] + + +226.--Too great a hurry to discharge of an obligation is a kind of +ingratitude. + + +227.--Lucky people are bad hands at correcting their faults; they always +believe that they are right when fortune backs up their vice or folly. + +["The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for the happy +impute all their success to prudence and merit."--Swift, Thoughts On +Various Subjects] + + +228.--Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay. + + +229.--The good we have received from a man should make us excuse the +wrong he does us. + + +230.--Nothing is so infectious as example, and we never do great good or +evil without producing the like. We imitate good actions by emulation, +and bad ones by the evil of our nature, which shame imprisons until +example liberates. + + +231.--It is great folly to wish only to be wise. + + +232.--Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it is always interest +or vanity that causes them. + + +233.--In afflictions there are various kinds of hypocrisy. In one, under +the pretext of weeping for one dear to us we bemoan ourselves; we +regret her good opinion of us, we deplore the loss of our comfort, our +pleasure, our consideration. Thus the dead have the credit of tears +shed for the living. I affirm 'tis a kind of hypocrisy which in these +afflictions deceives itself. There is another kind not so innocent +because it imposes on all the world, that is the grief of those who +aspire to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. After Time, +which absorbs all, has obliterated what sorrow they had, they still +obstinately obtrude their tears, their sighs their groans, they wear a +solemn face, and try to persuade others by all their acts, that their +grief will end only with their life. This sad and distressing vanity is +commonly found in ambitious women. As their sex closes to them all paths +to glory, they strive to render themselves celebrated by showing an +inconsolable affliction. There is yet another kind of tears arising from +but small sources, which flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to +achieve a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps to be +bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace of not weeping! + +["In grief the {Pleasure} is still uppermost{;} and the affliction we +suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which is always odious, and +which we endeavour to shake off as soon as possible."--Burke, Sublime +And Beautiful{, (1756), Part I, Sect. V}.] + + +234.--It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so +obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, +and we do not want to be the last. + + +235.--We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of our friends when they +enable us to prove our tenderness for them. + + +236.--It would seem that even self-love may be the dupe of goodness +and forget itself when we work for others. And yet it is but taking the +shortest way to arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of +giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and delicate manner. + + +237.--No one should be praised for his goodness if he has not strength +enough to be wicked. All other goodness is but too often an idleness or +powerlessness of will. + + +238.--It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as to do them too +much good. + + +239.--Nothing flatters our pride so much as the confidence of the great, +because we regard it as the result of our worth, without remembering +that generally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a secret. + + +240.--We may say of conformity as distinguished from beauty, that it is +a symmetry which knows no rules, and a secret harmony of features both +one with each other and with the colour and appearance of the person. + + +241.--Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, although all do not +practise it, some being restrained by fear, others by sense. + +["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes both in the mode +and object according to her opinions."-- Rousseau, Emile.] + + +242.--We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them. + + +243.--Few things are impossible in themselves; application to make them +succeed fails us more often than the means. + + +244.--Sovereign ability consists in knowing the value of things. + + +245.--There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one's ability. + +["You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy when you have made +others think that you have only very average abilities."--La Bruyere.] + + +246.--What seems generosity is often disguised ambition, that despises +small to run after greater interest. + + +247.--The fidelity of most men is merely an invention of self-love +to win confidence; a method to place us above others and to render us +depositaries of the most important matters. + + +248.--Magnanimity despises all, to win all. + + +249.--There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the eyes and in the +air of a speaker than in his choice of words. + + +250.--True eloquence consists in saying all that should be, not all that +could be said. + + +251.--There are people whose faults become them, others whose very +virtues disgrace them. + +["There are faults which do him honour, and virtues that disgrace +him."--Junius, Letter Of 28th May, 1770.] + + +252.--It is as common to change one's tastes, as it is uncommon to +change one's inclinations. + + +253.--Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and vices. + + +254.--Humility is often a feigned submission which we employ to supplant +others. It is one of the devices of Pride to lower us to raise us; and +truly pride transforms itself in a thousand ways, and is never so well +disguised and more able to deceive than when it hides itself under the +form of humility. + +["Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for business."--Junius, +Letter To The Duke Of Grafton. + +"He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, +And the devil was pleased, for his darling sin Is the pride that apes +humility." Southey, Devil's Walk.] + +{There are numerous corrections necessary for this quotation; I will +keep the original above so you can compare the correct passages: + +"He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility, +And he owned with a grin, That his favourite sin Is pride that apes +humility." --Southey, Devil's Walk, Stanza 8. + +"And the devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that apes +humility." --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Devil's Thoughts} + + +255.--All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, gestures and +looks, and this harmony, as it is good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, +makes people agreeable or disagreeable. + + +256.--In all professions we affect a part and an appearance to seem what +we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors. + +["All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely +players."--Shakespeare, As You Like It{, Act II, Scene VII, Jaques}. + +"Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the hero should +preserve his consistency to the last."--Junius.] + + +257.--Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body invented to conceal +the want of mind. + +["Gravity is the very essence of imposture."--Shaftesbury, +Characteristics, p. 11, vol. I. "The very essence of gravity is design, +and consequently deceit; a taught trick to gain credit with the world +for more sense and knowledge than a man was worth, and that with all its +pretensions it was no better, but often worse, than what a French wit +had long ago defined it--a mysterious carriage of the body to cover the +defects of the mind."--Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. I., chap. ii.] + + +258.--Good taste arises more from judgment than wit. + + +259.--The pleasure of love is in loving, we are happier in the passion +we feel than in that we inspire. + + +260.--Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and to be esteemed +polite. + + +261.--The usual education of young people is to inspire them with a +second self-love. + + +262.--There is no passion wherein self-love reigns so powerfully as in +love, and one is always more ready to sacrifice the peace of the loved +one than his own. + + +263.--What we call liberality is often but the vanity of giving, which +we like more than that we give away. + + +264.--Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the ills of others. +It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into which we may fall. We +help others that on like occasions we may be helped ourselves, and these +services which we render, are in reality benefits we confer on ourselves +by anticipation. + +["Grief for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth from the +imagination that a like calamity may befal himself{;} and therefore is +called compassion."--Hobbes' Leviathan{, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + + +265.--A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do not easily believe what +we cannot see. + +["Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong." Dryden, Absalom And +Achitophel{, line 547}.] + + +266.--We deceive ourselves if we believe that there are violent +passions like ambition and love that can triumph over others. Idleness, +languishing as she is, does not often fail in being mistress; she +usurps authority over all the plans and actions of life; imperceptibly +consuming and destroying both passions and virtues. + + +267.--A quickness in believing evil without having sufficiently examined +it, is the effect of pride and laziness. We wish to find the guilty, and +we do not wish to trouble ourselves in examining the crime. + + +268.--We credit judges with the meanest motives, and yet we desire our +reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, +either from their jealousy or pre-occupation or want of intelligence, +opposed to us--and yet 'tis only to make these men decide in our favour +that we peril in so many ways both our peace and our life. + + +269.--No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does. + + +270.--One honour won is a surety for more. + + +271.--Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the fever of reason. + +["The best of life is but intoxication."--{Lord Byron, } Don Juan{, +Canto II, stanza 179}. In the 1st Edition, 1665, the maxim finishes +with--"it is the fever of health, the folly of reason."] + + +272.--Nothing should so humiliate men who have deserved great praise, as +the care they have taken to acquire it by the smallest means. + + +273.--There are persons of whom the world approves who have no merit +beyond the vices they use in the affairs of life. + + +274.--The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower to the fruit; it +lends a lustre which is easily lost, but which never returns. + + +275.--Natural goodness, which boasts of being so apparent, is often +smothered by the least interest. + + +276.--Absence extinguishes small passions and increases great ones, as +the wind will blow out a candle, and blow in a fire. + + +277.--Women often think they love when they do not love. The business of +a love affair, the emotion of mind that sentiment induces, the natural +bias towards the pleasure of being loved, the difficulty of refusing, +persuades them that they have real passion when they have but +flirtation. + +["And if in fact she takes a {"}Grande Passion{"}, It is a very serious +thing indeed: Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or fashion, Coquetry, +or a wish to take the lead, The pride of a mere child with a new sash +on. Or wish to make a rival's bosom bleed: But the {Tenth} instance will +be a tornado, For there's no saying what they will or may do." {--Lord +Byron, }Don Juan, canto xii. stanza 77.] + + +278.--What makes us so often discontented with those who transact +business for us is that they almost always abandon the interest of their +friends for the interest of the business, because they wish to have the +honour of succeeding in that which they have undertaken. + + +279.--When we exaggerate the tenderness of our friends towards us, it is +often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own merit. + + +280.--The praise we give to new comers into the world arises from the +envy we bear to those who are established. + + +281.--Pride, which inspires, often serves to moderate envy. + + +282.--Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that we should judge badly +were we not deceived. + + +283.--Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing how to use than in +giving good advice. + + +284.--There are wicked people who would be much less dangerous if they +were wholly without goodness. + + +285.--Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its name, nevertheless one +can say it is the good sense of pride, the most noble way of receiving +praise. + + +286.--It is impossible to love a second time those whom we have really +ceased to love. + + +287.--Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so many resources on +the same matter, as the lack of intelligence makes us hesitate at each +thing our imagination presents, and hinders us from at first discerning +which is the best. + + +288.--There are matters and maladies which at certain times remedies +only serve to make worse; true skill consists in knowing when it is +dangerous to use them. + + +289.--Affected simplicity is refined imposture. + +[Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium litterarum et +amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret animum et fratris aemulationi +subduceretur.--Tacitus, Ann. iv.] + + +290.--There are as many errors of temper as of mind. + + +291.--Man's merit, like the crops, has its season. + + +292.--One may say of temper as of many buildings; it has divers aspects, +some agreeable, others disagreeable. + + +293.--Moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and overcoming +Ambition: they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and +sloth of the soul, Ambition its activity and heat. + + +294.--We always like those who admire us, we do not always like those +whom we admire. + + +295.--It is well that we know not all our wishes. + + +296.--It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, but it is no less +so to love those whom we esteem much more than ourselves. + + +297.--Bodily temperaments have a common course and rule which +imperceptibly affect our will. They advance in combination, and +successively exercise a secret empire over us, so that, without our +perceiving it, they become a great part of all our actions. + + +298.--The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving +greater benefits. + +[Hence the common proverb "Gratitude is merely a lively sense of favors +to come."] + + +299.--Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying small debts; many +people show gratitude for trifling, but there is hardly one who does not +show ingratitude for great favours. + + +300.--There are follies as catching as infections. + + +301.--Many people despise, but few know how to bestow wealth. + + +302.--Only in things of small value we usually are bold enough not to +trust to appearances. + + +303.--Whatever good quality may be imputed to us, we ourselves find +nothing new in it. + + +304.--We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot forgive those whom we +bore. + + +305.--Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds often should be +praised for our good deeds. + + +306.--We find very few ungrateful people when we are able to confer +favours. + + +307.--It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is ridiculous to be so +in company. + + +308.--Moderation is made a virtue to limit the ambition of the great; +to console ordinary people for their small fortune and equally small +ability. + + +309.--There are persons fated to be fools, who commit follies not only +by choice, but who are forced by fortune to do so. + + +310.--Sometimes there are accidents in our life the skilful extrication +from which demands a little folly. + + +311.--If there be men whose folly has never appeared, it is because it +has never been closely looked for. + + +312.--Lovers are never tired of each other,--they always speak of +themselves. + + +313.--How is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least +triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how +often we have told it to the same person? + +["Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, and forget how often +they have told them, are most tedious companions."--Montaigne, {Essays, +Book I, Chapter IX}.] + + +314.--The extreme delight we take in talking of ourselves should warn us +that it is not shared by those who listen. + + +315.--What commonly hinders us from showing the recesses of our heart +to our friends, is not the distrust we have of them, but that we have of +ourselves. + + +316.--Weak persons cannot be sincere. + + +317.--'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is +unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel. + + +318.--We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, but there are none +to set straight a cross-grained spirit. + + +319.--If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults we cannot +long preserve the feelings we should hold towards our friends and +benefactors. + + +320.--To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is but to +reproach them with impunity. + +["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by Pope from a poem +which has not survived, "The Garland," by Mr. Broadhurst. "In some cases +exaggerated or inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire."-- +Scott, Woodstock.] + + +321.--We are nearer loving those who hate us, than those who love us +more than we desire. + + +322.--Those only are despicable who fear to be despised. + + +323.--Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune than our goods. + + +324.--There is more self-love than love in jealousy. + + +325.--We often comfort ourselves by the weakness of evils, for which +reason has not the strength to console us. + + +326.--Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour itself. + +["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, but it cannot +dishonour; it is vice which confers dishonour."] + + +327.--We own to small faults to persuade others that we have not great +ones. + + +328.--Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. + + +329.--We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery --we only dislike the +method. + +["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, He says he does, being +then most flattered." Shakespeare, Julius Caesar {,Act II, Scene I, +Decius}.] + + +330.--We pardon in the degree that we love. + + +331.--It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress when one is +happy, than when we are ill-treated by her. + +[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.--Ovid, Amores, ii. 19.] + + +332.--Women do not know all their powers of flirtation. + + +333.--Women cannot be completely severe unless they hate. + + +334.--Women can less easily resign flirtations than love. + + +335.--In love deceit almost always goes further than mistrust. + + +336.--There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids jealousy. + + +337.--There are certain good qualities as there are senses, and those +who want them can neither perceive nor understand them. + + +338.--When our hatred is too bitter it places us below those whom we +hate. + + +339.--We only appreciate our good or evil in proportion to our +self-love. + + +340.--The wit of most women rather strengthens their folly than their +reason. + +["Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, but for solid +reasoning and good sense I never knew one in my life that had it, +and who reasoned and acted consequentially for four and twenty hours +together."--Lord Chesterfield, Letter 129.] + + +341.--The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety than the coldness +of age. + + +342.--The accent of our native country dwells in the heart and mind as +well as on the tongue. + + +343.--To be a great man one should know how to profit by every phase of +fortune. + + +344.--Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance +discovers. + + +345.--Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves. + + +346.--If a woman's temper is beyond control there can be no control of +the mind or heart. + + +347.--We hardly find any persons of good sense, save those who agree +with us. + +["That was excellently observed, say I, when I read an author when his +opinion agrees with mine."--Swift, Thoughts On Various Subjects.] + + +348.--When one loves one doubts even what one most believes. + + +349.--The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate flirtation. + + +350.--Why we hate with so much bitterness those who deceive us is +because they think themselves more clever than we are. + +["I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I cannot forgive +his supposing me capable of the gross folly of being duped by his +professions."--Sir Walter Scott, Quentin Durward.] + + +351.--We have much trouble to break with one, when we no longer are in +love. + + +352.--We almost always are bored with persons with whom we should not be +bored. + + +353.--A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a beast. + + +354.--There are certain defects which well mounted glitter like virtue +itself. + + +355.--Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our regret is greater +than our grief, and others for whom our grief is greater than our +regret. + + +356.--Usually we only praise heartily those who admire us. + + +357.--Little minds are too much wounded by little things; great minds +see all and are not even hurt. + + +358.--Humility is the true proof of Christian virtues; without it we +retain all our faults, and they are only covered by pride to hide them +from others, and often from ourselves. + + +359.--Infidelities should extinguish love, and we ought not to be +jealous when we have cause to be so. No persons escape causing jealousy +who are worthy of exciting it. + + +360.--We are more humiliated by the least infidelity towards us, than by +our greatest towards others. + + +361.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with +it. + + +362.--Most women do not grieve so much for the death of their lovers for +love's-sake, as to show they were worthy of being beloved. + + +363.--The evils we do to others give us less pain than those we do to +ourselves. + + +364.--We well know that it is bad taste to talk of our wives; but we do +not so well know that it is the same to speak of ourselves. + + +365.--There are virtues which degenerate into vices when they arise from +Nature, and others which when acquired are never perfect. For example, +reason must teach us to manage our estate and our confidence, while +Nature should have given us goodness and valour. + + +366.--However we distrust the sincerity of those whom we talk with, we +always believe them more sincere with us than with others. + + +367.--There are few virtuous women who are not tired of their part. + +["Every woman is at heart a rake."--Pope. Moral Essays, ii.] + + +368.--The greater number of good women are like concealed treasures, +safe as no one has searched for them. + + +369.--The violences we put upon ourselves to escape love are often more +cruel than the cruelty of those we love. + + +370.--There are not many cowards who know the whole of their fear. + + +371.--It is generally the fault of the loved one not to perceive when +love ceases. + + +372.--Most young people think they are natural when they are only +boorish and rude. + + +373.--Some tears after having deceived others deceive ourselves. + + +374.--If we think we love a woman for love of herself we are greatly +deceived. + + +375.--Ordinary men commonly condemn what is beyond them. + + +376.--Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirtation by true love. + + +377.--The greatest mistake of penetration is not to have fallen short, +but to have gone too far. + + +378.--We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct. + + +379.--As our merit declines so also does our taste. + + +380.--Fortune makes visible our virtues or our vices, as light does +objects. + + +381.--The struggle we undergo to remain faithful to one we love is +little better than infidelity. + + +382.--Our actions are like the rhymed ends of blank verses (Bouts-Rimes) +where to each one puts what construction he pleases. + +[The Bouts-Rimes was a literary game popular in the 17th and 18th +centuries--the rhymed words at the end of a line being given for others +to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole being given, "brook, why, crook, I," +returned the burlesque verse-- "I sits with my toes in a Brook, And +if any one axes me Why? I gies 'em a rap with my Crook, 'Tis constancy +makes me, ses I."] + + +383.--The desire of talking about ourselves, and of putting our +faults in the light we wish them to be seen, forms a great part of our +sincerity. + + +384.--We should only be astonished at still being able to be astonished. + + +385.--It is equally as difficult to be contented when one has too much +or too little love. + + +386.--No people are more often wrong than those who will not allow +themselves to be wrong. + + +387.--A fool has not stuff in him to be good. + + +388.--If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at least she makes them +totter. + + +389.--What makes the vanity of others unsupportable is that it wounds +our own. + + +390.--We give up more easily our interest than our taste. + + +391.--Fortune appears so blind to none as to those to whom she has done +no good. + + +392.--We should manage fortune like our health, enjoy it when it is +good, be patient when it is bad, and never resort to strong remedies but +in an extremity. + + +393.--Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the camp, never in the court. + + +394.--A man is often more clever than one other, but not than all +others. + +["Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, omnes neminem +fefellerunt."--Pliny{ the Younger, Panegyricus, LXII}.] + + +395.--We are often less unhappy at being deceived by one we loved, than +on being deceived. + + +396.--We keep our first lover for a long time--if we do not get a +second. + + +397.--We have not the courage to say generally that we have no faults, +and that our enemies have no good qualities; but in fact we are not far +from believing so. + + +398.--Of all our faults that which we most readily admit is idleness: we +believe that it makes all virtues ineffectual, and that without utterly +destroying, it at least suspends their operation. + + +399.--There is a kind of greatness which does not depend upon fortune: +it is a certain manner what distinguishes us, and which seems to destine +us for great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon ourselves; +it is by this quality that we gain the deference of other men, and it is +this which commonly raises us more above them, than birth, rank, or even +merit itself. + + +400.--There may be talent without position, but there is no position +without some kind of talent. + + +401.--Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty woman. + + +402.--What we find the least of in flirtation is love. + + +403.--Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, and there are +tiresome people whose deserts would be ill rewarded if we did not desire +to purchase their absence. + + +404.--It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents +and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have the power +of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more true and +more perfect than art could possibly do. + + +405.--We reach quite inexperienced the different stages of life, and +often, in spite of the number of our years, we lack experience. + +["To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship which +illumine only the track it has passed."-- Coleridge.] + + +406.--Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous of their lovers, to +conceal their envy of other women. + + +407.--It may well be that those who have trapped us by their tricks do +not seem to us so foolish as we seem to ourselves when trapped by the +tricks of others. + + +408.--The most dangerous folly of old persons who have been loveable is +to forget that they are no longer so. + +["Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself handsome. The +suspicion of age no woman, let her be ever so old, forgives."--Lord +Chesterfield, Letter 129.] + + +409.--We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the world +only saw the motives which caused them. + + +410.--The greatest effort of friendship is not to show our faults to a +friend, but to show him his own. + + +4ll.--We have few faults which are not far more excusable than the means +we adopt to hide them. + + +412.--Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it is almost always in our +power to re-establish our character. + +["This is hardly a period at which the most irregular character may not +be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin find a retreat in patriotism, those +of the other in devotion." --Junius, Letter To The King.] + + +413.--A man cannot please long who has only one kind of wit. + +[According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine and Boileau, who, +despising ordinary conversation, talked incessantly of literature; but +there is some doubt as to Segrais' statement.--Aime Martin.] + + +414.--Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit. + +415.--Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity. + + +416.--The vivacity which increases in old age is not far removed from +folly. + + +["How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester."-- Shakespeare, +King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, King}. + +"Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of life? Can +grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there no period to be reserved +for meditation or retirement."-- Junius, To The Duke Of Bedford, 19th +Sept. 1769.] + + +417.--In love the quickest is always the best cure. + + +418.--Young women who do not want to appear flirts, and old men who +do not want to appear ridiculous, should not talk of love as a matter +wherein they can have any interest. + + +419.--We may seem great in a post beneath our capacity, but we oftener +seem little in a post above it. + + +420.--We often believe we have constancy in misfortune when we have +nothing but debasement, and we suffer misfortunes without regarding +them as cowards who let themselves be killed from fear of defending +themselves. + + +421.--Conceit causes more conversation than wit. + + +422.--All passions make us commit some faults, love alone makes us +ridiculous. + +["In love we all are fools alike."--Gay{, The Beggar's Opera, (1728), +Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.] + + +423.--Few know how to be old. + + +424.--We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we have, +thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy. + + +425.--Penetration has a spice of divination in it which tickles our +vanity more than any other quality of the mind. + + +426.--The charm of novelty and old custom, however opposite to each +other, equally blind us to the faults of our friends. + +["Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom and novelty."-La +Bruyere, Des Judgements.] + + +427.--Most friends sicken us of friendship, most devotees of devotion. + + +428.--We easily forgive in our friends those faults we do not perceive. + + +429.--Women who love, pardon more readily great indiscretions than +little infidelities. + + +430.--In the old age of love as in life we still survive for the evils, +though no longer for the pleasures. + +["The youth of friendship is better than its old age." --Hazlitt's +Characteristics, 229.] + + +431.--Nothing prevents our being unaffected so much as our desire to +seem so. + + +432.--To praise good actions heartily is in some measure to take part in +them. + + +433.--The most certain sign of being born with great qualities is to be +born without envy. + +["Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae." --Cicero In +Marc Ant.] + + +434.--When our friends have deceived us we owe them but indifference to +the tokens of their friendship, yet for their misfortunes we always owe +them pity. + + +435.--Luck and temper rule the world. + + +436.--It is far easier to know men than to know man. + + +437.--We should not judge of a man's merit by his great abilities, but +by the use he makes of them. + + +438.--There is a certain lively gratitude which not only releases +us from benefits received, but which also, by making a return to our +friends as payment, renders them indebted to us. + +["And understood not that a grateful mind, By owing owes not, but is at +once Indebted and discharged." Milton. Paradise Lost.] + + +439.--We should earnestly desire but few things if we clearly knew what +we desired. + + +440.--The cause why the majority of women are so little given to +friendship is, that it is insipid after having felt love. + +["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect friendship, and +those who have united themselves to friendship have nought to do with +love."--La Bruyere. Du Coeur.] + + +441.--As in friendship so in love, we are often happier from ignorance +than from knowledge. + + +442.--We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth to correct. + + +443.--The most violent passions give some respite, but vanity always +disturbs us. + + +444.--Old fools are more foolish than young fools. + +["Malvolio. Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} make the +better fool. Clown. God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} for the +better increasing of your folly."--Shakespeare. Twelfth Night{, Act I, +Scene V}.] + + +445.--Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice. + + +446.--What makes the grief of shame and jealousy so acute is that vanity +cannot aid us in enduring them. + + +447.--Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most obeyed. + +[Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is bound to +conform....Those things which honour forbids are more rigorously +forbidden when the laws do not concur in the prohibition, and those +it commands are more strongly insisted upon when they happen not to be +commanded by law.--Montesquieu, {The Spirit Of Laws, }b. 4, c. ii.] + + +448.--A well-trained mind has less difficulty in submitting to than in +guiding an ill-trained mind. + + +449.--When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office without +having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised our +hopes, it is well nigh impossible to occupy it well, and to appear +worthy to fill it. + + +450.--Our pride is often increased by what we retrench from our other +faults. + +["The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and compensated by +spiritual pride."--Gibbon. Decline And Fall, chap. xv.] + + +451.--No fools so wearisome as those who have some wit. + + +452.--No one believes that in every respect he is behind the man he +considers the ablest in the world. + + +453.--In great matters we should not try so much to create opportunities +as to utilise those that offer themselves. + +[Yet Lord Bacon says "A wise man will make more opportunities than he +finds."--Essays, {(1625), "Of Ceremonies and Respects"}] + + +454.--There are few occasions when we should make a bad bargain by +giving up the good on condition that no ill was said of us. + + +455.--However disposed the world may be to judge wrongly, it far oftener +favours false merit than does justice to true. + + +456.--Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion. + + +457.--We should gain more by letting the world see what we are than by +trying to seem what we are not. + + +458.--Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us +than we do in our opinion of ourselves. + + +459.--There are many remedies to cure love, yet none are infallible. + + +460.--It would be well for us if we knew all our passions make us do. + + +461.--Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of life all the +pleasures of youth. + + +462.--The same pride which makes us blame faults from which we believe +ourselves free causes us to despise the good qualities we have not. + + +463.--There is often more pride than goodness in our grief for our +enemies' miseries; it is to show how superior we are to them, that we +bestow on them the sign of our compassion. + + +464.--There exists an excess of good and evil which surpasses our +comprehension. + + +465.--Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the same protection as +crime. + + +466.--Of all the violent passions the one that becomes a woman best is +love. + + +467.--Vanity makes us sin more against our taste than reason. + + +468.--Some bad qualities form great talents. + + +469.--We never desire earnestly what we desire in reason. + + +470.--All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, both the good as +well as the bad, and nearly all are creatures of opportunities. + + +471.--In their first passion women love their lovers, in all the others +they love love. + +["In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all her others what +she loves is love." {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, Canto iii., stanza 3. "We +truly love once, the first time; the subsequent passions are more or +less involuntary." La Bruyere: Du Coeur.] + + +472.--Pride as the other passions has its follies. We are ashamed to own +we are jealous, and yet we plume ourselves in having been and being able +to be so. + + +473.--However rare true love is, true friendship is rarer. + +["It is more common to see perfect love than real friendship."--La +Bruyere. Du Coeur.] + + +474.--There are few women whose charm survives their beauty. + + +475.--The desire to be pitied or to be admired often forms the greater +part of our confidence. + + +476.--Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy. + + +477.--The same firmness that enables us to resist love enables us to +make our resistance durable and lasting. So weak persons who are always +excited by passions are seldom really possessed of any. + + +478.--Fancy does not enable us to invent so many different +contradictions as there are by nature in every heart. + + +479.--It is only people who possess firmness who can possess true +gentleness. In those who appear gentle it is generally only weakness, +which is readily converted into harshness. + + +480.--Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to blame in those we desire +to cure of it. + + +481.--Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those who think they have +it are generally only pliant or weak. + + +482.--The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit to whatever is easy +or pleasant. This habit always places bounds to our knowledge, and no +one has ever yet taken the pains to enlarge and expand his mind to the +full extent of its capacities. + + +483.--Usually we are more satirical from vanity than malice. + + +484.--When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion it is +proner to take up a new one than when wholly cured. + + +485.--Those who have had great passions often find all their lives made +miserable in being cured of them. + + +486.--More persons exist without self-love than without envy. + +["I do not believe that there is a human creature in his senses arrived +at maturity, that at some time or other has not been carried away by +this passion (envy) in good earnest, and yet I never met with any who +dared own he was guilty of it, but in jest."--Mandeville: Fable Of The +Bees; Remark N.] + + +487.--We have more idleness in the mind than in the body. + + +488.--The calm or disturbance of our mind does not depend so much on +what we regard as the more important things of life, as in a judicious +or injudicious arrangement of the little things of daily occurrence. + + +489.--However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the +enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either +pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her. + + +490.--We often go from love to ambition, but we never return from +ambition to love. + +["Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do not find a quieter +seat while they remain there."--La Bruyere: Du Coeur.] + + +491.--Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, there is no passion +which is oftener further away from its mark, nor upon which the present +has so much power to the prejudice of the future. + + +492.--Avarice often produces opposite results: there are an infinite +number of persons who sacrifice their property to doubtful and distant +expectations, others mistake great future advantages for small present +interests. + +[Aime Martin says, "The author here confuses greediness, the desire +and avarice--passions which probably have a common origin, but produce +different results. The greedy man is nearly always desirous to possess, +and often foregoes great future advantages for small present interests. +The avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes present advantages for +the great expectations of the future. Both desire to possess and +enjoy. But the miser possesses and enjoys nothing but the pleasure of +possessing; he risks nothing, gives nothing, hopes nothing, his life is +centred in his strong box, beyond that he has no want."] + + +493.--It appears that men do not find they have enough faults, as they +increase the number by certain peculiar qualities that they affect to +assume, and which they cultivate with so great assiduity that at length +they become natural faults, which they can no longer correct. + + +494.--What makes us see that men know their faults better than we +imagine, is that they are never wrong when they speak of their conduct; +the same self-love that usually blinds them enlightens them, and gives +them such true views as to make them suppress or disguise the smallest +thing that might be censured. + + +495.--Young men entering life should be either shy or bold; a solemn and +sedate manner usually degenerates into impertinence. + + +496.--Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side. + + +497.--It is valueless to a woman to be young unless pretty, or to be +pretty unless young. + + +498.--Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that they are as far +removed from real defects as from substantial qualities. + + +499.--We do not usually reckon a woman's first flirtation until she has +had a second. + + +500.--Some people are so self-occupied that when in love they find a +mode by which to be engrossed with the passion without being so with the +person they love. + + +501.--Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more by its ways than by +itself. + + +502.--A little wit with good sense bores less in the long run than much +wit with ill nature. + + +503.--Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one that is least +pitied by those who cause it. + + +504.--Thus having treated of the hollowness of so many apparent virtues, +it is but just to say something on the hollowness of the contempt for +death. I allude to that contempt of death which the heathen boasted they +derived from their unaided understanding, without the hope of a future +state. There is a difference between meeting death with courage and +despising it. The first is common enough, the last I think always +feigned. Yet everything that could be has been written to persuade us +that death is no evil, and the weakest of men, equally with the bravest, +have given many noble examples on which to found such an opinion, still +I do not think that any man of good sense has ever yet believed in it. +And the pains we take to persuade others as well as ourselves amply show +that the task is far from easy. For many reasons we may be disgusted +with life, but for none may we despise it. Not even those who commit +suicide regard it as a light matter, and are as much alarmed and +startled as the rest of the world if death meets them in a different +way than the one they have selected. The difference we observe in the +courage of so great a number of brave men, is from meeting death in a +way different from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer +at one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens that having +despised death when they were ignorant of it, they dread it when they +become acquainted with it. If we could avoid seeing it with all its +surroundings, we might perhaps believe that it was not the greatest of +evils. The wisest and bravest are those who take the best means to avoid +reflecting on it, as every man who sees it in its real light regards +it as dreadful. The necessity of dying created all the constancy of +philosophers. They thought it but right to go with a good grace when +they could not avoid going, and being unable to prolong their lives +indefinitely, nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, and +to save from the general wreck all that could be saved. To put a good +face upon it, let it suffice, not to say all that we think to ourselves, +but rely more on our nature than on our fallible reason, which might +make us think we could approach death with indifference. The glory of +dying with courage, the hope of being regretted, the desire to leave +behind us a good reputation, the assurance of being enfranchised from +the miseries of life and being no longer dependent on the wiles of +fortune, are resources which should not be passed over. But we must not +regard them as infallible. They should affect us in the same proportion +as a single shelter affects those who in war storm a fortress. At a +distance they think it may afford cover, but when near they find it +only a feeble protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to imagine +that death, when near, will seem the same as at a distance, or that our +feelings, which are merely weaknesses, are naturally so strong that they +will not suffer in an attack of the rudest of trials. It is equally as +absurd to try the effect of self-esteem and to think it will enable us +to count as naught what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in +which we trust to find so many resources will be far too weak in the +struggle to persuade us in the way we wish. For it is this which betrays +us so frequently, and which, instead of filling us with contempt of +death, serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. The most +it can do for us is to persuade us to avert our gaze and fix it on other +objects. Cato and Brutus each selected noble ones. A lackey sometime +ago contented himself by dancing on the scaffold when he was about to be +broken on the wheel. So however diverse the motives they but realize the +same result. For the rest it is a fact that whatever difference there +may be between the peer and the peasant, we have constantly seen both +the one and the other meet death with the same composure. Still there +is always this difference, that the contempt the peer shows for death is +but the love of fame which hides death from his sight; in the peasant it +is but the result of his limited vision that hides from him the extent +of the evil, end leaves him free to reflect on other things. + + + + +THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT + +[The following reflections are extracted from the first two editions +of La Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed by the author in succeeding +issues.] + +I.--Self-love is the love of self, and of all things for self. It +makes men self-worshippers, and if fortune permits them, causes them to +tyrannize over others; it is never quiet when out of itself, and only +rests upon other subjects as a bee upon flowers, to extract from them +its proper food. Nothing is so headstrong as its desires, nothing so +well concealed as its designs, nothing so skilful as its management; +its suppleness is beyond description; its changes surpass those of the +metamorphoses, its refinements those of chemistry. We can neither plumb +the depths nor pierce the shades of its recesses. Therein it is hidden +from the most far-seeing eyes, therein it takes a thousand imperceptible +folds. There it is often to itself invisible; it there conceives, there +nourishes and rears, without being aware of it, numberless loves and +hatreds, some so monstrous that when they are brought to light it +disowns them, and cannot resolve to avow them. In the night which covers +it are born the ridiculous persuasions it has of itself, thence come its +errors, its ignorance, its silly mistakes; thence it is led to believe +that its passions which sleep are dead, and to think that it has lost +all appetite for that of which it is sated. But this thick darkness +which conceals it from itself does not hinder it from seeing that +perfectly which is out of itself; and in this it resembles our eyes +which behold all, and yet cannot set their own forms. In fact, in great +concerns and important matters when the violence of its desires +summons all its attention, it sees, feels, hears, imagines, suspects, +penetrates, divines all: so that we might think that each of its +passions had a magic power proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong +as its attachments, which, in sight of the extreme misfortunes which +threaten it, it vainly attempts to break. Yet sometimes it effects that +without trouble and quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power +and in the course of years, whence we may fairly conclude that it is +by itself that its desires are inflamed, rather than by the beauty and +merit of its objects, that its own taste embellishes and heightens them; +that it is itself the game it pursues, and that it follows eagerly +when it runs after that upon which itself is eager. It is made up of +contraries. It is imperious and obedient, sincere and false, piteous +and cruel, timid and bold. It has different desires according to the +diversity of temperaments, which turn and fix it sometimes upon riches, +sometimes on pleasures. It changes according to our age, our fortunes, +and our hopes; it is quite indifferent whether it has many or one, +because it can split itself into many portions, and unite in one as +it pleases. It is inconstant, and besides the changes which arise +from strange causes it has an infinity born of itself, and of its own +substance. It is inconstant through inconstancy, of lightness, love, +novelty, lassitude and distaste. It is capricious, and one sees it +sometimes work with intense eagerness and with incredible labour to +obtain things of little use to it which are even hurtful, but which it +pursues because it wishes for them. It is silly, and often throws its +whole application on the utmost frivolities. It finds all its pleasure +in the dullest matters, and places its pride in the most contemptible. +It is seen in all states of life, and in all conditions; it lives +everywhere and upon everything; it subsists on nothing; it accommodates +itself either to things or to the want of them; it goes over to +those who are at war with it, enters into their designs, and, this is +wonderful, it, with them, hates even itself; it conspires for its own +loss, it works towards its own ruin--in fact, caring only to exist, and +providing that it may be, it will be its own enemy! We must therefore +not be surprised if it is sometimes united to the rudest austerity, and +if it enters so boldly into partnership to destroy her, because when it +is rooted out in one place it re-establishes itself in another. When it +fancies that it abandons its pleasure it merely changes or suspends its +enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full flight, we find that +it triumphs in its own defeat. Here then is the picture of self-love +whereof the whole of our life is but one long agitation. The sea is its +living image; and in the flux and reflux of its continuous waves there +is a faithful expression of the stormy succession of its thoughts and of +its eternal motion. (Edition of 1665, No. 1.) + +II.--Passions are only the different degrees of the heat or coldness of +the blood. (1665, No. 13.) + +III.--Moderation in good fortune is but apprehension of the shame which +follows upon haughtiness, or a fear of losing what we have. (1665, No. +18.) + +IV.--Moderation is like temperance in eating; we could eat more but we +fear to make ourselves ill. (1665, No. 21.) + +V.--Everybody finds that to abuse in another which he finds worthy of +abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.) + +VI.--Pride, as if tired of its artifices and its different +metamorphoses, after having solely filled the divers parts of the comedy +of life, exhibits itself with its natural face, and is discovered by +haughtiness; so much so that we may truly say that haughtiness is but +the flash and open declaration of pride. (1665, No. 37.) + +VII.--One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be +miserable. (1665, No. 53.) + +VIII.--When we do not find peace of mind (REPOS) in ourselves it is +useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, No. 53.) + +IX.--One should be able to answer for one's fortune, so as to be able to +answer for what we shall do. (1665, No. 70.) + +X.--Love is to the soul of him who loves, what the soul is to the body +which it animates. (1665, No. 77.) + +XI.--As one is never at liberty to love or to cease from loving, the +lover cannot with justice complain of the inconstancy of his mistress, +nor she of the fickleness of her lover. (1665, No. 81.) + +XII.--Justice in those judges who are moderate is but a love of their +place. (1665, No. 89.) + +XIII.--When we are tired of loving we are quite content if our mistress +should become faithless, to loose us from our fidelity. (1665, No. 85.) + +XIV.--The first impulse of joy which we feel at the happiness of our +friends arises neither from our natural goodness nor from friendship; +it is the result of self-love, which flatters us with being lucky in our +own turn, or in reaping something from the good fortune of our friends. +(1665, No. 97.) + +XV.--In the adversity of our best friends we always find something which +is not wholly displeasing to us. (1665, No. 99.) + +[This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated "Verses on his own Death." +The four first are quoted opposite the title, then follow these lines:-- +"This maxim more than all the rest, Is thought too base for human +breast; In all distresses of our friends, We first consult our private +ends; While nature kindly bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance +to please us." + +See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; "they who +know the deception and wickedness of the human heart will not be either +romantic or blind enough to deny what Rochefoucauld and Swift have +affirmed as a general truth."] + +XVI.--How shall we hope that another person will keep our secret if we +do not keep it ourselves. (1665, No. 100.) + +XVII.--As if it was not sufficient that self-love should have the power +to change itself, it has added that of changing other objects, and +this it does in a very astonishing manner; for not only does it so well +disguise them that it is itself deceived, but it even changes the state +and nature of things. Thus, when a female is adverse to us, and she +turns her hate and persecution against us, self-love pronounces on her +actions with all the severity of justice; it exaggerates the faults till +they are enormous, and looks at her good qualities in so disadvantageous +a light that they become more displeasing than her faults. If however +the same female becomes favourable to us, or certain of our interests +reconcile her to us, our sole self interest gives her back the lustre +which our hatred deprived her of. The bad qualities become effaced, +the good ones appear with a redoubled advantage; we even summon all our +indulgence to justify the war she has made upon us. Now although all +passions prove this truth, that of love exhibits it most clearly; for we +may see a lover moved with rage by the neglect or the infidelity of her +whom he loves, and meditating the utmost vengeance that his passion can +inspire. Nevertheless as soon as the sight of his beloved has calmed the +fury of his movements, his passion holds that beauty innocent; he only +accuses himself, he condemns his condemnations, and by the miraculous +power of selflove, he whitens the blackest actions of his mistress, and +takes from her all crime to lay it on himself. + +{No date or number is given for this maxim} + +XVIII.--There are none who press so heavily on others as the lazy ones, +when they have satisfied their idleness, and wish to appear industrious. +(1666, No. 91.) + +XIX.--The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride; +it seems to nourish and augment it, it deprives us of knowledge of +remedies which can solace our miseries and can cure our faults. (1665, +No. 102.) + +XX.--One has never less reason than when one despairs of finding it in +others. (1665, No. 103.) + +XXI.--Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not diminished crimes by +their precepts; they have only used them in the building up of pride. +(1665, No. 105.) + +XXII.--It is a proof of little friendship not to perceive the growing +coolness of that of our friends. (1666, No. 97.) + +XXIII.--The most wise may be so in indifferent and ordinary matters, but +they are seldom so in their most serious affairs. (1665, No. 132.) + +XXIV.--The most subtle folly grows out of the most subtle wisdom. (1665, +No. 134.) + +XXV.--Sobriety is the love of health, or an incapacity to eat much. +(1665, No. 135.) + +XXVI.--We never forget things so well as when we are tired of talking of +them. (1665, No. 144.) + +XXVII.--The praise bestowed upon us is at least useful in rooting us in +the practice of virtue. (1665, No. 155.) + +XXVIII.--Self-love takes care to prevent him whom we flatter from being +him who most flatters us. (1665, No. 157.) + +XXIX.--Men only blame vice and praise virtue from interest. (1665, No. +151.) + +XXX.--We make no difference in the kinds of anger, although there is +that which is light and almost innocent, which arises from warmth of +complexion, temperament, and another very criminal, which is, to speak +properly, the fury of pride. (1665, No. 159.) + +XXXI.--Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more +virtues than the common, but those only who have greater designs. (1665, +No. 161.) + +XXXII.--Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they make them bear +what value they will, and one is forced to receive them according to +their currency value, and not at their true worth. (1665, No. 165.) + +[See Burns{, For A' That An A' That}-- "The rank is but the guinea's +stamp, {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that." Also Farquhar and other +parallel passages pointed out in Familiar Words.] + +XXXIII.--Natural ferocity makes fewer people cruel than self-love. +(1665, No. 174.) + +XXXIV.--One may say of all our virtues as an Italian poet says of the +propriety of women, that it is often merely the art of appearing chaste. +(1665, No. 176.) + +XXXV.--There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious by their +brilliancy,* their number, or their excess; thus it happens that public +robbery is called financial skill, and the unjust capture of provinces +is called a conquest. (1665, No. 192.) + + *Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as + those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte + Corday--further than this the maxim is satire. + + +XXXVI.--One never finds in man good or evil in excess. (1665, No. 201.) + +XXXVII.--Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not +easily suspect others. (1665, No. {2}08.) + +{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It is 208.} + +XXXVIII.--The pomp of funerals concerns rather the vanity of the living, +than the honour of the dead. (1665, No. 213.) + +XXXIX.--Whatever variety and change appears in the world, we may remark +a secret chain, and a regulated order of all time by Providence, which +makes everything follow in due rank and fall into its destined course. +(1665, No. 225.) + +XL.--Intrepidity should sustain the heart in conspiracies in place of +valour which alone furnishes all the firmness which is necessary for the +perils of war. (1665, No. 231.) + +XLI.--Those who wish to define victory by her birth will be tempted to +imitate the poets, and to call her the Daughter of Heaven, since they +cannot find her origin on earth. Truly she is produced from an infinity +of actions, which instead of wishing to beget her, only look to the +particular interests of their masters, since all those who compose an +army, in aiming at their own rise and glory, produce a good so great and +general. (1665, No. 232.) + +XLII.--That man who has never been in danger cannot answer for his +courage. (1665, No. 236.) + +XLIII.--We more often place bounds on our gratitude than on our desires +and our hopes. (1665, No. 241.) + +XLIV.--Imitation is always unhappy, for all which is counterfeit +displeases by the very things which charm us when they are original +(Naturelles). (1665, No. 245.) + +XLV.--We do not regret the loss of our friends according to their +merits, but according to OUR wants, and the opinion with which we +believed we had impressed them of our worth. (1665, No. 248.) + +XLVI.--It is very hard to separate the general goodness spread all over +the world from great cleverness. (1665, No. 252.) + +XLVII.--For us to be always good, others should believe that they cannot +behave wickedly to us with impunity. (1665, No. 254.) + +XLVIII.--A confidence in being able to please is often an infallible +means of being displeasing. (1665, No. 256.) + +XLIX.--The confidence we have in ourselves arises in a great measure +from that that we have in others. (1665, No. 258.) + +L.--There is a general revolution which changes the tastes of the mind +as well as the fortunes of the world. (1665, No. 250.) + +LI.--Truth is foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for +of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be beautiful and perfect +unless it be truly that she should be, and possess truly all that she +should have (1665, No. 260.) + +[Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{--John Keats, "Ode on a a Grecian Urn," +(1820), Stanza 5}] + +LII.--There are fine things which are more brilliant when unfinished +than when finished too much. (1665, No. 262.) + +LIII.--Magnanimity is a noble effort of pride which makes a man master +of himself, to make him master of all things. (1665, No. 271.) + +LIV.--Luxury and too refined a policy in states are a sure presage of +their fall, because all parties looking after their own interest turn +away from the public good. (1665, No. 282.) + +LV.--Of all passions that which is least known to us is idleness; she +is the most ardent and evil of all, although her violence may be +insensible, and the evils she causes concealed; if we consider her +power attentively we shall find that in all encounters she makes herself +mistress of our sentiments, our interests, and our pleasures; like the +(fabled) Remora, she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden +rock, more dangerous in the most important matters than sudden squalls +and the most violent tempests. The repose of idleness is a magic charm +which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most obstinate +resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this passion we must add +that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles us for all losses +and fills the vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. 290.) + +LVI.--We are very fond of reading others' characters, but we do not like +to be read ourselves. (1665, No. 296.) + +LVII.--What a tiresome malady is that which forces one to preserve your +health by a severe regimen. (Ibid, No. 298.) + +LVIII.--It is much easier to take love when one is free, than to get rid +of it after having taken it. (1665, No. 300.) + +LIX.--Women for the most part surrender themselves more from weakness +than from passion. Whence it is that bold and pushing men succeed better +than others, although they are not so loveable. (1665, No. 301.) + +LX.--Not to love is in love, an infallible means of being beloved. +(1665, No. 302.) + +LXI.--The sincerity which lovers and mistresses ask that both should +know when they cease to love each other, arises much less from a wish +to be warned of the cessation of love, than from a desire to be assured +that they are beloved although no one denies it. (1665, No. 303.) + +LXII.--The most just comparison of love is that of a fever, and we have +no power over either, as to its violence or its duration. (1665, No. +305.) + +LXIII.--The greatest skill of the least skilful is to know how to submit +to the direction of another. (1665, No. 309.) + +LXIV.--We always fear to see those whom we love when we have been +flirting with others. (16{74}, No. 372.) + +LXV.--We ought to console ourselves for our faults when we have strength +enough to own them. (16{74}, No. 375.) + +{The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited as 1665 in +the text. I found this date immediately suspect because the translators' +introduction states that the 1665 edition only had 316 maxims. In fact, +the two maxims only appeared in the fourth of the first five editions +(1674).} + + + + +SECOND SUPPLEMENT. + +REFLECTIONS, EXTRACTED FROM MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.* + + *A La Bibliotheque Du Roi, it is difficult at present (June + 1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection of + books in Paris, the property of the nation. + + +LXVI.--Interest is the soul of self-love, in as much as when the body +deprived of its soul is without sight, feeling or knowledge, without +thought or movement, so self-love, riven so to speak from its interest, +neither sees, nor hears, nor smells, nor moves; thus it is that the same +man who will run over land and sea for his own interest becomes suddenly +paralyzed when engaged for that of others; from this arises that sudden +dulness and, as it were, death, with which we afflict those to whom we +speak of our own matters; from this also their sudden resurrection when +in our narrative we relate something concerning them; from this we find +in our conversations and business that a man becomes dull or bright +just as his own interest is near to him or distant from him. (Letter To +Madame De Sable, Ms., Fol. 211.) + +LXVII.--Why we cry out so much against maxims which lay bare the heart +of man, is because we fear that our own heart shall be laid bare. (Maxim +103, MS., fol. 310.*) + + *The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the + Maxims previously given, sometimes the author has carefully + polished them; at other times the words are identical. Our + numbers will indicate where they are to be found in the + foregoing collection. + + +LXVIII.--Hope and fear are inseparable. (To Madame De Sable, Ms., Fol. +222, MAX. 168.) + +LXIX.--It is a common thing to hazard life to escape dishonour; +but, when this is done, the actor takes very little pain to make the +enterprise succeed in which he is engaged, and certain it is that they +who hazard their lives to take a city or to conquer a province are +better officers, have more merit, and wider and more useful, views than +they who merely expose themselves to vindicate their honour; it is very +common to find people of the latter class, very rare to find those of +the former. (Letter To M. Esprit, Ms., Fol. 173, MAX. 219.) + +LXX.--The taste changes, but the will remains the same. (To Madame De +Sable, Fol. 223, Max. 252.) + +LXXI.--The power which women whom we love have over us is greater than +that which we have over ourselves. (To The Same, Ms., Fol. 211, Max. +259) + +LXXII.--That which makes us believe so easily that others have defects +is that we all so easily believe what we wish. (To The Same, Ms., Fol. +223, Max. 397.) + +LXXIII.--I am perfectly aware that good sense and fine wit are tedious +to every age, but tastes are not always the same, and what is good +at one time will not seem so at another. This makes me think that few +persons know how to be old. (To The Same, Fol. 202, Max. 423.) + +LXXIV.--God has permitted, to punish man for his original sin, that he +should be so fond of his self-love, that he should be tormented by it in +all the actions of his life. (Ms., Fol. 310, Max. 494.) + +LXXV.--And so far it seems to me the philosophy of a lacquey can go; I +believe that all gaity in that state of life is very doubtful indeed. +(To Madame De Sable, Fol. 161, Max. 504.) + +[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman about to be broken +on the wheel danced on the scaffold. He seems to think that in his day +the life of such servants was so miserable that their merriment was very +doubtful.] + + + + +THIRD SUPPLEMENT + +[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth Edition of the +Pensees De La Rochefoucauld, published by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more +than twelve years after the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The +reader will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable maxims.] + +LXXVI.--Many persons wish to be devout; but no one wishes to be humble. + +LXXVII.--The labour of the body frees us from the pains of the mind, and +thus makes the poor happy. + +LXXVIII.--True penitential sorrows (mortifications) are those which are +not known, vanity renders the others easy enough. + +LXXIX.--Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer +him his sacrifices. + +LXXX.--Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make +a fool content; that is why most men are miserable. + +LXXXI.--We trouble ourselves less to become happy, than to make others +believe we are so. + +LXXXII.--It is more easy to extinguish the first desire than to satisfy +those which follow. + +LXXXIII.--Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the body. + +LXXXIV.--The great ones of the earth can neither command health of body +nor repose of mind, and they buy always at too dear a price the good +they can acquire. + +LXXXV.--Before strongly desiring anything we should examine what +happiness he has who possesses it. + +LXXXVI.--A true friend is the greatest of all goods, and that of which +we think least of acquiring. + +LXXXVII.--Lovers do not wish to see the faults of their mistresses until +their enchantment is at an end. + +LXXXVIII.--Prudence and love are not made for each other; in the ratio +that love increases, prudence diminishes. + +LXXXIX.--It is sometimes pleasing to a husband to have a jealous wife; +he hears her always speaking of the beloved object. + +XC.--How much is a woman to be pitied who is at the same time possessed +of virtue and love! + +XCI.--The wise man finds it better not to enter the encounter than to +conquer. + +[Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage-- "Who quits {a} world where +strong temptations try, And since 'tis hard to co{mbat}, learns to +fly."] + +XCII.--It is more necessary to study men than books. + +["The proper study of mankind is man."--Pope {Essay On Man, (1733), +Epistle II, line 2}.] + +XCIII.--Good and evil ordinarily come to those who have most of one or +the other. + +XCIV.--The accent and character of one's native country dwells in the +mind and heart as on the tongue. (Repitition Of Maxim 342.) + +XCV.--The greater part of men have qualities which, like those of +plants, are discovered by chance. (Repitition Of Maxim 344.) + +XCVI.--A good woman is a hidden treasure; he who discovers her will do +well not to boast about it. (See Maxim 368.) + +XCVII.--Most women do not weep for the loss of a lover to show that they +have been loved so much as to show that they are worth being loved. (See +Maxim 362.) + +XCVIII.--There are many virtuous women who are weary of the part they +have played. (See Maxim 367.) + +XCIX.--If we think we love for love's sake we are much mistaken. (See +Maxim 374.) + +C.--The restraint we lay upon ourselves to be constant, is not much +better than an inconstancy. (See Maxim 369, 381.) + +CI.--There are those who avoid our jealousy, of whom we ought to be +jealous. (See Maxim 359.) + +CII.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with +it. (See Maxim 361.) + +CIII.--When we love too much it is difficult to discover when we have +ceased to be beloved. + +CIV.--We know very well that we should not talk about our wives, but we +do not remember that it is not so well to speak of ourselves. (See Maxim +364.) + +CV.--Chance makes us known to others and to ourselves. (See Maxim 345.) + +CVI.--We find very few people of good sense, except those who are of our +own opinion. (See Maxim 347.) + +CVII.--We commonly praise the good hearts of those who admire us. (See +Maxim 356.) + +CVIII.--Man only blames himself in order that he may be praised. + +CIX.--Little minds are wounded by the smallest things. (See Maxim 357.) + +CX.--There are certain faults which placed in a good light please more +than perfection itself. (See Maxim 354.) + +CXI.--That which makes us so bitter against those who do us a shrewd +turn, is because they think themselves more clever than we are. (See +Maxim 350.) + +CXII.--We are always bored by those whom we bore. (See Maxim 352.) + +CXIII.--The harm that others do us is often less than that we do +ourselves. (See Maxim 363.) + +CXIV.--It is never more difficult to speak well than when we are ashamed +of being silent. + +CXV.--Those faults are always pardonable that we have the courage to +avow. + +CXVI.--The greatest fault of penetration is not that it goes to the +bottom of a matter--but beyond it. (See Maxim 377.) + +CXVII.--We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it. +(See Maxim 378.) + +CXVIII.--When our merit declines, our taste declines also. (See Maxim +379.) + +CXIX.--Fortune discovers our vices and our virtues, as the light makes +objects plain to the sight. (See Maxim 380.) + +CXX.--Our actions are like rhymed verse-ends (Bouts-Rimes) which +everyone turns as he pleases. (See Maxim 382.) + +CXXI.--There is nothing more natural, nor more deceptive, than to +believe that we are beloved. + +CXXII.--We would rather see those to whom we have done a benefit, than +those who have done us one. + +CXXIII.--It is more difficult to hide the opinions we have than to feign +those which we have not. + +CXXIV.--Renewed friendships require more care than those that have never +been broken. + +CXXV.--A man to whom no one is pleasing is much more unhappy than one +who pleases nobody. + + + + +REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD + +I. On Confidence. + +Though sincerity and confidence have many points of resemblance, they +have yet many points of difference. + +Sincerity is an openness of heart, which shows us what we are, a love +of truth, a dislike to deception, a wish to compensate our faults and to +lessen them by the merit of confessing them. + +Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are stricter, it requires +more prudence and reticence, and we are not always free to give it. It +relates not only to ourselves, since our interests are often mixed +up with those of others; it requires great delicacy not to expose +our friends in exposing ourselves, not to draw upon their goodness to +enhance the value of what we give. + +Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It is a tribute we pay +to their merit, a deposit we commit to their trust, a pledge which +gives them a claim upon us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily +submit. I do not wish from what I have said to depreciate confidence, +so necessary to man. It is in society the link between acquaintance and +friendship. I only wish to state its limits to make it true and real. +I would that it was always sincere, always discreet, and that it had +neither weakness nor interest. I know it is hard to place proper limits +on being taken into all our friends' confidence, and taking them into +all ours. + +Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a love of talking, a +wish to win the confidence of others, and make an exchange of secrets. + +Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards whom we have no +motive for confiding. With them we discharge the obligation in keeping +their secrets and trusting them with small confidences. + +Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to us, but we confide in +them by choice and inclination. + +We should hide from them nothing that concerns us, we should always show +them with equal truth, our virtues and our vices, without exaggerating +the one or diminishing the other. We should make it a rule never to +have half confidences. They always embarrass those who give them, and +dissatisfy those who receive them. They shed an uncertain light on what +we want hidden, increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to know +more, giving them leave to consider themselves free to talk of what they +have guessed. It is far safer and more honest to tell nothing than to be +silent when we have begun to tell. There are other rules to be observed +in matters confided to us, all are important, to all prudence and trust +are essential. + +Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does +not agree as to the nature and importance of secresy. Too often we +consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. +There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them +will not last for ever. + +With those friends whose truth we know we have the closest intimacy. +They have always spoken unreservedly to us, we should always do the same +to them. They know our habits and connexions, and see too clearly not +to perceive the slightest change. They may have elsewhere learnt what we +have promised not to tell. It is not in our power to tell them what has +been entrusted to us, though it might tend to their interest to know it. +We feel as confident of them as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the +hard fate of losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being +faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the hardest test of +fidelity, but it should not move an honest man; it is then that he can +sacrifice himself to others. His first duty is to rigidly keep his trust +in its entirety. He should not only control and guard his and his voice, +but even his lighter talk, so that nothing be seen in his conversation +or manner that could direct the curiosity of others towards that which +he wishes to conceal. + +We have often need of strength and prudence wherewith to oppose the +exigencies of most of our friends who make a claim on our confidence, +and seek to know all about us. We should never allow them to acquire +this unexceptionable right. There are accidents and circumstances which +do not fall in their cognizance; if they complain, we should endure +their complaints and excuse ourselves with gentleness, but if they are +still unreasonable, we should sacrifice their friendship to our duty, +and choose between two inevitable evils, the one reparable, the other +irreparable. + +II. On Difference of Character. + +Although all the qualities of mind may be united in a great genius, +yet there are some which are special and peculiar to him; his views are +unlimited; he always acts uniformly and with the same activity; he sees +distant objects as if present; he comprehends and grasps the greatest, +sees and notices the smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, +just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, and he often +finds truth in spite of the obscurity that hides her from others. + +A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, +and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with +all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from +its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable. + +A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid and overcome +difficulties. Bending easily to what it wants, it understands the +inclination and temper it is dealing with, and by managing their +interests it advances and establishes its own. + +A well regulated mind sees all things as they should be seen, appraises +them at their proper value, turns them to its own advantage, and adheres +firmly to its own opinions as it knows all their force and weight. + +A difference exists between a working mind and a business-like mind. We +can undertake business without turning it to our own interest. Some are +clever only in what does not concern them, and the reverse in all that +does. There are others again whose cleverness is limited to their own +business, and who know how to turn everything to their own advantage. + +It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and yet to talk +pleasantly and cheerfully. This class of mind is suited to all persons +in all times of life. Young persons have usually a cheerful and +satirical turn, untempered by seriousness, thus often making themselves +disagreeable. + +No part is easier to play than that of being always pleasant; and the +applause we sometimes receive in censuring others is not worth being +exposed to the chance of offending them when they are out of temper. + +Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental +qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear +those who use it too much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed +with spite, and when the person satirised can join in the satire. + +It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without affecting to be +pleased or without loving to jest. It requires much adroitness to +continue satirical without falling into one of these extremes. + +Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession of the imagination, +and shows every object in an absurd light; wit combines more or less +softness or harshness. + +There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that only hits the +faults that persons admit, which understands how to hide the praise it +gives under the appearance of blame, and shows the good while feigning a +wish to hide it. + +An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dissimilar. The first always +pleases; it is unfettered, it perceives the most delicate and sees the +most imperceptible matters. A cunning spirit never goes straight, it +endeavours to secure its object by byeways and short cuts. This conduct +is soon found out, it always gives rise to distrust and never reaches +greatness. + +There is a difference between an ardent and a brilliant mind, a fiery +spirit travels further and faster, while a brilliant mind is sparkling, +attractive, accurate. + +Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating manner which always +pleases when not insipid. + +A mind full of details devotes itself to the management and regulation +of the smallest particulars it meets with. This distinction is usually +limited to little matters, yet it is not absolutely incompatible with +greatness, and when these two qualities are united in the same mind they +raise it infinitely above others. + +The expression "Bel Esprit" is much perverted, for all that one can say +of the different kinds of mind meet together in the "Bel Esprit." Yet as +the epithet is bestowed on an infinite number of bad poets and tedious +authors, it is more often used to ridicule than to praise. + +There are yet many other epithets for the mind which mean the same +thing, the difference lies in the tone and manner of saying them, but +as tones and manner cannot appear in writing I shall not go into +distinctions I cannot explain. Custom explains this in saying that a +man has wit, has much wit, that he is a great wit; there are tones and +manners which make all the difference between phrases which seem all +alike on paper, and yet express a different order of mind. + +So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that he has several, that +he has every variety of wit. + +One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not be a fool even with +very little wit. + +To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It may mean every class of +mind that can be mentioned, it may mean none in particular. It may mean +that he talks sensibly while he acts foolishly. We may have a mind, but +a narrow one. A mind may be fitted for some things, not for others. We +may have a large measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is often +inconvenienced with much mind; still of this kind of mind we may say +that it is sometimes pleasing in society. + +Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, it seems to me, be +thus classified. + +There are some so beautiful that everyone can see and feel their beauty. + +There are some lovely, it is true, but which are wearisome. + +There are some which are lovely, which all the world admire, but without +knowing why. + +There are some so refined and delicate that few are capable even of +remarking all their beauties. + +There are others which, though imperfect, yet are produced with such +skill, and sustained and managed with such sense and grace, that they +even deserve to be admired. + +III. On Taste. + +Some persons have more wit than taste, others have more taste than wit. +There is greater vanity and caprice in taste than in wit. + +The word taste has different meanings, which it is easy to mistake. +There is a difference between the taste which in certain objects has +an attraction for us, and the taste that makes us understand and +distinguish the qualities we judge by. + +We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently fine and delicate +taste to criticise it accurately. Some tastes lead us imperceptibly to +objects, from which others carry us away by their force or intensity. + +Some persons have bad taste in everything, others have bad taste only +in some things, but a correct and good taste in matters within their +capacity. Some have peculiar taste, which they know to be bad, but which +they still follow. Some have a doubtful taste, and let chance decide, +their indecision makes them change, and they are affected with pleasure +or weariness on their friends' judgment. Others are always prejudiced, +they are the slaves of their tastes, which they adhere to in everything. +Some know what is good, and are horrified at what is not; their opinions +are clear and true, and they find the reason for their taste in their +mind and understanding. + +Some have a species of instinct (the source of which they are ignorant +of), and decide all questions that come before them by its aid, and +always decide rightly. + +These follow their taste more than their intelligence, because they +do not permit their temper and self-love to prevail over their natural +discernment. All they do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. +This harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and form a correct +estimate of their value. But speaking generally there are few who have +a taste fixed and independent of that of their friends, they follow +example and fashion which generally form the standard of taste. + +In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is very rare and +almost impossible to meet with that sort of good taste that knows how to +set a price on the particular, and yet understands the right value that +should be placed on all. Our knowledge is too limited, and that correct +discernment of good qualities which goes to form a correct judgment +is too seldom to be met with except in regard to matters that do not +concern us. + +As regards ourselves our taste has not this all-important discernment. +Preoccupation, trouble, all that concern us, present it to us in another +aspect. We do not see with the same eyes what does and what does not +relate to us. Our taste is guided by the bent of our self-love and +temper, which supplies us with new views which we adapt to an infinite +number of changes and uncertainties. Our taste is no longer our own, +we cease to control it, without our consent it changes, and the same +objects appear to us in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to +perceive what we have seen and heard. + +IV. On Society. + +In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of friendship, for, +though they have some connection, they are yet very different. The +former has more in it of greatness and humility, and the greatest merit +of the latter is to resemble the former. + +For the present I shall speak of that particular kind of intercourse +that gentlemen should have with each other. It would be idle to show how +far society is essential to men: all seek for it, and all find it, but +few adopt the method of making it pleasant and lasting. + +Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advantage at the expense of +others. We prefer ourselves always to those with whom we intend to +live, and they almost always perceive the preference. It is this which +disturbs and destroys society. We should discover a means to hide this +love of selection since it is too ingrained in us to be in our power to +destroy. We should make our pleasure that of other persons, to humour, +never to wound their self-love. + +The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, but it is not merely +sufficient for us to guide it in the different courses it should hold. + +The agreement we meet between minds would not keep society together for +long if she was not governed and sustained by good sense, temper, and by +the consideration which ought to exist between persons who have to live +together. + +It sometimes happens that persons opposite in temper and mind become +united. They doubtless hold together for different reasons, which cannot +last for long. Society may subsist between those who are our inferiors +by birth or by personal qualities, but those who have these advantages +should not abuse them. They should seldom let it be perceived that they +serve to instruct others. They should let their conduct show that +they, too, have need to be guided and led by reason, and accommodate +themselves as far as possible to the feeling and the interests of the +others. + +To make society pleasant, it is essential that each should retain +his freedom of action. A man should not see himself, or he should see +himself without dependence, and at the same time amuse himself. He +should have the power of separating himself without that separation +bringing any change on the society. He should have the power to pass by +one and the other, if he does not wish to expose himself to occasional +embarrassments; and he should remember that he is often bored when he +believes he has not the power even to bore. He should share in what he +believes to be the amusement of persons with whom he wishes to live, but +he should not always be liable to the trouble of providing them. + +Complaisance is essential in society, but it should have its limits, +it becomes a slavery when it is extreme. We should so render a free +consent, that in following the opinion of our friends they should +believe that they follow ours. + +We should readily excuse our friends when their faults are born with +them, and they are less than their good qualities. We should often avoid +to show what they have said, and what they have left unsaid. We should +try to make them perceive their faults, so as to give them the merit of +correcting them. + +There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in the intercourse +among gentlemen, it makes them comprehend badinage, and it keeps +them from using and employing certain figures of speech, too rude +and unrefined, which are often used thoughtlessly when we hold to our +opinion with too much warmth. + +The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without a certain kind of +confidence; this should be equal on both sides. Each should have an +appearance of sincerity and of discretion which never causes the fear of +anything imprudent being said. + +There should be some variety in wit. Those who have only one kind of +wit cannot please for long unless they can take different roads, and not +both use the same talents, thus adding to the pleasure of society, and +keeping the same harmony that different voices and different instruments +should observe in music; and as it is detrimental to the quiet of +society, that many persons should have the same interests, it is yet as +necessary for it that their interests should not be different. + +We should anticipate what can please our friends, find out how to be +useful to them so as to exempt them from annoyance, and when we cannot +avert evils, seem to participate in them, insensibly obliterate without +attempting to destroy them at a blow, and place agreeable objects in +their place, or at least such as will interest them. We should talk of +subjects that concern them, but only so far as they like, and we +should take great care where we draw the line. There is a species of +politeness, and we may say a similar species of humanity, which does not +enter too quickly into the recesses of the heart. It often takes pains +to allow us to see all that our friends know, while they have still the +advantage of not knowing to the full when we have penetrated the depth +of the heart. + +Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once gives them familiarity +and furnishes them with an infinite number of subjects on which to talk +freely. + +Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense fairly to appreciate +many matters that are essential to maintain society. We desire to +turn away at a certain point, but we do not want to be mixed up in +everything, and we fear to know all kinds of truth. + +As we should stand at a certain distance to view objects, so we should +also stand at a distance to observe society; each has its proper point +of view from which it should be regarded. It is quite right that it +should not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly a man who in +all matters allows himself to be seen as he really is. + +V. On Conversation. + +The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is that each +thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the others say, and +that we make bad listeners when we want to speak. + +Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should give them the +time they want, and let them say even senseless things; never contradict +or interrupt them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind and +taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything they say that deserves +praise, and let them see we praise more from our choice than from +agreement with them. + +To please others we should talk on subjects they like and that interest +them, avoid disputes upon indifferent matters, seldom ask questions, and +never let them see that we pretend to be better informed than they are. + +We should talk in a more or less serious manner, and upon more or less +abstruse subjects, according to the temper and understanding of the +persons we talk with, and readily give them the advantage of deciding +without obliging them to answer when they are not anxious to talk. + +After having in this way fulfilled the duties of politeness, we can +speak our opinions to our listeners when we find an opportunity without +a sign of presumption or opinionatedness. Above all things we should +avoid often talking of ourselves and giving ourselves as an example; +nothing is more tiresome than a man who quotes himself for everything. + +We cannot give too great study to find out the manner and the capacity +of those with whom we talk, so as to join in the conversation of those +who have more than ourselves without hurting by this preference the +wishes or interests of others. + +Then we should modestly use all the modes abovementioned to show our +thoughts to them, and make them, if possible, believe that we take our +ideas from them. + +We should never say anything with an air of authority, nor show +any superiority of mind. We should avoid far-fetched expressions, +expressions hard or forced, and never let the words be grander than the +matter. + +It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are reasonable, but we +should yield to reason, wherever she appears and from whatever side +she comes, she alone should govern our opinions, we should follow her +without opposing the opinions of others, and without seeming to ignore +what they say. + +It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the conversation, and +to push a good argument too hard, when we have found one. Civility often +hides half its understanding, and when it meets with an opinionated man +who defends the bad side, spares him the disgrace of giving way. + +We are sure to displease when we speak too long and too often of one +subject, and when we try to turn the conversation upon subjects that we +think more instructive than others, we should enter indifferently upon +every subject that is agreeable to others, stopping where they wish, and +avoiding all they do not agree with. + +Every kind of conversation, however witty it may be, is not equally +fitted for all clever persons; we should select what is to their taste +and suitable to their condition, their sex, their talents, and also +choose the time to say it. + +We should observe the place, the occasion, the temper in which we find +the person who listens to us, for if there is much art in speaking to +the purpose, there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There is +an eloquent silence which serves to approve or to condemn, there is a +silence of discretion and of respect. In a word, there is a tone, an +air, a manner, which renders everything in conversation agreeable or +disagreeable, refined or vulgar. + +But it is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay +down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is +to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that will ever give +ground for regret. + +VI. Falsehood. + +We are false in different ways. There are some men who are false from +wishing always to appear what they are not. There are some who have +better faith, who are born false, who deceive themselves, and who never +see themselves as they really are; to some is given a true understanding +and a false taste, others have a false understanding and some +correctness in taste; there are some who have not any falsity either in +taste or mind. These last are very rare, for to speak generally, there +is no one who has not some falseness in some corner of his mind or his +taste. + +What makes this falseness so universal, is that as our qualities are +uncertain and confused, so too, are our tastes; we do not see things +exactly as they are, we value them more or less than they are worth, +and do not bring them into unison with ourselves in a manner which suits +them or suits our condition or qualities. + +This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of falsities in the taste +and in the mind. Our self-love is flattered by all that presents itself +to us under the guise of good. + +But as there are many kinds of good which affect our vanity and our +temper, so they are often followed from custom or advantage. We follow +because the others follow, without considering that the same feeling +ought not to be equally embarrassing to all kinds of persons, and that +it should attach itself more or less firmly, according as persons agree +more or less with those who follow them. + +We dread still more to show falseness in taste than in mind. Gentleness +should approve without prejudice what deserves to be approved, follow +what deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. But there +should be great distinction and great accuracy. We should distinguish +between what is good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, and +always follow in reason the natural inclination which carries us towards +matters that please us. + +If men only wished to excel by the help of their own talents, and in +following their duty, there would be nothing false in their taste or in +their conduct. They would show what they were, they would judge matters +by their lights, and they would attract by their reason. There would be +a discernment in their views, in their sentiments, their taste would +be true, it would come to them direct, and not from others, they would +follow from choice and not from habit or chance. If we are false in +admiring what should not be admired, it is oftener from envy that we +affix a value to qualities which are good in themselves, but which do +not become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters himself he is +brave, and that he will be able to be bold in certain cases. He should +be as firm and stedfast in a plot which ought to be stifled without fear +of being false, as he would be false and absurd in fighting a duel about +it. + +A woman may like science, but all sciences are not suitable for her, and +the doctrines of certain sciences never become her, and when applied by +her are always false. + +We should allow reason and good sense to fix the value of things, they +should determine our taste and give things the merit they deserve, and +the importance it is fitting we should give them. But nearly all men are +deceived in the price and in the value, and in these mistakes there is +always a kind of falseness. + +VII. On Air and Manner. + +There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of each +individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume another. + +We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never abandon +it, but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason that the +majority of children please. It is because they are wrapt up in the air +and manner nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. They +are changed and corrupted when they quit infancy, they think they should +imitate what they see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. +In this imitation there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. +They have nothing settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being +in reality what they want to appear, they seek to appear what they are +not. + +All men want to be different, and to be greater than they are; they seek +for an air other than their own, and a mind different from what +they possess; they take their style and manner at chance. They make +experiments upon themselves without considering that what suits one +person will not suit everyone, that there is no universal rule for taste +or manners, and that there are no good copies. + +Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many matters without being +a copy of each other, if each follow his natural turn of mind. But in +general a person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. We +often imitate the same person without perceiving it, and we neglect our +own good qualities for the good qualities of others, which generally do +not suit us. + +I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should so wrap himself up +in himself as not to be able to follow example, or to add to his own, +useful and serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. Arts and +sciences may be proper for the greater part of those who are capable for +them. Good manners and politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet +acquired qualities should always have a certain agreement and a certain +union with our own natural qualities, which they imperceptibly extend +and increase. