Metaphysics. "The world is now becoming very wise and very stupid, nevertheless," said a pretty lady at a fashionable soirée. "What with its logic and metaphysics"What are metaphysics?" inquired a younger beauty. "Faith, I cannot tell," said the first. "Hoot awa!" exclaimed an elderly Scotch lady, "Ill just tell aboot it. Twa fools disputen together; he that's listenen dinna ken what he that's speaken aboot means; and he that's speaken dinna ken what he means himself. That's Metaphysics." - Feeling for a science in the dark. Method. Method in everything is incalculably valuable. It promotes comfort. It saves a large expenditure of time. It avoids numberless inconveniences. It is of great moment in relation to mind and character; and it is essential to the despatch of all business; for what is well arranged easily and wisely proceeds. - The likeliest way to thrive in business: never do that by another you can conveniently do yourself. Mind. Mind is the brightness of the body-lights it J. S. Knowles. It is mind, after all, that does the work of the world; so that the more there is of mind, the more work will be accomplished. A man, in proportion as he is intelligent, makes a given force accomplish a greater task, makes skill take the place of muscles, and, with less labour, gives a better produce. Only the riches of the mind A firm support remain : All other riches, you will find, Mirth. It is easy to be merry when the heart is light; but the true philosopher is he who can make sunshine on a cloudy day. Miser. The aged man that coffers up his gold Is plagued with cramps, and gouts, and painful fits, But like still-pining Tantalus he sits, And useless barns the harvest of his wits; For misery is trodden down by many, Shakespere. And being low never relieved by any.-Shakespere. When fortune, or the gods afflict mankind, Compassion to the miserable is due ; But when we suffer what we may prevent, Moderation. The silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.-Bishop Hall. Modesty. Nothing can atone for the want of modesty and innocence, without which beauty is ungraceful, and quality contemptible. A beautiful flower that flourishes in few places. The first of all virtues is innocence; the next is modesty. If we banish modesty out of the world, she carries away with her half the virtue that is in it.-Spectator. Money. Money possess'd by any one A thousand friends will make; Your friends their leave will take. Money is a great power, whose latitude is not known : it has no bounds. Its characteristics are opposite : love is its good angel, and wickedness its evil prompter. These two influences are constantly opposing each other; love first 'exercising a beautiful and ennobling charity; wickedness then plunging into dreadful crimes, so that love's good deeds are obscured by the works of wickedness: were it not for this continual strife, the world would be a Paradise, and all mankind would be happy. Money is the power which overcomes the scruples of worldly men and unfair speculators. It can raise up a kingdom; obtain without difficulty the titles of the great and noble, and so influence men's hearts, that they will swear genius lives, where it never shone for a single moment. But it cannot regulate the conscience, nor can it ever do injury to a good and faithful Christian. Moreover, with its whole force concentrated, its whole range of contrivances-hitherto so potent and successful- exerted to the utmost, it is powerless to direct the flight of the immortal soul; nor can it, when that awful hour arrives, stay the hand of death, even to cry, "Lord, save me!" though ready to relinquish millions for the favour.-J. Hill. If you wish to make money, let the business of every body else alone, and attend to your own; buy not what you do not want; use every hour to advantage, and study to make even leisure hours useful; think twice before you throw away a shilling, remember you will have another to make for it; find recreation in looking after your business, and so your business will not be neglected in looking after recreation buy low; sell fair, and take care of the profits; look over your books regularly, and if you find an error, trace it out; should a stroke of misfortune come upon you in trade, retrench, work harder; "but never fly the track;" confront difficulties with unflinching perseverance, and they will disappear at last; though you should even fail in the struggle, you will be honoured; but shrink from the task, and you will be despised. Pay debts promptly, and so exact your dues; keep your word. - When life is full of health and glee, And take the gentle hint from me— Be careful of your money, boys- You'll find it true, that friends are few, But do not shut sweet Mercy's doors Be careful of your money, boys— To help the poor who seek your door, Alex. Maclagan. - The dust that no eyes are proof against. - The traveller's best "pocket companion." - The false key by which many enter the society of gentlemen. A composition for taking stains out of character. - The largest slaveholder in the world. - Wisdom, knowledge, power—all combined.— Byron. Money and Time. As for a little more money and a little more time, it is ten to one if either would make you happier. If you had more time, it would be sure to hang heavily. It is the working man is the happy man. Man was made to be active, and he is never happy but when he is so. It is the idle man is the miserable man. And, as for money, don't you remember the old saying, "Enough is as good as a feast"? Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it-"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith."-Old Jonathan. Moral Honesty. They that cry down moral honesty cry down that which is a great part of religion-my duty towards God, and my duty towards man. What care I to see a man run after a sermon, if he cozen and cheat as soon as he comes home? On the other side, morality must not be without religion; for if so, it may change as I see convenient. Religion must govern it. He that has no religion to govern his morality is not better than my mastiff dog: so long as you stroke and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be; he is a very good moral master; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face.-Selden. Moralities. Sin and Punishment, like the shadow of the body, are never apart. Ceremony is necessary as the outwork and defence of manners.-Chesterfield. Time is a commodity of which the value rises as long as we live. Society, like shaded silk, must be viewed in all situations, or its colours will deceive us. The religion of Christ is peace and good-will-the religion of Christendom is war and ill-will.-Landor. |