Rousseau has well described this association of Pride and Stinginess,
which is very common: “We take from nature, from real pleasures, nay,
from the stock of necessaries, what we lavish upon opinion. One man
adorns his palace at the expense of his kitchen; another prefers a fine
service of plate to a good dinner; a third makes a sumptuous
entertainment, and starves himself the rest of the year. When I see a
sideboard richly decorated, I expect the wine to be very indifferent.
How often in the country, when we breathe the fresh morning air, are we
not tempted by the prospect of a fine garden! We rise early, and by
walking gain a keen appetite, which makes us wish for breakfast. Perhaps
the domestic is out of the way, or provisions are wanting, or the lady
has not given her orders, and you are tired to death with waiting.
Sometimes people prevent your desires, or make you a very pompous offer
of every thing, upon condition that you accept of nothing. You must fast
till three o’clock, or breakfast with the tulips. I remember to have
walked in a very beautiful park, which belonged to a lady who, though
extremely fond of coffee, never drank any but when at a very low price;
yet she liberally allowed her gardener a salary of a thousand crowns.
For my part, I should choose to have tulips less finely variegated, and
to drink coffee whenever my appetite called for it.”
----------------------------