"No young man, who has a just sense of his own value, will trifle with his reputation. It should be as precious to him as the breath of his nostrils; but, like the down of the peach, or the fragrance of the rose, when once gone, it can never be replaced. According to the poet, 'All's well that end well;' but there is seldom a good end that has not a good beginning."

Great is the steadiness of soul and thought, By reason bred, and by religion taught; Which, like a rock, amidst the stormy waves, Unmov'd remains, and all afflictions braves.

Men are not to be judged by their looks, habits, and appearances, but by the character of their lives and conversations, and by their works. 'Tis better that a man's own works, than that another man's words, should praise him.

L'Estrange.

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That, to the observer, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.
Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do;
Not light them for themselves: for if our
virtues

Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,

But to fine issues: nor nature never lends

The smallest scruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,
Both thanks and use.

Shakespeare.

Measure thy carriage by no man's eye,
Thy speech by no man's ear; but be resolute
And confident in doing and saying;

And this the grace of a right gentleman.

Chapman.

If we wish to live peaceably with all men, we should, first, be careful to avoid all occasions of strife. Secondly, if quarrels arise, to bridle our tongues. Thirdly, to suffer patiently when we are wronged. Fourthly, to offer up fervent prayer, and thus to quench the sparks of fire before they break out into a flame. This is the easiest and the only method to prevent great troubles, and lead a peaceful happy life; for anger carries in itself uneasiness, and love a sweet satisfaction.

Give thy thoughts no tongue,

Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.

Shakespeare.

Fast bind, fast find.

Shakespeare.

CHEERFULNESS.

A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a.

Shakespeare.

An' thou can'st not smile as the wind sits, thou❜lt take cold shortly.

Shakespeare.

When Goethe says that in every human condition foes lie in wait for us, "invincible only by cheerfulness and equanimity," he does not mean that we can at all times be really cheerful, or at a moment's notice; but that the endeavour to look at the better side of things will produce the habit; and that this habit is the surest safeguard against the danger of sudden evils.

Leigh Hunt.

CELERITY.

Celerity is never more admired

Than by the negligent.

Shakespeare.

"Correctness first, and quickness next. Then combine the two, when you can perform each of them well."

Hurry and Cunning are the two apprentices to Despatch and Skill; but neither of them ever learn their master's trade.

Colton's "Lacon."

CANDOUR,

It oft falls out

To have what we'd have, we speak not what we

All mankind is one of these two cowards:
Either to wish to die when he should live,
Or live when he should die.

COMMON SENSE.

Fine sense and exalted sense, are not half so useful as common sense.

Dean Swift.

He that would pass the latter part of his days with honour and decency must, when he is young, consider that he shall one day be old; and remember, when he is old, that he once was young. Johnson.

CREDULITY.

Credulity, or an easiness to believe, without reason or scripture, is a stranger to wisdom, and the very nurse of superstition.

Whichcote.

Blessed credulity, thou great god of error,
Thou art the strong foundation of huge wrongs,
To thee give I my vows and sacrifice;
By thee, great deity, he doth believe

Falsehoods, that falsehood's self could not invent;

And from that misbelief doth draw a course T'o'erwhelm e'en virtue, truth and sanctity. Let him go on, blest stars, 'tis meet he fall, Whose blindfold judgment hath no guide at all. Machen.

CRITICISM.

"On entering the world, an unkind, dis