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above ourselves. We +are often engaged in a new profession for which nature has not adapted +us. All these conditions have each an air which belong to them, but +which does not always agree with our natural manner. This change of our +fortune often changes our air and our manners, and augments the air of +dignity, which is always false when it is too marked, and when it is not +united and amalgamated with that which nature has given us. We should +unite and blend them together, and thus render them such that they can +never be separated. + +We should not speak of all subjects in one tone and in the same manner. +We do not march at the head of a regiment as we walk on a promenade; +and we should use the same style in which we should naturally speak of +different things in the same way, with the same difference as we should +walk, but always naturally, and as is suitable, either at the head of +a regiment or on a promenade. There are some who are not content to +abandon the air and manner natural to them to assume those of the rank +and dignities to which they have arrived. There are some who assume +prematurely the air of the dignities and rank to which they aspire. +How many lieutenant-generals assume to be marshals of France, how many +barristers vainly repeat the style of the Chancellor and how many female +citizens give themselves the airs of duchesses. + +But what we are most often vexed at is that no one knows how to conform +his air and manners with his appearance, nor his style and words with +his thoughts and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how far +he is insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly every one falls into +this fault in some way. No one has an ear sufficiently fine to mark +perfectly this kind of cadence. + +Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; thousands +pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the first wish to +appear to be what they are not, the second are what they appear. + +Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received from +nature please in proportion as we know the air, the style, the manner, +the sentiments that coincide with our condition and our appearance, and +displease in the proportion they are removed from that point. + + + + +INDEX + +THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, THE ROMAN +NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS. + + + + Ability, 162, 165, 199, 245, 283, 288. SEE Cleverness + ------, Sovereign, 244. + Absence, 276. + Accent, country, 342, XCIV. + Accidents, 59, 310. + Acquaintances, 426. SEE FRIENDS. + Acknowledgements, 225. + Actions, 1, 7, 57, 58, 160, 161, 382, 409, CXX. + Actors, 256. + Admiration, 178, 294, 474. + Adroitness of mind, R.II. + Adversity, 25. + -------- of Friends, XV. + Advice, 110, 116, 283, 378, CXVII. + Affairs, 453, R II. + Affectation, 134, 493. + Affections, 232. + Afflictions, 233, 355, 362, 493, XCVII, XV. + Age, 222, 405, LXXIII. SEE Old Age. + Agreeableness, 255, R.V. + Agreement, 240. + Air, 399, 495, R.7. + -- Of a Citizen, 393. + Ambition, 24, 91, 246, 293, 490. + Anger, XXX. + Application, 41, 243. + Appearances, 64, 166, 199, 256, 302, 431, 457, R.VII. + ----------, Conformity of Manners with, R.7. + Applause, 272. + Approbation, 51, 280. + Artifices, 117, 124, 125, 126, R.II. + Astonishment, 384. + Avarice, 167, 491, 492. + + + + Ballads, 211. + Beauty, 240, 474, 497, LI. + ------ of the Mind, R.II. + Bel esprit defined, R.II. + Benefits, 14, 298, 299, 301, CXXII. + Benefactors, 96, 317, CXXII. + Blame, CVIII. + Blindness, XIX. + Boasting, 141, 307. + Boredom, 141, 304, 352. SEE Ennui. + Bouts rimes, 382, CXX. + Bravery, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 365, + 504. SEE Courage and Valour. + Brilliancy of Mind, R.II. + Brilliant things, LII. + + + + Capacity, 375. + Caprice, 45. + Chance, 57, 344, XCV. SEE Fortune. + Character, LVI, R.II. + Chastity, 1. SEE Virtue of Women. + Cheating, 114, 127. + Circumstances, 59, 470. + Civility, 260. + Clemency, 15, 16. + Cleverness, 162, 269, 245, 399. + Coarseness, 372. + Comedy, 211, R.III. + Compassion, 463. SEE Pity. + Complaisance, 481, R.IV. + Conduct, 163, 227, 378, CXVII. + Confidants, whom we make, R.I. + Confidence, 239, 365, 475, XLIX, R.1, R.IV. + Confidence, difference from Sincerity + ----------, defined, R.I. + Consolation, 325. + Constancy, 19, 20, 21, 175, 176, 420. + Contempt, 322. + -------- of Death, 504. + Contentment, LXXX. + Contradictions, 478. + Conversation, 139, 140, 142, 312, 313, 314, 364, 391, + 421, CIV, R.V. + Copies, 133. + Coquetry, 241. SEE Flirtation. + Country Manner, 393. + ------ Accent, 342. + Courage, 1, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221, XLII. SEE Bravery. + Covetousness, opposed to Reason, 469 + Cowardice, 215, 480. + Cowards, 370. + Crimes, 183, 465, XXXV, XXXVII. + Cunning, 126, 129, 394, 407. + Curiosity, 173. + + + + Danger, XLII. + Death, 21, 23, 26. + ----, Contempt of, 504. + Deceit, 86, 117, 118, 124, 127, 129, 395, 434. SEE ALSO + Self-Deceit. + Deception, CXXI. + Decency, 447. + Defects, 31, 90, 493, LXXII. SEE Faults. + Delicacy, 128, R.II. + Dependency, result of Confidence, R.I. + Designs, 160, 161. + Desires, 439, 469, LXXXII, LXXXV. + Despicable Persons, 322. + Detail, Mind given to, R.II. + Details, 41, 106. + Devotion, 427. + Devotees, 427. + Devout, LXXVI. + Differences, 135. + Dignities, R.VII. + Discretion, R.V. + Disguise, 119, 246, 282. + Disgrace, 235, 412. + Dishonour, 326, LXIX. + Distrust, 84, 86, 335. + Divination, 425. + Doubt, 348. + Docility, R.IV. + Dupes, 87, 102. + + + + Education, 261. + Elevation, 399, 400, 403. + Eloquence, 8, 249, 250. + Employments, 164, 419, 449. + Enemies, 114, 397, 458, 463. + Ennui, 122, 141, 304, 312, 352, CXII, R.II. + Envy, 27, 28, 280, 281, 328, 376, 433, 476, 486. + Epithets assigned to the Mind, R.II. + Esteem, 296. + Establish, 56, 280. + Evils, 121, 197, 269, 454, 464, XCIII. + Example, 230. + Exchange of secrets, R.I. + Experience, 405. + Expedients, 287. + Expression, refined, R.V. + + + + Faculties of the Mind, 174. + Failings, 397, 403. + Falseness, R.VI. + --------, disguised, 282. + --------, kinds of, R.VI. + Familiarity, R.IV. + Fame, 157. + Farces, men compared to, 211. + Faults, 37, 112, 155, 184, 190, 194, 196, 251, 354, 365, + 372, 397, 403, 411, 428, 493, 494, V, LXV, CX, + CXV. + Favourites, 55. + Fear, 370, LXVIII. + Feeling, 255. + Ferocity, XXXIII. + Fickleness, 179, 181, 498. + Fidelity, 247. + --------, hardest test of, R.I. + -------- in love, 331, 381, C. + Figure and air, R.VII. + Firmness, 19, 479. + Flattery, 123, 144, 152, 198, 320, 329. + Flirts, 406, 418. + Flirtation, 107, 241, 277, 332, 334, 349, 376, LXIV. + Follies, 156, 300, 408, 416. + Folly, 207, 208, 209, 210, 231, 300, 310, 311, 318, + XXIV. + Fools, 140, 210, 309, 318, 357, 414, 451, 456, + ----, old, 444. + ----, witty, 451, 456. + Force of Mind, 30, 42, 237. + Forgetfulness, XXVI. + Forgiveness, 330. + Fortitude, 19. SEE Bravery. + Fortune, 1, 17, 45, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, 154, 212, 227, 323, + 343, 380, 391, 392, 399, 403, 435, 449, IX., CXIX. + Friends, 84, 114, 179, 235, 279, 315, 319, 428. + ------, adversity of, XV. + ------, disgrace of, 235. + ------, faults of, 428. + ------, true ones, LXXXVI. + Friendship, 80, 81, 83, 376, 410, 427, 440, 441, 473, + XXII, CXXIV. + ----------, defined, 83. + ----------, women do not care for, 440. + ----------, rarer than love, 473. + Funerals, XXXVIII. + + + + Gallantry, 100. SEE Flirtation. + -------- of mind, 100. + Generosity, 246. + Genius, R.II. + Gentleness, R.VI. + Ghosts, 76. + Gifts of the mind, R.II. + Glory, 157, 198, 221, 268. + Good, 121, 185, 229, 238, 303, XCIII. + ----, how to be, XLVII. + Goodness, 237, 275, 284, XLVI. + Good grace, 67, R.VII. + Good man, who is a, 206. + God nature, 481. + Good qualities, 29, 90, 337, 365, 397, 462. + Good sense, 67, 347, CVI. + Good taste, 258. + ----------, rarity of, R.III. + ----, women, 368, XCVI. + Government of others, 151. + Grace, 67. + Gracefulness, 240. + Gratitude, 223, 224, 225, 279, 298, 438, XLIII. + Gravity, 257. + Great men, what they cannot acquire, LXXXIV. + Great minds, 142. + Great names, 94. + Greediness, 66. + + + + Habit, 426. + Happy, who are, 49. + Happiness, 48, 61, VII, LXXX, LXXXI. + hatred, 338. + Head, 102, 108. + Health, 188, LVII. + Heart, 98, 102, 103, 108, 478, 484. + Heroes, 24, 53, 185. + Honesty, 202, 206. + Honour, 270. + Hope, 168, LXVIII. + Humility, 254, 358, LXXVI, LXXIX + Humiliation, 272. + Humour, 47. SEE Temper. + Hypocrisy, 218. + -------- of afflictions, 233. + + + + Idleness, 169, 266, 267, 398, 482, 487, XVIII., LV. + Ills, 174. SEE Evils. + Illusions, 123. + Imagination, 478. + Imitation, 230, XLIV, R.V. + Impertinence, 502. + Impossibilities, 30. + Incapacity, 126. + Inclination, 253, 390. + Inconsistency, 135. + Inconstancy, 181. + Inconvenience, 242. + Indifference, 172, XXIII. + Indiscretion, 429. + Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness. + Infidelity, 359, 360, 381, 429. + Ingratitude, 96, 226, 306, 317. + Injuries, 14. + Injustice, 78. + Innocence, 465. + Instinct, 123. + Integrity, 170. + Interest, 39, 40, 66, 85, 172, 187, 232, 253, 305, 390. + Interests, 66. + Intrepidity, 217, XL. + Intrigue, 73. + Invention, 287. + + + + Jealousy, 28, 32, 324, 336, 359, 361, 446, 503, CII. + Joy, XIV. + Judges, 268. + Judgment, 89, 97, 248. + -------- of the World, 212, 455. + Justice, 78, 458, XII. + + + + Kindness, 14, 85. + Knowledge, 106. + + + + Labour of Body, effect of, LXXVII. + Laments, 355. + Laziness, 367. SEE Idleness. + Leader, 43. + Levity, 179, 181. + Liberality, 167, 263. + Liberty in Society, R.IV. + Limits to Confidence, R.I. + Little Minds, 142. + Love, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 136, 259, 262, + 274, 286, 296, 321, 335, 336, 348, 349, 351, 353, + 361, 371, 374, 385, 395, 396, 402, 417, 418, 422, + 430, 440, 441, 459, 466, 471, 473, 499, 500, 501, + X, XI, XIII, LVIII, LX, LXII, LXXXVIII, + XCIX, CIII, CXXI. + ---- defined, 68. + ----, Coldness in, LX. + ----, Effect of absence on, 276. + ---- akin to Hate, 111. + ---- of Women, 466, 471, 499. + ----, Novelty in, 274. + ----, Infidelity in, LXIV. + ----, Old age of, 430. + ----, Cure for, 417, 459. + Loss of Friends, XLV. + Lovers, 312, 362, LXXXVII, XCVII. + Lunatic, 353. + Luxury, LIV. + Lying, 63. + + + + Madmen, 353, 414. + Malady, LVII. + Magistrates, R.VI. + Magnanimity, 248, LIII. + ---------- defined, 285. + Malice, 483. + Manners, R.VII. + Mankind, 436, XXXVI. + Marriages, 113. + Maxims, LXVII. + Mediocrity, 375. + Memory, 89, 313. + Men easier to know than Man, 436. + Merit, 50, 92, 95, 153, 156, 165, 166, 273, 291, 379, + 401, 437, 455, CXVIII. + Mind, 101, 103, 265, 357, 448, 482, CIX. + Mind, Capacities of, R.II. + Miserable, 49. + Misfortunes, 19, 24, 174, 325. + ---------- of Friends. XV. + ---------- of Enemies, 463. + Mistaken people, 386. + Mistrust, 86. + Mockery, R.II. + Moderation, 17, 18, 293, 308, III, IV. + Money, Man compared to, XXXII. + Motives, 409. + + + + Names, Great, 94. + Natural goodness, 275. + Natural, to be, 431. + ------, always pleasing, R.VII. + Nature, 53, 153, 189, 365, 404. + Negotiations, 278. + Novelty in study, 178. + ------ in love, 274. + ------ in friendship, 426. + + + + Obligations, 299, 317, 438. SEE Benefits and Gratitude. + Obstinacy, 234, 424. + -------- its cause, 265. + Occasions. SEE Opportunities. + Old Age, 109, 210, 418, 423, 430, 461. + Old Men, 93. + Openness of heart, R.1. + Opinions, 13, 234, CXXIII, R.V. + Opinionatedness, R.V. + Opportunities, 345, 453, CV. + + + + Passions, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122, 188, 266, 276, 404, + 422, 443, 460, 471, 477, 484, 485, 486, 500, II. + Peace of Mind, VIII. + Penetration, 377, 425, CXVI. + Perfection, R.II. + Perseverance, 177. + Perspective, 104. + Persuasion, 8. + Philosophers, 46, 54, 504, XXI. + Philosophy, 22. + ---------- of a Footman, 504, LXXV. + Pity, 264. + Pleasing, 413, CXXV. + --------, Mode of, XLVIII, R.V. + --------, Mind a, R.II. + Point of view, R.IV. + Politeness, 372, R.V. + Politeness of Mind, 99. + Praise, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 272, 356, + 432, XXVII, CVII. + Preoccupation, 92, R.III. + Pride, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 228, 234, 239, 254, 267, 281, + 450, 462, 463, 472, VI, XIX. + Princes, 15, 320. + Proceedings, 170. + Productions of the Mind, R.II. + Professions, 256. + Promises, 38. + Proportion, R.VI. + Propriety, 447. + -------- in Women, XXXIV. + Prosperity, 25. + Providence, XXXIX. + Prudence, 65, LXXXVIII, R.I. + + + + Qualities, 29, 162, 397, 470, 498, R.VI, R.VII. + --------, Bad, 468. + --------, Good, 88, 337, 462. + --------, Great, 159, 433. + --------, of Mind, classified, R.II. + Quarrels, 496, + Quoting oneself, R.V. + + + + Raillery, R.II, R.IV. + Rank, 401. + Reason, 42, 105, 325, 365, 467, 469, XX, R.VI. + Recollection in Memory{, 313}. + Reconciliation, 82. + Refinement, R.II. + Regret, 355. + Relapses, 193. + Remedies, 288. + -------- for love 459. + Remonstrances, 37. + Repentance, 180. + Repose, 268. + Reproaches, 148. + Reputation, 268, 412. + Resolution, L. + Revenge, 14. + Riches, 54. + Ridicule, 133, 134, 326, 418, 422. + Rules for Conversation, R.V. + Rusticity, 393. + + + + Satire, 483, R.II, R.IV. + Sciences, R.VI. + Secrets, XVI, R.I. + ------, How they should be kept, R.I. + Self-deceit, 115, 452. + Self-love, 2, 3, 4, 228, 236, 247, 261, 262, 339, 494, 500, + I, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, LXVI, LXXIV. + -------- in love, 262. + Self-satisfaction, 51. + Sensibility, 275. + Sensible People, 347, CVI. + Sentiment, 255, R.VI. + Severity of Women, 204, 333. + Shame, 213, 220. + Silence, 79, 137, 138, CXIV. + Silliness. SEE Folly. + Simplicity, 289. + Sincerity, 62, 316, 366, 383, 457. + --------, Difference between it and Confidence, R.I. + --------, defined, R.I. + -------- of Lovers, LXI. + Skill, LXIV. + Sobriety, XXV. + Society, 87, 201, R.IV. + ------, Distinction between it and Friendship, R.IV. + Soul, 80, 188, 194. + Souls, Great, XXXI. + Sorrows, LXXVIII. + Stages of Life, 405. + Strength of mind, 19, 20, 21, 504. + Studies, why new ones are pleasing, 178. + ------, what to study, XCII. + Subtilty, 128. + Sun, 26. + + + + Talents, 468. + ------, latent, 344, XCV. + Talkativeness, 314. + Taste, 13, 109, 252, 390, 467, CXX, R.III, R.VI. + ----, good, 258, R.III. + ----, cause of diversities in, R.III. + ----, false, R.III. + Tears, 233, 373. + Temper, 47, 290, 292. + Temperament, 220, 222, 297, 346. + Times for speaking, R.V. + Timidity, 169, 480. + Titles, XXXII. + Tranquillity, 488. + Treachery, 120, 126. + Treason, 120. + Trickery, 86, 350, XCI. SEE Deceit. + Trifles, 41. + Truth, 64, LI. + Tyranny, R.I. + + + + Understanding, 89. + Untruth, 63. SEE Lying. + Unhappy, CXXV. + + + + Valour, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216. SEE Bravery and Courage. + Vanity, 137, 158, 200, 232, 388, 389, 443, 467, 483. + Variety of mind, R.IV. + Vice, 182, 186, 187, 189, 191, 192, 195, 218, 253, 273, + 380, 442, 445, XXIX. + Violence, 363, 369, 466, CXIII. + Victory, XII. + Virtue, 1, 25, 169, 171, 182, 186, 187, 189, 200, 218, + 253, 380, 388, 442, 445, 489, XXIX. + Virtue of Women, 1, 220, 367, XCVIII. + Vivacity, 416. + + + + Weakness, 130, 445. + Wealth, Contempt of, 301. + Weariness. SEE Ennui. + Wicked people, 284. + Wife jealous sometimes desirable, LXXXIX. + Will, 30. + Wisdom, 132, 210, 231, 323, 444, LXXXIII. + Wise Man, who is a, 203, XCI. + Wishes, 295. + Wit, 199, 340, 413, 415, 421, 502. + Wives, 364, CIV. + Woman, 131, 204, 205, 220, 241, 277, 332, 333, 334, + 340, 346, 362, 367, 368, 418, 429, 440, 466, 471, + 474, LXX, XC. + Women, Severity of, 333. + ----, Virtue of, 205, 220, XC. + ----, Power of, LXXI. + Wonder, 384. + World, 201. + ----, Judgment of, 268. + ----, Approbation of, 201. + ----, Establishment in, 56. + ----, Praise and censure of, 454. + + + + Young men, 378, 495. + Youth, 271, 341. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Reflections, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REFLECTIONS *** + +***** This file should be named 9105.txt or 9105.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/1/0/9105/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Reflections; Or Sentences and Moral Maxims + +Author: Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9105] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORAL MAXIMS *** + + + +{Transcriber's notes: spelling variants are preserved (e.g. labour +instead of labor, criticise instead of criticize, etc.); words that +were italicized appear in all CAPITALS; the translators' comments are +in square brackets [...] as they are in the text; footnotes are indicated +by * and appear in angled brackets <...> immediately following the passage +containing the note (in the text they appear at the bottom of the page); +and, finally, I give corrections and addenda in curly brackets {...}.} + + + +Rochefoucauld + + +"As Rochefoucauld his maxims drew +From Nature--I believe them true. +They argue no corrupted mind +In him; the fault is in mankind."--Swift. + +"Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des +gens d'esprit."--Montesquieu. + +"Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations."--Sir J. +Mackintosh. + +"Translators should not work alone; for good ET PROPRIA VERBA +do not always occur to one mind."--Luther's TABLE TALK, iii. + + + +Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims + +By + +Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, +Prince de Marsillac. + +Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with introduction, +notes, and some account of the author and his times. + +By + +J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B +and +J. Hain Friswell + +Simpson Low, Son, and Marston, +188, Fleet Street. +1871. + + + +{Translators'} Preface. + + +Some apology must be made for an attempt +"to translate the untranslatable." Not- +withstanding there are no less than eight +English translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly +any are readable, none are free from faults, and all +fail more or less to convey the author's meaning. +Though so often translated, there is not a complete +English edition of the Maxims and Reflections. All +the translations are confined exclusively to the +Maxims, none include the Reflections. This may be +accounted for, from the fact that most of the trans- +lations are taken from the old editions of the +Maxims, in which the Reflections do not appear. +Until M. Suard devoted his attention to the text +of Rochefoucauld, the various editions were but +reprints of the preceding ones, without any regard +to the alterations made by the author in the later +editions published during his life-time. So much +was this the case, that Maxims which had been +rejected by Rochefoucauld in his last edition, were +still retained in the body of the work. To give +but one example, the celebrated Maxim as to the +misfortunes of our friends, was omitted in the last +edition of the book, published in Rochefoucauld's +life-time, yet in every English edition this Maxim +appears in the body of the work. + +M. Aime Martin in 1827 published an edition +of the Maxims and Reflections which has ever since +been the standard text of Rochefoucauld in France. +The Maxims are printed from the edition of 1678, +the last published during the author's life, and the +last which received his corrections. To this edition +were added two Supplements; the first containing +the Maxims which had appeared in the editions of +1665, 1666, and 1675, and which were afterwards +omitted; the second, some additional Maxims +found among various of the author's manuscripts +in the Royal Library at Paris. And a Series of Re- +flections which had been previously published in a +work called "Receuil de pieces d'histoire et de litte- +rature." Paris, 1731. They were first published +with the Maxims in an edition by Gabriel Brotier. + +In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled "Reflex- +ions, ou Sentences et Maximes Morales, augmentees +de plus deux cent nouvelles Maximes et Maximes +et Pensees diverses suivant les copies Imprimees a +Paris, chez Claude Barbin, et Matre Cramoisy +1692,"* some fifty Maxims were added, ascribed +by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his family +allowed them to be published under his name, it +seems probable they were genuine. These fifty +form the third supplement to this book. + +*<In all the French editions this book is spoken of as +published in 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the +Cambridge University Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called +"Reflexions Morales."> + +The apology for the present edition of Rochefou- +cauld must therefore be twofold: firstly, that it is +an attempt to give the public a complete English +edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a moralist. +The body of the work comprises the Maxims +as the author finally left them, the first supple- +ment, those published in former editions, and +rejected by the author in the later; the second, the +unpublished Maxims taken from the author's cor- +respondence and manuscripts, and the third, the +Maxims first published in 1692. While the Re- +flections, in which the thoughts in the Maxims are +extended and elaborated, now appear in English +for the first time. And secondly, that it is an +attempt (to quote the preface of the edition of +1749) "to do the Duc de la Rochefoucauld the +justice to make him speak English." + + + +{Translators'} Introduction + + +The description of the "ancien regime" in +France, "a despotism tempered by epigrams," +like most epigrammatic sentences, contains +some truth, with much fiction. The society of +the last half of the seventeenth, and the whole of the +eighteenth centuries, was doubtless greatly influenced +by the precise and terse mode in which the popular +writers of that date expressed their thoughts. To a +people naturally inclined to think that every possible +view, every conceivable argument, upon a question is +included in a short aphorism, a shrug, and the word +"voila," truths expressed in condensed sentences must +always have a peculiar charm. It is, perhaps, from this +love of epigram, that we find so many eminent +French writers of maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La +Rochefoucauld, La Bruyere, Montesquieu, and Vau- +venargues, each contributed to the rich stock of French +epigrams. No other country can show such a list +of brilliant writers--in England certainly we can- +not. Our most celebrated, Lord Bacon, has, by +his other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their +fame is, to a great measure, obscured. The only +Englishman who could have rivalled La Rochefou- +cauld or La Bruyere was the Earl of Chesterfield, and +he only could have done so from his very inti- +mate connexion with France; but unfortunately his +brilliant genius was spent in the impossible task of +trying to refine a boorish young Briton, in "cutting +blocks with a razor." + +Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefou- +cauld is at once the most widely known, and the most +distinguished. Voltaire, whose opinion on the cen- +tury of Louis XIV. is entitled to the greatest weight, +says, "One of the works that most largely contributed +to form the taste of the nation, and to diffuse a spirit +of justice and precision, is the collection of maxims, +by Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld." + +This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, +Prince de Marsillac, the author of the maxims, was +one of the most illustrious members of the most illus- +trious families among the French noblesse. Descended +from the ancient Dukes of Guienne, the founder of +the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a younger branch of +the House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of +the eleventh century the Seigneur of a small town, +La Roche, in the Angounois. Our chief knowledge of +this feudal lord is drawn from the monkish chronicles. +As the benefactor of the various abbeys and monas- +teries in his province, he is naturally spoken of by +them in terms of eulogy, and in the charter of one of +the abbeys of Angouleme he is called, "vir nobilissimus +Fulcaldus." His territorial power enabled him to +adopt what was then, as is still in Scotland, a com- +mon custom, to prefix the name of his estate to his +surname, and thus to create and transmit to his +descendants the illustrious surname of La Rochefou- +cauld. + +From that time until that great crisis in the history +of the French aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the +family of La Rochefoucauld have been, "if not first, in +the very first line" of that most illustrious body. One +Seigneur served under Philip Augustus against Richard +Coeur de Lion, and was made prisoner at the battle +of Gisors. The eighth Seigneur Guy performed a great +tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according to Froissart) to +the Lists by some two hundred of his kindred and +relations. The sixteenth Seigneur Francais was cham- +berlain to Charles VIII. and Louis XII., and stood +at the font as sponsor, giving his name to that last +light of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was +created a baron, and was afterwards advanced to a +count, on account of his great service to Francis and +his predecessors. + +The second count pushed the family fortune still +further by obtaining a patent as the Prince de Mar- +sillac. His widow, Anne de Polignac, entertained +Charles V. at the family chateau at Verteuil, in so +princely a manner that on leaving Charles observed, +"He had never entered a house so redolent of high +virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that mansion." + +The third count, after serving with distinction +under the Duke of Guise against the Spaniards, was +made prisoner at St. Quintin, and only regained his +liberty to fall a victim to the "bloody infamy" of St. +Bartholomew. His son, the fourth count, saved with +difficulty from that massacre, after serving with dis- +tinction in the religious wars, was taken prisoner +in a skirmish at St. Yriex la Perche, and murdered +by the Leaguers in cold blood. + +The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis +XIII., after fighting against the English and Buck- +ingham at the Ile de Re, was created a duke. His +son Francis, the second duke, by his writings has +made the family name a household word. + +The third duke fought in many of the earlier cam- +paigns of Louis XIV. at Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and +was dangerously wounded at the passage of the Rhine. +From his bravery he rose to high favour at Court, and +was appointed Master of the Horse (Grand Veneur) +and Lord Chamberlain. His son, the fourth duke, +commanded the regiment of Navarre, and took part +in storming the village of Neerwinden on the day +when William III. was defeated at Landen. He was +afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and Marquis +de Liancourt. + +The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., +became the friend of the philosopher Voltaire. + +The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the +last of the long line of noble lords who bore that +distinguished name. In those terrible days of Sep- +tember, 1792, when the French people were proclaim- +ing universal humanity, the duke was seized as an +aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and put to death +behind his own carriage, in which sat his mother and +his wife, at the very place where, some six centuries +previously, his ancestor had been taken prisoner in +a fair fight. A modern writer has spoken of this +murder "as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson +for the writings and conduct of the grandfather." +But M. Sainte Beuve observes as to this, he can see +nothing admirable in the death of the duke, and if it +proves anything, it is only that the grandfather was +not so wrong in his judgment of men as is usually +supposed. + +Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December +1615. M. Sainte Beuve divides his life into four +periods, first, from his birth till he was thirty-five, when +he became mixed up in the war of the Fronde; the +second period, during the progress of that war; the +third, the twelve years that followed, while he re- +covered from his wounds, and wrote his maxims dur- +ing his retirement from society; and the last from +that time till his death. + +In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of +his history by the name of one of the muses, so each +of these four periods of La Rochefoucauld's life may +be associated with the name of a woman who was for +the time his ruling passion. These four ladies are the +Duchesse de Chevreuse, the Duchesse de Longueville, +Madame de Sable, and Madame de La Fayette. + +La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; +his father, occupied in the affairs of state, either had +not, or did not devote any time to his education. His +natural talents and his habits of observation soon, +however, supplied all deficiencies. By birth and sta- +tion placed in the best society of the French Court, +he soon became a most finished courtier. Knowing +how precarious Court favour then was, his father, +when young Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, +sent him into the army. He was subsequently at- +tached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but +sixteen he was present, and took part in the mili- +tary operations at the siege of Cassel. The Court of +Louis XIII. was then ruled imperiously by Richelieu. +The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was strongly opposed +to the Cardinal's party. By joining in the plots of +Gaston of Orleans, he gave Richelieu an opportunity +of ridding Paris of his opposition. When those plots +were discovered, the Duke was sent into a sort of +banishment to Blois. His son, who was then at +Court with him, was, upon the pretext of a liaison +with Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting +on the Queen (Anne of Austria), but in reality to pre- +vent the Duke learning what was passing at Paris, sent +with his father. The result of the exile was Roche- +foucauld's marriage. With the exception that his +wife's name was Mdlle. Vivonne, and that she was +the mother of five sons and three daughters, nothing +is known of her. While Rochefoucauld and his +father were at Blois, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, one +of the beauties of the Court, and the mistress of +Louis, was banished to Tours. She and Rochefou- +cauld met, and soon became intimate, and for a time +she was destined to be the one motive of his actions. +The Duchesse was engaged in a correspondence with +the Court of Spain and the Queen. Into this plot +Rochefoucauld threw himself with all his energy; his +connexion with the Queen brought him back to his +old love Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and led him to her +party, which he afterwards followed. The course he +took shut him off from all chance of Court favour. +The King regarded him with coldness, the Cardinal +with irritation. Although the Bastile and the scaffold, +the fate of Chalais and Montmorency, were before his +eyes, they failed to deter him from plotting. He was +about twenty-three; returning to Paris, he warmly +sided with the Queen. He says in his Memoirs +that the only persons she could then trust were him- +self and Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he +should take both of them from Paris to Brussels. Into +this plan he entered with all his youthful indiscretion, +it being for several reasons the very one he would wish +to adopt, as it would strengthen his influence with +Anne of Austria, place Richelieu and his master in an +uncomfortable position, and save Mdlle. d'Hautefort +from the attentions the King was showing her. + +But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and +Rochefoucauld was, of course, sent to the Bastile. +He was liberated after a week's imprisonment, but +banished to his chateau at Verteuil. + +The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal +desired to win Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. +A command in the army was offered to him, but by +the Queen's orders refused. + +For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at +Verteuil, waiting the time for his reckoning with +Richelieu; speculating on the King's death, and the +favours he would then receive from the Queen. During +this period he was more or less engaged in plotting +against his enemy the Cardinal, and hatching treason +with Cinq Mars and De Thou. + +M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first +part of Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never under- +stand his maxims. The bitter disappointment of the +passionate love, the high hopes then formed, the deceit +and treachery then witnessed, furnished the real key to +their meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality +was built on the ruins of that chivalrous ambition and +romantic affection. He saw his friend Cinq Mars +sent to the scaffold, himself betrayed by men whom +he had trusted, and the only reason he could assign +for these actions was intense selfishness. + +Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld re- +turned to Court, and found Anne of Austria regent, +and Mazarin minister. The Queen's former friends +flocked there in numbers, expecting that now their +time of prosperity had come. They were bitterly dis- +appointed. Mazarin relied on hope instead of grati- +tude, to keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The +most that any received were promises that were never +performed. In after years, doubtless, Rochefoucauld's +recollection of his disappointment led him to write the +maxim: "We promise according to our hopes, we per- +form according to our fears." But he was not even to +receive promises; he asked for the Governorship of +Havre, which was then vacant. He was flatly refused. +Disappointment gave rise to anger, and uniting with +his old flame, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, who had +received the same treatment, and with the Duke of +Beaufort, they formed a conspiracy against the govern- +ment. The plot was, of course, discovered and crushed. +Beaufort was arrested, the Duchesse banished. Irri- +tated and disgusted, Rochefoucauld went with the +Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the army, on a +campaign, and here he found the one love of his life, +the Duke's sister, Mdme. de Longueville. This lady, +young, beautiful, and accomplished, obtained a great +ascendancy over Rochefoucauld, and was the cause of +his taking the side of Conde in the subsequent civil +war. Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the army. +He was badly wounded at the siege of Mardik, and +returned from thence to Paris. On recovering from +his wounds, the war of the Fronde broke out. This +war is said to have been most ridiculous, as being +carried on without a definite object, a plan, or a +leader. But this description is hardly correct; it was +the struggle of the French nobility against the rule +of the Court; an attempt, the final attempt, to re- +cover their lost influence over the state, and to save +themselves from sinking under the rule of cardinals +and priests. + +With the general history of that war we have +nothing to do; it is far too complicated and too +confused to be stated here. The memoirs of Roche- +foucauld and De Retz will give the details to those +who desire to trace the contests of the factions--the +course of the intrigues. We may confine ourselves to +its progress so far as it relates to the Duc de la Roche- +foucauld. + +On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Conde +and Conti, and the Duc de Longueville, to be +arrested, Rochefoucauld and the Duchess fled into +Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into +Poitou, of which province he had some years pre- +viously bought the post of governor. He was there +joined by the Duc de Bouillon, and he and the Duke +marched to, and occupied Bordeaux. Cardinal Ma- +zarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie advanced in force +on Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody +battle followed. Rochefoucauld defended the town +with the greatest bravery, and repulsed the Cardinal. +Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers of Bor- +deaux were anxious to make peace, and save the city +from destruction. The Parliament of Bordeaux com- +pelled Rochefoucauld to surrender. He did so, and +returned nominally to Poitou, but in reality in secret +to Paris. + +There he found the Queen engaged in trying to +maintain her position by playing off the rival parties +of the Prince Conde and the Cardinal De Retz against +each other. Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old +party--that of Conde. In August, 1651, the contend- +ing parties met in the Hall of the Parliament of Paris, +and it was with great difficulty they were prevented +from coming to blows even there. It is even said that +Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder +De Retz. + +Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disap- +pointment. While occupied with party strife and +faction in Paris, Madame de Chevreuse left him, +and formed an alliance with the Duc de Nemours. +Rochefoucauld still loved her. It was, probably, +thinking of this that he afterwards wrote, "Jealousy is +born with love, but does not die with it." He endea- +voured to get Madame de Chatillon, the old mistress +of the Duc de Nemours, reinstated in favour, but in +this he did not succeed. The Duc de Nemours was +soon after killed in a duel. The war went on, and +after several indecisive skirmishes, the decisive battle +was fought at Paris, in the Faubourg St. Antoine, +where the Parisians first learnt the use or the abuse +of their favourite defence, the barricade. In this +battle, Rochefoucauld behaved with great bravery. +He was wounded in the head, a wound which for a +time deprived him of his sight. Before he recovered, +the war was over, Louis XIV. had attained his ma- +jority, the gold of Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, had +been successful, the French nobility were vanquished, +the court supremacy established. + +This completed Rochefoucauld's active life. + +When he recovered his health, he devoted himself +to society. Madame de Sable assumed a hold over +him. He lived a quiet life, and occupied himself in +composing an account of his early life, called his +"Memoirs," and his immortal "Maxims." + +From the time he ceased to take part in public life, +Rochefoucauld's real glory began. Having acted the +various parts of soldier, politician, and lover with but +small success, he now commenced the part of moralist, +by which he is known to the world. + +Living in the most brilliant society that France +possessed, famous from his writings, distinguished +from the part he had taken in public affairs, he +formed the centre of one of those remarkable French +literary societies, a society which numbered among its +members La Fontaine, Racine, Boileau. Among his +most attached friends was Madame de La Fayette (the +authoress of the "Princess of Cleeves"), and this friend- +ship continued until his death. He was not, however, +destined to pass away in that gay society without +some troubles. At the passage of the Rhine in 1672 +two of his sons were engaged; the one was killed, +the other severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was +much affected by this, but perhaps still more by the +death of the young Duc de Longueville, who perished +on the same occasion. + +Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that +young life were the only fruits of the war of the +Fronde. Madame de Sevigne, who was with him +when he heard the news of the death of so much that +was dear to him, says, "I saw his heart laid bare on that +cruel occasion, and his courage, his merit, his tender- +ness, and good sense surpassed all I ever met with. I +hold his wit and accomplishments as nothing in com- +parison." The combined effect of his wounds and the +gout caused the last years of Rochefoucauld's life to +be spent in great pain. Madame de Sevigne, who +was {with} him continually during his last illness, speaks of +the fortitude with which he bore his sufferings as +something to be admired. Writing to her daughter, +she says, "Believe me, it is not for nothing he has +moralised all his life; he has thought so often on his +last moments that they are nothing new or unfamiliar +to him." + +In his last illness, the great moralist was attended +by the great divine, Bossuet. Whether that match- +less eloquence or his own philosophic calm had, +in spite of his writings, brought him into the state +Madame de Sevigne describes, we know not; but +one, or both, contributed to his passing away in a +manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a +French philosopher. On the 11th March, 1680, he +ended his stormy life in peace after so much strife, a +loyal subject after so much treason. + +One of his friends, Madame Deshoulieres, shortly +before he died sent him an ode on death, which +aptly describes his state-- + "Oui, soyez alors plus ferme, + Que ces vulgaires humains + Qui, pres de leur dernier terme, + De vaines terreurs sont pleins. + En sage que rien n'offense, + Livrez-vous sans resistance + A d'inevitables traits; + Et, d'une demarche egale, + Passez cette onde fatal + Qu'on ne repasse jamais." + +Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the +one, Memoirs of his own time, the other the Maxims. +The first described the scenes in which his youth had +been spent, and though written in a lively style, +and giving faithful pictures of the intrigues and the +scandals of the court during Louis XIV.'s minority, +yet, except to the historian, has ceased at the present +day to be of much interest. It forms, perhaps, the +true key to understand the special as opposed to +general application of the maxims. + +Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that "there +are few people so bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer +the Memoirs of La Rochefoucauld to the Commen- +taries of Caesar," or the statement of Voltaire, "that +the Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims are +learnt by heart," few persons at the present day ever +heard of the Memoirs, and the knowledge of most as +to the Maxims is confined to that most celebrated of +all, though omitted from his last edition, "There +is something in the misfortunes of our best friends +which does not wholly displease us." Yet it is +difficult to assign a cause for this; no book is +perhaps oftener unwittingly quoted, none certainly +oftener unblushingly pillaged; upon none have so +many contradictory opinions been given. + +"Few books," says Mr. Hallam, "have been more +highly extolled, or more severely blamed, than the +maxims of the Duke of Rochefoucauld, and that not +only here, but also in France." Rousseau speaks of it +as, "a sad and melancholy book," though he goes on +to say "it is usually so in youth when we do not like +seeing man as he is." Voltaire says of it, in the words +above quoted, "One of the works which most contri- +buted to form the taste of the (French) nation, and +to give it a spirit of justness and precision, was the +collection of the maxims of Francois Duc de la Roche- +foucauld, though there is scarcely more than one +truth running through the book--that 'self-love is the +motive of everything'--yet this thought is presented +under so many varied aspects that it is nearly always +striking. It is not so much a book as it is materials +for ornamenting a book. This little collection was +read with avidity, it taught people to think, and to +comprise their thoughts in a lively, precise, and delicate +turn of expression. This was a merit which, before +him, no one in Europe had attained since the revival +of letters." + +Dr. Johnson speaks of it as "the only book written +by a man of fashion, of which professed authors need +be jealous." + +Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, +"Till you come to know mankind by your experience, +I know no thing nor no man that can in the mean- +time bring you so well acquainted with them as Le +Duc de la Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, +which I would advise you to look into for some +moments at least every day of your life, is, I fear, too +like and too exact a picture of human nature. I own +it seems to degrade it, but yet my experience does not +convince me that it degrades it unjustly." + +Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book +in no measured terms. "There is a strange affecta- +tion," says the bishop, "in some people of explaining +away all particular affection, and representing the +whole life as nothing but one continued exercise +of self-love. Hence arise that surprising confusion +and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, Hobbes, the +author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set +of writers, of calling actions interested which are +done of the most manifest known interest, merely for +the gratification of a present passion." + +The judgment the reader will be most inclined to +adopt will perhaps be either that of Mr. Hallam, "Con- +cise and energetic in expression, reduced to those +short aphorisms which leave much to the reader's +acuteness and yet save his labour, not often obscure, +and never wearisome, an evident generalisation of +long experience, without pedantry, without method, +without deductive reasonings, yet wearing an appear- +ance at least of profundity; they delight the intelli- +gent though indolent man of the world, and must be +read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . +yet they bear witness to the contracted observation +and the precipitate inferences which an intercourse +with a single class of society scarcely fails to generate." +Or that of Addison, who speaks of Rochefoucauld +"as the great philosopher for administering consola- +tion to the idle, the curious, and the worthless part of +mankind." + +We are fortunately in possession of materials such +as rarely exist to enable us to form a judgment of +Rochefoucauld's character. We have, with a vanity +that could only exist in a Frenchman, a description +or portrait of himself, of his own painting, and one of +those inimitable living sketches in which his great +enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief actors in +the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass +across the stage before us. + +We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has +left us of himself: "I am," says he, "of a medium height, +active, and well-proportioned. My complexion dark, +but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, +black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick +but well placed. I am rather embarrassed in talking of +my nose, for it is neither flat nor aquiline, nor large; +nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, it is too +large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too +low. I have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, +neither shaped well nor badly. I have white teeth, +and fairly even. I have been told I have a little too +much chin. I have just looked at myself in the +glass to ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to +decide. As to the shape of my face, it is either +square or oval, but which I should find it very diffi- +cult to say. I have black hair, which curls by nature, +and thick and long enough to entitle me to lay claim +to a fine head. I have in my countenance somewhat +of grief and pride, which gives many people an +idea I despise them, although I am not at all given to +do so. My gestures are very free, rather inclined to +be too much so, for in speaking they make me use too +much action. Such, candidly, I believe I am in out- +ward appearance, and I believe it will be found that +what I have said above of myself is not far from +the real case. I shall use the same truthfulness in +the remainder of my picture, for I have studied my- +self sufficiently to know myself well; and I will lack +neither boldness to speak as freely as I can of my +good qualities, nor sincerity to freely avow that I +have faults. + +"In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am +melancholy, and I have hardly been seen for the last +three or four years to laugh above three or four times. +It seems to me that my melancholy would be even +endurable and pleasant if I had none but what be- +longed to me constitutionally; but it arises from so +many other causes, fills my imagination in such a +way, and possesses my mind so strongly that for the +greater part of my time I remain without speaking a +word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am ex- +tremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am +not very open with the greater part of those I do. It +is a fault I know well, and I should neglect no means +to correct myself of it; but as a certain gloomy air +I have tends to make me seem more reserved than +I am in fact, and as it is not in our power to rid +ourselves of a bad expression that arises from a natu- +ral conformation of features, I think that even when +I have cured myself internally, externally some bad +expression will always remain. + +"I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, +as for what purpose should I pretend otherwise. So +great circumvention, and so great depreciation, in +speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a +little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily +to try to make others believe in greater virtues than +are imputed to us. On my part I am content not to +be considered better-looking than I am, nor of a bet- +ter temper than I describe, nor more witty and clever +than I am. Once more, I have ability, but a mind +spoilt by melancholy, for though I know my own +language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a +mode of thought not particularly confused, I yet have +so great a mixture of discontent that I often say what +I have to say very badly. + +"The conversation of gentlemen is one of the plea- +sures that most amuses me. I like it to be serious +and morality to form the substance of it. Yet I +also know how to enjoy it when trifling; and if I do +not make many witty speeches, it is not because I do +not appreciate the value of trifles well said, and that +I do not find great amusement in that manner of rail- +lery in which certain prompt and ready-witted per- +sons excel so well. I write well in prose; I do well +in verse; and if I was envious of the glory that +springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour +I could acquire some reputation. I like reading, in +general; but that in which one finds something to +polish the wit and strengthen the soul is what I like +best. But, above all, I have the greatest pleasure in +reading with an intelligent person, for then we reflect +constantly upon what we read, and the observations +we make form the most pleasant and useful form of +conversation there is. + +"I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose +that are shown me; but perhaps I speak my opinion +with almost too great freedom. Another fault in +me is that I have sometimes a spirit of delicacy far +too scrupulous, and a spirit of criticism far too severe. +I do not dislike an argument, and I often of my own +free will engage in one; but I generally back my +opinion with too much warmth, and sometimes, when +the wrong side is advocated against me, from the +strength of my zeal for reason, I become a little un- +reasonable myself. + +"I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and +so strong a desire to be a wholly good man that my +friend cannot afford me a greater pleasure than can- +didly to show me my faults. Those who know me +most intimately, and those who have the goodness +sometimes to give me the above advice, know that I +always receive it with all the joy that could be ex- +pected, and with all reverence of mind that could be +desired. + +"I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty +well under control. I am hardly ever seen in a rage, +and I never hated any one. I am not, however, in- +capable of avenging myself if I have been offended, +or if my honour demanded I should resent an insult +put upon me; on the contrary, I feel clear that duty +would so well discharge the office of hatred in me +that I should follow my revenge with even greater +keenness than other people. + +"Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few +things, and I do not fear death in the least. I am but +little given to pity, and I could wish I was not so at +all. Though there is nothing I would not do to com- +fort an afflicted person, and I really believe that one +should do all one can to show great sympathy to him +for his misfortune, for miserable people are so foolish +that this does them the greatest good in the world; +yet I also hold that we should be content with ex- +pressing sympathy, and carefully avoid having any. +It is a passion that is wholly worthless in a well-regu- +lated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, +and which should be left to ordinary persons, who, as +they never do anything from reason, have need of +passions to stimulate their actions. + +"I love my friends; and I love them to such an +extent that I would not for a moment weigh my +interest against theirs. I condescend to them, I +patiently endure their bad temper. But, also, I do +not make much of their caresses, and I do not feel +great uneasiness in their absence. + +"Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the +majority of things that stir up curiosity in other men. +I am very secret, and I have less difficulty than most +men in holding my tongue as to what is told me in +confidence. I am most particular as to my word, and +I would never fail, whatever might be the conse- +quence, to do what I had promised; and I have made +this an inflexible law during the whole of my life. + +"I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I +do not believe I have ever said anything before them +which could cause them annoyance. When their +intellect is cultivated, I prefer their society to that of +men: one there finds a mildness one does not meet +with among ourselves, and it seems to me beyond this +that they express themselves with more neatness, and +give a more agreeable turn to the things they talk +about. As for flirtation, I formerly indulged in a little, +now I shall do so no more, though I am still young. +I have renounced all flirtation, and I am simply +astonished that there are still so many sensible people +who can occupy their time with it. + +"I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate great- +ness of soul, and although, in the uneasiness they give +rise to, there is a something contrary to strict wisdom, +they fit in so well with the most severe virtue, that I +believe they cannot be censured with justice. To me +who have known all that is fine and grand in the lofty +aspirations of love, if I ever fall in love, it will as- +suredly be in love of that nature. But in accordance +with the present turn of my mind, I do not believe +that the knowledge I have of it will ever change from +my mind to my heart." + +Such is his own description of himself. Let us +now turn to the other picture, delineated by the man +who was his bitterest enemy, and whom (we say it +with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to murder. + +Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:-- +"In M. de la Rochefoucauld there was ever an +indescribable something. From his infancy he always +wanted to be mixed up with plots, at a time when he +could not understand even the smallest interests (which +has indeed never been his weak point,) or comprehend +greater ones, which in another sense has never been +his strong point. He was never fitted for any matter, +and I really cannot tell the reason. His glance was +not sufficiently wide, and he could not take in at once +all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect in +theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning +ways, his pleasing manners, which are perfect, should +more than compensate for his lack of penetration. +He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I cannot +say to what this irresolution is to be attributed. It +could not arise in him from the wealth of his imagina- +tion, for that was anything but lively. I cannot put +it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, +although he was not prompt in action, he had a good +store of reason. We see the effects of this irresolution, +although we cannot assign a cause for it. He was +never a general, though a great soldier; never, na- +turally, a good courtier, although he had always a good +idea of being so. He was never a good partizan, +although all his life engaged in intrigues. That air +of pride and timidity which your see in his private +life, is turned in business into an apologetic manner. +He always believed he had need of it; and this, com- +bined with his 'Maxims,' which show little faith in +virtue, and his habitual custom, to give up matters +with the same haste he undertook them, leads +me to the conclusion that he would have done far +better to have known his own mind, and have passed +himself off, as he could have done, for the most +polished courtier, the most agreeable man in private +life that had appeared in his century." + +It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the +Duc is not painted in such dark colours as we should +have expected, judging from what we know of the +character of De Retz. With his marvellous power of +depicting character, a power unrivalled, except by St. +Simon and perhaps by Lord Clarendon, we should +have expected the malignity of the priest would have +stamped the features of his great enemy with the +impress of infamy, and not have simply made him +appear a courtier, weak, insincere, and nothing more. +Though rather beyond our subject, the character of +Cardinal de Retz, as delineated by Mdme. Sevigne, in +one of her letters, will help us to form a true conclu- +sion on the different characters of the Duc and the +Cardinal. She says:-- +"Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz possesses great +elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, and +more of the ostentation than of the true greatness of +courage. He has an extraordinary memory, more +energy than polish in his words, an easy humour, +docility of character, and weakness in submitting to +the complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little +piety, some appearances of religion. He appears +ambitious without being really so. Vanity and those +who have guided him, have made him undertake great +things, almost all opposed to his profession. He ex- +cited the greatest troubles in the State without any +design of turning them to account, and far from +declaring himself the enemy of Cardinal Mazarin +with any view of occupying his place, he thought of +nothing but making himself an object of dread to +him, and flattering himself with the false vanity of +being his rival. He was clever enough, however, to +take advantage of the public calamities to get himself +made Cardinal. He endured his imprisonment with +firmness, and owed his liberty solely to his own +daring. In the obscurity of a life of wandering and +concealment, his indolence for many years supported +him with reputation. He preserved the Archbishopric +of Paris against the power of Cardinal Mazarin, but +after the death of that minister, he resigned it without +knowing what he was doing, and without making use +of the opportunity to promote the interests of him- +self and his friends. He has taken part in several +conclaves, and his conduct has always increased his +reputation. + +"His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he +labours with activity in pressing business, and reposes +with indifference when it is concluded. He has great +presence of mind, and knows so well how to turn it to +his own advantage on all occasions presented him by +fortune, that it would seem as if he had foreseen and +desired them. He loves to narrate, and seeks to +dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his extraor- +dinary adventures, and his imagination often supplies +him with more than his memory. The generality of +his qualities are false, and what has most contributed +to his reputation is his power of throwing a good light +on his faults. He is insensible alike to hatred and to +friendship, whatever pains he may be at to appear +taken up with the one or the other. He is incapable +of envy or avarice, whether from virtue or from care- +lessness. He has borrowed more from his friends +than a private person could ever hope to be able to +repay; he has felt the vanity of acquiring so much on +credit, and of undertaking to discharge it. He has +neither taste nor refinement; he is amused by every- +thing and pleased by nothing. He avoids difficult +matters with considerable address, not allowing people +to penetrate the slight acquaintance he has with every- +thing. The retreat he has just made from the world +is the most brilliant and the most unreal action of his +life; it is a sacrifice he has made to his pride under +the pretence of devotion; he quits the court to which +he cannot attach himself, and retires from a world +which is retiring from him." + +The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a +preface by Segrais. This preface was omitted in the +subsequent editions. The first edition contained +316 maxims, counting the last upon death, which +was not numbered. The second in 1666 contained +only 102; the third in 1671, and the fourth in +1675, 413. In this last edition we first meet with +the introductory maxim, "Our virtues are gene- +rally but disguised vices." The edition of 1678, +the fifth, increased the number to 504. This was +the last edition revised by the author, and pub- +lished in his lifetime. The text of that edition has +been used for the present translation. The next +edition, the sixth, was published in 1693, about +thirteen years after the author's death. This edition +included fifty new maxims, attributed by the editor +to Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were his writing, +as the fact was never denied by his family, through +whose permission they were published. They form +the third supplement to the translation. This sixth +edition was published by Claude Barbin, and the +French editions since that time have been too nu- +merous to be enumerated. The great popularity of +the Maxims is perhaps best shown from the numerous +translations that have been made of them. No less +than eight English translations, or so-called transla- +tions, have appeared; one American, a Swedish, and +a Spanish translation, an Italian imitation, with +parallel passages, and an English imitation by Hazlitt. +The titles of the English editions are as follows:-- +i. Seneca Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. Lon- + don, 1689. She calls the author the Duke of + Rushfucave. +ii. Moral Maxims and Reflections, in four parts. By + the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Now made + English. London, 1694. 12 mo. +iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections of the Duke de + la Rochefoucauld. Newly made English. Lon- + don, 1706. 12 mo. +iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. + Translated from the French. With notes. Lon- + don, 1749. 12 mo. +v. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld. Revised and improved. London, + 1775. 8 vo. +vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and im- + proved, by L. D. London, 1781. 8 vo. +vii. The Gentleman's Library. La Rochefoucauld's + Maxims and Moral Reflections. London, 1813. + 12 mo. +viii.Moral Reflections, Sentences, and Maxims of + the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly translated + from the French; with an introduction and notes. + London, 1850. 16 mo. +ix. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld: with a Memoir by the Chevalier + de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo. + +The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every +reader to a greater or less degree, in accordance with +the extent of his reading, parallel passages, and simi- +lar ideas. Of ancient writers Rochefoucauld most +strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern writers, Ju- +nius most strongly reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some +examples from both are given in the notes to this trans- +lation. It is curious to see how the expressions of the +bitterest writer of English political satire to a great ex- +tent express the same ideas as the great French satirist +of private life. Had space permitted the parallel +could have been drawn very closely, and much of the +invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefou- +cauld. + +One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised +and protected, was the great French fabulist, La +Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by La Fontaine +giving, in one of his fables, "L'Homme et son Image," +an elaborate defence of his patron. After there depict- +ing a man who fancied himself one of the most lovely +in the world, and who complained he always found +all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real +image reflected in the water. He thus applies his +fable:-- +"Je parle a tous: et cette erreur extreme, +Est un mal que chacun se plait d'entretenir, +Notre ame, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui meme, +Tant de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. +Miroirs, de nos defauts les peintres legitimes, +Et quant au canal, c'est celui +Qui chacun sait, le livre des MAXIMES." + +It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we +all see ourselves. This has made it so unpopular. It +is too true. We dislike to be told of our faults, +while we only like to be told of our neighbour's. +Notwithstanding Rousseau's assertion, it is young +men, who, before they know their own faults +and only know their neighbours', that read and tho- +roughly appreciate Rochefoucauld. + +After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more +and seems far truer than he is in reality, it is impossible +to give any general conclusion of such distinguished +writers on the subject. Each reader will form his own +opinion of the merits of the author and his book. To +some, both will seem deserving of the highest praise; to +others both will seem deserving of the highest censure. +The truest judgment as to the author will be found in +the remarks of a countryman of his own, as to the +book in the remarks of a countryman of ours. + +As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:--"C'etait un +misanthrope poli, insinuant, souriant, qui precedait +de bien peu et preparait avec charme l'autre MISAN- +THROPE." + +As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:--"Among the +books in ancient and modern times which record the +conclusions of observing men on the moral qualities +of their fellows, a high place should be reserved for +the Maxims of Rochefoucauld". + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + + +Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. + +[This epigraph which is the key to the system +of La Rochefoucauld, is found in another form +as No. 179 of the maxims of the first edition, 1665, it is +omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, and reappears for the first +time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as at present, at the head +of the Reflections.--AIME MARTIN. Its best answer is ar- +rived at by reversing the predicate and the subject, and +you at once form a contradictory maxim equally true, our +vices are most frequently but virtues disguised.] + +1.--What we term virtue is often but a mass of +various actions and divers interests, which fortune, or +our own industry, manage to arrange; and it is not +always from valour or from chastity that men are +brave, and women chaste. + +"Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, +He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave; +Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, +His pride in reasoning, not in acting, lies." + Pope, MORAL ESSAYS, Ep. i. line 115. + +2.--Self-love is the greatest of flatterers. + +3.--Whatever discoveries have been made in the +region of self-love, there remain many unexplored ter- +ritories there. + +[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to +develope. He wishes to find in vice a motive for all our +actions, but this does not suffice him; he is obliged to call +other passions to the help of his system and to confound +pride, vanity, interest and egotism with self love. This +confusion destroys the unity of his principle.--AIME +MARTIN.] + +4.--Self love is more cunning than the most cunning +man in the world. + +5.--The duration of our passions is no more de- +pendant upon us than the duration of our life. +[Then what becomes of free will?--AIME MARTIN] + +6.--Passion often renders the most clever man a +fool, and even sometimes renders the most foolish man +clever. + +7.--Great and striking actions which dazzle the +eyes are represented by politicians as the effect of +great designs, instead of which they are commonly +caused by the temper and the passions. Thus the war +between Augustus and Anthony, which is set down to +the ambition they entertained of making themselves +masters of the world, was probably but an effect of +jealousy. + +8.--The passions are the only advocates which +always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules +of which are infallible; and the simplest man with +passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent +without. + +[See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.] + +9.--The passions possess a certain injustice and +self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, +and in reality we should distrust them even when +they appear most trustworthy. + +10.--In the human heart there is a perpetual gene- +ration of passions; so that the ruin of one is almost +always the foundation of another. + +11.--Passions often produce their contraries: ava- +rice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to +avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness +and daring though timidity. + +12.--Whatever care we take to conceal our pas- +sions under the appearances of piety and honour, they +are always to be seen through these veils. + +[The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps +better--"however we may conceal our passions under the +veil, etc., there is always some place where they peep out."] + +13.--Our self love endures more impatiently the +condemnation of our tastes than of our opinions. + +14.--Men are not only prone to forget benefits and +injuries; they even hate those who have obliged them, +and cease to hate those who have injured them. The +necessity of revenging an injury or of recompensing +a benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling +to submit. + +15.--The clemency of Princes is often but policy +to win the affections of the people. + +["So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by +clemency, so greatly does it raise their fame and endear +them to their subjects, that it is generally happy for them +to have an opportunity of displaying it."--Montesquieu, +ESPRIT DES LOIS, LIB. VI., C. 21.] + +16.--This clemency of which they make a merit, +arises oftentimes from vanity, sometimes from idle- +ness, oftentimes from fear, and almost always from all +three combined. + +[La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which +he lived. Here the clemency spoken of is nothing more +than an expression of the policy of Anne of Austria. +Rochefoucauld had sacrificed all to her; even the favour +of Cardinal Richelieu, but when she became regent she be- +stowed her favours upon those she hated; her friends were +forgotten.--AIME MARTIN. The reader will hereby see +that the age in which the writer lived best interprets his +maxims.] + +17.--The moderation of those who are happy arises +from the calm which good fortune bestows upon their +temper. + +18.--Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting +the envy and contempt which those merit who are +intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain dis- +play of our strength of mind, and in short the mo- +deration of men at their greatest height is only a +desire to appear greater than their fortune. + +19.--We have all sufficient strength to support the +misfortunes of others. + +[The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucre- +tius, lib. ii., line I:-- + "Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis + E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem."] + +20.--The constancy of the wise is only the talent of +concealing the agitation of their hearts. + +[Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. +This definition of constancy is a result of maxim 18.] + +21.--Those who are condemned to death affect some- +times a constancy and contempt for death which is +only the fear of facing it; so that one may say that +this constancy and contempt are to their mind what +the bandage is to their eyes. + +[See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.] + +22.--Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and +future evils; but present evils triumph over it. + +23.--Few people know death, we only endure it, +usually from determination, and even from stupidity +and custom; and most men only die because they +know not how to prevent dying. + +24.--When great men permit themselves to be cast +down by the continuance of misfortune, they show +us that they were only sustained by ambition, and not +by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes +are made like other men. + +[Both these maxims have been rewritten and made +conciser by the author; the variations are not worth +quoting.] + +25.--We need greater virtues to sustain good than +evil fortune. + +["Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} +best discover virtue."--Lord Bacon, ESSAYS{, (1625), "Of +Adversity"}.] + +{The quotation wrongly had "does" for "doth".} + +26.--Neither the sun nor death can be looked at +without winking. + +27.--People are often vain of their passions, even +of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and +shame-faced that no one ever dare avow her. + +28.--Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, +as it tends to preserve a good which belongs, or +which we believe belongs to us, on the other hand +envy is a fury which cannot endure the happiness of +others. + +29.--The evil that we do does not attract to us so +much persecution and hatred as our good qualities. + +30.--We have more strength than will; and it is +often merely for an excuse we say things are impos- +sible. + +31.--If we had no faults we should not take so much +pleasure in noting those of others. + +32.--Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an +end or becomes a fury as soon as it passes from +doubt to certainty. + +33.--Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even +when it casts away vanity. + +[See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take +from our other faults we add to our pride.] + +34.--If we had no pride we should not complain of +that of others. + +["The proud are ever most provoked by pride."-Cow- +per, CONVERSATION 160.] + +35.--Pride is much the same in all men, the only +difference is the method and manner of showing it. + +["Pride bestowed on all a common friend."--Pope, +ESSAY ON MAN, Ep. ii., line 273.] + +36.--It would seem that nature, which has so wisely +ordered the organs of our body for our happiness, has +also given us pride to spare us the mortification of +knowing our imperfections. + +37.--Pride has a larger part than goodness in our +remonstrances with those who commit faults, and we +reprove them not so much to correct as to persuade +them that we ourselves are free from faults. + +38.--We promise according to our hopes; we per- +form according to our fears. + +["The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long +to grant the favours he had promised, was because he was +persuaded that hope was much more capable of keeping +men to their duty than gratitude."--FRAGMENTS HISTORIQUES. +RACINE.] + +39.--Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays +all sorts of characters; even that of disinterestedness. + +40.--Interest blinds some and makes some see. + +41.--Those who apply themselves too closely to +little things often become incapable of great things. + +42.--We have not enough strength to follow all our +reason. + +43.--A man often believes himself leader when he +is led; as his mind endeavours to reach one goal, his +heart insensibly drags him towards another. + + +44.--Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; +they are really only the good or happy arrangement of +our bodily organs. + +45.--The caprice of our temper is even more whim- +sical than that of Fortune. + +46.--The attachment or indifference which philoso- +phers have shown to life is only the style of their self +love, about which we can no more dispute than of that +of the palate or of the choice of colours. + +47.--Our temper sets a price upon every gift that +we receive from fortune. + +48.--Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things +themselves; we are happy from possessing what we +like, not from possessing what others like. + +49.--We are never so happy or so unhappy as we +suppose. + +50.--Those who think they have merit persuade +themselves that they are honoured by being unhappy, +in order to persuade others and themselves that they +are worthy to be the butt of fortune. + +["Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable +men take comfort that they were supreme in misery; and +certain it is{, that where} we cannot distinguish ourselves by some- +thing excellent, we begin to take a complacency in some +singular infirmities, follies, or defects of one kind or other." +--Burke, {ON THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL, (1756), Part I, Sect. XVII}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite SPEECH ON CONCILIATION WITH +AMERICA. Also, Burke does not actually write "Ambition has been...", +he writes "It has been..." when speaking of ambition.} + +51.--Nothing should so much diminish the satisfac- +tion which we feel with ourselves as seeing that we +disapprove at one time of that which we approve of +at another. + +52.--Whatever difference there appears in our for- +tunes, there is nevertheless a certain compensation of +good and evil which renders them equal. + +53.--Whatever great advantages nature may give, +it is not she alone, but fortune also that makes the +hero. + +54.--The contempt of riches in philosophers was +only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the +injustice of fortune, by despising the very goods of +which fortune had deprived them; it was a secret to +guard themselves against the degradation of poverty, +it was a back way by which to arrive at that distinc- +tion which they could not gain by riches. + +["It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior +ranks of mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that +pomp and pleasure which fortune has placed beyond their +reach. The virtue of the primitive Christians, like that of +the first Romans, was very frequently guarded by poverty +and ignorance."--Gibbon, DECLINE AND FALL, CHAP. 15.] + +55.--The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. +The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its +regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who pos- +sess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able +to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of +the world. + +56.--To establish ourselves in the world we do +everything to appear as if we were established. + +57.--Although men flatter themselves with their +great actions, they are not so often the result of a +great design as of chance. + +58.--It would seem that our actions have lucky or +unlucky stars to which they owe a great part of the +blame or praise which is given them. + +59.--There are no accidents so unfortunate from +which skilful men will not draw some advantage, nor +so fortunate that foolish men will not turn them to +their hurt. + +60.--Fortune turns all things to the advantage of +those on whom she smiles. + +61.--The happiness or unhappiness of men depends +no less upon their dispositions than their fortunes. + +["Still to ourselves in every place consigned + Our own felicity we make or find." + Goldsmith, TRAVELLER, 431.] + +62.--Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in +very few people; what we usually see is only an artful +dissimulation to win the confidence of others. + +63.--The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambi- +tion to render our words credible and weighty, and +to attach a religious aspect to our conversation. + +64.--Truth does not do as much good in the world, +as its counterfeits do evil. + +65.--There is no praise we have not lavished upon +Prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most +trifling event. + +[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 +it is No. 75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last +edition it stands as at present. In the first he quotes +Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. + " Nullum numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; + Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, coeloque locamus." +Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, and +with much greater force.] + +66.--A clever man ought to so regulate his interests +that each will fall in due order. Our greediness so +often troubles us, making us run after so many things +at the same time, that while we too eagerly look after +the least we miss the greatest. + +67.--What grace is to the body good sense is to the +mind. + +68.--It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, +that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is +a sympathy, and in the body it is a hidden and deli- +cate wish to possess what we love--PLUS many +mysteries. + +["Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be +singularly beloved."--Hobbes{, LEVIATHAN, (1651), Part I, +Chapter VI}.] + +{Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' mistakenly +have "singularity" for the first "singularly" and (2) Hobbes does +not actually write "Love is the..."--he writes "Love of one..." +under the heading "The passion of Love."} + +69.--If there is a pure love, exempt from the mix- +ture of our other passions, it is that which is concealed +at the bottom of the heart and of which even our- +selves are ignorant. + +70.--There is no disguise which can long hide love +where it exists, nor feign it where it does not. + +71.--There are few people who would not be +ashamed of being beloved when they love no longer. + +72.--If we judge of love by the majority of its +results it rather resembles hatred than friendship. + +73.--We may find women who have never indulged +in an intrigue, but it is rare to find those who have +intrigued but once. + +["Yet there are some, they say, who have had {NONE}; +But those who have, ne'er end with only {ONE}." + {--Lord Byron, }DON JUAN, {Canto} iii., stanza 4.] + +74.--There is only one sort of love, but there are a +thousand different copies. + +75.--Neither love nor fire can subsist without per- +petual motion; both cease to live so soon as they cease +to hope, or to fear. + +[So Lord Byron{, STANZAS, (1819), stanza 3} says of Love-- + "Like chiefs of faction, + His life is action."] + +76.--There is real love just as there are real ghosts; +every person speaks of it, few persons have seen it. + +["Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art-- + An unseen seraph, we believe in thee-- + A faith whose martyrs are the broken heart,-- + But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see + The naked eye, thy form as it should be." + {--Lord Byron, }CHILDE HAROLD, {Canto} iv., stanza 121.] + +77.--Love lends its name to an infinite number of +engagements (COMMERCES) which are attributed to it, +but with which it has no more concern than the Doge +has with all that is done in Venice. + +78.--The love of justice is simply in the majority of +men the fear of suffering injustice. + +79.--Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts +himself. + +80.--What renders us so changeable in our friend- +ship is, that it is difficult to know the qualities of the +soul, but easy to know those of the mind. + +81.--We can love nothing but what agrees with us, +and we can only follow our taste or our pleasure when +we prefer our friends to ourselves; nevertheless it is +only by that preference that friendship can be true +and perfect. + +82.--Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire +to better our condition, a weariness of war, the fear +of some unlucky accident. + +["Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. * * +The Duke de la Rochefoucauld desired peace because of +his dangerous wounds and ruined castles, which had made +him dread even worse events. On the other side the +Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful to her too +ambitious friends, did not cease to feel the bitterness of +their resentment. 'I wish,' said she, 'it were always +night, because daylight shows me so many who have +betrayed me.'"--MEMOIRES DE MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE, TOM. +IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these maxims +are in some cases of universal application, they were based +entirely on the experience of the age in which the author +lived.] + +83.--What men term friendship is merely a partner- +ship with a collection of reciprocal interests, and an +exchange of favours--in fact it is but a trade in which +self love always expects to gain something. + +84.--It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be +deceived by our friends. + +85.--We often persuade ourselves to love people +who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone +produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts +away for the good we wish to do, but for that we ex- +pect to receive. + +86.--Our distrust of another justifies his deceit. + +87.--Men would not live long in society were they +not the dupes of each other. + +[A maxim, adds Aime Martin, "Which may enter into +the code of a vulgar rogue, but one is astonished to find +it in a moral treatise." Yet we have scriptural authority +for it: "Deceiving and being deceived."--2 TIM. iii. 13.] + +88.--Self love increases or diminishes for us the +good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the +satisfaction we feel with them, and we judge of their +merit by the manner in which they act towards us. + +89.--Everyone blames his memory, no one blames +his judgment. + +90.--In the intercourse of life, we please more by +our faults than by our good qualities. + +91.--The largest ambition has the least appearance +of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossi- +bility in compassing its object. + +92.--To awaken a man who is deceived as to his +own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done +to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing +that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. + +[That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, +son of Pythodorus. His brother Crito cured him, when +he infinitely regretted the time of his more pleasant mad- +ness.--See Aelian, VAR. HIST. iv. 25. So Horace-- + -------------"Pol, me occidistis, amici, + Non servastis," ait, "cui sic extorta voluptas + Et demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error." + HOR. EP. ii--2, 138, +of the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.] + +93.--Old men delight in giving good advice as a +consolation for the fact that they can no longer set +bad examples. + +94.--Great names degrade instead of elevating those +who know not how to sustain them. + +95.--The test of extraordinary merit is to see those +who envy it the most yet obliged to praise it. + +96.--A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less +chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor is. + +97.--We are deceived if we think that mind and +judgment are two different matters: judgment is but +the extent of the light of the mind. This light pene- +trates to the bottom of matters; it remarks all that +can be remarked, and perceives what appears imper- +ceptible. Therefore we must agree that it is the ex- +tent of the light in the mind that produces all the +effects which we attribute to judgment. + +98.--Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise +their understanding. + +99.--Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste +and refined thoughts. + +100.--Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty +things in an agreeable manner. + +101.--Ideas often flash across our minds more com- +plete than we could make them after much labour. + +102.--The head is ever the dupe of the heart. + +[A feeble imitation of that great thought "All folly +comes from the heart."--AIME MARTIN. But Bonhome, in his +L'ART DE PENSER, says "Plusieurs diraient en periode quarre +que quelques reflexions que fasse l'esprit et quelques resolu- +tions qu'il prenne pour corriger ses travers le premier sen- +timent du coeur renverse tous ses projets. Mais il n'appar- +tient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de dire tout en un mot +que l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur."] + +103.--Those who know their minds do not neces- +sarily know their hearts. + +104.--Men and things have each their proper per- +spective; to judge rightly of some it is necessary to +see them near, of others we can never judge rightly +but at a distance. + +105.--A man for whom accident discovers sense, is +not a rational being. A man only is so who under- +stands, who distinguishes, who tests it. + +106.--To understand matters rightly we should +understand their details, and as that knowledge is +almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial +and imperfect. + +107.--One kind of flirtation is to boast we never +flirt. + +108.--The head cannot long play the part of the +heart. + +109.--Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its +blood, age retains its tastes by habit. + +110.--Nothing is given so profusely as advice. + +111.--The more we love a woman the more prone +we are to hate her. + +112.--The blemishes of the mind, like those of the +face, increase by age. + +113.--There may be good but there are no pleasant +marriages. + +114.--We are inconsolable at being deceived by our +enemies and betrayed by our friends, yet still we are +often content to be thus served by ourselves. + +115.--It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as +to deceive others. + +116.--Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking +and giving advice. The person asking seems to pay +deference to the opinion of his friend, while thinking +in reality of making his friend approve his opinion +and be responsible for his conduct. The person +giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him +by eager and disinterested zeal, in doing which he is +usually guided only by his own interest or reputation. + +["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was +which on many occasions I have heard from people of +good understanding, 'That as to what related to private +conduct no one was ever the better for advice.' But upon +further examination I have resolved with myself that the +maxim might be admitted without any violent prejudice +to mankind. For in the manner advice was generally given +there was no reason I thought to wonder it should be so +ill received, something there was which strangely inverted +the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For +by what I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, +that which we called giving advice was properly taking an +occasion to show our own wisdom at another's expense. +On the other side to be instructed or to receive advice on +the terms usually prescribed to us was little better than +tamely to afford another the occasion of raising himself a +character from our defects."--Lord Shaftesbury, CHARAC- +TERISTICS, i., 153.] + +117.--The most subtle of our acts is to simulate +blindness for snares that we know are set for us. We +are never so easily deceived as when trying to deceive. + +118.--The intention of never deceiving often exposes +us to deception. + +119.--We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves +to others that at last we are disguised to ourselves. + +["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what +does not belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant +both of the character they leave{,} and of the character they +assume."--Burke, {REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE, (1790), +Paragraph 19}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE +OF THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS.} + +120.--We often act treacherously more from weak- +ness than from a fixed motive. + +121.--We frequently do good to enable us with +impunity to do evil. + +122.--If we conquer our passions it is more from +their weakness than from our strength. + +123.--If we never flattered ourselves we should have +but scant pleasure. + +124.--The most deceitful persons spend their lives +in blaming deceit, so as to use it on some great occa- +sion to promote some great interest. + +125.--The daily employment of cunning marks a +little mind, it generally happens that those who resort +to it in one respect to protect themselves lay them- +selves open to attack in another. + +["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, + And amply, too, the place of being wise." + Churchill, ROSCIAD, 117.] + +126.--Cunning and treachery are the offspring of +incapacity. + +127.--The true way to be deceived is to think one- +self more knowing than others. + +128.--Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, +true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness. + +129.--It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to +avoid being deceived by cunning men. + +130.--Weakness is the only fault which cannot be +cured. + +131.--The smallest fault of women who give them- +selves up to love is to love. + [------"Faciunt graviora coactae + Imperio sexus minimumque libidine peccant." + Juvenal, SAT. vi., 134.] + +132.--It is far easier to be wise for others than to +be so for oneself. + +[Hence the proverb, "A man who is his own lawyer +has a fool for his client."] + +133.--The only good examples are those, that make +us see the absurdity of bad originals. + +134.--We are never so ridiculous from the habits we +have as from those that we affect to have. + +135.--We sometimes differ more widely from our- +selves than we do from others. + +136.--There are some who never would have loved +if they never had heard it spoken of. + +137.--When not prompted by vanity we say little. + +138.--A man would rather say evil of himself than +say nothing. + +["Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of +himself, and as often happens to vain men, he would rather +talk of his own failings than of any foreign subject."-- +Hallam, LITERATURE OF EUROPE.] + +139.--One of the reasons that we find so few +persons rational and agreeable in conversation is +there is hardly a person who does not think more of +what he wants to say than of his answer to what is +said. The most clever and polite are content with +only seeming attentive while we perceive in their +mind and eyes that at the very time they are wander- +ing from what is said and desire to return to what they +want to say. Instead of considering that the worst +way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly +to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to +answer well are some of the greatest charms we can +have in conversation. + +["An absent man can make but few observations, he can +pursue nothing steadily because his absences make him +lose his way. They are very disagreeable and hardly to be +tolerated in old age, but in youth they cannot be forgiven." +--Lord Chesterfield, LETTER 195.] + +140.--If it was not for the company of fools, a witty +man would often be greatly at a loss. + +141.--We often boast that we are never bored, but +yet we are so conceited that we do not perceive how +often we bore others. + +142.--As it is the mark of great minds to say many +things in a few words, so it is that of little minds to +use many words to say nothing. + +["So much they talked, so very little said." + Churchill, ROSCIAD, 550. + +"Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an ar- +gument or wish to avoid it, are willing enough to suppose +that much has been proved because much has been said."-- + Junius, JAN. 1769.] + +143.--It is oftener by the estimation of our own +feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others +than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish +to attract their praise. + +144.--We do not like to praise, and we never praise +without a motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, +delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises +and him who is praised. The one takes it as the re- +ward of merit, the other bestows it to show his im- +partiality and knowledge. + +145.--We often select envenomed praise which, by +a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could +not have shown by other means. + +146.--Usually we only praise to be praised. + +147.--Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure +which is useful to praise which is treacherous. + +148.--Some reproaches praise; some praises re- +proach. + +["Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And, without sneering, teach the rest to sneer." + Pope {ESSAY ON MAN, (1733), EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT.}] + +149.--The refusal of praise is only the wish to be +praised twice. + +[The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in +truth a desire to be praised more highly. EDITION 1665.] + +150.--The desire which urges us to deserve praise +strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to +wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them. + +151.--It is easier to govern others than to prevent +being governed. + +152.--If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of +others would not hurt us. + +["Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate cre- +dentis." Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + +153.--Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to +work. + +154.--Fortune cures us of many faults that reason +could not. + +155.--There are some persons who only disgust with +their abilities, there are persons who please even with +their faults. + +156.--There are persons whose only merit consists +in saying and doing stupid things at the right time, +and who ruin all if they change their manners. + +157.--The fame of great men ought always to be +estimated by the means used to acquire it. + +158.--Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity +gives currency. + +159.--It is not enough to have great qualities, we +should also have the management of them. + +160.