A man that sets up for more cunning than the rest of his neighbours, is
generally a silly fellow at the bottom. Whoever is master of a little
judgment and insight into things, let him keep them to himself, and make
use of them as he sees occasion; but he should not be teasing others
with an idle and impertinent ostentation of them. One good discreet
expedient, made use of upon an emergency, will do a man more real
service, and make others think better of him, than to have passed all
along for a shrewd crafty knave, and be bubbled at last. When any one
has been such a coxcomb as to insult his acquaintance, by pretending to
more policy and stratagem than the rest of mankind, they are apt to wish
for some difficulty for him to show his skill in; where, if he should
miscarry (as ten to one but he does) his misfortune, instead of pity, is
sure to be attended with laughter. He that sets up for a biter, as the
phrase is, being generally intent upon his prey, or vain of showing his
art, frequently exposes himself to the traps of one sharper than
himself, and incurs the ridicule of those whom he designed to make
ridiculous.