proposition, that we have no faults, and our enemies have no good qualities; but, in detail, we are not far from thinking so.

423.

Of all our faults, that which we most readily admit is indolence. We persuade ourselves that it cherishes all the peaceful virtues; and that, without entirely destroying the others, it merely suspends their functions.

424.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune. It is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set on ourselves. By this quality we usurp the deference of other men; and it puts us, in general, more above them than birth, dignity, or even merit itself.

425.

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation without some merit.

426.

Elevation is to merit what dress is to a handsome person.

427.

The quality least met with in gallantry is

love.

428.

Fortune sometimes makes use of our faults in order to elevate us; and there are some troublesome people whose merit would be badly rewarded if we were not very glad to purchase their absence.

429.

It seems that Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds, talents and abilities of which we are not aware. The passions alone have the privilege of bringing them to light, and of giving us sometimes views more certain and more perfect than art could possibly produce.

430.

We arrive complete novices at the different ages of life, and we often want experience in spite of the number of our years.

430. "Nunquam ita quisquam bene subducta ratione ad

vitam fuit,

Quin res, ætas, usus semper aliquid apportet,

novi,

431.

Coquettes make a merit of being jealous of their lovers, to conceal their being envious of other women.

432.

Those who are over-reached by our cunning are far from appearing to us as ridiculous as we appear to ourselves when the cunning of others has over-reached us.

433.

The most dangerous weakness of old people who have been amiable is to forget that they are no longer so.

434.

We should often be ashamed of our best

Aliquid moneat, ut illa, quæ te scire credas, nes

cias,

Et quæ tibi putaris prima, in experiundo ut repudies."

TERENCE, Adelph. Act v. Scene 4, verse 1.

"To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship which illumine only the track it has passed."-COLE

RIDGE.

434. "Useful and honorable as his genius has been to Ireland, that happy illustration of the machinery of most

actions if the world could see all the motives

which produced them.

435.

The greatest effort of friendship is not to show our own faults to a friend, but to make him see his own.

436.

We have few faults which are not more excusable than the means we take to conceal them.

437.

Whatever disgrace we have merited, it is

human motives, ‘une roue de cuivre fait tourner une aiguille d'or,' may without much injustice be applied to those of Swift-as English discontent was, after all, the 'roue de cuivre' that put the 'aiguille d'or' of his patriotism in motion."-MOORE, Capt. Rock, book ii. chap. 6.

"Percez jusque dans les motifs des actions les plus éclatantes et des plus grands évènemens, tout en est brillant au dehors, vous voyez le héros: entrez plus avant, cherchez l'homme lui-même; c'est là que vous ne trouverez plus que de la cendre et de la boue. L'ambition, la témérité, le hasard, la crainte souvent, et le désespoir ont donné les plus grands spectacles, et les évènemens les plus brillans à la terre. Ce sont souvent les plus vils ressorts qui nous font marcher vers la gloire, et presque toujours les voies qui nous y ont conduits nous en dégradent ellesmêmes."-MASSILLON, Petit Carême.

L

almost always in our power to re-establish our reputation.

438.

A man does not please long when he has only one species of wit.

439.

Madmen and fools see only through their

humor.

440.

Our wit sometimes enables us to commit follies with impunity.

441.

The vivacity which augments with years is not far from folly.

442.

In love, he who is earliest cured is always best cured.

438. M. Segrais says that this maxim was aimed at Boileau and Racine.

441. "How ill gray hairs become the fool and jester !" SHAKSPEARE.