--However brilliant an action it should not be +esteemed great unless the result of a great motive. + +161.--A certain harmony should be kept between +actions and ideas if we desire to estimate the effects +that they produce. + +162.--The art of using moderate abilities to advan- +tage wins praise, and often acquires more reputation +than real brilliancy. + +163.--Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} +motives are most wise and weighty. + +164.--It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we +do not fill than for those we do. + +165.--Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, +luck that of the people. + +166.--The world oftener rewards the appearance of +merit than merit itself. + +167.--Avarice is more opposed to economy than to +liberality. + +168.--However deceitful hope may be, yet she +carries us on pleasantly to the end of life. + +["Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die." + Pope: ESSAY ON MAN, Ep. ii.] + +169.--Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, +but our virtue often gets the praise. + +["Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur." + Tacitus Hist. I.] + +170.--If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult +to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill. + +171.--As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in +self. + +172.--If we thoroughly consider the varied effects +of indifference we find we miscarry more in our duties +than in our interests. + +173.--There are different kinds of curiosity: one +springs from interest, which makes us desire to know +everything that may be profitable to us; another from +pride, which springs from a desire of knowing what +others are ignorant of. + +174.--It is far better to accustom our mind to bear +the ills we have than to speculate on those which may +befall us. + + ["Rather bear th{ose} ills we have + Than fly to others that we know not of." + {--Shakespeare, HAMLET, Act III, Scene I, Hamlet.}] + +175.--Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy +which causes our heart to attach itself to all the quali- +ties of the person we love in succession, sometimes +giving the preference to one, sometimes to another. +This constancy is merely inconstancy fixed, and limited +to the same person. + +176.--There are two kinds of constancy in love, one +arising from incessantly finding in the loved one fresh +objects to love, the other from regarding it as a point +of honour to be constant. + +177.--Perseverance is not deserving of blame or +praise, as it is merely the continuance of tastes and +feelings which we can neither create or destroy. + +178.--What makes us like new studies is not so +much the weariness we have of the old or the wish +for change as the desire to be admired by those who +know more than ourselves, and the hope of advantage +over those who know less. + +179.--We sometimes complain of the levity of our +friends to justify our own by anticipation. + +180.--Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the +ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to +us. + +181.--One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or +weakness of mind, and makes us accept everyone's +opinion, and another more excusable comes from a +surfeit of matter. + +182.--Vices enter into the composition of virtues as +poison into that of medicines. Prudence collects and +blends the two and renders them useful against the ills +of life. + +183.--For the credit of virtue we must admit that +the greatest misfortunes of men are those into which +they fall through their crimes. + +184.--We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity +the evil we have done in the opinion of others. + +[In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. +We never admit our faults except through vanity.] + +185.--There are both heroes of evil and heroes of +good. + +[Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, +habebaturque non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. +--Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + +186.--We do not despise all who have vices, but we +do despise all who have not virtues. + +["If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of +use to us."--JUNIUS, 5th Oct. 1771.] + +187.--The name of virtue is as useful to our interest +as that of vice. + +188.--The health of the mind is not less uncertain +than that of the body, and when passions seem +furthest removed we are no less in danger of infec- +tion than of falling ill when we are well. + +189.--It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed +the bounds of his virtues and vices. + +190.--Great men should not have great faults. + +191.--We may say vices wait on us in the course of +our life as the landlords with whom we successively +lodge, and if we travelled the road twice over I +doubt if our experience would make us avoid them. + +192.--When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves +with the idea we have left them. + +193.--There are relapses in the diseases of the mind +as in those of the body; what we call a cure is often +no more than an intermission or change of disease. + +194.--The defects of the mind are like the wounds +of the body. Whatever care we take to heal them +the scars ever remain, and there is always danger of +their reopening. + +195.--The reason which often prevents us abandon- +ing a single vice is having so many. + +196.--We easily forget those faults which are known +only to ourselves. + +[Seneca says "Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens +testem non conscientiam."] + +197.--There are men of whom we can never believe +evil without having seen it. Yet there are very few +in whom we should be surprised to see it. + +198.--We exaggerate the glory of some men to +detract from that of others, and we should praise +Prince Conde and Marshal Turenne much less if we +did not want to blame them both. + +[The allusion to Conde and Turenne gives the date at +which these maxims were published in 1665. Conde and +Turenne were after their campaign with the Imperialists +at the height of their fame. It proves the truth of the +remark of Tacitus, "Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit."-- +Tac. Ann. xiv.] + +199.--The desire to appear clever often prevents our +being so. + +200.--Virtue would not go far did not vanity +escort her. + +201.--He who thinks he has the power to content +the world greatly deceives himself, but he who thinks +that the world cannot be content with him deceives +himself yet more. + +202.--Falsely honest men are those who disguise +their faults both to themselves and others; truly honest +men are those who know them perfectly and confess +them. + +203.--He is really wise who is nettled at nothing. + +204.--The coldness of women is a balance and bur- +den they add to their beauty. + +205.--Virtue in woman is often the love of reputa- +tion and repose. + +206.--He is a truly good man who desires always to +bear the inspection of good men. + +207.--Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one +appears wise 'tis but because his folly is proportioned +to his age and fortune. + +208.--There are foolish people who know and who +skilfully use their folly. + +209.--Who lives without folly is not so wise as he +thinks. + +210.--In growing old we become more foolish--and +more wise. + +211.--There are people who are like farces, which +are praised but for a time (however foolish and dis- +tasteful they may be). + +[The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.] + +212.--Most people judge men only by success or by +fortune. + +213.--Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, +the desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and +the wish to depreciate others are often causes of that +bravery so vaunted among men. + +[Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, "He was as +brave as a total absence of all feeling and reflection could +make him."--21st Jan. 1769.] + +214.--Valour in common soldiers is a perilous +method of earning their living. + +["Men venture necks to gain a fortune, + The soldier does it ev{'}ry day, + (Eight to the week) for sixpence pay." + {--Samuel Butler,} HUDIBRAS, Part II., canto i., line 512.] + +215.--Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two +extremes rarely found. The space between them is +vast, and embraces all other sorts of courage. The +difference between them is not less than between faces +and tempers. Men will freely expose themselves at +the beginning of an action, and relax and be easily +discouraged if it should last. Some are content to +satisfy worldly honour, and beyond that will do little +else. Some are not always equally masters of their +timidity. Others allow themselves to be overcome +by panic; others charge because they dare not remain +at their posts. Some may be found whose courage is +strengthened by small perils, which prepare them to +face greater dangers. Some will dare a sword cut and +flinch from a bullet; others dread bullets little and fear +to fight with swords. These varied kinds of courage +agree in this, that night, by increasing fear and conceal- +ing gallant or cowardly actions, allows men to spare +themselves. There is even a more general discretion +to be observed, for we meet with no man who does all +he would have done if he were assured of getting off +scot-free; so that it is certain that the fear of death +does somewhat subtract from valour. + +[See also "Table Talk of Napoleon," who agrees with +this, so far as to say that few, but himself, had a two +o'clock of the morning valour.] + +216.--Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what +one would do before all the world. + +["It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are +in the eyes of them that look on."--Bacon, ADVANCEMENT +OF LEARNING{, (1605), Book I, Section II, paragraph 5}.] + +217.--Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of +soul which raises it above the troubles, disorders, and +emotions which the sight of great perils can arouse in +it: by this strength heroes maintain a calm aspect and +preserve their reason and liberty in the most sur- +prising and terrible accidents. + +218.--Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. + +[So Massillon, in one of his sermons, "Vice pays homage +to virtue in doing honour to her appearance." + +So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, "You +have done as much mischief to the community as Machia- +vel, if Machiavel had not known that an appearance of +morals and religion are useful in society."--28 Sept. 1771.] + +219.--Most men expose themselves in battle enough +to save their honor, few wish to do so more than +sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design +for which they expose themselves succeed. + +220.--Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often +make men brave and women chaste. + +["Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters +chaste and courteous. But why do we need her instruc- +tion?"--Sterne, SERMONS.] + +221.--We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to +gain glory, and this makes brave men show more tact +and address in avoiding death, than rogues show in +preserving their fortunes. + +222.--Few persons on the first approach of age do +not show wherein their body, or their mind, is begin- +ning to fail. + +223.--Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: +it holds commerce together; and we do not pay be- +cause it is just to pay debts, but because we shall +thereby more easily find people who will lend. + +224.--All those who pay the debts of gratitude can- +not thereby flatter themselves that they are grateful. + +225.--What makes false reckoning, as regards gra- +titude, is that the pride of the giver and the receiver +cannot agree as to the value of the benefit. + +["The first foundation of friendship is not the power of +conferring benefits, but the equality with which they are +received, and may be returned."--Junius's LETTER TO THE +KING.] + +226.--Too great a hurry to discharge of an obliga- +tion is a kind of ingratitude. + +227.--Lucky people are bad hands at correcting +their faults; they always believe that they are right +when fortune backs up their vice or folly. + +["The power of fortune is confessed only by the misera- +ble, for the happy impute all their success to prudence and +merit."--Swift, THOUGHTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS] + +228.--Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay. + +229.--The good we have received from a man should +make us excuse the wrong he does us. + +230.--Nothing is so infectious as example, and we +never do great good or evil without producing the like. +We imitate good actions by emulation, and bad ones +by the evil of our nature, which shame imprisons +until example liberates. + +231.--It is great folly to wish only to be wise. + +232.--Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it +is always interest or vanity that causes them. + +233.--In afflictions there are various kinds of hypo- +crisy. In one, under the pretext of weeping for one +dear to us we bemoan ourselves; we regret her good +opinion of us, we deplore the loss of our comfort, our +pleasure, our consideration. Thus the dead have the +credit of tears shed for the living. I affirm 'tis a kind +of hypocrisy which in these afflictions deceives itself. +There is another kind not so innocent because it im- +poses on all the world, that is the grief of those who +aspire to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. +After Time, which absorbs all, has obliterated what +sorrow they had, they still obstinately obtrude their +tears, their sighs their groans, they wear a solemn face, +and try to persuade others by all their acts, that their +grief will end only with their life. This sad and +distressing vanity is commonly found in ambitious +women. As their sex closes to them all paths to glory, +they strive to render themselves celebrated by show- +ing an inconsolable affliction. There is yet another +kind of tears arising from but small sources, which +flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to achieve +a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps +to be bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace +of not weeping! + +["In grief the {PLEASURE} is still uppermost{;} and the afflic- +tion we suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which +is always odious, and which we endeavour to shake off as +soon as possible."--Burke, SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL{, (1756), +Part I, Sect. V}.] + +234.--It is more often from pride than from igno- +rance that we are so obstinately opposed to current +opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do +not want to be the last. + +235.--We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of +our friends when they enable us to prove our tender- +ness for them. + +236.--It would seem that even self-love may be the +dupe of goodness and forget itself when we work for +others. And yet it is but taking the shortest way to +arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of +giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and de- +licate manner. + +237.--No one should be praised for his goodness if +he has not strength enough to be wicked. All other +goodness is but too often an idleness or powerlessness +of will. + +238.--It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most +men, as to do them too much good. + +239.--Nothing flatters our pride so much as the +confidence of the great, because we regard it as the +result of our worth, without remembering that gene- +rally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a secret. + +240.--We may say of conformity as distinguished +from beauty, that it is a symmetry which knows no +rules, and a secret harmony of features both one with +each other and with the colour and appearance of the +person. + +241.--Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, +although all do not practise it, some being restrained +by fear, others by sense. + +["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes +both in the mode and object according to her opinions."-- +Rousseau, EMILE.] + +242.--We often bore others when we think we +cannot possibly bore them. + +243.--Few things are impossible in themselves; +application to make them succeed fails us more often +than the means. + +244.--Sovereign ability consists in knowing the +value of things. + +245.--There is great ability in knowing how to con- +ceal one's ability. + +["You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy +when you have made others think that you have only very +average abilities."--LA BRUYERE.] + +246.--What seems generosity is often disguised am- +bition, that despises small to run after greater inte- +rest. + +247.--The fidelity of most men is merely an inven- +tion of self-love to win confidence; a method to place +us above others and to render us depositaries of the +most important matters. + +248.--Magnanimity despises all, to win all. + +249.--There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the +eyes and in the air of a speaker than in his choice of +words. + +250.--True eloquence consists in saying all that +should be, not all that could be said. + +251.--There are people whose faults become them, +others whose very virtues disgrace them. + +["There are faults which do him honour, and virtues +that disgrace him."--Junius, LETTER OF 28TH MAY, 1770.] + +252.--It is as common to change one's tastes, as it +is uncommon to change one's inclinations. + +253.--Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and +vices. + +254.--Humility is often a feigned submission which +we employ to supplant others. It is one of the de- +vices of Pride to lower us to raise us; and truly pride +transforms itself in a thousand ways, and is never so +well disguised and more able to deceive than when it +hides itself under the form of humility. + +["Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for busi- +ness."--Junius, LETTER TO THE DUKE OF GRAFTON. + +"He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, + A cottage of gentility, + And the devil was pleased, for his darling sin + Is the pride that apes humility." + Southey, DEVIL'S WALK.] + +{There are numerous corrections necessary for this +quotation; I will keep the original above so you can +compare the correct passages: + +"He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, + A cottage of gentility, + And he owned with a grin, + That his favourite sin + Is pride that apes humility." + --Southey, DEVIL'S WALK, Stanza 8. + +"And the devil did grin, for his darling sin + Is pride that apes humility." + --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, THE DEVIL'S THOUGHTS} + +255.--All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, +gestures and looks, and this harmony, as it is good +or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, makes people agreeable +or disagreeable. + +256.--In all professions we affect a part and an ap- +pearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world +is merely composed of actors. + +["All the world's a stage, and all the men and women +merely players."--Shakespeare, AS YOU LIKE IT{, Act II, +Scene VII, Jaques}. + +"Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the +hero should preserve his consistency to the last."--Junius.] + +257.--Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body +invented to conceal the want of mind. + +["Gravity is the very essence of imposture."--Shaftes- +bury, CHARACTERISTICS, p. 11, vol. I. "The very essence of +gravity is design, and consequently deceit; a taught trick +to gain credit with the world for more sense and know- +ledge than a man was worth, and that with all its preten- +sions it was no better, but often worse, than what a French +wit had long ago defined it--a mysterious carriage of the +body to cover the defects of the mind."--Sterne, TRISTRAM +SHANDY, vol. I., chap. ii.] + +258.--Good taste arises more from judgment than +wit. + +259.--The pleasure of love is in loving, we are hap- +pier in the passion we feel than in that we inspire. + +260.--Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and +to be esteemed polite. + +261.--The usual education of young people is to in- +spire them with a second self-love. + +262.--There is no passion wherein self-love reigns +so powerfully as in love, and one is always more ready +to sacrifice the peace of the loved one than his own. + +263.--What we call liberality is often but the vanity +of giving, which we like more than that we give away. + +264.--Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in +the ills of others. It is a delicate foresight of the +troubles into which we may fall. We help others +that on like occasions we may be helped ourselves, +and these services which we render, are in reality +benefits we confer on ourselves by anticipation. + +["GRIEF for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth +from the imagination that a like calamity may befal him- +self{;} and therefore is called compassion."--HOBBES' LEVIA- +THAN{, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + +265.--A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do +not easily believe what we cannot see. + +["Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong." + Dryden, ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL{, line 547}.] + +266.--We deceive ourselves if we believe that there +are violent passions like ambition and love that can +triumph over others. Idleness, languishing as she is, +does not often fail in being mistress; she usurps +authority over all the plans and actions of life; im- +perceptibly consuming and destroying both passions +and virtues. + +267.--A quickness in believing evil without having +sufficiently examined it, is the effect of pride and +laziness. We wish to find the guilty, and we do not +wish to trouble ourselves in examining the crime. + +268.--We credit judges with the meanest motives, +and yet we desire our reputation and fame should +depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, either +from their jealousy or pre-occupation or want of in- +telligence, opposed to us--and yet 'tis only to make +these men decide in our favour that we peril in so +many ways both our peace and our life. + +269.--No man is clever enough to know all the evil +he does. + +270.--One honour won is a surety for more. + +271.--Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the +fever of reason. + +["The best of life is but intoxication."--{Lord Byron, } +Don Juan{, Canto II, stanza 179}. +In the 1st Edition, 1665, the maxim finishes with--"it is +the fever of health, the folly of reason."] + +272.--Nothing should so humiliate men who have +deserved great praise, as the care they have taken +to acquire it by the smallest means. + +273.--There are persons of whom the world approves +who have no merit beyond the vices they use in the +affairs of life. + +274.--The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower +to the fruit; it lends a lustre which is easily lost, +but which never returns. + +275.--Natural goodness, which boasts of being so +apparent, is often smothered by the least interest. + +276.--Absence extinguishes small passions and in- +creases great ones, as the wind will blow out a candle, +and blow in a fire. + +277.--Women often think they love when they do +not love. The business of a love affair, the emotion of +mind that sentiment induces, the natural bias towards +the pleasure of being loved, the difficulty of refusing, +persuades them that they have real passion when they +have but flirtation. + +["And if in fact she takes a {"}GRANDE PASSION{"}, + It is a very serious thing indeed: + Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or fashion, + Coquetry, or a wish to take the lead, + The pride of a mere child with a new sash on. + Or wish to make a rival's bosom bleed: + But the {TENTH} instance will be a tornado, + For there's no saying what they will or may do." + {--Lord Byron, }DON JUAN, canto xii. stanza 77.] + +278.--What makes us so often discontented with +those who transact business for us is that they almost +always abandon the interest of their friends for the +interest of the business, because they wish to have +the honour of succeeding in that which they have +undertaken. + +279.--When we exaggerate the tenderness of our +friends towards us, it is often less from gratitude +than from a desire to exhibit our own merit. + +280.--The praise we give to new comers into the +world arises from the envy we bear to those who are +established. + +281.--Pride, which inspires, often serves to mode- +rate envy. + +282.--Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that +we should judge badly were we not deceived. + +283.--Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing +how to use than in giving good advice. + +284.--There are wicked people who would be much +less dangerous if they were wholly without goodness. + +285.--Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its +name, nevertheless one can say it is the good sense +of pride, the most noble way of receiving praise. + +286.--It is impossible to love a second time those +whom we have really ceased to love. + +287.--Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so +many resources on the same matter, as the lack of +intelligence makes us hesitate at each thing our ima- +gination presents, and hinders us from at first discern- +ing which is the best. + +288.--There are matters and maladies which at +certain times remedies only serve to make worse; +true skill consists in knowing when it is dangerous to +use them. + +289.--Affected simplicity is refined imposture. + +[Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium +litterarum et amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret +animum et fratris aemulationi subduceretur.--Tacitus, +ANN. iv.] + +290.--There are as many errors of temper as of +mind. + +291.--Man's merit, like the crops, has its season. + +292.--One may say of temper as of many buildings; +it has divers aspects, some agreeable, others dis- +agreeable. + +293.--Moderation cannot claim the merit of op- +posing and overcoming Ambition: they are never +found together. Moderation is the languor and sloth +of the soul, Ambition its activity and heat. + +294.--We always like those who admire us, we do +not always like those whom we admire. + +295.--It is well that we know not all our wishes. + +296.--It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, +but it is no less so to love those whom we esteem much +more than ourselves. + +297.--Bodily temperaments have a common course +and rule which imperceptibly affect our will. They +advance in combination, and successively exercise a +secret empire over us, so that, without our perceiving +it, they become a great part of all our actions. + +298.--The gratitude of most men is but a secret +desire of receiving greater benefits. + +[Hence the common proverb "Gratitude is merely a +lively sense of favors to come."] + +299.--Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying +small debts; many people show gratitude for trifling, +but there is hardly one who does not show ingrati- +tude for great favours. + +300.--There are follies as catching as infections. + +301.--Many people despise, but few know how to +bestow wealth. + +302.--Only in things of small value we usually are +bold enough not to trust to appearances. + +303.--Whatever good quality may be imputed to +us, we ourselves find nothing new in it. + +304.--We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot +forgive those whom we bore. + +305.--Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds +often should be praised for our good deeds. + +306.--We find very few ungrateful people when we +are able to confer favours. + +307.--It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is +ridiculous to be so in company. + +308.--Moderation is made a virtue to limit the am- +bition of the great; to console ordinary people for +their small fortune and equally small ability. + +309.--There are persons fated to be fools, who com- +mit follies not only by choice, but who are forced by +fortune to do so. + +310.--Sometimes there are accidents in our life the +skilful extrication from which demands a little folly. + +311.--If there be men whose folly has never ap- +peared, it is because it has never been closely looked +for. + +312.--Lovers are never tired of each other,--they +always speak of themselves. + +313.--How is it that our memory is good enough to +retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet +not good enough to recollect how often we have told +it to the same person? + +["Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, +and forget how often they have told them, are most tedious +companions."--Montaigne, {ESSAYS, Book I, Chapter IX}.] + +314.--The extreme delight we take in talking of +ourselves should warn us that it is not shared by those +who listen. + +315.--What commonly hinders us from showing the +recesses of our heart to our friends, is not the dis- +trust we have of them, but that we have of our- +selves. + +316.--Weak persons cannot be sincere. + +317.--'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrate- +ful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged by a +scoundrel. + +318.--We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, +but there are none to set straight a cross-grained +spirit. + +319.--If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults +we cannot long preserve the feelings we should hold +towards our friends and benefactors. + +320.--To praise princes for virtues they do not pos- +sess is but to reproach them with impunity. + +["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by +Pope from a poem which has not survived, "The Garland," +by Mr. Broadhurst. "In some cases exaggerated or +inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire."-- +Scott, WOODSTOCK.] + +321.--We are nearer loving those who hate us, than +those who love us more than we desire. + +322.--Those only are despicable who fear to be +despised. + +323.--Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune +than our goods. + +324.--There is more self-love than love in jealousy. + +325.--We often comfort ourselves by the weakness +of evils, for which reason has not the strength to con- +sole us. + +326.--Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour +itself. + +["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, +but it cannot dishonour; it is vice which confers dis- +honour."] + +327.--We own to small faults to persuade others +that we have not great ones. + +328.--Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. + +329.--We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery +--we only dislike the method. + +["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, + He says he does, being then most flattered." + Shakespeare, JULIUS CAESAR{, Act II, Scene I, Decius}.] + +330.--We pardon in the degree that we love. + +331.--It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress +when one is happy, than when we are ill-treated by +her. + +[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.--Ovid, +AMORES, ii. 19.] + +332.--Women do not know all their powers of +flirtation. + +333.--Women cannot be completely severe unless +they hate. + +334.--Women can less easily resign flirtations than +love. + +335.--In love deceit almost always goes further +than mistrust. + +336.--There is a kind of love, the excess of which +forbids jealousy. + +337.--There are certain good qualities as there are +senses, and those who want them can neither per- +ceive nor understand them. + +338.--When our hatred is too bitter it places us +below those whom we hate. + +339.--We only appreciate our good or evil in pro- +portion to our self-love. + +340.--The wit of most women rather strengthens +their folly than their reason. + +["Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, +but for solid reasoning and good sense I never knew one in +my life that had it, and who reasoned and acted conse- +quentially for four and twenty hours together."--Lord +Chesterfield, LETTER 129.] + +341.--The heat of youth is not more opposed to +safety than the coldness of age. + +342.--The accent of our native country dwells in +the heart and mind as well as on the tongue. + +343.--To be a great man one should know how to +profit by every phase of fortune. + +344.--Most men, like plants, possess hidden quali- +ties which chance discovers. + +345.--Opportunity makes us known to others, but +more to ourselves. + +346.--If a woman's temper is beyond control there +can be no control of the mind or heart. + +347.--We hardly find any persons of good sense, save +those who agree with us. + +["That was excellently observed, say I, when I read +an author when his opinion agrees with mine."--Swift, +THOUGHTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.] + +348.--When one loves one doubts even what one +most believes. + +349.--The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate +flirtation. + +350.--Why we hate with so much bitterness those +who deceive us is because they think themselves more +clever than we are. + +["I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I can- +not forgive his supposing me capable of the gross folly +of being duped by his professions."--Sir Walter Scott, +QUENTIN DURWARD.] + +351.--We have much trouble to break with one, +when we no longer are in love. + +352.--We almost always are bored with persons with +whom we should not be bored. + +353.--A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not +like a beast. + +354.--There are certain defects which well mounted +glitter like virtue itself. + +355.--Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our +regret is greater than our grief, and others for whom +our grief is greater than our regret. + +356.--Usually we only praise heartily those who +admire us. + +357.--Little minds are too much wounded by little +things; great minds see all and are not even hurt. + +358.--Humility is the true proof of Christian +virtues; without it we retain all our faults, and they +are only covered by pride to hide them from others, +and often from ourselves. + +359.--Infidelities should extinguish love, and we +ought not to be jealous when we have cause to be so. +No persons escape causing jealousy who are worthy of +exciting it. + +360.--We are more humiliated by the least infidelity +towards us, than by our greatest towards others. + +361.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does +not always die with it. + +362.--Most women do not grieve so much for the +death of their lovers for love's-sake, as to show they +were worthy of being beloved. + +363.--The evils we do to others give us less pain +than those we do to ourselves. + +364.--We well know that it is bad taste to talk of +our wives; but we do not so well know that it is the +same to speak of ourselves. + +365.--There are virtues which degenerate into vices +when they arise from Nature, and others which when +acquired are never perfect. For example, reason +must teach us to manage our estate and our con- +fidence, while Nature should have given us goodness +and valour. + +366.--However we distrust the sincerity of those +whom we talk with, we always believe them more sin- +cere with us than with others. + +367.--There are few virtuous women who are not +tired of their part. + +["Every woman is at heart a rake."--Pope. MORAL +ESSAYS, ii.] + +368.--The greater number of good women are like +concealed treasures, safe as no one has searched for +them. + +369.--The violences we put upon ourselves to escape +love are often more cruel than the cruelty of those +we love. + +370.--There are not many cowards who know the +whole of their fear. + +371.--It is generally the fault of the loved one not +to perceive when love ceases. + +372.--Most young people think they are natural +when they are only boorish and rude. + +373.--Some tears after having deceived others de- +ceive ourselves. + +374.--If we think we love a woman for love of +herself we are greatly deceived. + +375.--Ordinary men commonly condemn what is +beyond them. + +376.--Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirta- +tion by true love. + +377.--The greatest mistake of penetration is not to +have fallen short, but to have gone too far. + +378.--We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire +the conduct. + +379.--As our merit declines so also does our taste. + +380.--Fortune makes visible our virtues or our +vices, as light does objects. + +381.--The struggle we undergo to remain faithful +to one we love is little better than infidelity. + +382.--Our actions are like the rhymed ends of +blank verses (BOUTS-RIMES) where to each one puts +what construction he pleases. + +[The BOUTS-RIMES was a literary game popular in the 17th +and 18th centuries--the rhymed words at the end of a line +being given for others to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole +being given, "brook, why, crook, I," returned the bur- +lesque verse-- + "I sits with my toes in a BROOK, + And if any one axes me WHY? + I gies 'em a rap with my CROOK, + 'Tis constancy makes me, ses I."] + +383.--The desire of talking about ourselves, and of +putting our faults in the light we wish them to be +seen, forms a great part of our sincerity. + +384.--We should only be astonished at still being +able to be astonished. + +385.--It is equally as difficult to be contented when +one has too much or too little love. + +386.--No people are more often wrong than those +who will not allow themselves to be wrong. + +387.--A fool has not stuff in him to be good. + +388.--If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at +least she makes them totter. + +389.--What makes the vanity of others unsupport- +able is that it wounds our own. + +390.--We give up more easily our interest than our +taste. + +391.--Fortune appears so blind to none as to those +to whom she has done no good. + +392.--We should manage fortune like our health, +enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad, +and never resort to strong remedies but in an extremity. + +393.--Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the +camp, never in the court. + +394.--A man is often more clever than one other, but +not than all others. + +["Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, +omnes neminem fefellerunt."--Pliny{ the Younger, +PANEGYRICUS, LXII}.] + +395.--We are often less unhappy at being deceived +by one we loved, than on being deceived. + +396.--We keep our first lover for a long time--if we +do not get a second. + +397.--We have not the courage to say generally +that we have no faults, and that our enemies have +no good qualities; but in fact we are not far from be- +lieving so. + +398.--Of all our faults that which we most readily +admit is idleness: we believe that it makes all virtues +ineffectual, and that without utterly destroying, it at +least suspends their operation. + +399.--There is a kind of greatness which does not +depend upon fortune: it is a certain manner what +distinguishes us, and which seems to destine us for +great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon +ourselves; it is by this quality that we gain the +deference of other men, and it is this which com- +monly raises us more above them, than birth, rank, +or even merit itself. + +400.--There may be talent without position, but +there is no position without some kind of talent. + +401.--Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty +woman. + +402.--What we find the least of in flirtation is love. + +403.--Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, +and there are tiresome people whose deserts would be +ill rewarded if we did not desire to purchase their +absence. + +404.--It appears that nature has hid at the bottom +of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It +is only the passions that have the power of bringing +them to light, and sometimes give us views more +true and more perfect than art could possibly do. + +405.--We reach quite inexperienced the different +stages of life, and often, in spite of the number of our +years, we lack experience. + +["To most men experience is like the stern lights of a +ship which illumine only the track it has passed."-- +Coleridge.] + +406.--Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous +of their lovers, to conceal their envy of other women. + +407.--It may well be that those who have trapped +us by their tricks do not seem to us so foolish as we +seem to ourselves when trapped by the tricks of +others. + +408.--The most dangerous folly of old persons who +have been loveable is to forget that they are no +longer so. + +["Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself +handsome. The suspicion of age no woman, let her be +ever so old, forgives."--Lord Chesterfield, LETTER 129.] + +409.--We should often be ashamed of our very best +actions if the world only saw the motives which caused +them. + +410.--The greatest effort of friendship is not to show +our faults to a friend, but to show him his own. + +4ll.--We have few faults which are not far more +excusable than the means we adopt to hide them. + +412.--Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it +is almost always in our power to re-establish our cha- +racter. + +["This is hardly a period at which the most irregular +character may not be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin +find a retreat in patriotism, those of the other in devotion." +-Junius, LETTER TO THE KING.] + +413.--A man cannot please long who has only one +kind of wit. + +[According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine +and Boileau, who, despising ordinary conversation, talked +incessantly of literature; but there is some doubt as to +Segrais' statement.--Aime Martin.] + +414.--Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit. + +415.--Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with +impunity. + +416.--The vivacity which increases in old age is not +far removed from folly. + +["How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester."-- +Shakespeare{, King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, +King}. + +"Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of +life? Can grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there +no period to be reserved for meditation or retirement."-- +Junius, TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD, 19th Sept. 1769.] + +417.--In love the quickest is always the best cure. + +418.--Young women who do not want to appear +flirts, and old men who do not want to appear ridi- +culous, should not talk of love as a matter wherein +they can have any interest. + +419.--We may seem great in a post beneath our +capacity, but we oftener seem little in a post above it. + +420.--We often believe we have constancy in mis- +fortune when we have nothing but debasement, and +we suffer misfortunes without regarding them as +cowards who let themselves be killed from fear of +defending themselves. + +421.--Conceit causes more conversation than wit. + +422.--All passions make us commit some faults, +love alone makes us ridiculous. + +["In love we all are fools alike."--Gay{, THE +BEGGAR'S OPERA, (1728), Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.] + +423.--Few know how to be old. + +424.--We often credit ourselves with vices the +reverse of what we have, thus when weak we boast of +our obstinacy. + +425.--Penetration has a spice of divination in it +which tickles our vanity more than any other quality +of the mind. + +426.--The charm of novelty and old custom, how- +ever opposite to each other, equally blind us to the +faults of our friends. + +["Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom +and novelty."-La Bruyere, DES JUDGEMENTS.] + +427.--Most friends sicken us of friendship, most +devotees of devotion. + +428.--We easily forgive in our friends those faults +we do not perceive. + +429.--Women who love, pardon more readily great +indiscretions than little infidelities. + +430.--In the old age of love as in life we still sur- +vive for the evils, though no longer for the pleasures. + +["The youth of friendship is better than its old age."-- +Hazlitt's CHARACTERISTICS, 229.] + +431.--Nothing prevents our being unaffected so +much as our desire to seem so. + +432.--To praise good actions heartily is in some +measure to take part in them. + +433.--The most certain sign of being born with +great qualities is to be born without envy. + +["Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae." +-Cicero IN MARC ANT.] + +434.--When our friends have deceived us we owe +them but indifference to the tokens of their friend- +ship, yet for their misfortunes we always owe them +pity. + +435.--Luck and temper rule the world. + +436.--It is far easier to know men than to know +man. + +437.--We should not judge of a man's merit by his +great abilities, but by the use he makes of them. + +438.--There is a certain lively gratitude which not +only releases us from benefits received, but which also, +by making a return to our friends as payment, renders +them indebted to us. + +["And understood not that a grateful mind, + By owing owes not, but is at once + Indebted and discharged." + Milton. PARADISE LOST.] + +439.--We should earnestly desire but few things if +we clearly knew what we desired. + +440.--The cause why the majority of women are so +little given to friendship is, that it is insipid after +having felt love. + +["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect +friendship, and those who have united themselves to friend- +ship have nought to do with love."--La Bruyere. DU COEUR.] + +441.--As in friendship so in love, we are often hap- +pier from ignorance than from knowledge. + +442.--We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth +to correct. + +443.--The most violent passions give some respite, +but vanity always disturbs us. + +444.--Old fools are more foolish than young fools. + +["MALVOLIO. Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} +make the better fool. + CLOWN. God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} for the +better increasing of your folly."--Shakespeare. TWELFTH +NIGHT{, Act I, Scene V}.] + +445.--Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice. + +446.--What makes the grief of shame and jealousy +so acute is that vanity cannot aid us in enduring them. + +447.--Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most +obeyed. + +[Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is +bound to conform....Those things which honour +forbids are more rigorously forbidden when the laws do +not concur in the prohibition, and those it commands are +more strongly insisted upon when they happen not to be +commanded by law.--Montesquieu, {THE SPIRIT OF LAWS, }b. 4, +c. ii.] + +448.--A well-trained mind has less difficulty in sub- +mitting to than in guiding an ill-trained mind. + +449.--When fortune surprises us by giving us some +great office without having gradually led us to expect +it, or without having raised our hopes, it is well nigh +impossible to occupy it well, and to appear worthy +to fill it. + +450.--Our pride is often increased by what we +retrench from our other faults. + +["The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and com- +pensated by spiritual pride."--Gibbon. DECLINE AND FALL, +chap. xv.] + +451.--No fools so wearisome as those who have some +wit. + +452.--No one believes that in every respect he is +behind the man he considers the ablest in the world. + +453.--In great matters we should not try so much +to create opportunities as to utilise those that offer +themselves. + +[Yet Lord Bacon says "A wise man will make more +opportunities than he finds."--Essays, {(1625), +"Of Ceremonies and Respects"}] + +454.--There are few occasions when we should make +a bad bargain by giving up the good on condition that +no ill was said of us. + +455.--However disposed the world may be to judge +wrongly, it far oftener favours false merit than does +justice to true. + +456.--Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one +with discretion. + +457.--We should gain more by letting the world see +what we are than by trying to seem what we are not. + +458.--Our enemies come nearer the truth in the +opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of +ourselves. + +459.--There are many remedies to cure love, yet +none are infallible. + +460.--It would be well for us if we knew all our +passions make us do. + +461.--Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of +life all the pleasures of youth. + +462.--The same pride which makes us blame faults +from which we believe ourselves free causes us to +despise the good qualities we have not. + +463.--There is often more pride than goodness in +our grief for our enemies' miseries; it is to show how +superior we are to them, that we bestow on them the +sign of our compassion. + +464.--There exists an excess of good and evil which +surpasses our comprehension. + +465.--Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the +same protection as crime. + +466.--Of all the violent passions the one that +becomes a woman best is love. + +467.--Vanity makes us sin more against our taste +than reason. + +468.--Some bad qualities form great talents. + +469.--We never desire earnestly what we desire in +reason. + +470.--All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, +both the good as well as the bad, and nearly all are +creatures of opportunities. + +471.--In their first passion women love their lovers, +in all the others they love love. + +["In her first passion woman loves her lover, + In all her others what she loves is love." + {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, Canto iii., stanza 3. +"We truly love once, the first time; the subsequent pas- +sions are more or less involuntary." La Bruyere: DU COEUR.] + +472.--Pride as the other passions has its follies. We +are ashamed to own we are jealous, and yet we plume +ourselves in having been and being able to be so. + +473.--However rare true love is, true friendship is +rarer. + +["It is more common to see perfect love than real friend- +ship."--La Bruyere. DU COEUR.] + +474.--There are few women whose charm survives +their beauty. + +475.--The desire to be pitied or to be admired often +forms the greater part of our confidence. + +476.--Our envy always lasts longer than the happi- +ness of those we envy. + +477.--The same firmness that enables us to resist +love enables us to make our resistance durable and +lasting. So weak persons who are always excited by +passions are seldom really possessed of any. + +478.--Fancy does not enable us to invent so many +different contradictions as there are by nature in every +heart. + +479.--It is only people who possess firmness who +can possess true gentleness. In those who appear +gentle it is generally only weakness, which is readily +converted into harshness. + +480.--Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to +blame in those we desire to cure of it. + +481.--Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those +who think they have it are generally only pliant or weak. + +482.--The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit +to whatever is easy or pleasant. This habit always places +bounds to our knowledge, and no one has ever yet +taken the pains to enlarge and expand his mind to +the full extent of its capacities. + +483.--Usually we are more satirical from vanity +than malice. + +484.--When the heart is still disturbed by the relics +of a passion it is proner to take up a new one than +when wholly cured. + +485.--Those who have had great passions often find +all their lives made miserable in being cured of them. + +486.--More persons exist without self-love than +without envy. + +["I do not believe that there is a human creature in his +senses arrived at maturity, that at some time or other has +not been carried away by this passion (envy) in good +earnest, and yet I never met with any who dared own he +was guilty of it, but in jest."--Mandeville: FABLE OF THE +BEES; Remark N.] + +487.--We have more idleness in the mind than in +the body. + +488.--The calm or disturbance of our mind does +not depend so much on what we regard as the more +important things of life, as in a judicious or injudicious +arrangement of the little things of daily occurrence. + +489.--However wicked men may be, they do not +dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when +they desire to persecute her they either pretend to +believe her false or attribute crimes to her. + +490.--We often go from love to ambition, but we +never return from ambition to love. + +["Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do +not find a quieter seat while they remain there."--La +Bruyere: DU COEUR.] + +491.--Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, +there is no passion which is oftener further away from +its mark, nor upon which the present has so much +power to the prejudice of the future. + +492.--Avarice often produces opposite results: there +are an infinite number of persons who sacrifice their +property to doubtful and distant expectations, others +mistake great future advantages for small present +interests. + +[AIME MARTIN says, "The author here confuses greedi- +ness, the desire and avarice--passions which probably have +a common origin, but produce different results. The +greedy man is nearly always desirous to possess, and often +foregoes great future advantages for small present interests. +The avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes present +advantages for the great expectations of the future. Both +desire to possess and enjoy. But the miser possesses and +enjoys nothing but the pleasure of possessing; he risks +nothing, gives nothing, hopes nothing, his life is centred +in his strong box, beyond that he has no want."] + +493.--It appears that men do not find they have +enough faults, as they increase the number by certain +peculiar qualities that they affect to assume, and +which they cultivate with so great assiduity that at +length they become natural faults, which they can no +longer correct. + +494.--What makes us see that men know their +faults better than we imagine, is that they are never +wrong when they speak of their conduct; the same +self-love that usually blinds them enlightens them, +and gives them such true views as to make them +suppress or disguise the smallest thing that might be +censured. + +495.--Young men entering life should be either shy +or bold; a solemn and sedate manner usually de- +generates into impertinence. + +496.--Quarrels would not last long if the fault was +only on one side. + +497.--It is valueless to a woman to be young unless +pretty, or to be pretty unless young. + +498.--Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that +they are as far removed from real defects as from +substantial qualities. + +499.--We do not usually reckon a woman's first +flirtation until she has had a second. + +500.--Some people are so self-occupied that when +in love they find a mode by which to be engrossed +with the passion without being so with the person +they love. + +501.--Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more +by its ways than by itself. + +502.--A little wit with good sense bores less in the +long run than much wit with ill nature. + +503.--Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one +that is least pitied by those who cause it. + +504.--Thus having treated of the hollowness of so +many apparent virtues, it is but just to say something +on the hollowness of the contempt for death. I allude +to that contempt of death which the heathen boasted +they derived from their unaided understanding, with- +out the hope of a future state. There is a difference +between meeting death with courage and despising it. +The first is common enough, the last I think always +feigned. Yet everything that could be has been +written to persuade us that death is no evil, and the +weakest of men, equally with the bravest, have given +many noble examples on which to found such an +opinion, still I do not think that any man of good sense +has ever yet believed in it. And the pains we take to +persuade others as well as ourselves amply show that +the task is far from easy. For many reasons we may +be disgusted with life, but for none may we despise it. +Not even those who commit suicide regard it as a +light matter, and are as much alarmed and startled +as the rest of the world if death meets them in a dif- +ferent way than the one they have selected. The differ- +ence we observe in the courage of so great a number of +brave men, is from meeting death in a way different +from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer at +one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens +that having despised death when they were ignorant +of it, they dread it when they become acquainted with +it. If we could avoid seeing it with all its surround- +ings, we might perhaps believe that it was not the +greatest of evils. The wisest and bravest are those +who take the best means to avoid reflecting on it, as +every man who sees it in its real light regards it as +dreadful. The necessity of dying created all the con- +stancy of philosophers. They thought it but right to +go with a good grace when they could not avoid going, +and being unable to prolong their lives indefinitely, +nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, +and to save from the general wreck all that could be +saved. To put a good face upon it, let it suffice, not +to say all that we think to ourselves, but rely more +on our nature than on our fallible reason, which might +make us think we could approach death with indif- +ference. The glory of dying with courage, the hope +of being regretted, the desire to leave behind us a +good reputation, the assurance of being enfranchised +from the miseries of life and being no longer depend- +ent on the wiles of fortune, are resources which +should not be passed over. But we must not regard +them as infallible. They should affect us in the same +proportion as a single shelter affects those who in war +storm a fortress. At a distance they think it may +afford cover, but when near they find it only a feeble +protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to imagine +that death, when near, will seem the same as at +a distance, or that our feelings, which are merely +weaknesses, are naturally so strong that they will +not suffer in an attack of the rudest of trials. It +is equally as absurd to try the effect of self-esteem +and to think it will enable us to count as naught +what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in +which we trust to find so many resources will be far +too weak in the struggle to persuade us in the way we +wish. For it is this which betrays us so frequently, +and which, instead of filling us with contempt of death, +serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. +The most it can do for us is to persuade us to avert +our gaze and fix it on other objects. Cato and Brutus +each selected noble ones. A lackey sometime ago +contented himself by dancing on the scaffold when +he was about to be broken on the wheel. So however +diverse the motives they but realize the same result. +For the rest it is a fact that whatever difference there +may be between the peer and the peasant, we have +constantly seen both the one and the other meet death +with the same composure. Still there is always this +difference, that the contempt the peer shows for death +is but the love of fame which hides death from his +sight; in the peasant it is but the result of his limited +vision that hides from him the extent of the evil, end +leaves him free to reflect on other things. + + + +THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT + +[The following reflections are extracted from the first two +editions of La Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed +by the author in succeeding issues.] + + +I.--Self-love is the love OF self, and of all things +FOR self. It makes men self-worshippers, and if for- +tune permits them, causes them to tyrannize over +others; it is never quiet when out of itself, and only +rests upon other subjects as a bee upon flowers, to +extract from them its proper food. Nothing is so +headstrong as its desires, nothing so well concealed as +its designs, nothing so skilful as its management; its +suppleness is beyond description; its changes surpass +those of the metamorphoses, its refinements those of +chemistry. We can neither plumb the depths nor +pierce the shades of its recesses. Therein it is hidden +from the most far-seeing eyes, therein it takes a thou- +sand imperceptible folds. There it is often to itself +invisible; it there conceives, there nourishes and rears, +without being aware of it, numberless loves and +hatreds, some so monstrous that when they are brought +to light it disowns them, and cannot resolve to avow +them. In the night which covers it are born the +ridiculous persuasions it has of itself, thence come its +errors, its ignorance, its silly mistakes; thence it is +led to believe that its passions which sleep are dead, +and to think that it has lost all appetite for that of +which it is sated. But this thick darkness which con- +ceals it from itself does not hinder it from seeing that +perfectly which is out of itself; and in this it re- +sembles our eyes which behold all, and yet cannot set +their own forms. In fact, in great concerns and im- +portant matters when the violence of its desires sum- +mons all its attention, it sees, feels, hears, imagines, +suspects, penetrates, divines all: so that we might +think that each of its passions had a magic power +proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong as its +attachments, which, in sight of the extreme misfor- +tunes which threaten it, it vainly attempts to break. +Yet sometimes it effects that without trouble and +quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power +and in the course of years, whence we may fairly con- +clude that it is by itself that its desires are inflamed, +rather than by the beauty and merit of its objects, +that its own taste embellishes and heightens them; +that it is itself the game it pursues, and that it follows +eagerly when it runs after that upon which itself is +eager. It is made up of contraries. It is imperious and +obedient, sincere and false, piteous and cruel, timid +and bold. It has different desires according to the +diversity of temperaments, which turn and fix it some- +times upon riches, sometimes on pleasures. It changes +according to our age, our fortunes, and our hopes; +it is quite indifferent whether it has many or one, +because it can split itself into many portions, and +unite in one as it pleases. It is inconstant, and besides +the changes which arise from strange causes it has +an infinity born of itself, and of its own substance. +It is inconstant through inconstancy, of lightness, +love, novelty, lassitude and distaste. It is capricious, +and one sees it sometimes work with intense eager- +ness and with incredible labour to obtain things of +little use to it which are even hurtful, but which it +pursues because it wishes for them. It is silly, and +often throws its whole application on the utmost +frivolities. It finds all its pleasure in the dullest +matters, and places its pride in the most contemptible. +It is seen in all states of life, and in all conditions; it +lives everywhere and upon everything; it subsists on +nothing; it accommodates itself either to things or to +the want of them; it goes over to those who are at war +with it, enters into their designs, and, this is wonderful, +it, with them, hates even itself; it conspires for its own +loss, it works towards its own ruin--in fact, caring only +to exist, and providing that it may BE, it will be its own +enemy! We must therefore not be surprised if it is +sometimes united to the rudest austerity, and if it +enters so boldly into partnership to destroy her, +because when it is rooted out in one place it re-esta- +blishes itself in another. When it fancies that it +abandons its pleasure it merely changes or suspends +its enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full +flight, we find that it triumphs in its own defeat. +Here then is the picture of self-love whereof the whole +of our life is but one long agitation. The sea is its +living image; and in the flux and reflux of its con- +tinuous waves there is a faithful expression of the +stormy succession of its thoughts and of its eternal +motion. (Edition of 1665, No. 1.) + +II.--Passions are only the different degrees of the +heat or coldness of the blood. (1665, No. 13.) + +III.--Moderation in good fortune is but apprehen- +sion of the shame which follows upon haughtiness, or +a fear of losing what we have. (1665, No. 18.) + +IV.--Moderation is like temperance in eating; we +could eat more but we fear to make ourselves ill. +(1665, No. 21.) + +V.--Everybody finds that to abuse in another which +he finds worthy of abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.) + +VI.--Pride, as if tired of its artifices and its different +metamorphoses, after having solely filled the divers +parts of the comedy of life, exhibits itself with +its natural face, and is discovered by haughtiness; so +much so that we may truly say that haughtiness is but +the flash and open declaration of pride. (1665, No. 37.) + +VII.--One kind of happiness is to know exactly at +what point to be miserable. (1665, No. 53.) + +VIII.--When we do not find peace of mind (REPOS) +in ourselves it is useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, +No. 53.) + +IX.--One should be able to answer for one's fortune, +so as to be able to answer for what we shall do. (1665, +No. 70.) + +X.--Love is to the soul of him who loves, what the +soul is to the body which it animates. (1665, No. 77.) + +XI.--As one is never at liberty to love or to cease +from loving, the lover cannot with justice complain +of the inconstancy of his mistress, nor she of the +fickleness of her lover. (1665, No. 81.) + +XII.--Justice in those judges who are moderate +is but a love of their place. (1665, No. 89.) + +XIII.--When we are tired of loving we are quite +content if our mistress should become faithless, to loose +us from our fidelity. (1665, No. 85.) + +XIV.--The first impulse of joy which we feel at the +happiness of our friends arises neither from our +natural goodness nor from friendship; it is the result +of self-love, which flatters us with being lucky in +our own turn, or in reaping something from the good +fortune of our friends. (1665, No. 97.) + +XV.--In the adversity of our best friends we +always find something which is not wholly displeasing +to us. (1665, No. 99.) + +[This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated "Verses on his +own Death." The four first are quoted opposite the title, +then follow these lines:-- + "This maxim more than all the rest, + Is thought too base for human breast; + In all distresses of our friends, + We first consult our private ends; + While nature kindly bent to ease us, + Points out some circumstance to please us." + +See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; +"they who know the deception and wickedness of the +human heart will not be either romantic or blind enough to +deny what Rochefoucauld and Swift have affirmed as a +general truth."] + +XVI.--How shall we hope that another person will +keep our secret if we do not keep it ourselves. (1665, +No. 100.) + +XVII.--As if it was not sufficient that self-love +should have the power to change itself, it has added +that of changing other objects, and this it does in a +very astonishing manner; for not only does it so well +disguise them that it is itself deceived, but it even +changes the state and nature of things. Thus, when +a female is adverse to us, and she turns her hate +and persecution against us, self-love pronounces +on her actions with all the severity of justice; +it exaggerates the faults till they are enormous, +and looks at her good qualities in so disadvan- +tageous a light that they become more displeasing than +her faults. If however the same female becomes +favourable to us, or certain of our interests reconcile +her to us, our sole self interest gives her back the +lustre which our hatred deprived her of. The bad +qualities become effaced, the good ones appear with +a redoubled advantage; we even summon all our +indulgence to justify the war she has made upon us. +Now although all passions prove this truth, that of +love exhibits it most clearly; for we may see a +lover moved with rage by the neglect or the infidelity +of her whom he loves, and meditating the utmost +vengeance that his passion can inspire. Nevertheless +as soon as the sight of his beloved has calmed the +fury of his movements, his passion holds that beauty +innocent; he only accuses himself, he condemns his +condemnations, and by the miraculous power of self- +love, he whitens the blackest actions of his mistress, +and takes from her all crime to lay it on himself. + +{No date or number is given for this maxim} + +XVIII.--There are none who press so heavily on +others as the lazy ones, when they have satisfied their +idleness, and wish to appear industrious. (1666, +No. 91.) + +XIX.--The blindness of men is the most dangerous +effect of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment +it, it deprives us of knowledge of remedies which can +solace our miseries and can cure our faults. (1665, +No. 102.) + +XX.--One has never less reason than when one +despairs of finding it in others. (1665, No. 103.) + +XXI.--Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not +diminished crimes by their precepts; they have only +used them in the building up of pride. (1665, No. 105.) + +XXII.--It is a proof of little friendship not to per- +ceive the growing coolness of that of our friends. +(1666, No. 97.) + +XXIII.--The most wise may be so in indifferent and +ordinary matters, but they are seldom so in their +most serious affairs. (1665, No. 132.) + +XXIV.--The most subtle folly grows out of the most +subtle wisdom. (1665, No. 134.) + +XXV.--Sobriety is the love of health, or an in- +capacity to eat much. (l665, No. 135.) + +XXVI.--We never forget things so well as when we +are tired of talking of them. (1665, No. 144.) + +XXVII.--The praise bestowed upon us is at least +useful in rooting us in the practice of virtue. (1665, +No. 155.) + +XXVIII.--Self-love takes care to prevent him whom +we flatter from being him who most flatters us. (1665, +No. 157.) + +XXIX.--Men only blame vice and praise virtue +from interest. (1665, No. 151.) + +XXX.--We make no difference in the kinds of anger, +although there is that which is light and almost inno- +cent, which arises from warmth of complexion, tem- +perament, and another very criminal, which is, to +speak properly, the fury of pride. (1665, No. 159.) + +XXXI.--Great souls are not those who have fewer +passions and more virtues than the common, but +those only who have greater designs. (1665, No. 161.) + +XXXII.--Kings do with men as with pieces of +money; they make them bear what value they will, +and one is forced to receive them according to their +currency value, and not at their true worth. (1665, +No. 165.) + +[See Burns{, FOR A' THAT AN A' THAT}-- + "The rank is but the guinea's stamp, + {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that." +Also Farquhar and other parallel passages pointed out in +FAMILIAR WORDS.] + +XXXIII.--Natural ferocity makes fewer people +cruel than self-love. (1665, No. 174.) + +XXXIV.--One may say of all our virtues as an +Italian poet says of the propriety of women, that it +is often merely the art of appearing chaste. (1665, +No. 176.) + +XXXV.--There are crimes which become innocent +and even glorious by their brilliancy,* their number, or +their excess; thus it happens that public robbery is +called financial skill, and the unjust capture of pro- +vinces is called a conquest. (1665, No. 192.) + +*<Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such +as those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte +Corday--further than this the maxim is satire.> + +XXXVI.--One never finds in man good or evil in +excess. (1665, No. 201.) + +XXXVII.--Those who are incapable of committing +great crimes do not easily suspect others. (1665, +No. {2}08.) + +{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It +is 208.} + +XXXVIII.--The pomp of funerals concerns rather +the vanity of the living, than the honour of the +dead. (1665, No. 213.) + +XXXIX.--Whatever variety and change appears in +the world, we may remark a secret chain, and a regu- +lated order of all time by Providence, which makes +everything follow in due rank and fall into its de- +stined course. (1665, No. 225.) + +XL.--Intrepidity should sustain the heart in con- +spiracies in place of valour which alone furnishes all +the firmness which is necessary for the perils of war. +(1665, No. 231.) + +XLI.--Those who wish to define victory by her birth +will be tempted to imitate the poets, and to call her +the Daughter of Heaven, since they cannot find her +origin on earth. Truly she is produced from an +infinity of actions, which instead of wishing to beget +her, only look to the particular interests of their +masters, since all those who compose an army, in +aiming at their own rise and glory, produce a good +so great and general. (1665, No. 232.) + +XLII.--That man who has never been in danger +cannot answer for his courage. (1665, No. 236.) + +XLIII.--We more often place bounds on our grati- +tude than on our desires and our hopes. (1665, No. +241.) + +XLIV.--Imitation is always unhappy, for all which +is counterfeit displeases by the very things which +charm us when they are original (NATURELLES). (1665, +No. 245.) + +XLV.--We do not regret the loss of our friends ac- +cording to THEIR merits, but according to OUR wants, +and the opinion with which we believed we had im- +pressed them of our worth. (1665, No. 248.) + +XLVI.--It is very hard to separate the general +goodness spread all over the world from great clever- +ness. (1665, No. 252.) + +XLVII.--For us to be always good, others should +believe that they cannot behave wickedly to us with +impunity. (1665, No. 254.) + +XLVIII.--A confidence in being able to please is +often an infallible means of being displeasing. (1665, +No. 256.) + +XLIX.--The confidence we have in ourselves arises +in a great measure from that that we have in others. +(1665, No. 258.) + +L.--There is a general revolution which changes +the tastes of the mind as well as the fortunes of the +world. (1665, No. 250.) + +LI.--Truth is foundation and the reason of the per- +fection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may +be, it cannot be beautiful and perfect unless it be +truly that she should be, and possess truly all that she +should have (1665, No. 260.) + +[Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{--John Keats, "Ode on a +a Grecian Urn," (1820), Stanza 5}] + +LII.--There are fine things which are more bril- +liant when unfinished than when finished too much. +(1665, No. 262.) + +LIII.--Magnanimity is a noble effort of pride which +makes a man master of himself, to make him master +of all things. (1665, No. 271.) + +LIV.--Luxury and too refined a policy in states are +a sure presage of their fall, because all parties looking +after their own interest turn away from the public +good. (1665, No. 282.) + +LV.--Of all passions that which is least known to +us is idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, +although her violence may be insensible, and the evils +she causes concealed; if we consider her power +attentively we shall find that in all encounters she +makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our in- +terests, and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, +she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden rock, +more dangerous in the most important matters than +sudden squalls and the most violent tempests. The +repose of idleness is a magic charm which suddenly +suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most +obstinate resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of +this passion we must add that idleness, like a beati- +tude of the soul, consoles us for all losses and fills the +vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. 290.) + +LVI.--We are very fond of reading others' characters, +but we do not like to be read ourselves. (1665, No. 296.) + +LVII.--What a tiresome malady is that which forces +one to preserve your health by a severe regimen. +(IBID, No. 298.) + +LVIII.--It is much easier to take love when one is +free, than to get rid of it after having taken it. (1665, +No. 300.) + +LIX.--Women for the most part surrender them- +selves more from weakness than from passion. Whence +it is that bold and pushing men succeed better than +others, although they are not so loveable. (1665, No. +301.) + +LX.--Not to love is in love, an infallible means of +being beloved. (1665, No. 302.) + +LXI.--The sincerity which lovers and mistresses ask +that both should know when they cease to love each +other, arises much less from a wish to be warned of +the cessation of love, than from a desire to be assured +that they are beloved although no one denies it. +(1665, No. 303.) + +LXII.--The most just comparison of love is that of +a fever, and we have no power over either, as to its +violence or its duration. (1665, No. 305.) + +LXIII.--The greatest skill of the least skilful is to +know how to submit to the direction of another. +(1665, No. 309.) + +LXIV.--We always fear to see those whom we love +when we have been flirting with others. (16{74}, No. +372.) + +LXV.--We ought to console ourselves for our faults +when we have strength enough to own them. (16{74}, +No. 375.) + +{The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited +as 1665 in the text. I found this date immediately suspect +because the translators' introduction states that the 1665 +edition only had 316 maxims. In fact, the two maxims only +appeared in the fourth of the first five editions (1674).} + + + +SECOND SUPPLEMENT. + +REFLECTIONS, +EXTRACTED FROM +MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.* + +*<A LA BIBLIOTHEQUE DU ROI, it is difficult at present +(June 1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection +of books in Paris, the property of the nation.> + + +LXVI.--Interest is the soul of self-love, in as much +as when the body deprived of its soul is without sight, +feeling or knowledge, without thought or movement, +so self-love, riven so to speak from its interest, neither +sees, nor hears, nor smells, nor moves; thus it is that +the same man who will run over land and sea for his +own interest becomes suddenly paralyzed when en- +gaged for that of others; from this arises that sudden +dulness and, as it were, death, with which we afflict +those to whom we speak of our own matters; from this +also their sudden resurrection when in our narrative +we relate something concerning them; from this we +find in our conversations and business that a man +becomes dull or bright just as his own interest is near +to him or distant from him. (LETTER TO MADAME DE +SABLE, MS., FOL. 211.) + +LXVII.--Why we cry out so much against maxims +which lay bare the heart of man, is because we fear +that our own heart shall be laid bare. (MAXIM 103, +MS., fol. 310.*) + +*<The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the +Maxims previously given, sometimes the author has care- +fully polished them; at other times the words are identical. +Our numbers will indicate where they are to be found in +the foregoing collection.> + +LXVIII.--Hope and fear are inseparable. (TO +MADAME DE SABLE, MS., FOL. 222, MAX. 168.) + +LXIX.--It is a common thing to hazard life to escape +dishonour; but, when this is done, the actor takes +very little pain to make the enterprise succeed in +which he is engaged, and certain it is that they who +hazard their lives to take a city or to conquer a pro- +vince are better officers, have more merit, and wider +and more useful, views than they who merely expose +themselves to vindicate their honour; it is very com- +mon to find people of the latter class, very rare to +find those of the former. (LETTER TO M. ESPRIT, MS., +FOL. 173, MAX. 219.) + +LXX.--The taste changes, but the will remains the +same. (TO MADAME DE SABLE, FOL. 223, MAX. 252.) + +LXXI.--The power which women whom we love +have over us is greater than that which we have over +ourselves. (TO THE SAME, MS., FOL. 211, MAX. 259) + +LXXII.--That which makes us believe so easily that +others have defects is that we all so easily believe +what we wish. (TO THE SAME, MS., FOL. 223, MAX. 397.) + +LXXIII.--I am perfectly aware that good sense and +fine wit are tedious to every age, but tastes are not +always the same, and what is good at one time will +not seem so at another. This makes me think that +few persons know how to be old. (TO THE SAME, +FOL. 202, MAX. 423.) + +LXXIV.--God has permitted, to punish man for his +original sin, that he should be so fond of his self-love, +that he should be tormented by it in all the actions +of his life. (MS., FOL. 310, MAX. 494.) + +LXXV.--And so far it seems to me the philosophy +of a lacquey can go; I believe that all gaity in that state +of life is very doubtful indeed. (TO MADAME DE SABLE, +FOL. 161, MAX. 504.) + +[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman +about to be broken on the wheel danced on the scaffold. +He seems to think that in his day the life of such servants +was so miserable that their merriment was very doubtful.] + + + +THIRD SUPPLEMENT + +[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth +Edition of the PENSEES DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, published +by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more than twelve years after +the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The reader +will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable +maxims.] + + +LXXVI.--Many persons wish to be devout; but +no one wishes to be humble. + +LXXVII.--The labour of the body frees us from +the pains of the mind, and thus makes the poor happy. + +LXXVIII.--True penitential sorrows (mortifica- +tions) are those which are not known, vanity renders +the others easy enough. + +LXXIX.--Humility is the altar upon which God +wishes that we should offer him his sacrifices. + +LXXX.--Few things are needed to make a wise man +happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why +most men are miserable. + +LXXXI.--We trouble ourselves less to become +happy, than to make others believe we are so. + +LXXXII.--It is more easy to extinguish the first +desire than to satisfy those which follow. + +LXXXIII.--Wisdom is to the soul what health is to +the body. + +LXXXIV.--The great ones of the earth can neither +command health of body nor repose of mind, and +they buy always at too dear a price the good they can +acquire. + +LXXXV.--Before strongly desiring anything we +should examine what happiness he has who possesses it. + +LXXXVI.--A true friend is the greatest of all +goods, and that of which we think least of acquiring. + +LXXXVII.--Lovers do not wish to see the faults of +their mistresses until their enchantment is at an end. + +LXXXVIII.--Prudence and love are not made for +each other; in the ratio that love increases, prudence +diminishes. + +LXXXIX.--It is sometimes pleasing to a husband +to have a jealous wife; he hears her always speaking +of the beloved object. + +XC.--How much is a woman to be pitied who is at +the same time possessed of virtue and love! + +XCI.--The wise man finds it better not to enter +the encounter than to conquer. + +[Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage-- + "Who quits {a} world where strong temptations try, + And since 'tis hard to co{mbat}, learns to fly."] + +XCII.--It is more necessary to study men than +books. + +["The proper study of mankind is man."--Pope +{ESSAY ON MAN, (1733), EPISTLE II, line 2}.] + +XCIII.--Good and evil ordinarily come to those who +have most of one or the other. + +XCIV.--The accent and character of one's native +country dwells in the mind and heart as on the tongue. +(REPITITION OF MAXIM 342.) + +XCV.--The greater part of men have qualities +which, like those of plants, are discovered by chance. +(REPITITION OF MAXIM 344.) + +XCVI.--A good woman is a hidden treasure; he +who discovers her will do well not to boast about it. +(SEE MAXIM 368.) + +XCVII.--Most women do not weep for the loss +of a lover to show that they have been loved so much +as to show that they are worth being loved. (SEE +MAXIM 362.) + +XCVIII.--There are many virtuous women who +are weary of the part they have played. (SEE MAXIM +367.) + +XCIX.--If we think we love for love's sake we +are much mistaken. (SEE MAXIM 374.) + +C.--The restraint we lay upon ourselves to be con- +stant, is not much better than an inconstancy. (SEE +MAXIMS 369, 381.) + +CI.--There are those who avoid our jealousy, of +whom we ought to be jealous. (SEE MAXIM 359.) + +CII.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does +not always die with it. (SEE MAXIM 361.) + +CIII.--When we love too much it is difficult to +discover when we have ceased to be beloved. + +CIV.--We know very well that we should not talk +about our wives, but we do not remember that it is +not so well to speak of ourselves. (SEE MAXIM 364.) + +CV.--Chance makes us known to others and to our- +selves. (SEE MAXIM 345.) + +CVI.--We find very few people of good sense, ex- +cept those who are of our own opinion. (SEE MAXIM +347.) + +CVII.--We commonly praise the good hearts of +those who admire us. (SEE MAXIM 356.) + +CVIII.--Man only blames himself in order that he +may be praised. + +CIX.--Little minds are wounded by the smallest +things. (SEE MAXIM 357.) + +CX.--There are certain faults which placed in a good +light please more than perfection itself. (SEE MAXIM +354.) + +CXI.--That which makes us so bitter against those +who do us a shrewd turn, is because they think them- +selves more clever than we are. (SEE MAXIM 350.) + +CXII.--We are always bored by those whom we +bore. (SEE MAXIM 352.) + +CXIII.--The harm that others do us is often less +than that we do ourselves. (SEE MAXIM 363.) + +CXIV.--It is never more difficult to speak well +than when we are ashamed of being silent. + +CXV.--Those faults are always pardonable that we +have the courage to avow. + +CXVI.--The greatest fault of penetration is not +that it goes to the bottom of a matter--but beyond it. +(SEE MAXIM 377.) + +CXVII.--We give advice, but we cannot give the +wisdom to profit by it. (SEE MAXIM 378.) + +CXVIII.--When our merit declines, our taste de- +clines also. (SEE MAXIM 379.) + +CXIX.--Fortune discovers our vices and our vir- +tues, as the light makes objects plain to the sight. +(SEE MAXIM 380.) + +CXX.--Our actions are like rhymed verse-ends +(BOUTS-RIMES) which everyone turns as he pleases. (SEE +MAXIM 382.) + +CXXI.--There is nothing more natural, nor more +deceptive, than to believe that we are beloved. + +CXXII.--We would rather see those to whom we +have done a benefit, than those who have done us one. + +CXXIII.--It is more difficult to hide the opinions +we have than to feign those which we have not. + +CXXIV.--Renewed friendships require more care +than those that have never been broken. + +CXXV.