Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

ON MEN AND MANNERS.

HERE are many persons acquire to themselves a character of insincerity, from what is in truth mere inconstancy. And there are persons of warm, but changeable passions; perhaps the sincerest of any in the very instant they make profession, but the very least to be depended on through the short duration of all extremes. It has often puzzled me, on this account, to ascertain the character of Lady Luxborough*; yet whatever were her principles, I esteem Lord Bolingbroke's to have been the same. She seemed in all respects the female Lord Bolingbroke.

THE principal, if not the only, difference betwixt honesty and honour, seems to lie in their different motives the object of the latter being reputation ; and of the former, duty.

IT

* Sister to Lord Bolingbroke; with her the author had enjoyed a literary correspondence.

IT is the greatest comfort to the poor, whose ignorance often inclines them to an ill-grounded envy, that the rich must die as well as themselves.

THE common people call wit, mirth; and fancy, folly; fanciful and folliful, they use indiscriminately. It seems to flow from hence, that they consider money as of more importance, than the persons who possess it; and that no conduct is wise, beside what has a tendency to enrich us.

ONE should not destroy an insect, one should not quarrel with a dog, without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.

THE trouble occasioned by want of a servant, is so much less than the plague of a bad one, as it is less painful to clean a pair of shoes than undergo an excess of anger.

THE fund of sensible discourse is limited; that of jest and badinerie is infinite. In many companies then, where nothing is to be learnt, it were, perhaps,

better

T

better to get upon the familiar footing: to give and take in the way of raillery.

WHEN a wife or mistress lives as in a jail, the person that confines her lives the life of a jailer.

THERE seems some analogy betwixt a person's manner in every action of his life.

LADY LUXBOROUGH'S hand-writing was at the same time, delicate and masculine. Her features, her air, her understanding, her motions, and her sentiments, were the same. Mr. W, in the same respects, delicate, but not masculine. Mr. Grather more delicate than masculine. Mr. J rather more masculine than delicate. And this, in regard to the three last, extends to their drawing, versification, &c., &c. &c.

RICHES deserve the attention of young persons rather than old ones; though the practice is otherwise.

To consume one's time and fortune at once, with

out

[ocr errors]

out pleasure, recompense, or figure, is like pouring forth one's spirits rather in phlebotomy than enjoyment.

PARENTS are generally partial to great vivacity in their children, and are apt to be more or less fond of them in proportion to it. Perhaps, there cannot be a symptom less expressive of future judgment and solidity. It seems thoroughly to preclude not only depth of penetration, but also delicacy of sentiment. Neither does it seem any way consistent with a sensibility of pleasure, notwithstanding all external appearances. It is a mere greyhound puppy in a warren, that runs at all truths, and at all sorts of pleasure; but does not allow itself time to be successful in securing any. It is a busy bee whose whole time passes away in mere flight from flower to flower; without resting upon any a sufficient time to gather honey.

THE queen of Sweden declared, She did not love men as men; but merely because they were not women. What a spirited piece of satire !

IN mixed conversation, or amongst persons of no

great

great knowledge, one indulges one's self in discourse that is neither ingenious nor significant. Vapid frivolous chit-chat serves to pass away the time. But corked up again in retirement, we recover our wonted strength, spirit, and flavour.

THE making presents to a lady one addresses, is like throwing armour into an enemy's camp, with a resolution to recover it.

HE that lies a-bed all a summer's morning, loses the chief pleasure of the day: he that gives up his youth to indolence, undergoes a loss of the same kind.

SPLEEN is often little else than obstructed perspiration.

THE regard, men externally profess for their supe riors, is oftentimes rewarded-in the manner it de

serves.

METHINKS, all men should meet with a respect due to as high a character as they can act becomingly.

SHINING

« PredošláPokračovať »