It is very imprudent, as well as uncivil, to affront any one, and we
should always reflect, before we rally another, whether we can bear to
have the jest retorted. Whoever takes the liberty to exercise his witty
talent in that way, must not be surprised if he meet reprisals in the
end. Indeed, if all those who are thus paid in their own coin, would
take it with the same frankness that the Fox did, the matter would not
be much; but we are too apt, when the jest comes to be turned home upon
ourselves, to think that insufferable in another which we looked upon
as pretty and facetious when the humour was our own. The rule of doing
as we would be done by, so proper to be our model in every transaction
of life, may more particularly be of use in this respect. People seldom
or never receive any advantage by these little ludicrous impositions;
and yet, if they were to ask themselves the question, would find, that
they would receive the same treatment from another with a very bad
grace.
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