Where two discourse, if the one's anger rise,
The man who lets the contest fall is wise.
--_Plutarch._
369
"I never complained of my condition but once," said an old man, "when my
feet were bare and I had no money to buy shoes; but I met a man without
feet, and became contented."
370
It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we
are.
--_Sir James Mackintosh._
371
A favorite saying of the beloved Dr. John A. Broaddus was: "It is better
to like what you have, than to have what you like."
--_Christian Observer._
372
If you live according to nature, you never will be poor; if according to
the world's caprice, you never will be rich.
373
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
374
Since we have loaves, let us look not for cakes.
--_Spanish._
375
To be content with little is difficult; to be content with
much--impossible.
--_Marie Ebner Eschenbach._
376
If thou hast but little, make it not less by murmuring.
--_Quarles._
377
Contentment will make a cabbage look as fair as a palace.
--_W. Secker._
378
May we never murmur without a cause, nor have cause to murmur.
379
He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly
need not be rich.
380
Some have too much, yet still do crave;
I have little, and seek no more:
They are but poor, though much they have,
And I am rich with little store;
They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lack, I have; they pine, I live.
--_Sir Edward Dyer, (Died 1607.)_
381
If all the gems of earth were mine
And wealth and power were to me sent,
How infinitely poor I'd be
Without content.
--_Annie W. McCoy._
382
Is it possible to find perfect contentment? Some one once said:--"The
secret of perfect contentment is, that there isn't any."
383
"It is a great blessing to possess what one wishes," said one to an
ancient philosopher, who replied, "It is a greater blessing still, not
to desire what one does not possess."
384
Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the
expense of ten thousand desires, makes a wise and happy purchase.
--_J. Balgury._
385
He that deserves nothing should be content with anything.
386
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not,
but rejoices for those which he has.
--_Epictetus._
387
When the well is dry, then we all know the worth of water.
388
In conversation avoid the extremes of
Forwardness
and Reserve.
--_Cato._
389
_Conversation._--To please others we should talk on subjects they like
and that interest them; avoid disputes, seldom ask questions, and never
let them see that we pretend to be better informed than they are.
--_Rochefoucauld._
390
The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the
third good humor, and the fourth wit.
--_Sir W. Temple._
391
Conversation is the music of the mind; an intellectual orchestra, where
all the instruments should bear a part, but where none should play
together.
--_Colton._
392
Never argue in society; if any person differs from you, bow, and turn
the conversation.
--_Beaconsfield._
393
I never, with important air,
In conversation overbear.
--_Gay's Fables._
394
One of the best rules in conversation is, never say a thing which any of
the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid.
--_Swift._
395
_Conversation._--As it is the mark of great minds to say many things in
a few words, so it is that of little minds to use many words to say
nothing.
"So much they talked, so very little said."
396
To say nothing charmingly is a great gift.
397
_Conversation._--In general those who nothing have to say contrive to
spend the longest time in doing it.
--_An Oriental Apologue._
398
With thee conversing, I forget all time.
--_Milton._
399
It is better to turn back than to go astray.
--_From the German._
400
He who converses with no one, learns nothing.
401
As rust corrupts iron, so envy corrupts man.
--_Antisthenes._
402
_Corporations have no souls_:--Lord Chancellor Thurlow said, "that
corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be
condemned; they therefore do as they like."
403
Corruption is a tree, whose branches are
Of an unmeasurable length: they spread
Ev'rywhere; and the dew that drops from thence
Hath infected some chairs and stools of authority.
--_Beaumont and Fletcher._
404
The thatched cottage where one is merry, is preferable to a palace where
one weeps.
--_From the Chinese._
405
Good counsel never comes too late.
--_German._
406
From a safe port 'tis easy to give counsel.
407
He that winna be counselled canna be helped.
--_Scotch._
408
In many counsellors there is safety.
--_From the Latin._
409
Cheerful looks make every dish a feast,
And 'tis that, that crowns a welcome.
--_Massinger._
410
The countenance is frequently more expressive than the tongue.
411
A pleasing countenance is no slight advantage.
--_Duport._
412
A smiling countenance indicates courtesy, joy, good humor and happiness.
413
The character of a man's native country is as strongly impressed on his
mind as its accent is on his tongue.
--_Rochefoucauld._
414