--A man to whom no one is pleasing is +much more unhappy than one who pleases nobody. + + + +REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, +BY THE +DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD + + +I. On Confidence. + + +Though sincerity and confidence have many +points of resemblance, they have yet many +points of difference. + +Sincerity is an openness of heart, which +shows us what we are, a love of truth, a dis- +like to deception, a wish to compensate our faults and +to lessen them by the merit of confessing them. + +Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are +stricter, it requires more prudence and reticence, and +we are not always free to give it. It relates not only +to ourselves, since our interests are often mixed up +with those of others; it requires great delicacy not to +expose our friends in exposing ourselves, not to draw +upon their goodness to enhance the value of what we +give. + +Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It +is a tribute we pay to their merit, a deposit we commit +to their trust, a pledge which gives them a claim upon +us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily +submit. I do not wish from what I have said to +depreciate confidence, so necessary to man. It is +in society the link between acquaintance and +friendship. I only wish to state its limits to make +it true and real. I would that it was always sincere, +always discreet, and that it had neither weakness nor +interest. I know it is hard to place proper limits on +being taken into all our friends' confidence, and taking +them into all ours. + +Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a +love of talking, a wish to win the confidence of others, +and make an exchange of secrets. + +Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards +whom we have no motive for confiding. With them we +discharge the obligation in keeping their secrets and +trusting them with small confidences. + +Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to +us, but we confide in them by choice and inclina- +tion. + +We should hide from them nothing that concerns +us, we should always show them with equal truth, our +virtues and our vices, without exaggerating the one +or diminishing the other. We should make it a rule +never to have half confidences. They always embarrass +those who give them, and dissatisfy those who receive +them. They shed an uncertain light on what we want +hidden, increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to +know more, giving them leave to consider themselves +free to talk of what they have guessed. It is far +safer and more honest to tell nothing than to be +silent when we have begun to tell. There are other +rules to be observed in matters confided to us, all are +important, to all prudence and trust are essential. + +Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, +but everyone does not agree as to the nature and +importance of secresy. Too often we consult our- +selves as to what we should say, what we should leave +unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the +scruple against revealing them will not last for ever. + +With those friends whose truth we know we have +the closest intimacy. They have always spoken unre- +servedly to us, we should always do the same to them. +They know our habits and connexions, and see too +clearly not to perceive the slightest change. They +may have elsewhere learnt what we have promised not +to tell. It is not in our power to tell them what has +been entrusted to us, though it might tend to their +interest to know it. We feel as confident of them +as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the hard fate of +losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being +faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the +hardest test of fidelity, but it should not move an +honest man; it is then that he can sacrifice himself +to others. His first duty is to rigidly keep his trust +in its entirety. He should not only control and +guard his and his voice, but even his lighter +talk, so that nothing be seen in his conversation or +manner that could direct the curiosity of others towards +that which he wishes to conceal. + +We have often need of strength and prudence +wherewith to oppose the exigencies of most of our +friends who make a claim on our confidence, and +seek to know all about us. We should never allow +them to acquire this unexceptionable right. There +are accidents and circumstances which do not fall in +their cognizance; if they complain, we should endure +their complaints and excuse ourselves with gentleness, +but if they are still unreasonable, we should sacrifice +their friendship to our duty, and choose between two +inevitable evils, the one reparable, the other irre- +parable. + + +II. On Difference of Character. + + +Although all the qualities of mind may be united in +a great genius, yet there are some which are special +and peculiar to him; his views are unlimited; he +always acts uniformly and with the same activity; +he sees distant objects as if present; he compre- +hends and grasps the greatest, sees and notices the +smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, +just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, +and he often finds truth in spite of the obscurity that +hides her from others. + +A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates +vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in +their best light, clothes them with all appropriate +adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away +from its own thoughts all that is useless and dis- +agreeable. + +A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid +and overcome difficulties. Bending easily to what it +wants, it understands the inclination and temper it is +dealing with, and by managing their interests it +advances and establishes its own. + +A well regulated mind sees all things as they should +be seen, appraises them at their proper value, turns +them to its own advantage, and adheres firmly to its +own opinions as it knows all their force and weight. + +A difference exists between a working mind and a +business-like mind. We can undertake business with- +out turning it to our own interest. Some are clever +only in what does not concern them, and the reverse +in all that does. There are others again whose +cleverness is limited to their own business, and who +know how to turn everything to their own advantage. + +It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and +yet to talk pleasantly and cheerfully. This class of +mind is suited to all persons in all times of life. +Young persons have usually a cheerful and satirical +turn, untempered by seriousness, thus often making +themselves disagreeable. + +No part is easier to play than that of being always +pleasant; and the applause we sometimes receive in +censuring others is not worth being exposed to the +chance of offending them when they are out of +temper. + +Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dan- +gerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it +is refined, but we always fear those who use it too +much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed +with spite, and when the person satirised can join in +the satire. + +It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without +affecting to be pleased or without loving to jest. It +requires much adroitness to continue satirical with- +out falling into one of these extremes. + +Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession +of the imagination, and shows every object in an +absurd light; wit combines more or less softness or +harshness. + +There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that +only hits the faults that persons admit, which under- +stands how to hide the praise it gives under the ap- +pearance of blame, and shows the good while feigning +a wish to hide it. + +An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dis- +similar. The first always pleases; it is unfettered, it +perceives the most delicate and sees the most impercep- +tible matters. A cunning spirit never goes straight, it +endeavours to secure its object by byeways and short +cuts. This conduct is soon found out, it always gives +rise to distrust and never reaches greatness. + +There is a difference between an ardent and a +brilliant mind, a fiery spirit travels further and faster, +while a brilliant mind is sparkling, attractive, accu- +rate. + +Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating +manner which always pleases when not insipid. + +A mind full of details devotes itself to the manage- +ment and regulation of the smallest particulars it +meets with. This distinction is usually limited to +little matters, yet it is not absolutely incompatible +with greatness, and when these two qualities are +united in the same mind they raise it infinitely above +others. + +The expression "BEL ESPRIT" is much perverted, for +all that one can say of the different kinds of mind +meet together in the "BEL ESPRIT." Yet as the epithet +is bestowed on an infinite number of bad poets and +tedious authors, it is more often used to ridicule than +to praise. + +There are yet many other epithets for the mind +which mean the same thing, the difference lies in the +tone and manner of saying them, but as tones and +manner cannot appear in writing I shall not go into +distinctions I cannot explain. Custom explains this +in saying that a man has wit, has much wit, that he +is a great wit; there are tones and manners which +make all the difference between phrases which seem +all alike on paper, and yet express a different order of +mind. + +So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that +he has several, that he has every variety of wit. + +One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not +be a fool even with very little wit. + +To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It +may mean every class of mind that can be mentioned, +it may mean none in particular. It may mean that +he talks sensibly while he acts foolishly. We may +have a mind, but a narrow one. A mind may be +fitted for some things, not for others. We may have +a large measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is +often inconvenienced with much mind; still of this +kind of mind we may say that it is sometimes pleasing +in society. + +Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, +it seems to me, be thus classified. + +There are some so beautiful that everyone can see +and feel their beauty. + +There are some lovely, it is true, but which are +wearisome. + +There are some which are lovely, which all the +world admire, but without knowing why. + +There are some so refined and delicate that few are +capable even of remarking all their beauties. + +There are others which, though imperfect, yet are +produced with such skill, and sustained and managed +with such sense and grace, that they even deserve to +be admired. + + +III. On Taste. + + +Some persons have more wit than taste, others have +more taste than wit. There is greater vanity and +caprice in taste than in wit. + +The word taste has different meanings, which it is +easy to mistake. There is a difference between the +taste which in certain objects has an attraction for +us, and the taste that makes us understand and +distinguish the qualities we judge by. + +We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently +fine and delicate taste to criticise it accurately. Some +tastes lead us imperceptibly to objects, from which +others carry us away by their force or intensity. + +Some persons have bad taste in everything, others +have bad taste only in some things, but a correct and +good taste in matters within their capacity. Some +have peculiar taste, which they know to be bad, but +which they still follow. Some have a doubtful taste, +and let chance decide, their indecision makes them +change, and they are affected with pleasure or weari- +ness on their friends' judgment. Others are always +prejudiced, they are the slaves of their tastes, which +they adhere to in everything. Some know what is +good, and are horrified at what is not; their opinions +are clear and true, and they find the reason for their +taste in their mind and understanding. + +Some have a species of instinct (the source of which +they are ignorant of), and decide all questions that +come before them by its aid, and always decide +rightly. + +These follow their taste more than their intelligence, +because they do not permit their temper and self-love +to prevail over their natural discernment. All they +do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. This +harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and +form a correct estimate of their value. But speaking +generally there are few who have a taste fixed and +independent of that of their friends, they follow +example and fashion which generally form the stand- +ard of taste. + +In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is +very rare and almost impossible to meet with that sort +of good taste that knows how to set a price on the +particular, and yet understands the right value that +should be placed on all. Our knowledge is too limited, +and that correct discernment of good qualities which +goes to form a correct judgment is too seldom to be +met with except in regard to matters that do not +concern us. + +As regards ourselves our taste has not this all- +important discernment. Preoccupation, trouble, all +that concern us, present it to us in another aspect. +We do not see with the same eyes what does and +what does not relate to us. Our taste is guided by +the bent of our self-love and temper, which supplies +us with new views which we adapt to an infinite +number of changes and uncertainties. Our taste is +no longer our own, we cease to control it, without our +consent it changes, and the same objects appear to us +in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to per- +ceive what we have seen and heard. + + +IV. On Society. + + +In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of +friendship, for, though they have some connection, +they are yet very different. The former has more +in it of greatness and humility, and the greatest +merit of the latter is to resemble the former. + +For the present I shall speak of that particular +kind of intercourse that gentlemen should have with +each other. It would be idle to show how far society +is essential to men: all seek for it, and all find it, but +few adopt the method of making it pleasant and +lasting. + +Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advan- +tage at the expense of others. We prefer ourselves +always to those with whom we intend to live, and +they almost always perceive the preference. It is +this which disturbs and destroys society. We should +discover a means to hide this love of selection since it +is too ingrained in us to be in our power to destroy. +We should make our pleasure that of other persons, to +humour, never to wound their self-love. + +The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, +but it is not merely sufficient for us to guide it in the +different courses it should hold. + +The agreement we meet between minds would not +keep society together for long if she was not governed +and sustained by good sense, temper, and by the con- +sideration which ought to exist between persons who +have to live together. + +It sometimes happens that persons opposite in tem- +per and mind become united. They doubtless hold +together for different reasons, which cannot last for +long. Society may subsist between those who are our +inferiors by birth or by personal qualities, but those +who have these advantages should not abuse them. +They should seldom let it be perceived that they +serve to instruct others. They should let their con- +duct show that they, too, have need to be guided and +led by reason, and accommodate themselves as far as +possible to the feeling and the interests of the others. + +To make society pleasant, it is essential that each +should retain his freedom of action. A man should +not see himself, or he should see himself without +dependence, and at the same time amuse himself. He +should have the power of separating himself without +that separation bringing any change on the society. +He should have the power to pass by one and the +other, if he does not wish to expose himself to occa- +sional embarrassments; and he should remember that +he is often bored when he believes he has not the +power even to bore. He should share in what he +believes to be the amusement of persons with whom +he wishes to live, but he should not always be liable +to the trouble of providing them. + +Complaisance is essential in society, but it should +have its limits, it becomes a slavery when it is extreme. +We should so render a free consent, that in following +the opinion of our friends they should believe that they +follow ours. + +We should readily excuse our friends when their +faults are born with them, and they are less than +their good qualities. We should often avoid to show +what they have said, and what they have left unsaid. +We should try to make them perceive their faults, so +as to give them the merit of correcting them. + +There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in +the intercourse among gentlemen, it makes them +comprehend badinage, and it keeps them from using +and employing certain figures of speech, too rude and +unrefined, which are often used thoughtlessly when +we hold to our opinion with too much warmth. + +The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without +a certain kind of confidence; this should be equal on +both sides. Each should have an appearance of +sincerity and of discretion which never causes the +fear of anything imprudent being said. + +There should be some variety in wit. Those who +have only one kind of wit cannot please for long +unless they can take different roads, and not both use +the same talents, thus adding to the pleasure of +society, and keeping the same harmony that different +voices and different instruments should observe in +music; and as it is detrimental to the quiet of society, +that many persons should have the same interests, +it is yet as necessary for it that their interests should +not be different. + +We should anticipate what can please our friends, +find out how to be useful to them so as to exempt them +from annoyance, and when we cannot avert evils, +seem to participate in them, insensibly obliterate +without attempting to destroy them at a blow, and +place agreeable objects in their place, or at least such +as will interest them. We should talk of subjects +that concern them, but only so far as they like, and +we should take great care where we draw the line. +There is a species of politeness, and we may say a +similar species of humanity, which does not enter too +quickly into the recesses of the heart. It often takes +pains to allow us to see all that our friends know, +while they have still the advantage of not knowing +to the full when we have penetrated the depth of the +heart. + +Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once +gives them familiarity and furnishes them with an +infinite number of subjects on which to talk freely. + +Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense +fairly to appreciate many matters that are essential +to maintain society. We desire to turn away at a +certain point, but we do not want to be mixed up +in everything, and we fear to know all kinds of +truth. + +As we should stand at a certain distance to view +objects, so we should also stand at a distance to observe +society; each has its proper point of view from which +it should be regarded. It is quite right that it +should not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly +a man who in all matters allows himself to be seen as +he really is. + + +V. On Conversation. + + +The reason why so few persons are agreeable in con- +versation is that each thinks more of what he desires +to say, than of what the others say, and that we +make bad listeners when we want to speak. + +Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we +should give them the time they want, and let them say +even senseless things; never contradict or interrupt +them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind +and taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything +they say that deserves praise, and let them see we +praise more from our choice than from agreement +with them. + +To please others we should talk on subjects they +like and that interest them, avoid disputes upon in- +different matters, seldom ask questions, and never let +them see that we pretend to be better informed than +they are. + +We should talk in a more or less serious manner, +and upon more or less abstruse subjects, according to +the temper and understanding of the persons we talk +with, and readily give them the advantage of deciding +without obliging them to answer when they are not +anxious to talk. + +After having in this way fulfilled the duties of +politeness, we can speak our opinions to our listeners +when we find an opportunity without a sign of pre- +sumption or opinionatedness. Above all things we +should avoid often talking of ourselves and giving +ourselves as an example; nothing is more tiresome +than a man who quotes himself for everything. + +We cannot give too great study to find out the +manner and the capacity of those with whom we talk, +so as to join in the conversation of those who have +more than ourselves without hurting by this prefer- +ence the wishes or interests of others. + +Then we should modestly use all the modes above- +mentioned to show our thoughts to them, and make +them, if possible, believe that we take our ideas from +them. + +We should never say anything with an air of +authority, nor show any superiority of mind. We +should avoid far-fetched expressions, expressions hard +or forced, and never let the words be grander than +the matter. + +It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are +reasonable, but we should yield to reason, wherever +she appears and from whatever side she comes, she +alone should govern our opinions, we should follow +her without opposing the opinions of others, and +without seeming to ignore what they say. + +It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the +conversation, and to push a good argument too hard, +when we have found one. Civility often hides half its +understanding, and when it meets with an opinionated +man who defends the bad side, spares him the disgrace +of giving way. + +We are sure to displease when we speak too long +and too often of one subject, and when we try to turn +the conversation upon subjects that we think more +instructive than others, we should enter indifferently +upon every subject that is agreeable to others, stop- +ping where they wish, and avoiding all they do not +agree with. + +Every kind of conversation, however witty it may +be, is not equally fitted for all clever persons; we +should select what is to their taste and suitable to +their condition, their sex, their talents, and also choose +the time to say it. + +We should observe the place, the occasion, the +temper in which we find the person who listens to us, +for if there is much art in speaking to the purpose, +there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There +is an eloquent silence which serves to approve or to +condemn, there is a silence of discretion and of respect. +In a word, there is a tone, an air, a manner, which +renders everything in conversation agreeable or dis- +agreeable, refined or vulgar. + +But it is given to few persons to keep this secret +well. Those who lay down rules too often break +them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen +much, to speak little, and to say nothing that will ever +give ground for regret. + + +VI. Falsehood. + + +We are false in different ways. There are some +men who are false from wishing always to appear what +they are not. There are some who have better faith, +who are born false, who deceive themselves, and who +never see themselves as they really are; to some is +given a true understanding and a false taste, others +have a false understanding and some correctness in +taste; there are some who have not any falsity +either in taste or mind. These last are very rare, for +to speak generally, there is no one who has not some +falseness in some corner of his mind or his taste. + +What makes this falseness so universal, is that as +our qualities are uncertain and confused, so too, are +our tastes; we do not see things exactly as they are, +we value them more or less than they are worth, and +do not bring them into unison with ourselves in a +manner which suits them or suits our condition or +qualities. + +This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of +falsities in the taste and in the mind. Our self-love +is flattered by all that presents itself to us under the +guise of good. + +But as there are many kinds of good which affect +our vanity and our temper, so they are often followed +from custom or advantage. We follow because the +others follow, without considering that the same feeling +ought not to be equally embarrassing to all kinds of +persons, and that it should attach itself more or less +firmly, according as persons agree more or less with +those who follow them. + +We dread still more to show falseness in taste than +in mind. Gentleness should approve without preju- +dice what deserves to be approved, follow what +deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. +But there should be great distinction and great +accuracy. We should distinguish between what is +good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, +and always follow in reason the natural inclination +which carries us towards matters that please us. + +If men only wished to excel by the help of their +own talents, and in following their duty, there would +be nothing false in their taste or in their conduct. +They would show what they were, they would judge +matters by their lights, and they would attract by their +reason. There would be a discernment in their views, +in their sentiments, their taste would be true, it would +come to them direct, and not from others, they would +follow from choice and not from habit or chance. If +we are false in admiring what should not be admired, +it is oftener from envy that we affix a value to +qualities which are good in themselves, but which do +not become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters +himself he is brave, and that he will be able to be bold +in certain cases. He should be as firm and stedfast +in a plot which ought to be stifled without fear of +being false, as he would be false and absurd in fighting +a duel about it. + +A woman may like science, but all sciences are not +suitable for her, and the doctrines of certain sciences +never become her, and when applied by her are always +false. + +We should allow reason and good sense to fix the +value of things, they should determine our taste +and give things the merit they deserve, and the im- +portance it is fitting we should give them. But +nearly all men are deceived in the price and in the +value, and in these mistakes there is always a kind of +falseness. + + +VII. On Air and Manner. + + +There is an air which belongs to the figure and +talents of each individual; we always lose it when +we abandon it to assume another. + +We should try to find out what air is natural to us +and never abandon it, but make it as perfect as we can. +This is the reason that the majority of children please. +It is because they are wrapt up in the air and manner +nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. +They are changed and corrupted when they quit +infancy, they think they should imitate what they +see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. In +this imitation there is always something of falsity and +uncertainty. They have nothing settled in their man- +ner and opinions. Instead of being in reality what +they want to appear, they seek to appear what they +are not. + +All men want to be different, and to be greater than +they are; they seek for an air other than their own, +and a mind different from what they possess; they +take their style and manner at chance. They make +experiments upon themselves without considering +that what suits one person will not suit everyone, +that there is no universal rule for taste or manners, +and that there are no good copies. + +Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many +matters without being a copy of each other, if each +follow his natural turn of mind. But in general a +person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. +We often imitate the same person without perceiving +it, and we neglect our own good qualities for the good +qualities of others, which generally do not suit us. + +I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should +so wrap himself up in himself as not to be able +to follow example, or to add to his own, useful and +serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. +Arts and sciences may be proper for the greater part +of those who are capable for them. Good manners and +politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet +acquired qualities should always have a certain agree- +ment and a certain union with our own natural +qualities, which they imperceptibly extend and in- +crease. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above +ourselves. We are often engaged in a new profession +for which nature has not adapted us. All these con- +ditions have each an air which belong to them, but +which does not always agree with our natural manner. +This change of our fortune often changes our air and +our manners, and augments the air of dignity, which +is always false when it is too marked, and when it is +not united and amalgamated with that which nature +has given us. We should unite and blend them to- +gether, and thus render them such that they can +never be separated. + +We should not speak of all subjects in one +tone and in the same manner. We do not march +at the head of a regiment as we walk on a pro- +menade; and we should use the same style in which +we should naturally speak of different things in the +same way, with the same difference as we should walk, +but always naturally, and as is suitable, either at +the head of a regiment or on a promenade. There +are some who are not content to abandon the air and +manner natural to them to assume those of the rank +and dignities to which they have arrived. There are +some who assume prematurely the air of the dignities +and rank to which they aspire. How many lieutenant- +generals assume to be marshals of France, how many +barristers vainly repeat the style of the Chancellor +and how many female citizens give themselves the +airs of duchesses. + +But what we are most often vexed at is that no one +knows how to conform his air and manners with his +appearance, nor his style and words with his thoughts +and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how +far he is insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly +every one falls into this fault in some way. No one +has an ear sufficiently fine to mark perfectly this kind +of cadence. + +Thousands of people with good qualities are dis- +pleasing; thousands pleasing with far less abilities, +and why? Because the first wish to appear to be what +they are not, the second are what they appear. + +Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we +have received from nature please in proportion as +we know the air, the style, the manner, the senti- +ments that coincide with our condition and our +appearance, and displease in the proportion they are +removed from that point. + + + +INDEX + +THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, +THE ROMAN NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS. + + +Ability, 162, 165, 199, 245, 283, 288. SEE Cleverness +-------, Sovereign, 244. +Absence, 276. +Accent, country, 342, XCIV. +Accidents, 59, 310. +Acquaintances, 426. SEE FRIENDS. +Acknowledgements, 225. +Actions, 1, 7, 57, 58, 160, 161, 382, 409, CXX. +Actors, 256. +Admiration, 178, 294, 474. +Adroitness of mind, R.2. +Adversity, 25. +--------- of Friends, XV. +Advice, 110, 116, 283, 378, CXVII. +Affairs, 453, R 2. +Affectation, 134, 493. +Affections, 232. +Afflictions, 233, 355, 362, 493, XCVII, XV. +Age, 222, 405, LXXIII. SEE Old Age. +Agreeableness, 255, R.5. +Agreement, 240. +Air, 399, 495, R.7. +--- Of a Citizen, 393. +Ambition, 24, 91, 246, 293, 490. +Anger, XXX. +Application, 41, 243. +Appearances, 64, 166, 199, 256, 302, 431, 457, R.7. +-----------, Conformity of Manners with, R.7. +Applause, 272. +Approbation, 51, 280. +Artifices, 117, 124, 125, 126, R.2. +Astonishment, 384. +Avarice, 167, 491, 492. + +Ballads, 211. +Beauty, 240, 474, 497, LI. +------ of the Mind, R.2. +Bel esprit defined, R.2. +Benefits, 14, 298, 299, 301, CXXII. +Benefactors, 96, 317, CXXII. +Blame, CVIII. +Blindness, XIX. +Boasting, 141, 307. +Boredom, 141, 304, 352. SEE Ennui. +Bouts rimes, 382, CXX. +Bravery, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 365, + 504. SEE Courage and Valour. +Brilliancy of Mind, R.2. +Brilliant things, LII. + +Capacity, 375. +Caprice, 45. +Chance, 57, 344, XCV. SEE Fortune. +Character, LVI, R.2. +Chastity, 1. SEE Virtue of Women. +Cheating, 114, 127. +Circumstances, 59, 470. +Civility, 260. +Clemency, 15, 16. +Cleverness, 162, 269, 245, 399. +Coarseness, 372. +Comedy, 211, R.3. +Compassion, 463. SEE Pity. +Complaisance, 481, R.4. +Conduct, 163, 227, 378, CXVII. +Confidants, whom we make, R.1. +Confidence, 239, 365, 475, XLIX, R.1, R.4. +Confidence, difference from Sincerity +----------, defined, R.1. +Consolation, 325. +Constancy, 19, 20, 21, 175, 176, 420. +Contempt, 322. +-------- of Death, 504. +Contentment, LXXX. +Contradictions, 478. +Conversation, 139, 140, 142, 312, 313, 314, 364, 391, + 421, CIV, R.5. +Copies, 133. +Coquetry, 241. SEE Flirtation. +Country Manner, 393. +------- Accent, 342. +Courage, 1, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221, XLII. SEE Bravery. +Covetousness, opposed to Reason, 469 +Cowardice, 215, 480. +Cowards, 370. +Crimes, 183, 465, XXXV, XXXVII. +Cunning, 126, 129, 394, 407. +Curiosity, 173. + +Danger, XLII. +Death, 21, 23, 26. +-----, Contempt of, 504. +Deceit, 86, 117, 118, 124, 127, 129, 395, 434. SEE ALSO + Self-Deceit. +Deception, CXXI. +Decency, 447. +Defects, 31, 90, 493, LXXII. SEE Faults. +Delicacy, 128, R.2. +Dependency, result of Confidence, R.1. +Designs, 160, 161. +Desires, 439, 469, LXXXII, LXXXV. +Despicable Persons, 322. +Detail, Mind given to, R.2. +Details, 41, 106. +Devotion, 427. +Devotees, 427. +Devout, LXXVI. +Differences, 135. +Dignities, R.7. +Discretion, R.5. +Disguise, 119, 246, 282. +Disgrace, 235, 412. +Dishonour, 326, LXIX. +Distrust, 84, 86, 335. +Divination, 425. +Doubt, 348. +Docility, R.4. +Dupes, 87, 102. + +Education, 261. +Elevation, 399, 400, 403. +Eloquence, 8, 249, 250. +Employments, 164, 419, 449. +Enemies, 114, 397, 458, 463. +Ennui, 122, 141, 304, 312, 352, CXII, R.2. +Envy, 27, 28, 280, 281, 328, 376, 433, 476, 486. +Epithets assigned to the Mind, R.2. +Esteem, 296. +Establish, 56, 280. +Evils, 121, 197, 269, 454, 464, XCIII. +Example, 230. +Exchange of secrets, R.1. +Experience, 405. +Expedients, 287. +Expression, refined, R.5. + +Faculties of the Mind, 174. +Failings, 397, 403. +Falseness, R.6. +---------, disguised, 282. +---------, kinds of, R.6. +Familiarity, R,4. +Fame, 157. +Farces, men compared to, 211. +Faults, 37, 112, 155, 184, 190, 194, 196, 251, 354, 365, + 372, 397, 403, 411, 428, 493, 494, V, LXV, CX, + CXV. +Favourites, 55. +Fear, 370, LXVIII. +Feeling, 255. +Ferocity, XXXIII. +Fickleness, 179, 181, 498. +Fidelity, 247. +--------, hardest test of, R.1. +-------- in love, 331, 381, C. +Figure and air, R.7. +Firmness, 19, 479. +Flattery, 123, 144, 152, 198, 320, 329. +Flirts, 406, 418. +Flirtation, 107, 241, 277, 332, 334, 349, 376, LXIV. +Follies, 156, 300, 408, 416. +Folly, 207, 208, 209, 210, 231, 300, 310, 311, 318, + XXIV. +Fools, 140, 210, 309, 318, 357, 414, 451, 456, +-----, old, 444. +-----, witty, 451, 456. +Force of Mind, 30, 42, +, 237. +Forgetfulness, XXVI. +Forgiveness, 330. +Fortitude, 19. SEE Bravery. +Fortune, 1, 17, 45, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, 154, 212, 227, 323, + 343, 380, 391, 392, 399, 403, 435, 449, IX., CXIX. +Friends, 84, 114, 179, 235, 279, 315, 319, 428. +-------, adversity of, XV. +-------, disgrace of, 235. +-------, faults of, 428. +-------, true ones, LXXXVI. +Friendship, 80, 81, 83, 376, 410, 427, 440, 441, 473, + XXII, CXXIV. +----------, defined, 83. +----------, women do not care for, 440. +----------, rarer than love, 473. +Funerals, XXXVIII. + +Gallantry, 100. SEE Flirtation. +--------- of mind, 100. +Generosity, 246. +Genius, R.2. +Gentleness, R.6. +Ghosts, 76. +Gifts of the mind, R.2. +Glory, 157, 198, 221, 268. +Good, 121, 185, 229, 238, 303, XCIII. +----, how to be, XLVII. +Goodness, 237, 275, 284, XLVI. +Good grace, 67, R.7. +Good man, who is a, 206. +God nature, 481. +Good qualities, 29, 90, 337, 365, 397, 462. +Good sense, 67, 347, CVI. +Good taste, 258. +----------, rarity of, R.3. +----, women, 368, XCVI. +Government of others, 151. +Grace, 67. +Gracefulness, 240. +Gratitude, 223, 224, 225, 279, 298, 438, XLIII. +Gravity, 257. +Great men, what they cannot acquire, LXXXIV. +Great minds, 142. +Great names, 94. +Greediness, 66. + +Habit, 426. +Happy, who are, 49. +Happiness, 48, 61, VII, LXXX, LXXXI. +hatred, 338. +Head, 102, 108. +Health, 188, LVII. +Heart, 98, 102, 103, 108, 478, 484. +Heroes, 24, 53, 185. +Honesty, 202, 206. +Honour, 270. +Hope, 168, LXVIII. +Humility, 254, 358, LXXVI, LXXIX +Humiliation, 272. +Humour, 47. SEE Temper. +Hypocrisy, 218. +--------- of afflictions, 233. + +Idleness, 169, 266, 267, 398, 482, 487, XVIII., LV. +Ills, 174. SEE Evils. +Illusions, 123. +Imagination, 478. +Imitation, 230, XLIV, R.5. +Impertinence, 502. +Impossibilities, 30. +Incapacity, 126. +Inclination, 253, 390. +Inconsistency, 135. +Inconstancy, 181. +Inconvenience, 242. +Indifference, 172, XXIII. +Indiscretion, 429. +Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness. +Infidelity, 359, 360, 381, 429. +Ingratitude, 96, 226, 306, 317. +Injuries, 14. +Injustice, 78. +Innocence, 465. +Instinct, 123. +Integrity, 170. +Interest, 39, 40, 66, 85, 172, 187, 232, 253, 305, 390. +Interests, 66. +Intrepidity, 217, XL. +Intrigue, 73. +Invention, 287. + +Jealousy, 28, 32, 324, 336, 359, 361, 446, 503, CII. +Joy, XIV. +Judges, 268. +Judgment, 89, 97, 248. +-------- of the World, 212, 455. +Justice, 78, 458, XII. + +Kindness, 14, 85. +Knowledge, 106. + +Labour of Body, effect of, LXXVII. +Laments, 355. +Laziness, 367. SEE Idleness. +Leader, 43. +Levity, 179, 181. +Liberality, 167, 263. +Liberty in Society, R.4. +Limits to Confidence, R.1. +Little Minds, 142. +Love, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 136, 259, 262, + 274, 286, 296, 321, 335, 336, 348, 349, 351, 353, + 361, 371, 374, 385, 395, 396, 402, 417, 418, 422, + 430, 440, 441, 459, 466, 471, 473, 499, 500, 501, + x, XI, XIII, LVIII, LX, LXII, LXXXVIII, + XCIX, CIII, CXXI. +---- defined, 68. +----, Coldness in, LX. +----, Effect of absence on, 276. +---- akin to Hate, 111. +---- of Women, 466, 471, 499. +----, Novelty in, 274. +----, Infidelity in, LXIV. +----, Old age of, 430. +----, Cure for, 417, 459. +Loss of Friends, XLV. +Lovers, 312, 362, LXXXVII, XCVII. +Lunatic, 353. +Luxury, LIV. +Lying, 63. + +Madmen, 353, 414. +Malady, LVII. +Magistrates, R.6. +Magnanimity, 248, LIII. +----------- defined, 285. +Malice, 483. +Manners, R.7. +Mankind, 436, XXXVI. +Marriages, 113. +Maxims, LXVII. +Mediocrity, 375. +Memory, 89, 313. +Men easier to know than Man, 436. +Merit, 50, 92, 95, 153, 156, 165, 166, 273, 291, 379, + 401, 437, 455, CXVIII. +Mind, 101, 103, 265, 357, 448, 482, CIX. +Mind, Capacities of, R.2. +Miserable, 49. +Misfortunes, 19, 24, 174, 325. +----------- of Friends. XV. +----------- of Enemies, 463. +Mistaken people, 386. +Mistrust, 86. +Mockery, R.2. +Moderation, 17, 18, 293, 308, III, IV. +Money, Man compared to, XXXII. +Motives, 409. + +Names, Great, 94. +Natural goodness, 275. +Natural, to be, 431. +-------, always pleasing, R.7. +Nature, 53, 153, 189, 365, 404. +Negotiations, 278. +Novelty in study, 178. +------- in love, 274. +------- in friendship, 426. + +Obligations, 299, 317, 438. SEE Benefits and Gratitude. +Obstinacy, 234, 424. +--------- its cause, 265. +Occasions. SEE Opportunities. +Old Age, 109, 210, 418, 423, 430, 461. +Old Men, 93. +Openness of heart, R.1. +Opinions, 13, 234, CXXIII, R.5. +Opinionatedness, R.5. +Opportunities, 345, 453, CV. + +Passions, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122, 188, 266, 276, 404, + 422, 443, 460, 471, 477, 484, 485, 486, 500, II. +Peace of Mind, VIII. +Penetration, 377, 425, CXVI. +Perfection, R.2. +Perseverance, 177. +Perspective, 104. +Persuasion, 8. +Philosophers, 46, 54, 504, XXI. +Philosophy, 22. +---------- of a Footman, 504, LXXV. +Pity, 264. +Pleasing, 413, CXXV. +--------, Mode of, XLVIII, R.5. +--------, Mind a, R.2. +Point of view, R.4. +Politeness, 372, R.5. +Politeness of Mind, 99. +Praise, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 272, 356, + 432, XXVII, CVII. +Preoccupation, 92, R.3. +Pride, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 228, 234, 239, 254, 267, 281, + 450, 462, 463, 472, VI, XIX. +Princes, 15, 320. +Proceedings, 170. +Productions of the Mind, R.2. +Professions, 256. +Promises, 38. +Proportion, R.6. +Propriety, 447. +--------- in Women, XXXIV. +Prosperity, 25. +Providence, XXXIX. +Prudence, 65, LXXXVIII, R.1. + +Qualities, 29, 162, 397, 470, 498, R.6, R.7. +---------, Bad, 468. +---------, Good, 88, 337, 462. +---------, Great, 159, 433. +---------, of Mind, classified, R.20. +Quarrels, 496, +Quoting oneself, R.5. + +Raillery, R.2, R.4. +Rank, 401. +Reason, 42, 105, 325, 365, 467, 469, XX, R.6. +Recollection in Memory{, 313}. +Reconciliation, 82. +Refinement, R.2. +Regret, 355. +Relapses, 193. +Remedies, 288. +-------- for love 459. +Remonstrances, 37. +Repentance, 180. +Repose, 268. +Reproaches, 148. +Reputation, 268, 412. +Resolution, L. +Revenge, 14. +Riches, 54. +Ridicule, 133, 134, 326, 418, 422. +Rules for Conversation, R.5. +Rusticity, 393. + +Satire, 483, R.2, R.4. +Sciences, R.6. +Secrets, XVI, R.1. +-------, How they should be kept, R.1. +Self-deceit, 115, 452. +Self-love, 2, 3, 4, 228, 236, 247, 261, 262, 339, 494, 500, + I, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, LXVI, LXXIV. +--------- in love, 262. +Self-satisfaction, 51. +Sensibility, 275. +Sensible People, 347, CVI. +Sentiment, 255, R.6. +Severity of Women, 204, 333. +Shame, 213, 220. +Silence, 79, 137, 138, CXIV. +Silliness. SEE Folly. +Simplicity, 289. +Sincerity, 62, 316, 366, 383, 457. +---------, Difference between it and Confidence, R.1. +---------, defined, R.1. +--------- of Lovers, LXI. +Skill, LXIV. +Sobriety, XXV. +Society, 87, 201, R.4. +-------, Distinction between it and Friendship, R.IV. +Soul, 80, 188, 194. +Souls, Great, XXXI. +Sorrows, LXXVIII. +Stages of Life, 405. +Strength of mind, 19, 20, 21, 504. +Studies, why new ones are pleasing, 178. +-------, what to study, XCII. +Subtilty, 128. +Sun, 26. + +Talents, 468. +-------, latent, 344, XCV. +Talkativeness, 314. +Taste, 13, 109, 252, 390, 467, CXX, R.3, R.6. +-----, good, 258, R.3. +-----, cause of diversities in, R.3. +-----, false, R.3. +Tears, 233, 373. +Temper, 47, 290, 292. +Temperament, 220, 222, 297, 346. +Times for speaking, R.5. +Timidity, 169, 480. +Titles, XXXII. +Tranquillity, 488. +Treachery, 120, 126. +Treason, 120. +Trickery, 86, 350, XCI. SEE Deceit. +Trifles, 41. +Truth, 64, LI. +Tyranny, R.1. + +Understanding, 89. +Untruth, 63. SEE Lying. +Unhappy, CXXV. + +Valour, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216. SEE Bravery and Courage. +Vanity, 137, 158, 200, 232, 388, 389, 443, 467, 483. +Variety of mind, R.4. +Vice, 182, 186, 187, 189, 191, 192, 195, 218, 253, 273, + 380, 442, 445, XXIX. +Violence, 363, 369, 466, CXIII. +Victory, XII. +Virtue, 1, 25, 169, 171, 182, 186, 187, 189, 200, 218, + 253, 380, 388, 442, 445, 489, XXIX. +Virtue of Women, 1, 220, 367, XCVIII. +Vivacity, 416. + +Weakness, 130, 445. +Wealth, Contempt of, 301. +Weariness. SEE Ennui. +Wicked people, 284. +Wife jealous sometimes desirable, LXXXIX. +Will, 30. +Wisdom, 132, 210, 231, 323, {4}44, LXXXIII. +Wise Man, who is a, 203, XCI. +Wishes, 295. +Wit, 199, 340, 413, 415, 421, 502. +Wives, 364, CIV. +Woman, 131, 204, 205, 220, 241, 277, 332, 333, 334, + 340, 346, 362, 367, 368, 418, 429, 440, 466, 471, + 474, LXX, XC. +Women, Severity of, 333. +-----, Virtue of, 205, 220, XC. +-----, Power of, LXXI. +Wonder, 384. +World, 201. +-----, Judgment of, 268. +-----, Approbation of, 201. +-----, Establishment in, 56. +-----, Praise and censure of, 454. + +Young men, 378, 495. +Youth, 271, 341. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reflections; Or Sentences +and Moral Maxims, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORAL MAXIMS *** + +This file should be named 7roch10.txt or 7roch10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7roch11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7roch10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Reflections; Or Sentences and Moral Maxims + +Author: Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9105] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 8, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORAL MAXIMS *** + + + + + +{Transcriber's notes: spelling variants are preserved (e.g. labour +instead of labor, criticise instead of criticize, etc.); words that +were italicized appear in all CAPITALS; the translators' comments are +in square brackets [...] as they are in the text; footnotes are indicated +by * and appear in angled brackets <...> immediately following the passage +containing the note (in the text they appear at the bottom of the page); +and, finally, I give corrections and addenda in curly brackets {...}.} + + + +Rochefoucauld + + +“As Rochefoucauld his maxims drew +From Nature--I believe them true. +They argue no corrupted mind +In him; the fault is in mankind.”--Swift. + +“Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des +gens d'esprit.”--Montesquieu. + +“Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations.”--Sir J. +Mackintosh. + +“Translators should not work alone; for good ET PROPRIA VERBA +do not always occur to one mind.”--Luther's TABLE TALK, iii. + + + +Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims + +By + +Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, +Prince de Marsillac. + +Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with introduction, +notes, and some account of the author and his times. + +By + +J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B +and +J. Hain Friswell + +Simpson Low, Son, and Marston, +188, Fleet Street. +1871. + + + +{Translators'} Preface. + + +Some apology must be made for an attempt +“to translate the untranslatable.” Not- +withstanding there are no less than eight +English translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly +any are readable, none are free from faults, and all +fail more or less to convey the author's meaning. +Though so often translated, there is not a complete +English edition of the Maxims and Reflections. All +the translations are confined exclusively to the +Maxims, none include the Reflections. This may be +accounted for, from the fact that most of the trans- +lations are taken from the old editions of the +Maxims, in which the Reflections do not appear. +Until M. Suard devoted his attention to the text +of Rochefoucauld, the various editions were but +reprints of the preceding ones, without any regard +to the alterations made by the author in the later +editions published during his life-time. So much +was this the case, that Maxims which had been +rejected by Rochefoucauld in his last edition, were +still retained in the body of the work. To give +but one example, the celebrated Maxim as to the +misfortunes of our friends, was omitted in the last +edition of the book, published in Rochefoucauld's +life-time, yet in every English edition this Maxim +appears in the body of the work. + +M. Aimé Martin in 1827 published an edition +of the Maxims and Reflections which has ever since +been the standard text of Rochefoucauld in France. +The Maxims are printed from the edition of 1678, +the last published during the author's life, and the +last which received his corrections. To this edition +were added two Supplements; the first containing +the Maxims which had appeared in the editions of +1665, 1666, and 1675, and which were afterwards +omitted; the second, some additional Maxims +found among various of the author's manuscripts +in the Royal Library at Paris. And a Series of Re- +flections which had been previously published in a +work called “Receuil de pièces d'histoire et de litté- +rature.” Paris, 1731. They were first published +with the Maxims in an edition by Gabriel Brotier. + +In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled “Reflex- +ions, ou Sentences et Maximes Morales, augmentées +de plus deux cent nouvelles Maximes et Maximes +et Pensées diverses suivant les copies Imprimées à +Paris, chez Claude Barbin, et Matre Cramoisy +1692,”* some fifty Maxims were added, ascribed +by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his family +allowed them to be published under his name, it +seems probable they were genuine. These fifty +form the third supplement to this book. + +*<In all the French editions this book is spoken of as +published in 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the +Cambridge University Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called +“Reflexions Morales.”> + +The apology for the present edition of Rochefou- +cauld must therefore be twofold: firstly, that it is +an attempt to give the public a complete English +edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a moralist. +The body of the work comprises the Maxims +as the author finally left them, the first supple- +ment, those published in former editions, and +rejected by the author in the later; the second, the +unpublished Maxims taken from the author's cor- +respondence and manuscripts, and the third, the +Maxims first published in 1692. While the Re- +flections, in which the thoughts in the Maxims are +extended and elaborated, now appear in English +for the first time. And secondly, that it is an +attempt (to quote the preface of the edition of +1749) “to do the Duc de la Rochefoucauld the +justice to make him speak English.” + + + +{Translators'} Introduction + + +The description of the “ancien regime” in +France, “a despotism tempered by epigrams,” +like most epigrammatic sentences, contains +some truth, with much fiction. The society of +the last half of the seventeenth, and the whole of the +eighteenth centuries, was doubtless greatly influenced +by the precise and terse mode in which the popular +writers of that date expressed their thoughts. To a +people naturally inclined to think that every possible +view, every conceivable argument, upon a question is +included in a short aphorism, a shrug, and the word +“voilà,” truths expressed in condensed sentences must +always have a peculiar charm. It is, perhaps, from this +love of epigram, that we find so many eminent +French writers of maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La +Rochefoucauld, La Bruyère, Montesquieu, and Vau- +venargues, each contributed to the rich stock of French +epigrams. No other country can show such a list +of brilliant writers--in England certainly we can- +not. Our most celebrated, Lord Bacon, has, by +his other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their +fame is, to a great measure, obscured. The only +Englishman who could have rivalled La Rochefou- +cauld or La Bruyère was the Earl of Chesterfield, and +he only could have done so from his very inti- +mate connexion with France; but unfortunately his +brilliant genius was spent in the impossible task of +trying to refine a boorish young Briton, in “cutting +blocks with a razor.” + +Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefou- +cauld is at once the most widely known, and the most +distinguished. Voltaire, whose opinion on the cen- +tury of Louis XIV. is entitled to the greatest weight, +says, “One of the works that most largely contributed +to form the taste of the nation, and to diffuse a spirit +of justice and precision, is the collection of maxims, +by Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld.” + +This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, +Prince de Marsillac, the author of the maxims, was +one of the most illustrious members of the most illus- +trious families among the French noblesse. Descended +from the ancient Dukes of Guienne, the founder of +the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a younger branch of +the House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of +the eleventh century the Seigneur of a small town, +La Roche, in the Angounois. Our chief knowledge of +this feudal lord is drawn from the monkish chronicles. +As the benefactor of the various abbeys and monas- +teries in his province, he is naturally spoken of by +them in terms of eulogy, and in the charter of one of +the abbeys of Angouleme he is called, “vir nobilissimus +Fulcaldus.” His territorial power enabled him to +adopt what was then, as is still in Scotland, a com- +mon custom, to prefix the name of his estate to his +surname, and thus to create and transmit to his +descendants the illustrious surname of La Rochefou- +cauld. + +From that time until that great crisis in the history +of the French aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the +family of La Rochefoucauld have been, “if not first, in +the very first line” of that most illustrious body. One +Seigneur served under Philip Augustus against Richard +Coeur de Lion, and was made prisoner at the battle +of Gisors. The eighth Seigneur Guy performed a great +tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according to Froissart) to +the Lists by some two hundred of his kindred and +relations. The sixteenth Seigneur Francais was cham- +berlain to Charles VIII. and Louis XII., and stood +at the font as sponsor, giving his name to that last +light of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was +created a baron, and was afterwards advanced to a +count, on account of his great service to Francis and +his predecessors. + +The second count pushed the family fortune still +further by obtaining a patent as the Prince de Mar- +sillac. His widow, Anne de Polignac, entertained +Charles V. at the family chateau at Verteuil, in so +princely a manner that on leaving Charles observed, +“He had never entered a house so redolent of high +virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that mansion.” + +The third count, after serving with distinction +under the Duke of Guise against the Spaniards, was +made prisoner at St. Quintin, and only regained his +liberty to fall a victim to the “bloody infamy” of St. +Bartholomew. His son, the fourth count, saved with +difficulty from that massacre, after serving with dis- +tinction in the religious wars, was taken prisoner +in a skirmish at St. Yriex la Perche, and murdered +by the Leaguers in cold blood. + +The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis +XIII., after fighting against the English and Buck- +ingham at the Ile de Ré, was created a duke. His +son Francis, the second duke, by his writings has +made the family name a household word. + +The third duke fought in many of the earlier cam- +paigns of Louis XIV. at Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and +was dangerously wounded at the passage of the Rhine. +From his bravery he rose to high favour at Court, and +was appointed Master of the Horse (Grand Veneur) +and Lord Chamberlain. His son, the fourth duke, +commanded the regiment of Navarre, and took part +in storming the village of Neerwinden on the day +when William III. was defeated at Landen. He was +afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and Marquis +de Liancourt. + +The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., +became the friend of the philosopher Voltaire. + +The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the +last of the long line of noble lords who bore that +distinguished name. In those terrible days of Sep- +tember, 1792, when the French people were proclaim- +ing universal humanity, the duke was seized as an +aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and put to death +behind his own carriage, in which sat his mother and +his wife, at the very place where, some six centuries +previously, his ancestor had been taken prisoner in +a fair fight. A modern writer has spoken of this +murder “as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson +for the writings and conduct of the grandfather.” +But M. Sainte Beuve observes as to this, he can see +nothing admirable in the death of the duke, and if it +proves anything, it is only that the grandfather was +not so wrong in his judgment of men as is usually +supposed. + +Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December +1615. M. Sainte Beuve divides his life into four +periods, first, from his birth till he was thirty-five, when +he became mixed up in the war of the Fronde; the +second period, during the progress of that war; the +third, the twelve years that followed, while he re- +covered from his wounds, and wrote his maxims dur- +ing his retirement from society; and the last from +that time till his death. + +In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of +his history by the name of one of the muses, so each +of these four periods of La Rochefoucauld's life may +be associated with the name of a woman who was for +the time his ruling passion. These four ladies are the +Duchesse de Chevreuse, the Duchesse de Longueville, +Madame de Sablé, and Madame de La Fayette. + +La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; +his father, occupied in the affairs of state, either had +not, or did not devote any time to his education. His +natural talents and his habits of observation soon, +however, supplied all deficiencies. By birth and sta- +tion placed in the best society of the French Court, +he soon became a most finished courtier. Knowing +how precarious Court favour then was, his father, +when young Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, +sent him into the army. He was subsequently at- +tached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but +sixteen he was present, and took part in the mili- +tary operations at the siege of Cassel. The Court of +Louis XIII. was then ruled imperiously by Richelieu. +The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was strongly opposed +to the Cardinal's party. By joining in the plots of +Gaston of Orleans, he gave Richelieu an opportunity +of ridding Paris of his opposition. When those plots +were discovered, the Duke was sent into a sort of +banishment to Blois. His son, who was then at +Court with him, was, upon the pretext of a liaison +with Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting +on the Queen (Anne of Austria), but in reality to pre- +vent the Duke learning what was passing at Paris, sent +with his father. The result of the exile was Roche- +foucauld's marriage. With the exception that his +wife's name was Mdlle. Vivonne, and that she was +the mother of five sons and three daughters, nothing +is known of her. While Rochefoucauld and his +father were at Blois, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, one +of the beauties of the Court, and the mistress of +Louis, was banished to Tours. She and Rochefou- +cauld met, and soon became intimate, and for a time +she was destined to be the one motive of his actions. +The Duchesse was engaged in a correspondence with +the Court of Spain and the Queen. Into this plot +Rochefoucauld threw himself with all his energy; his +connexion with the Queen brought him back to his +old love Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and led him to her +party, which he afterwards followed. The course he +took shut him off from all chance of Court favour. +The King regarded him with coldness, the Cardinal +with irritation. Although the Bastile and the scaffold, +the fate of Chalais and Montmorency, were before his +eyes, they failed to deter him from plotting. He was +about twenty-three; returning to Paris, he warmly +sided with the Queen. He says in his Memoirs +that the only persons she could then trust were him- +self and Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he +should take both of them from Paris to Brussels. Into +this plan he entered with all his youthful indiscretion, +it being for several reasons the very one he would wish +to adopt, as it would strengthen his influence with +Anne of Austria, place Richelieu and his master in an +uncomfortable position, and save Mdlle. d'Hautefort +from the attentions the King was showing her. + +But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and +Rochefoucauld was, of course, sent to the Bastile. +He was liberated after a week's imprisonment, but +banished to his chateau at Verteuil. + +The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal +desired to win Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. +A command in the army was offered to him, but by +the Queen's orders refused. + +For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at +Verteuil, waiting the time for his reckoning with +Richelieu; speculating on the King's death, and the +favours he would then receive from the Queen. During +this period he was more or less engaged in plotting +against his enemy the Cardinal, and hatching treason +with Cinq Mars and De Thou. + +M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first +part of Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never under- +stand his maxims. The bitter disappointment of the +passionate love, the high hopes then formed, the deceit +and treachery then witnessed, furnished the real key to +their meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality +was built on the ruins of that chivalrous ambition and +romantic affection. He saw his friend Cinq Mars +sent to the scaffold, himself betrayed by men whom +he had trusted, and the only reason he could assign +for these actions was intense selfishness. + +Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld re- +turned to Court, and found Anne of Austria regent, +and Mazarin minister. The Queen's former friends +flocked there in numbers, expecting that now their +time of prosperity had come. They were bitterly dis- +appointed. Mazarin relied on hope instead of grati- +tude, to keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The +most that any received were promises that were never +performed. In after years, doubtless, Rochefoucauld's +recollection of his disappointment led him to write the +maxim: “We promise according to our hopes, we per- +form according to our fears.” But he was not even to +receive promises; he asked for the Governorship of +Havre, which was then vacant. He was flatly refused. +Disappointment gave rise to anger, and uniting with +his old flame, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, who had +received the same treatment, and with the Duke of +Beaufort, they formed a conspiracy against the govern- +ment. The plot was, of course, discovered and crushed. +Beaufort was arrested, the Duchesse banished. Irri- +tated and disgusted, Rochefoucauld went with the +Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the army, on a +campaign, and here he found the one love of his life, +the Duke's sister, Mdme. de Longueville. This lady, +young, beautiful, and accomplished, obtained a great +ascendancy over Rochefoucauld, and was the cause of +his taking the side of Condé in the subsequent civil +war. Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the army. +He was badly wounded at the siege of Mardik, and +returned from thence to Paris. On recovering from +his wounds, the war of the Fronde broke out. This +war is said to have been most ridiculous, as being +carried on without a definite object, a plan, or a +leader. But this description is hardly correct; it was +the struggle of the French nobility against the rule +of the Court; an attempt, the final attempt, to re- +cover their lost influence over the state, and to save +themselves from sinking under the rule of cardinals +and priests. + +With the general history of that war we have +nothing to do; it is far too complicated and too +confused to be stated here. The memoirs of Roche- +foucauld and De Retz will give the details to those +who desire to trace the contests of the factions--the +course of the intrigues. We may confine ourselves to +its progress so far as it relates to the Duc de la Roche- +foucauld. + +On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Condé +and Conti, and the Duc de Longueville, to be +arrested, Rochefoucauld and the Duchess fled into +Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into +Poitou, of which province he had some years pre- +viously bought the post of governor. He was there +joined by the Duc de Bouillon, and he and the Duke +marched to, and occupied Bordeaux. Cardinal Ma- +zarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie advanced in force +on Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody +battle followed. Rochefoucauld defended the town +with the greatest bravery, and repulsed the Cardinal. +Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers of Bor- +deaux were anxious to make peace, and save the city +from destruction. The Parliament of Bordeaux com- +pelled Rochefoucauld to surrender. He did so, and +returned nominally to Poitou, but in reality in secret +to Paris. + +There he found the Queen engaged in trying to +maintain her position by playing off the rival parties +of the Prince Condé and the Cardinal De Retz against +each other. Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old +party--that of Condé. In August, 1651, the contend- +ing parties met in the Hall of the Parliament of Paris, +and it was with great difficulty they were prevented +from coming to blows even there. It is even said that +Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder +De Retz. + +Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disap- +pointment. While occupied with party strife and +faction in Paris, Madame de Chevreuse left him, +and formed an alliance with the Duc de Nemours. +Rochefoucauld still loved her. It was, probably, +thinking of this that he afterwards wrote, “Jealousy is +born with love, but does not die with it.” He endea- +voured to get Madame de Chatillon, the old mistress +of the Duc de Nemours, reinstated in favour, but in +this he did not succeed. The Duc de Nemours was +soon after killed in a duel. The war went on, and +after several indecisive skirmishes, the decisive battle +was fought at Paris, in the Faubourg St. Antoine, +where the Parisians first learnt the use or the abuse +of their favourite defence, the barricade. In this +battle, Rochefoucauld behaved with great bravery. +He was wounded in the head, a wound which for a +time deprived him of his sight. Before he recovered, +the war was over, Louis XIV. had attained his ma- +jority, the gold of Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, had +been successful, the French nobility were vanquished, +the court supremacy established. + +This completed Rochefoucauld's active life. + +When he recovered his health, he devoted himself +to society. Madame de Sablé assumed a hold over +him. He lived a quiet life, and occupied himself in +composing an account of his early life, called his +“Memoirs,” and his immortal “Maxims.” + +From the time he ceased to take part in public life, +Rochefoucauld's real glory began. Having acted the +various parts of soldier, politician, and lover with but +small success, he now commenced the part of moralist, +by which he is known to the world. + +Living in the most brilliant society that France +possessed, famous from his writings, distinguished +from the part he had taken in public affairs, he +formed the centre of one of those remarkable French +literary societies, a society which numbered among its +members La Fontaine, Racine, Boileau. Among his +most attached friends was Madame de La Fayette (the +authoress of the “Princess of Cleeves”), and this friend- +ship continued until his death. He was not, however, +destined to pass away in that gay society without +some troubles. At the passage of the Rhine in 1672 +two of his sons were engaged; the one was killed, +the other severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was +much affected by this, but perhaps still more by the +death of the young Duc de Longueville, who perished +on the same occasion. + +Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that +young life were the only fruits of the war of the +Fronde. Madame de Sévigné, who was with him +when he heard the news of the death of so much that +was dear to him, says, “I saw his heart laid bare on that +cruel occasion, and his courage, his merit, his tender- +ness, and good sense surpassed all I ever met with. I +hold his wit and accomplishments as nothing in com- +parison.” The combined effect of his wounds and the +gout caused the last years of Rochefoucauld's life to +be spent in great pain. Madame de Sévigné, who +was {with} him continually during his last illness, speaks of +the fortitude with which he bore his sufferings as +something to be admired. Writing to her daughter, +she says, “Believe me, it is not for nothing he has +moralised all his life; he has thought so often on his +last moments that they are nothing new or unfamiliar +to him.” + +In his last illness, the great moralist was attended +by the great divine, Bossuet. Whether that match- +less eloquence or his own philosophic calm had, +in spite of his writings, brought him into the state +Madame de Sévigné describes, we know not; but +one, or both, contributed to his passing away in a +manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a +French philosopher. On the 11th March, 1680, he +ended his stormy life in peace after so much strife, a +loyal subject after so much treason. + +One of his friends, Madame Deshoulières, shortly +before he died sent him an ode on death, which +aptly describes his state-- + “Oui, soyez alors plus ferme, + Que ces vulgaires humains + Qui, près de leur dernier terme, + De vaines terreurs sont pleins. + En sage que rien n'offense, + Livrez-vous sans resistance + A d'inévitables traits; + Et, d'une demarche égale, + Passez cette onde fatal + Qu'on ne repasse jamais.” + +Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the +one, Memoirs of his own time, the other the Maxims. +The first described the scenes in which his youth had +been spent, and though written in a lively style, +and giving faithful pictures of the intrigues and the +scandals of the court during Louis XIV.'s minority, +yet, except to the historian, has ceased at the present +day to be of much interest. It forms, perhaps, the +true key to understand the special as opposed to +general application of the maxims. + +Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that “there +are few people so bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer +the Memoirs of La Rochefoucauld to the Commen- +taries of Caesar,” or the statement of Voltaire, “that +the Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims are +learnt by heart,” few persons at the present day ever +heard of the Memoirs, and the knowledge of most as +to the Maxims is confined to that most celebrated of +all, though omitted from his last edition, “There +is something in the misfortunes of our best friends +which does not wholly displease us.” Yet it is +difficult to assign a cause for this; no book is +perhaps oftener unwittingly quoted, none certainly +oftener unblushingly pillaged; upon none have so +many contradictory opinions been given. + +“Few books,” says Mr. Hallam, “have been more +highly extolled, or more severely blamed, than the +maxims of the Duke of Rochefoucauld, and that not +only here, but also in France.” Rousseau speaks of it +as, “a sad and melancholy book,” though he goes on +to say “it is usually so in youth when we do not like +seeing man as he is.” Voltaire says of it, in the words +above quoted, “One of the works which most contri- +buted to form the taste of the (French) nation, and +to give it a spirit of justness and precision, was the +collection of the maxims of Francois Duc de la Roche- +foucauld, though there is scarcely more than one +truth running through the book--that ‘self-love is the +motive of everything’--yet this thought is presented +under so many varied aspects that it is nearly always +striking. It is not so much a book as it is materials +for ornamenting a book. This little collection was +read with avidity, it taught people to think, and to +comprise their thoughts in a lively, precise, and delicate +turn of expression. This was a merit which, before +him, no one in Europe had attained since the revival +of letters.” + +Dr. Johnson speaks of it as “the only book written +by a man of fashion, of which professed authors need +be jealous.” + +Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, +“Till you come to know mankind by your experience, +I know no thing nor no man that can in the mean- +time bring you so well acquainted with them as Le +Duc de la Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, +which I would advise you to look into for some +moments at least every day of your life, is, I fear, too +like and too exact a picture of human nature. I own +it seems to degrade it, but yet my experience does not +convince me that it degrades it unjustly.” + +Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book +in no measured terms. “There is a strange affecta- +tion,” says the bishop, “in some people of explaining +away all particular affection, and representing the +whole life as nothing but one continued exercise +of self-love. Hence arise that surprising confusion +and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, Hobbes, the +author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set +of writers, of calling actions interested which are +done of the most manifest known interest, merely for +the gratification of a present passion.” + +The judgment the reader will be most inclined to +adopt will perhaps be either that of Mr. Hallam, “Con- +cise and energetic in expression, reduced to those +short aphorisms which leave much to the reader's +acuteness and yet save his labour, not often obscure, +and never wearisome, an evident generalisation of +long experience, without pedantry, without method, +without deductive reasonings, yet wearing an appear- +ance at least of profundity; they delight the intelli- +gent though indolent man of the world, and must be +read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . +yet they bear witness to the contracted observation +and the precipitate inferences which an intercourse +with a single class of society scarcely fails to generate.” +Or that of Addison, who speaks of Rochefoucauld +“as the great philosopher for administering consola- +tion to the idle, the curious, and the worthless part of +mankind.” + +We are fortunately in possession of materials such +as rarely exist to enable us to form a judgment of +Rochefoucauld's character. We have, with a vanity +that could only exist in a Frenchman, a description +or portrait of himself, of his own painting, and one of +those inimitable living sketches in which his great +enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief actors in +the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass +across the stage before us. + +We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has +left us of himself: “I am,” says he, “of a medium height, +active, and well-proportioned. My complexion dark, +but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, +black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick +but well placed. I am rather embarrassed in talking of +my nose, for it is neither flat nor aquiline, nor large; +nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, it is too +large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too +low. I have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, +neither shaped well nor badly. I have white teeth, +and fairly even. I have been told I have a little too +much chin. I have just looked at myself in the +glass to ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to +decide. As to the shape of my face, it is either +square or oval, but which I should find it very diffi- +cult to say. I have black hair, which curls by nature, +and thick and long enough to entitle me to lay claim +to a fine head. I have in my countenance somewhat +of grief and pride, which gives many people an +idea I despise them, although I am not at all given to +do so. My gestures are very free, rather inclined to +be too much so, for in speaking they make me use too +much action. Such, candidly, I believe I am in out- +ward appearance, and I believe it will be found that +what I have said above of myself is not far from +the real case. I shall use the same truthfulness in +the remainder of my picture, for I have studied my- +self sufficiently to know myself well; and I will lack +neither boldness to speak as freely as I can of my +good qualities, nor sincerity to freely avow that I +have faults. + +“In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am +melancholy, and I have hardly been seen for the last +three or four years to laugh above three or four times. +It seems to me that my melancholy would be even +endurable and pleasant if I had none but what be- +longed to me constitutionally; but it arises from so +many other causes, fills my imagination in such a +way, and possesses my mind so strongly that for the +greater part of my time I remain without speaking a +word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am ex- +tremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am +not very open with the greater part of those I do. It +is a fault I know well, and I should neglect no means +to correct myself of it; but as a certain gloomy air +I have tends to make me seem more reserved than +I am in fact, and as it is not in our power to rid +ourselves of a bad expression that arises from a natu- +ral conformation of features, I think that even when +I have cured myself internally, externally some bad +expression will always remain. + +“I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, +as for what purpose should I pretend otherwise. So +great circumvention, and so great depreciation, in +speaking of the gifts one has, seems to me to hide a +little vanity under an apparent modesty, and craftily +to try to make others believe in greater virtues than +are imputed to us. On my part I am content not to +be considered better-looking than I am, nor of a bet- +ter temper than I describe, nor more witty and clever +than I am. Once more, I have ability, but a mind +spoilt by melancholy, for though I know my own +language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a +mode of thought not particularly confused, I yet have +so great a mixture of discontent that I often say what +I have to say very badly. + +“The conversation of gentlemen is one of the plea- +sures that most amuses me. I like it to be serious +and morality to form the substance of it. Yet I +also know how to enjoy it when trifling; and if I do +not make many witty speeches, it is not because I do +not appreciate the value of trifles well said, and that +I do not find great amusement in that manner of rail- +lery in which certain prompt and ready-witted per- +sons excel so well. I write well in prose; I do well +in verse; and if I was envious of the glory that +springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour +I could acquire some reputation. I like reading, in +general; but that in which one finds something to +polish the wit and strengthen the soul is what I like +best. But, above all, I have the greatest pleasure in +reading with an intelligent person, for then we reflect +constantly upon what we read, and the observations +we make form the most pleasant and useful form of +conversation there is. + +“I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose +that are shown me; but perhaps I speak my opinion +with almost too great freedom. Another fault in +me is that I have sometimes a spirit of delicacy far +too scrupulous, and a spirit of criticism far too severe. +I do not dislike an argument, and I often of my own +free will engage in one; but I generally back my +opinion with too much warmth, and sometimes, when +the wrong side is advocated against me, from the +strength of my zeal for reason, I become a little un- +reasonable myself. + +“I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and +so strong a desire to be a wholly good man that my +friend cannot afford me a greater pleasure than can- +didly to show me my faults. Those who know me +most intimately, and those who have the goodness +sometimes to give me the above advice, know that I +always receive it with all the joy that could be ex- +pected, and with all reverence of mind that could be +desired. + +“I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty +well under control. I am hardly ever seen in a rage, +and I never hated any one. I am not, however, in- +capable of avenging myself if I have been offended, +or if my honour demanded I should resent an insult +put upon me; on the contrary, I feel clear that duty +would so well discharge the office of hatred in me +that I should follow my revenge with even greater +keenness than other people. + +“Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few +things, and I do not fear death in the least. I am but +little given to pity, and I could wish I was not so at +all. Though there is nothing I would not do to com- +fort an afflicted person, and I really believe that one +should do all one can to show great sympathy to him +for his misfortune, for miserable people are so foolish +that this does them the greatest good in the world; +yet I also hold that we should be content with ex- +pressing sympathy, and carefully avoid having any. +It is a passion that is wholly worthless in a well-regu- +lated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, +and which should be left to ordinary persons, who, as +they never do anything from reason, have need of +passions to stimulate their actions. + +“I love my friends; and I love them to such an +extent that I would not for a moment weigh my +interest against theirs. I condescend to them, I +patiently endure their bad temper. But, also, I do +not make much of their caresses, and I do not feel +great uneasiness in their absence. + +“Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the +majority of things that stir up curiosity in other men. +I am very secret, and I have less difficulty than most +men in holding my tongue as to what is told me in +confidence. I am most particular as to my word, and +I would never fail, whatever might be the conse- +quence, to do what I had promised; and I have made +this an inflexible law during the whole of my life. + +“I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I +do not believe I have ever said anything before them +which could cause them annoyance. When their +intellect is cultivated, I prefer their society to that of +men: one there finds a mildness one does not meet +with among ourselves, and it seems to me beyond this +that they express themselves with more neatness, and +give a more agreeable turn to the things they talk +about. As for flirtation, I formerly indulged in a little, +now I shall do so no more, though I am still young. +I have renounced all flirtation, and I am simply +astonished that there are still so many sensible people +who can occupy their time with it. + +“I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate great- +ness of soul, and although, in the uneasiness they give +rise to, there is a something contrary to strict wisdom, +they fit in so well with the most severe virtue, that I +believe they cannot be censured with justice. To me +who have known all that is fine and grand in the lofty +aspirations of love, if I ever fall in love, it will as- +suredly be in love of that nature. But in accordance +with the present turn of my mind, I do not believe +that the knowledge I have of it will ever change from +my mind to my heart.” + +Such is his own description of himself. Let us +now turn to the other picture, delineated by the man +who was his bitterest enemy, and whom (we say it +with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to murder. + +Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:-- +“In M. de la Rochefoucauld there was ever an +indescribable something. From his infancy he always +wanted to be mixed up with plots, at a time when he +could not understand even the smallest interests (which +has indeed never been his weak point,) or comprehend +greater ones, which in another sense has never been +his strong point. He was never fitted for any matter, +and I really cannot tell the reason. His glance was +not sufficiently wide, and he could not take in at once +all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect in +theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning +ways, his pleasing manners, which are perfect, should +more than compensate for his lack of penetration. +He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I cannot +say to what this irresolution is to be attributed. It +could not arise in him from the wealth of his imagina- +tion, for that was anything but lively. I cannot put +it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, +although he was not prompt in action, he had a good +store of reason. We see the effects of this irresolution, +although we cannot assign a cause for it. He was +never a general, though a great soldier; never, na- +turally, a good courtier, although he had always a good +idea of being so. He was never a good partizan, +although all his life engaged in intrigues. That air +of pride and timidity which your see in his private +life, is turned in business into an apologetic manner. +He always believed he had need of it; and this, com- +bined with his ‘Maxims,’ which show little faith in +virtue, and his habitual custom, to give up matters +with the same haste he undertook them, leads +me to the conclusion that he would have done far +better to have known his own mind, and have passed +himself off, as he could have done, for the most +polished courtier, the most agreeable man in private +life that had appeared in his century.” + +It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the +Duc is not painted in such dark colours as we should +have expected, judging from what we know of the +character of De Retz. With his marvellous power of +depicting character, a power unrivalled, except by St. +Simon and perhaps by Lord Clarendon, we should +have expected the malignity of the priest would have +stamped the features of his great enemy with the +impress of infamy, and not have simply made him +appear a courtier, weak, insincere, and nothing more. +Though rather beyond our subject, the character of +Cardinal de Retz, as delineated by Mdme. Sévigné, in +one of her letters, will help us to form a true conclu- +sion on the different characters of the Duc and the +Cardinal. She says:-- +“Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz possesses great +elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, and +more of the ostentation than of the true greatness of +courage. He has an extraordinary memory, more +energy than polish in his words, an easy humour, +docility of character, and weakness in submitting to +the complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little +piety, some appearances of religion. He appears +ambitious without being really so. Vanity and those +who have guided him, have made him undertake great +things, almost all opposed to his profession. He ex- +cited the greatest troubles in the State without any +design of turning them to account, and far from +declaring himself the enemy of Cardinal Mazarin +with any view of occupying his place, he thought of +nothing but making himself an object of dread to +him, and flattering himself with the false vanity of +being his rival. He was clever enough, however, to +take advantage of the public calamities to get himself +made Cardinal. He endured his imprisonment with +firmness, and owed his liberty solely to his own +daring. In the obscurity of a life of wandering and +concealment, his indolence for many years supported +him with reputation. He preserved the Archbishopric +of Paris against the power of Cardinal Mazarin, but +after the death of that minister, he resigned it without +knowing what he was doing, and without making use +of the opportunity to promote the interests of him- +self and his friends. He has taken part in several +conclaves, and his conduct has always increased his +reputation. + +“His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he +labours with activity in pressing business, and reposes +with indifference when it is concluded. He has great +presence of mind, and knows so well how to turn it to +his own advantage on all occasions presented him by +fortune, that it would seem as if he had foreseen and +desired them. He loves to narrate, and seeks to +dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his extraor- +dinary adventures, and his imagination often supplies +him with more than his memory. The generality of +his qualities are false, and what has most contributed +to his reputation is his power of throwing a good light +on his faults. He is insensible alike to hatred and to +friendship, whatever pains he may be at to appear +taken up with the one or the other. He is incapable +of envy or avarice, whether from virtue or from care- +lessness. He has borrowed more from his friends +than a private person could ever hope to be able to +repay; he has felt the vanity of acquiring so much on +credit, and of undertaking to discharge it. He has +neither taste nor refinement; he is amused by every- +thing and pleased by nothing. He avoids difficult +matters with considerable address, not allowing people +to penetrate the slight acquaintance he has with every- +thing. The retreat he has just made from the world +is the most brilliant and the most unreal action of his +life; it is a sacrifice he has made to his pride under +the pretence of devotion; he quits the court to which +he cannot attach himself, and retires from a world +which is retiring from him.” + +The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a +preface by Segrais. This preface was omitted in the +subsequent editions. The first edition contained +316 maxims, counting the last upon death, which +was not numbered. The second in 1666 contained +only 102; the third in 1671, and the fourth in +1675, 413. In this last edition we first meet with +the introductory maxim, “Our virtues are gene- +rally but disguised vices.” The edition of 1678, +the fifth, increased the number to 504. This was +the last edition revised by the author, and pub- +lished in his lifetime. The text of that edition has +been used for the present translation. The next +edition, the sixth, was published in 1693, about +thirteen years after the author's death. This edition +included fifty new maxims, attributed by the editor +to Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were his writing, +as the fact was never denied by his family, through +whose permission they were published. They form +the third supplement to the translation. This sixth +edition was published by Claude Barbin, and the +French editions since that time have been too nu- +merous to be enumerated. The great popularity of +the Maxims is perhaps best shown from the numerous +translations that have been made of them. No less +than eight English translations, or so-called transla- +tions, have appeared; one American, a Swedish, and +a Spanish translation, an Italian imitation, with +parallel passages, and an English imitation by Hazlitt. +The titles of the English editions are as follows:-- +i. Seneca Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. Lon- + don, 1689. She calls the author the Duke of + Rushfucave. +ii. Moral Maxims and Reflections, in four parts. By + the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Now made + English. London, 1694. 12 mo. +iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections of the Duke de + la Rochefoucauld. Newly made English. Lon- + don, 1706. 12 mo. +iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. + Translated from the French. With notes. Lon- + don, 1749. 12 mo. +v. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld. Revised and improved. London, + 1775. 8 vo. +vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and im- + proved, by L. D. London, 1781. 8 vo. +vii. The Gentleman's Library. La Rochefoucauld's + Maxims and Moral Reflections. London, 1813. + 12 mo. +viii.Moral Reflections, Sentences, and Maxims of + the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly translated + from the French; with an introduction and notes. + London, 1850. 16 mo. +ix. Maxims and Moral Reflections of the Duke de la + Rochefoucauld: with a Memoir by the Chevalier + de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo. + +The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every +reader to a greater or less degree, in accordance with +the extent of his reading, parallel passages, and simi- +lar ideas. Of ancient writers Rochefoucauld most +strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern writers, Ju- +nius most strongly reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some +examples from both are given in the notes to this trans- +lation. It is curious to see how the expressions of the +bitterest writer of English political satire to a great ex- +tent express the same ideas as the great French satirist +of private life. Had space permitted the parallel +could have been drawn very closely, and much of the +invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefou- +cauld. + +One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised +and protected, was the great French fabulist, La +Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by La Fontaine +giving, in one of his fables, “L'Homme et son Image,” +an elaborate defence of his patron. After there depict- +ing a man who fancied himself one of the most lovely +in the world, and who complained he always found +all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real +image reflected in the water. He thus applies his +fable:-- +“Je parle à tous: et cette erreur extrême, +Est un mal que chacun se plait d'entretenir, +Notre âme, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui même, +Tant de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. +Miroirs, de nos défauts les peintres légitimes, +Et quant au canal, c'est celui +Qui chacun sait, le livre des MAXIMES.” + +It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we +all see ourselves. This has made it so unpopular. It +is too true. We dislike to be told of our faults, +while we only like to be told of our neighbour's. +Notwithstanding Rousseau's assertion, it is young +men, who, before they know their own faults +and only know their neighbours', that read and tho- +roughly appreciate Rochefoucauld. + +After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more +and seems far truer than he is in reality, it is impossible +to give any general conclusion of such distinguished +writers on the subject. Each reader will form his own +opinion of the merits of the author and his book. To +some, both will seem deserving of the highest praise; to +others both will seem deserving of the highest censure. +The truest judgment as to the author will be found in +the remarks of a countryman of his own, as to the +book in the remarks of a countryman of ours. + +As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:--“C'était un +misanthrope poli, insinuant, souriant, qui précédait +de bien peu et préparait avec charme l'autre MISAN- +THROPE.” + +As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:--“Among the +books in ancient and modern times which record the +conclusions of observing men on the moral qualities +of their fellows, a high place should be reserved for +the Maxims of Rochefoucauld”. + + + +REFLECTIONS; OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS + + +Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. + +[This epigraph which is the key to the system +of La Rochefoucauld, is found in another form +as No. 179 of the maxims of the first edition, 1665, it is +omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, and reappears for the first +time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as at present, at the head +of the Reflections.--AIMÉ MARTIN. Its best answer is ar- +rived at by reversing the predicate and the subject, and +you at once form a contradictory maxim equally true, our +vices are most frequently but virtues disguised.] + +1.--What we term virtue is often but a mass of +various actions and divers interests, which fortune, or +our own industry, manage to arrange; and it is not +always from valour or from chastity that men are +brave, and women chaste. + +“Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, +He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave; +Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, +His pride in reasoning, not in acting, lies.” + Pope, MORAL ESSAYS, Ep. i. line 115. + +2.--Self-love is the greatest of flatterers. + +3.--Whatever discoveries have been made in the +region of self-love, there remain many unexplored ter- +ritories there. + +[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to +develope. He wishes to find in vice a motive for all our +actions, but this does not suffice him; he is obliged to call +other passions to the help of his system and to confound +pride, vanity, interest and egotism with self love. This +confusion destroys the unity of his principle.--AIMÉ +MARTIN.] + +4.--Self love is more cunning than the most cunning +man in the world. + +5.--The duration of our passions is no more de- +pendant upon us than the duration of our life. +[Then what becomes of free will?--AIMÉ MARTIN] + +6.--Passion often renders the most clever man a +fool, and even sometimes renders the most foolish man +clever. + +7.--Great and striking actions which dazzle the +eyes are represented by politicians as the effect of +great designs, instead of which they are commonly +caused by the temper and the passions. Thus the war +between Augustus and Anthony, which is set down to +the ambition they entertained of making themselves +masters of the world, was probably but an effect of +jealousy. + +8.--The passions are the only advocates which +always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules +of which are infallible; and the simplest man with +passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent +without. + +[See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.] + +9.--The passions possess a certain injustice and +self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, +and in reality we should distrust them even when +they appear most trustworthy. + +10.--In the human heart there is a perpetual gene- +ration of passions; so that the ruin of one is almost +always the foundation of another. + +11.--Passions often produce their contraries: ava- +rice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to +avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness +and daring though timidity. + +12.--Whatever care we take to conceal our pas- +sions under the appearances of piety and honour, they +are always to be seen through these veils. + +[The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps +better--“however we may conceal our passions under the +veil, etc., there is always some place where they peep out.”] + +13.--Our self love endures more impatiently the +condemnation of our tastes than of our opinions. + +14.--Men are not only prone to forget benefits and +injuries; they even hate those who have obliged them, +and cease to hate those who have injured them. The +necessity of revenging an injury or of recompensing +a benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling +to submit. + +15.--The clemency of Princes is often but policy +to win the affections of the people. + +[“So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by +clemency, so greatly does it raise their fame and endear +them to their subjects, that it is generally happy for them +to have an opportunity of displaying it.”--Montesquieu, +ESPRIT DES LOIS, LIB. VI., C. 21.] + +16.--This clemency of which they make a merit, +arises oftentimes from vanity, sometimes from idle- +ness, oftentimes from fear, and almost always from all +three combined. + +[La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which +he lived. Here the clemency spoken of is nothing more +than an expression of the policy of Anne of Austria. +Rochefoucauld had sacrificed all to her; even the favour +of Cardinal Richelieu, but when she became regent she be- +stowed her favours upon those she hated; her friends were +forgotten.--AIMÉ MARTIN. The reader will hereby see +that the age in which the writer lived best interprets his +maxims.] + +17.--The moderation of those who are happy arises +from the calm which good fortune bestows upon their +temper. + +18.--Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting +the envy and contempt which those merit who are +intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain dis- +play of our strength of mind, and in short the mo- +deration of men at their greatest height is only a +desire to appear greater than their fortune. + +19.--We have all sufficient strength to support the +misfortunes of others. + +[The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucre- +tius, lib. ii., line I:-- + “Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis + E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem.”] + +20.--The constancy of the wise is only the talent of +concealing the agitation of their hearts. + +[Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. +This definition of constancy is a result of maxim 18.] + +21.--Those who are condemned to death affect some- +times a constancy and contempt for death which is +only the fear of facing it; so that one may say that +this constancy and contempt are to their mind what +the bandage is to their eyes. + +[See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.] + +22.--Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and +future evils; but present evils triumph over it. + +23.--Few people know death, we only endure it, +usually from determination, and even from stupidity +and custom; and most men only die because they +know not how to prevent dying. + +24.--When great men permit themselves to be cast +down by the continuance of misfortune, they show +us that they were only sustained by ambition, and not +by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes +are made like other men. + +[Both these maxims have been rewritten and made +conciser by the author; the variations are not worth +quoting.] + +25.--We need greater virtues to sustain good than +evil fortune. + +[“Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} +best discover virtue.”--Lord Bacon, ESSAYS{, (1625), “Of +Adversity”}.] + +{The quotation wrongly had “does” for “doth”.} + +26.--Neither the sun nor death can be looked at +without winking. + +27.--People are often vain of their passions, even +of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and +shame-faced that no one ever dare avow her. + +28.--Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, +as it tends to preserve a good which belongs, or +which we believe belongs to us, on the other hand +envy is a fury which cannot endure the happiness of +others. + +29.--The evil that we do does not attract to us so +much persecution and hatred as our good qualities. + +30.--We have more strength than will; and it is +often merely for an excuse we say things are impos- +sible. + +31.--If we had no faults we should not take so much +pleasure in noting those of others. + +32.--Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an +end or becomes a fury as soon as it passes from +doubt to certainty. + +33.--Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even +when it casts away vanity. + +[See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take +from our other faults we add to our pride.] + +34.--If we had no pride we should not complain of +that of others. + +[“The proud are ever most provoked by pride.”-Cow- +per, CONVERSATION 160.] + +35.--Pride is much the same in all men, the only +difference is the method and manner of showing it. + +[“Pride bestowed on all a common friend.”--Pope, +ESSAY ON MAN, Ep. ii., line 273.] + +36.--It would seem that nature, which has so wisely +ordered the organs of our body for our happiness, has +also given us pride to spare us the mortification of +knowing our imperfections. + +37.--Pride has a larger part than goodness in our +remonstrances with those who commit faults, and we +reprove them not so much to correct as to persuade +them that we ourselves are free from faults. + +38.--We promise according to our hopes; we per- +form according to our fears. + +[“The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long +to grant the favours he had promised, was because he was +persuaded that hope was much more capable of keeping +men to their duty than gratitude.”--FRAGMENTS HISTORIQUES. +RACINE.] + +39.--Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays +all sorts of characters; even that of disinterestedness. + +40.--Interest blinds some and makes some see. + +41.--Those who apply themselves too closely to +little things often become incapable of great things. + +42.--We have not enough strength to follow all our +reason. + +43.--A man often believes himself leader when he +is led; as his mind endeavours to reach one goal, his +heart insensibly drags him towards another. + + +44.--Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; +they are really only the good or happy arrangement of +our bodily organs. + +45.--The caprice of our temper is even more whim- +sical than that of Fortune. + +46.--The attachment or indifference which philoso- +phers have shown to life is only the style of their self +love, about which we can no more dispute than of that +of the palate or of the choice of colours. + +47.--Our temper sets a price upon every gift that +we receive from fortune. + +48.--Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things +themselves; we are happy from possessing what we +like, not from possessing what others like. + +49.--We are never so happy or so unhappy as we +suppose. + +50.--Those who think they have merit persuade +themselves that they are honoured by being unhappy, +in order to persuade others and themselves that they +are worthy to be the butt of fortune. + +[“Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable +men take comfort that they were supreme in misery; and +certain it is{, that where} we cannot distinguish ourselves by some- +thing excellent, we begin to take a complacency in some +singular infirmities, follies, or defects of one kind or other.” +--Burke, {ON THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL, (1756), Part I, Sect. XVII}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite SPEECH ON CONCILIATION WITH +AMERICA. Also, Burke does not actually write “Ambition has been...”, +he writes “It has been...” when speaking of ambition.} + +51.--Nothing should so much diminish the satisfac- +tion which we feel with ourselves as seeing that we +disapprove at one time of that which we approve of +at another. + +52.--Whatever difference there appears in our for- +tunes, there is nevertheless a certain compensation of +good and evil which renders them equal. + +53.--Whatever great advantages nature may give, +it is not she alone, but fortune also that makes the +hero. + +54.--The contempt of riches in philosophers was +only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the +injustice of fortune, by despising the very goods of +which fortune had deprived them; it was a secret to +guard themselves against the degradation of poverty, +it was a back way by which to arrive at that distinc- +tion which they could not gain by riches. + +[“It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior +ranks of mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that +pomp and pleasure which fortune has placed beyond their +reach. The virtue of the primitive Christians, like that of +the first Romans, was very frequently guarded by poverty +and ignorance.”--Gibbon, DECLINE AND FALL, CHAP. 15.] + +55.--The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. +The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its +regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who pos- +sess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able +to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of +the world. + +56.--To establish ourselves in the world we do +everything to appear as if we were established. + +57.--Although men flatter themselves with their +great actions, they are not so often the result of a +great design as of chance. + +58.--It would seem that our actions have lucky or +unlucky stars to which they owe a great part of the +blame or praise which is given them. + +59.--There are no accidents so unfortunate from +which skilful men will not draw some advantage, nor +so fortunate that foolish men will not turn them to +their hurt. + +60.--Fortune turns all things to the advantage of +those on whom she smiles. + +61.--The happiness or unhappiness of men depends +no less upon their dispositions than their fortunes. + +[“Still to ourselves in every place consigned + Our own felicity we make or find.” + Goldsmith, TRAVELLER, 431.] + +62.--Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in +very few people; what we usually see is only an artful +dissimulation to win the confidence of others. + +63.--The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambi- +tion to render our words credible and weighty, and +to attach a religious aspect to our conversation. + +64.--Truth does not do as much good in the world, +as its counterfeits do evil. + +65.--There is no praise we have not lavished upon +Prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most +trifling event. + +[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 +it is No. 75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last +edition it stands as at present. In the first he quotes +Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. + “ Nullum numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; + Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, coeloque locamus.” +Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, and +with much greater force.] + +66.--A clever man ought to so regulate his interests +that each will fall in due order. Our greediness so +often troubles us, making us run after so many things +at the same time, that while we too eagerly look after +the least we miss the greatest. + +67.--What grace is to the body good sense is to the +mind. + +68.--It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, +that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is +a sympathy, and in the body it is a hidden and deli- +cate wish to possess what we love--PLUS many +mysteries. + +[“Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be +singularly beloved.”--Hobbes{, LEVIATHAN, (1651), Part I, +Chapter VI}.] + +{Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' mistakenly +have “singularity” for the first “singularly” and (2) Hobbes does +not actually write “Love is the...”--he writes “Love of one...” +under the heading “The passion of Love.”} + +69.--If there is a pure love, exempt from the mix- +ture of our other passions, it is that which is concealed +at the bottom of the heart and of which even our- +selves are ignorant. + +70.--There is no disguise which can long hide love +where it exists, nor feign it where it does not. + +71.--There are few people who would not be +ashamed of being beloved when they love no longer. + +72.--If we judge of love by the majority of its +results it rather resembles hatred than friendship. + +73.--We may find women who have never indulged +in an intrigue, but it is rare to find those who have +intrigued but once. + +[“Yet there are some, they say, who have had {NONE}; +But those who have, ne'er end with only {ONE}.” + {--Lord Byron, }DON JUAN, {Canto} iii., stanza 4.] + +74.--There is only one sort of love, but there are a +thousand different copies. + +75.--Neither love nor fire can subsist without per- +petual motion; both cease to live so soon as they cease +to hope, or to fear. + +[So Lord Byron{, STANZAS, (1819), stanza 3} says of Love-- + “Like chiefs of faction, + His life is action.”] + +76.--There is real love just as there are real ghosts; +every person speaks of it, few persons have seen it. + +[“Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art-- + An unseen seraph, we believe in thee-- + A faith whose martyrs are the broken heart,-- + But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see + The naked eye, thy form as it should be.” + {--Lord Byron, }CHILDE HAROLD, {Canto} iv., stanza 121.] + +77.--Love lends its name to an infinite number of +engagements (COMMERCES) which are attributed to it, +but with which it has no more concern than the Doge +has with all that is done in Venice. + +78.--The love of justice is simply in the majority of +men the fear of suffering injustice. + +79.--Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts +himself. + +80.--What renders us so changeable in our friend- +ship is, that it is difficult to know the qualities of the +soul, but easy to know those of the mind. + +81.--We can love nothing but what agrees with us, +and we can only follow our taste or our pleasure when +we prefer our friends to ourselves; nevertheless it is +only by that preference that friendship can be true +and perfect. + +82.--Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire +to better our condition, a weariness of war, the fear +of some unlucky accident. + +[“Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. * * +The Duke de la Rochefoucauld desired peace because of +his dangerous wounds and ruined castles, which had made +him dread even worse events. On the other side the +Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful to her too +ambitious friends, did not cease to feel the bitterness of +their resentment. ‘I wish,’ said she, ‘it were always +night, because daylight shows me so many who have +betrayed me.’”--MEMOIRES DE MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE, TOM. +IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these maxims +are in some cases of universal application, they were based +entirely on the experience of the age in which the author +lived.] + +83.--What men term friendship is merely a partner- +ship with a collection of reciprocal interests, and an +exchange of favours--in fact it is but a trade in which +self love always expects to gain something. + +84.--It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be +deceived by our friends. + +85.--We often persuade ourselves to love people +who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone +produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts +away for the good we wish to do, but for that we ex- +pect to receive. + +86.--Our distrust of another justifies his deceit. + +87.--Men would not live long in society were they +not the dupes of each other. + +[A maxim, adds Aimé Martin, “Which may enter into +the code of a vulgar rogue, but one is astonished to find +it in a moral treatise.” Yet we have scriptural authority +for it: “Deceiving and being deceived.”--2 TIM. iii. 13.] + +88.--Self love increases or diminishes for us the +good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the +satisfaction we feel with them, and we judge of their +merit by the manner in which they act towards us. + +89.