They who neglect the opportunity of reaping a small advantage, in hopes
they shall obtain a better, are far from acting upon a reasonable and
well-advised foundation. The figure of Time is always drawn with a
single lock of hair hanging over his forehead, and the back part of his
head bald; to put us in mind that we should be sure to lay hold of an
occasion, when it presents itself to us, lest afterwards we repent us of
our omission and folly, and would recover it when it is too late. It is
a very weak reason to give for our refusal of an offer of kindness, that
we do it because we desire or deserve a better; for it is time enough to
relinquish the small affair when the great one comes, if ever it does
come. But, supposing it should not, how can we forgive ourselves for
letting any thing slip through our hands, by vainly gaping after
something else, which we never could obtain? He who has not been guilty
of any of these kind of errors, however poorly he may come off at last,
has only the malice of fortune, or of somebody else, to charge with his
ill success; and may applaud himself with some comfort, in never having
lost an opportunity, though ever so small, of bettering and improving
his circumstances. Unthinking people have oftentimes the unhappiness to
fret and tease themselves with retrospects of this kind, which they, who
attend to the business of life as they ought, never have occasion to
make.