Who in the same given time can produce more than many others, has
vigour; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce
what none else can, has genius.
Who, without pressing temptation, tells a lie, will, without pressing
temptation, act ignobly and meanly.
Who, under pressing temptations to lie, adheres to truth, nor to the
profane betrays aught of a sacred trust, is near the summit of wisdom
and virtue.
All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear
rich.
Who has no friend and no enemy, is one of the vulgar; and without
talents, powers, or energy.
The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint--the
affectation of sanctity is a blot on the face of piety.
Love as if you could hate and might be hated, is a maxim of detested
prudence in real friendship, the bane of all tenderness, the death of
all familiarity. Consider the fool who follows it as nothing inferior to
him who at every bit of bread trembles at the thought of its being
poisoned.
There are more heroes than saints (heroes I call rulers over the minds
and destinies of men;) more saints than humane characters. He, who
humanizes all that is within and around himself, adore: I know but of
one such by tradition.
He who laughed at you till he got to your door, flattered you as you
opened it--felt the force of your argument whilst he was with
you--applauded when he rose, and, after he went away, execrated you--has
the most indisputable title to an archdukedom in hell.
Let the four-and-twenty elders in heaven rise before him who, from
motives of humanity, can totally suppress an arch, full-pointed, but
offensive _bon mot_.
* * * * *
~Manners.~