--Everyone blames his memory, no one blames +his judgment. + +90.--In the intercourse of life, we please more by +our faults than by our good qualities. + +91.--The largest ambition has the least appearance +of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossi- +bility in compassing its object. + +92.--To awaken a man who is deceived as to his +own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done +to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing +that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. + +[That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, +son of Pythodorus. His brother Crito cured him, when +he infinitely regretted the time of his more pleasant mad- +ness.--See Aelian, VAR. HIST. iv. 25. So Horace-- + -------------“Pol, me occidistis, amici, + Non servastis,” ait, “cui sic extorta voluptas + Et demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error.” + HOR. EP. ii--2, 138, +of the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.] + +93.--Old men delight in giving good advice as a +consolation for the fact that they can no longer set +bad examples. + +94.--Great names degrade instead of elevating those +who know not how to sustain them. + +95.--The test of extraordinary merit is to see those +who envy it the most yet obliged to praise it. + +96.--A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less +chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor is. + +97.--We are deceived if we think that mind and +judgment are two different matters: judgment is but +the extent of the light of the mind. This light pene- +trates to the bottom of matters; it remarks all that +can be remarked, and perceives what appears imper- +ceptible. Therefore we must agree that it is the ex- +tent of the light in the mind that produces all the +effects which we attribute to judgment. + +98.--Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise +their understanding. + +99.--Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste +and refined thoughts. + +100.--Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty +things in an agreeable manner. + +101.--Ideas often flash across our minds more com- +plete than we could make them after much labour. + +102.--The head is ever the dupe of the heart. + +[A feeble imitation of that great thought “All folly +comes from the heart.”--AIMÉ MARTIN. But Bonhome, in his +L'ART DE PENSER, says “Plusieurs diraient en période quarré +que quelques reflexions que fasse l'esprit et quelques resolu- +tions qu'il prenne pour corriger ses travers le premier sen- +timent du coeur renverse tous ses projets. Mais il n'appar- +tient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de dire tout en un mot +que l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur.”] + +103.--Those who know their minds do not neces- +sarily know their hearts. + +104.--Men and things have each their proper per- +spective; to judge rightly of some it is necessary to +see them near, of others we can never judge rightly +but at a distance. + +105.--A man for whom accident discovers sense, is +not a rational being. A man only is so who under- +stands, who distinguishes, who tests it. + +106.--To understand matters rightly we should +understand their details, and as that knowledge is +almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial +and imperfect. + +107.--One kind of flirtation is to boast we never +flirt. + +108.--The head cannot long play the part of the +heart. + +109.--Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its +blood, age retains its tastes by habit. + +110.--Nothing is given so profusely as advice. + +111.--The more we love a woman the more prone +we are to hate her. + +112.--The blemishes of the mind, like those of the +face, increase by age. + +113.--There may be good but there are no pleasant +marriages. + +114.--We are inconsolable at being deceived by our +enemies and betrayed by our friends, yet still we are +often content to be thus served by ourselves. + +115.--It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as +to deceive others. + +116.--Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking +and giving advice. The person asking seems to pay +deference to the opinion of his friend, while thinking +in reality of making his friend approve his opinion +and be responsible for his conduct. The person +giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him +by eager and disinterested zeal, in doing which he is +usually guided only by his own interest or reputation. + +[“I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was +which on many occasions I have heard from people of +good understanding, ‘That as to what related to private +conduct no one was ever the better for advice.’ But upon +further examination I have resolved with myself that the +maxim might be admitted without any violent prejudice +to mankind. For in the manner advice was generally given +there was no reason I thought to wonder it should be so +ill received, something there was which strangely inverted +the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For +by what I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, +that which we called giving advice was properly taking an +occasion to show our own wisdom at another's expense. +On the other side to be instructed or to receive advice on +the terms usually prescribed to us was little better than +tamely to afford another the occasion of raising himself a +character from our defects.”--Lord Shaftesbury, CHARAC- +TERISTICS, i., 153.] + +117.--The most subtle of our acts is to simulate +blindness for snares that we know are set for us. We +are never so easily deceived as when trying to deceive. + +118.--The intention of never deceiving often exposes +us to deception. + +119.--We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves +to others that at last we are disguised to ourselves. + +[“Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what +does not belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant +both of the character they leave{,} and of the character they +assume.”--Burke, {REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE, (1790), +Paragraph 19}.] + +{The translators' incorrectly cite THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE +OF THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS.} + +120.--We often act treacherously more from weak- +ness than from a fixed motive. + +121.--We frequently do good to enable us with +impunity to do evil. + +122.--If we conquer our passions it is more from +their weakness than from our strength. + +123.--If we never flattered ourselves we should have +but scant pleasure. + +124.--The most deceitful persons spend their lives +in blaming deceit, so as to use it on some great occa- +sion to promote some great interest. + +125.--The daily employment of cunning marks a +little mind, it generally happens that those who resort +to it in one respect to protect themselves lay them- +selves open to attack in another. + +[“With that low cunning which in fools supplies, + And amply, too, the place of being wise.” + Churchill, ROSCIAD, 117.] + +126.--Cunning and treachery are the offspring of +incapacity. + +127.--The true way to be deceived is to think one- +self more knowing than others. + +128.--Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, +true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness. + +129.--It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to +avoid being deceived by cunning men. + +130.--Weakness is the only fault which cannot be +cured. + +131.--The smallest fault of women who give them- +selves up to love is to love. + [------“Faciunt graviora coactae + Imperio sexus minimumque libidine peccant.” + Juvenal, SAT. vi., 134.] + +132.--It is far easier to be wise for others than to +be so for oneself. + +[Hence the proverb, “A man who is his own lawyer +has a fool for his client.”] + +133.--The only good examples are those, that make +us see the absurdity of bad originals. + +134.--We are never so ridiculous from the habits we +have as from those that we affect to have. + +135.--We sometimes differ more widely from our- +selves than we do from others. + +136.--There are some who never would have loved +if they never had heard it spoken of. + +137.--When not prompted by vanity we say little. + +138.--A man would rather say evil of himself than +say nothing. + +[“Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of +himself, and as often happens to vain men, he would rather +talk of his own failings than of any foreign subject.”-- +Hallam, LITERATURE OF EUROPE.] + +139.--One of the reasons that we find so few +persons rational and agreeable in conversation is +there is hardly a person who does not think more of +what he wants to say than of his answer to what is +said. The most clever and polite are content with +only seeming attentive while we perceive in their +mind and eyes that at the very time they are wander- +ing from what is said and desire to return to what they +want to say. Instead of considering that the worst +way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly +to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to +answer well are some of the greatest charms we can +have in conversation. + +[“An absent man can make but few observations, he can +pursue nothing steadily because his absences make him +lose his way. They are very disagreeable and hardly to be +tolerated in old age, but in youth they cannot be forgiven.” +--Lord Chesterfield, LETTER 195.] + +140.--If it was not for the company of fools, a witty +man would often be greatly at a loss. + +141.--We often boast that we are never bored, but +yet we are so conceited that we do not perceive how +often we bore others. + +142.--As it is the mark of great minds to say many +things in a few words, so it is that of little minds to +use many words to say nothing. + +[“So much they talked, so very little said.” + Churchill, ROSCIAD, 550. + +“Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an ar- +gument or wish to avoid it, are willing enough to suppose +that much has been proved because much has been said.”-- + Junius, JAN. 1769.] + +143.--It is oftener by the estimation of our own +feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others +than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish +to attract their praise. + +144.--We do not like to praise, and we never praise +without a motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, +delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises +and him who is praised. The one takes it as the re- +ward of merit, the other bestows it to show his im- +partiality and knowledge. + +145.--We often select envenomed praise which, by +a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could +not have shown by other means. + +146.--Usually we only praise to be praised. + +147.--Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure +which is useful to praise which is treacherous. + +148.--Some reproaches praise; some praises re- +proach. + +[“Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And, without sneering, teach the rest to sneer.” + Pope {ESSAY ON MAN, (1733), EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT.}] + +149.--The refusal of praise is only the wish to be +praised twice. + +[The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in +truth a desire to be praised more highly. EDITION 1665.] + +150.--The desire which urges us to deserve praise +strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to +wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them. + +151.--It is easier to govern others than to prevent +being governed. + +152.--If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of +others would not hurt us. + +[“Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate cre- +dentis.” Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + +153.--Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to +work. + +154.--Fortune cures us of many faults that reason +could not. + +155.--There are some persons who only disgust with +their abilities, there are persons who please even with +their faults. + +156.--There are persons whose only merit consists +in saying and doing stupid things at the right time, +and who ruin all if they change their manners. + +157.--The fame of great men ought always to be +estimated by the means used to acquire it. + +158.--Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity +gives currency. + +159.--It is not enough to have great qualities, we +should also have the management of them. + +160.--However brilliant an action it should not be +esteemed great unless the result of a great motive. + +161.--A certain harmony should be kept between +actions and ideas if we desire to estimate the effects +that they produce. + +162.--The art of using moderate abilities to advan- +tage wins praise, and often acquires more reputation +than real brilliancy. + +163.--Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} +motives are most wise and weighty. + +164.--It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we +do not fill than for those we do. + +165.--Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, +luck that of the people. + +166.--The world oftener rewards the appearance of +merit than merit itself. + +167.--Avarice is more opposed to economy than to +liberality. + +168.--However deceitful hope may be, yet she +carries us on pleasantly to the end of life. + +[“Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die.” + Pope: ESSAY ON MAN, Ep. ii.] + +169.--Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, +but our virtue often gets the praise. + +[“Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur.” + Tacitus Hist. I.] + +170.--If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult +to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill. + +171.--As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in +self. + +172.--If we thoroughly consider the varied effects +of indifference we find we miscarry more in our duties +than in our interests. + +173.--There are different kinds of curiosity: one +springs from interest, which makes us desire to know +everything that may be profitable to us; another from +pride, which springs from a desire of knowing what +others are ignorant of. + +174.--It is far better to accustom our mind to bear +the ills we have than to speculate on those which may +befall us. + + [“Rather bear th{ose} ills we have + Than fly to others that we know not of.” + {--Shakespeare, HAMLET, Act III, Scene I, Hamlet.}] + +175.--Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy +which causes our heart to attach itself to all the quali- +ties of the person we love in succession, sometimes +giving the preference to one, sometimes to another. +This constancy is merely inconstancy fixed, and limited +to the same person. + +176.--There are two kinds of constancy in love, one +arising from incessantly finding in the loved one fresh +objects to love, the other from regarding it as a point +of honour to be constant. + +177.--Perseverance is not deserving of blame or +praise, as it is merely the continuance of tastes and +feelings which we can neither create or destroy. + +178.--What makes us like new studies is not so +much the weariness we have of the old or the wish +for change as the desire to be admired by those who +know more than ourselves, and the hope of advantage +over those who know less. + +179.--We sometimes complain of the levity of our +friends to justify our own by anticipation. + +180.--Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the +ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to +us. + +181.--One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or +weakness of mind, and makes us accept everyone's +opinion, and another more excusable comes from a +surfeit of matter. + +182.--Vices enter into the composition of virtues as +poison into that of medicines. Prudence collects and +blends the two and renders them useful against the ills +of life. + +183.--For the credit of virtue we must admit that +the greatest misfortunes of men are those into which +they fall through their crimes. + +184.--We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity +the evil we have done in the opinion of others. + +[In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. +We never admit our faults except through vanity.] + +185.--There are both heroes of evil and heroes of +good. + +[Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, +habebaturque non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. +--Tacit. Ann. xvi.] + +186.--We do not despise all who have vices, but we +do despise all who have not virtues. + +[“If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of +use to us.”--JUNIUS, 5th Oct. 1771.] + +187.--The name of virtue is as useful to our interest +as that of vice. + +188.--The health of the mind is not less uncertain +than that of the body, and when passions seem +furthest removed we are no less in danger of infec- +tion than of falling ill when we are well. + +189.--It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed +the bounds of his virtues and vices. + +190.--Great men should not have great faults. + +191.--We may say vices wait on us in the course of +our life as the landlords with whom we successively +lodge, and if we travelled the road twice over I +doubt if our experience would make us avoid them. + +192.--When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves +with the idea we have left them. + +193.--There are relapses in the diseases of the mind +as in those of the body; what we call a cure is often +no more than an intermission or change of disease. + +194.--The defects of the mind are like the wounds +of the body. Whatever care we take to heal them +the scars ever remain, and there is always danger of +their reopening. + +195.--The reason which often prevents us abandon- +ing a single vice is having so many. + +196.--We easily forget those faults which are known +only to ourselves. + +[Seneca says “Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens +testem non conscientiam.”] + +197.--There are men of whom we can never believe +evil without having seen it. Yet there are very few +in whom we should be surprised to see it. + +198.--We exaggerate the glory of some men to +detract from that of others, and we should praise +Prince Condé and Marshal Turenne much less if we +did not want to blame them both. + +[The allusion to Condé and Turenne gives the date at +which these maxims were published in 1665. Condé and +Turenne were after their campaign with the Imperialists +at the height of their fame. It proves the truth of the +remark of Tacitus, “Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit.”-- +Tac. Ann. xiv.] + +199.--The desire to appear clever often prevents our +being so. + +200.--Virtue would not go far did not vanity +escort her. + +201.--He who thinks he has the power to content +the world greatly deceives himself, but he who thinks +that the world cannot be content with him deceives +himself yet more. + +202.--Falsely honest men are those who disguise +their faults both to themselves and others; truly honest +men are those who know them perfectly and confess +them. + +203.--He is really wise who is nettled at nothing. + +204.--The coldness of women is a balance and bur- +den they add to their beauty. + +205.--Virtue in woman is often the love of reputa- +tion and repose. + +206.--He is a truly good man who desires always to +bear the inspection of good men. + +207.--Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one +appears wise 'tis but because his folly is proportioned +to his age and fortune. + +208.--There are foolish people who know and who +skilfully use their folly. + +209.--Who lives without folly is not so wise as he +thinks. + +210.--In growing old we become more foolish--and +more wise. + +211.--There are people who are like farces, which +are praised but for a time (however foolish and dis- +tasteful they may be). + +[The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.] + +212.--Most people judge men only by success or by +fortune. + +213.--Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, +the desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and +the wish to depreciate others are often causes of that +bravery so vaunted among men. + +[Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, “He was as +brave as a total absence of all feeling and reflection could +make him.”--21st Jan. 1769.] + +214.--Valour in common soldiers is a perilous +method of earning their living. + +[“Men venture necks to gain a fortune, + The soldier does it ev{'}ry day, + (Eight to the week) for sixpence pay.” + {--Samuel Butler,} HUDIBRAS, Part II., canto i., line 512.] + +215.--Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two +extremes rarely found. The space between them is +vast, and embraces all other sorts of courage. The +difference between them is not less than between faces +and tempers. Men will freely expose themselves at +the beginning of an action, and relax and be easily +discouraged if it should last. Some are content to +satisfy worldly honour, and beyond that will do little +else. Some are not always equally masters of their +timidity. Others allow themselves to be overcome +by panic; others charge because they dare not remain +at their posts. Some may be found whose courage is +strengthened by small perils, which prepare them to +face greater dangers. Some will dare a sword cut and +flinch from a bullet; others dread bullets little and fear +to fight with swords. These varied kinds of courage +agree in this, that night, by increasing fear and conceal- +ing gallant or cowardly actions, allows men to spare +themselves. There is even a more general discretion +to be observed, for we meet with no man who does all +he would have done if he were assured of getting off +scot-free; so that it is certain that the fear of death +does somewhat subtract from valour. + +[See also “Table Talk of Napoleon,” who agrees with +this, so far as to say that few, but himself, had a two +o'clock of the morning valour.] + +216.--Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what +one would do before all the world. + +[“It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are +in the eyes of them that look on.”--Bacon, ADVANCEMENT +OF LEARNING{, (1605), Book I, Section II, paragraph 5}.] + +217.--Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of +soul which raises it above the troubles, disorders, and +emotions which the sight of great perils can arouse in +it: by this strength heroes maintain a calm aspect and +preserve their reason and liberty in the most sur- +prising and terrible accidents. + +218.--Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. + +[So Massillon, in one of his sermons, “Vice pays homage +to virtue in doing honour to her appearance.” + +So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, “You +have done as much mischief to the community as Machia- +vel, if Machiavel had not known that an appearance of +morals and religion are useful in society.”--28 Sept. 1771.] + +219.--Most men expose themselves in battle enough +to save their honor, few wish to do so more than +sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design +for which they expose themselves succeed. + +220.--Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often +make men brave and women chaste. + +[“Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters +chaste and courteous. But why do we need her instruc- +tion?”--Sterne, SERMONS.] + +221.--We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to +gain glory, and this makes brave men show more tact +and address in avoiding death, than rogues show in +preserving their fortunes. + +222.--Few persons on the first approach of age do +not show wherein their body, or their mind, is begin- +ning to fail. + +223.--Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: +it holds commerce together; and we do not pay be- +cause it is just to pay debts, but because we shall +thereby more easily find people who will lend. + +224.--All those who pay the debts of gratitude can- +not thereby flatter themselves that they are grateful. + +225.--What makes false reckoning, as regards gra- +titude, is that the pride of the giver and the receiver +cannot agree as to the value of the benefit. + +[“The first foundation of friendship is not the power of +conferring benefits, but the equality with which they are +received, and may be returned.”--Junius's LETTER TO THE +KING.] + +226.--Too great a hurry to discharge of an obliga- +tion is a kind of ingratitude. + +227.--Lucky people are bad hands at correcting +their faults; they always believe that they are right +when fortune backs up their vice or folly. + +[“The power of fortune is confessed only by the misera- +ble, for the happy impute all their success to prudence and +merit.”--Swift, THOUGHTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS] + +228.--Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay. + +229.--The good we have received from a man should +make us excuse the wrong he does us. + +230.--Nothing is so infectious as example, and we +never do great good or evil without producing the like. +We imitate good actions by emulation, and bad ones +by the evil of our nature, which shame imprisons +until example liberates. + +231.--It is great folly to wish only to be wise. + +232.--Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it +is always interest or vanity that causes them. + +233.--In afflictions there are various kinds of hypo- +crisy. In one, under the pretext of weeping for one +dear to us we bemoan ourselves; we regret her good +opinion of us, we deplore the loss of our comfort, our +pleasure, our consideration. Thus the dead have the +credit of tears shed for the living. I affirm 'tis a kind +of hypocrisy which in these afflictions deceives itself. +There is another kind not so innocent because it im- +poses on all the world, that is the grief of those who +aspire to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. +After Time, which absorbs all, has obliterated what +sorrow they had, they still obstinately obtrude their +tears, their sighs their groans, they wear a solemn face, +and try to persuade others by all their acts, that their +grief will end only with their life. This sad and +distressing vanity is commonly found in ambitious +women. As their sex closes to them all paths to glory, +they strive to render themselves celebrated by show- +ing an inconsolable affliction. There is yet another +kind of tears arising from but small sources, which +flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to achieve +a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps +to be bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace +of not weeping! + +[“In grief the {PLEASURE} is still uppermost{;} and the afflic- +tion we suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which +is always odious, and which we endeavour to shake off as +soon as possible.”--Burke, SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL{, (1756), +Part I, Sect. V}.] + +234.--It is more often from pride than from igno- +rance that we are so obstinately opposed to current +opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do +not want to be the last. + +235.--We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of +our friends when they enable us to prove our tender- +ness for them. + +236.--It would seem that even self-love may be the +dupe of goodness and forget itself when we work for +others. And yet it is but taking the shortest way to +arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of +giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and de- +licate manner. + +237.--No one should be praised for his goodness if +he has not strength enough to be wicked. All other +goodness is but too often an idleness or powerlessness +of will. + +238.--It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most +men, as to do them too much good. + +239.--Nothing flatters our pride so much as the +confidence of the great, because we regard it as the +result of our worth, without remembering that gene- +rally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a secret. + +240.--We may say of conformity as distinguished +from beauty, that it is a symmetry which knows no +rules, and a secret harmony of features both one with +each other and with the colour and appearance of the +person. + +241.--Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, +although all do not practise it, some being restrained +by fear, others by sense. + +[“By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes +both in the mode and object according to her opinions.”-- +Rousseau, EMILE.] + +242.--We often bore others when we think we +cannot possibly bore them. + +243.--Few things are impossible in themselves; +application to make them succeed fails us more often +than the means. + +244.--Sovereign ability consists in knowing the +value of things. + +245.--There is great ability in knowing how to con- +ceal one's ability. + +[“You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy +when you have made others think that you have only very +average abilities.”--LA BRUYÈRE.] + +246.--What seems generosity is often disguised am- +bition, that despises small to run after greater inte- +rest. + +247.--The fidelity of most men is merely an inven- +tion of self-love to win confidence; a method to place +us above others and to render us depositaries of the +most important matters. + +248.--Magnanimity despises all, to win all. + +249.--There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the +eyes and in the air of a speaker than in his choice of +words. + +250.--True eloquence consists in saying all that +should be, not all that could be said. + +251.--There are people whose faults become them, +others whose very virtues disgrace them. + +[“There are faults which do him honour, and virtues +that disgrace him.”--Junius, LETTER OF 28TH MAY, 1770.] + +252.--It is as common to change one's tastes, as it +is uncommon to change one's inclinations. + +253.--Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and +vices. + +254.--Humility is often a feigned submission which +we employ to supplant others. It is one of the de- +vices of Pride to lower us to raise us; and truly pride +transforms itself in a thousand ways, and is never so +well disguised and more able to deceive than when it +hides itself under the form of humility. + +[“Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for busi- +ness.”--Junius, LETTER TO THE DUKE OF GRAFTON. + +“He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, + A cottage of gentility, + And the devil was pleased, for his darling sin + Is the pride that apes humility.” + Southey, DEVIL'S WALK.] + +{There are numerous corrections necessary for this +quotation; I will keep the original above so you can +compare the correct passages: + +“He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, + A cottage of gentility, + And he owned with a grin, + That his favourite sin + Is pride that apes humility.” + --Southey, DEVIL'S WALK, Stanza 8. + +“And the devil did grin, for his darling sin + Is pride that apes humility.” + --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, THE DEVIL'S THOUGHTS} + +255.--All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, +gestures and looks, and this harmony, as it is good +or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, makes people agreeable +or disagreeable. + +256.--In all professions we affect a part and an ap- +pearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world +is merely composed of actors. + +[“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women +merely players.”--Shakespeare, AS YOU LIKE IT{, Act II, +Scene VII, Jaques}. + +“Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the +hero should preserve his consistency to the last.”--Junius.] + +257.--Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body +invented to conceal the want of mind. + +[“Gravity is the very essence of imposture.”--Shaftes- +bury, CHARACTERISTICS, p. 11, vol. I. “The very essence of +gravity is design, and consequently deceit; a taught trick +to gain credit with the world for more sense and know- +ledge than a man was worth, and that with all its preten- +sions it was no better, but often worse, than what a French +wit had long ago defined it--a mysterious carriage of the +body to cover the defects of the mind.”--Sterne, TRISTRAM +SHANDY, vol. I., chap. ii.] + +258.--Good taste arises more from judgment than +wit. + +259.--The pleasure of love is in loving, we are hap- +pier in the passion we feel than in that we inspire. + +260.--Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and +to be esteemed polite. + +261.--The usual education of young people is to in- +spire them with a second self-love. + +262.--There is no passion wherein self-love reigns +so powerfully as in love, and one is always more ready +to sacrifice the peace of the loved one than his own. + +263.--What we call liberality is often but the vanity +of giving, which we like more than that we give away. + +264.--Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in +the ills of others. It is a delicate foresight of the +troubles into which we may fall. We help others +that on like occasions we may be helped ourselves, +and these services which we render, are in reality +benefits we confer on ourselves by anticipation. + +[“GRIEF for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth +from the imagination that a like calamity may befal him- +self{;} and therefore is called compassion.”--HOBBES' LEVIA- +THAN{, (1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.] + +265.--A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do +not easily believe what we cannot see. + +[“Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong.” + Dryden, ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL{, line 547}.] + +266.--We deceive ourselves if we believe that there +are violent passions like ambition and love that can +triumph over others. Idleness, languishing as she is, +does not often fail in being mistress; she usurps +authority over all the plans and actions of life; im- +perceptibly consuming and destroying both passions +and virtues. + +267.--A quickness in believing evil without having +sufficiently examined it, is the effect of pride and +laziness. We wish to find the guilty, and we do not +wish to trouble ourselves in examining the crime. + +268.--We credit judges with the meanest motives, +and yet we desire our reputation and fame should +depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, either +from their jealousy or pre-occupation or want of in- +telligence, opposed to us--and yet 'tis only to make +these men decide in our favour that we peril in so +many ways both our peace and our life. + +269.--No man is clever enough to know all the evil +he does. + +270.--One honour won is a surety for more. + +271.--Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the +fever of reason. + +[“The best of life is but intoxication.”--{Lord Byron, } +Don Juan{, Canto II, stanza 179}. +In the 1st Edition, 1665, the maxim finishes with--“it is +the fever of health, the folly of reason.”] + +272.--Nothing should so humiliate men who have +deserved great praise, as the care they have taken +to acquire it by the smallest means. + +273.--There are persons of whom the world approves +who have no merit beyond the vices they use in the +affairs of life. + +274.--The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower +to the fruit; it lends a lustre which is easily lost, +but which never returns. + +275.--Natural goodness, which boasts of being so +apparent, is often smothered by the least interest. + +276.--Absence extinguishes small passions and in- +creases great ones, as the wind will blow out a candle, +and blow in a fire. + +277.--Women often think they love when they do +not love. The business of a love affair, the emotion of +mind that sentiment induces, the natural bias towards +the pleasure of being loved, the difficulty of refusing, +persuades them that they have real passion when they +have but flirtation. + +[“And if in fact she takes a {“}GRANDE PASSION{”}, + It is a very serious thing indeed: + Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or fashion, + Coquetry, or a wish to take the lead, + The pride of a mere child with a new sash on. + Or wish to make a rival's bosom bleed: + But the {TENTH} instance will be a tornado, + For there's no saying what they will or may do.” + {--Lord Byron, }DON JUAN, canto xii. stanza 77.] + +278.--What makes us so often discontented with +those who transact business for us is that they almost +always abandon the interest of their friends for the +interest of the business, because they wish to have +the honour of succeeding in that which they have +undertaken. + +279.--When we exaggerate the tenderness of our +friends towards us, it is often less from gratitude +than from a desire to exhibit our own merit. + +280.--The praise we give to new comers into the +world arises from the envy we bear to those who are +established. + +281.--Pride, which inspires, often serves to mode- +rate envy. + +282.--Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that +we should judge badly were we not deceived. + +283.--Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing +how to use than in giving good advice. + +284.--There are wicked people who would be much +less dangerous if they were wholly without goodness. + +285.--Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its +name, nevertheless one can say it is the good sense +of pride, the most noble way of receiving praise. + +286.--It is impossible to love a second time those +whom we have really ceased to love. + +287.--Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so +many resources on the same matter, as the lack of +intelligence makes us hesitate at each thing our ima- +gination presents, and hinders us from at first discern- +ing which is the best. + +288.--There are matters and maladies which at +certain times remedies only serve to make worse; +true skill consists in knowing when it is dangerous to +use them. + +289.--Affected simplicity is refined imposture. + +[Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium +litterarum et amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret +animum et fratris aemulationi subduceretur.--Tacitus, +ANN. iv.] + +290.--There are as many errors of temper as of +mind. + +291.--Man's merit, like the crops, has its season. + +292.--One may say of temper as of many buildings; +it has divers aspects, some agreeable, others dis- +agreeable. + +293.--Moderation cannot claim the merit of op- +posing and overcoming Ambition: they are never +found together. Moderation is the languor and sloth +of the soul, Ambition its activity and heat. + +294.--We always like those who admire us, we do +not always like those whom we admire. + +295.--It is well that we know not all our wishes. + +296.--It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, +but it is no less so to love those whom we esteem much +more than ourselves. + +297.--Bodily temperaments have a common course +and rule which imperceptibly affect our will. They +advance in combination, and successively exercise a +secret empire over us, so that, without our perceiving +it, they become a great part of all our actions. + +298.--The gratitude of most men is but a secret +desire of receiving greater benefits. + +[Hence the common proverb “Gratitude is merely a +lively sense of favors to come.”] + +299.--Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying +small debts; many people show gratitude for trifling, +but there is hardly one who does not show ingrati- +tude for great favours. + +300.--There are follies as catching as infections. + +301.--Many people despise, but few know how to +bestow wealth. + +302.--Only in things of small value we usually are +bold enough not to trust to appearances. + +303.--Whatever good quality may be imputed to +us, we ourselves find nothing new in it. + +304.--We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot +forgive those whom we bore. + +305.--Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds +often should be praised for our good deeds. + +306.--We find very few ungrateful people when we +are able to confer favours. + +307.--It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is +ridiculous to be so in company. + +308.--Moderation is made a virtue to limit the am- +bition of the great; to console ordinary people for +their small fortune and equally small ability. + +309.--There are persons fated to be fools, who com- +mit follies not only by choice, but who are forced by +fortune to do so. + +310.--Sometimes there are accidents in our life the +skilful extrication from which demands a little folly. + +311.--If there be men whose folly has never ap- +peared, it is because it has never been closely looked +for. + +312.--Lovers are never tired of each other,--they +always speak of themselves. + +313.--How is it that our memory is good enough to +retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet +not good enough to recollect how often we have told +it to the same person? + +[“Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, +and forget how often they have told them, are most tedious +companions.”--Montaigne, {ESSAYS, Book I, Chapter IX}.] + +314.--The extreme delight we take in talking of +ourselves should warn us that it is not shared by those +who listen. + +315.--What commonly hinders us from showing the +recesses of our heart to our friends, is not the dis- +trust we have of them, but that we have of our- +selves. + +316.--Weak persons cannot be sincere. + +317.--'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrate- +ful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged by a +scoundrel. + +318.--We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, +but there are none to set straight a cross-grained +spirit. + +319.--If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults +we cannot long preserve the feelings we should hold +towards our friends and benefactors. + +320.--To praise princes for virtues they do not pos- +sess is but to reproach them with impunity. + +[“Praise undeserved is satire in disguise,” quoted by +Pope from a poem which has not survived, “The Garland,” +by Mr. Broadhurst. “In some cases exaggerated or +inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire.”-- +Scott, WOODSTOCK.] + +321.--We are nearer loving those who hate us, than +those who love us more than we desire. + +322.--Those only are despicable who fear to be +despised. + +323.--Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune +than our goods. + +324.--There is more self-love than love in jealousy. + +325.--We often comfort ourselves by the weakness +of evils, for which reason has not the strength to con- +sole us. + +326.--Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour +itself. + +[“No,” says a commentator, “Ridicule may do harm, +but it cannot dishonour; it is vice which confers dis- +honour.”] + +327.--We own to small faults to persuade others +that we have not great ones. + +328.--Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. + +329.--We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery +--we only dislike the method. + +[“{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, + He says he does, being then most flattered.” + Shakespeare, JULIUS CAESAR{, Act II, Scene I, Decius}.] + +330.--We pardon in the degree that we love. + +331.--It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress +when one is happy, than when we are ill-treated by +her. + +[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.--Ovid, +AMORES, ii. 19.] + +332.--Women do not know all their powers of +flirtation. + +333.--Women cannot be completely severe unless +they hate. + +334.--Women can less easily resign flirtations than +love. + +335.--In love deceit almost always goes further +than mistrust. + +336.--There is a kind of love, the excess of which +forbids jealousy. + +337.--There are certain good qualities as there are +senses, and those who want them can neither per- +ceive nor understand them. + +338.--When our hatred is too bitter it places us +below those whom we hate. + +339.--We only appreciate our good or evil in pro- +portion to our self-love. + +340.--The wit of most women rather strengthens +their folly than their reason. + +[“Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, +but for solid reasoning and good sense I never knew one in +my life that had it, and who reasoned and acted conse- +quentially for four and twenty hours together.”--Lord +Chesterfield, LETTER 129.] + +341.--The heat of youth is not more opposed to +safety than the coldness of age. + +342.--The accent of our native country dwells in +the heart and mind as well as on the tongue. + +343.--To be a great man one should know how to +profit by every phase of fortune. + +344.--Most men, like plants, possess hidden quali- +ties which chance discovers. + +345.--Opportunity makes us known to others, but +more to ourselves. + +346.--If a woman's temper is beyond control there +can be no control of the mind or heart. + +347.--We hardly find any persons of good sense, save +those who agree with us. + +[“That was excellently observed, say I, when I read +an author when his opinion agrees with mine.”--Swift, +THOUGHTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.] + +348.--When one loves one doubts even what one +most believes. + +349.--The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate +flirtation. + +350.--Why we hate with so much bitterness those +who deceive us is because they think themselves more +clever than we are. + +[“I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I can- +not forgive his supposing me capable of the gross folly +of being duped by his professions.”--Sir Walter Scott, +QUENTIN DURWARD.] + +351.--We have much trouble to break with one, +when we no longer are in love. + +352.--We almost always are bored with persons with +whom we should not be bored. + +353.--A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not +like a beast. + +354.--There are certain defects which well mounted +glitter like virtue itself. + +355.--Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our +regret is greater than our grief, and others for whom +our grief is greater than our regret. + +356.--Usually we only praise heartily those who +admire us. + +357.--Little minds are too much wounded by little +things; great minds see all and are not even hurt. + +358.--Humility is the true proof of Christian +virtues; without it we retain all our faults, and they +are only covered by pride to hide them from others, +and often from ourselves. + +359.--Infidelities should extinguish love, and we +ought not to be jealous when we have cause to be so. +No persons escape causing jealousy who are worthy of +exciting it. + +360.--We are more humiliated by the least infidelity +towards us, than by our greatest towards others. + +361.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does +not always die with it. + +362.--Most women do not grieve so much for the +death of their lovers for love's-sake, as to show they +were worthy of being beloved. + +363.--The evils we do to others give us less pain +than those we do to ourselves. + +364.--We well know that it is bad taste to talk of +our wives; but we do not so well know that it is the +same to speak of ourselves. + +365.--There are virtues which degenerate into vices +when they arise from Nature, and others which when +acquired are never perfect. For example, reason +must teach us to manage our estate and our con- +fidence, while Nature should have given us goodness +and valour. + +366.--However we distrust the sincerity of those +whom we talk with, we always believe them more sin- +cere with us than with others. + +367.--There are few virtuous women who are not +tired of their part. + +[“Every woman is at heart a rake.”-–Pope. MORAL +ESSAYS, ii.] + +368.--The greater number of good women are like +concealed treasures, safe as no one has searched for +them. + +369.--The violences we put upon ourselves to escape +love are often more cruel than the cruelty of those +we love. + +370.--There are not many cowards who know the +whole of their fear. + +371.--It is generally the fault of the loved one not +to perceive when love ceases. + +372.--Most young people think they are natural +when they are only boorish and rude. + +373.--Some tears after having deceived others de- +ceive ourselves. + +374.--If we think we love a woman for love of +herself we are greatly deceived. + +375.--Ordinary men commonly condemn what is +beyond them. + +376.--Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirta- +tion by true love. + +377.--The greatest mistake of penetration is not to +have fallen short, but to have gone too far. + +378.--We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire +the conduct. + +379.--As our merit declines so also does our taste. + +380.--Fortune makes visible our virtues or our +vices, as light does objects. + +381.--The struggle we undergo to remain faithful +to one we love is little better than infidelity. + +382.--Our actions are like the rhymed ends of +blank verses (BOUTS-RIMÉS) where to each one puts +what construction he pleases. + +[The BOUTS-RIMÉS was a literary game popular in the 17th +and 18th centuries--the rhymed words at the end of a line +being given for others to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole +being given, “brook, why, crook, I,” returned the bur- +lesque verse-- + “I sits with my toes in a BROOK, + And if any one axes me WHY? + I gies 'em a rap with my CROOK, + 'Tis constancy makes me, ses I.”] + +383.--The desire of talking about ourselves, and of +putting our faults in the light we wish them to be +seen, forms a great part of our sincerity. + +384.--We should only be astonished at still being +able to be astonished. + +385.--It is equally as difficult to be contented when +one has too much or too little love. + +386.--No people are more often wrong than those +who will not allow themselves to be wrong. + +387.--A fool has not stuff in him to be good. + +388.--If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at +least she makes them totter. + +389.--What makes the vanity of others unsupport- +able is that it wounds our own. + +390.--We give up more easily our interest than our +taste. + +391.--Fortune appears so blind to none as to those +to whom she has done no good. + +392.--We should manage fortune like our health, +enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad, +and never resort to strong remedies but in an extremity. + +393.--Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the +camp, never in the court. + +394.--A man is often more clever than one other, but +not than all others. + +[“Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, +omnes neminem fefellerunt.”--Pliny{ the Younger, +PANEGYRICUS, LXII}.] + +395.--We are often less unhappy at being deceived +by one we loved, than on being deceived. + +396.--We keep our first lover for a long time--if we +do not get a second. + +397.--We have not the courage to say generally +that we have no faults, and that our enemies have +no good qualities; but in fact we are not far from be- +lieving so. + +398.--Of all our faults that which we most readily +admit is idleness: we believe that it makes all virtues +ineffectual, and that without utterly destroying, it at +least suspends their operation. + +399.--There is a kind of greatness which does not +depend upon fortune: it is a certain manner what +distinguishes us, and which seems to destine us for +great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon +ourselves; it is by this quality that we gain the +deference of other men, and it is this which com- +monly raises us more above them, than birth, rank, +or even merit itself. + +400.--There may be talent without position, but +there is no position without some kind of talent. + +401.--Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty +woman. + +402.--What we find the least of in flirtation is love. + +403.--Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, +and there are tiresome people whose deserts would be +ill rewarded if we did not desire to purchase their +absence. + +404.--It appears that nature has hid at the bottom +of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It +is only the passions that have the power of bringing +them to light, and sometimes give us views more +true and more perfect than art could possibly do. + +405.--We reach quite inexperienced the different +stages of life, and often, in spite of the number of our +years, we lack experience. + +[“To most men experience is like the stern lights of a +ship which illumine only the track it has passed.”-- +Coleridge.] + +406.--Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous +of their lovers, to conceal their envy of other women. + +407.--It may well be that those who have trapped +us by their tricks do not seem to us so foolish as we +seem to ourselves when trapped by the tricks of +others. + +408.--The most dangerous folly of old persons who +have been loveable is to forget that they are no +longer so. + +[“Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself +handsome. The suspicion of age no woman, let her be +ever so old, forgives.”--Lord Chesterfield, LETTER 129.] + +409.--We should often be ashamed of our very best +actions if the world only saw the motives which caused +them. + +410.--The greatest effort of friendship is not to show +our faults to a friend, but to show him his own. + +4ll.--We have few faults which are not far more +excusable than the means we adopt to hide them. + +412.--Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it +is almost always in our power to re-establish our cha- +racter. + +[“This is hardly a period at which the most irregular +character may not be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin +find a retreat in patriotism, those of the other in devotion.” +-Junius, LETTER TO THE KING.] + +413.--A man cannot please long who has only one +kind of wit. + +[According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine +and Boileau, who, despising ordinary conversation, talked +incessantly of literature; but there is some doubt as to +Segrais' statement.--Aimé Martin.] + +414.--Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit. + +415.--Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with +impunity. + +416.--The vivacity which increases in old age is not +far removed from folly. + +[“How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester.”-- +Shakespeare{, King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, +King}. + +“Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of +life? Can grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there +no period to be reserved for meditation or retirement.”-- +Junius, TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD, 19th Sept. 1769.] + +417.--In love the quickest is always the best cure. + +418.--Young women who do not want to appear +flirts, and old men who do not want to appear ridi- +culous, should not talk of love as a matter wherein +they can have any interest. + +419.--We may seem great in a post beneath our +capacity, but we oftener seem little in a post above it. + +420.--We often believe we have constancy in mis- +fortune when we have nothing but debasement, and +we suffer misfortunes without regarding them as +cowards who let themselves be killed from fear of +defending themselves. + +421.--Conceit causes more conversation than wit. + +422.--All passions make us commit some faults, +love alone makes us ridiculous. + +[“In love we all are fools alike.”--Gay{, THE +BEGGAR'S OPERA, (1728), Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.] + +423.--Few know how to be old. + +424.--We often credit ourselves with vices the +reverse of what we have, thus when weak we boast of +our obstinacy. + +425.--Penetration has a spice of divination in it +which tickles our vanity more than any other quality +of the mind. + +426.--The charm of novelty and old custom, how- +ever opposite to each other, equally blind us to the +faults of our friends. + +[“Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom +and novelty.”-La Bruyère, DES JUDGEMENTS.] + +427.--Most friends sicken us of friendship, most +devotees of devotion. + +428.--We easily forgive in our friends those faults +we do not perceive. + +429.--Women who love, pardon more readily great +indiscretions than little infidelities. + +430.--In the old age of love as in life we still sur- +vive for the evils, though no longer for the pleasures. + +[“The youth of friendship is better than its old age.”-- +Hazlitt's CHARACTERISTICS, 229.] + +431.--Nothing prevents our being unaffected so +much as our desire to seem so. + +432.--To praise good actions heartily is in some +measure to take part in them. + +433.--The most certain sign of being born with +great qualities is to be born without envy. + +[“Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae.” +-Cicero IN MARC ANT.] + +434.--When our friends have deceived us we owe +them but indifference to the tokens of their friend- +ship, yet for their misfortunes we always owe them +pity. + +435.--Luck and temper rule the world. + +436.--It is far easier to know men than to know +man. + +437.--We should not judge of a man's merit by his +great abilities, but by the use he makes of them. + +438.--There is a certain lively gratitude which not +only releases us from benefits received, but which also, +by making a return to our friends as payment, renders +them indebted to us. + +[“And understood not that a grateful mind, + By owing owes not, but is at once + Indebted and discharged.” + Milton. PARADISE LOST.] + +439.--We should earnestly desire but few things if +we clearly knew what we desired. + +440.--The cause why the majority of women are so +little given to friendship is, that it is insipid after +having felt love. + +[“Those who have experienced a great passion neglect +friendship, and those who have united themselves to friend- +ship have nought to do with love.”--La Bruyère. DU COEUR.] + +441.--As in friendship so in love, we are often hap- +pier from ignorance than from knowledge. + +442.--We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth +to correct. + +443.--The most violent passions give some respite, +but vanity always disturbs us. + +444.--Old fools are more foolish than young fools. + +[“MALVOLIO. Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} +make the better fool. + CLOWN. God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} for the +better increasing of your folly.”--Shakespeare. TWELFTH +NIGHT{, Act I, Scene V}.] + +445.--Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice. + +446.--What makes the grief of shame and jealousy +so acute is that vanity cannot aid us in enduring them. + +447.--Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most +obeyed. + +[Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is +bound to conform....Those things which honour +forbids are more rigorously forbidden when the laws do +not concur in the prohibition, and those it commands are +more strongly insisted upon when they happen not to be +commanded by law.--Montesquieu, {THE SPIRIT OF LAWS, }b. 4, +c. ii.] + +448.--A well-trained mind has less difficulty in sub- +mitting to than in guiding an ill-trained mind. + +449.--When fortune surprises us by giving us some +great office without having gradually led us to expect +it, or without having raised our hopes, it is well nigh +impossible to occupy it well, and to appear worthy +to fill it. + +450.--Our pride is often increased by what we +retrench from our other faults. + +[“The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and com- +pensated by spiritual pride.”--Gibbon. DECLINE AND FALL, +chap. xv.] + +451.--No fools so wearisome as those who have some +wit. + +452.--No one believes that in every respect he is +behind the man he considers the ablest in the world. + +453.--In great matters we should not try so much +to create opportunities as to utilise those that offer +themselves. + +[Yet Lord Bacon says “A wise man will make more +opportunities than he finds.”--Essays, {(1625), +“Of Ceremonies and Respects”}] + +454.--There are few occasions when we should make +a bad bargain by giving up the good on condition that +no ill was said of us. + +455.--However disposed the world may be to judge +wrongly, it far oftener favours false merit than does +justice to true. + +456.--Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one +with discretion. + +457.--We should gain more by letting the world see +what we are than by trying to seem what we are not. + +458.--Our enemies come nearer the truth in the +opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of +ourselves. + +459.--There are many remedies to cure love, yet +none are infallible. + +460.--It would be well for us if we knew all our +passions make us do. + +461.--Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of +life all the pleasures of youth. + +462.--The same pride which makes us blame faults +from which we believe ourselves free causes us to +despise the good qualities we have not. + +463.--There is often more pride than goodness in +our grief for our enemies' miseries; it is to show how +superior we are to them, that we bestow on them the +sign of our compassion. + +464.--There exists an excess of good and evil which +surpasses our comprehension. + +465.--Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the +same protection as crime. + +466.--Of all the violent passions the one that +becomes a woman best is love. + +467.--Vanity makes us sin more against our taste +than reason. + +468.--Some bad qualities form great talents. + +469.--We never desire earnestly what we desire in +reason. + +470.--All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, +both the good as well as the bad, and nearly all are +creatures of opportunities. + +471.--In their first passion women love their lovers, +in all the others they love love. + +[“In her first passion woman loves her lover, + In all her others what she loves is love.” + {--Lord Byron, }Don Juan, Canto iii., stanza 3. +“We truly love once, the first time; the subsequent pas- +sions are more or less involuntary.” La Bruyère: DU COEUR.] + +472.--Pride as the other passions has its follies. We +are ashamed to own we are jealous, and yet we plume +ourselves in having been and being able to be so. + +473.--However rare true love is, true friendship is +rarer. + +[“It is more common to see perfect love than real friend- +ship.”--La Bruyère. DU COEUR.] + +474.--There are few women whose charm survives +their beauty. + +475.--The desire to be pitied or to be admired often +forms the greater part of our confidence. + +476.--Our envy always lasts longer than the happi- +ness of those we envy. + +477.--The same firmness that enables us to resist +love enables us to make our resistance durable and +lasting. So weak persons who are always excited by +passions are seldom really possessed of any. + +478.--Fancy does not enable us to invent so many +different contradictions as there are by nature in every +heart. + +479.--It is only people who possess firmness who +can possess true gentleness. In those who appear +gentle it is generally only weakness, which is readily +converted into harshness. + +480.--Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to +blame in those we desire to cure of it. + +481.--Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those +who think they have it are generally only pliant or weak. + +482.--The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit +to whatever is easy or pleasant. This habit always places +bounds to our knowledge, and no one has ever yet +taken the pains to enlarge and expand his mind to +the full extent of its capacities. + +483.--Usually we are more satirical from vanity +than malice. + +484.--When the heart is still disturbed by the relics +of a passion it is proner to take up a new one than +when wholly cured. + +485.--Those who have had great passions often find +all their lives made miserable in being cured of them. + +486.--More persons exist without self-love than +without envy. + +[“I do not believe that there is a human creature in his +senses arrived at maturity, that at some time or other has +not been carried away by this passion (envy) in good +earnest, and yet I never met with any who dared own he +was guilty of it, but in jest.”--Mandeville: FABLE OF THE +BEES; Remark N.] + +487.--We have more idleness in the mind than in +the body. + +488.--The calm or disturbance of our mind does +not depend so much on what we regard as the more +important things of life, as in a judicious or injudicious +arrangement of the little things of daily occurrence. + +489.--However wicked men may be, they do not +dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when +they desire to persecute her they either pretend to +believe her false or attribute crimes to her. + +490.--We often go from love to ambition, but we +never return from ambition to love. + +[“Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do +not find a quieter seat while they remain there.”--La +Bruyère: DU COEUR.] + +491.--Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, +there is no passion which is oftener further away from +its mark, nor upon which the present has so much +power to the prejudice of the future. + +492.--Avarice often produces opposite results: there +are an infinite number of persons who sacrifice their +property to doubtful and distant expectations, others +mistake great future advantages for small present +interests. + +[AIMÉ MARTIN says, “The author here confuses greedi- +ness, the desire and avarice--passions which probably have +a common origin, but produce different results. The +greedy man is nearly always desirous to possess, and often +foregoes great future advantages for small present interests. +The avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes present +advantages for the great expectations of the future. Both +desire to possess and enjoy. But the miser possesses and +enjoys nothing but the pleasure of possessing; he risks +nothing, gives nothing, hopes nothing, his life is centred +in his strong box, beyond that he has no want.”] + +493.--It appears that men do not find they have +enough faults, as they increase the number by certain +peculiar qualities that they affect to assume, and +which they cultivate with so great assiduity that at +length they become natural faults, which they can no +longer correct. + +494.--What makes us see that men know their +faults better than we imagine, is that they are never +wrong when they speak of their conduct; the same +self-love that usually blinds them enlightens them, +and gives them such true views as to make them +suppress or disguise the smallest thing that might be +censured. + +495.--Young men entering life should be either shy +or bold; a solemn and sedate manner usually de- +generates into impertinence. + +496.--Quarrels would not last long if the fault was +only on one side. + +497.--It is valueless to a woman to be young unless +pretty, or to be pretty unless young. + +498.--Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that +they are as far removed from real defects as from +substantial qualities. + +499.--We do not usually reckon a woman's first +flirtation until she has had a second. + +500.--Some people are so self-occupied that when +in love they find a mode by which to be engrossed +with the passion without being so with the person +they love. + +501.--Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more +by its ways than by itself. + +502.--A little wit with good sense bores less in the +long run than much wit with ill nature. + +503.--Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one +that is least pitied by those who cause it. + +504.--Thus having treated of the hollowness of so +many apparent virtues, it is but just to say something +on the hollowness of the contempt for death. I allude +to that contempt of death which the heathen boasted +they derived from their unaided understanding, with- +out the hope of a future state. There is a difference +between meeting death with courage and despising it. +The first is common enough, the last I think always +feigned. Yet everything that could be has been +written to persuade us that death is no evil, and the +weakest of men, equally with the bravest, have given +many noble examples on which to found such an +opinion, still I do not think that any man of good sense +has ever yet believed in it. And the pains we take to +persuade others as well as ourselves amply show that +the task is far from easy. For many reasons we may +be disgusted with life, but for none may we despise it. +Not even those who commit suicide regard it as a +light matter, and are as much alarmed and startled +as the rest of the world if death meets them in a dif- +ferent way than the one they have selected. The differ- +ence we observe in the courage of so great a number of +brave men, is from meeting death in a way different +from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer at +one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens +that having despised death when they were ignorant +of it, they dread it when they become acquainted with +it. If we could avoid seeing it with all its surround- +ings, we might perhaps believe that it was not the +greatest of evils. The wisest and bravest are those +who take the best means to avoid reflecting on it, as +every man who sees it in its real light regards it as +dreadful. The necessity of dying created all the con- +stancy of philosophers. They thought it but right to +go with a good grace when they could not avoid going, +and being unable to prolong their lives indefinitely, +nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, +and to save from the general wreck all that could be +saved. To put a good face upon it, let it suffice, not +to say all that we think to ourselves, but rely more +on our nature than on our fallible reason, which might +make us think we could approach death with indif- +ference. The glory of dying with courage, the hope +of being regretted, the desire to leave behind us a +good reputation, the assurance of being enfranchised +from the miseries of life and being no longer depend- +ent on the wiles of fortune, are resources which +should not be passed over. But we must not regard +them as infallible. They should affect us in the same +proportion as a single shelter affects those who in war +storm a fortress. At a distance they think it may +afford cover, but when near they find it only a feeble +protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to imagine +that death, when near, will seem the same as at +a distance, or that our feelings, which are merely +weaknesses, are naturally so strong that they will +not suffer in an attack of the rudest of trials. It +is equally as absurd to try the effect of self-esteem +and to think it will enable us to count as naught +what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in +which we trust to find so many resources will be far +too weak in the struggle to persuade us in the way we +wish. For it is this which betrays us so frequently, +and which, instead of filling us with contempt of death, +serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. +The most it can do for us is to persuade us to avert +our gaze and fix it on other objects. Cato and Brutus +each selected noble ones. A lackey sometime ago +contented himself by dancing on the scaffold when +he was about to be broken on the wheel. So however +diverse the motives they but realize the same result. +For the rest it is a fact that whatever difference there +may be between the peer and the peasant, we have +constantly seen both the one and the other meet death +with the same composure. Still there is always this +difference, that the contempt the peer shows for death +is but the love of fame which hides death from his +sight; in the peasant it is but the result of his limited +vision that hides from him the extent of the evil, end +leaves him free to reflect on other things. + + + +THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT + +[The following reflections are extracted from the first two +editions of La Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed +by the author in succeeding issues.] + + +I.--Self-love is the love OF self, and of all things +FOR self. It makes men self-worshippers, and if for- +tune permits them, causes them to tyrannize over +others; it is never quiet when out of itself, and only +rests upon other subjects as a bee upon flowers, to +extract from them its proper food. Nothing is so +headstrong as its desires, nothing so well concealed as +its designs, nothing so skilful as its management; its +suppleness is beyond description; its changes surpass +those of the metamorphoses, its refinements those of +chemistry. We can neither plumb the depths nor +pierce the shades of its recesses. Therein it is hidden +from the most far-seeing eyes, therein it takes a thou- +sand imperceptible folds. There it is often to itself +invisible; it there conceives, there nourishes and rears, +without being aware of it, numberless loves and +hatreds, some so monstrous that when they are brought +to light it disowns them, and cannot resolve to avow +them. In the night which covers it are born the +ridiculous persuasions it has of itself, thence come its +errors, its ignorance, its silly mistakes; thence it is +led to believe that its passions which sleep are dead, +and to think that it has lost all appetite for that of +which it is sated. But this thick darkness which con- +ceals it from itself does not hinder it from seeing that +perfectly which is out of itself; and in this it re- +sembles our eyes which behold all, and yet cannot set +their own forms. In fact, in great concerns and im- +portant matters when the violence of its desires sum- +mons all its attention, it sees, feels, hears, imagines, +suspects, penetrates, divines all: so that we might +think that each of its passions had a magic power +proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong as its +attachments, which, in sight of the extreme misfor- +tunes which threaten it, it vainly attempts to break. +Yet sometimes it effects that without trouble and +quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power +and in the course of years, whence we may fairly con- +clude that it is by itself that its desires are inflamed, +rather than by the beauty and merit of its objects, +that its own taste embellishes and heightens them; +that it is itself the game it pursues, and that it follows +eagerly when it runs after that upon which itself is +eager. It is made up of contraries. It is imperious and +obedient, sincere and false, piteous and cruel, timid +and bold. It has different desires according to the +diversity of temperaments, which turn and fix it some- +times upon riches, sometimes on pleasures. It changes +according to our age, our fortunes, and our hopes; +it is quite indifferent whether it has many or one, +because it can split itself into many portions, and +unite in one as it pleases. It is inconstant, and besides +the changes which arise from strange causes it has +an infinity born of itself, and of its own substance. +It is inconstant through inconstancy, of lightness, +love, novelty, lassitude and distaste. It is capricious, +and one sees it sometimes work with intense eager- +ness and with incredible labour to obtain things of +little use to it which are even hurtful, but which it +pursues because it wishes for them. It is silly, and +often throws its whole application on the utmost +frivolities. It finds all its pleasure in the dullest +matters, and places its pride in the most contemptible. +It is seen in all states of life, and in all conditions; it +lives everywhere and upon everything; it subsists on +nothing; it accommodates itself either to things or to +the want of them; it goes over to those who are at war +with it, enters into their designs, and, this is wonderful, +it, with them, hates even itself; it conspires for its own +loss, it works towards its own ruin--in fact, caring only +to exist, and providing that it may BE, it will be its own +enemy! We must therefore not be surprised if it is +sometimes united to the rudest austerity, and if it +enters so boldly into partnership to destroy her, +because when it is rooted out in one place it re-esta- +blishes itself in another. When it fancies that it +abandons its pleasure it merely changes or suspends +its enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full +flight, we find that it triumphs in its own defeat. +Here then is the picture of self-love whereof the whole +of our life is but one long agitation. The sea is its +living image; and in the flux and reflux of its con- +tinuous waves there is a faithful expression of the +stormy succession of its thoughts and of its eternal +motion. (Edition of 1665, No. 1.) + +II.--Passions are only the different degrees of the +heat or coldness of the blood. (1665, No. 13.) + +III.--Moderation in good fortune is but apprehen- +sion of the shame which follows upon haughtiness, or +a fear of losing what we have. (1665, No. 18.) + +IV.--Moderation is like temperance in eating; we +could eat more but we fear to make ourselves ill. +(1665, No. 21.) + +V.--Everybody finds that to abuse in another which +he finds worthy of abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.) + +VI.--Pride, as if tired of its artifices and its different +metamorphoses, after having solely filled the divers +parts of the comedy of life, exhibits itself with +its natural face, and is discovered by haughtiness; so +much so that we may truly say that haughtiness is but +the flash and open declaration of pride. (1665, No. 37.) + +VII.--One kind of happiness is to know exactly at +what point to be miserable. (1665, No. 53.) + +VIII.--When we do not find peace of mind (REPOS) +in ourselves it is useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, +No. 53.) + +IX.--One should be able to answer for one's fortune, +so as to be able to answer for what we shall do. (1665, +No. 70.) + +X.--Love is to the soul of him who loves, what the +soul is to the body which it animates. (1665, No. 77.) + +XI.--As one is never at liberty to love or to cease +from loving, the lover cannot with justice complain +of the inconstancy of his mistress, nor she of the +fickleness of her lover. (1665, No. 81.) + +XII.--Justice in those judges who are moderate +is but a love of their place. (1665, No. 89.) + +XIII.--When we are tired of loving we are quite +content if our mistress should become faithless, to loose +us from our fidelity. (1665, No. 85.) + +XIV.--The first impulse of joy which we feel at the +happiness of our friends arises neither from our +natural goodness nor from friendship; it is the result +of self-love, which flatters us with being lucky in +our own turn, or in reaping something from the good +fortune of our friends. (1665, No. 97.) + +XV.--In the adversity of our best friends we +always find something which is not wholly displeasing +to us. (1665, No. 99.) + +[This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated “Verses on his +own Death.” The four first are quoted opposite the title, +then follow these lines:-- + “This maxim more than all the rest, + Is thought too base for human breast; + In all distresses of our friends, + We first consult our private ends; + While nature kindly bent to ease us, + Points out some circumstance to please us.” + +See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; +“they who know the deception and wickedness of the +human heart will not be either romantic or blind enough to +deny what Rochefoucauld and Swift have affirmed as a +general truth.”] + +XVI.--How shall we hope that another person will +keep our secret if we do not keep it ourselves. (1665, +No. 100.) + +XVII.--As if it was not sufficient that self-love +should have the power to change itself, it has added +that of changing other objects, and this it does in a +very astonishing manner; for not only does it so well +disguise them that it is itself deceived, but it even +changes the state and nature of things. Thus, when +a female is adverse to us, and she turns her hate +and persecution against us, self-love pronounces +on her actions with all the severity of justice; +it exaggerates the faults till they are enormous, +and looks at her good qualities in so disadvan- +tageous a light that they become more displeasing than +her faults. If however the same female becomes +favourable to us, or certain of our interests reconcile +her to us, our sole self interest gives her back the +lustre which our hatred deprived her of. The bad +qualities become effaced, the good ones appear with +a redoubled advantage; we even summon all our +indulgence to justify the war she has made upon us. +Now although all passions prove this truth, that of +love exhibits it most clearly; for we may see a +lover moved with rage by the neglect or the infidelity +of her whom he loves, and meditating the utmost +vengeance that his passion can inspire. Nevertheless +as soon as the sight of his beloved has calmed the +fury of his movements, his passion holds that beauty +innocent; he only accuses himself, he condemns his +condemnations, and by the miraculous power of self- +love, he whitens the blackest actions of his mistress, +and takes from her all crime to lay it on himself. + +{No date or number is given for this maxim} + +XVIII.--There are none who press so heavily on +others as the lazy ones, when they have satisfied their +idleness, and wish to appear industrious. (1666, +No. 91.) + +XIX.--The blindness of men is the most dangerous +effect of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment +it, it deprives us of knowledge of remedies which can +solace our miseries and can cure our faults. (1665, +No. 102.) + +XX.--One has never less reason than when one +despairs of finding it in others. (1665, No. 103.) + +XXI.--Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not +diminished crimes by their precepts; they have only +used them in the building up of pride. (1665, No. 105.) + +XXII.--It is a proof of little friendship not to per- +ceive the growing coolness of that of our friends. +(1666, No. 97.) + +XXIII.--The most wise may be so in indifferent and +ordinary matters, but they are seldom so in their +most serious affairs. (1665, No. 132.) + +XXIV.--The most subtle folly grows out of the most +subtle wisdom. (1665, No. 134.) + +XXV.--Sobriety is the love of health, or an in- +capacity to eat much. (l665, No. 135.) + +XXVI.--We never forget things so well as when we +are tired of talking of them. (1665, No. 144.) + +XXVII.--The praise bestowed upon us is at least +useful in rooting us in the practice of virtue. (1665, +No. 155.) + +XXVIII.--Self-love takes care to prevent him whom +we flatter from being him who most flatters us. (1665, +No. 157.) + +XXIX.--Men only blame vice and praise virtue +from interest. (1665, No. 151.) + +XXX.--We make no difference in the kinds of anger, +although there is that which is light and almost inno- +cent, which arises from warmth of complexion, tem- +perament, and another very criminal, which is, to +speak properly, the fury of pride. (1665, No. 159.) + +XXXI.--Great souls are not those who have fewer +passions and more virtues than the common, but +those only who have greater designs. (1665, No. 161.) + +XXXII.--Kings do with men as with pieces of +money; they make them bear what value they will, +and one is forced to receive them according to their +currency value, and not at their true worth. (1665, +No. 165.) + +[See Burns{, FOR A' THAT AN A' THAT}-- + “The rank is but the guinea's stamp, + {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that.” +Also Farquhar and other parallel passages pointed out in +FAMILIAR WORDS.] + +XXXIII.--Natural ferocity makes fewer people +cruel than self-love. (1665, No. 174.) + +XXXIV.--One may say of all our virtues as an +Italian poet says of the propriety of women, that it +is often merely the art of appearing chaste. (1665, +No. 176.) + +XXXV.--There are crimes which become innocent +and even glorious by their brilliancy,* their number, or +their excess; thus it happens that public robbery is +called financial skill, and the unjust capture of pro- +vinces is called a conquest. (1665, No. 192.) + +*<Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such +as those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte +Corday--further than this the maxim is satire.> + +XXXVI.--One never finds in man good or evil in +excess. (1665, No. 201.) + +XXXVII.--Those who are incapable of committing +great crimes do not easily suspect others. (1665, +No. {2}08.) + +{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It +is 208.} + +XXXVIII.--The pomp of funerals concerns rather +the vanity of the living, than the honour of the +dead. (1665, No. 213.) + +XXXIX.--Whatever variety and change appears in +the world, we may remark a secret chain, and a regu- +lated order of all time by Providence, which makes +everything follow in due rank and fall into its de- +stined course. (1665, No. 225.) + +XL.--Intrepidity should sustain the heart in con- +spiracies in place of valour which alone furnishes all +the firmness which is necessary for the perils of war. +(1665, No. 231.) + +XLI.--Those who wish to define victory by her birth +will be tempted to imitate the poets, and to call her +the Daughter of Heaven, since they cannot find her +origin on earth. Truly she is produced from an +infinity of actions, which instead of wishing to beget +her, only look to the particular interests of their +masters, since all those who compose an army, in +aiming at their own rise and glory, produce a good +so great and general. (1665, No. 232.) + +XLII.--That man who has never been in danger +cannot answer for his courage. (1665, No. 236.) + +XLIII.--We more often place bounds on our grati- +tude than on our desires and our hopes. (1665, No. +241.) + +XLIV.--Imitation is always unhappy, for all which +is counterfeit displeases by the very things which +charm us when they are original (NATURELLES). (1665, +No. 245.) + +XLV.--We do not regret the loss of our friends ac- +cording to THEIR merits, but according to OUR wants, +and the opinion with which we believed we had im- +pressed them of our worth. (1665, No. 248.) + +XLVI.--It is very hard to separate the general +goodness spread all over the world from great clever- +ness. (1665, No. 252.) + +XLVII.--For us to be always good, others should +believe that they cannot behave wickedly to us with +impunity. (1665, No. 254.) + +XLVIII.--A confidence in being able to please is +often an infallible means of being displeasing. (1665, +No. 256.) + +XLIX.--The confidence we have in ourselves arises +in a great measure from that that we have in others. +(1665, No. 258.) + +L.--There is a general revolution which changes +the tastes of the mind as well as the fortunes of the +world. (1665, No. 250.) + +LI.--Truth is foundation and the reason of the per- +fection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may +be, it cannot be beautiful and perfect unless it be +truly that she should be, and possess truly all that she +should have (1665, No. 260.) + +[Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{--John Keats, “Ode on a +a Grecian Urn,” (1820), Stanza 5}] + +LII.--There are fine things which are more bril- +liant when unfinished than when finished too much. +(1665, No. 262.) + +LIII.--Magnanimity is a noble effort of pride which +makes a man master of himself, to make him master +of all things. (1665, No. 271.) + +LIV.--Luxury and too refined a policy in states are +a sure presage of their fall, because all parties looking +after their own interest turn away from the public +good. (1665, No. 282.) + +LV.--Of all passions that which is least known to +us is idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, +although her violence may be insensible, and the evils +she causes concealed; if we consider her power +attentively we shall find that in all encounters she +makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our in- +terests, and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, +she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden rock, +more dangerous in the most important matters than +sudden squalls and the most violent tempests. The +repose of idleness is a magic charm which suddenly +suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most +obstinate resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of +this passion we must add that idleness, like a beati- +tude of the soul, consoles us for all losses and fills the +vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. 290.) + +LVI.--We are very fond of reading others' characters, +but we do not like to be read ourselves. (1665, No. 296.) + +LVII.--What a tiresome malady is that which forces +one to preserve your health by a severe regimen. +(IBID, No. 298.) + +LVIII.--It is much easier to take love when one is +free, than to get rid of it after having taken it. (1665, +No. 300.) + +LIX.--Women for the most part surrender them- +selves more from weakness than from passion. Whence +it is that bold and pushing men succeed better than +others, although they are not so loveable. (1665, No. +301.) + +LX.--Not to love is in love, an infallible means of +being beloved. (1665, No. 302.) + +LXI.--The sincerity which lovers and mistresses ask +that both should know when they cease to love each +other, arises much less from a wish to be warned of +the cessation of love, than from a desire to be assured +that they are beloved although no one denies it. +(1665, No. 303.) + +LXII.--The most just comparison of love is that of +a fever, and we have no power over either, as to its +violence or its duration. (1665, No. 305.) + +LXIII.--The greatest skill of the least skilful is to +know how to submit to the direction of another. +(1665, No. 309.) + +LXIV.--We always fear to see those whom we love +when we have been flirting with others. (16{74}, No. +372.) + +LXV.--We ought to console ourselves for our faults +when we have strength enough to own them. (16{74}, +No. 375.) + +{The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited +as 1665 in the text. I found this date immediately suspect +because the translators' introduction states that the 1665 +edition only had 316 maxims. In fact, the two maxims only +appeared in the fourth of the first five editions (1674).} + + + +SECOND SUPPLEMENT. + +REFLECTIONS, +EXTRACTED FROM +MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.* + +*<A LA BIBLIOTHEQUE DU ROI, it is difficult at present +(June 1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection +of books in Paris, the property of the nation.> + + +LXVI.--Interest is the soul of self-love, in as much +as when the body deprived of its soul is without sight, +feeling or knowledge, without thought or movement, +so self-love, riven so to speak from its interest, neither +sees, nor hears, nor smells, nor moves; thus it is that +the same man who will run over land and sea for his +own interest becomes suddenly paralyzed when en- +gaged for that of others; from this arises that sudden +dulness and, as it were, death, with which we afflict +those to whom we speak of our own matters; from this +also their sudden resurrection when in our narrative +we relate something concerning them; from this we +find in our conversations and business that a man +becomes dull or bright just as his own interest is near +to him or distant from him. (LETTER TO MADAME DE +SABLÉ, MS., FOL. 211.) + +LXVII.--Why we cry out so much against maxims +which lay bare the heart of man, is because we fear +that our own heart shall be laid bare. (MAXIM 103, +MS., fol. 310.*) + +*<The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the +Maxims previously given, sometimes the author has care- +fully polished them; at other times the words are identical. +Our numbers will indicate where they are to be found in +the foregoing collection.> + +LXVIII.--Hope and fear are inseparable. (TO +MADAME DE SABLÉ, MS., FOL. 222, MAX. 168.) + +LXIX.--It is a common thing to hazard life to escape +dishonour; but, when this is done, the actor takes +very little pain to make the enterprise succeed in +which he is engaged, and certain it is that they who +hazard their lives to take a city or to conquer a pro- +vince are better officers, have more merit, and wider +and more useful, views than they who merely expose +themselves to vindicate their honour; it is very com- +mon to find people of the latter class, very rare to +find those of the former. (LETTER TO M. ESPRIT, MS., +FOL. 173, MAX. 219.) + +LXX.--The taste changes, but the will remains the +same. (TO MADAME DE SABLÉ, FOL. 223, MAX. 252.) + +LXXI.--The power which women whom we love +have over us is greater than that which we have over +ourselves. (TO THE SAME, MS., FOL. 211, MAX. 259) + +LXXII.--That which makes us believe so easily that +others have defects is that we all so easily believe +what we wish. (TO THE SAME, MS., FOL. 223, MAX. 397.) + +LXXIII.--I am perfectly aware that good sense and +fine wit are tedious to every age, but tastes are not +always the same, and what is good at one time will +not seem so at another. This makes me think that +few persons know how to be old. (TO THE SAME, +FOL. 202, MAX. 423.) + +LXXIV.--God has permitted, to punish man for his +original sin, that he should be so fond of his self-love, +that he should be tormented by it in all the actions +of his life. (MS., FOL. 310, MAX. 494.) + +LXXV.--And so far it seems to me the philosophy +of a lacquey can go; I believe that all gaity in that state +of life is very doubtful indeed. (TO MADAME DE SABLÉ, +FOL. 161, MAX. 504.) + +[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman +about to be broken on the wheel danced on the scaffold. +He seems to think that in his day the life of such servants +was so miserable that their merriment was very doubtful.] + + + +THIRD SUPPLEMENT + +[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth +Edition of the PENSÉES DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, published +by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more than twelve years after +the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The reader +will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable +maxims.] + + +LXXVI.--Many persons wish to be devout; but +no one wishes to be humble. + +LXXVII.--The labour of the body frees us from +the pains of the mind, and thus makes the poor happy. + +LXXVIII.--True penitential sorrows (mortifica- +tions) are those which are not known, vanity renders +the others easy enough. + +LXXIX.--Humility is the altar upon which God +wishes that we should offer him his sacrifices. + +LXXX.--Few things are needed to make a wise man +happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why +most men are miserable. + +LXXXI.--We trouble ourselves less to become +happy, than to make others believe we are so. + +LXXXII.--It is more easy to extinguish the first +desire than to satisfy those which follow. + +LXXXIII.--Wisdom is to the soul what health is to +the body. + +LXXXIV.--The great ones of the earth can neither +command health of body nor repose of mind, and +they buy always at too dear a price the good they can +acquire. + +LXXXV.--Before strongly desiring anything we +should examine what happiness he has who possesses it. + +LXXXVI.--A true friend is the greatest of all +goods, and that of which we think least of acquiring. + +LXXXVII.--Lovers do not wish to see the faults of +their mistresses until their enchantment is at an end. + +LXXXVIII.--Prudence and love are not made for +each other; in the ratio that love increases, prudence +diminishes. + +LXXXIX.--It is sometimes pleasing to a husband +to have a jealous wife; he hears her always speaking +of the beloved object. + +XC.--How much is a woman to be pitied who is at +the same time possessed of virtue and love! + +XCI.--The wise man finds it better not to enter +the encounter than to conquer. + +[Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage-- + “Who quits {a} world where strong temptations try, + And since 'tis hard to co{mbat}, learns to fly.”] + +XCII.--It is more necessary to study men than +books. + +[“The proper study of mankind is man.”--Pope +{ESSAY ON MAN, (1733), EPISTLE II, line 2}.] + +XCIII.--Good and evil ordinarily come to those who +have most of one or the other. + +XCIV.--The accent and character of one's native +country dwells in the mind and heart as on the tongue. +(REPITITION OF MAXIM 342.) + +XCV.--The greater part of men have qualities +which, like those of plants, are discovered by chance. +(REPITITION OF MAXIM 344.) + +XCVI.--A good woman is a hidden treasure; he +who discovers her will do well not to boast about it. +(SEE MAXIM 368.) + +XCVII.--Most women do not weep for the loss +of a lover to show that they have been loved so much +as to show that they are worth being loved. (SEE +MAXIM 362.) + +XCVIII.--There are many virtuous women who +are weary of the part they have played. (SEE MAXIM +367.) + +XCIX.--If we think we love for love's sake we +are much mistaken. (SEE MAXIM 374.) + +C.--The restraint we lay upon ourselves to be con- +stant, is not much better than an inconstancy. (SEE +MAXIMS 369, 381.) + +CI.--There are those who avoid our jealousy, of +whom we ought to be jealous. (SEE MAXIM 359.) + +CII.--Jealousy is always born with love, but does +not always die with it. (SEE MAXIM 361.) + +CIII.--When we love too much it is difficult to +discover when we have ceased to be beloved. + +CIV.--We know very well that we should not talk +about our wives, but we do not remember that it is +not so well to speak of ourselves. (SEE MAXIM 364.) + +CV.--Chance makes us known to others and to our- +selves. (SEE MAXIM 345.) + +CVI.--We find very few people of good sense, ex- +cept those who are of our own opinion. (SEE MAXIM +347.) + +CVII.--We commonly praise the good hearts of +those who admire us. (SEE MAXIM 356.) + +CVIII.--Man only blames himself in order that he +may be praised. + +CIX.--Little minds are wounded by the smallest +things. (SEE MAXIM 357.) + +CX.--There are certain faults which placed in a good +light please more than perfection itself. (SEE MAXIM +354.) + +CXI.--That which makes us so bitter against those +who do us a shrewd turn, is because they think them- +selves more clever than we are. (SEE MAXIM 350.) + +CXII.--We are always bored by those whom we +bore. (SEE MAXIM 352.) + +CXIII.--The harm that others do us is often less +than that we do ourselves. (SEE MAXIM 363.) + +CXIV.--It is never more difficult to speak well +than when we are ashamed of being silent. + +CXV.--Those faults are always pardonable that we +have the courage to avow. + +CXVI.--The greatest fault of penetration is not +that it goes to the bottom of a matter--but beyond it. +(SEE MAXIM 377.) + +CXVII.--We give advice, but we cannot give the +wisdom to profit by it. (SEE MAXIM 378.) + +CXVIII.--When our merit declines, our taste de- +clines also. (SEE MAXIM 379.) + +CXIX.--Fortune discovers our vices and our vir- +tues, as the light makes objects plain to the sight. +(SEE MAXIM 380.) + +CXX.--Our actions are like rhymed verse-ends +(BOUTS-RIMÉS) which everyone turns as he pleases. (SEE +MAXIM 382.) + +CXXI.--There is nothing more natural, nor more +deceptive, than to believe that we are beloved. + +CXXII.--We would rather see those to whom we +have done a benefit, than those who have done us one. + +CXXIII.--It is more difficult to hide the opinions +we have than to feign those which we have not. + +CXXIV.--Renewed friendships require more care +than those that have never been broken. + +CXXV.