Sir Matthew Hale was very exact and impartial in his administration of
justice. One of the first peers of England went once to his chamber and
told him--"That having a suit in law to be tried before him, he was
there to acquaint him with it, that he might the better understand it
when he should come to be heard in court." Upon which Sir Matthew
interrupted him, and said--"He did not deal fairly to come to his
chamber about such affairs, for he never received any information of
causes but in open court, where both parties were to be heard alike," so
he would not suffer him to go on. Whereupon his grace (for he was a
Duke) went away not a little dissatisfied, and complained of it to the
king, as a rudeness that was not to be endured. But his majesty bade him
content himself that he was no worse used, and said--"He verily believed
he would have used himself no better, if he had gone to solicit him in
any of his own causes."
1020
When we are too young our judgment is at fault; so also when we are too
old.
--_Pascal._
1021
Give every one the benefit of a doubt. You might be sadly in need of it
yourself some day!
--_N. S. Murphy._
1022
Gently to hear, kindly to judge.
1023
We shall be judged, not by what we might have been, but what we have
been.
--_Sewell._
1024
He hears but half, that hears one party only.
--_Aeschylus._
1025
Any time is the proper time for saying what is just.
--_From the Greek._
1026
Justice and truth may sleep but will never die.
1027
Habits of justice are a valuable possession.
--_Antiphones._
1028
Justice means that standard or boundary of right which enables us to
render to every man his just due without distinction.
K
1029
"I expect" said one, "to pass thro' this world but once. If therefore
there be any kindness I can do, or show, to my fellow-men, let me do it
now, as I shall not pass this way again."
--_Mrs. A. B. Hegeman._
1030
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
--_Goethe._
1031
Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence, or
learning.
--_F. W. Faber._
1032
A long delay in kindness takes the kindness all away.
1033
To remind a man of a kindness conferred is little less than a reproach.
1034
In the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for September, 1797, published in London,
there appears a letter which shows Benjamin Franklin, the philosopher,
in the character of a creditor. The letter, which was written in Paris,
is as follows:--
April 22, 1784.
I send you herewith a bill for ten louis d'ors. I do not
pretend to give such a sum. I only lend it to you. When you
shall return to your country you cannot fail of getting into
some business that will in time enable you to pay all your
debts. In that case, when you meet with another honest man in
similar distress you must pay me by lending this sum to him,
enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation when
he shall be able, and shall meet with such another
opportunity. I hope it may thus go through many hands before
it meets with a knave to stop its progress. This is a trick of
mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not
rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to
be cunning and make the most of a little.
1035
If none were sick and none were sad,
We scarcely would be tender.
1036