POLITENESS.

A polite behaviour can never be long maintained without a real wish to

please; and such a wish is a proof of good-nature. No ill-natured man

can be long well-bred. No good-natured man, however unpolished in his

manners, can ever be essentially ill-bred. From an absurd prejudice with

regard to good-nature, some people affect to substitute good temper for

it; but no qualities can be more distinct: many good-tempered people, as

well as many fools, are very ill-natured; and many men of first-rate

genius--with which perhaps entire good temper is incompatible--are

perfectly good-natured.

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