--A man to whom no one is pleasing is +much more unhappy than one who pleases nobody. + + + +REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, +BY THE +DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD + + +I. On Confidence. + + +Though sincerity and confidence have many +points of resemblance, they have yet many +points of difference. + +Sincerity is an openness of heart, which +shows us what we are, a love of truth, a dis- +like to deception, a wish to compensate our faults and +to lessen them by the merit of confessing them. + +Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are +stricter, it requires more prudence and reticence, and +we are not always free to give it. It relates not only +to ourselves, since our interests are often mixed up +with those of others; it requires great delicacy not to +expose our friends in exposing ourselves, not to draw +upon their goodness to enhance the value of what we +give. + +Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It +is a tribute we pay to their merit, a deposit we commit +to their trust, a pledge which gives them a claim upon +us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily +submit. I do not wish from what I have said to +depreciate confidence, so necessary to man. It is +in society the link between acquaintance and +friendship. I only wish to state its limits to make +it true and real. I would that it was always sincere, +always discreet, and that it had neither weakness nor +interest. I know it is hard to place proper limits on +being taken into all our friends' confidence, and taking +them into all ours. + +Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a +love of talking, a wish to win the confidence of others, +and make an exchange of secrets. + +Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards +whom we have no motive for confiding. With them we +discharge the obligation in keeping their secrets and +trusting them with small confidences. + +Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to +us, but we confide in them by choice and inclina- +tion. + +We should hide from them nothing that concerns +us, we should always show them with equal truth, our +virtues and our vices, without exaggerating the one +or diminishing the other. We should make it a rule +never to have half confidences. They always embarrass +those who give them, and dissatisfy those who receive +them. They shed an uncertain light on what we want +hidden, increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to +know more, giving them leave to consider themselves +free to talk of what they have guessed. It is far +safer and more honest to tell nothing than to be +silent when we have begun to tell. There are other +rules to be observed in matters confided to us, all are +important, to all prudence and trust are essential. + +Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, +but everyone does not agree as to the nature and +importance of secresy. Too often we consult our- +selves as to what we should say, what we should leave +unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the +scruple against revealing them will not last for ever. + +With those friends whose truth we know we have +the closest intimacy. They have always spoken unre- +servedly to us, we should always do the same to them. +They know our habits and connexions, and see too +clearly not to perceive the slightest change. They +may have elsewhere learnt what we have promised not +to tell. It is not in our power to tell them what has +been entrusted to us, though it might tend to their +interest to know it. We feel as confident of them +as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the hard fate of +losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being +faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the +hardest test of fidelity, but it should not move an +honest man; it is then that he can sacrifice himself +to others. His first duty is to rigidly keep his trust +in its entirety. He should not only control and +guard his and his voice, but even his lighter +talk, so that nothing be seen in his conversation or +manner that could direct the curiosity of others towards +that which he wishes to conceal. + +We have often need of strength and prudence +wherewith to oppose the exigencies of most of our +friends who make a claim on our confidence, and +seek to know all about us. We should never allow +them to acquire this unexceptionable right. There +are accidents and circumstances which do not fall in +their cognizance; if they complain, we should endure +their complaints and excuse ourselves with gentleness, +but if they are still unreasonable, we should sacrifice +their friendship to our duty, and choose between two +inevitable evils, the one reparable, the other irre- +parable. + + +II. On Difference of Character. + + +Although all the qualities of mind may be united in +a great genius, yet there are some which are special +and peculiar to him; his views are unlimited; he +always acts uniformly and with the same activity; +he sees distant objects as if present; he compre- +hends and grasps the greatest, sees and notices the +smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, +just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, +and he often finds truth in spite of the obscurity that +hides her from others. + +A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates +vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in +their best light, clothes them with all appropriate +adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away +from its own thoughts all that is useless and dis- +agreeable. + +A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid +and overcome difficulties. Bending easily to what it +wants, it understands the inclination and temper it is +dealing with, and by managing their interests it +advances and establishes its own. + +A well regulated mind sees all things as they should +be seen, appraises them at their proper value, turns +them to its own advantage, and adheres firmly to its +own opinions as it knows all their force and weight. + +A difference exists between a working mind and a +business-like mind. We can undertake business with- +out turning it to our own interest. Some are clever +only in what does not concern them, and the reverse +in all that does. There are others again whose +cleverness is limited to their own business, and who +know how to turn everything to their own advantage. + +It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and +yet to talk pleasantly and cheerfully. This class of +mind is suited to all persons in all times of life. +Young persons have usually a cheerful and satirical +turn, untempered by seriousness, thus often making +themselves disagreeable. + +No part is easier to play than that of being always +pleasant; and the applause we sometimes receive in +censuring others is not worth being exposed to the +chance of offending them when they are out of +temper. + +Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dan- +gerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it +is refined, but we always fear those who use it too +much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed +with spite, and when the person satirised can join in +the satire. + +It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without +affecting to be pleased or without loving to jest. It +requires much adroitness to continue satirical with- +out falling into one of these extremes. + +Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession +of the imagination, and shows every object in an +absurd light; wit combines more or less softness or +harshness. + +There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that +only hits the faults that persons admit, which under- +stands how to hide the praise it gives under the ap- +pearance of blame, and shows the good while feigning +a wish to hide it. + +An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dis- +similar. The first always pleases; it is unfettered, it +perceives the most delicate and sees the most impercep- +tible matters. A cunning spirit never goes straight, it +endeavours to secure its object by byeways and short +cuts. This conduct is soon found out, it always gives +rise to distrust and never reaches greatness. + +There is a difference between an ardent and a +brilliant mind, a fiery spirit travels further and faster, +while a brilliant mind is sparkling, attractive, accu- +rate. + +Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating +manner which always pleases when not insipid. + +A mind full of details devotes itself to the manage- +ment and regulation of the smallest particulars it +meets with. This distinction is usually limited to +little matters, yet it is not absolutely incompatible +with greatness, and when these two qualities are +united in the same mind they raise it infinitely above +others. + +The expression “BEL ESPRIT” is much perverted, for +all that one can say of the different kinds of mind +meet together in the “BEL ESPRIT.” Yet as the epithet +is bestowed on an infinite number of bad poets and +tedious authors, it is more often used to ridicule than +to praise. + +There are yet many other epithets for the mind +which mean the same thing, the difference lies in the +tone and manner of saying them, but as tones and +manner cannot appear in writing I shall not go into +distinctions I cannot explain. Custom explains this +in saying that a man has wit, has much wit, that he +is a great wit; there are tones and manners which +make all the difference between phrases which seem +all alike on paper, and yet express a different order of +mind. + +So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that +he has several, that he has every variety of wit. + +One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not +be a fool even with very little wit. + +To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It +may mean every class of mind that can be mentioned, +it may mean none in particular. It may mean that +he talks sensibly while he acts foolishly. We may +have a mind, but a narrow one. A mind may be +fitted for some things, not for others. We may have +a large measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is +often inconvenienced with much mind; still of this +kind of mind we may say that it is sometimes pleasing +in society. + +Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, +it seems to me, be thus classified. + +There are some so beautiful that everyone can see +and feel their beauty. + +There are some lovely, it is true, but which are +wearisome. + +There are some which are lovely, which all the +world admire, but without knowing why. + +There are some so refined and delicate that few are +capable even of remarking all their beauties. + +There are others which, though imperfect, yet are +produced with such skill, and sustained and managed +with such sense and grace, that they even deserve to +be admired. + + +III. On Taste. + + +Some persons have more wit than taste, others have +more taste than wit. There is greater vanity and +caprice in taste than in wit. + +The word taste has different meanings, which it is +easy to mistake. There is a difference between the +taste which in certain objects has an attraction for +us, and the taste that makes us understand and +distinguish the qualities we judge by. + +We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently +fine and delicate taste to criticise it accurately. Some +tastes lead us imperceptibly to objects, from which +others carry us away by their force or intensity. + +Some persons have bad taste in everything, others +have bad taste only in some things, but a correct and +good taste in matters within their capacity. Some +have peculiar taste, which they know to be bad, but +which they still follow. Some have a doubtful taste, +and let chance decide, their indecision makes them +change, and they are affected with pleasure or weari- +ness on their friends' judgment. Others are always +prejudiced, they are the slaves of their tastes, which +they adhere to in everything. Some know what is +good, and are horrified at what is not; their opinions +are clear and true, and they find the reason for their +taste in their mind and understanding. + +Some have a species of instinct (the source of which +they are ignorant of), and decide all questions that +come before them by its aid, and always decide +rightly. + +These follow their taste more than their intelligence, +because they do not permit their temper and self-love +to prevail over their natural discernment. All they +do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. This +harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and +form a correct estimate of their value. But speaking +generally there are few who have a taste fixed and +independent of that of their friends, they follow +example and fashion which generally form the stand- +ard of taste. + +In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is +very rare and almost impossible to meet with that sort +of good taste that knows how to set a price on the +particular, and yet understands the right value that +should be placed on all. Our knowledge is too limited, +and that correct discernment of good qualities which +goes to form a correct judgment is too seldom to be +met with except in regard to matters that do not +concern us. + +As regards ourselves our taste has not this all- +important discernment. Preoccupation, trouble, all +that concern us, present it to us in another aspect. +We do not see with the same eyes what does and +what does not relate to us. Our taste is guided by +the bent of our self-love and temper, which supplies +us with new views which we adapt to an infinite +number of changes and uncertainties. Our taste is +no longer our own, we cease to control it, without our +consent it changes, and the same objects appear to us +in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to per- +ceive what we have seen and heard. + + +IV. On Society. + + +In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of +friendship, for, though they have some connection, +they are yet very different. The former has more +in it of greatness and humility, and the greatest +merit of the latter is to resemble the former. + +For the present I shall speak of that particular +kind of intercourse that gentlemen should have with +each other. It would be idle to show how far society +is essential to men: all seek for it, and all find it, but +few adopt the method of making it pleasant and +lasting. + +Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advan- +tage at the expense of others. We prefer ourselves +always to those with whom we intend to live, and +they almost always perceive the preference. It is +this which disturbs and destroys society. We should +discover a means to hide this love of selection since it +is too ingrained in us to be in our power to destroy. +We should make our pleasure that of other persons, to +humour, never to wound their self-love. + +The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, +but it is not merely sufficient for us to guide it in the +different courses it should hold. + +The agreement we meet between minds would not +keep society together for long if she was not governed +and sustained by good sense, temper, and by the con- +sideration which ought to exist between persons who +have to live together. + +It sometimes happens that persons opposite in tem- +per and mind become united. They doubtless hold +together for different reasons, which cannot last for +long. Society may subsist between those who are our +inferiors by birth or by personal qualities, but those +who have these advantages should not abuse them. +They should seldom let it be perceived that they +serve to instruct others. They should let their con- +duct show that they, too, have need to be guided and +led by reason, and accommodate themselves as far as +possible to the feeling and the interests of the others. + +To make society pleasant, it is essential that each +should retain his freedom of action. A man should +not see himself, or he should see himself without +dependence, and at the same time amuse himself. He +should have the power of separating himself without +that separation bringing any change on the society. +He should have the power to pass by one and the +other, if he does not wish to expose himself to occa- +sional embarrassments; and he should remember that +he is often bored when he believes he has not the +power even to bore. He should share in what he +believes to be the amusement of persons with whom +he wishes to live, but he should not always be liable +to the trouble of providing them. + +Complaisance is essential in society, but it should +have its limits, it becomes a slavery when it is extreme. +We should so render a free consent, that in following +the opinion of our friends they should believe that they +follow ours. + +We should readily excuse our friends when their +faults are born with them, and they are less than +their good qualities. We should often avoid to show +what they have said, and what they have left unsaid. +We should try to make them perceive their faults, so +as to give them the merit of correcting them. + +There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in +the intercourse among gentlemen, it makes them +comprehend badinage, and it keeps them from using +and employing certain figures of speech, too rude and +unrefined, which are often used thoughtlessly when +we hold to our opinion with too much warmth. + +The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without +a certain kind of confidence; this should be equal on +both sides. Each should have an appearance of +sincerity and of discretion which never causes the +fear of anything imprudent being said. + +There should be some variety in wit. Those who +have only one kind of wit cannot please for long +unless they can take different roads, and not both use +the same talents, thus adding to the pleasure of +society, and keeping the same harmony that different +voices and different instruments should observe in +music; and as it is detrimental to the quiet of society, +that many persons should have the same interests, +it is yet as necessary for it that their interests should +not be different. + +We should anticipate what can please our friends, +find out how to be useful to them so as to exempt them +from annoyance, and when we cannot avert evils, +seem to participate in them, insensibly obliterate +without attempting to destroy them at a blow, and +place agreeable objects in their place, or at least such +as will interest them. We should talk of subjects +that concern them, but only so far as they like, and +we should take great care where we draw the line. +There is a species of politeness, and we may say a +similar species of humanity, which does not enter too +quickly into the recesses of the heart. It often takes +pains to allow us to see all that our friends know, +while they have still the advantage of not knowing +to the full when we have penetrated the depth of the +heart. + +Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once +gives them familiarity and furnishes them with an +infinite number of subjects on which to talk freely. + +Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense +fairly to appreciate many matters that are essential +to maintain society. We desire to turn away at a +certain point, but we do not want to be mixed up +in everything, and we fear to know all kinds of +truth. + +As we should stand at a certain distance to view +objects, so we should also stand at a distance to observe +society; each has its proper point of view from which +it should be regarded. It is quite right that it +should not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly +a man who in all matters allows himself to be seen as +he really is. + + +V. On Conversation. + + +The reason why so few persons are agreeable in con- +versation is that each thinks more of what he desires +to say, than of what the others say, and that we +make bad listeners when we want to speak. + +Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we +should give them the time they want, and let them say +even senseless things; never contradict or interrupt +them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind +and taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything +they say that deserves praise, and let them see we +praise more from our choice than from agreement +with them. + +To please others we should talk on subjects they +like and that interest them, avoid disputes upon in- +different matters, seldom ask questions, and never let +them see that we pretend to be better informed than +they are. + +We should talk in a more or less serious manner, +and upon more or less abstruse subjects, according to +the temper and understanding of the persons we talk +with, and readily give them the advantage of deciding +without obliging them to answer when they are not +anxious to talk. + +After having in this way fulfilled the duties of +politeness, we can speak our opinions to our listeners +when we find an opportunity without a sign of pre- +sumption or opinionatedness. Above all things we +should avoid often talking of ourselves and giving +ourselves as an example; nothing is more tiresome +than a man who quotes himself for everything. + +We cannot give too great study to find out the +manner and the capacity of those with whom we talk, +so as to join in the conversation of those who have +more than ourselves without hurting by this prefer- +ence the wishes or interests of others. + +Then we should modestly use all the modes above- +mentioned to show our thoughts to them, and make +them, if possible, believe that we take our ideas from +them. + +We should never say anything with an air of +authority, nor show any superiority of mind. We +should avoid far-fetched expressions, expressions hard +or forced, and never let the words be grander than +the matter. + +It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are +reasonable, but we should yield to reason, wherever +she appears and from whatever side she comes, she +alone should govern our opinions, we should follow +her without opposing the opinions of others, and +without seeming to ignore what they say. + +It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the +conversation, and to push a good argument too hard, +when we have found one. Civility often hides half its +understanding, and when it meets with an opinionated +man who defends the bad side, spares him the disgrace +of giving way. + +We are sure to displease when we speak too long +and too often of one subject, and when we try to turn +the conversation upon subjects that we think more +instructive than others, we should enter indifferently +upon every subject that is agreeable to others, stop- +ping where they wish, and avoiding all they do not +agree with. + +Every kind of conversation, however witty it may +be, is not equally fitted for all clever persons; we +should select what is to their taste and suitable to +their condition, their sex, their talents, and also choose +the time to say it. + +We should observe the place, the occasion, the +temper in which we find the person who listens to us, +for if there is much art in speaking to the purpose, +there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There +is an eloquent silence which serves to approve or to +condemn, there is a silence of discretion and of respect. +In a word, there is a tone, an air, a manner, which +renders everything in conversation agreeable or dis- +agreeable, refined or vulgar. + +But it is given to few persons to keep this secret +well. Those who lay down rules too often break +them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen +much, to speak little, and to say nothing that will ever +give ground for regret. + + +VI. Falsehood. + + +We are false in different ways. There are some +men who are false from wishing always to appear what +they are not. There are some who have better faith, +who are born false, who deceive themselves, and who +never see themselves as they really are; to some is +given a true understanding and a false taste, others +have a false understanding and some correctness in +taste; there are some who have not any falsity +either in taste or mind. These last are very rare, for +to speak generally, there is no one who has not some +falseness in some corner of his mind or his taste. + +What makes this falseness so universal, is that as +our qualities are uncertain and confused, so too, are +our tastes; we do not see things exactly as they are, +we value them more or less than they are worth, and +do not bring them into unison with ourselves in a +manner which suits them or suits our condition or +qualities. + +This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of +falsities in the taste and in the mind. Our self-love +is flattered by all that presents itself to us under the +guise of good. + +But as there are many kinds of good which affect +our vanity and our temper, so they are often followed +from custom or advantage. We follow because the +others follow, without considering that the same feeling +ought not to be equally embarrassing to all kinds of +persons, and that it should attach itself more or less +firmly, according as persons agree more or less with +those who follow them. + +We dread still more to show falseness in taste than +in mind. Gentleness should approve without preju- +dice what deserves to be approved, follow what +deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. +But there should be great distinction and great +accuracy. We should distinguish between what is +good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, +and always follow in reason the natural inclination +which carries us towards matters that please us. + +If men only wished to excel by the help of their +own talents, and in following their duty, there would +be nothing false in their taste or in their conduct. +They would show what they were, they would judge +matters by their lights, and they would attract by their +reason. There would be a discernment in their views, +in their sentiments, their taste would be true, it would +come to them direct, and not from others, they would +follow from choice and not from habit or chance. If +we are false in admiring what should not be admired, +it is oftener from envy that we affix a value to +qualities which are good in themselves, but which do +not become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters +himself he is brave, and that he will be able to be bold +in certain cases. He should be as firm and stedfast +in a plot which ought to be stifled without fear of +being false, as he would be false and absurd in fighting +a duel about it. + +A woman may like science, but all sciences are not +suitable for her, and the doctrines of certain sciences +never become her, and when applied by her are always +false. + +We should allow reason and good sense to fix the +value of things, they should determine our taste +and give things the merit they deserve, and the im- +portance it is fitting we should give them. But +nearly all men are deceived in the price and in the +value, and in these mistakes there is always a kind of +falseness. + + +VII. On Air and Manner. + + +There is an air which belongs to the figure and +talents of each individual; we always lose it when +we abandon it to assume another. + +We should try to find out what air is natural to us +and never abandon it, but make it as perfect as we can. +This is the reason that the majority of children please. +It is because they are wrapt up in the air and manner +nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. +They are changed and corrupted when they quit +infancy, they think they should imitate what they +see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. In +this imitation there is always something of falsity and +uncertainty. They have nothing settled in their man- +ner and opinions. Instead of being in reality what +they want to appear, they seek to appear what they +are not. + +All men want to be different, and to be greater than +they are; they seek for an air other than their own, +and a mind different from what they possess; they +take their style and manner at chance. They make +experiments upon themselves without considering +that what suits one person will not suit everyone, +that there is no universal rule for taste or manners, +and that there are no good copies. + +Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many +matters without being a copy of each other, if each +follow his natural turn of mind. But in general a +person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. +We often imitate the same person without perceiving +it, and we neglect our own good qualities for the good +qualities of others, which generally do not suit us. + +I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should +so wrap himself up in himself as not to be able +to follow example, or to add to his own, useful and +serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. +Arts and sciences may be proper for the greater part +of those who are capable for them. Good manners and +politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet +acquired qualities should always have a certain agree- +ment and a certain union with our own natural +qualities, which they imperceptibly extend and in- +crease. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above +ourselves. We are often engaged in a new profession +for which nature has not adapted us. All these con- +ditions have each an air which belong to them, but +which does not always agree with our natural manner. +This change of our fortune often changes our air and +our manners, and augments the air of dignity, which +is always false when it is too marked, and when it is +not united and amalgamated with that which nature +has given us. We should unite and blend them to- +gether, and thus render them such that they can +never be separated. + +We should not speak of all subjects in one +tone and in the same manner. We do not march +at the head of a regiment as we walk on a pro- +menade; and we should use the same style in which +we should naturally speak of different things in the +same way, with the same difference as we should walk, +but always naturally, and as is suitable, either at +the head of a regiment or on a promenade. There +are some who are not content to abandon the air and +manner natural to them to assume those of the rank +and dignities to which they have arrived. There are +some who assume prematurely the air of the dignities +and rank to which they aspire. How many lieutenant- +generals assume to be marshals of France, how many +barristers vainly repeat the style of the Chancellor +and how many female citizens give themselves the +airs of duchesses. + +But what we are most often vexed at is that no one +knows how to conform his air and manners with his +appearance, nor his style and words with his thoughts +and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how +far he is insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly +every one falls into this fault in some way. No one +has an ear sufficiently fine to mark perfectly this kind +of cadence. + +Thousands of people with good qualities are dis- +pleasing; thousands pleasing with far less abilities, +and why? Because the first wish to appear to be what +they are not, the second are what they appear. + +Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we +have received from nature please in proportion as +we know the air, the style, the manner, the senti- +ments that coincide with our condition and our +appearance, and displease in the proportion they are +removed from that point. + + + +INDEX + +THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, +THE ROMAN NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS. + + +Ability, 162, 165, 199, 245, 283, 288. SEE Cleverness +-------, Sovereign, 244. +Absence, 276. +Accent, country, 342, XCIV. +Accidents, 59, 310. +Acquaintances, 426. SEE FRIENDS. +Acknowledgements, 225. +Actions, 1, 7, 57, 58, 160, 161, 382, 409, CXX. +Actors, 256. +Admiration, 178, 294, 474. +Adroitness of mind, R.2. +Adversity, 25. +--------- of Friends, XV. +Advice, 110, 116, 283, 378, CXVII. +Affairs, 453, R 2. +Affectation, 134, 493. +Affections, 232. +Afflictions, 233, 355, 362, 493, XCVII, XV. +Age, 222, 405, LXXIII. SEE Old Age. +Agreeableness, 255, R.5. +Agreement, 240. +Air, 399, 495, R.7. +--- Of a Citizen, 393. +Ambition, 24, 91, 246, 293, 490. +Anger, XXX. +Application, 41, 243. +Appearances, 64, 166, 199, 256, 302, 431, 457, R.7. +-----------, Conformity of Manners with, R.7. +Applause, 272. +Approbation, 51, 280. +Artifices, 117, 124, 125, 126, R.2. +Astonishment, 384. +Avarice, 167, 491, 492. + +Ballads, 211. +Beauty, 240, 474, 497, LI. +------ of the Mind, R.2. +Bel esprit defined, R.2. +Benefits, 14, 298, 299, 301, CXXII. +Benefactors, 96, 317, CXXII. +Blame, CVIII. +Blindness, XIX. +Boasting, 141, 307. +Boredom, 141, 304, 352. SEE Ennui. +Bouts rimés, 382, CXX. +Bravery, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 365, + 504. SEE Courage and Valour. +Brilliancy of Mind, R.2. +Brilliant things, LII. + +Capacity, 375. +Caprice, 45. +Chance, 57, 344, XCV. SEE Fortune. +Character, LVI, R.2. +Chastity, 1. SEE Virtue of Women. +Cheating, 114, 127. +Circumstances, 59, 470. +Civility, 260. +Clemency, 15, 16. +Cleverness, 162, 269, 245, 399. +Coarseness, 372. +Comedy, 211, R.3. +Compassion, 463. SEE Pity. +Complaisance, 481, R.4. +Conduct, 163, 227, 378, CXVII. +Confidants, whom we make, R.1. +Confidence, 239, 365, 475, XLIX, R.1, R.4. +Confidence, difference from Sincerity +----------, defined, R.1. +Consolation, 325. +Constancy, 19, 20, 21, 175, 176, 420. +Contempt, 322. +-------- of Death, 504. +Contentment, LXXX. +Contradictions, 478. +Conversation, 139, 140, 142, 312, 313, 314, 364, 391, + 421, CIV, R.5. +Copies, 133. +Coquetry, 241. SEE Flirtation. +Country Manner, 393. +------- Accent, 342. +Courage, 1, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221, XLII. SEE Bravery. +Covetousness, opposed to Reason, 469 +Cowardice, 215, 480. +Cowards, 370. +Crimes, 183, 465, XXXV, XXXVII. +Cunning, 126, 129, 394, 407. +Curiosity, 173. + +Danger, XLII. +Death, 21, 23, 26. +-----, Contempt of, 504. +Deceit, 86, 117, 118, 124, 127, 129, 395, 434. SEE ALSO + Self-Deceit. +Deception, CXXI. +Decency, 447. +Defects, 31, 90, 493, LXXII. SEE Faults. +Delicacy, 128, R.2. +Dependency, result of Confidence, R.1. +Designs, 160, 161. +Desires, 439, 469, LXXXII, LXXXV. +Despicable Persons, 322. +Detail, Mind given to, R.2. +Details, 41, 106. +Devotion, 427. +Devotees, 427. +Devout, LXXVI. +Differences, 135. +Dignities, R.7. +Discretion, R.5. +Disguise, 119, 246, 282. +Disgrace, 235, 412. +Dishonour, 326, LXIX. +Distrust, 84, 86, 335. +Divination, 425. +Doubt, 348. +Docility, R.4. +Dupes, 87, 102. + +Education, 261. +Elevation, 399, 400, 403. +Eloquence, 8, 249, 250. +Employments, 164, 419, 449. +Enemies, 114, 397, 458, 463. +Ennui, 122, 141, 304, 312, 352, CXII, R.2. +Envy, 27, 28, 280, 281, 328, 376, 433, 476, 486. +Epithets assigned to the Mind, R.2. +Esteem, 296. +Establish, 56, 280. +Evils, 121, 197, 269, 454, 464, XCIII. +Example, 230. +Exchange of secrets, R.1. +Experience, 405. +Expedients, 287. +Expression, refined, R.5. + +Faculties of the Mind, 174. +Failings, 397, 403. +Falseness, R.6. +---------, disguised, 282. +---------, kinds of, R.6. +Familiarity, R,4. +Fame, 157. +Farces, men compared to, 211. +Faults, 37, 112, 155, 184, 190, 194, 196, 251, 354, 365, + 372, 397, 403, 411, 428, 493, 494, V, LXV, CX, + CXV. +Favourites, 55. +Fear, 370, LXVIII. +Feeling, 255. +Ferocity, XXXIII. +Fickleness, 179, 181, 498. +Fidelity, 247. +--------, hardest test of, R.1. +-------- in love, 331, 381, C. +Figure and air, R.7. +Firmness, 19, 479. +Flattery, 123, 144, 152, 198, 320, 329. +Flirts, 406, 418. +Flirtation, 107, 241, 277, 332, 334, 349, 376, LXIV. +Follies, 156, 300, 408, 416. +Folly, 207, 208, 209, 210, 231, 300, 310, 311, 318, + XXIV. +Fools, 140, 210, 309, 318, 357, 414, 451, 456, +-----, old, 444. +-----, witty, 451, 456. +Force of Mind, 30, 42, +, 237. +Forgetfulness, XXVI. +Forgiveness, 330. +Fortitude, 19. SEE Bravery. +Fortune, 1, 17, 45, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, 154, 212, 227, 323, + 343, 380, 391, 392, 399, 403, 435, 449, IX., CXIX. +Friends, 84, 114, 179, 235, 279, 315, 319, 428. +-------, adversity of, XV. +-------, disgrace of, 235. +-------, faults of, 428. +-------, true ones, LXXXVI. +Friendship, 80, 81, 83, 376, 410, 427, 440, 441, 473, + XXII, CXXIV. +----------, defined, 83. +----------, women do not care for, 440. +----------, rarer than love, 473. +Funerals, XXXVIII. + +Gallantry, 100. SEE Flirtation. +--------- of mind, 100. +Generosity, 246. +Genius, R.2. +Gentleness, R.6. +Ghosts, 76. +Gifts of the mind, R.2. +Glory, 157, 198, 221, 268. +Good, 121, 185, 229, 238, 303, XCIII. +----, how to be, XLVII. +Goodness, 237, 275, 284, XLVI. +Good grace, 67, R.7. +Good man, who is a, 206. +God nature, 481. +Good qualities, 29, 90, 337, 365, 397, 462. +Good sense, 67, 347, CVI. +Good taste, 258. +----------, rarity of, R.3. +----, women, 368, XCVI. +Government of others, 151. +Grace, 67. +Gracefulness, 240. +Gratitude, 223, 224, 225, 279, 298, 438, XLIII. +Gravity, 257. +Great men, what they cannot acquire, LXXXIV. +Great minds, 142. +Great names, 94. +Greediness, 66. + +Habit, 426. +Happy, who are, 49. +Happiness, 48, 61, VII, LXXX, LXXXI. +hatred, 338. +Head, 102, 108. +Health, 188, LVII. +Heart, 98, 102, 103, 108, 478, 484. +Heroes, 24, 53, 185. +Honesty, 202, 206. +Honour, 270. +Hope, 168, LXVIII. +Humility, 254, 358, LXXVI, LXXIX +Humiliation, 272. +Humour, 47. SEE Temper. +Hypocrisy, 218. +--------- of afflictions, 233. + +Idleness, 169, 266, 267, 398, 482, 487, XVIII., LV. +Ills, 174. SEE Evils. +Illusions, 123. +Imagination, 478. +Imitation, 230, XLIV, R.5. +Impertinence, 502. +Impossibilities, 30. +Incapacity, 126. +Inclination, 253, 390. +Inconsistency, 135. +Inconstancy, 181. +Inconvenience, 242. +Indifference, 172, XXIII. +Indiscretion, 429. +Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness. +Infidelity, 359, 360, 381, 429. +Ingratitude, 96, 226, 306, 317. +Injuries, 14. +Injustice, 78. +Innocence, 465. +Instinct, 123. +Integrity, 170. +Interest, 39, 40, 66, 85, 172, 187, 232, 253, 305, 390. +Interests, 66. +Intrepidity, 217, XL. +Intrigue, 73. +Invention, 287. + +Jealousy, 28, 32, 324, 336, 359, 361, 446, 503, CII. +Joy, XIV. +Judges, 268. +Judgment, 89, 97, 248. +-------- of the World, 212, 455. +Justice, 78, 458, XII. + +Kindness, 14, 85. +Knowledge, 106. + +Labour of Body, effect of, LXXVII. +Laments, 355. +Laziness, 367. SEE Idleness. +Leader, 43. +Levity, 179, 181. +Liberality, 167, 263. +Liberty in Society, R.4. +Limits to Confidence, R.1. +Little Minds, 142. +Love, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 136, 259, 262, + 274, 286, 296, 321, 335, 336, 348, 349, 351, 353, + 361, 371, 374, 385, 395, 396, 402, 417, 418, 422, + 430, 440, 441, 459, 466, 471, 473, 499, 500, 501, + x, XI, XIII, LVIII, LX, LXII, LXXXVIII, + XCIX, CIII, CXXI. +---- defined, 68. +----, Coldness in, LX. +----, Effect of absence on, 276. +---- akin to Hate, 111. +---- of Women, 466, 471, 499. +----, Novelty in, 274. +----, Infidelity in, LXIV. +----, Old age of, 430. +----, Cure for, 417, 459. +Loss of Friends, XLV. +Lovers, 312, 362, LXXXVII, XCVII. +Lunatic, 353. +Luxury, LIV. +Lying, 63. + +Madmen, 353, 414. +Malady, LVII. +Magistrates, R.6. +Magnanimity, 248, LIII. +----------- defined, 285. +Malice, 483. +Manners, R.7. +Mankind, 436, XXXVI. +Marriages, 113. +Maxims, LXVII. +Mediocrity, 375. +Memory, 89, 313. +Men easier to know than Man, 436. +Merit, 50, 92, 95, 153, 156, 165, 166, 273, 291, 379, + 401, 437, 455, CXVIII. +Mind, 101, 103, 265, 357, 448, 482, CIX. +Mind, Capacities of, R.2. +Miserable, 49. +Misfortunes, 19, 24, 174, 325. +----------- of Friends. XV. +----------- of Enemies, 463. +Mistaken people, 386. +Mistrust, 86. +Mockery, R.2. +Moderation, 17, 18, 293, 308, III, IV. +Money, Man compared to, XXXII. +Motives, 409. + +Names, Great, 94. +Natural goodness, 275. +Natural, to be, 431. +-------, always pleasing, R.7. +Nature, 53, 153, 189, 365, 404. +Negotiations, 278. +Novelty in study, 178. +------- in love, 274. +------- in friendship, 426. + +Obligations, 299, 317, 438. SEE Benefits and Gratitude. +Obstinacy, 234, 424. +--------- its cause, 265. +Occasions. SEE Opportunities. +Old Age, 109, 210, 418, 423, 430, 461. +Old Men, 93. +Openness of heart, R.1. +Opinions, 13, 234, CXXIII, R.5. +Opinionatedness, R.5. +Opportunities, 345, 453, CV. + +Passions, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122, 188, 266, 276, 404, + 422, 443, 460, 471, 477, 484, 485, 486, 500, II. +Peace of Mind, VIII. +Penetration, 377, 425, CXVI. +Perfection, R.2. +Perseverance, 177. +Perspective, 104. +Persuasion, 8. +Philosophers, 46, 54, 504, XXI. +Philosophy, 22. +---------- of a Footman, 504, LXXV. +Pity, 264. +Pleasing, 413, CXXV. +--------, Mode of, XLVIII, R.5. +--------, Mind a, R.2. +Point of view, R.4. +Politeness, 372, R.5. +Politeness of Mind, 99. +Praise, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 272, 356, + 432, XXVII, CVII. +Preoccupation, 92, R.3. +Pride, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 228, 234, 239, 254, 267, 281, + 450, 462, 463, 472, VI, XIX. +Princes, 15, 320. +Proceedings, 170. +Productions of the Mind, R.2. +Professions, 256. +Promises, 38. +Proportion, R.6. +Propriety, 447. +--------- in Women, XXXIV. +Prosperity, 25. +Providence, XXXIX. +Prudence, 65, LXXXVIII, R.1. + +Qualities, 29, 162, 397, 470, 498, R.6, R.7. +---------, Bad, 468. +---------, Good, 88, 337, 462. +---------, Great, 159, 433. +---------, of Mind, classified, R.20. +Quarrels, 496, +Quoting oneself, R.5. + +Raillery, R.2, R.4. +Rank, 401. +Reason, 42, 105, 325, 365, 467, 469, XX, R.6. +Recollection in Memory{, 313}. +Reconciliation, 82. +Refinement, R.2. +Regret, 355. +Relapses, 193. +Remedies, 288. +-------- for love 459. +Remonstrances, 37. +Repentance, 180. +Repose, 268. +Reproaches, 148. +Reputation, 268, 412. +Resolution, L. +Revenge, 14. +Riches, 54. +Ridicule, 133, 134, 326, 418, 422. +Rules for Conversation, R.5. +Rusticity, 393. + +Satire, 483, R.2, R.4. +Sciences, R.6. +Secrets, XVI, R.1. +-------, How they should be kept, R.1. +Self-deceit, 115, 452. +Self-love, 2, 3, 4, 228, 236, 247, 261, 262, 339, 494, 500, + I, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, LXVI, LXXIV. +--------- in love, 262. +Self-satisfaction, 51. +Sensibility, 275. +Sensible People, 347, CVI. +Sentiment, 255, R.6. +Severity of Women, 204, 333. +Shame, 213, 220. +Silence, 79, 137, 138, CXIV. +Silliness. SEE Folly. +Simplicity, 289. +Sincerity, 62, 316, 366, 383, 457. +---------, Difference between it and Confidence, R.1. +---------, defined, R.1. +--------- of Lovers, LXI. +Skill, LXIV. +Sobriety, XXV. +Society, 87, 201, R.4. +-------, Distinction between it and Friendship, R.IV. +Soul, 80, 188, 194. +Souls, Great, XXXI. +Sorrows, LXXVIII. +Stages of Life, 405. +Strength of mind, 19, 20, 21, 504. +Studies, why new ones are pleasing, 178. +-------, what to study, XCII. +Subtilty, 128. +Sun, 26. + +Talents, 468. +-------, latent, 344, XCV. +Talkativeness, 314. +Taste, 13, 109, 252, 390, 467, CXX, R.3, R.6. +-----, good, 258, R.3. +-----, cause of diversities in, R.3. +-----, false, R.3. +Tears, 233, 373. +Temper, 47, 290, 292. +Temperament, 220, 222, 297, 346. +Times for speaking, R.5. +Timidity, 169, 480. +Titles, XXXII. +Tranquillity, 488. +Treachery, 120, 126. +Treason, 120. +Trickery, 86, 350, XCI. SEE Deceit. +Trifles, 41. +Truth, 64, LI. +Tyranny, R.1. + +Understanding, 89. +Untruth, 63. SEE Lying. +Unhappy, CXXV. + +Valour, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216. SEE Bravery and Courage. +Vanity, 137, 158, 200, 232, 388, 389, 443, 467, 483. +Variety of mind, R.4. +Vice, 182, 186, 187, 189, 191, 192, 195, 218, 253, 273, + 380, 442, 445, XXIX. +Violence, 363, 369, 466, CXIII. +Victory, XII. +Virtue, 1, 25, 169, 171, 182, 186, 187, 189, 200, 218, + 253, 380, 388, 442, 445, 489, XXIX. +Virtue of Women, 1, 220, 367, XCVIII. +Vivacity, 416. + +Weakness, 130, 445. +Wealth, Contempt of, 301. +Weariness. SEE Ennui. +Wicked people, 284. +Wife jealous sometimes desirable, LXXXIX. +Will, 30. +Wisdom, 132, 210, 231, 323, {4}44, LXXXIII. +Wise Man, who is a, 203, XCI. +Wishes, 295. +Wit, 199, 340, 413, 415, 421, 502. +Wives, 364, CIV. +Woman, 131, 204, 205, 220, 241, 277, 332, 333, 334, + 340, 346, 362, 367, 368, 418, 429, 440, 466, 471, + 474, LXX, XC. +Women, Severity of, 333. +-----, Virtue of, 205, 220, XC. +-----, Power of, LXXI. +Wonder, 384. +World, 201. +-----, Judgment of, 268. +-----, Approbation of, 201. +-----, Establishment in, 56. +-----, Praise and censure of, 454. + +Young men, 378, 495. +Youth, 271, 341. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reflections; Or Sentences +and Moral Maxims, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORAL MAXIMS *** + +This file should be named 8roch10.txt or 8roch10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8roch11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8roch10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8roch10.zip b/old/8roch10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..87509eb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8roch10.zip diff --git a/old/8roch10h.htm b/old/8roch10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..60e38c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8roch10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5741 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {background:#faebd7; margin:20%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {color:#A82C28} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +PRE {font-size:12pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<h2>Maxims of Duc De La Rochefoucauld</h2> + +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Reflections; Or Sentences and Moral Maxims +by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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They argue no corrupted mind In him; the fault is in +mankind."—Swift.</p> + +<p>"Les Maximes de la Rochefoucauld sont des proverbs des gens +d'esprit."—Montesquieu.</p> + +<p>"Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations."—Sir J. +Mackintosh.</p> + +<p>"Translators should not work alone; for good <i>Et Propria Verba</i> +do not always occur to one mind."—Luther's <i>Table Talk</i>, +iii.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<center> +<h1>Reflections;<br> +or Sentences and Moral Maxims</h1> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marsillac.</h2> +</center> + + +<br><br><br> +<center> +<h4>Translated from the Editions of 1678 and 1827 with +introduction, notes, and some account of the author and his +times.</h4> +<h4>By</h4> + +<h4>J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B and J. Hain Friswell</h4> + +<h4>Simpson Low, Son<a href="#"></a>, and Marston, 188, Fleet Street. 1871.</h4> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table summary="contents"> +<tr><td> +<h3> +<a href="#preface">Preface (translator's)</a><br> +<a href="#introduction">Introduction (translator's)</a><br> +<a href="#maxims">Reflections and Moral Maxims</a><br> +<a href="#sup1">First Supplement</a><br> +<a href="#sup2">Second Supplement</a><br> +<a href="#sup3">Third Supplement</a><br> +<a href="#reflect">Reflections on Various Subjects</a><br> +<a href="#index">Index</a><br> +</h3> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<h2><a name="preface">Preface.</a></h2> {Translators'}<br> + +<p>Some apology must be made for an attempt "to translate the +untranslatable." Notwithstanding there are no less than eight +English translations of La Rochefoucauld, hardly any are +readable, none are free from faults, and all fail more or less to +convey the author's meaning. Though so often translated, there is +not a complete English edition of the Maxims and Reflections. All +the translations are confined exclusively to the Maxims, none +include the Reflections. This may be accounted for, from the fact +that most of the translations are taken from the old editions of +the Maxims, in which the Reflections do not appear. Until M. +Suard devoted his attention to the text of Rochefoucauld, the +various editions were but reprints of the preceding ones, without +any regard to the alterations made by the author in the later +editions published during his life-time. So much was this the +case, that Maxims which had been rejected by Rochefoucauld in his +last edition, were still retained in the body of the work. To +give but one example, the celebrated Maxim as to the misfortunes +of our friends, was omitted in the last edition of the book, +published in Rochefoucauld's life-time, yet in every English +edition this Maxim appears in the body of the work.</p> + +<p>M. Aimé Martin in 1827 published an edition of the +Maxims and Reflections which has ever since been the standard +text of Rochefoucauld in France. The Maxims are printed from the +edition of 1678, the last published during the author's life, and +the last which received his corrections. To this edition were +added two Supplements; the first containing the Maxims which had +appeared in the editions of 1665, 1666, and 1675, and which were +afterwards omitted; the second, some additional Maxims found +among various of the author's manuscripts in the Royal Library at +Paris. And a Series of Reflections which had been previously +published in a work called "Receuil de pièces d'histoire +et de littérature." Paris, 1731. They were first +published with the Maxims in an edition by Gabriel Brotier.</p> + +<p>In an edition of Rochefoucauld entitled "Reflexions, ou +Sentences et Maximes Morales, augmentées de plus deux cent +nouvelles Maximes et Maximes et Pensées diverses suivant +les copies Imprimées à Paris, chez Claude Barbin, +et Matre Cramoisy 1692,"* some fifty Maxims were added, ascribed +by the editor to Rochefoucauld, and as his family allowed them to +be published under his name, it seems probable they were genuine. +These fifty form the third supplement to this book.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>*In all the French editions this book is spoken of as +published in 1693. The only copy I have seen is in the Cambridge +University Library, 47, 16, 81, and is called "Reflexions +Morales."</p></blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>The apology for the present edition of Rochefoucauld must +therefore be twofold: firstly, that it is an attempt to give the +public a complete English edition of Rochefoucauld's works as a +moralist. The body of the work comprises the Maxims as the author +finally left them, the first supplement, those published in +former editions, and rejected by the author in the later; the +second, the unpublished Maxims taken from the author's +correspondence and manuscripts, and the third, the Maxims first +published in 1692. While the Reflections, in which the thoughts +in the Maxims are extended and elaborated, now appear in English +for the first time. And secondly, that it is an attempt (to quote +the preface of the edition of 1749) "to do the Duc de la +Rochefoucauld the justice to make him speak English."</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<h2><a name="introduction">Introduction</a></h2> {Translators'}<br> + + +<p>The description of the "ancien regime" in France, "a despotism +tempered by epigrams," like most epigrammatic sentences, contains +some truth, with much fiction. The society of the last half of +the seventeenth, and the whole of the eighteenth centuries, was +doubtless greatly influenced by the precise and terse mode in +which the popular writers of that date expressed their thoughts. +To a people naturally inclined to think that every possible view, +every conceivable argument, upon a question is included in a +short aphorism, a shrug, and the word "voilà," truths +expressed in condensed sentences must always have a peculiar +charm. It is, perhaps, from this love of epigram, that we find so +many eminent French writers of maxims. Pascal, De Retz, La +Rochefoucauld, La Bruyère, Montesquieu, and Vauvenargues, +each contributed to the rich stock of French epigrams. No other +country can show such a list of brilliant writers—in +England certainly we cannot. Our most celebrated, Lord Bacon, +has, by his other works, so surpassed his maxims, that their fame +is, to a great measure, obscured. The only Englishman who could +have rivalled La Rochefoucauld or La Bruyère was the Earl +of Chesterfield, and he only could have done so from his very +intimate connexion with France; but unfortunately his brilliant +genius was spent in the impossible task of trying to refine a +boorish young Briton, in "cutting blocks with a razor."</p> + +<p>Of all the French epigrammatic writers La Rochefoucauld is at +once the most widely known, and the most distinguished. Voltaire, +whose opinion on the century of Louis XIV. is entitled to the +greatest weight, says, "One of the works that most largely +contributed to form the taste of the nation, and to diffuse a +spirit of justice and precision, is the collection of maxims, by +Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld."</p> + +<p>This Francois, the second Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de +Marsillac, the author of the maxims, was one of the most +illustrious members of the most illustrious families among the +French noblesse. Descended from the ancient Dukes of Guienne, the +founder of the Family Fulk or Foucauld, a younger branch of the +House of Lusignan, was at the commencement of the eleventh +century the Seigneur of a small town, La Roche, in the Angounois. +Our chief knowledge of this feudal lord is drawn from the monkish +chronicles. As the benefactor of the various abbeys and +monasteries in his province, he is naturally spoken of by them in +terms of eulogy, and in the charter of one of the abbeys of +Angouleme he is called, "vir nobilissimus Fulcaldus." His +territorial power enabled him to adopt what was then, as is still +in Scotland, a common custom, to prefix the name of his estate to +his surname, and thus to create and transmit to his descendants +the illustrious surname of La Rochefoucauld.</p> + +<p>From that time until that great crisis in the history of the +French aristocracy, the Revolution of 1789, the family of La +Rochefoucauld have been, "if not first, in the very first line" +of that most illustrious body. One Seigneur served under Philip +Augustus against Richard Coeur de Lion, and was made prisoner at +the battle of Gisors. The eighth Seigneur Guy performed a great +tilt at Bordeaux, attended (according to Froissart) to the Lists +by some two hundred of his kindred and relations. The sixteenth +Seigneur Francais was chamberlain to Charles VIII. and Louis +XII., and stood at the font as sponsor, giving his name to that +last light of French chivalry, Francis I. In 1515 he was created +a baron, and was afterwards advanced to a count, on account of +his great service to Francis and his predecessors.</p> + +<p>The second count pushed the family fortune still further by +obtaining a patent as the Prince de Marsillac. His widow, Anne de +Polignac, entertained Charles V. at the family chateau at +Verteuil, in so princely a manner that on leaving Charles +observed, "He had never entered a house so redolent of high +virtue, uprightness, and lordliness as that mansion."</p> + +<p>The third count, after serving with distinction under the Duke +of Guise against the Spaniards, was made prisoner at St. Quintin, +and only regained his liberty to fall a victim to the "bloody +infamy" of St. Bartholomew. His son, the fourth count, saved with +difficulty from that massacre, after serving with distinction in +the religious wars, was taken prisoner in a skirmish at St. Yriex +la Perche, and murdered by the Leaguers in cold blood.</p> + +<p>The fifth count, one of the ministers of Louis XIII., after +fighting against the English and Buckingham at the Ile de +Ré, was created a duke. His son Francis, the second duke, +by his writings has made the family name a household word.</p> + +<p>The third duke fought in many of the earlier campaigns of +Louis XIV. at Torcy, Lille, Cambray, and was dangerously wounded +at the passage of the Rhine. From his bravery he rose to high +favour at Court, and was appointed Master of the Horse (Grand +Veneur) and Lord Chamberlain. His son, the fourth duke, commanded +the regiment of Navarre, and took part in storming the village of +Neerwinden on the day when William III. was defeated at Landen. +He was afterwards created Duc de la Rochequyon and Marquis de +Liancourt.</p> + +<p>The fifth duke, banished from Court by Louis XV., became the +friend of the philosopher Voltaire.</p> + +<p>The sixth duke, the friend of Condorcet, was the last of the +long line of noble lords who bore that distinguished name. In +those terrible days of September, 1792, when the French people +were proclaiming universal humanity, the duke was seized as an +aristocrat by the mob at Gisors and put to death behind his own +carriage, in which sat his mother and his wife, at the very place +where, some six centuries previously, his ancestor had been taken +prisoner in a fair fight. A modern writer has spoken of this +murder "as an admirable reprisal upon the grandson for the +writings and conduct of the grandfather." But M. Sainte Beuve +observes as to this, he can see nothing admirable in the death of +the duke, and if it proves anything, it is only that the +grandfather was not so wrong in his judgment of men as is usually +supposed.</p> + +<p>Francis, the author, was born on the 15th December 1615. M. +Sainte Beuve divides his life into four periods, first, from his +birth till he was thirty-five, when he became mixed up in the war +of the Fronde; the second period, during the progress of that +war; the third, the twelve years that followed, while he +recovered from his wounds, and wrote his maxims during his +retirement from society; and the last from that time till his +death.</p> + +<p>In the same way that Herodotus calls each book of his history +by the name of one of the muses, so each of these four periods of +La Rochefoucauld's life may be associated with the name of a +woman who was for the time his ruling passion. These four ladies +are the Duchesse de Chevreuse, the Duchesse de Longueville, +Madame de Sablé, and Madame de La Fayette.</p> + +<p>La Rochefoucauld's early education was neglected; his father, +occupied in the affairs of state, either had not, or did not +devote any time to his education. His natural talents and his +habits of observation soon, however, supplied all deficiencies. +By birth and station placed in the best society of the French +Court, he soon became a most finished courtier. Knowing how +precarious Court favour then was, his father, when young +Rochefoucauld was only nine years old, sent him into the army. He +was subsequently attached to the regiment of Auvergne. Though but +sixteen he was present, and took part in the military operations +at the siege of Cassel. The Court of Louis XIII. was then ruled +imperiously by Richelieu. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld was +strongly opposed to the Cardinal's party. By joining in the plots +of Gaston of Orleans, he gave Richelieu an opportunity of ridding +Paris of his opposition. When those plots were discovered, the +Duke was sent into a sort of banishment to Blois. His son, who +was then at Court with him, was, upon the pretext of a liaison +with Mdlle. d'Hautefort, one of the ladies in waiting on the +Queen (Anne of Austria), but in reality to prevent the Duke +learning what was passing at Paris, sent with his father. The +result of the exile was Rochefoucauld's marriage. With the +exception that his wife's name was Mdlle. Vivonne, and that she +was the mother of five sons and three daughters, nothing is known +of her. While Rochefoucauld and his father were at Blois, the +Duchesse de Chevreuse, one of the beauties of the Court, and the +mistress of Louis, was banished to Tours. She and Rochefoucauld +met, and soon became intimate, and for a time she was destined to +be the one motive of his actions. The Duchesse was engaged in a +correspondence with the Court of Spain and the Queen. Into this +plot Rochefoucauld threw himself with all his energy; his +connexion with the Queen brought him back to his old love Mdlle. +d'Hautefort, and led him to her party, which he afterwards +followed. The course he took shut him off from all chance of +Court favour. The King regarded him with coldness, the Cardinal +with irritation. Although the Bastile and the scaffold, the fate +of Chalais and Montmorency, were before his eyes, they failed to +deter him from plotting. He was about twenty-three; returning to +Paris, he warmly sided with the Queen. He says in his Memoirs +that the only persons she could then trust were himself and +Mdlle. d'Hautefort, and it was proposed he should take both of +them from Paris to Brussels. Into this plan he entered with all +his youthful indiscretion, it being for several reasons the very +one he would wish to adopt, as it would strengthen his influence +with Anne of Austria, place Richelieu and his master in an +uncomfortable position, and save Mdlle. d'Hautefort from the +attentions the King was showing her.</p> + +<p>But Richelieu of course discovered this plot, and +Rochefoucauld was, of course, sent to the Bastile. He was +liberated after a week's imprisonment, but banished to his +chateau at Verteuil.</p> + +<p>The reason for this clemency was that the Cardinal desired to +win Rochefoucauld from the Queen's party. A command in the army +was offered to him, but by the Queen's orders refused.</p> + +<p>For some three years Rochefoucauld remained at Verteuil, +waiting the time for his reckoning with Richelieu; speculating on +the King's death, and the favours he would then receive from the +Queen. During this period he was more or less engaged in plotting +against his enemy the Cardinal, and hatching treason with Cinq +Mars and De Thou.</p> + +<p>M. Sainte Beuve says, that unless we study this first part of +Rochefoucauld's life, we shall never understand his maxims. The +bitter disappointment of the passionate love, the high hopes then +formed, the deceit and treachery then witnessed, furnished the +real key to their meaning. The cutting cynicism of the morality +was built on the ruins of that chivalrous ambition and romantic +affection. He saw his friend Cinq Mars sent to the scaffold, +himself betrayed by men whom he had trusted, and the only reason +he could assign for these actions was intense selfishness.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Richelieu died. Rochefoucauld returned to Court, +and found Anne of Austria regent, and Mazarin minister. The +Queen's former friends flocked there in numbers, expecting that +now their time of prosperity had come. They were bitterly +disappointed. Mazarin relied on hope instead of gratitude, to +keep the Queen's adherents on his side. The most that any +received were promises that were never performed. In after years, +doubtless, Rochefoucauld's recollection of his disappointment led +him to write the maxim: "We promise according to our hopes, we +perform according to our fears." But he was not even to receive +promises; he asked for the Governorship of Havre, which was then +vacant. He was flatly refused. Disappointment gave rise to anger, +and uniting with his old flame, the Duchesse de Chevreuse, who +had received the same treatment, and with the Duke of Beaufort, +they formed a conspiracy against the government. The plot was, of +course, discovered and crushed. Beaufort was arrested, the +Duchesse banished. Irritated and disgusted, Rochefoucauld went +with the Duc d'Enghein, who was then joining the army, on a +campaign, and here he found the one love of his life, the Duke's +sister, Mdme. de Longueville. This lady, young, beautiful, and +accomplished, obtained a great ascendancy over Rochefoucauld, and +was the cause of his taking the side of Condé in the +subsequent civil war. Rochefoucauld did not stay long with the +army. He was badly wounded at the siege of Mardik, and returned +from thence to Paris. On recovering from his wounds, the war of +the Fronde broke out. This war is said to have been most +ridiculous, as being carried on without a definite object, a +plan, or a leader. But this description is hardly correct; it was +the struggle of the French nobility against the rule of the +Court; an attempt, the final attempt, to recover their lost +influence over the state, and to save themselves from sinking +under the rule of cardinals and priests.</p> + +<p>With the general history of that war we have nothing to do; it +is far too complicated and too confused to be stated here. The +memoirs of Rochefoucauld and De Retz will give the details to +those who desire to trace the contests of the factions—the +course of the intrigues. We may confine ourselves to its progress +so far as it relates to the Duc de la Rochefoucauld.</p> + +<p>On the Cardinal causing the Princes de Condé and Conti, +and the Duc de Longueville, to be arrested, Rochefoucauld and the +Duchess fled into Normandy. Leaving her at Dieppe, he went into +Poitou, of which province he had some years previously bought the +post of governor. He was there joined by the Duc de Bouillon, and +he and the Duke marched to, and occupied Bordeaux. Cardinal +Mazarin and Marechal de la Meilleraie advanced in force on +Bordeaux, and attacked the town. A bloody battle followed. +Rochefoucauld defended the town with the greatest bravery, and +repulsed the Cardinal. Notwithstanding the repulse, the burghers +of Bordeaux were anxious to make peace, and save the city from +destruction. The Parliament of Bordeaux compelled Rochefoucauld +to surrender. He did so, and returned nominally to Poitou, but in +reality in secret to Paris.</p> + +<p>There he found the Queen engaged in trying to maintain her +position by playing off the rival parties of the Prince +Condé and the Cardinal De Retz against each other. +Rochefoucauld eagerly espoused his old party—that of +Condé. In August, 1651, the contending parties met in the +Hall of the Parliament of Paris, and it was with great difficulty +they were prevented from coming to blows even there. It is even +said that Rochefoucauld had ordered his followers to murder De +Retz.</p> + +<p>Rochefoucauld was soon to undergo a bitter disappointment. +While occupied with party strife and faction in Paris, Madame de +Chevreuse left him, and formed an alliance with the Duc de +Nemours. Rochefoucauld still loved her. It was, probably, +thinking of this that he afterwards wrote, "Jealousy is born with +love, but does not die with it." He endeavoured to get Madame de +Chatillon, the old mistress of the Duc de Nemours, reinstated in +favour, but in this he did not succeed. The Duc de Nemours was +soon after killed in a duel. The war went on, and after several +indecisive skirmishes, the decisive battle was fought at Paris, +in the Faubourg St. Antoine, where the Parisians first learnt the +use or the abuse of their favourite defence, the barricade. In +this battle, Rochefoucauld behaved with great bravery. He was +wounded in the head, a wound which for a time deprived him of his +sight. Before he recovered, the war was over, Louis XIV. had +attained his majority, the gold of Mazarin, the arms of Turenne, +had been successful, the French nobility were vanquished, the +court supremacy established.</p> + +<p>This completed Rochefoucauld's active life.</p> + +<p>When he recovered his health, he devoted himself to society. +Madame de Sablé assumed a hold over him. He lived a quiet +life, and occupied himself in composing an account of his early +life, called his "Memoirs," and his immortal "Maxims."</p> + +<p>From the time he ceased to take part in public life, +Rochefoucauld's real glory began. Having acted the various parts +of soldier, politician, and lover with but small success, he now +commenced the part of moralist, by which he is known to the +world.</p> + +<p>Living in the most brilliant society that France possessed, +famous from his writings, distinguished from the part he had +taken in public affairs, he formed the centre of one of those +remarkable French literary societies, a society which numbered +among its members La Fontaine, Racine, Boileau. Among his most +attached friends was Madame de La Fayette (the authoress of the +"Princess of Cleeves"), and this friendship continued until his +death. He was not, however, destined to pass away in that gay +society without some troubles. At the passage of the Rhine in +1672 two of his sons were engaged; the one was killed, the other +severely wounded. Rochefoucauld was much affected by this, but +perhaps still more by the death of the young Duc de Longueville, +who perished on the same occasion.</p> + +<p>Sainte Beuve says that the cynical book and that young life +were the only fruits of the war of the Fronde. Madame de +Sévigné, who was with him when he heard the news of +the death of so much that was dear to him, says, "I saw his heart +laid bare on that cruel occasion, and his courage, his merit, his +tenderness, and good sense surpassed all I ever met with. I hold +his wit and accomplishments as nothing in comparison." The +combined effect of his wounds and the gout caused the last years +of Rochefoucauld's life to be spent in great pain. Madame de +Sévigné, who was {with} him continually during his +last illness, speaks of the fortitude with which he bore his +sufferings as something to be admired. Writing to her daughter, +she says, "Believe me, it is not for nothing he has moralised all +his life; he has thought so often on his last moments that they +are nothing new or unfamiliar to him."</p> + +<p>In his last illness, the great moralist was attended by the +great divine, Bossuet. Whether that matchless eloquence or his +own philosophic calm had, in spite of his writings, brought him +into the state Madame de Sévigné describes, we know +not; but one, or both, contributed to his passing away in a +manner that did not disgrace a French noble or a French +philosopher. On the 11th March, 1680, he ended his stormy life in +peace after so much strife, a loyal subject after so much +treason.</p> + +<p>One of his friends, Madame Deshoulières, shortly before +he died sent him an ode on death, which aptly describes his +state— "Oui, soyez alors plus ferme, Que ces vulgaires +humains Qui, près de leur dernier terme, De vaines +terreurs sont pleins. En sage que rien n'offense, Livrez-vous +sans resistance A d'inévitables traits; Et, d'une demarche +égale, Passez cette onde fatal Qu'on ne repasse +jamais."</p> + +<p>Rochefoucauld left behind him only two works, the one, Memoirs +of his own time, the other the Maxims. The first described the +scenes in which his youth had been spent, and though written in a +lively style, and giving faithful pictures of the intrigues and +the scandals of the court during Louis XIV.'s minority, yet, +except to the historian, has ceased at the present day to be of +much interest. It forms, perhaps, the true key to understand the +special as opposed to general application of the maxims.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the assertion of Bayle, that "there are few +people so bigoted to antiquity as not to prefer the Memoirs of La +Rochefoucauld to the Commentaries of Caesar," or the statement of +Voltaire, "that the Memoirs are universally read and the Maxims +are learnt by heart," few persons at the present day ever heard +of the Memoirs, and the knowledge of most as to the Maxims is +confined to that most celebrated of all, though omitted from his +last edition, "There is something in the misfortunes of our best +friends which does not wholly displease us." Yet it is difficult +to assign a cause for this; no book is perhaps oftener +unwittingly quoted, none certainly oftener unblushingly pillaged; +upon none have so many contradictory opinions been given.</p> + +<p>"Few books," says Mr. Hallam, "have been more highly extolled, +or more severely blamed, than the maxims of the Duke of +Rochefoucauld, and that not only here, but also in France." +Rousseau speaks of it as, "a sad and melancholy book," though he +goes on to say "it is usually so in youth when we do not like +seeing man as he is." Voltaire says of it, in the words above +quoted, "One of the works which most contributed to form the +taste of the (French) nation, and to give it a spirit of justness +and precision, was the collection of the maxims of Francois Duc +de la Rochefoucauld, though there is scarcely more than one truth +running through the book—that ‘self-love is the +motive of everything'—yet this thought is presented under +so many varied aspects that it is nearly always striking. It is +not so much a book as it is materials for ornamenting a book. +This little collection was read with avidity, it taught people to +think, and to comprise their thoughts in a lively, precise, and +delicate turn of expression. This was a merit which, before him, +no one in Europe had attained since the revival of letters."</p> + +<p>Dr. Johnson speaks of it as "the only book written by a man of +fashion, of which professed authors need be jealous."</p> + +<p>Lord Chesterfield, in his letters to his son, says, "Till you +come to know mankind by your experience, I know no thing nor no +man that can in the meantime bring you so well acquainted with +them as Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld. His little book of maxims, +which I would advise you to look into for some moments at least +every day of your life, is, I fear, too like and too exact a +picture of human nature. I own it seems to degrade it, but yet my +experience does not convince me that it degrades it +unjustly."</p> + +<p>Bishop Butler, on the other hand, blames the book in no +measured terms. "There is a strange affectation," says the +bishop, "in some people of explaining away all particular +affection, and representing the whole life as nothing but one +continued exercise of self-love. Hence arise that surprising +confusion and perplexity in the Epicureans of old, Hobbes, the +author of 'Reflexions Morales,' and the whole set of writers, of +calling actions interested which are done of the most manifest +known interest, merely for the gratification of a present +passion."</p> + +<p>The judgment the reader will be most inclined to adopt will +perhaps be either that of Mr. Hallam, "Concise and energetic in +expression, reduced to those short aphorisms which leave much to +the reader's acuteness and yet save his labour, not often +obscure, and never wearisome, an evident generalisation of long +experience, without pedantry, without method, without deductive +reasonings, yet wearing an appearance at least of profundity; +they delight the intelligent though indolent man of the world, +and must be read with some admiration by the philosopher . . . . +yet they bear witness to the contracted observation and the +precipitate inferences which an intercourse with a single class +of society scarcely fails to generate." Or that of Addison, who +speaks of Rochefoucauld "as the great philosopher for +administering consolation to the idle, the curious, and the +worthless part of mankind."</p> + +<p>We are fortunately in possession of materials such as rarely +exist to enable us to form a judgment of Rochefoucauld's +character. We have, with a vanity that could only exist in a +Frenchman, a description or portrait of himself, of his own +painting, and one of those inimitable living sketches in which +his great enemy, Cardinal De Retz, makes all the chief actors in +the court of the regency of Anne of Austria pass across the stage +before us.</p> + +<p>We will first look on the portrait Rochefoucauld has left us +of himself: "I am," says he, "of a medium height, active, and +well-proportioned. My complexion dark, but uniform, a high +forehead; and of moderate height, black eyes, small, deep set, +eyebrows black and thick but well placed. I am rather embarrassed +in talking of my nose, for it is neither flat nor aquiline, nor +large; nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, it is too +large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too low. I +have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, neither shaped +well nor badly. I have white teeth, and fairly even. I have been +told I have a little too much chin. I have just looked at myself +in the glass to ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to +decide. As to the shape of my face, it is either square or oval, +but which I should find it very difficult to say. I have black +hair, which curls by nature, and thick and long enough to entitle +me to lay claim to a fine head. I have in my countenance somewhat +of grief and pride, which gives many people an idea I despise +them, although I am not at all given to do so. My gestures are +very free, rather inclined to be too much so, for in speaking +they make me use too much action. Such, candidly, I believe I am +in outward appearance, and I believe it will be found that what I +have said above of myself is not far from the real case. I shall +use the same truthfulness in the remainder of my picture, for I +have studied myself sufficiently to know myself well; and I will +lack neither boldness to speak as freely as I can of my good +qualities, nor sincerity to freely avow that I have faults.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, to speak of my temper. I am melancholy, +and I have hardly been seen for the last three or four years to +laugh above three or four times. It seems to me that my +melancholy would be even endurable and pleasant if I had none but +what belonged to me constitutionally; but it arises from so many +other causes, fills my imagination in such a way, and possesses +my mind so strongly that for the greater part of my time I remain +without speaking a word, or give no meaning to what I say. I am +extremely reserved to those I do not know, and I am not very open +with the greater part of those I do. It is a fault I know well, +and I should neglect no means to correct myself of it; but as a +certain gloomy air I have tends to make me seem more reserved +than I am in fact, and as it is not in our power to rid ourselves +of a bad expression that arises from a natural conformation of +features, I think that even when I have cured myself internally, +externally some bad expression will always remain.</p> + +<p>"I have ability. I have no hesitation in saying it, as for +what purpose should I pretend otherwise. So great circumvention, +and so great depreciation, in speaking of the gifts one has, +seems to me to hide a little vanity under an apparent modesty, +and craftily to try to make others believe in greater virtues +than are imputed to us. On my part I am content not to be +considered better-looking than I am, nor of a better temper than +I describe, nor more witty and clever than I am. Once more, I +have ability, but a mind spoilt by melancholy, for though I know +my own language tolerably well, and have a good memory, a mode of +thought not particularly confused, I yet have so great a mixture +of discontent that I often say what I have to say very badly.</p> + +<p>"The conversation of gentlemen is one of the pleasures that +most amuses me. I like it to be serious and morality to form the +substance of it. Yet I also know how to enjoy it when trifling; +and if I do not make many witty speeches, it is not because I do +not appreciate the value of trifles well said, and that I do not +find great amusement in that manner of raillery in which certain +prompt and ready-witted persons excel so well. I write well in +prose; I do well in verse; and if I was envious of the glory that +springs from that quarter, I think with a little labour I could +acquire some reputation. I like reading, in general; but that in +which one finds something to polish the wit and strengthen the +soul is what I like best. But, above all, I have the greatest +pleasure in reading with an intelligent person, for then we +reflect constantly upon what we read, and the observations we +make form the most pleasant and useful form of conversation there +is.</p> + +<p>"I am a fair critic of the works in verse and prose that are +shown me; but perhaps I speak my opinion with almost too great +freedom. Another fault in me is that I have sometimes a spirit of +delicacy far too scrupulous, and a spirit of criticism far too +severe. I do not dislike an argument, and I often of my own free +will engage in one; but I generally back my opinion with too much +warmth, and sometimes, when the wrong side is advocated against +me, from the strength of my zeal for reason, I become a little +unreasonable myself.</p> + +<p>"I have virtuous sentiments, good inclinations, and so strong +a desire to be a wholly good man that my friend cannot afford me +a greater pleasure than candidly to show me my faults. Those who +know me most intimately, and those who have the goodness +sometimes to give me the above advice, know that I always receive +it with all the joy that could be expected, and with all +reverence of mind that could be desired.</p> + +<p>"I have all the passions pretty mildly, and pretty well under +control. I am hardly ever seen in a rage, and I never hated any +one. I am not, however, incapable of avenging myself if I have +been offended, or if my honour demanded I should resent an insult +put upon me; on the contrary, I feel clear that duty would so +well discharge the office of hatred in me that I should follow my +revenge with even greater keenness than other people.</p> + +<p>"Ambition does not weary me. I fear but few things, and I do +not fear death in the least. I am but little given to pity, and I +could wish I was not so at all. Though there is nothing I would +not do to comfort an afflicted person, and I really believe that +one should do all one can to show great sympathy to him for his +misfortune, for miserable people are so foolish that this does +them the greatest good in the world; yet I also hold that we +should be content with expressing sympathy, and carefully avoid +having any. It is a passion that is wholly worthless in a +well-regulated mind, which only serves to weaken the heart, and +which should be left to ordinary persons, who, as they never do +anything from reason, have need of passions to stimulate their +actions.</p> + +<p>"I love my friends; and I love them to such an extent that I +would not for a moment weigh my interest against theirs. I +condescend to them, I patiently endure their bad temper. But, +also, I do not make much of their caresses, and I do not feel +great uneasiness in their absence.</p> + +<p>"Naturally, I have but little curiosity about the majority of +things that stir up curiosity in other men. I am very secret, and +I have less difficulty than most men in holding my tongue as to +what is told me in confidence. I am most particular as to my +word, and I would never fail, whatever might be the consequence, +to do what I had promised; and I have made this an inflexible law +during the whole of my life.</p> + +<p>"I keep the most punctilious civility to women. I do not +believe I have ever said anything before them which could cause +them annoyance. When their intellect is cultivated, I prefer +their society to that of men: one there finds a mildness one does +not meet with among ourselves, and it seems to me beyond this +that they express themselves with more neatness, and give a more +agreeable turn to the things they talk about. As for flirtation, +I formerly indulged in a little, now I shall do so no more, +though I am still young. I have renounced all flirtation, and I +am simply astonished that there are still so many sensible people +who can occupy their time with it.</p> + +<p>"I wholly approve of real loves; they indicate greatness of +soul, and although, in the uneasiness they give rise to, there is +a something contrary to strict wisdom, they fit in so well with +the most severe virtue, that I believe they cannot be censured +with justice. To me who have known all that is fine and grand in +the lofty aspirations of love, if I ever fall in love, it will +assuredly be in love of that nature. But in accordance with the +present turn of my mind, I do not believe that the knowledge I +have of it will ever change from my mind to my heart."</p> + +<p>Such is his own description of himself. Let us now turn to the +other picture, delineated by the man who was his bitterest enemy, +and whom (we say it with regret) Rochefoucauld tried to +murder.</p> + +<p>Cardinal De Retz thus paints him:— "In M. de la +Rochefoucauld there was ever an indescribable something. From his +infancy he always wanted to be mixed up with plots, at a time +when he could not understand even the smallest interests (which +has indeed never been his weak point,) or comprehend greater +ones, which in another sense has never been his strong point. He +was never fitted for any matter, and I really cannot tell the +reason. His glance was not sufficiently wide, and he could not +take in at once all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, +perfect in theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning +ways, his pleasing manners, which are perfect, should more than +compensate for his lack of penetration. He always had a natural +irresoluteness, but I cannot say to what this irresolution is to +be attributed. It could not arise in him from the wealth of his +imagination, for that was anything but lively. I cannot put it +down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, although he was not +prompt in action, he had a good store of reason. We see the +effects of this irresolution, although we cannot assign a cause +for it. He was never a general, though a great soldier; never, +naturally, a good courtier, although he had always a good idea of +being so. He was never a good partizan, although all his life +engaged in intrigues. That air of pride and timidity which your +see in his private life, is turned in business into an apologetic +manner. He always believed he had need of it; and this, combined +with his ‘Maxims,' which show little faith in virtue, and +his habitual custom, to give up matters with the same haste he +undertook them, leads me to the conclusion that he would have +done far better to have known his own mind, and have passed +himself off, as he could have done, for the most polished +courtier, the most agreeable man in private life that had +appeared in his century."</p> + +<p>It is but justice to the Cardinal to say, that the Duc is not +painted in such dark colours as we should have expected, judging +from what we know of the character of De Retz. With his +marvellous power of depicting character, a power unrivalled, +except by St. Simon and perhaps by Lord Clarendon, we should have +expected the malignity of the priest would have stamped the +features of his great enemy with the impress of infamy, and not +have simply made him appear a courtier, weak, insincere, and +nothing more. Though rather beyond our subject, the character of +Cardinal de Retz, as delineated by Mdme. Sévigné, +in one of her letters, will help us to form a true conclusion on +the different characters of the Duc and the Cardinal. She +says:— "Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz possesses great +elevation of character, a certain extent of intellect, and more +of the ostentation than of the true greatness of courage. He has +an extraordinary memory, more energy than polish in his words, an +easy humour, docility of character, and weakness in submitting to +the complaints and reproaches of his friends, a little piety, +some appearances of religion. He appears ambitious without being +really so. Vanity and those who have guided him, have made him +undertake great things, almost all opposed to his profession. He +excited the greatest troubles in the State without any design of +turning them to account, and far from declaring himself the enemy +of Cardinal Mazarin with any view of occupying his place, he +thought of nothing but making himself an object of dread to him, +and flattering himself with the false vanity of being his rival. +He was clever enough, however, to take advantage of the public +calamities to get himself made Cardinal. He endured his +imprisonment with firmness, and owed his liberty solely to his +own daring. In the obscurity of a life of wandering and +concealment, his indolence for many years supported him with +reputation. He preserved the Archbishopric of Paris against the +power of Cardinal Mazarin, but after the death of that minister, +he resigned it without knowing what he was doing, and without +making use of the opportunity to promote the interests of himself +and his friends. He has taken part in several conclaves, and his +conduct has always increased his reputation.</p> + +<p>"His natural bent is to indolence, nevertheless he labours +with activity in pressing business, and reposes with indifference +when it is concluded. He has great presence of mind, and knows so +well how to turn it to his own advantage on all occasions +presented him by fortune, that it would seem as if he had +foreseen and desired them. He loves to narrate, and seeks to +dazzle all his listeners indifferently by his extraordinary +adventures, and his imagination often supplies him with more than +his memory. The generality of his qualities are false, and what +has most contributed to his reputation is his power of throwing a +good light on his faults. He is insensible alike to hatred and to +friendship, whatever pains he may be at to appear taken up with +the one or the other. He is incapable of envy or avarice, whether +from virtue or from carelessness. He has borrowed more from his +friends than a private person could ever hope to be able to +repay; he has felt the vanity of acquiring so much on credit, and +of undertaking to discharge it. He has neither taste nor +refinement; he is amused by everything and pleased by nothing. He +avoids difficult matters with considerable address, not allowing +people to penetrate the slight acquaintance he has with +everything. The retreat he has just made from the world is the +most brilliant and the most unreal action of his life; it is a +sacrifice he has made to his pride under the pretence of +devotion; he quits the court to which he cannot attach himself, +and retires from a world which is retiring from him."</p> + +<p>The Maxims were first published in 1665, with a preface by +Segrais. This preface was omitted in the subsequent editions. The +first edition contained 316 maxims, counting the last upon death, +which was not numbered. The second in 1666 contained only 102; +the third in 1671, and the fourth in 1675, 413. In this last +edition we first meet with the introductory maxim, "Our virtues +are generally but disguised vices." The edition of 1678, the +fifth, increased the number to 504. This was the last edition +revised by the author, and published in his lifetime. The text of +that edition has been used for the present translation. The next +edition, the sixth, was published in 1693, about thirteen years +after the author's death. This edition included fifty new maxims, +attributed by the editor to Rochefoucauld. Most likely they were +his writing, as the fact was never denied by his family, through +whose permission they were published. They form the third +supplement to the translation. This sixth edition was published +by Claude Barbin, and the French editions since that time have +been too numerous to be enumerated. The great popularity of the +Maxims is perhaps best shown from the numerous translations that +have been made of them. No less than eight English translations, +or so-called translations, have appeared; one American, a +Swedish, and a Spanish translation, an Italian imitation, with +parallel passages, and an English imitation by Hazlitt. The +titles of the English editions are as follows:— i. Seneca +Unmasked. By Mrs. Aphara Behn. London, 1689. She calls the +author the Duke of Rushfucave. ii. Moral Maxims and Reflections, +in four parts. By the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Now made English. +London, 1694. 12 mo. iii. Moral Maxims and Reflections of the +Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Newly made English. London, 1706. 12 +mo. iv. Moral Maxims of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Translated +from the French. With notes. London, 1749. 12 mo. v. Maxims and +Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Revised and +improved. London, 1775. 8 vo. vi. Maxims and Moral Reflections of +the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. A new edition, revised and im- +proved, by L. D. London, 1781. 8 vo. vii. The Gentleman's +Library. La Rochefoucauld's Maxims and Moral Reflections. London, +1813. 12 mo. viii.Moral Reflections, Sentences, and Maxims of the +Duke de la Rochefoucauld, newly translated from the French; with +an introduction and notes. London, 1850. 16 mo. ix. Maxims and +Moral Reflections of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld: with a Memoir +by the Chevalier de Chatelain. London, 1868. 12 mo.</p> + +<p>The perusal of the Maxims will suggest to every reader to a +greater or less degree, in accordance with the extent of his +reading, parallel passages, and similar ideas. Of ancient writers +Rochefoucauld most strongly reminds us of Tacitus; of modern +writers, Junius most strongly reminds us of Rochefoucauld. Some +examples from both are given in the notes to this translation. It +is curious to see how the expressions of the bitterest writer of +English political satire to a great extent express the same ideas +as the great French satirist of private life. Had space permitted +the parallel could have been drawn very closely, and much of the +invective of Junius traced to its source in Rochefoucauld.</p> + +<p>One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and +protected, was the great French fabulist, La Fontaine. This +patronage was repaid by La Fontaine giving, in one of his fables, +"L'Homme et son Image," an elaborate defence of his patron. After +there depicting a man who fancied himself one of the most lovely +in the world, and who complained he always found all mirrors +untrustworthy, at last discovered his real image reflected in the +water. He thus applies his fable:— "Je parle à tous: +et cette erreur extrême, Est un mal que chacun se plait +d'entretenir, Notre âme, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui +même, Tant de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. +Miroirs, de nos défauts les peintres légitimes, Et +quant au canal, c'est celui Qui chacun sait, le livre des +MAXIMES."</p> + +<p>It is just this: the book is a mirror in which we all see +ourselves. This has made it so unpopular. It is too true. We +dislike to be told of our faults, while we only like to be told +of our neighbour's. Notwithstanding Rousseau's assertion, it is +young men, who, before they know their own faults and only know +their neighbours', that read and thoroughly appreciate +Rochefoucauld.</p> + +<p>After so many varied opinions he then pleases us more and +seems far truer than he is in reality, it is impossible to give +any general conclusion of such distinguished writers on the +subject. Each reader will form his own opinion of the merits of +the author and his book. To some, both will seem deserving of the +highest praise; to others both will seem deserving of the highest +censure. The truest judgment as to the author will be found in +the remarks of a countryman of his own, as to the book in the +remarks of a countryman of ours.</p> + +<p>As to the author, M. Sainte Beuve says:—"C'était +un misanthrope poli, insinuant, souriant, qui +précédait de bien peu et préparait avec +charme l'autre MISANTHROPE."</p> + +<p>As to the book, Mr. Hallam says:—"Among the books in +ancient and modern times which record the conclusions of +observing men on the moral qualities of their fellows, a high +place should be reserved for the Maxims of Rochefoucauld".</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="maxims"></a> +<br> + +<center> +<h2>REFLECTIONS;<br> +OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS</h2> + +<h4>Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.</h4> +</center> +<p>[This epigraph which is the key to the system of La +Rochefoucauld, is found in another form as No. 179 of the maxims +of the first edition, 1665, it is omitted from the 2nd and 3rd, +and reappears for the first time in the 4th edition, in 1675, as +at present, at the head of the Reflections.—<i>Aimé +Martin.</i> Its best answer is arrived at by reversing the predicate +and the subject, and you at once form a contradictory maxim +equally true, our vices are most frequently but virtues +disguised.]</p> +<a name="1"></a><br> +<p>1.—What we term virtue is often but a mass of various +actions and divers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, +manage to arrange; and it is not always from valour or from +chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.</p> + +<p>"Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a +death-bed like the meanest slave; Who reasons wisely is not +therefore wise, His pride in reasoning, not in acting, lies." +Pope, <i>Moral Essays</i>, Ep. i. line 115.</p> +<a name="2"></a><br> +<p>2.—Self-love is the greatest of flatterers.</p> +<a name="3"></a><br> +<p>3.—Whatever discoveries have been made in the region of +self-love, there remain many unexplored territories there.</p> + +<p>[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to +develope. He wishes to find in vice a motive for all our actions, +but this does not suffice him; he is obliged to call other +passions to the help of his system and to confound pride, vanity, +interest and egotism with self love. This confusion destroys the +unity of his principle.—<i>Aimé Martin</i>.]</p> +<a name="4"></a><br> +<p>4.—Self love is more cunning than the most cunning man +in the world.</p> +<a name="5"></a><br> +<p>5.—The duration of our passions is no more dependant +upon us than the duration of our life. [Then what becomes of free +will?—<i>Aimé</i>; <i>Martin</i>]</p> +<a name="6"></a><br> +<p>6.—Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and +even sometimes renders the most foolish man clever.</p> +<a name="7"></a><br> +<p>7.—Great and striking actions which dazzle the eyes are +represented by politicians as the effect of great designs, +instead of which they are commonly caused by the temper and the +passions. Thus the war between Augustus and Anthony, which is set +down to the ambition they entertained of making themselves +masters of the world, was probably but an effect of jealousy.</p> +<a name="8"></a><br> +<p>8.—The passions are the only advocates which always +persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are +infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more +persuasive than the most eloquent without.</p> + +<p>[See Maxim 249 which is an illustration of this.]</p> +<a name="9"></a><br> +<p>9.—The passions possess a certain injustice and self +interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality +we should distrust them even when they appear most +trustworthy.</p> +<a name="10"></a><br> +<p>10.—In the human heart there is a perpetual generation +of passions; so that the ruin of one is almost always the +foundation of another.</p> +<a name="11"></a><br> +<p>11.—Passions often produce their contraries: avarice +sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we +are often obstinate through weakness and daring though +timidity.</p> +<a name="12"></a><br> +<p>12.—Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under +the appearances of piety and honour, they are always to be seen +through these veils.</p> + +<p>[The 1st edition, 1665, preserves the image perhaps +better—"however we may conceal our passions under the veil, +etc., there is always some place where they peep out."]</p> +<a name="13"></a><br> +<p>13.—Our self love endures more impatiently the +condemnation of our tastes than of our opinions.</p> +<a name="14"></a><br> +<p>14.—Men are not only prone to forget benefits and +injuries; they even hate those who have obliged them, and cease +to hate those who have injured them. The necessity of revenging +an injury or of recompensing a benefit seems a slavery to which +they are unwilling to submit.</p> +<a name="15"></a><br> +<p>15.—The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win +the affections of the people.</p> +<a name="16"></a><br> +<p>["So many are the advantages which monarchs gain by clemency, +so greatly does it raise their fame and endear them to their +subjects, that it is generally happy for them to have an +opportunity of displaying it."—Montesquieu, <i>Esprit Des +Lois, Lib. VI., C. 21.</i>]</p> +<a name="16"></a><br> +<p>16.—This clemency of which they make a merit, arises +oftentimes from vanity, sometimes from idleness, oftentimes from +fear, and almost always from all three combined.</p> + +<p>[La Rochefoucauld is content to paint the age in which he +lived. Here the clemency spoken of is nothing more than an +expression of the policy of Anne of Austria. Rochefoucauld had +sacrificed all to her; even the favour of Cardinal Richelieu, but +when she became regent she bestowed her favours upon those she +hated; her friends were forgotten.—<i>Aimé Martin</i>. The +reader will hereby see that the age in which the writer lived +best interprets his maxims.]</p> +<a name="17"></a><br> +<p>17.—The moderation of those who are happy arises from +the calm which good fortune bestows upon their temper.</p> +<a name="18"></a><br> +<p>18.—Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the +envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with +their good fortune; it is a vain display of our strength of mind, +and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is +only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.</p> +<a name="19"></a><br> +<p>19.—We have all sufficient strength to support the +misfortunes of others.</p> + +<p>[The strongest example of this is the passage in Lucretius, +lib. ii., line I:— "Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora +ventis E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem."]</p> +<a name="20"></a><br> +<p>20.—The constancy of the wise is only the talent of +concealing the agitation of their hearts.</p> + +<p>[Thus wisdom is only hypocrisy, says a commentator. This +definition of constancy is a result of maxim 18.]</p> +<a name="21"></a><br> +<p>21.—Those who are condemned to death affect sometimes a +constancy and contempt for death which is only the fear of facing +it; so that one may say that this constancy and contempt are to +their mind what the bandage is to their eyes.</p> + +<p>[See this thought elaborated in maxim 504.]</p> +<a name="22"></a><br> +<p>22.—Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and +future evils; but present evils triumph over it.</p> +<a name="23"></a><br> +<p>23.—Few people know death, we only endure it, usually +from determination, and even from stupidity and custom; and most +men only die because they know not how to prevent dying.</p> +<a name="24"></a><br> +<p>24.—When great men permit themselves to be cast down by +the continuance of misfortune, they show us that they were only +sustained by ambition, and not by their mind; so that PLUS a +great vanity, heroes are made like other men.</p> + +<p>[Both these maxims have been rewritten and made conciser by +the author; the variations are not worth quoting.]