The first thing by which we know men, is the physiognomy, the colour,
and the lineaments of the face; the briskness, the air, the motion of
the body, the action, the sound of the voice, the aspect, &c.: and there
is no man, but at first sight we are either well or ill affected towards
him. Every man makes some impressions upon us of what he is; but these
impressions, being sudden, are not always certain, a little frequent
conversation with him perfects our knowledge of him.
Hear the man with whom you keep company; endeavour to draw him in to
make a long discourse, and then you will easily perceive the greatness
or meanness of his wit, his civility, his inclination to vice or virtue,
and to what kind of vice or virtue he is most inclined; whether he be
sincere in his speech or a man of artifice; whether he aggravates
matters, if he be a liar, or a proud man, and to what degree he carries
his good or bad qualities.
Study well the persons with whom you converse familiarly, and with least
circumspection. Examine them when they are sedate, in an obliging
humour; and when they are in anger, in a disdainful and morose humour.
When something vexes or pleases them, observe them in their sorrow and
disgrace, in their pleasures, in their advancement, and in their
humiliation. Be attentive to their discourse in all these several
states, consider their behaviour, their sentiments, their projects, and
the different motions which their passions, their ranks, and their
affairs, produce in them.
Moreover, endeavour also to know yourself very well; consider in all the
different states, wherein good or bad fortune has placed you, the
designs which you pursue, and the resolutions for doing good or evil,
you are capable of making. These several observations upon yourself and
others will infallibly make you know mankind. And the reason of it is
this:--all men, and even philosophers themselves, are, more or less,
subject to the same passions, and all of them think very nearly after
the same manner.
Of the most excellent qualities, that of knowing the world is most
necessary for our behaviour, and for our fortune:--for our _behaviour_,
because otherwise our life is liable to continual crosses, and is
nothing else but one continued series of extravagancies, which will
bring upon us a thousand bad businesses:--for our _fortune_, because if
we do not know men, we cannot make use of them in that way which is most
convenient with respect to our interest. It is necessary therefore to
know them, and to behave ourselves with each of them after such a manner
as is most agreeable to their character. A prudent man, with respect to
others, is like a master who knows all the springs of an engine, and
makes them play as he pleases, either for his pleasure or advantage.
It seems to me, that our first motion should be to distrust the world in
general, and even to have a bad opinion of it. The world, such as it
should be, is full of virtue; out as we see it, it is full of wickedness
and malice; and this latter world is that we should endeavour to know
well, because we live in it, and it concerns us very much to avoid its
deceits.
But why should we have so bad an opinion of the world? Why, because men
are born with a bad disposition, and they carry in their heart at their
birth the source of all vices, and an aversion to all virtues, which
would hinder their singularity; and which they cannot acquire but by
such pains as they are not willing to take. Yet I do not say that we
must therefore think ill of all particular persons, but it is good to
know them.
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