OF SHAME.
_Shame_ is a perturbation of the mind arising from the apprehension of
evil, past, present, or to come, to the prejudice of a man’s own, or his
friends' reputation.
The things therefore which men are _ashamed of_, are those actions which
proceed from vice: as to throw away one’s arms, to run away, signs of
cowardliness. To deny that which is committed to one’s trust, a sign of
injustice. To have lain with whom, where, and when, we ought not, signs
of intemperance. To make gain of small and base things; not to help with
money whom and how much we ought; to receive help from meaner men; to
ask money at use from such as one thinks will borrow of him; to borrow
of him that expects payment of somewhat before lent; and to re-demand
what one has lent, of him that one thinks will borrow more; and so to
praise as one may be thought to ask; signs of wretchedness. To praise
one to his face; to praise his virtues too much, and colour his vices;
signs of flattery. To be unable to endure such labours as men endure
that are elder, tenderer, greater in quality, and of less strength than
he; signs of effeminacy. To be beholden often to another; and to upbraid
those that are beholden to him; signs of pusillanimity. To speak and
promise much of one’s self, more than is due; signs of arrogance. To
want those things which one’s equals, all or most of them, have attained
to, is also a thing to be ashamed of. And to suffer things ignominious;
as to serve about another’s person, or to be employed in his base
actions.
In actions of intemperance, whether willingly or unwillingly committed,
there is _shame_; in actions of force, only when they are done
unwillingly.
The men _before whom_ we are ashamed, are such as we respect: namely,
those that admire us. And those whom we desire should admire us. And
those whom we admire. Those that contend with us for honour. Those whose
opinion we contemn not. And therefore men are most ashamed in the
presence: of old and well bred men. Of those we are always to live with.
Of those that are not guilty of the same fault. Of those that do not
easily pardon. And of those that are apt to reveal our faults; such as
are men injured, backbiters, scoffers, comic poets. And of those before
whom we have had always good success. And of those who never asked
anything of us before. And of such as desire our friendship. And of our
familiars, that know none of our crimes. And of such as will reveal our
faults to any of those that are named before.
But in the presence of such whose judgment most men despise, men are not
ashamed. Therefore we are ashamed also in the presence of those whom we
reverence. And of those who are concerned in our own, or ancestors', or
kinsfolk’s, actions or misfortunes, if they be shameful. And of their
rivals. And of those that are to live with them that know their
disgrace.
The _common opinions_ concerning _impudence_, are taken from the
contrary of these.
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