</p> +<a name="25"></a><br> +<p>25.—We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil +fortune.</p> + +<p>["Prosperity do{th} best discover vice, but adversity do{th} +best discover virtue."—Lord Bacon, <i>Essays</i>{, (1625), "Of +Adversity"}.]</p> + +<p>{The quotation wrongly had "does" for "doth".}</p> +<a name="26"></a><br> +<p>26.—Neither the sun nor death can be looked at without +winking.</p> +<a name="27"></a><br> +<p>27.—People are often vain of their passions, even of the +worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one +ever dare avow her.</p> +<a name="28"></a><br> +<p>28.—Jealousy is in a manner just and reasonable, as it +tends to preserve a good which belongs, or which we believe +belongs to us, on the other hand envy is a fury which cannot +endure the happiness of others.</p> +<a name="29"></a><br> +<p>29.—The evil that we do does not attract to us so much +persecution and hatred as our good qualities.</p> +<a name="30"></a><br> +<p>30.—We have more strength than will; and it is often +merely for an excuse we say things are impossible.</p> +<a name="31"></a><br> +<p>31.—If we had no faults we should not take so much +pleasure in noting those of others.</p> +<a name="32"></a><br> +<p>32.—Jealousy lives upon doubt; and comes to an end or +becomes a fury as soon as it passes from doubt to certainty.</p> +<a name="33"></a><br> +<p>33.—Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when +it casts away vanity.</p> + +<p>[See maxim 450, where the author states, what we take from our +other faults we add to our pride.]</p> +<a name="34"></a><br> +<p>34.—If we had no pride we should not complain of that of +others.</p> + +<p>["The proud are ever most provoked by pride."—Cowper, +<i>Conversation</i> 160.]</p> +<a name="35"></a><br> +<p>35.—Pride is much the same in all men, the only +difference is the method and manner of showing it.</p> + +<p>["Pride bestowed on all a common friend."—Pope, <i>Essay On +Man, Ep.</i> ii., line 273.]</p> +<a name="36"></a><br> +<p>36.—It would seem that nature, which has so wisely +ordered the organs of our body for our happiness, has also given +us pride to spare us the mortification of knowing our +imperfections.</p> +<a name="37"></a><br> +<p>37.—Pride has a larger part than goodness in our +remonstrances with those who commit faults, and we reprove them +not so much to correct as to persuade them that we ourselves are +free from faults.</p> +<a name="38"></a><br> +<p>38.—We promise according to our hopes; we perform +according to our fears.</p> + +<p>["The reason why the Cardinal (Mazarin) deferred so long to +grant the favours he had promised, was because he was persuaded +that hope was much more capable of keeping men to their duty than +gratitude."—<i>Fragments Historiques. Racine.</i>]</p> +<a name="39"></a><br> +<p>39.—Interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays all +sorts of characters; even that of disinterestedness.</p> +<a name="40"></a><br> +<p>40.—Interest blinds some and makes some see.</p> +<a name="41"></a><br> +<p>41.—Those who apply themselves too closely to little +things often become incapable of great things.</p> +<a name="42"></a><br> +<p>42.—We have not enough strength to follow all our +reason.</p> +<a name="43"></a><br> +<p>43.—A man often believes himself leader when he is led; +as his mind endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly +drags him towards another.</p> +<a name="44"></a><br> +<p>44.—Strength and weakness of mind are mis-named; they are +really only the good or happy arrangement of our bodily +organs.</p> +<a name="45"></a><br> +<p>45.—The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical +than that of Fortune.</p> +<a name="46"></a><br> +<p>46.—The attachment or indifference which philosophers +have shown to life is only the style of their self love, about +which we can no more dispute than of that of the palate or of the +choice of colours.</p> +<a name="47"></a><br> +<p>47.—Our temper sets a price upon every gift that we +receive from fortune.</p> +<a name="48"></a><br> +<p>48.—Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things +themselves; we are happy from possessing what we like, not from +possessing what others like.</p> +<a name="49"></a><br> +<p>49.—We are never so happy or so unhappy as we +suppose.</p> +<a name="50"></a><br> +<p>50.—Those who think they have merit persuade themselves +that they are honoured by being unhappy, in order to persuade +others and themselves that they are worthy to be the butt of +fortune.</p> +<a name="51"></a><br> +<p>["Ambition has been so strong as to make very miserable men +take comfort that they were supreme in misery; and certain it +is{, that where} we cannot distinguish ourselves by something +excellent, we begin to take a complacency in some singular +infirmities, follies, or defects of one kind or other." +—Burke, {<i>On The Sublime And Beautiful,</i> (1756), Part I, +Sect. XVII}.]</p> + +<p>{The translators' incorrectly cite <i>Speech On Conciliation With +America.</i> Also, Burke does not actually write "Ambition has +been...", he writes "It has been..." when speaking of +ambition.}</p> +<a name="51"></a><br> +<p>51.—Nothing should so much diminish the satisfaction +which we feel with ourselves as seeing that we disapprove at one +time of that which we approve of at another.</p> +<a name="52"></a><br> +<p>52.—Whatever difference there appears in our fortunes, +there is nevertheless a certain compensation of good and evil +which renders them equal.</p> +<a name="53"></a><br> +<p>53.—Whatever great advantages nature may give, it is not +she alone, but fortune also that makes the hero.</p> +<a name="54"></a><br> +<p>54.—The contempt of riches in philosophers was only a +hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of +fortune, by despising the very goods of which fortune had +deprived them; it was a secret to guard themselves against the +degradation of poverty, it was a back way by which to arrive at +that distinction which they could not gain by riches.</p> + +<p>["It is always easy as well as agreeable for the inferior +ranks of mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that pomp +and pleasure which fortune has placed beyond their reach. The +virtue of the primitive Christians, like that of the first +Romans, was very frequently guarded by poverty and +ignorance."—Gibbon, <i>Decline And Fall, Chap. 15</i>.]</p> +<a name="55"></a><br> +<p>55.—The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The +envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by +the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse +them our homage, not being able to detract from them what +attracts that of the rest of the world.</p> +<a name="56"></a><br> +<p>56.—To establish ourselves in the world we do everything +to appear as if we were established.</p> +<a name="57"></a><br> +<p>57.—Although men flatter themselves with their great +actions, they are not so often the result of a great design as of +chance.</p> +<a name="58"></a><br> +<p>58.—It would seem that our actions have lucky or unlucky +stars to which they owe a great part of the blame or praise which +is given them.</p> +<a name="59"></a><br> +<p>59.—There are no accidents so unfortunate from which +skilful men will not draw some advantage, nor so fortunate that +foolish men will not turn them to their hurt.</p> +<a name="60"></a><br> +<p>60.—Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those +on whom she smiles.</p> +<a name="61"></a><br> +<p>61.—The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less +upon their dispositions than their fortunes.</p> + +<p>["Still to ourselves in every place consigned Our own felicity +we make or find." Goldsmith, <i>Traveller</i>, 431.]</p> +<a name="62"></a><br> +<p>62.—Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in +very few people; what we usually see is only an artful +dissimulation to win the confidence of others.</p> +<a name="63"></a><br> +<p>63.—The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to +render our words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious +aspect to our conversation.</p> +<a name="64"></a><br> +<p>64.—Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its +counterfeits do evil.</p> +<a name="65"></a><br> +<p>65.—There is no praise we have not lavished upon +Prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling +event.</p> + +<p>[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 it is +No. 75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last edition it +stands as at present. In the first he quotes Juvenal, Sat. X., +line 315. " Nullum numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; Nos +facimus, Fortuna, deam, coeloque locamus." Applying to Prudence +what Juvenal does to Fortune, and with much greater force.]</p> +<a name="66"></a><br> +<p>66.—A clever man ought to so regulate his interests that +each will fall in due order. Our greediness so often troubles us, +making us run after so many things at the same time, that while +we too eagerly look after the least we miss the greatest.</p> +<a name="67"></a><br> +<p>67.—What grace is to the body good sense is to the +mind.</p> +<a name="68"></a><br> +<p>68.—It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, +that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a +sympathy, and in the body it is a hidden and delicate wish to +possess what we love—<i>Plus</i> many mysteries.</p> + +<p>["Love is the love of one {singularly,} with desire to be +singularly beloved."—Hobbes{<i>Leviathan</i>, (1651), Part I, +Chapter VI}.]</p> + +<p>{Two notes about this quotation: (1) the translators' +mistakenly have "singularity" for the first "singularly" and (2) +Hobbes does not actually write "Love is the..."—he writes +"Love of one..." under the heading "The passion of Love."}</p> +<a name="69"></a><br> +<p>69.—If there is a pure love, exempt from the mixture of +our other passions, it is that which is concealed at the bottom +of the heart and of which even ourselves are ignorant.</p> +<a name="70"></a><br> +<p>70.—There is no disguise which can long hide love where +it exists, nor feign it where it does not.</p> +<a name="71"></a><br> +<p>71.—There are few people who would not be ashamed of +being beloved when they love no longer.</p> +<a name="72"></a><br> +<p>72.—If we judge of love by the majority of its results +it rather resembles hatred than friendship.</p> +<a name="73"></a><br> +<p>73.—We may find women who have never indulged in an +intrigue, but it is rare to find those who have intrigued but +once.</p> + +<p>["Yet there are some, they say, who have had {<i>None</i>}; But those +who have, ne'er end with only one}." {—Lord Byron, }<i>Don +Juan,</i> {Canto} iii., stanza 4.]</p> +<a name="74"></a><br> +<p>74.—There is only one sort of love, but there are a +thousand different copies.</p> +<a name="75"></a><br> +<p>75.—Neither love nor fire can subsist without perpetual +motion; both cease to live so soon as they cease to hope, or to +fear.</p> + +<p>[So Lord Byron{<i>Stanzas</i>, (1819), stanza 3} says of +Love— "Like chiefs of faction, His life is action."]</p> +<a name="76"></a><br> +<p>76.—There is real love just as there are real ghosts; +every person speaks of it, few persons have seen it.</p> + +<p>["Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art— An unseen +seraph, we believe in thee— A faith whose martyrs are the +broken heart,— But never yet hath seen, nor e'er shall see +The naked eye, thy form as it should be." {—Lord Byron, +}<i>Childe Harold</i>, {Canto} iv., stanza 121.]</p> +<a name="77"></a><br> +<p>77.—Love lends its name to an infinite number of +engagements (<i>Commerces</i>) which are attributed to it, but with +which it has no more concern than the Doge has with all that is +done in Venice.</p> +<a name="78"></a><br> +<p>78.—The love of justice is simply in the majority of men +the fear of suffering injustice.</p> +<a name="79"></a><br> +<p>79.—Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts +himself.</p> +<a name="80"></a><br> +<p>80.—What renders us so changeable in our friendship is, +that it is difficult to know the qualities of the soul, but easy +to know those of the mind.</p> +<a name="81"></a><br> +<p>81.—We can love nothing but what agrees with us, and we +can only follow our taste or our pleasure when we prefer our +friends to ourselves; nevertheless it is only by that preference +that friendship can be true and perfect.</p> +<a name="82"></a><br> +<p>82.—Reconciliation with our enemies is but a desire to +better our condition, a weariness of war, the fear of some +unlucky accident.</p> + +<p>["Thus terminated that famous war of the Fronde. The Duke +de la Rochefoucauld desired peace because of his dangerous wounds +and ruined castles, which had made him dread even worse events. +On the other side the Queen, who had shown herself so ungrateful +to her too ambitious friends, did not cease to feel the +bitterness of their resentment. ‘I wish,' said she, +‘it were always night, because daylight shows me so many +who have betrayed me.'"—<i>Memoires De Madame De Motteville, +Tom</i>. IV., p. 60. Another proof that although these maxims are in +some cases of universal application, they were based entirely on +the experience of the age in which the author lived.]</p> +<a name="83"></a><br> +<p>83.—What men term friendship is merely a partnership +with a collection of reciprocal interests, and an exchange of +favours—in fact it is but a trade in which self love always +expects to gain something.</p> +<a name="84"></a><br> +<p>84.—It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be +deceived by our friends.</p> +<a name="85"></a><br> +<p>85.—We often persuade ourselves to love people who are +more powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our +friendship; we do not give our hearts away for the good we wish +to do, but for that we expect to receive.</p> +<a name="86"></a><br> +<p>86.—Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.</p> +<a name="87"></a><br> +<p>87.—Men would not live long in society were they not the +dupes of each other.</p> + +<p>[A maxim, adds Aimé Martin, "Which may enter into the +code of a vulgar rogue, but one is astonished to find it in a +moral treatise." Yet we have scriptural authority for it: +"Deceiving and being deceived."—2 TIM. iii. 13.]</p> +<a name="88"></a><br> +<p>88.—Self love increases or diminishes for us the good +qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we +feel with them, and we judge of their merit by the manner in +which they act towards us.</p> +<a name="89"></a><br> +<p>89.—Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his +judgment.</p> +<a name="90"></a><br> +<p>90.—In the intercourse of life, we please more by our +faults than by our good qualities.</p> +<a name="91"></a><br> +<p>91.—The largest ambition has the least appearance of +ambition when it meets with an absolute impossibility in +compassing its object.</p> +<a name="92"></a><br> +<p>92.—To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit +is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman +who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the +port belonged to him.</p> + +<p>[That is, they cured him. The madman was Thrasyllus, son of +Pythodorus. His brother Crito cured him, when he infinitely +regretted the time of his more pleasant madness.—See +Aelian, <i>Var. Hist.</i> iv. 25. So Horace— +——————"Pol, me occidistis, +amici, Non servastis," ait, "cui sic extorta voluptas Et demptus +per vim mentis gratissimus error." HOR. EP. ii—2, 138, of +the madman who was cured of a pleasant lunacy.]</p> +<a name="93"></a><br> +<p>93.—Old men delight in giving good advice as a +consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad +examples.</p> +<a name="94"></a><br> +<p>94.—Great names degrade instead of elevating those who +know not how to sustain them.</p> +<a name="95"></a><br> +<p>95.—The test of extraordinary merit is to see those who +envy it the most yet obliged to praise it.</p> +<a name="96"></a><br> +<p>96.—A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less +chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor is.</p> +<a name="97"></a><br> +<p>97.—We are deceived if we think that mind and judgment +are two different matters: judgment is but the extent of the +light of the mind. This light penetrates to the bottom of +matters; it remarks all that can be remarked, and perceives what +appears imperceptible. Therefore we must agree that it is the +extent of the light in the mind that produces all the effects +which we attribute to judgment.</p> +<a name="98"></a><br> +<p>98.—Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their +understanding.</p> +<a name="99"></a><br> +<p>99.—Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and +refined thoughts.</p> +<a name="100"></a><br> +<p>100.—Gallantry of mind is saying the most empty things +in an agreeable manner.</p> +<a name="101"></a><br> +<p>101.—Ideas often flash across our minds more complete +than we could make them after much labour.</p> +<a name="102"></a><br> +<p>102.—The head is ever the dupe of the heart.</p> + +<p>[A feeble imitation of that great thought "All folly comes +from the heart."—<i>Aimé Martin</i>. But Bonhome, in his +<i>L'art De Penser</i>, says "Plusieurs diraient en période +quarré que quelques reflexions que fasse l'esprit et +quelques resolutions qu'il prenne pour corriger ses travers le +premier sentiment du coeur renverse tous ses projets. Mais il +n'appartient qu'a M. de la Rochefoucauld de dire tout en un mot +que l'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur."]</p> +<a name="103"></a><br> +<p>103.—Those who know their minds do not necessarily know +their hearts.</p> +<a name="104"></a><br> +<p>104.—Men and things have each their proper perspective; +to judge rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of +others we can never judge rightly but at a distance.</p> +<a name="105"></a><br> +<p>105.—A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a +rational being. A man only is so who understands, who +distinguishes, who tests it.</p> +<a name="106"></a><br> +<p>106.—To understand matters rightly we should understand +their details, and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our +knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.</p> +<a name="107"></a><br> +<p>107.—One kind of flirtation is to boast we never +flirt.</p> +<a name="108"></a><br> +<p>108.—The head cannot long play the part of the +heart.</p> +<a name="109"></a><br> +<p>109.—Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its +blood, age retains its tastes by habit.</p> +<a name="110"></a><br> +<p>110.—Nothing is given so profusely as advice.</p> +<a name="111"></a><br> +<p>111.—The more we love a woman the more prone we are to +hate her.</p> +<a name="112"></a><br> +<p>112.—The blemishes of the mind, like those of the face, +increase by age.</p> +<a name="113"></a><br> +<p>113.—There may be good but there are no pleasant +marriages.</p> +<a name="114"></a><br> +<p>114.—We are inconsolable at being deceived by our +enemies and betrayed by our friends, yet still we are often +content to be thus served by ourselves.</p> +<a name="115"></a><br> +<p>115.—It is as easy unwittingly to deceive oneself as to +deceive others.</p> +<a name="116"></a><br> +<p>116.—Nothing is less sincere than the way of asking and +giving advice. The person asking seems to pay deference to the +opinion of his friend, while thinking in reality of making his +friend approve his opinion and be responsible for his conduct. +The person giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him +by eager and disinterested zeal, in doing which he is usually +guided only by his own interest or reputation.</p> + +<p>["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was which on +many occasions I have heard from people of good understanding, +‘That as to what related to private conduct no one was ever +the better for advice.' But upon further examination I have +resolved with myself that the maxim might be admitted without any +violent prejudice to mankind. For in the manner advice was +generally given there was no reason I thought to wonder it should +be so ill received, something there was which strangely inverted +the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For by what I +could observe in many occurrences of our lives, that which we +called giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our +own wisdom at another's expense. On the other side to be +instructed or to receive advice on the terms usually prescribed +to us was little better than tamely to afford another the +occasion of raising himself a character from our +defects."—Lord Shaftesbury, <i>Characteristics</i>, i., 153.]</p> +<a name="117"></a><br> +<p>117.—The most subtle of our acts is to simulate +blindness for snares that we know are set for us. We are never so +easily deceived as when trying to deceive.</p> +<a name="118"></a><br> +<p>118.—The intention of never deceiving often exposes us +to deception.</p> +<a name="119"></a><br> +<p>119.—We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to +others that at last we are disguised to ourselves.</p> + +<p>["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what does +not belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant both +of the character they leave{,} and of the character they +assume."—Burke, {<i>Reflections On The Revolution In France</i>, +(1790), Paragraph 19}.]</p> + +<p>{The translators' incorrectly cite <i>Thoughts On The Cause Of +The Present Discontents</i>.}</p> +<a name="120"></a><br> +<p>120.—We often act treacherously more from weakness than +from a fixed motive.</p> +<a name="121"></a><br> +<p>121.—We frequently do good to enable us with impunity to +do evil.</p> +<a name="122"></a><br> +<p>122.—If we conquer our passions it is more from their +weakness than from our strength.</p> +<a name="123"></a><br> +<p>123.—If we never flattered ourselves we should have but +scant pleasure.</p> +<a name="124"></a><br> +<p>124.—The most deceitful persons spend their lives in +blaming deceit, so as to use it on some great occasion to promote +some great interest.</p> +<a name="125"></a><br> +<p>125.—The daily employment of cunning marks a little +mind, it generally happens that those who resort to it in one +respect to protect themselves lay themselves open to attack in +another.</p> + +<p>["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, +too, the place of being wise." Churchill, <i>Rosciad</i>, 117.]</p> +<a name="126"></a><br> +<p>126.—Cunning and treachery are the offspring of +incapacity.</p> +<a name="127"></a><br> +<p>127.—The true way to be deceived is to think oneself +more knowing than others.</p> +<a name="128"></a><br> +<p>128.—Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, +true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.</p> +<a name="129"></a><br> +<p>129.—It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid +being deceived by cunning men.</p> +<a name="130"></a><br> +<p>130.—Weakness is the only fault which cannot be +cured.</p> +<a name="131"></a><br> +<p>131.—The smallest fault of women who give themselves up +to love is to love. [———"Faciunt graviora +coactae Imperio sexus minimumque libidine peccant." Juvenal, <i>Sat.</i> +vi., 134.]</p> +<a name="132"></a><br> +<p>132.—It is far easier to be wise for others than to be +so for oneself.</p> + +<p>[Hence the proverb, "A man who is his own lawyer has a fool +for his client."]</p> +<a name="133"></a><br> +<p>133.—The only good examples are those, that make us see +the absurdity of bad originals.</p> +<a name="134"></a><br> +<p>134.—We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have +as from those that we affect to have.</p> +<a name="135"></a><br> +<p>135.—We sometimes differ more widely from ourselves than +we do from others.</p> +<a name="136"></a><br> +<p>136.—There are some who never would have loved if they +never had heard it spoken of.</p> +<a name="137"></a><br> +<p>137.—When not prompted by vanity we say little.</p> +<a name="138"></a><br> +<p>138.—A man would rather say evil of himself than say +nothing.</p> + +<p>["Montaigne's vanity led him to talk perpetually of himself, +and as often happens to vain men, he would rather talk of his own +failings than of any foreign subject."— Hallam, <i>Literature +Of Europe</i>.]</p> +<a name="139"></a><br> +<p>139.—One of the reasons that we find so few persons +rational and agreeable in conversation is there is hardly a +person who does not think more of what he wants to say than of +his answer to what is said. The most clever and polite are +content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their +mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering from what +is said and desire to return to what they want to say. Instead of +considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to +try thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well +and to answer well are some of the greatest charms we can have in +conversation.</p> + +<p>["An absent man can make but few observations, he can pursue +nothing steadily because his absences make him lose his way. They +are very disagreeable and hardly to be tolerated in old age, but +in youth they cannot be forgiven." —Lord Chesterfield, +<i>Letter</i> 195.]</p> +<a name="140"></a><br> +<p>140.—If it was not for the company of fools, a witty man +would often be greatly at a loss.</p> +<a name="141"></a><br> +<p>141.—We often boast that we are never bored, but yet we +are so conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore +others.</p> +<a name="142"></a><br> +<p>142.—As it is the mark of great minds to say many things +in a few words, so it is that of little minds to use many words +to say nothing.</p> + +<p>["So much they talked, so very little said." Churchill, +<i>Rosciad</i>, 550.</p> + +<p>"Men who are unequal to the labour of discussing an argument +or wish to avoid it, are willing enough to suppose that much has +been proved because much has been said."— Junius, Jan. +1769.]</p> +<a name="143"></a><br> +<p>143.—It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings +that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their +merit, and when we praise them we wish to attract their +praise.</p> +<a name="144"></a><br> +<p>144.—We do not like to praise, and we never praise +without a motive. Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, +which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is +praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other +bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.</p> +<a name="145"></a><br> +<p>145.—We often select envenomed praise which, by a +reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could not have +shown by other means.</p> +<a name="146"></a><br> +<p>146.—Usually we only praise to be praised.</p> +<a name="147"></a><br> +<p>147.—Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which +is useful to praise which is treacherous.</p> +<a name="148"></a><br> +<p>148.—Some reproaches praise; some praises re- +proach.</p> + +<p>["Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without +sneering, teach the rest to sneer." Pope {<i>Essay On Man, (1733), +Epistle To Dr. Arbuthnot.</i>}]</p> +<a name="149"></a><br> +<p>149.—The refusal of praise is only the wish to be +praised twice.</p> + +<p>[The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a +desire to be praised more highly. <i>Edition</i> 1665.]</p> +<a name="150"></a><br> +<p>150.—The desire which urges us to deserve praise +strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, +and beauty, tends to increase them.</p> +<a name="151"></a><br> +<p>151.—It is easier to govern others than to prevent being +governed.</p> +<a name="152"></a><br> +<p>152.—If we never flattered ourselves the flattery of +others would not hurt us.</p> + +<p>["Adulatione servilia fingebant securi de fragilitate +credentis." Tacit. Ann. xvi.]</p> +<a name="153"></a><br> +<p>153.—Nature makes merit but fortune sets it to work.</p> +<a name="154"></a><br> +<p>154.—Fortune cures us of many faults that reason could +not.</p> +<a name="155"></a><br> +<p>155.—There are some persons who only disgust with their +abilities, there are persons who please even with their +faults.</p> +<a name="156"></a><br> +<p>156.—There are persons whose only merit consists in +saying and doing stupid things at the right time, and who ruin +all if they change their manners.</p> +<a name="157"></a><br> +<p>157.—The fame of great men ought always to be estimated +by the means used to acquire it.</p> +<a name="158"></a><br> +<p>158.—Flattery is base coin to which only our vanity +gives currency.</p> +<a name="159"></a><br> +<p>159.—It is not enough to have great qualities, we should +also have the management of them.</p> +<a name="160"></a><br> +<p>160.—However brilliant an action it should not be +esteemed great unless the result of a great motive.</p> +<a name="161"></a><br> +<p>161.—A certain harmony should be kept between actions +and ideas if we desire to estimate the effects that they +produce.</p> +<a name="162"></a><br> +<p>162.—The art of using moderate abilities to advantage +wins praise, and often acquires more reputation than real +brilliancy.</p> +<a name="163"></a><br> +<p>163.—Numberless arts appear foolish whose secre{t} +motives are most wise and weighty.</p> +<a name="164"></a><br> +<p>164.—It is much easier to seem fitted for posts we do +not fill than for those we do.</p> +<a name="165"></a><br> +<p>165.—Ability wins us the esteem of the true men, luck +that of the people.</p> +<a name="166"></a><br> +<p>166.—The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit +than merit itself.</p> +<a name="167"></a><br> +<p>167.—Avarice is more opposed to economy than to +liberality.</p> +<a name="168"></a><br> +<p>168.—However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us +on pleasantly to the end of life.</p> + +<p>["Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die." Pope: <i>Essay +On Man,</i> Ep. ii.]</p> +<a name="169"></a><br> +<p>169.—Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but +our virtue often gets the praise.</p> + +<p>["Quod segnitia erat sapientia vocaretur." Tacitus Hist. +I.]</p> +<a name="170"></a><br> +<p>170.—If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult +to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill.</p> +<a name="171"></a><br> +<p>171.—As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in +self.</p> +<a name="172"></a><br> +<p>172.—If we thoroughly consider the varied effects of +indifference we find we miscarry more in our duties than in our +interests.</p> +<a name="173"></a><br> +<p>173.—There are different kinds of curiosity: one springs +from interest, which makes us desire to know everything that may +be profitable to us; another from pride, which springs from a +desire of knowing what others are ignorant of.</p> +<a name="174"></a><br> +<p>174.—It is far better to accustom our mind to bear the +ills we have than to speculate on those which may befall us.</p> + +<p>["Rather bear th{ose} ills we have Than fly to others that we +know not of." {—Shakespeare, <i>Hamlet</i>, Act III, Scene I, +Hamlet.}]</p> +<a name="175"></a><br> +<p>175.—Constancy in love is a perpetual inconstancy which +causes our heart to attach itself to all the qualities of the +person we love in succession, sometimes giving the preference to +one, sometimes to another. This constancy is merely inconstancy +fixed, and limited to the same person.</p> +<a name="176"></a><br> +<p>176.—There are two kinds of constancy in love, one +arising from incessantly finding in the loved one fresh objects +to love, the other from regarding it as a point of honour to be +constant.</p> +<a name="177"></a><br> +<p>177.—Perseverance is not deserving of blame or praise, +as it is merely the continuance of tastes and feelings which we +can neither create or destroy.</p> +<a name="178"></a><br> +<p>178.—What makes us like new studies is not so much the +weariness we have of the old or the wish for change as the desire +to be admired by those who know more than ourselves, and the hope +of advantage over those who know less.</p> +<a name="179"></a><br> +<p>179.—We sometimes complain of the levity of our friends +to justify our own by anticipation.</p> +<a name="180"></a><br> +<p>180.—Our repentance is not so much sorrow for the ill we +have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us.</p> +<a name="181"></a><br> +<p>181.—One sort of inconstancy springs from levity or +weakness of mind, and makes us accept everyone's opinion, and +another more excusable comes from a surfeit of matter.</p> +<a name="182"></a><br> +<p>182.—Vices enter into the composition of virtues as +poison into that of medicines. Prudence collects and blends the +two and renders them useful against the ills of life.</p> +<a name="183"></a><br> +<p>183.—For the credit of virtue we must admit that the +greatest misfortunes of men are those into which they fall +through their crimes.</p> +<a name="184"></a><br> +<p>184.—We admit our faults to repair by our sincerity the +evil we have done in the opinion of others.</p> + +<p>[In the edition of 1665 this maxim stands as No. 200. We never +admit our faults except through vanity.]</p> +<a name="185"></a><br> +<p>185.—There are both heroes of evil and heroes of +good.</p> + +<p>[Ut alios industria ita hunc ignavia protulerat ad famam, +habebaturque non ganeo et profligator sed erudito luxu. +—Tacit. Ann. xvi.]</p> +<a name="186"></a><br> +<p>186.—We do not despise all who have vices, but we do +despise all who have not virtues.</p> + +<p>["If individuals have no virtues their vices may be of use to +us."—<i>Junius</i>, 5th Oct. 1771.]</p> +<a name="187"></a><br> +<p>187.—The name of virtue is as useful to our interest as +that of vice.</p> +<a name="188"></a><br> +<p>188.—The health of the mind is not less uncertain than +that of the body, and when passions seem furthest removed we are +no less in danger of infection than of falling ill when we are +well.</p> +<a name="189"></a><br> +<p>189.—It seems that nature has at man's birth fixed the +bounds of his virtues and vices.</p> +<a name="190"></a><br> +<p>190.—Great men should not have great faults.</p> +<a name="191"></a><br> +<p>191.—We may say vices wait on us in the course of our +life as the landlords with whom we successively lodge, and if we +travelled the road twice over I doubt if our experience would +make us avoid them.</p> +<a name="192"></a><br> +<p>192.—When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves with +the idea we have left them.</p> +<a name="193"></a><br> +<p>193.—There are relapses in the diseases of the mind as +in those of the body; what we call a cure is often no more than +an intermission or change of disease.</p> +<a name="194"></a><br> +<p>194.—The defects of the mind are like the wounds of the +body. Whatever care we take to heal them the scars ever remain, +and there is always danger of their reopening.</p> +<a name="195"></a><br> +<p>195.—The reason which often prevents us abandoning a +single vice is having so many.</p> +<a name="196"></a><br> +<p>196.—We easily forget those faults which are known only +to ourselves.</p> + +<p>[Seneca says "Innocentem quisque se dicit respiciens testem +non conscientiam."]</p> +<a name="197"></a><br> +<p>197.—There are men of whom we can never believe evil +without having seen it. Yet there are very few in whom we should +be surprised to see it.</p> +<a name="198"></a><br> +<p>198.—We exaggerate the glory of some men to detract from +that of others, and we should praise Prince Condé and +Marshal Turenne much less if we did not want to blame them +both.</p> + +<p>[The allusion to Condé and Turenne gives the date at +which these maxims were published in 1665. Condé and +Turenne were after their campaign with the Imperialists at the +height of their fame. It proves the truth of the remark of +Tacitus, "Populus neminem sine aemulo sinit."— Tac. Ann. +xiv.]</p> +<a name="199"></a><br> +<p>199.—The desire to appear clever often prevents our +being so.</p> +<a name="200"></a><br> +<p>200.—Virtue would not go far did not vanity escort +her.</p> +<a name="201"></a><br> +<p>201.—He who thinks he has the power to content the world +greatly deceives himself, but he who thinks that the world cannot +be content with him deceives himself yet more.</p> +<a name="202"></a><br> +<p>202.—Falsely honest men are those who disguise their +faults both to themselves and others; truly honest men are those +who know them perfectly and confess them.</p> +<a name="203"></a><br> +<p>203.—He is really wise who is nettled at nothing.</p> +<a name="204"></a><br> +<p>204.—The coldness of women is a balance and burden they +add to their beauty.</p> +<a name="205"></a><br> +<p>205.—Virtue in woman is often the love of reputation and +repose.</p> +<a name="206"></a><br> +<p>206.—He is a truly good man who desires always to bear +the inspection of good men.</p> +<a name="207"></a><br> +<p>207.—Folly follows us at all stages of life. If one +appears wise 'tis but because his folly is proportioned to his +age and fortune.</p> +<a name="208"></a><br> +<p>208.—There are foolish people who know and who skilfully +use their folly.</p> +<a name="209"></a><br> +<p>209.—Who lives without folly is not so wise as he +thinks.</p> +<a name="210"></a><br> +<p>210.—In growing old we become more foolish—and +more wise.</p> +<a name="211"></a><br> +<p>211.—There are people who are like farces, which are +praised but for a time (however foolish and distasteful they may +be).</p> + +<p>[The last clause is added from Edition of 1665.]</p> +<a name="212"></a><br> +<p>212.—Most people judge men only by success or by +fortune.</p> +<a name="213"></a><br> +<p>213.—Love of glory, fear of shame, greed of fortune, the +desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to +depreciate others are often causes of that bravery so vaunted +among men.</p> + +<p>[Junius said of the Marquis of Granby, "He was as brave as a +total absence of all feeling and reflection could make +him."—21st Jan. 1769.]</p> +<a name="214"></a><br> +<p>214.—Valour in common soldiers is a perilous method of +earning their living.</p> + +<p>["Men venture necks to gain a fortune, The soldier does it +ev{'}ry day, (Eight to the week) for sixpence pay." +{—Samuel Butler,} <i>Hudibras</i>, Part II., canto i., line +512.]</p> +<a name="215"></a><br> +<p>215.—Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two +extremes rarely found. The space between them is vast, and +embraces all other sorts of courage. The difference between them +is not less than between faces and tempers. Men will freely +expose themselves at the beginning of an action, and relax and be +easily discouraged if it should last. Some are content to satisfy +worldly honour, and beyond that will do little else. Some are not +always equally masters of their timidity. Others allow themselves +to be overcome by panic; others charge because they dare not +remain at their posts. Some may be found whose courage is +strengthened by small perils, which prepare them to face greater +dangers. Some will dare a sword cut and flinch from a bullet; +others dread bullets little and fear to fight with swords. These +varied kinds of courage agree in this, that night, by increasing +fear and concealing gallant or cowardly actions, allows men to +spare themselves. There is even a more general discretion to be +observed, for we meet with no man who does all he would have done +if he were assured of getting off scot-free; so that it is +certain that the fear of death does somewhat subtract from +valour.</p> + +<p>[See also "Table Talk of Napoleon," who agrees with this, so +far as to say that few, but himself, had a two o'clock of the +morning valour.]</p> +<a name="216"></a><br> +<p>216.—Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one +would do before all the world.</p> + +<p>["It is said of untrue valours that some men's valours are in +the eyes of them that look on."—Bacon, <i>Advancement Of +Learning</i>{, (1605), Book I, Section II, paragraph 5}.]</p> +<a name="217"></a><br> +<p>217.—Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul +which raises it above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which +the sight of great perils can arouse in it: by this strength +heroes maintain a calm aspect and preserve their reason and +liberty in the most surprising and terrible accidents.</p> +<a name="218"></a><br> +<p>218.—Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.</p> + +<p>[So Massillon, in one of his sermons, "Vice pays homage to +virtue in doing honour to her appearance."</p> + +<p>So Junius, writing to the Duke of Grafton, says, "You have +done as much mischief to the community as Machiavel, if Machiavel +had not known that an appearance of morals and religion are +useful in society."—28 Sept. 1771.]</p> +<a name="219"></a><br> +<p>219.—Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save +their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is +necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves +succeed.</p> +<a name="220"></a><br> +<p>220.—Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often +make men brave and women chaste.</p> + +<p>["Vanity bids all her sons be brave and all her daughters +chaste and courteous. But why do we need her instruction?"—Sterne, <i>Sermons</i>.]</p> +<a name="221"></a><br> +<p>221.—We do not wish to lose life; we do wish to gain +glory, and this makes brave men show more tact and address in +avoiding death, than rogues show in preserving their +fortunes.</p> +<a name="222"></a><br> +<p>222.—Few persons on the first approach of age do not +show wherein their body, or their mind, is beginning to fail.</p> +<a name="223"></a><br> +<p>223.—Gratitude is as the good faith of merchants: it +holds commerce together; and we do not pay because it is just to +pay debts, but because we shall thereby more easily find people +who will lend.</p> +<a name="224"></a><br> +<p>224.—All those who pay the debts of gratitude cannot +thereby flatter themselves that they are grateful.</p> +<a name="225"></a><br> +<p>225.—What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, +is that the pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as +to the value of the benefit.</p> + +<p>["The first foundation of friendship is not the power of +conferring benefits, but the equality with which they are +received, and may be returned."—Junius's <i>Letter To The +King.</i>]</p> +<a name="226"></a><br> +<p>226.—Too great a hurry to discharge of an obligation is +a kind of ingratitude.</p> +<a name="227"></a><br> +<p>227.—Lucky people are bad hands at correcting their +faults; they always believe that they are right when fortune +backs up their vice or folly.</p> + +<p>["The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for +the happy impute all their success to prudence and +merit."—Swift, <i>Thoughts On Various Subjects</i>]</p> +<a name="228"></a><br> +<p>228.—Pride will not owe, self-love will not pay.</p> +<a name="229"></a><br> +<p>229.—The good we have received from a man should make us +excuse the wrong he does us.</p> +<a name="230"></a><br> +<p>230.—Nothing is so infectious as example, and we never +do great good or evil without producing the like. We imitate good +actions by emulation, and bad ones by the evil of our nature, +which shame imprisons until example liberates.</p> +<a name="231"></a><br> +<p>231.—It is great folly to wish only to be wise.</p> +<a name="232"></a><br> +<p>232.—Whatever pretext we give to our afflictions it is +always interest or vanity that causes them.</p> +<a name="233"></a><br> +<p>233.—In afflictions there are various kinds of +hypocrisy. In one, under the pretext of weeping for one dear to +us we bemoan ourselves; we regret her good opinion of us, we +deplore the loss of our comfort, our pleasure, our consideration. +Thus the dead have the credit of tears shed for the living. I +affirm 'tis a kind of hypocrisy which in these afflictions +deceives itself. There is another kind not so innocent because it +imposes on all the world, that is the grief of those who aspire +to the glory of a noble and immortal sorrow. After Time, which +absorbs all, has obliterated what sorrow they had, they still +obstinately obtrude their tears, their sighs their groans, they +wear a solemn face, and try to persuade others by all their acts, +that their grief will end only with their life. This sad and +distressing vanity is commonly found in ambitious women. As their +sex closes to them all paths to glory, they strive to render +themselves celebrated by showing an inconsolable affliction. +There is yet another kind of tears arising from but small +sources, which flow easily and cease as easily. One weeps to +achieve a reputation for tenderness, weeps to be pitied, weeps to +be bewept, in fact one weeps to avoid the disgrace of not +weeping!</p> + +<p>["In grief the {<i>Pleasure</i>} is still uppermost{;} and the +affliction we suffer has no resemblance to absolute pain which is +always odious, and which we endeavour to shake off as soon as +possible."—Burke, <i>Sublime And Beautiful</i>{, (1756), Part I, +Sect. V}.]</p> +<a name="234"></a><br> +<p>234.—It is more often from pride than from ignorance +that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find +the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.</p> +<a name="235"></a><br> +<p>235.—We are easily consoled at the misfortunes of our +friends when they enable us to prove our tenderness for them.</p> +<a name="236"></a><br> +<p>236.—It would seem that even self-love may be the dupe +of goodness and forget itself when we work for others. And yet it +is but taking the shortest way to arrive at its aim, taking usury +under the pretext of giving, in fact winning everybody in a +subtle and delicate manner.</p> +<a name="237"></a><br> +<p>237.—No one should be praised for his goodness if he has +not strength enough to be wicked. All other goodness is but too +often an idleness or powerlessness of will.</p> +<a name="238"></a><br> +<p>238.—It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as +to do them too much good.</p> +<a name="239"></a><br> +<p>239.—Nothing flatters our pride so much as the +confidence of the great, because we regard it as the result of +our worth, without remembering that generally 'tis but vanity, or +the inability to keep a secret.</p> +<a name="240"></a><br> +<p>240.—We may say of conformity as distinguished from +beauty, that it is a symmetry which knows no rules, and a secret +harmony of features both one with each other and with the colour +and appearance of the person.</p> +<a name="241"></a><br> +<p>241.—Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, +although all do not practise it, some being restrained by fear, +others by sense.</p> + +<p>["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes both in +the mode and object according to her opinions."— Rousseau, +<i>Emile.</i>]</p> +<a name="242"></a><br> +<p>242.—We often bore others when we think we cannot +possibly bore them.</p> +<a name="243"></a><br> +<p>243.—Few things are impossible in themselves; +application to make them succeed fails us more often than the +means.</p> +<a name="244"></a><br> +<p>244.—Sovereign ability consists in knowing the value of +things.</p> +<a name="245"></a><br> +<p>245.—There is great ability in knowing how to conceal +one's ability.</p> + +<p>["You have accomplished a great stroke in diplomacy when you +have made others think that you have only very average +abilities."—<i>La Bruyère</i>.]</p> +<a name="246"></a><br> +<p>246.—What seems generosity is often disguised ambition, +that despises small to run after greater interest.</p> +<a name="247"></a><br> +<p>247.—The fidelity of most men is merely an invention of +self-love to win confidence; a method to place us above others +and to render us depositaries of the most important matters.</p> +<a name="248"></a><br> +<p>248.—Magnanimity despises all, to win all.</p> +<a name="249"></a><br> +<p>249.—There is no less eloquence in the voice, in the +eyes and in the air of a speaker than in his choice of words.</p> +<a name="250"></a><br> +<p>250.—True eloquence consists in saying all that should +be, not all that could be said.</p> +<a name="251"></a><br> +<p>251.—There are people whose faults become them, others +whose very virtues disgrace them.</p> + +<p>["There are faults which do him honour, and virtues that +disgrace him."—Junius, <i>Letter Of 28th May, 1770.</i>]</p> +<a name="252"></a><br> +<p>252.—It is as common to change one's tastes, as it is +uncommon to change one's inclinations.</p> +<a name="253"></a><br> +<p>253.—Interest sets at work all sorts of virtues and +vices.</p> +<a name="254"></a><br> +<p>254.—Humility is often a feigned submission which we +employ to supplant others. It is one of the devices of Pride to +lower us to raise us; and truly pride transforms itself in a +thousand ways, and is never so well disguised and more able to +deceive than when it hides itself under the form of humility.</p> + +<p>["Grave and plausible enough to be thought fit for busi- +ness."—Junius, <i>Letter To The Duke Of Grafton</i>.</p> + +<p>"He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of +gentility, And the devil was pleased, for his darling sin Is the +pride that apes humility." Southey, <i>Devil's Walk</i>.]</p> + +<p>{There are numerous corrections necessary for this quotation; +I will keep the original above so you can compare the correct +passages:</p> + +<p>"He passed a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of +gentility, And he owned with a grin, That his favourite sin Is +pride that apes humility." —Southey, <i>Devil's Walk</i>, Stanza +8.</p> + +<p>"And the devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that +apes humility." —Samuel Taylor Coleridge, <i>The Devil's +Thoughts</i>}</p> +<a name="255"></a><br> +<p>255.—All feelings have their peculiar tone of voice, +gestures and looks, and this harmony, as it is good or bad, +pleasant or unpleasant, makes people agreeable or +disagreeable.</p> +<a name="256"></a><br> +<p>256.—In all professions we affect a part and an +appearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world is merely +composed of actors.</p> + +<p>["All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely +players."—Shakespeare, <i>As You Like It</i>{, Act II, Scene VII, +Jaques}.</p> + +<p>"Life is no more than a dramatic scene, in which the hero +should preserve his consistency to the last."—Junius.]</p> +<a name="257"></a><br> +<p>257.—Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body +invented to conceal the want of mind.</p> + +<p>["Gravity is the very essence of +imposture."—Shaftesbury, <i>Characteristics</i>, p. 11, vol. I. +"The very essence of gravity is design, and consequently deceit; +a taught trick to gain credit with the world for more sense and +knowledge than a man was worth, and that with all its pretensions +it was no better, but often worse, than what a French wit had +long ago defined it—a mysterious carriage of the body to +cover the defects of the mind."—Sterne, <i>Tristram Shandy</i>, +vol. I., chap. ii.]</p> +<a name="258"></a><br> +<p>258.—Good taste arises more from judgment than wit.</p> +<a name="259"></a><br> +<p>259.—The pleasure of love is in loving, we are happier +in the passion we feel than in that we inspire.</p> +<a name="260"></a><br> +<p>260.—Civility is but a desire to receive civility, and +to be esteemed polite.</p> +<a name="261"></a><br> +<p>261.—The usual education of young people is to inspire +them with a second self-love.</p> +<a name="262"></a><br> +<p>262.—There is no passion wherein self-love reigns so +powerfully as in love, and one is always more ready to sacrifice +the peace of the loved one than his own.</p> +<a name="263"></a><br> +<p>263.—What we call liberality is often but the vanity of +giving, which we like more than that we give away.</p> +<a name="264"></a><br> +<p>264.—Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the +ills of others. It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into +which we may fall. We help others that on like occasions we may +be helped ourselves, and these services which we render, are in +reality benefits we confer on ourselves by anticipation.</p> + +<p>["<i>Grief</i> for the calamity of another is pity, and ariseth from +the imagination that a like calamity may befal himself{;} and +therefore is called compassion."—<i>Hobbes' Leviathan</i>{, +(1651), Part I, Chapter VI}.]</p> +<a name="265"></a><br> +<p>265.—A narrow mind begets obstinacy, and we do not +easily believe what we cannot see.</p> + +<p>["Stiff in opinion, always in the wrong." Dryden, <i>Absalom And +Achitophel</i>{, line 547}.]</p> +<a name="266"></a><br> +<p>266.—We deceive ourselves if we believe that there are +violent passions like ambition and love that can triumph over +others. Idleness, languishing as she is, does not often fail in +being mistress; she usurps authority over all the plans and +actions of life; imperceptibly consuming and destroying both +passions and virtues.</p> +<a name="267"></a><br> +<p>267.—A quickness in believing evil without having +sufficiently examined it, is the effect of pride and laziness. We +wish to find the guilty, and we do not wish to trouble ourselves +in examining the crime.</p> +<a name="268"></a><br> +<p>268.—We credit judges with the meanest motives, and yet +we desire our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment +of men, who are all, either from their jealousy or pre-occupation +or want of intelligence, opposed to us—and yet 'tis only to +make these men decide in our favour that we peril in so many ways +both our peace and our life.</p> +<a name="269"></a><br> +<p>269.—No man is clever enough to know all the evil he +does.</p> +<a name="270"></a><br> +<p>270.—One honour won is a surety for more.</p> +<a name="271"></a><br> +<p>271.—Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the fever +of reason.</p> + +<p>["The best of life is but intoxication."—{Lord Byron, } +Don Juan{, Canto II, stanza 179}. In the 1st Edition, 1665, the +maxim finishes with—"it is the fever of health, the folly +of reason."]</p> +<a name="272"></a><br> +<p>272.—Nothing should so humiliate men who have deserved +great praise, as the care they have taken to acquire it by the +smallest means.</p> +<a name="273"></a><br> +<p>273.—There are persons of whom the world approves who +have no merit beyond the vices they use in the affairs of +life.</p> +<a name="274"></a><br> +<p>274.—The beauty of novelty is to love as the flower to +the fruit; it lends a lustre which is easily lost, but which +never returns.</p> +<a name="275"></a><br> +<p>275.—Natural goodness, which boasts of being so +apparent, is often smothered by the least interest.</p> +<a name="276"></a><br> +<p>276.—Absence extinguishes small passions and increases +great ones, as the wind will blow out a candle, and blow in a +fire.</p> +<a name="277"></a><br> +<p>277.—Women often think they love when they do not love. +The business of a love affair, the emotion of mind that sentiment +induces, the natural bias towards the pleasure of being loved, +the difficulty of refusing, persuades them that they have real +passion when they have but flirtation.</p> + +<p>["And if in fact she takes a {"}<i>Grande Passion</i>{"}, It is a +very serious thing indeed: Nine times in ten 'tis but caprice or +fashion, Coquetry, or a wish to take the lead, The pride of a +mere child with a new sash on. Or wish to make a rival's bosom +bleed: But the {<i>Tenth</i>} instance will be a tornado, For there's no +saying what they will or may do." {—Lord Byron, }<i>Don Juan</i>, +canto xii. stanza 77.]</p> +<a name="278"></a><br> +<p>278.—What makes us so often discontented with those who +transact business for us is that they almost always abandon the +interest of their friends for the interest of the business, +because they wish to have the honour of succeeding in that which +they have undertaken.</p> +<a name="279"></a><br> +<p>279.—When we exaggerate the tenderness of our friends +towards us, it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to +exhibit our own merit.</p> +<a name="280"></a><br> +<p>280.—The praise we give to new comers into the world +arises from the envy we bear to those who are established.</p> +<a name="281"></a><br> +<p>281.—Pride, which inspires, often serves to moderate +envy.</p> +<a name="282"></a><br> +<p>282.—Some disguised lies so resemble truth, that we +should judge badly were we not deceived.</p> +<a name="283"></a><br> +<p>283.—Sometimes there is not less ability in knowing how +to use than in giving good advice.</p> +<a name="284"></a><br> +<p>284.—There are wicked people who would be much less +dangerous if they were wholly without goodness.</p> +<a name="285"></a><br> +<p>285.—Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its name, +nevertheless one can say it is the good sense of pride, the most +noble way of receiving praise.</p> +<a name="286"></a><br> +<p>286.—It is impossible to love a second time those whom +we have really ceased to love.</p> +<a name="287"></a><br> +<p>287.—Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so many +resources on the same matter, as the lack of intelligence makes +us hesitate at each thing our imagination presents, and hinders +us from at first discerning which is the best.</p> +<a name="288"></a><br> +<p>288.—There are matters and maladies which at certain +times remedies only serve to make worse; true skill consists in +knowing when it is dangerous to use them.</p> +<a name="289"></a><br> +<p>289.—Affected simplicity is refined imposture.</p> + +<p>[Domitianus simplicitatis ac modestiae imagine studium +litterarum et amorem carminum simulabat quo velaret animum et +fratris aemulationi subduceretur.—Tacitus, <i>Ann.</i> iv.]</p> +<a name="290"></a><br> +<p>290.—There are as many errors of temper as of mind.</p> +<a name="291"></a><br> +<p>291.—Man's merit, like the crops, has its season.</p> +<a name="292"></a><br> +<p>292.—One may say of temper as of many buildings; it has +divers aspects, some agreeable, others disagreeable.</p> +<a name="293"></a><br> +<p>293.—Moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and +overcoming Ambition: they are never found together. Moderation is +the languor and sloth of the soul, Ambition its activity and +heat.</p> +<a name="294"></a><br> +<p>294.—We always like those who admire us, we do not +always like those whom we admire.</p> +<a name="295"></a><br> +<p>295.—It is well that we know not all our wishes.</p> +<a name="296"></a><br> +<p>296.—It is difficult to love those we do not esteem, but +it is no less so to love those whom we esteem much more than +ourselves.</p> +<a name="297"></a><br> +<p>297.—Bodily temperaments have a common course and rule +which imperceptibly affect our will. They advance in combination, +and successively exercise a secret empire over us, so that, +without our perceiving it, they become a great part of all our +actions.</p> +<a name="298"></a><br> +<p>298.—The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of +receiving greater benefits.</p> + +<p>[Hence the common proverb "Gratitude is merely a lively sense +of favors to come."]</p> +<a name="299"></a><br> +<p>299.—Almost all the world takes pleasure in paying small +debts; many people show gratitude for trifling, but there is +hardly one who does not show ingratitude for great favours.</p> +<a name="300"></a><br> +<p>300.—There are follies as catching as infections.</p> +<a name="301"></a><br> +<p>301.—Many people despise, but few know how to bestow +wealth.</p> +<a name="302"></a><br> +<p>302.—Only in things of small value we usually are bold +enough not to trust to appearances.</p> +<a name="303"></a><br> +<p>303.—Whatever good quality may be imputed to us, we +ourselves find nothing new in it.</p> +<a name="304"></a><br> +<p>304.—We may forgive those who bore us, we cannot forgive +those whom we bore.</p> +<a name="305"></a><br> +<p>305.—Interest which is accused of all our misdeeds often +should be praised for our good deeds.</p> +<a name="306"></a><br> +<p>306.—We find very few ungrateful people when we are able +to confer favours.</p> +<a name="307"></a><br> +<p>307.—It is as proper to be boastful alone as it is +ridiculous to be so in company.</p> +<a name="308"></a><br> +<p>308.—Moderation is made a virtue to limit the ambition +of the great; to console ordinary people for their small fortune +and equally small ability.</p> +<a name="309"></a><br> +<p>309.—There are persons fated to be fools, who commit +follies not only by choice, but who are forced by fortune to do +so.</p> +<a name="310"></a><br> +<p>310.—Sometimes there are accidents in our life the +skilful extrication from which demands a little folly.</p> +<a name="311"></a><br> +<p>311.—If there be men whose folly has never appeared, it +is because it has never been closely looked for.</p> +<a name="312"></a><br> +<p>312.—Lovers are never tired of each other,—they +always speak of themselves.</p> +<a name="313"></a><br> +<p>313.—How is it that our memory is good enough to retain +the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough +to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?</p> + +<p>["Old men who yet retain the memory of things past, and forget +how often they have told them, are most tedious +companions."—Montaigne, {<i>Essays</i>, Book I, Chapter IX}.]</p> +<a name="314"></a><br> +<p>314.—The extreme delight we take in talking of ourselves +should warn us that it is not shared by those who listen.</p> +<a name="315"></a><br> +<p>315.—What commonly hinders us from showing the recesses +of our heart to our friends, is not the distrust we have of them, +but that we have of ourselves.</p> +<a name="316"></a><br> +<p>316.—Weak persons cannot be sincere.</p> +<a name="317"></a><br> +<p>317.—'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful +man; but it is unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel.</p> +<a name="318"></a><br> +<p>318.—We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, but +there are none to set straight a cross-grained spirit.</p> +<a name="319"></a><br> +<p>319.—If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults we +cannot long preserve the feelings we should hold towards our +friends and benefactors.</p> +<a name="320"></a><br> +<p>320.—To praise princes for virtues they do not possess +is but to reproach them with impunity.</p> + +<p>["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by Pope +from a poem which has not survived, "The Garland," by Mr. +Broadhurst. "In some cases exaggerated or inappropriate praise +becomes the most severe satire."— Scott, <i>Woodstock.</i>]</p> +<a name="321"></a><br> +<p>321.—We are nearer loving those who hate us, than those +who love us more than we desire.</p> +<a name="322"></a><br> +<p>322.—Those only are despicable who fear to be +despised.</p> +<a name="323"></a><br> +<p>323.—Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune than +our goods.</p> +<a name="324"></a><br> +<p>324.—There is more self-love than love in jealousy.</p> +<a name="325"></a><br> +<p>325.—We often comfort ourselves by the weakness of +evils, for which reason has not the strength to console us.</p> +<a name="326"></a><br> +<p>326.—Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour itself.</p> + +<p>["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, but it +cannot dishonour; it is vice which confers dishonour."]</p> +<a name="327"></a><br> +<p>327.—We own to small faults to persuade others that we +have not great ones.</p> +<a name="328"></a><br> +<p>328.—Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred.</p> +<a name="329"></a><br> +<p>329.—We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery +—we only dislike the method.</p> + +<p>["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, He says he +does, being then most flattered." Shakespeare, <i>Julius Caesar</i> +{,Act II, Scene I, Decius}.]</p> +<a name="330"></a><br> +<p>330.—We pardon in the degree that we love.</p> +<a name="331"></a><br> +<p>331.—It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress +when one is happy, than when we are ill-treated by her.</p> + +<p>[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.—Ovid, +<i>Amores,</i> ii. 19.]</p> +<a name="332"></a><br> +<p>332.—Women do not know all their powers of +flirtation.</p> +<a name="333"></a><br> +<p>333.—Women cannot be completely severe unless they +hate.</p> +<a name="334"></a><br> +<p>334.—Women can less easily resign flirtations than +love.</p> +<a name="335"></a><br> +<p>335.—In love deceit almost always goes further than +mistrust.</p> +<a name="336"></a><br> +<p>336.—There is a kind of love, the excess of which +forbids jealousy.</p> +<a name="337"></a><br> +<p>337.—There are certain good qualities as there are +senses, and those who want them can neither perceive nor +understand them.</p> +<a name="338"></a><br> +<p>338.—When our hatred is too bitter it places us below +those whom we hate.</p> +<a name="339"></a><br> +<p>339.—We only appreciate our good or evil in proportion +to our self-love.</p> +<a name="340"></a><br> +<p>340.—The wit of most women rather strengthens their +folly than their reason.</p> + +<p>["Women have an entertaining tattle, and sometimes wit, but +for solid reasoning and good sense I never knew one in my life +that had it, and who reasoned and acted consequentially for four +and twenty hours together."—Lord Chesterfield, <i>Letter</i> +129.]</p> +<a name="341"></a><br> +<p>341.—The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety +than the coldness of age.</p> +<a name="342"></a><br> +<p>342.—The accent of our native country dwells in the +heart and mind as well as on the tongue.</p> +<a name="343"></a><br> +<p>343.—To be a great man one should know how to profit by +every phase of fortune.</p> +<a name="344"></a><br> +<p>344.—Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities +which chance discovers.</p> +<a name="345"></a><br> +<p>345.—Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to +ourselves.</p> +<a name="346"></a><br> +<p>346.—If a woman's temper is beyond control there can be +no control of the mind or heart.</p> +<a name="347"></a><br> +<p>347.—We hardly find any persons of good sense, save +those who agree with us.</p> + +<p>["That was excellently observed, say I, when I read an author +when his opinion agrees with mine."—Swift, <i>Thoughts On +Various Subjects.</i>]</p> +<a name="348"></a><br> +<p>348.—When one loves one doubts even what one most +believes.</p> +<a name="349"></a><br> +<p>349.—The greatest miracle of love is to eradicate +flirtation.</p> +<a name="350"></a><br> +<p>350.—Why we hate with so much bitterness those who +deceive us is because they think themselves more clever than we +are.</p> + +<p>["I could pardon all his (Louis XI.'s) deceit, but I cannot +forgive his supposing me capable of the gross folly of being +duped by his professions."—Sir Walter Scott, <i>Quentin +Durward.</i>]</p> +<a name="351"></a><br> +<p>351.—We have much trouble to break with one, when we no +longer are in love.</p> +<a name="352"></a><br> +<p>352.—We almost always are bored with persons with whom +we should not be bored.</p> +<a name="353"></a><br> +<p>353.—A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a +beast.</p> +<a name="354"></a><br> +<p>354.—There are certain defects which well mounted +glitter like virtue itself.</p> +<a name="355"></a><br> +<p>355.—Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our regret +is greater than our grief, and others for whom our grief is +greater than our regret.</p> +<a name="356"></a><br> +<p>356.—Usually we only praise heartily those who admire +us.</p> +<a name="357"></a><br> +<p>357.—Little minds are too much wounded by little things; +great minds see all and are not even hurt.</p> +<a name="358"></a><br> +<p>358.—Humility is the true proof of Christian virtues; +without it we retain all our faults, and they are only covered by +pride to hide them from others, and often from ourselves.</p> +<a name="359"></a><br> +<p>359.—Infidelities should extinguish love, and we ought +not to be jealous when we have cause to be so. No persons escape +causing jealousy who are worthy of exciting it.</p> +<a name="360"></a><br> +<p>360.—We are more humiliated by the least infidelity +towards us, than by our greatest towards others.</p> +<a name="361"></a><br> +<p>361.—Jealousy is always born with love, but does not +always die with it.</p> +<a name="362"></a><br> +<p>362.—Most women do not grieve so much for the death of +their lovers for love's-sake, as to show they were worthy of +being beloved.</p> +<a name="363"></a><br> +<p>363.—The evils we do to others give us less pain than +those we do to ourselves.</p> +<a name="364"></a><br> +<p>364.—We well know that it is bad taste to talk of our +wives; but we do not so well know that it is the same to speak of +ourselves.</p> +<a name="365"></a><br> +<p>365.—There are virtues which degenerate into vices when +they arise from Nature, and others which when acquired are never +perfect. For example, reason must teach us to manage our estate +and our confidence, while Nature should have given us goodness +and valour.</p> +<a name="366"></a><br> +<p>366.—However we distrust the sincerity of those whom we +talk with, we always believe them more sincere with us than with +others.</p> +<a name="367"></a><br> +<p>367.—There are few virtuous women who are not tired of +their part.</p> + +<p>["Every woman is at heart a rake."-–Pope. <i>Moral Essays,</i> +ii.]</p> +<a name="368"></a><br> +<p>368.—The greater number of good women are like concealed +treasures, safe as no one has searched for them.</p> +<a name="369"></a><br> +<p>369.—The violences we put upon ourselves to escape love +are often more cruel than the cruelty of those we love.</p> +<a name="370"></a><br> +<p>370.—There are not many cowards who know the whole of +their fear.</p> +<a name="371"></a><br> +<p>371.—It is generally the fault of the loved one not to +perceive when love ceases.</p> +<a name="372"></a><br> +<p>372.—Most young people think they are natural when they +are only boorish and rude.</p> +<a name="373"></a><br> +<p>373.—Some tears after having deceived others deceive +ourselves.</p> +<a name="374"></a><br> +<p>374.—If we think we love a woman for love of herself we +are greatly deceived.</p> +<a name="375"></a><br> +<p>375.—Ordinary men commonly condemn what is beyond +them.</p> +<a name="376"></a><br> +<p>376.—Envy is destroyed by true friendship, flirtation by +true love.</p> +<a name="377"></a><br> +<p>377.—The greatest mistake of penetration is not to have +fallen short, but to have gone too far.</p> +<a name="378"></a><br> +<p>378.—We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the +conduct.</p> +<a name="379"></a><br> +<p>379.—As our merit declines so also does our taste.</p> +<a name="380"></a><br> +<p>380.—Fortune makes visible our virtues or our vices, as +light does objects.</p> +<a name="381"></a><br> +<p>381.—The struggle we undergo to remain faithful to one +we love is little better than infidelity.</p> +<a name="382"></a><br> +<p>382.—Our actions are like the rhymed ends of blank +verses (<i>Bouts-Rimés</i>) where to each one puts what +construction he pleases.</p> + +<p>[The <i>Bouts-Rimés</i> was a literary game popular in the +17th and 18th centuries—the rhymed words at the end of a +line being given for others to fill up. Thus Horace Walpole being +given, "brook, why, crook, I," returned the burlesque +verse— "I sits with my toes in a <i>Brook</i>, And if any one axes +me <i>Why?</i> I gies 'em a rap with my <i>Crook,</i> 'Tis constancy makes me, +ses I."]</p> +<a name="383"></a><br> +<p>383.—The desire of talking about ourselves, and of +putting our faults in the light we wish them to be seen, forms a +great part of our sincerity.</p> +<a name="384"></a><br> +<p>384.—We should only be astonished at still being able to +be astonished.</p> +<a name="385"></a><br> +<p>385.—It is equally as difficult to be contented when one +has too much or too little love.</p> +<a name="386"></a><br> +<p>386.—No people are more often wrong than those who will +not allow themselves to be wrong.</p> +<a name="387"></a><br> +<p>387.—A fool has not stuff in him to be good.</p> +<a name="388"></a><br> +<p>388.—If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at least +she makes them totter.</p> +<a name="389"></a><br> +<p>389.—What makes the vanity of others unsupportable is +that it wounds our own.</p> +<a name="390"></a><br> +<p>390.—We give up more easily our interest than our +taste.</p> +<a name="391"></a><br> +<p>391.—Fortune appears so blind to none as to those to +whom she has done no good.</p> +<a name="392"></a><br> +<p>392.—We should manage fortune like our health, enjoy it +when it is good, be patient when it is bad, and never resort to +strong remedies but in an extremity.</p> +<a name="393"></a><br> +<p>393.—Awkwardness sometimes disappears in the camp, never +in the court.</p> +<a name="394"></a><br> +<p>394.—A man is often more clever than one other, but not +than all others.</p> + +<p>["Singuli decipere ac decipi possunt, nemo omnes, omnes +neminem fefellerunt."—Pliny{ the Younger, <i>Panegyricus,</i> +LXII}.]</p> +<a name="395"></a><br> +<p>395.—We are often less unhappy at being deceived by one +we loved, than on being deceived.</p> +<a name="396"></a><br> +<p>396.—We keep our first lover for a long time—if we +do not get a second.</p> +<a name="397"></a><br> +<p>397.—We have not the courage to say generally that we +have no faults, and that our enemies have no good qualities; but +in fact we are not far from believing so.</p> +<a name="398"></a><br> +<p>398.—Of all our faults that which we most readily admit +is idleness: we believe that it makes all virtues ineffectual, +and that without utterly destroying, it at least suspends their +operation.</p> +<a name="399"></a><br> +<p>399.—There is a kind of greatness which does not depend +upon fortune: it is a certain manner what distinguishes us, and +which seems to destine us for great things; it is the value we +insensibly set upon ourselves; it is by this quality that we gain +the deference of other men, and it is this which commonly raises +us more above them, than birth, rank, or even merit itself.</p> +<a name="400"></a><br> +<p>400.—There may be talent without position, but there is +no position without some kind of talent.</p> +<a name="401"></a><br> +<p>401.—Rank is to merit what dress is to a pretty +woman.</p> +<a name="402"></a><br> +<p>402.—What we find the least of in flirtation is +love.</p> +<a name="403"></a><br> +<p>403.—Fortune sometimes uses our faults to exalt us, and +there are tiresome people whose deserts would be ill rewarded if +we did not desire to purchase their absence.</p> +<a name="404"></a><br> +<p>404.—It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our +hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the +passions that have the power of bringing them to light, and +sometimes give us views more true and more perfect than art could +possibly do.</p> +<a name="405"></a><br> +<p>405.—We reach quite inexperienced the different stages +of life, and often, in spite of the number of our years, we lack +experience.</p> + +<p>["To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship +which illumine only the track it has passed."— +Coleridge.]</p> +<a name="406"></a><br> +<p>406.—Flirts make it a point of honour to be jealous of +their lovers, to conceal their envy of other women.</p> +<a name="407"></a><br> +<p>407.—It may well be that those who have trapped us by +their tricks do not seem to us so foolish as we seem to ourselves +when trapped by the tricks of others.</p> +<a name="408"></a><br> +<p>408.—The most dangerous folly of old persons who have +been loveable is to forget that they are no longer so.</p> + +<p>["Every woman who is not absolutely ugly thinks herself +handsome. The suspicion of age no woman, let her be ever so old, +forgives."—Lord Chesterfield, <i>Letter</i> 129.]</p> +<a name="409"></a><br> +<p>409.—We should often be ashamed of our very best actions +if the world only saw the motives which caused them.</p> +<a name="410"></a><br> +<p>410.—The greatest effort of friendship is not to show +our faults to a friend, but to show him his own.</p> +<a name="411"></a><br> +<p>4ll.—We have few faults which are not far more excusable +than the means we adopt to hide them.</p> +<a name="412"></a><br> +<p>412.—Whatever disgrace we may have deserved, it is +almost always in our power to re-establish our character.</p> + +<p>["This is hardly a period at which the most irregular +character may not be redeemed. The mistakes of one sin find a +retreat in patriotism, those of the other in devotion." —Junius, +<i>Letter To The King</i>.]</p> +<a name="413"></a><br> +<p>413.—A man cannot please long who has only one kind of +wit.</p> + +<p>[According to Segrais this maxim was a hit at Racine and +Boileau, who, despising ordinary conversation, talked incessantly +of literature; but there is some doubt as to Segrais' +statement.—Aimé Martin.]</p> +<a name="414"></a><br> +<p>414.—Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit.</p> + +<p>415.—Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with +impunity.</p> +<a name="415"></a><br> +<p>416.—The vivacity which increases in old age is not far +removed from folly.</p> +<a name="416"></a><br> +<p>["How ill {white} hairs become {a} fool and jester."— +Shakespeare{, King Henry IV, Part II, Act. V, Scene V, King}.</p> + +<p>"Can age itself forget that you are now in the last act of +life? Can grey hairs make folly venerable, and is there no period +to be reserved for meditation or retirement."— Junius, <i>To +The Duke Of Bedford</i>, 19th Sept. 1769.]</p> +<a name="417"></a><br> +<p>417.—In love the quickest is always the best cure.</p> +<a name="418"></a><br> +<p>418.—Young women who do not want to appear flirts, and +old men who do not want to appear ridiculous, should not talk of +love as a matter wherein they can have any interest.</p> +<a name="419"></a><br> +<p>419.—We may seem great in a post beneath our capacity, +but we oftener seem little in a post above it.</p> +<a name="420"></a><br> +<p>420.—We often believe we have constancy in misfortune +when we have nothing but debasement, and we suffer misfortunes +without regarding them as cowards who let themselves be killed +from fear of defending themselves.</p> +<a name="421"></a><br> +<p>421.—Conceit causes more conversation than wit.</p> +<a name="422"></a><br> +<p>422.—All passions make us commit some faults, love alone +makes us ridiculous.</p> + +<p>["In love we all are fools alike."—Gay{,<i> The Beggar's +Opera,</i> (1728), Act III, Scene I, Lucy}.]</p> +<a name="423"></a><br> +<p>423.—Few know how to be old.</p> +<a name="424"></a><br> +<p>424.—We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of +what we have, thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy.</p> +<a name="425"></a><br> +<p>425.—Penetration has a spice of divination in it which +tickles our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.</p> +<a name="426"></a><br> +<p>426.—The charm of novelty and old custom, however +opposite to each other, equally blind us to the faults of our +friends.</p> + +<p>["Two things the most opposite blind us equally, custom and +novelty."-La Bruyère, <i>Des Judgements.</i>]</p> +<a name="427"></a><br> +<p>427.—Most friends sicken us of friendship, most devotees +of devotion.</p> +<a name="428"></a><br> +<p>428.—We easily forgive in our friends those faults we do +not perceive.</p> +<a name="429"></a><br> +<p>429.—Women who love, pardon more readily great +indiscretions than little infidelities.</p> +<a name="430"></a><br> +<p>430.—In the old age of love as in life we still survive +for the evils, though no longer for the pleasures.</p> + +<p>["The youth of friendship is better than its old age." +—Hazlitt's <i>Characteristics,</i> 229.]</p> +<a name="431"></a><br> +<p>431.—Nothing prevents our being unaffected so much as +our desire to seem so.</p> +<a name="432"></a><br> +<p>432.—To praise good actions heartily is in some measure +to take part in them.</p> +<a name="433"></a><br> +<p>433.—The most certain sign of being born with great +qualities is to be born without envy.</p> + +<p>["Nemo alienae virtuti invidet qui satis confidet suae." +—Cicero <i>In Marc Ant.</i>]</p> +<a name="434"></a><br> +<p>434.—When our friends have deceived us we owe them but +indifference to the tokens of their friendship, yet for their +misfortunes we always owe them pity.</p> +<a name="435"></a><br> +<p>435.—Luck and temper rule the world.</p> +<a name="436"></a><br> +<p>436.—It is far easier to know men than to know man.</p> +<a name="437"></a><br> +<p>437.—We should not judge of a man's merit by his great +abilities, but by the use he makes of them.</p> +<a name="438"></a><br> +<p>438.—There is a certain lively gratitude which not only +releases us from benefits received, but which also, by making a +return to our friends as payment, renders them indebted to +us.</p> + +<p>["And understood not that a grateful mind, By owing owes not, +but is at once Indebted and discharged." Milton. <i>Paradise +Lost.</i>]</p> +<a name="439"></a><br> +<p>439.—We should earnestly desire but few things if we +clearly knew what we desired.</p> +<a name="440"></a><br> +<p>440.—The cause why the majority of women are so little +given to friendship is, that it is insipid after having felt +love.</p> + +<p>["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect +friendship, and those who have united themselves to friendship +have nought to do with love."—La Bruyère. <i>Du +Coeur.</i>]</p> +<a name="441"></a><br> +<p>441.—As in friendship so in love, we are often happier +from ignorance than from knowledge.</p> +<a name="442"></a><br> +<p>442.—We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth to +correct.</p> +<a name="443"></a><br> +<p>443.—The most violent passions give some respite, but +vanity always disturbs us.</p> +<a name="444"></a><br> +<p>444.—Old fools are more foolish than young fools.</p> + +<p>["<i>Malvolio.</i> Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} +make the better fool. <i>Clown.</i> God send you, sir, a speedy +infirmity{,} for the better increasing of your +folly."—Shakespeare. <i>Twelfth Night</i>{, Act I, Scene V}.]</p> +<a name="445"></a><br> +<p>445.—Weakness is more hostile to virtue than vice.</p> +<a name="446"></a><br> +<p>446.—What makes the grief of shame and jealousy so acute +is that vanity cannot aid us in enduring them.</p> +<a name="447"></a><br> +<p>447.—Propriety is the least of all laws, but the most +obeyed.</p> + +<p>[Honour has its supreme laws, to which education is bound to +conform....Those things which honour forbids are more rigorously +forbidden when the laws do not concur in the prohibition, and +those it commands are more strongly insisted upon when they +happen not to be commanded by law.—Montesquieu, {<i>The Spirit +Of Laws,</i> }b. 4, c. ii.]</p> +<a name="448"></a><br> +<p>448.—A well-trained mind has less difficulty in +submitting to than in guiding an ill-trained mind.</p> +<a name="449"></a><br> +<p>449.—When fortune surprises us by giving us some great +office without having gradually led us to expect it, or without +having raised our hopes, it is well nigh impossible to occupy it +well, and to appear worthy to fill it.</p> +<a name="450"></a><br> +<p>450.—Our pride is often increased by what we retrench +from our other faults.</p> + +<p>["The loss of sensual pleasures was supplied and compensated +by spiritual pride."—Gibbon. <i>Decline And Fall,</i> chap. +xv.]</p> +<a name="451"></a><br> +<p>451.—No fools so wearisome as those who have some +wit.</p> +<a name="452"></a><br> +<p>452.—No one believes that in every respect he is behind +the man he considers the ablest in the world.</p> +<a name="453"></a><br> +<p>453.—In great matters we should not try so much to +create opportunities as to utilise those that offer +themselves.</p> + +<p>[Yet Lord Bacon says "A wise man will make more opportunities +than he finds."—Essays, {(1625), "Of Ceremonies and +Respects"}]</p> +<a name="454"></a><br> +<p>454.—There are few occasions when we should make a bad +bargain by giving up the good on condition that no ill was said +of us.</p> +<a name="455"></a><br> +<p>455.—However disposed the world may be to judge wrongly, +it far oftener favours false merit than does justice to true.</p> +<a name="456"></a><br> +<p>456.—Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with +discretion.</p> +<a name="457"></a><br> +<p>457.—We should gain more by letting the world see what +we are than by trying to seem what we are not.</p> +<a name="458"></a><br> +<p>458.—Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions +they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.</p> +<a name="459"></a><br> +<p>459.—There are many remedies to cure love, yet none are +infallible.</p> +<a name="460"></a><br> +<p>460.—It would be well for us if we knew all our passions +make us do.</p> +<a name="461"></a><br> +<p>461.—Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of life +all the pleasures of youth.</p> +<a name="462"></a><br> +<p>462.—The same pride which makes us blame faults from +which we believe ourselves free causes us to despise the good +qualities we have not.</p> +<a name="463"></a><br> +<p>463.—There is often more pride than goodness in our +grief for our enemies' miseries; it is to show how superior we +are to them, that we bestow on them the sign of our +compassion.</p> +<a name="464"></a><br> +<p>464.—There exists an excess of good and evil which +surpasses our comprehension.</p> +<a name="465"></a><br> +<p>465.—Innocence is most fortunate if it finds the same +protection as crime.</p> +<a name="466"></a><br> +<p>466.—Of all the violent passions the one that becomes a +woman best is love.</p> +<a name="467"></a><br> +<p>467.—Vanity makes us sin more against our taste than +reason.</p> +<a name="468"></a><br> +<p>468.—Some bad qualities form great talents.</p> +<a name="469"></a><br> +<p>469.—We never desire earnestly what we desire in +reason.</p> +<a name="470"></a><br> +<p>470.—All our qualities are uncertain and doubtful, both +the good as well as the bad, and nearly all are creatures of +opportunities.</p> +<a name="471"></a><br> +<p>471.—In their first passion women love their lovers, in +all the others they love love.</p> + +<p>["In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all her +others what she loves is love." {—Lord Byron, }Don Juan, +Canto iii., stanza 3. "We truly love once, the first time; the +subsequent passions are more or less involuntary." La +Bruyère: <i>Du Coeur</i>.]</p> +<a name="472"></a><br> +<p>472.—Pride as the other passions has its follies. We are +ashamed to own we are jealous, and yet we plume ourselves in +having been and being able to be so.</p> +<a name="473"></a><br> +<p>473.—However rare true love is, true friendship is +rarer.</p> + +<p>["It is more common to see perfect love than real friend- +ship."—La Bruyère. <i>Du Coeur.</i>]</p> +<a name="474"></a><br> +<p>474.—There are few women whose charm survives their +beauty.</p> +<a name="475"></a><br> +<p>475.—The desire to be pitied or to be admired often +forms the greater part of our confidence.</p> +<a name="476"></a><br> +<p>476.—Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of +those we envy.</p> +<a name="477"></a><br> +<p>477.—The same firmness that enables us to resist love +enables us to make our resistance durable and lasting. So weak +persons who are always excited by passions are seldom really +possessed of any.</p> +<a name="478"></a><br> +<p>478.—Fancy does not enable us to invent so many +different contradictions as there are by nature in every +heart.</p> +<a name="479"></a><br> +<p>479.—It is only people who possess firmness who can +possess true gentleness. In those who appear gentle it is +generally only weakness, which is readily converted into +harshness.</p> +<a name="480"></a><br> +<p>480.—Timidity is a fault which is dangerous to blame in +those we desire to cure of it.</p> +<a name="481"></a><br> +<p>481.—Nothing is rarer than true good nature, those who +think they have it are generally only pliant or weak.</p> +<a name="482"></a><br> +<p>482.—The mind attaches itself by idleness and habit to +whatever is easy or pleasant. This habit always places bounds to +our knowledge, and no one has ever yet taken the pains to enlarge +and expand his mind to the full extent of its capacities.</p> +<a name="483"></a><br> +<p>483.—Usually we are more satirical from vanity than +malice.</p> +<a name="484"></a><br> +<p>484.—When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of +a passion it is proner to take up a new one than when wholly +cured.</p> +<a name="485"></a><br> +<p>485.—Those who have had great passions often find all +their lives made miserable in being cured of them.</p> +<a name="486"></a><br> +<p>486.—More persons exist without self-love than without +envy.</p> + +<p>["I do not believe that there is a human creature in his +senses arrived at maturity, that at some time or other has not +been carried away by this passion (envy) in good earnest, and yet +I never met with any who dared own he was guilty of it, but in +jest."—Mandeville: <i>Fable Of The Bees</i>; Remark N.]</p> +<a name="487"></a><br> +<p>487.—We have more idleness in the mind than in the +body.</p> +<a name="488"></a><br> +<p>488.—The calm or disturbance of our mind does not depend +so much on what we regard as the more important things of life, +as in a judicious or injudicious arrangement of the little things +of daily occurrence.</p> +<a name="489"></a><br> +<p>489.—However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly +to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to +persecute her they either pretend to believe her false or +attribute crimes to her.</p> +<a name="490"></a><br> +<p>490.—We often go from love to ambition, but we never +return from ambition to love.</p> + +<p>["Men commence by love, finish by ambition, and do not find a +quieter seat while they remain there."—La Bruyère: +<i>Du Coeur</i>.]</p> +<a name="491"></a><br> +<p>491.—Extreme avarice is nearly always mistaken, there is +no passion which is oftener further away from its mark, nor upon +which the present has so much power to the prejudice of the +future.</p> +<a name="492"></a><br> +<p>492.—Avarice often produces opposite results: there are +an infinite number of persons who sacrifice their property to +doubtful and distant expectations, others mistake great future +advantages for small present interests.</p> + +<p>[<i>Aimé Martin</i> says, "The author here confuses +greediness, the desire and avarice—passions which probably +have a common origin, but produce different results. The greedy +man is nearly always desirous to possess, and often foregoes +great future advantages for small present interests. The +avaricious man, on the other hand, mistakes present advantages +for the great expectations of the future. Both desire to possess +and enjoy. But the miser possesses and enjoys nothing but the +pleasure of possessing; he risks nothing, gives nothing, hopes +nothing, his life is centred in his strong box, beyond that he +has no want."]</p> +<a name="493"></a><br> +<p>493.—It appears that men do not find they have enough +faults, as they increase the number by certain peculiar qualities +that they affect to assume, and which they cultivate with so +great assiduity that at length they become natural faults, which +they can no longer correct.</p> +<a name="494"></a><br> +<p>494.—What makes us see that men know their faults better +than we imagine, is that they are never wrong when they speak of +their conduct; the same self-love that usually blinds them +enlightens them, and gives them such true views as to make them +suppress or disguise the smallest thing that might be +censured.</p> +<a name="495"></a><br> +<p>495.—Young men entering life should be either shy or +bold; a solemn and sedate manner usually degenerates into +impertinence.</p> +<a name="496"></a><br> +<p>496.—Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only +on one side.</p> +<a name="497"></a><br> +<p>497.—It is valueless to a woman to be young unless +pretty, or to be pretty unless young.</p> +<a name="498"></a><br> +<p>498.—Some persons are so frivolous and fickle that they +are as far removed from real defects as from substantial +qualities.</p> +<a name="499"></a><br> +<p>499.—We do not usually reckon a woman's first flirtation +until she has had a second.</p> +<a name="500"></a><br> +<p>500.—Some people are so self-occupied that when in love +they find a mode by which to be engrossed with the passion +without being so with the person they love.</p> +<a name="501"></a><br> +<p>501.—Love, though so very agreeable, pleases more by its +ways than by itself.</p> +<a name="502"></a><br> +<p>502.—A little wit with good sense bores less in the long +run than much wit with ill nature.</p> +<a name="503"></a><br> +<p>503.—Jealousy is the worst of all evils, yet the one +that is least pitied by those who cause it.</p> +<a name="504"></a><br> +<p>504.—Thus having treated of the hollowness of so many +apparent virtues, it is but just to say something on the +hollowness of the contempt for death. I allude to that contempt +of death which the heathen boasted they derived from their +unaided understanding, without the hope of a future state. There +is a difference between meeting death with courage and despising +it. The first is common enough, the last I think always feigned. +Yet everything that could be has been written to persuade us that +death is no evil, and the weakest of men, equally with the +bravest, have given many noble examples on which to found such an +opinion, still I do not think that any man of good sense has ever +yet believed in it. And the pains we take to persuade others as +well as ourselves amply show that the task is far from easy. For +many reasons we may be disgusted with life, but for none may we +despise it. Not even those who commit suicide regard it as a +light matter, and are as much alarmed and startled as the rest of +the world if death meets them in a different way than the one +they have selected. The difference we observe in the courage of +so great a number of brave men, is from meeting death in a way +different from what they imagined, when it shows itself nearer at +one time than at another. Thus it ultimately happens that having +despised death when they were ignorant of it, they dread it when +they become acquainted with it. If we could avoid seeing it with +all its surroundings, we might perhaps believe that it was not +the greatest of evils. The wisest and bravest are those who take +the best means to avoid reflecting on it, as every man who sees +it in its real light regards it as dreadful. The necessity of +dying created all the constancy of philosophers. They thought it +but right to go with a good grace when they could not avoid +going, and being unable to prolong their lives indefinitely, +nothing remained but to build an immortal reputation, and to save +from the general wreck all that could be saved. To put a good +face upon it, let it suffice, not to say all that we think to +ourselves, but rely more on our nature than on our fallible +reason, which might make us think we could approach death with +indifference. The glory of dying with courage, the hope of being +regretted, the desire to leave behind us a good reputation, the +assurance of being enfranchised from the miseries of life and +being no longer dependent on the wiles of fortune, are resources +which should not be passed over. But we must not regard them as +infallible. They should affect us in the same proportion as a +single shelter affects those who in war storm a fortress. At a +distance they think it may afford cover, but when near they find +it only a feeble protection. It is only deceiving ourselves to +imagine that death, when near, will seem the same as at a +distance, or that our feelings, which are merely weaknesses, are +naturally so strong that they will not suffer in an attack of the +rudest of trials. It is equally as absurd to try the effect of +self-esteem and to think it will enable us to count as naught +what will of necessity destroy it. And the mind in which we trust +to find so many resources will be far too weak in the struggle to +persuade us in the way we wish. For it is this which betrays us +so frequently, and which, instead of filling us with contempt of +death, serves but to show us all that is frightful and fearful. +The most it can do for us is to persuade us to avert our gaze and +fix it on other objects. Cato and Brutus each selected noble +ones. A lackey sometime ago contented himself by dancing on the +scaffold when he was about to be broken on the wheel. So however +diverse the motives they but realize the same result. For the +rest it is a fact that whatever difference there may be between +the peer and the peasant, we have constantly seen both the one +and the other meet death with the same composure. Still there is +always this difference, that the contempt the peer shows for +death is but the love of fame which hides death from his sight; +in the peasant it is but the result of his limited vision that +hides from him the extent of the evil, end leaves him free to +reflect on other things.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="sup1"></a> +<br> + + +<h2>THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT</h2> + +<p>[The following reflections are extracted from the first two +editions of La Rochefoucauld, having been suppressed by the +author in succeeding issues.]</p> + +<p><a name="I">I</a>.—Self-love is the love <i>of</i> self, and of all things <i>for</i> +self. It makes men self-worshippers, and if fortune permits them, +causes them to tyrannize over others; it is never quiet when out +of itself, and only rests upon other subjects as a bee upon +flowers, to extract from them its proper food. Nothing is so +headstrong as its desires, nothing so well concealed as its +designs, nothing so skilful as its management; its suppleness is +beyond description; its changes surpass those of the +metamorphoses, its refinements those of chemistry. We can neither +plumb the depths nor pierce the shades of its recesses. Therein +it is hidden from the most far-seeing eyes, therein it takes a +thousand imperceptible folds. There it is often to itself +invisible; it there conceives, there nourishes and rears, without +being aware of it, numberless loves and hatreds, some so +monstrous that when they are brought to light it disowns them, +and cannot resolve to avow them. In the night which covers it are +born the ridiculous persuasions it has of itself, thence come its +errors, its ignorance, its silly mistakes; thence it is led to +believe that its passions which sleep are dead, and to think that +it has lost all appetite for that of which it is sated. But this +thick darkness which conceals it from itself does not hinder it +from seeing that perfectly which is out of itself; and in this it +resembles our eyes which behold all, and yet cannot set their own +forms. In fact, in great concerns and important matters when the +violence of its desires summons all its attention, it sees, +feels, hears, imagines, suspects, penetrates, divines all: so +that we might think that each of its passions had a magic power +proper to it. Nothing is so close and strong as its attachments, +which, in sight of the extreme misfortunes which threaten it, it +vainly attempts to break. Yet sometimes it effects that without +trouble and quickly, which it failed to do with its whole power +and in the course of years, whence we may fairly conclude that it +is by itself that its desires are inflamed, rather than by the +beauty and merit of its objects, that its own taste embellishes +and heightens them; that it is itself the game it pursues, and +that it follows eagerly when it runs after that upon which itself +is eager. It is made up of contraries. It is imperious and +obedient, sincere and false, piteous and cruel, timid and bold. +It has different desires according to the diversity of +temperaments, which turn and fix it sometimes upon riches, +sometimes on pleasures. It changes according to our age, our +fortunes, and our hopes; it is quite indifferent whether it has +many or one, because it can split itself into many portions, and +unite in one as it pleases. It is inconstant, and besides the +changes which arise from strange causes it has an infinity born +of itself, and of its own substance. It is inconstant through +inconstancy, of lightness, love, novelty, lassitude and distaste. +It is capricious, and one sees it sometimes work with intense +eagerness and with incredible labour to obtain things of little +use to it which are even hurtful, but which it pursues because it +wishes for them. It is silly, and often throws its whole +application on the utmost frivolities. It finds all its pleasure +in the dullest matters, and places its pride in the most +contemptible. It is seen in all states of life, and in all +conditions; it lives everywhere and upon everything; it subsists +on nothing; it accommodates itself either to things or to the +want of them; it goes over to those who are at war with it, +enters into their designs, and, this is wonderful, it, with them, +hates even itself; it conspires for its own loss, it works +towards its own ruin—in fact, caring only to exist, and +providing that it may <i>be</i>, it will be its own enemy! We must +therefore not be surprised if it is sometimes united to the +rudest austerity, and if it enters so boldly into partnership to +destroy her, because when it is rooted out in one place it +re-establishes itself in another. When it fancies that it +abandons its pleasure it merely changes or suspends its +enjoyment. When even it is conquered in its full flight, we find +that it triumphs in its own defeat. Here then is the picture of +self-love whereof the whole of our life is but one long +agitation. The sea is its living image; and in the flux and +reflux of its continuous waves there is a faithful expression of +the stormy succession of its thoughts and of its eternal motion. +(Edition of 1665, No. 1.)