In human affairs, many stations we meet,
Where ’tis easy to enter, but hard to retreat.
We ought never to change our situation in life, nor undertake any
action of importance, without first duly and deliberately weighing
the consequences that may follow, in all their different bearings. It
is commonly owing to the neglect of such wholesome precautions, that
numbers of young people are led into unfortunate matches, suddenly made
up; and others are from the same causes led into a round of profuse
living, or into gaming and other extravagant conduct, which is sure
to terminate in ruin. To look before we leap, is a maxim worthy of
being remembered by all ranks and conditions of men, from the lowest
to the highest: even kings may reap benefit by it; for when they
inconsiderately execute those schemes which their wicked counsellors
advise, they have often abundant reason to repent. By this blind
stupidity, wars are commenced, from which a state cannot be extricated
either with honour or safety; and unwise projects are encouraged by the
rash accession of those who never considered the consequences, or how
they were to get out, till they had plunged themselves irrecoverably
into them.
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