</p> + +<p><a name="II">II</a>.—Passions are only the different degrees of the heat +or coldness of the blood. (1665, No. 13.)</p> + +<p><a name="III">III</a>.—Moderation in good fortune is but apprehension of +the shame which follows upon haughtiness, or a fear of losing +what we have. (1665, No. 18.)</p> + +<p><a name="IV">IV</a>.—Moderation is like temperance in eating; we could +eat more but we fear to make ourselves ill. (1665, No. 21.)</p> + +<p><a name="V">V</a>.—Everybody finds that to abuse in another which he +finds worthy of abuse in himself. (1665, No. 33.)</p> + +<p><a name="VI">VI</a>.—Pride, as if tired of its artifices and its +different metamorphoses, after having solely filled the divers +parts of the comedy of life, exhibits itself with its natural +face, and is discovered by haughtiness; so much so that we may +truly say that haughtiness is but the flash and open declaration +of pride. (1665, No. 37.)</p> + +<p><a name="VII">VII</a>.—One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what +point to be miserable. (1665, No. 53.)</p> + +<p><a name="VIII">VIII</a>.—When we do not find peace of mind (REPOS) in +ourselves it is useless to seek it elsewhere. (1665, No. 53.)</p> + +<p><a name="IX">IX</a>.—One should be able to answer for one's fortune, so +as to be able to answer for what we shall do. (1665, No. 70.)</p> + +<p><a name="X">X</a>.—Love is to the soul of him who loves, what the soul +is to the body which it animates. (1665, No. 77.)</p> + +<p><a name="XI">XI</a>.—As one is never at liberty to love or to cease from +loving, the lover cannot with justice complain of the inconstancy +of his mistress, nor she of the fickleness of her lover. (1665, +No. 81.)</p> + +<p><a name="XII">XII</a>.—Justice in those judges who are moderate is but a +love of their place. (1665, No. 89.)</p> + +<p><a name="XIII">XIII</a>.—When we are tired of loving we are quite content +if our mistress should become faithless, to loose us from our +fidelity. (1665, No. 85.)</p> + +<p><a name="XIV">XIV</a>.—The first impulse of joy which we feel at the +happiness of our friends arises neither from our natural goodness +nor from friendship; it is the result of self-love, which +flatters us with being lucky in our own turn, or in reaping +something from the good fortune of our friends. (1665, No. +97.)</p> + +<p><a name="XV">XV</a>.—In the adversity of our best friends we always find +something which is not wholly displeasing to us. (1665, No. +99.)</p> + +<p>[This gave occasion to Swift's celebrated "Verses on his own +Death." The four first are quoted opposite the title, then follow +these lines:— "This maxim more than all the rest, Is +thought too base for human breast; In all distresses of our +friends, We first consult our private ends; While nature kindly +bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance to please us."</p> + +<p>See also Chesterfield's defence of this in his 129th letter; +"they who know the deception and wickedness of the human heart +will not be either romantic or blind enough to deny what +Rochefoucauld and Swift have affirmed as a general truth."]</p> + +<p><a name="XVI">XVI</a>.—How shall we hope that another person will keep our +secret if we do not keep it ourselves. (1665, No. 100.)</p> + +<p><a name="XVII">XVII</a>.—As if it was not sufficient that self-love should +have the power to change itself, it has added that of changing +other objects, and this it does in a very astonishing manner; for +not only does it so well disguise them that it is itself +deceived, but it even changes the state and nature of things. +Thus, when a female is adverse to us, and she turns her hate and +persecution against us, self-love pronounces on her actions with +all the severity of justice; it exaggerates the faults till they +are enormous, and looks at her good qualities in so +disadvantageous a light that they become more displeasing than +her faults. If however the same female becomes favourable to us, +or certain of our interests reconcile her to us, our sole self +interest gives her back the lustre which our hatred deprived her +of. The bad qualities become effaced, the good ones appear with a +redoubled advantage; we even summon all our indulgence to justify +the war she has made upon us. Now although all passions prove +this truth, that of love exhibits it most clearly; for we may see +a lover moved with rage by the neglect or the infidelity of her +whom he loves, and meditating the utmost vengeance that his +passion can inspire. Nevertheless as soon as the sight of his +beloved has calmed the fury of his movements, his passion holds +that beauty innocent; he only accuses himself, he condemns his +condemnations, and by the miraculous power of selflove, he +whitens the blackest actions of his mistress, and takes from her +all crime to lay it on himself.</p> + +<p>{No date or number is given for this maxim}</p> + +<p><a name="XVIII">XVIII</a>.—There are none who press so heavily on others as +the lazy ones, when they have satisfied their idleness, and wish +to appear industrious. (1666, No. 91.)</p> + +<p><a name="XIX">XIX</a>.—The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect +of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment it, it deprives +us of knowledge of remedies which can solace our miseries and can +cure our faults. (1665, No. 102.)</p> + +<p><a name="XX">XX</a>.—One has never less reason than when one despairs of +finding it in others. (1665, No. 103.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXI">XXI</a>.—Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not +diminished crimes by their precepts; they have only used them in +the building up of pride. (1665, No. 105.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXII">XXII</a>.—It is a proof of little friendship not to perceive +the growing coolness of that of our friends. (1666, No. 97.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXIII">XXIII</a>.—The most wise may be so in indifferent and +ordinary matters, but they are seldom so in their most serious +affairs. (1665, No. 132.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXIV">XXIV</a>.—The most subtle folly grows out of the most subtle +wisdom. (1665, No. 134.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXV">XXV</a>.—Sobriety is the love of health, or an incapacity to +eat much. (l665, No. 135.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXVI">XXVI</a>.—We never forget things so well as when we are +tired of talking of them. (1665, No. 144.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXVII">XXVII</a>.—The praise bestowed upon us is at least useful in +rooting us in the practice of virtue. (1665, No. 155.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXVIII">XXVIII</a>.—Self-love takes care to prevent him whom we +flatter from being him who most flatters us. (1665, No. 157.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXIX">XXIX</a>.—Men only blame vice and praise virtue from +interest. (1665, No. 151.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXX">XXX</a>.—We make no difference in the kinds of anger, +although there is that which is light and almost innocent, which +arises from warmth of complexion, temperament, and another very +criminal, which is, to speak properly, the fury of pride. (1665, +No. 159.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXI">XXXI</a>.—Great souls are not those who have fewer passions +and more virtues than the common, but those only who have greater +designs. (1665, No. 161.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXII">XXXII</a>.—Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they +make them bear what value they will, and one is forced to receive +them according to their currency value, and not at their true +worth. (1665, No. 165.)</p> + +<p>[See Burns{, <i>For A' That An A' That</i>}— "The rank is but +the guinea's stamp, {The} man's {the gowd} for a' that." Also +Farquhar and other parallel passages pointed out in <i>Familiar +Words</i>.]</p> + +<p><a name="XXXIII">XXXIII</a>.—Natural ferocity makes fewer people cruel than +self-love. (1665, No. 174.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXIV">XXXIV</a>.—One may say of all our virtues as an Italian poet +says of the propriety of women, that it is often merely the art +of appearing chaste. (1665, No. 176.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXV">XXXV</a>.—There are crimes which become innocent and even +glorious by their brilliancy,* their number, or their excess; +thus it happens that public robbery is called financial skill, +and the unjust capture of provinces is called a conquest. (1665, +No. 192.)</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>*Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as those +of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte +Corday—further than this the maxim is satire.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> +<p><a name="XXXVI">XXXVI</a>.—One never finds in man good or evil in excess. +(1665, No. 201.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXVII">XXXVII</a>.—Those who are incapable of committing great +crimes do not easily suspect others. (1665, No. {2}08.)</p> + +<p>{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It is +208.}</p> + +<p><a name="XXXVIII">XXXVIII</a>.—The pomp of funerals concerns rather the vanity +of the living, than the honour of the dead. (1665, No. 213.)</p> + +<p><a name="XXXIX">XXXIX</a>.—Whatever variety and change appears in the world, +we may remark a secret chain, and a regulated order of all time +by Providence, which makes everything follow in due rank and fall +into its destined course. (1665, No. 225.)</p> + +<p><a name="XL">XL</a>.—Intrepidity should sustain the heart in conspiracies +in place of valour which alone furnishes all the firmness which +is necessary for the perils of war. (1665, No. 231.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLI">XLI</a>.—Those who wish to define victory by her birth will +be tempted to imitate the poets, and to call her the Daughter of +Heaven, since they cannot find her origin on earth. Truly she is +produced from an infinity of actions, which instead of wishing to +beget her, only look to the particular interests of their +masters, since all those who compose an army, in aiming at their +own rise and glory, produce a good so great and general. (1665, +No. 232.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLII">XLII</a>.—That man who has never been in danger cannot +answer for his courage. (1665, No. 236.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLIII">XLIII</a>.—We more often place bounds on our gratitude than +on our desires and our hopes. (1665, No. 241.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLIV">XLIV</a>.—Imitation is always unhappy, for all which is +counterfeit displeases by the very things which charm us when +they are original (<i>Naturelles</i>). (1665, No. 245.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLV">XLV</a>.—We do not regret the loss of our friends according +to <i>their</i> merits, but according to OUR wants, and the opinion with +which we believed we had impressed them of our worth. (1665, No. +248.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLVI">XLVI</a>.—It is very hard to separate the general goodness +spread all over the world from great cleverness. (1665, No. +252.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLVII">XLVII</a>.—For us to be always good, others should believe +that they cannot behave wickedly to us with impunity. (1665, No. +254.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLVIII">XLVIII</a>.—A confidence in being able to please is often an +infallible means of being displeasing. (1665, No. 256.)</p> + +<p><a name="XLIX">XLIX</a>.—The confidence we have in ourselves arises in a +great measure from that that we have in others. (1665, No. +258.)</p> + +<p><a name="L">L</a>.—There is a general revolution which changes the +tastes of the mind as well as the fortunes of the world. (1665, +No. 250.)</p> + +<p><a name="LI">LI</a>.—Truth is foundation and the reason of the perfection +of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be +beautiful and perfect unless it be truly that she should be, and +possess truly all that she should have (1665, No. 260.)</p> + +<p>[Beauty is truth, truth beauty.{—John Keats, "Ode on a a +Grecian Urn," (1820), Stanza 5}]</p> + +<p><a name="LII">LII</a>.—There are fine things which are more brilliant when +unfinished than when finished too much. (1665, No. 262.)</p> + +<p><a name="LIII">LIII</a>.—Magnanimity is a noble effort of pride which makes +a man master of himself, to make him master of all things. (1665, +No. 271.)</p> + +<p><a name="LIV">LIV</a>.—Luxury and too refined a policy in states are a +sure presage of their fall, because all parties looking after +their own interest turn away from the public good. (1665, No. +282.)</p> + +<p><a name="LV">LV</a>.—Of all passions that which is least known to us is +idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, although her +violence may be insensible, and the evils she causes concealed; +if we consider her power attentively we shall find that in all +encounters she makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our +interests, and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, she can +stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden rock, more dangerous +in the most important matters than sudden squalls and the most +violent tempests. The repose of idleness is a magic charm which +suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most obstinate +resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this passion we +must add that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles us +for all losses and fills the vacancy of all our wants. (1665, No. +290.)</p> + +<p><a name="LVI">LVI</a>.—We are very fond of reading others' characters, but +we do not like to be read ourselves. (1665, No. 296.)</p> + +<p><a name="LVII">LVII</a>.—What a tiresome malady is that which forces one to +preserve your health by a severe regimen. (<i>Ibid,</i> No. 298.)</p> + +<p><a name="LVIII">LVIII</a>.—It is much easier to take love when one is free, +than to get rid of it after having taken it. (1665, No. 300.)</p> + +<p><a name="LIX">LIX</a>.—Women for the most part surrender themselves more +from weakness than from passion. Whence it is that bold and +pushing men succeed better than others, although they are not so +loveable. (1665, No. 301.)</p> + +<p><a name="LX">LX</a>.—Not to love is in love, an infallible means of being +beloved. (1665, No. 302.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXI">LXI</a>.—The sincerity which lovers and mistresses ask that +both should know when they cease to love each other, arises much +less from a wish to be warned of the cessation of love, than from +a desire to be assured that they are beloved although no one +denies it. (1665, No. 303.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXII">LXII</a>.—The most just comparison of love is that of a +fever, and we have no power over either, as to its violence or +its duration. (1665, No. 305.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXIII">LXIII</a>.—The greatest skill of the least skilful is to +know how to submit to the direction of another. (1665, No. +309.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXIV">LXIV</a>.—We always fear to see those whom we love when we +have been flirting with others. (16{74}, No. 372.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXV">LXV</a>.—We ought to console ourselves for our faults when +we have strength enough to own them. (16{74}, No. 375.)</p> + +<p>{The date of the previous two maxims is incorrectly cited as +1665 in the text. I found this date immediately suspect because +the translators' introduction states that the 1665 edition only +had 316 maxims. In fact, the two maxims only appeared in the +fourth of the first five editions (1674).}</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="sup2"></a> +<br> + + +<h2>SECOND SUPPLEMENT.</h2> + +<h3>REFLECTIONS, EXTRACTED FROM MS. LETTERS IN THE ROYAL +LIBRARY.*</h3> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>*<i>A La Bibliotheque Du Roi</i>, it is difficult at present (June +1871) to assign a name to the magnificent collection of books in +Paris, the property of the nation.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p><a name="LXVI">LXVI</a>.—Interest is the soul of self-love, in as much as +when the body deprived of its soul is without sight, feeling or +knowledge, without thought or movement, so self-love, riven so to +speak from its interest, neither sees, nor hears, nor smells, nor +moves; thus it is that the same man who will run over land and +sea for his own interest becomes suddenly paralyzed when engaged +for that of others; from this arises that sudden dulness and, as +it were, death, with which we afflict those to whom we speak of +our own matters; from this also their sudden resurrection when in +our narrative we relate something concerning them; from this we +find in our conversations and business that a man becomes dull or +bright just as his own interest is near to him or distant from +him. (<i>Letter To Madame De Sablé, Ms., Fol</i>. 211.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXVII">LXVII</a>.—Why we cry out so much against maxims which lay +bare the heart of man, is because we fear that our own heart +shall be laid bare. (<i>Maxim</i> 103, MS., fol. 310.*)</p> +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>*The reader will recognise in these extracts portions of the +Maxims previously given, sometimes the author has carefully +polished them; at other times the words are identical. Our +numbers will indicate where they are to be found in the foregoing +collection.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> +<p>LXVIII.—Hope and fear are inseparable. (<i>To Madame De +Sablé, Ms., Fol.</i> 222, MAX. 168.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXIX">LXIX</a>.—It is a common thing to hazard life to escape +dishonour; but, when this is done, the actor takes very little +pain to make the enterprise succeed in which he is engaged, and +certain it is that they who hazard their lives to take a city or +to conquer a province are better officers, have more merit, and +wider and more useful, views than they who merely expose +themselves to vindicate their honour; it is very common to find +people of the latter class, very rare to find those of the +former. (<i>Letter To M. Esprit, Ms., Fol</i>. 173, MAX. 219.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXX">LXX</a>.—The taste changes, but the will remains the same. +(<i>To Madame De Sablé, Fol.</i> 223, <i>Max.</i> 252.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXXI">LXXI</a>.—The power which women whom we love have over us is +greater than that which we have over ourselves. (<i>To The Same, +Ms., Fol. 211, Max.</i> 259)</p> + +<p><a name="LXXII">LXXII</a>.—That which makes us believe so easily that others +have defects is that we all so easily believe what we wish. (<i>To +The Same, Ms., Fol. 223, Max.</i> 397.)</p> + +<p><a name="LXXIII">LXXIII</a>.—I am perfectly aware that good sense and fine +wit are tedious to every age, but tastes are not always the same, +and what is good at one time will not seem so at another. This +makes me think that few persons know how to be old. (<i>To The Same, +Fol. 202, Max. 423.</i>)</p> + +<p><a name="LXXIV">LXXIV</a>.—God has permitted, to punish man for his original +sin, that he should be so fond of his self-love, that he should +be tormented by it in all the actions of his life. (<i>Ms., Fol. +310, Max. 494.</i>)</p> + +<p><a name="LXXV">LXXV</a>.—And so far it seems to me the philosophy of a +lacquey can go; I believe that all gaity in that state of life is +very doubtful indeed. (<i>To Madame De Sablé, Fol. 161, Max. +504.</i>)</p> + +<p>[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman about to +be broken on the wheel danced on the scaffold. He seems to think +that in his day the life of such servants was so miserable that +their merriment was very doubtful.]</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="sup3"></a> +<br> + + +<h2>THIRD SUPPLEMENT</h2> + +<p>[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth Edition +of the <i>Pensées De La Rochefoucauld,</i> published by Claude +Barbin, in 1693, more than twelve years after the death of the +author (17th May, 1680). The reader will find some repetitions, +but also some very valuable maxims.]</p> + +<p><a name="LXXVI">LXXVI</a>.—Many persons wish to be devout; but no one wishes +to be humble.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXVII">LXXVII</a>.—The labour of the body frees us from the pains +of the mind, and thus makes the poor happy.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXVIII">LXXVIII</a>.—True penitential sorrows (mortifications) are +those which are not known, vanity renders the others easy +enough.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXIX">LXXIX</a>.—Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that +we should offer him his sacrifices.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXX">LXXX</a>.—Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; +nothing can make a fool content; that is why most men are +miserable.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXI">LXXXI</a>.—We trouble ourselves less to become happy, than +to make others believe we are so.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXII">LXXXII</a>.—It is more easy to extinguish the first desire +than to satisfy those which follow.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXIII">LXXXIII</a>.—Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the +body.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXIV">LXXXIV</a>.—The great ones of the earth can neither command +health of body nor repose of mind, and they buy always at too +dear a price the good they can acquire.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXV">LXXXV</a>.—Before strongly desiring anything we should +examine what happiness he has who possesses it.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXVI">LXXXVI</a>.—A true friend is the greatest of all goods, and +that of which we think least of acquiring.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXVII">LXXXVII</a>.—Lovers do not wish to see the faults of their +mistresses until their enchantment is at an end.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>.—Prudence and love are not made for each other; +in the ratio that love increases, prudence diminishes.</p> + +<p><a name="LXXXIX">LXXXIX</a>.—It is sometimes pleasing to a husband to have a +jealous wife; he hears her always speaking of the beloved +object.</p> + +<p><a name="XC">XC</a>.—How much is a woman to be pitied who is at the same +time possessed of virtue and love!</p> + +<p><a name="XCI">XCI</a>.—The wise man finds it better not to enter the +encounter than to conquer.</p> + +<p>[Somewhat similar to Goldsmith's sage— "Who quits {a} +world where strong temptations try, And since 'tis hard to +co{mbat}, learns to fly."]</p> + +<p><a name="XCII">XCII</a>.—It is more necessary to study men than books.</p> + +<p>["The proper study of mankind is man."—Pope {<i>Essay On +Man, (1733), Epistle II,</i> line 2}.]</p> + +<p><a name="XCIII">XCIII</a>.—Good and evil ordinarily come to those who have +most of one or the other.</p> + +<p><a name="XCIV">XCIV</a>.—The accent and character of one's native country +dwells in the mind and heart as on the tongue. (<i>Repitition Of +Maxim</i> 342.)</p> + +<p><a name="XCV">XCV</a>.—The greater part of men have qualities which, like +those of plants, are discovered by chance. (<i>Repitition Of Maxim</i> +344.)</p> + +<p><a name="XCVI">XCVI</a>.—A good woman is a hidden treasure; he who +discovers her will do well not to boast about it. (<i>See Maxim</i> +368.)</p> + +<p><a name="XCVII">XCVII</a>.—Most women do not weep for the loss of a lover to +show that they have been loved so much as to show that they are +worth being loved. (<i>See Maxim</i> 362.)</p> + +<p><a name="XCVIII">XCVIII</a>.—There are many virtuous women who are weary of +the part they have played. (<i>See Maxim</i> 367.)</p> + +<p><a name="XCIX">XCIX</a>.—If we think we love for love's sake we are much +mistaken. (<i>See Maxim</i> 374.)</p> + +<p><a name="C">C</a>.—The restraint we lay upon ourselves to be constant, +is not much better than an inconstancy. (<i>See Maxim</i> 369, +381.)</p> + +<p><a name="CI">CI</a>.—There are those who avoid our jealousy, of whom we +ought to be jealous. (<i>See Maxim</i> 359.)</p> + +<p><a name="CII">CII</a>.—Jealousy is always born with love, but does not +always die with it. (<i>See Maxim</i> 361.)</p> + +<p><a name="CIII">CIII</a>.—When we love too much it is difficult to discover +when we have ceased to be beloved.</p> + +<p><a name="CIV">CIV</a>.—We know very well that we should not talk about our +wives, but we do not remember that it is not so well to speak of +ourselves. (<i>See Maxim</i> 364.)</p> + +<p><a name="CV">CV</a>.—Chance makes us known to others and to ourselves. +(<i>See Maxim</i> 345.)</p> + +<p><a name="CVI">CVI</a>.—We find very few people of good sense, except those +who are of our own opinion. (<i>See Maxim</i> 347.)</p> + +<p><a name="CVII">CVII</a>.—We commonly praise the good hearts of those who +admire us. (<i>See Maxim</i> 356.)</p> + +<p><a name="CVIII">CVIII</a>.—Man only blames himself in order that he may be +praised.</p> + +<p><a name="CIX">CIX</a>.—Little minds are wounded by the smallest things. +(<i>See Maxim</i> 357.)</p> + +<p><a name="CX">CX</a>.—There are certain faults which placed in a good +light please more than perfection itself. (<i>See Maxim</i> 354.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXI">CXI</a>.—That which makes us so bitter against those who do +us a shrewd turn, is because they think themselves more clever +than we are. (<i>See Maxim</i> 350.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXII">CXII</a>.—We are always bored by those whom we bore. +(<i>See Maxim</i> 352.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXIII">CXIII</a>.—The harm that others do us is often less than +that we do ourselves. (<i>See Maxim</i> 363.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXIV">CXIV</a>.—It is never more difficult to speak well than when +we are ashamed of being silent.</p> + +<p><a name="CXV">CXV</a>.—Those faults are always pardonable that we have the +courage to avow.</p> + +<p><a name="CXVI">CXVI</a>.—The greatest fault of penetration is not that it +goes to the bottom of a matter—but beyond it. (<i>See Maxim</i> +377.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXVII">CXVII</a>.—We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to +profit by it. (<i>See Maxim</i> 378.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXVIII">CXVIII</a>.—When our merit declines, our taste declines +also. (<i>See Maxim</i> 379.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXIX">CXIX</a>.—Fortune discovers our vices and our virtues, as +the light makes objects plain to the sight. (<i>See Maxim</i> 380.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXX">CXX</a>.—Our actions are like rhymed verse-ends +(<i>Bouts-Rimés</i>) which everyone turns as he pleases. (<i>See +Maxim</i> 382.)</p> + +<p><a name="CXXI">CXXI</a>.—There is nothing more natural, nor more deceptive, +than to believe that we are beloved.</p> + +<p><a name="CXXII">CXXII</a>.—We would rather see those to whom we have done a +benefit, than those who have done us one.</p> + +<p><a name="CXXIII">CXXIII</a>.—It is more difficult to hide the opinions we +have than to feign those which we have not.</p> + +<p><a name="CXXIV">CXXIV</a>.—Renewed friendships require more care than those +that have never been broken.</p> + +<p><a name="CXXV">CXXV</a>.—A man to whom no one is pleasing is much more +unhappy than one who pleases nobody.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="reflect"></a> +<br> + + +<h2>REFLECTIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BY THE DUKE DE LA +ROCHEFOUCAULD</h2> +<a name="R.I"></a> +<h3>I. On Confidence.</h3> + +<p>Though sincerity and confidence have many points of +resemblance, they have yet many points of difference.</p> + +<p>Sincerity is an openness of heart, which shows us what we are, +a love of truth, a dislike to deception, a wish to compensate our +faults and to lessen them by the merit of confessing them.</p> + +<p>Confidence leaves us less liberty, its rules are stricter, it +requires more prudence and reticence, and we are not always free +to give it. It relates not only to ourselves, since our interests +are often mixed up with those of others; it requires great +delicacy not to expose our friends in exposing ourselves, not to +draw upon their goodness to enhance the value of what we +give.</p> + +<p>Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It is a +tribute we pay to their merit, a deposit we commit to their +trust, a pledge which gives them a claim upon us, a kind of +dependence to which we voluntarily submit. I do not wish from +what I have said to depreciate confidence, so necessary to man. +It is in society the link between acquaintance and friendship. I +only wish to state its limits to make it true and real. I would +that it was always sincere, always discreet, and that it had +neither weakness nor interest. I know it is hard to place proper +limits on being taken into all our friends' confidence, and +taking them into all ours.</p> + +<p>Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a love of +talking, a wish to win the confidence of others, and make an +exchange of secrets.</p> + +<p>Some may have a motive for confiding in us, towards whom we +have no motive for confiding. With them we discharge the +obligation in keeping their secrets and trusting them with small +confidences.</p> + +<p>Others whose fidelity we know trust nothing to us, but we +confide in them by choice and inclination.</p> + +<p>We should hide from them nothing that concerns us, we should +always show them with equal truth, our virtues and our vices, +without exaggerating the one or diminishing the other. We should +make it a rule never to have half confidences. They always +embarrass those who give them, and dissatisfy those who receive +them. They shed an uncertain light on what we want hidden, +increase curiosity, entitling the recipients to know more, giving +them leave to consider themselves free to talk of what they have +guessed. It is far safer and more honest to tell nothing than to +be silent when we have begun to tell. There are other rules to be +observed in matters confided to us, all are important, to all +prudence and trust are essential.</p> + +<p>Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but +everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of +secresy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, +what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and +the scruple against revealing them will not last for ever.</p> + +<p>With those friends whose truth we know we have the closest +intimacy. They have always spoken unreservedly to us, we should +always do the same to them. They know our habits and connexions, +and see too clearly not to perceive the slightest change. They +may have elsewhere learnt what we have promised not to tell. It +is not in our power to tell them what has been entrusted to us, +though it might tend to their interest to know it. We feel as +confident of them as of ourselves, and we are reduced to the hard +fate of losing their friendship, which is dear to us, or of being +faithless as regards a secret. This is doubtless the hardest test +of fidelity, but it should not move an honest man; it is then +that he can sacrifice himself to others. His first duty is to +rigidly keep his trust in its entirety. He should not only +control and guard his and his voice, but even his lighter talk, +so that nothing be seen in his conversation or manner that could +direct the curiosity of others towards that which he wishes to +conceal.</p> + +<p>We have often need of strength and prudence wherewith to +oppose the exigencies of most of our friends who make a claim on +our confidence, and seek to know all about us. We should never +allow them to acquire this unexceptionable right. There are +accidents and circumstances which do not fall in their +cognizance; if they complain, we should endure their complaints +and excuse ourselves with gentleness, but if they are still +unreasonable, we should sacrifice their friendship to our duty, +and choose between two inevitable evils, the one reparable, the +other irreparable.</p> + +<a name="R.II"></a> +<h3>II. On Difference of Character.</h3> + +<p>Although all the qualities of mind may be united in a great +genius, yet there are some which are special and peculiar to him; +his views are unlimited; he always acts uniformly and with the +same activity; he sees distant objects as if present; he +comprehends and grasps the greatest, sees and notices the +smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, just and +intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, and he often finds +truth in spite of the obscurity that hides her from others.</p> + +<p>A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, +agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, +clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' +tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless +and disagreeable.</p> + +<p>A clever, pliant, winning mind knows how to avoid and overcome +difficulties. Bending easily to what it wants, it understands the +inclination and temper it is dealing with, and by managing their +interests it advances and establishes its own.</p> + +<p>A well regulated mind sees all things as they should be seen, +appraises them at their proper value, turns them to its own +advantage, and adheres firmly to its own opinions as it knows all +their force and weight.</p> + +<p>A difference exists between a working mind and a business-like +mind. We can undertake business without turning it to our own +interest. Some are clever only in what does not concern them, and +the reverse in all that does. There are others again whose +cleverness is limited to their own business, and who know how to +turn everything to their own advantage.</p> + +<p>It is possible to have a serious turn of mind, and yet to talk +pleasantly and cheerfully. This class of mind is suited to all +persons in all times of life. Young persons have usually a +cheerful and satirical turn, untempered by seriousness, thus +often making themselves disagreeable.</p> + +<p>No part is easier to play than that of being always pleasant; +and the applause we sometimes receive in censuring others is not +worth being exposed to the chance of offending them when they are +out of temper.</p> + +<p>Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of +mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we +always fear those who use it too much, yet satire should be +allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirised +can join in the satire.</p> + +<p>It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without affecting +to be pleased or without loving to jest. It requires much +adroitness to continue satirical without falling into one of +these extremes.</p> + +<p>Raillery is a kind of mirth which takes possession of the +imagination, and shows every object in an absurd light; wit +combines more or less softness or harshness.</p> + +<p>There is a kind of refined and flattering raillery that only +hits the faults that persons admit, which understands how to hide +the praise it gives under the appearance of blame, and shows the +good while feigning a wish to hide it.</p> + +<p>An acute mind and a cunning mind are very dissimilar. The +first always pleases; it is unfettered, it perceives the most +delicate and sees the most imperceptible matters. A cunning +spirit never goes straight, it endeavours to secure its object by +byeways and short cuts. This conduct is soon found out, it always +gives rise to distrust and never reaches greatness.</p> + +<p>There is a difference between an ardent and a brilliant mind, +a fiery spirit travels further and faster, while a brilliant mind +is sparkling, attractive, accurate.</p> + +<p>Gentleness of mind is an easy and accommodating manner which +always pleases when not insipid.</p> + +<p>A mind full of details devotes itself to the management and +regulation of the smallest particulars it meets with. This +distinction is usually limited to little matters, yet it is not +absolutely incompatible with greatness, and when these two +qualities are united in the same mind they raise it infinitely +above others.</p> + +<p>The expression "<i>Bel Esprit</i>" is much perverted, for all that +one can say of the different kinds of mind meet together in the +"<i>Bel Esprit</i>." Yet as the epithet is bestowed on an infinite +number of bad poets and tedious authors, it is more often used to +ridicule than to praise.</p> + +<p>There are yet many other epithets for the mind which mean the +same thing, the difference lies in the tone and manner of saying +them, but as tones and manner cannot appear in writing I shall +not go into distinctions I cannot explain. Custom explains this +in saying that a man has wit, has much wit, that he is a great +wit; there are tones and manners which make all the difference +between phrases which seem all alike on paper, and yet express a +different order of mind.</p> + +<p>So we say that a man has only one kind of wit, that he has +several, that he has every variety of wit.</p> + +<p>One can be a fool with much wit, and one need not be a fool +even with very little wit.</p> + +<p>To have much mind is a doubtful expression. It may mean every +class of mind that can be mentioned, it may mean none in +particular. It may mean that he talks sensibly while he acts +foolishly. We may have a mind, but a narrow one. A mind may be +fitted for some things, not for others. We may have a large +measure of mind fitted for nothing, and one is often +inconvenienced with much mind; still of this kind of mind we may +say that it is sometimes pleasing in society.</p> + +<p>Though the gifts of the mind are infinite, they can, it seems +to me, be thus classified.</p> + +<p>There are some so beautiful that everyone can see and feel +their beauty.</p> + +<p>There are some lovely, it is true, but which are +wearisome.</p> + +<p>There are some which are lovely, which all the world admire, +but without knowing why.</p> + +<p>There are some so refined and delicate that few are capable +even of remarking all their beauties.</p> + +<p>There are others which, though imperfect, yet are produced +with such skill, and sustained and managed with such sense and +grace, that they even deserve to be admired.</p> + +<a name="R.III"></a> +<h3>III. On Taste.</h3> + +<p>Some persons have more wit than taste, others have more taste +than wit. There is greater vanity and caprice in taste than in +wit.</p> + +<p>The word taste has different meanings, which it is easy to +mistake. There is a difference between the taste which in certain +objects has an attraction for us, and the taste that makes us +understand and distinguish the qualities we judge by.</p> + +<p>We may like a comedy without having a sufficiently fine and +delicate taste to criticise it accurately. Some tastes lead us +imperceptibly to objects, from which others carry us away by +their force or intensity.</p> + +<p>Some persons have bad taste in everything, others have bad +taste only in some things, but a correct and good taste in +matters within their capacity. Some have peculiar taste, which +they know to be bad, but which they still follow. Some have a +doubtful taste, and let chance decide, their indecision makes +them change, and they are affected with pleasure or weariness on +their friends' judgment. Others are always prejudiced, they are +the slaves of their tastes, which they adhere to in everything. +Some know what is good, and are horrified at what is not; their +opinions are clear and true, and they find the reason for their +taste in their mind and understanding.</p> + +<p>Some have a species of instinct (the source of which they are +ignorant of), and decide all questions that come before them by +its aid, and always decide rightly.</p> + +<p>These follow their taste more than their intelligence, because +they do not permit their temper and self-love to prevail over +their natural discernment. All they do is in harmony, all is in +the same spirit. This harmony makes them decide correctly on +matters, and form a correct estimate of their value. But speaking +generally there are few who have a taste fixed and independent of +that of their friends, they follow example and fashion which +generally form the standard of taste.</p> + +<p>In all the diversities of taste that we discern, it is very +rare and almost impossible to meet with that sort of good taste +that knows how to set a price on the particular, and yet +understands the right value that should be placed on all. Our +knowledge is too limited, and that correct discernment of good +qualities which goes to form a correct judgment is too seldom to +be met with except in regard to matters that do not concern +us.</p> + +<p>As regards ourselves our taste has not this all-important +discernment. Preoccupation, trouble, all that concern us, present +it to us in another aspect. We do not see with the same eyes what +does and what does not relate to us. Our taste is guided by the +bent of our self-love and temper, which supplies us with new +views which we adapt to an infinite number of changes and +uncertainties. Our taste is no longer our own, we cease to +control it, without our consent it changes, and the same objects +appear to us in such divers aspects that ultimately we fail to +perceive what we have seen and heard.</p> + +<a name="R.IV"></a> +<h3>IV. On Society.</h3> + +<p>In speaking of society my plan is not to speak of friendship, +for, though they have some connection, they are yet very +different. The former has more in it of greatness and humility, +and the greatest merit of the latter is to resemble the +former.</p> + +<p>For the present I shall speak of that particular kind of +intercourse that gentlemen should have with each other. It would +be idle to show how far society is essential to men: all seek for +it, and all find it, but few adopt the method of making it +pleasant and lasting.</p> + +<p>Everyone seeks to find his pleasure and his advantage at the +expense of others. We prefer ourselves always to those with whom +we intend to live, and they almost always perceive the +preference. It is this which disturbs and destroys society. We +should discover a means to hide this love of selection since it +is too ingrained in us to be in our power to destroy. We should +make our pleasure that of other persons, to humour, never to +wound their self-love.</p> + +<p>The mind has a great part to do in so great a work, but it is +not merely sufficient for us to guide it in the different courses +it should hold.</p> + +<p>The agreement we meet between minds would not keep society +together for long if she was not governed and sustained by good +sense, temper, and by the consideration which ought to exist +between persons who have to live together.</p> + +<p>It sometimes happens that persons opposite in temper and mind +become united. They doubtless hold together for different +reasons, which cannot last for long. Society may subsist between +those who are our inferiors by birth or by personal qualities, +but those who have these advantages should not abuse them. They +should seldom let it be perceived that they serve to instruct +others. They should let their conduct show that they, too, have +need to be guided and led by reason, and accommodate themselves +as far as possible to the feeling and the interests of the +others.</p> + +<p>To make society pleasant, it is essential that each should +retain his freedom of action. A man should not see himself, or he +should see himself without dependence, and at the same time amuse +himself. He should have the power of separating himself without +that separation bringing any change on the society. He should +have the power to pass by one and the other, if he does not wish +to expose himself to occasional embarrassments; and he should +remember that he is often bored when he believes he has not the +power even to bore. He should share in what he believes to be the +amusement of persons with whom he wishes to live, but he should +not always be liable to the trouble of providing them.</p> + +<p>Complaisance is essential in society, but it should have its +limits, it becomes a slavery when it is extreme. We should so +render a free consent, that in following the opinion of our +friends they should believe that they follow ours.</p> + +<p>We should readily excuse our friends when their faults are +born with them, and they are less than their good qualities. We +should often avoid to show what they have said, and what they +have left unsaid. We should try to make them perceive their +faults, so as to give them the merit of correcting them.</p> + +<p>There is a kind of politeness which is necessary in the +intercourse among gentlemen, it makes them comprehend badinage, +and it keeps them from using and employing certain figures of +speech, too rude and unrefined, which are often used +thoughtlessly when we hold to our opinion with too much +warmth.</p> + +<p>The intercourse of gentlemen cannot subsist without a certain +kind of confidence; this should be equal on both sides. Each +should have an appearance of sincerity and of discretion which +never causes the fear of anything imprudent being said.</p> + +<p>There should be some variety in wit. Those who have only one +kind of wit cannot please for long unless they can take different +roads, and not both use the same talents, thus adding to the +pleasure of society, and keeping the same harmony that different +voices and different instruments should observe in music; and as +it is detrimental to the quiet of society, that many persons +should have the same interests, it is yet as necessary for it +that their interests should not be different.</p> + +<p>We should anticipate what can please our friends, find out how +to be useful to them so as to exempt them from annoyance, and +when we cannot avert evils, seem to participate in them, +insensibly obliterate without attempting to destroy them at a +blow, and place agreeable objects in their place, or at least +such as will interest them. We should talk of subjects that +concern them, but only so far as they like, and we should take +great care where we draw the line. There is a species of +politeness, and we may say a similar species of humanity, which +does not enter too quickly into the recesses of the heart. It +often takes pains to allow us to see all that our friends know, +while they have still the advantage of not knowing to the full +when we have penetrated the depth of the heart.</p> + +<p>Thus the intercourse between gentlemen at once gives them +familiarity and furnishes them with an infinite number of +subjects on which to talk freely.</p> + +<p>Few persons have sufficient tact and good sense fairly to +appreciate many matters that are essential to maintain society. +We desire to turn away at a certain point, but we do not want to +be mixed up in everything, and we fear to know all kinds of +truth.</p> + +<p>As we should stand at a certain distance to view objects, so +we should also stand at a distance to observe society; each has +its proper point of view from which it should be regarded. It is +quite right that it should not be looked at too closely, for +there is hardly a man who in all matters allows himself to be +seen as he really is.</p> + +<a name="R.V"></a> +<h3>V. On Conversation.</h3> + +<p>The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is +that each thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the +others say, and that we make bad listeners when we want to +speak.</p> + +<p>Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should +give them the time they want, and let them say even senseless +things; never contradict or interrupt them; on the contrary, we +should enter into their mind and taste, illustrate their meaning, +praise anything they say that deserves praise, and let them see +we praise more from our choice than from agreement with them.</p> + +<p>To please others we should talk on subjects they like and that +interest them, avoid disputes upon indifferent matters, seldom +ask questions, and never let them see that we pretend to be +better informed than they are.</p> + +<p>We should talk in a more or less serious manner, and upon more +or less abstruse subjects, according to the temper and +understanding of the persons we talk with, and readily give them +the advantage of deciding without obliging them to answer when +they are not anxious to talk.</p> + +<p>After having in this way fulfilled the duties of politeness, +we can speak our opinions to our listeners when we find an +opportunity without a sign of presumption or opinionatedness. +Above all things we should avoid often talking of ourselves and +giving ourselves as an example; nothing is more tiresome than a +man who quotes himself for everything.</p> + +<p>We cannot give too great study to find out the manner and the +capacity of those with whom we talk, so as to join in the +conversation of those who have more than ourselves without +hurting by this preference the wishes or interests of others.</p> + +<p>Then we should modestly use all the modes abovementioned to +show our thoughts to them, and make them, if possible, believe +that we take our ideas from them.</p> + +<p>We should never say anything with an air of authority, nor +show any superiority of mind. We should avoid far-fetched +expressions, expressions hard or forced, and never let the words +be grander than the matter.</p> + +<p>It is not wrong to retain our opinions if they are reasonable, +but we should yield to reason, wherever she appears and from +whatever side she comes, she alone should govern our opinions, we +should follow her without opposing the opinions of others, and +without seeming to ignore what they say.</p> + +<p>It is dangerous to seek to be always the leader of the +conversation, and to push a good argument too hard, when we have +found one. Civility often hides half its understanding, and when +it meets with an opinionated man who defends the bad side, spares +him the disgrace of giving way.</p> + +<p>We are sure to displease when we speak too long and too often +of one subject, and when we try to turn the conversation upon +subjects that we think more instructive than others, we should +enter indifferently upon every subject that is agreeable to +others, stopping where they wish, and avoiding all they do not +agree with.</p> + +<p>Every kind of conversation, however witty it may be, is not +equally fitted for all clever persons; we should select what is +to their taste and suitable to their condition, their sex, their +talents, and also choose the time to say it.</p> + +<p>We should observe the place, the occasion, the temper in which +we find the person who listens to us, for if there is much art in +speaking to the purpose, there is no less in knowing when to be +silent. There is an eloquent silence which serves to approve or +to condemn, there is a silence of discretion and of respect. In a +word, there is a tone, an air, a manner, which renders everything +in conversation agreeable or disagreeable, refined or vulgar.</p> + +<p>But it is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those +who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are +able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say +nothing that will ever give ground for regret.</p> + +<a name="R.VI"></a> +<h3>VI. Falsehood.</h3> + +<p>We are false in different ways. There are some men who are +false from wishing always to appear what they are not. There are +some who have better faith, who are born false, who deceive +themselves, and who never see themselves as they really are; to +some is given a true understanding and a false taste, others have +a false understanding and some correctness in taste; there are +some who have not any falsity either in taste or mind. These last +are very rare, for to speak generally, there is no one who has +not some falseness in some corner of his mind or his taste.</p> + +<p>What makes this falseness so universal, is that as our +qualities are uncertain and confused, so too, are our tastes; we +do not see things exactly as they are, we value them more or less +than they are worth, and do not bring them into unison with +ourselves in a manner which suits them or suits our condition or +qualities.</p> + +<p>This mistake gives rise to an infinite number of falsities in +the taste and in the mind. Our self-love is flattered by all that +presents itself to us under the guise of good.</p> + +<p>But as there are many kinds of good which affect our vanity +and our temper, so they are often followed from custom or +advantage. We follow because the others follow, without +considering that the same feeling ought not to be equally +embarrassing to all kinds of persons, and that it should attach +itself more or less firmly, according as persons agree more or +less with those who follow them.</p> + +<p>We dread still more to show falseness in taste than in mind. +Gentleness should approve without prejudice what deserves to be +approved, follow what deserves to be followed, and take offence +at nothing. But there should be great distinction and great +accuracy. We should distinguish between what is good in the +abstract and what is good for ourselves, and always follow in +reason the natural inclination which carries us towards matters +that please us.</p> + +<p>If men only wished to excel by the help of their own talents, +and in following their duty, there would be nothing false in +their taste or in their conduct. They would show what they were, +they would judge matters by their lights, and they would attract +by their reason. There would be a discernment in their views, in +their sentiments, their taste would be true, it would come to +them direct, and not from others, they would follow from choice +and not from habit or chance. If we are false in admiring what +should not be admired, it is oftener from envy that we affix a +value to qualities which are good in themselves, but which do not +become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters himself he is +brave, and that he will be able to be bold in certain cases. He +should be as firm and stedfast in a plot which ought to be +stifled without fear of being false, as he would be false and +absurd in fighting a duel about it.</p> + +<p>A woman may like science, but all sciences are not suitable +for her, and the doctrines of certain sciences never become her, +and when applied by her are always false.</p> + +<p>We should allow reason and good sense to fix the value of +things, they should determine our taste and give things the merit +they deserve, and the importance it is fitting we should give +them. But nearly all men are deceived in the price and in the +value, and in these mistakes there is always a kind of +falseness.</p> + +<a name="R.VII"></a> +<h3>VII. On Air and Manner.</h3> + +<p>There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of +each individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume +another.</p> + +<p>We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never +abandon it, but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason +that the majority of children please. It is because they are +wrapt up in the air and manner nature has given them, and are +ignorant of any other. They are changed and corrupted when they +quit infancy, they think they should imitate what they see, and +they are not altogether able to imitate it. In this imitation +there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. They have +nothing settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being in +reality what they want to appear, they seek to appear what they +are not.</p> + +<p>All men want to be different, and to be greater than they are; +they seek for an air other than their own, and a mind different +from what they possess; they take their style and manner at +chance. They make experiments upon themselves without considering +that what suits one person will not suit everyone, that there is +no universal rule for taste or manners, and that there are no +good copies.</p> + +<p>Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many matters without +being a copy of each other, if each follow his natural turn of +mind. But in general a person will not wholly follow it. He loves +to imitate. We often imitate the same person without perceiving +it, and we neglect our own good qualities for the good qualities +of others, which generally do not suit us.</p> + +<p>I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should so wrap +himself up in himself as not to be able to follow example, or to +add to his own, useful and serviceable habits, which nature has +not given him. Arts and sciences may be proper for the greater +part of those who are capable for them. Good manners and +politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet acquired +qualities should always have a certain agreement and a certain +union with our own natural qualities, which they imperceptibly +extend and increase. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above +ourselves. We are often engaged in a new profession for which +nature has not adapted us. All these conditions have each an air +which belong to them, but which does not always agree with our +natural manner. This change of our fortune often changes our air +and our manners, and augments the air of dignity, which is always +false when it is too marked, and when it is not united and +amalgamated with that which nature has given us. We should unite +and blend them together, and thus render them such that they can +never be separated.</p> + +<p>We should not speak of all subjects in one tone and in the +same manner. We do not march at the head of a regiment as we walk +on a promenade; and we should use the same style in which we +should naturally speak of different things in the same way, with +the same difference as we should walk, but always naturally, and +as is suitable, either at the head of a regiment or on a +promenade. There are some who are not content to abandon the air +and manner natural to them to assume those of the rank and +dignities to which they have arrived. There are some who assume +prematurely the air of the dignities and rank to which they +aspire. How many lieutenantgenerals assume to be marshals of +France, how many barristers vainly repeat the style of the +Chancellor and how many female citizens give themselves the airs +of duchesses.</p> + +<p>But what we are most often vexed at is that no one knows how +to conform his air and manners with his appearance, nor his style +and words with his thoughts and sentiments, that every one +forgets himself and how far he is insensibly removed from the +truth. Nearly every one falls into this fault in some way. No one +has an ear sufficiently fine to mark perfectly this kind of +cadence.</p> + +<p>Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; +thousands pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the +first wish to appear to be what they are not, the second are what +they appear.</p> + +<p>Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received +from nature please in proportion as we know the air, the style, +the manner, the sentiments that coincide with our condition and +our appearance, and displease in the proportion they are removed +from that point.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<a name="index"></a> +<br> + + +<h1>INDEX</h1> + +<h6>THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, +THE ROMAN NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS.</h6> + +<p>Ability, <a href="#162">162</a>, <a href="#165">165</a>, <a href="#199">199</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, +<a href="#283">283</a>, <a href="#288">288</a>. SEE Cleverness<br> +———, Sovereign, <a href="#244">244</a>.<br> +Absence, <a href="#276">276</a>.<br> +Accent, country, <a href="#342">342</a>, <a href="#XCIV">XCIV</a>.<br> +Accidents, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#310">310</a>.<br> +Acquaintances, <a href="#426">426</a>. SEE FRIENDS.<br> +Acknowledgements, <a href="#225">225</a>.<br> +Actions, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#7">7</a>, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#160">160</a>, +<a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#382">382</a>, <a href="#409">409</a>, <a href="#CXX">CXX</a>.<br> +Actors, <a href="#256">256</a>.<br> +Admiration, <a href="#178">178</a>, <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#474">474</a>.<br> +Adroitness of mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Adversity, <a href="#25">25</a>.<br> +———— of Friends, <a href="#XV">XV</a>.<br> +Advice, <a href="#110">110</a>, <a href="#116">116</a>, <a href="#283">283</a>, <a href="#378">378</a>, +<a href="#CXVII">CXVII</a>.<br> +Affairs, <a href="#453">453</a>, <a href="#R II">R II</a>.<br> +Affectation, <a href="#134">134</a>, <a href="#493">493</a>.<br> +Affections, <a href="#232">232</a>.<br> +Afflictions, <a href="#233">233</a>, <a href="#355">355</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#493">493</a>, + <a href="#XCVII">XCVII</a>, <a href="#XV">XV</a>.<br> +Age, <a href="#222">222</a>, <a href="#405">405</a>, <a href="#LXXIII">LXXIII</a>. SEE Old Age.<br> +Agreeableness, <a href="#255">255</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Agreement, <a href="#240">240</a>.<br> +Air, <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#495">495</a>, <a href="#R.7">R.7</a>.<br> +— Of a Citizen, <a href="#393">393</a>.<br> +Ambition, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, +<a href="#490">490</a>.<br> +Anger, <a href="#XXX">XXX</a>.<br> +Application, <a href="#41">41</a>, <a href="#243">243</a>.<br> +Appearances, <a href="#64">64</a>, <a href="#166">166</a>, <a href="#199">199</a>, <a href="#256">256</a>, +<a href="#302">302</a>, <a href="#431">431</a>, <a href="#457">457</a>, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +—————, Conformity of Manners with, +R.7.<br> +Applause, <a href="#272">272</a>.<br> +Approbation, <a href="#51">51</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>.<br> +Artifices, <a href="#117">117</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>, <a href="#125">125</a>, <a href="#126">126</a>, +<a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Astonishment, <a href="#384">384</a>.<br> +Avarice, <a href="#167">167</a>, <a href="#491">491</a>, <a href="#492">492</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Ballads, <a href="#211">211</a>.<br> +Beauty, <a href="#240">240</a>, <a href="#474">474</a>, <a href="#497">497</a>, <a href="#LI">LI</a>.<br> +——— of the Mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Bel esprit defined, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Benefits, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#299">299</a>, <a href="#301">301</a>, +<a href="#CXXII">CXXII</a>.<br> +Benefactors, <a href="#96">96</a>, <a href="#317">317</a>, <a href="#CXXII">CXXII</a>.<br> +Blame, <a href="#CVIII">CVIII</a>.<br> +Blindness, <a href="#XIX">XIX</a>.<br> +Boasting, <a href="#141">141</a>, <a href="#307">307</a>.<br> +Boredom, <a href="#141">141</a>, <a href="#304">304</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>. SEE Ennui.<br> +Bouts rimés, <a href="#382">382</a>, <a href="#CXX">CXX</a>.<br> +Bravery, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>, <a href="#214">214</a>, <a href="#215">215</a>, +<a href="#216">216</a>, <a href="#217">217</a>, <a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, +<a href="#221">221</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>,<br> + <a href="#504">504</a>. SEE Courage and Valour.<br> +Brilliancy of Mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Brilliant things, <a href="#LII">LII</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Capacity, <a href="#375">375</a>.<br> +Caprice, <a href="#45">45</a>.<br> +Chance, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#344">344</a>, <a href="#XCV">XCV</a>. SEE Fortune.<br> +Character, <a href="#LVI">LVI</a>, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Chastity, <a href="#1">1</a>. SEE Virtue of Women.<br> +Cheating, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#127">127</a>.<br> +Circumstances, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#470">470</a>.<br> +Civility, <a href="#260">260</a>.<br> +Clemency, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#16">16</a>.<br> +Cleverness, <a href="#162">162</a>, <a href="#269">269</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>.<br> +Coarseness, <a href="#372">372</a>.<br> +Comedy, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +Compassion, <a href="#463">463</a>. SEE Pity.<br> +Complaisance, <a href="#481">481</a>, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Conduct, <a href="#163">163</a>, <a href="#277">227</a>, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#CXVII">CXVII</a>.<br> +Confidants, whom we make, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Confidence, <a href="#239">239</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, <a href="#475">475</a>, <a href="#XLIX">XLIX</a>, +<a href="#R.I">R.1</a>, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Confidence, difference from Sincerity<br> +—————, defined, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Consolation, <a href="#325">325</a>.<br> +Constancy, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#175">175</a>, +<a href="#176">176</a>, <a href="#420">420</a>.<br> +Contempt, 322.<br> +———— of Death, <a href="#504">504</a>.<br> +Contentment, <a href="#LXXX">LXXX</a>.<br> +Contradictions, <a href="#478">478</a>.<br> +Conversation, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#312">312</a>, +<a href="#313">313</a>, <a href="#314">314</a>, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#391">391</a>,<br> + <a href="#421">421</a>, <a href="#CIV">CIV</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Copies, <a href="#133">133</a>.<br> +Coquetry, <a href="#241">241</a>. SEE Flirtation.<br> +Country Manner, <a href="#393">393</a>.<br> +——— Accent, <a href="#342">342</a>.<br> +Courage, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#214">214</a>, <a href="#215">215</a>, <a href="#216">216</a>, <a href="#219">219</a>, +<a href="#221">221</a>, <a href="#XLII">XLII</a>. SEE Bravery.<br> +Covetousness, opposed to Reason, <a href="#469">469</a><br> +Cowardice, <a href="#215">215</a>, <a href="#480">480</a>.<br> +Cowards, <a href="#370">370</a>.<br> +Crimes, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#465">465</a>, <a href="#XXXV">XXXV</a>, <a href="#XXXVII">XXXVII</a>.<br> +Cunning, <a href="#126">126</a>, <a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#394">394</a>, <a href="#407">407</a>.<br> +Curiosity, <a href="#173">173</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Danger, <a href="#XLII">XLII</a>.<br> +Death, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#23">23</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>.<br> +——, Contempt of, <a href="#504">504</a>.<br> +Deceit, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#117">117</a>, <a href="#118">118</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>, <a href="#127">127</a>, +<a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#434">434</a>. SEE ALSO<br> + Self-Deceit.<br> +Deception, <a href="#CXXI">CXXI</a>.<br> +Decency, <a href="#447">447</a>.<br> +Defects, <a href="#31">31</a>, <a href="#90">90</a>, <a href="#493">493</a>, <a href="#LXXII">LXXII</a>. SEE Faults.<br> +Delicacy, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Dependency, result of Confidence, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Designs, <a href="#160">160</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>.<br> +Desires, <a href="#439">439</a>, <a href="#469">469</a>, <a href="#LXXXII">LXXXII</a>, <a href="#LXXXV">LXXXV</a>.<br> +Despicable Persons, <a href="#322">322</a>.<br> +Detail, Mind given to, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Details, <a href="#41">41</a>, <a href="#106">106</a>.<br> +Devotion, <a href="#427">427</a>.<br> +Devotees, <a href="#427">427</a>.<br> +Devout, <a href="#LXXVI">LXXVI</a>.<br> +Differences, <a href="#135">135</a>.<br> +Dignities, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +Discretion, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Disguise, <a href="#119">119</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>.<br> +Disgrace, <a href="#235">235</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>.<br> +Dishonour, <a href="#326">326</a>, <a href="#LXIX">LXIX</a>.<br> +Distrust, <a href="#84">84</a>, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#335">335</a>.<br> +Divination, <a href="#425">425</a>.<br> +Doubt, <a href="#348">348</a>.<br> +Docility, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Dupes, <a href="#87">87</a>, <a href="#102">102</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Education, <a href="#261">261</a>.<br> +Elevation, <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>.<br> +Eloquence, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#249">249</a>, <a href="#250">250</a>.<br> +Employments, <a href="#164">164</a>, <a href="#419">419</a>, <a href="#449">449</a>.<br> +Enemies, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#458">458</a>, <a href="#463">463</a>.<br> +Ennui, <a href="#122">122</a>, <a href="#141">141</a>, <a href="#304">304</a>, <a href="#312">312</a>, +<a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#CXII">CXII</a>, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Envy, <a href="#27">27</a>, <a href="#28">28</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#328">328</a>, +<a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#433">433</a>, <a href="#476">476</a>, <a href="#486">486</a>.<br> +Epithets assigned to the Mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Esteem, <a href="#296">296</a>.<br> +Establish, <a href="#56">56</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>.<br> +Evils, <a href="#121">121</a>, <a href="#197">197</a>, <a href="#269">269</a>, <a href="#454">454</a>, +<a href="#464">464</a>, <a href="#XCIII">XCIII</a>.<br> +Example, <a href="#230">230</a>.<br> +Exchange of secrets, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Experience, <a href="#405">405</a>.<br> +Expedients, <a href="#287">287</a>.<br> +Expression, refined, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Faculties of the Mind, <a href="#174">174</a>.<br> +Failings, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>.<br> +Falseness, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +————, disguised, <a href="#282">282</a>.<br> +————, kinds of, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Familiarity, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Fame, <a href="#157">157</a>.<br> +Farces, men compared to, <a href="#211">211</a>.<br> +Faults, <a href="#37">37</a>, <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#155">155</a>, <a href="#184">184</a>, +<a href="#190">190</a>, <a href="#194">194</a>, <a href="#196">196</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#354">354</a>, +<a href="#365">365</a>,<br> + <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#411">411</a>, <a href="#428">428</a>, + <a href="#493">493</a>, <a href="#494">494</a>, <a href="#V">V</a>, <a href="#LXV">LXV</a>, <a href="#CX">CX</a>,<br> + <a href="#CXV">CXV</a>.<br> +Favourites, <a href="#55">55</a>.<br> +Fear, <a href="#370">370</a>, <a href="#LXVIII">LXVIII</a>.<br> +Feeling, <a href="#255">255</a>.<br> +Ferocity, <a href="#XXXIII">XXXIII</a>.<br> +Fickleness, <a href="#179">179</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#498">498</a>.<br> +Fidelity, <a href="#247">247</a>.<br> +————, hardest test of, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +———— in love, <a href="#331">331</a>, <a href="#381">381</a>, <a href="#C">C</a>.<br> +Figure and air, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +Firmness, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#479">479</a>.<br> +Flattery, <a href="#123">123</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>, <a href="#152">152</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>, +<a href="#320">320</a>, <a href="#329">329</a>.<br> +Flirts, <a href="#406">406</a>, <a href="#418">418</a>.<br> +Flirtation, <a href="#107">107</a>, <a href="#241">241</a>, <a href="#277">277</a>, <a href="#332">332</a>, +<a href="#334">334</a>, <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#LXIV">LXIV</a>.<br> +Follies, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#408">408</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>.<br> +Folly, <a href="#207">207</a>, <a href="#208">208</a>, <a href="#209">209</a>, <a href="#210">210</a>, +<a href="#231">231</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#310">310</a>, <a href="#311">311</a>, <a href="#318">318</a>,<br> + <a href="#XXIV">XXIV</a>.<br> +Fools, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#210">210</a>, <a href="#310">309</a>, <a href="#318">318</a>, +<a href="#357">357</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>, <a href="#451">451</a>, <a href="#456">456</a>,<br> +——, old, <a href="#444">444</a>.<br> +——, witty, <a href="#451">451</a>, <a href="#456">456</a>.<br> +Force of Mind, <a href="#30">30</a>, <a href="#42">42</a>, <a href="#237">237</a>.<br> +Forgetfulness, <a href="#XXVI">XXVI</a>.<br> +Forgiveness, <a href="#330">330</a>.<br> +Fortitude, <a href="#19">19</a>. SEE Bravery.<br> +Fortune, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#17">17</a>, <a href="#45">45</a>, <a href="#52">52</a>, <a href="#53">53</a>, +<a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#61">61</a>, <a href="#154">154</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>, +<a href="#227">227</a>, <a href="#323">323</a>,<br> + <a href="#343">343</a>, <a href="#380">380</a>, <a href="#391">391</a>, <a href="#392">392</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>, + <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#435">435</a>, <a href="#449">449</a>, <a href="#IX">IX</a>., <a href="#CXIX">CXIX</a>.<br> +Friends, <a href="#84">84</a>, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#179">179</a>, <a href="#235">235</a>, +<a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#315">315</a>, <a href="#319">319</a>, <a href="#428">428</a>.<br> +———, adversity of, <a href="#XV">XV</a>.<br> +———, disgrace of, <a href="#235">235</a>.<br> +———, faults of, <a href="#428">428</a>.<br> +———, true ones, <a href="#LXXXVI">LXXXVI</a>.<br> +Friendship, <a href="#80">80</a>, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#83">83</a>, <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#410">410</a>, +<a href="#427">427</a>, <a href="#440">440</a>, <a href="#441">441</a>, <a href="#443">473</a>,<br> + <a href="#XXII">XXII</a>, <a href="#CXXIV">CXXIV</a>.<br> +—————, defined, <a href="#83">83</a>.<br> +—————, women do not care for, +<a href="#440">440</a>.<br> +—————, rarer than love, <a href="#473">473</a>.<br> +Funerals, <a href="#XXXVIII">XXXVIII</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Gallantry, <a href="#100">100</a>. SEE Flirtation.<br> +———— of mind, <a href="#100">100</a>.<br> +Generosity, <a href="#246">246</a>.<br> +Genius, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Gentleness, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Ghosts, <a href="#76">76</a>.<br> +Gifts of the mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Glory, <a href="#157">157</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>, <a href="#221">221</a>, <a href="#268">268</a>.<br> +Good, <a href="#121">121</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>, <a href="#229">229</a>, <a href="#238">238</a>, +<a href="#303">303</a>, <a href="#XCIII">XCIII</a>.<br> +——, how to be, <a href="#XLVII">XLVII</a>.<br> +Goodness, <a href="#237">237</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, <a href="#284">284</a>, <a href="#XLVI">XLVI</a>.<br> +Good grace, <a href="#67">67</a>, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +Good man, who is a, <a href="#206">206</a>.<br> +God nature, <a href="#481">481</a>.<br> +Good qualities, <a href="#29">29</a>, <a href="#90">90</a>, <a href="#337">337</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, +<a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#462">462</a>.<br> +Good sense, <a href="#67">67</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#CVI">CVI</a>.<br> +Good taste, <a href="#258">258</a>.<br> +—————, rarity of, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +——, women, <a href="#368">368</a>, <a href="#XCVI">XCVI</a>.<br> +Government of others, <a href="#151">151</a>.<br> +Grace, <a href="#67">67</a>.<br> +Gracefulness, <a href="#240">240</a>.<br> +Gratitude, <a href="#223">223</a>, <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#225">225</a>, <a href="#279">279</a>, +<a href="#298">298,</a> <a href="#438">438</a>, <a href="#XLIII">XLIII</a>.<br> +Gravity, <a href="#257">257</a>.<br> +Great men, what they cannot acquire, <a href="#LXXXIV">LXXXIV</a>.<br> +Great minds, <a href="#142">142</a>.<br> +Great names, <a href="#94">94</a>.<br> +Greediness, <a href="#66">66</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Habit, <a href="#426">426</a>.<br> +Happy, who are, <a href="#49">49</a>.<br> +Happiness, <a href="#48">48</a>, <a href="#61">61</a>, <a href="#VII">VII</a>, <a href="#LXXX">LXXX</a>, +<a href="#LXXXI">LXXXI</a>.<br> +hatred, <a href="#338">338</a>.<br> +Head, <a href="#102">102</a>, <a href="#108">108</a>.<br> +Health, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#LVII">LVII</a>.<br> +Heart, <a href="#98">98</a>, <a href="#102">102</a>, <a href="#103">103</a>, <a href="#108">108</a>, +<a href="#478">478</a>, <a href="#484">484</a>.<br> +Heroes, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#53">53</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>.<br> +Honesty, 202<a href="#202"></a>, <a href="#206">206</a>.<br> +Honour, <a href="#270">270</a>.<br> +Hope, <a href="#168">168</a>, <a href="#LXVIII">LXVIII</a>.<br> +Humility, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#LXXVI">LXXVI</a>, <a href="#LXXIX">LXXIX</a><br> +Humiliation, <a href="#272">272</a>.<br> +Humour, 47<a href="#47"></a>. SEE Temper.<br> +Hypocrisy, <a href="#218">218</a>.<br> +———— of afflictions, <a href="#233">233</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Idleness, <a href="#169">169</a>, <a href="#266">266</a>, <a href="#267">267</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, +<a href="#482">482</a>, <a href="#487">487</a>, <a href="#XVIII">XVIII</a>., <a href="#LV">LV</a>.<br> +Ills, <a href="#174">174</a>. SEE Evils.<br> +Illusions, <a href="#123">123</a>.<br> +Imagination, <a href="#478">478</a>.<br> +Imitation, <a href="#230">230</a>, <a href="#XLIV">XLIV</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Impertinence, <a href="#502">502</a>.<br> +Impossibilities, <a href="#30">30</a>.<br> +Incapacity, <a href="#126">126</a>.<br> +Inclination, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#390">390</a>.<br> +Inconsistency, <a href="#135">135</a>.<br> +Inconstancy, <a href="#181">181</a>.<br> +Inconvenience, <a href="#242">242</a>.<br> +Indifference, <a href="#172">172</a>, <a href="#XXIII">XXIII</a>.<br> +Indiscretion, <a href="#429">429</a>.<br> +Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness.<br> +Infidelity, <a href="#359">359</a>, <a href="#360">360</a>, <a href="#381">381</a>, <a href="#429">429</a>.<br> +Ingratitude, <a href="#96">96</a>, <a href="#226">226</a>, <a href="#306">306</a>, <a href="#317">317</a>.<br> +Injuries, <a href="#14">14</a>.<br> +Injustice, <a href="#78">78</a>.<br> +Innocence, <a href="#465">465</a>.<br> +Instinct, <a href="#123">123</a>.<br> +Integrity, <a href="#170">170</a>.<br> +Interest, <a href="#39">39</a>, <a href="#40">40</a>, <a href="#66">66</a>, <a href="#85">85</a>, <a href="#172">172</a>, +<a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#232">232</a>, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#305">305</a>, <a href="#390">390</a>.<br> +Interests, <a href="#66">66</a>.<br> +Intrepidity, <a href="#217">217</a>, <a href="#XL">XL</a>.<br> +Intrigue, <a href="#73">73</a>.<br> +Invention, <a href="#287">287</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Jealousy, <a href="#28">28</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#324">324</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, +<a href="#359">359</a>, +<a href="#361">361</a>, <a href="#446">446</a>, <a href="#503">503</a>, <a href="#CII">CII</a>.<br> +Joy, <a href="#XIV">XIV</a>.<br> +Judges, <a href="#268">268</a>.<br> +Judgment, <a href="#89">89</a>, <a href="#97">97</a>, <a href="#248">248</a>.<br> +———— of the World, <a href="#212">212</a>, <a href="#455">455</a>.<br> +Justice, <a href="#78">78</a>, <a href="#458">458</a>, <a href="#XII">XII</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Kindness, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#85">85</a>.<br> +Knowledge, <a href="#106">106</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Labour of Body, effect of, <a href="#LXXVII">LXXVII</a>.<br> +Laments, <a href="#355">355</a>.<br> +Laziness, <a href="#367">367</a>. SEE Idleness.<br> +Leader, <a href="#43">43</a>.<br> +Levity, <a href="#179">179</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>.<br> +Liberality, <a href="#167">167</a>, <a href="#263">263</a>.<br> +Liberty in Society, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Limits to Confidence, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Little Minds, <a href="#142">142</a>.<br> +Love, <a href="#168">68</a>, <a href="#69">69</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, <a href="#71">71</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, +<a href="#73">73</a>, +<a href="#74">74</a>, <a href="#75">75</a>, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#136">136</a>, <a href="#259">259</a>, +<a href="#262">262</a>,<br> + <a href="#274">274</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#296">296</a>, <a href="#321">321</a>, <a href="#335">335</a>, + <a href="#336">336</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#351">351</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>,<br> + <a href="#361">361</a>, <a href="#371">371</a>, <a href="#374">374</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, + <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#402">402</a>, <a href="#417">417</a>, <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#422">422</a>,<br> + <a href="#430">430</a>, <a href="#440">440</a>, <a href="#441">441</a>, <a href="#459">459</a>, <a href="#466">466</a>, + <a href="#471">471</a>, <a href="#473">473</a>, <a href="#499">499</a>, <a href="#500">500</a>, <a href="#501">501</a>,<br> + <a href="#X">X</a>, <a href="#XI">XI</a>, <a href="#XIII">XIII</a>, <a href="#LVIII">LVIII</a>, <a href="#LX">LX</a>, + <a href="#LXII">LXII</a>, <a href="#LXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>,<br> + <a href="#XCIX">XCIX</a>, <a href="# CIII"> CIII</a>, <a href="#CXXI">CXXI</a>.<br> +—— defined, <a href="#68">68</a>.<br> +——, Coldness in, <a href="#LX">LX</a>.<br> +——, Effect of absence on, <a href="#276">276</a>.<br> +—— akin to Hate, <a href="#111">111</a>.<br> +—— of Women, <a href="#466">466</a>, <a href="#471">471</a>, <a href="#499">499</a>.<br> +——, Novelty in, <a href="#274">274</a>.<br> +——, Infidelity in, <a href="#LXIV">LXIV</a>.<br> +——, Old age of, <a href="#430">430</a>.<br> +——, Cure for, <a href="#417">417</a>, <a href="#459">459</a>.<br> +Loss of Friends, <a href="#XLV">XLV</a>.<br> +Lovers, <a href="#312">312</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#LXXXVII">LXXXVII</a>, <a href="#XCVII">XCVII</a>.<br> +Lunatic, <a href="#353">353</a>.<br> +Luxury, <a href="#LIV">LIV</a>.<br> +Lying, <a href="#63">63</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Madmen, <a href="#353">353</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>.<br> +Malady, <a href="#LVII">LVII</a>.<br> +Magistrates, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Magnanimity, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#LIII">LIII</a>.<br> +————— defined, <a href="#285">285</a>.<br> +Malice, <a href="#483">483</a>.<br> +Manners, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +Mankind, <a href="#436">436</a>,<a href="# XXXVI"> XXXVI</a>.<br> +Marriages, <a href="#113">113</a>.<br> +Maxims, <a href="#LXVII">LXVII</a>.<br> +Mediocrity, <a href="#375">375</a>.<br> +Memory, <a href="#89">89</a>, <a href="#313">313</a>.<br> +Men easier to know than Man, <a href="#436">436</a>.<br> +Merit, <a href="#50">50</a>, <a href="#92">92</a>, <a href="#95">95</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, +<a href="#165">165</a>, <a href="#166">166</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>, <a href="#291">291</a>, <a href="#379">379</a>,<br> +<a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>, <a href="#455">455</a>, <a href="#CXVIII">CXVIII</a>.<br> +Mind, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#103">103</a>, <a href="#265">265</a>, <a href="#357">357</a>, <a href="#448">448</a>, +<a href="#482">482</a>, <a href="#CIX">CIX</a>.<br> +Mind, Capacities of, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Miserable, <a href="#49">49</a>.<br> +Misfortunes, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#174">174</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>.<br> +————— of Friends. <a href="#XV">XV</a>.<br> +————— of Enemies, <a href="#463">463</a>.<br> +Mistaken people, <a href="#386">386</a>.<br> +Mistrust, <a href="#86">86</a>.<br> +Mockery, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Moderation, <a href="#17">17</a>, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#308">308</a>, <a href="#III">III</a>, +<a href="#IV">IV</a>.<br> +Money, Man compared to, <a href="#XXXII">XXXII</a>.<br> +Motives, <a href="#409">409</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Names, Great, <a href="#95">94</a>.<br> +Natural goodness, <a href="#275">275</a>.<br> +Natural, to be, <a href="#431">431</a>.<br> +———, always pleasing, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +Nature, <a href="#53">53</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, +<a href="#404">404</a>.<br> +Negotiations, <a href="#278">278</a>.<br> +Novelty in study, <a href="#178">178</a>.<br> +——— in love, <a href="#274">274</a>.<br> +——— in friendship, <a href="#426">426</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Obligations, <a href="#299">299</a>, <a href="#317">317</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>. SEE Benefits and Gratitude.<br> +Obstinacy, <a href="#234">234</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>.<br> +———— its cause, <a href="#265">265</a>.<br> +Occasions. SEE Opportunities.<br> +Old Age, <a href="#109">109</a>, <a href="#210">210</a>, <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#423">423</a>, +<a href="#430">430</a>, <a href="#461">461</a>.<br> +Old Men, <a href="#93">93</a>.<br> +Openness of heart, R.1.<br> +Opinions, <a href="#13">13</a>, <a href="#234">234</a>, <a href="#CXXIII">CXXIII</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Opinionatedness, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Opportunities, <a href="#345">345</a>, <a href="#453">453</a>, <a href="#CV">CV</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Passions, <a href="#5">5</a>, <a href="#6">6</a>, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#9">9</a>, <a href="#10">10</a>, +<a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#122">122</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#266">266</a>, +<a href="#276">276</a>, <a href="#404">404</a>,<br> + <a href="#422">422</a>, <a href="#443">443</a>, <a href="#460">460</a>, <a href="#471">471</a>, <a href="#477">477</a>, + <a href="#484">484</a>, <a href="#485">485</a>, <a href="#486">486</a>, <a href="#500">500</a>, <a href="#II">II</a>.<br> +Peace of Mind, <a href="#VIII">VIII</a>.<br> +Penetration, <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#CXVI">CXVI</a>.<br> +Perfection, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Perseverance, <a href="#177">177</a>.<br> +Perspective, <a href="#104">104</a>.<br> +Persuasion, <a href="#8">8</a>.<br> +Philosophers, <a href="#46">46</a>, <a href="#54">54</a>, <a href="#504">504</a>, <a href="#XXI">XXI</a>.<br> +Philosophy, <a href="#22">22</a>.<br> +————— of a Footman, <a href="#504">504</a>, <a href="#LXXV">LXXV</a>.<br> +Pity, <a href="#264">264</a>.<br> +Pleasing, <a href="#413">413</a>, <a href="#CXXV">CXXV</a>.<br> +————, Mode of, <a href="#XLVIII">XLVIII</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +————, Mind a, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Point of view, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Politeness, <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Politeness of Mind, <a href="#99">99</a>.<br> +Praise, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#146">146</a>, <a href="#147">147</a>, +<a href="#148">148</a>, <a href="#149">149</a>, <a href="#150">150</a>, <a href="#272">272</a>, <a href="#356">356</a>,<br> + <a href="#432">432</a>, <a href="#XXVII">XXVII</a>, <a href="#CVII">CVII</a>.<br> +Preoccupation, <a href="#92">92</a>, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +Pride, <a href="#33">33</a>, <a href="#34">34</a>, <a href="#35">35</a>, <a href="#36">36</a>, <a href="#37">37</a>, +<a href="#228">228</a>, +<a href="#234">234</a>, <a href="#239">239</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#267">267</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>,<br> + <a href="#450">450</a>, <a href="#462">462</a>, <a href="#463">463</a>, <a href="#472">472</a>, + <a href="#VI">VI</a>, <a href="#XIX">XIX</a>.<br> +Princes, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#320">320</a>.<br> +Proceedings, <a href="#170">170</a>.<br> +Productions of the Mind, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Professions, <a href="#256">256</a>.<br> +Promises, <a href="#38">38</a>.<br> +Proportion, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Propriety, <a href="#447">447</a>.<br> +———— in Women, <a href="#XXXIV">XXXIV</a>.<br> +Prosperity, <a href="#25">25</a>.<br> +Providence, <a href="#XXXIX">XXXIX</a>.<br> +Prudence, 65, <a href="#LXXXVIII">LXXXVIII</a>, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Qualities, <a href="#29">29</a>, <a href="#162">162</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#470">470</a>, +<a href="#498">498</a>, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>, <a href="#R.VII">R.VII</a>.<br> +————, Bad, <a href="#468">468</a>.<br> +————, Good, <a href="#88">88</a>, <a href="#337">337</a>, <a href="#462">462</a>.<br> +————, Great, <a href="#159">159</a>, <a href="#433">433</a>.<br> +————, of Mind, classified, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Quarrels, <a href="#496">496</a>,<br> +Quoting oneself, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Raillery, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Rank, <a href="#401">401</a>.<br> +Reason, <a href="#42">42</a>, <a href="#105">105</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, +<a href="#467">467</a>, <a href="#469">469</a>, <a href="#XX">XX</a>, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Recollection in Memory{, <a href="#313">313</a>}.<br> +Reconciliation, <a href="#82">82</a>.<br> +Refinement, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>.<br> +Regret, <a href="#355">355</a>.<br> +Relapses, <a href="#193">193</a>.<br> +Remedies, <a href="#288">288</a>.<br> +———— for love <a href="#459">459</a>.<br> +Remonstrances, <a href="#37">37</a>.<br> +Repentance, <a href="#180">180</a>.<br> +Repose, <a href="#268">268</a>.<br> +Reproaches, <a href="#148">148</a>.<br> +Reputation, <a href="#268">268</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>.<br> +Resolution, <a href="#L">L</a>.<br> +Revenge, <a href="#14">14</a>.<br> +Riches, <a href="#54">54</a>.<br> +Ridicule, <a href="#133">133</a>, <a href="#134">134</a>, <a href="#326">326</a>, <a href="#418">418</a>, +<a href="#422">422</a>.<br> +Rules for Conversation, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Rusticity, <a href="#393">393</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Satire, <a href="#483">483</a>, <a href="#R.II">R.II</a>, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Sciences, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Secrets, <a href="#XVI">XVI</a>, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +———, How they should be kept, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +Self-deceit, <a href="#115">115</a>, 452.<br> +Self-love, <a href="#2">2</a>, <a href="#3">3</a>, <a href="#4">4</a>, <a href="#228">228</a>, <a href="#236">236</a>, +<a href="#247">247</a>, +<a href="#261">261</a>, <a href="#262">262</a>, <a href="#339">339</a>, <a href="#494">494</a>, <a href="#500">500</a>,<br> + <a href="#I">I</a>, <a href="#XVII">XVII</a>, <a href="#XXVIII">XXVIII</a>, <a href="#XXXIII">XXXIII</a>, + <a href="#LXVI">LXVI</a>, <a href="#LXXIV">LXXIV</a>.<br> +———— in love, <a href="#262">262</a>.<br> +Self-satisfaction, <a href="#52">51</a>.<br> +Sensibility, <a href="#275">275</a>.<br> +Sensible People, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#CVI">CVI</a>.<br> +Sentiment, <a href="#255">255</a>, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +Severity of Women, <a href="#204">204</a>, <a href="#333">333</a>.<br> +Shame, <a href="#213">213</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>.<br> +Silence, <a href="#79">79</a>, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#138">138</a>, <a href="#CXIV">CXIV</a>.<br> +Silliness. SEE Folly.<br> +Simplicity, <a href="#289">289</a>.<br> +Sincerity, <a href="#62">62</a>, <a href="#316">316</a>, <a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#383">383</a>, +<a href="#457">457</a>.<br> +————, Difference between it and +Confidence, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +————, defined, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.<br> +———— of Lovers, <a href="#LXI">LXI</a>.<br> +Skill, <a href="#LXIV">LXIV</a>.<br> +Sobriety, <a href="#XXV">XXV</a>.<br> +Society, <a href="#87">87</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +———, Distinction between it and Friendship, +<a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Soul, <a href="#80">80</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#194">194</a>.<br> +Souls, Great, <a href="#XXXI">XXXI</a>.<br> +Sorrows, <a href="#LXXVIII">LXXVIII</a>.<br> +Stages of Life, <a href="#405">405</a>.<br> +Strength of mind, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#504">504</a>.<br> +Studies, why new ones are pleasing, <a href="#178">178</a>.<br> +———, what to study, <a href="#XCII">XCII</a>.<br> +Subtilty, <a href="#128">128</a>.<br> +Sun, <a href="#26">26</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Talents, <a href="#468">468</a>.<br> +———, latent, <a href="#344">344</a>, <a href="#XCV">XCV</a>.<br> +Talkativeness, <a href="#314">314</a>.<br> +Taste, <a href="#13">13</a>, <a href="#109">109</a>, <a href="#252">252</a>, <a href="#390">390</a>, +<a href="#467">467</a>, <a href="#CXX">CXX</a>, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>, <a href="#R.VI">R.VI</a>.<br> +——, good, <a href="#258">258</a>, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +——, cause of diversities in, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +——, false, <a href="#R.III">R.III</a>.<br> +Tears, <a href="#233">233</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>.<br> +Temper, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#292">292</a>.<br> +Temperament, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#222">222</a>, <a href="#297">297</a>, <a href="#346">346</a>.<br> +Times for speaking, <a href="#R.V">R.V</a>.<br> +Timidity, <a href="#169">169</a>, <a href="#480">480</a>.<br> +Titles, <a href="#XXXII">XXXII</a>.<br> +Tranquillity, <a href="#488">488</a>.<br> +Treachery, <a href="#120">120</a>, <a href="#126">126</a>.<br> +Treason, <a href="#120">120</a>.<br> +Trickery, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#350">350</a>, <a href="#XCI">XCI</a>. SEE Deceit.<br> +Trifles, <a href="#41">41</a>.<br> +Truth, <a href="#64">64</a>, <a href="#LI">LI</a>.<br> +Tyranny, <a href="#R.I">R.I</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Understanding, <a href="#89">89</a>.<br> +Untruth, <a href="#63">63</a>. SEE Lying.<br> +Unhappy, <a href="#CXXV">CXXV</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Valour, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>, <a href="#214">214</a>, <a href="#215">215</a>, +<a href="#216">216</a>. SEE Bravery and Courage.<br> +Vanity, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#158">158</a>, <a href="#200">200</a>, <a href="#232">232</a>, <a href="#388">388</a>, +<a href="#389">389</a>, <a href="#443">443</a>, <a href="#467">467</a>, <a href="#483">483</a>.<br> +Variety of mind, <a href="#R.IV">R.IV</a>.<br> +Vice, <a href="#182">182</a>, <a href="#186">186</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, <a href="#191">191</a>, +<a href="#192">192</a>, +<a href="#195">195</a>, <a href="#218">218</a>, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>,<br> + <a href="#380">380</a>, <a href="#442">442</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#XXIX">XXIX</a>.<br> +Violence, <a href="#363">363</a>, <a href="#369">369</a>, <a href="#466">466</a>, <a href="#CXIII">CXIII</a>.<br> +Victory, <a href="#XII">XII</a>.<br> +Virtue, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#25">25</a>, <a href="#169">169</a>, <a href="#171">171</a>, <a href="#182">182</a>, +<a href="#186">186</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, <a href="#200">200</a>, <a href="#218">218</a>,<br> + <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#380">380</a>, <a href="#388">388</a>, <a href="#442">442</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>, + <a href="#489">489</a>, <a href="#XXIX">XXIX</a>.<br> +Virtue of Women, <a href="#1">1</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#XCVIII">XCVIII</a>.<br> +Vivacity, <a href="#416">416</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Weakness, <a href="#130">130</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>.<br> +Wealth, Contempt of, <a href="#301">301</a>.<br> +Weariness. SEE Ennui.<br> +Wicked people, <a href="#284">284</a>.<br> +Wife jealous sometimes desirable, <a href="#LXXXIX">LXXXIX</a>.<br> +Will, <a href="#30">30</a>.<br> +Wisdom, <a href="#132">132</a>, <a href="#210">210</a>, <a href="#231">231</a>, <a href="#323">323</a>, +<a href="#444">444</a>, <a href="#LXXXIII">LXXXIII</a>.<br> +Wise Man, who is a, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#XCI">XCI</a>.<br> +Wishes, <a href="#295">295</a>.<br> +Wit, <a href="#199">199</a>, <a href="#340">340</a>, <a href="#413">413</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>, +<a href="#421">421</a>, <a href="#502">502</a>.<br> +Wives, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#CIV">CIV</a>.<br> +Woman, <a href="#131">131</a>, <a href="#204">204</a>, <a href="#205">205</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, +<a href="#241">241</a>, + <a href="#277">277</a>, <a href="#332">332</a>, <a href="#333">333</a>, <a href="#334">334</a>,<br> + <a href="#340">340</a>, <a href="#346">346</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#368">368</a>, + <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#429">429</a>, <a href="#440">440</a>, <a href="#466">466</a>, <a href="#471">471</a>,<br> + <a href="#474">474</a>, <a href="#LXX">LXX</a>, <a href="#XC">XC</a>.<br> +Women, Severity of, <a href="#333">333</a>.<br> +——, Virtue of, <a href="#205">205</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#XC">XC</a>.<br> +——, Power of, <a href="#LXXI">LXXI</a>.<br> +Wonder, <a href="#384">384</a>.<br> +World, <a href="#201">201</a>.<br> +——, Judgment of, <a href="#268">268</a>.<br> +——, Approbation of, <a href="#201">201</a>.<br> +——, Establishment in, <a href="#56">56</a>.<br> +——, Praise and censure of, <a href="#454">454</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<p>Young men, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#495">495</a>.<br> +Youth, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#341">341</a>.</p> + +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reflections; Or Sentences +and Moral Maxims, by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORAL MAXIMS *** + +This file should be named 8roch10h.htm or 8roch10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8roch11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8roch10ah.htm + +This html version was produced by David Widger + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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