TH E M ORA L M A XIM S

A N D R EFL EC TIO N S
O F T HE

D U K E D E L A R O C H EFO U CA U L D

AN I NTR O D U C TI O N A ND N OTES
BY G EO RG E H . PO W E LL

WITH A FR O NTIS P IECE

BY N . M O N SIA U

SE CO N D ED I TIO N

M ET H U EN 8: C O LT D . .

36 ES S EX S T R EE T W C . .

LO ND ON
 C ONTENTS

P o a ru
'
x r
'
0 1? L A Ro c uz m v cw w Facing Tttle -page

I N TRODUCTI ON
P AG E
1. Th e P e rio d
Th e A uth o r

Ch ar acte r o f th e Max ims x x vu

Bib l io graphy x x x vii i

T in e -P AG E TO Emm a or 1 7 06

Tna n s u P REFACE
’
ro n s

THE P REFACE To m e READER

T HE Mu ms

Iunz x
 INTROD U CTIO N

I —Tn s P ERI OD
.

It was in th e ye ar 1 6 6 5 ,to war d s th e be g innin g o f

o f Fr ench Mo na rch y, th at the
”
th e G r and A ge
“ Maxims of L a Ro ch e fo uc aul d
”
first sa w th e

l ight .

It was the agewh en civi l isatio n mi ght see m to

have attained the hi ghe st l e ve l c o mp atib l e with the
ne g ati o n o f fr e e d o m, wh e n th e Fr en ch l ang ua g e

h ad be e n just b r o ught to its pe rfe c ti o n as a v e hi cl e

o f r e fi ned th o ugh t and d e li c ate b adi nag e .

Mo liere was th e n at th e h e igh t o f hi s fam e .

Rac ine was ri sing in c e l e b r ity, Co rn ei ll e d e clining .

The e l o quenc e o f B o ssuet had b e gun to de l igh t the

Co urt, and L a Fo ntai ne was c o mpo sing hi s fi rst
fab l e s Th e
. P r o vinc ial L ette rs o f P asc al

1 6 6
( 5 r e pu ted th e firs t mo nume nt o f cl ass ical

Fre nch P r o se ,we r e still r o using fii rio us c o ntr o ve rsy ;

and the March i o ne ss d e Sevi gn e
( 1 6 2 7 1 69 6
) -h ad

e mb ark ed up o n that famo us c o rr e spo nd e nc e w hich

fM the b righ te st chr o nic le o f he r time .

Y et no t e v e n th o se m any vo lu me s o f e nte rtainin

g
v iii INT R ODU CT I ON

l e tte rs ,to wh ich we o we th e m o st prec io us details

c o nc e rning o ur auth o r , h ave attained m o re c e l e b rity
th an h is sin gl e li ttl e m anu al o f d e tach ed ap

e p igr ams ,an d critic i sms b f l ife .

w
It is o ne o f the
ms ,

small b o o ks wh ich h ave s too d th e te st o f time — o ne

o f the fe w s tudie s in hum anity whi ch , d r aw n fr o m

o ne e p o ch in s o c iety, h aV e succ ee d ed in inte r e s tin g

all sub seq uent g ene r ati o ns .It h as th e mo r e

pe cul iar di s tinctio n acc o rded b y V o l tai r e o f h av ing
at o n c e influ en c e d th e ta ste and e xpr e s se d th e g e nius

o f the Fr e nch n atio n to a d e gree har d l y pr edi c ab l e

o f any o th e r w o rk .

V iewed simpl y as sh o rt o bse rvatio ns on human

'

ch arac te r and c o nd uct,th e Maxims h ave ,o f c ourse ,

t h e ir we ll kn o wn pr tptg e in the earl ie s t
G no rni c l ite ratur e ,g sE mE als o r O r ie ntal
' '
'

in th e
famo us Ch ar ac te rs o f Th e o phras tus the p o etic al

co un s e ls o f Th eo gn is o f M e g ara,in th e Man u al o f
Ep ic te tus and th e Co nfe ssio ns o f h is I mpe rial
“

patr o n,Marcus A ure li us A nto ninus — in all o f wh ich

wo rks it is l ittl e wo nd e r th at s imil ar ide as o r
trui s ms are o f chr o nic r e curr enc e The M ax ims
.

may be c o mpa r ed again with the c o nte mp o r ary ( b ut

m o re d isc urs iv and th e o l o gic l ) Th o ugh ts o f
e a
“

P as c al ,o r th e m o re po inted pe rso nal r e fl e ctio n s o f

L a B r uyer e ,just as th e y d o ub tl e ss in fl ue nc ed — h alf
a c e ntur
-
y l ate r —
t h e r e fl e c ti o n s o f th e h igh minde d
-

Marq uis de V auv enargu e s In o ur o wn l ang uag e

.
 I NTR OD U C TION ix
pe rha ps the neares t parall el,bo th fo r fo rm and sp irit,
w o ul d be fo und in so me o f the b rie f,dry e xpre ss io ns
o f wo rl d l w s o m sc atte r e d ab o ut B ac o n s Essa s
’

y i d y .

If no ne o f th e se wri te rs inte re s t us in th e s ame

l

way,and few to th e sam e e x tent as L a Roc h efo u

c aul d,th is, we are o ften to l d , is be caus e his o b je ct
was simpl y to o b se rv e ,whil e o the r m axim mo ng e rs,
-

from So l o n to p o o r Rich ar d, we re bent upo n in

”

st ruc tin
g and 1 m ro vin
p g th e ir r ead e rs. Th ere 1 s a

sig ni fic ant d iffe renc e , inde ed , be twee n Ben jamin

Frankl in s fath e rly re c o mme ndati o n o f h o ne sty as
’

Th e be st p o l ic y L a R o ch efo uc aul d s
’
an d

c o ntemptuo us e stimate o f th e tricks te r ( Max

'

as a foo l wh o has n o t w e n o ugh

1 27
) i t t o be

straightfo rward . D o ub tl e ss hi s ch ie f aim is to

anal s e ,to d isse c t, and to e xpo se the th e o r u nd e r
y y
l ying a selfish so c ial sy stem, the springs wh ich the
auth o r be l ie ved to ac tuate o r dinar hu m anit F or
y y
.

thi s p urpo se h e wo ul d see m to ha ve jo tte d do wn

d ay b y d ay in te rse Fre nch a sin gul arl y impe rso nal

re c o rd o f ev e ry tr ait, ac ti o n, motive , that c ame .

unde r h is v ie w— a v ie w re st r ic ted, no do ubt in part,

b y his pe culi ar e nvir o nme nt— in p art,pe rh aps,b y th e
fa l ru h
ta t t e m ph s sed b y h imse lf, that Ce rtain
a i “

v irtue s are l ik e th e se nse s , unapp re c iab le to tho se

who do n o t p o sse s s th e m .

Th e re sul t was a c o ll e cti o n o f so me 7 00 axi o ms

o n the c o nd uc t o f man in s o c ie t — a w o rk acute ly
y
x IN T R O D U CT I ON

inte re sting k e fro m th e no ve l ty o f its styl e as

ali

fr o m the ag o ni sing familiari ty o f all mank ind with

its s ub j ec t matte r , b ut no t o f an o s te ns ib l y
- “ im
”
pr o ving natur e Th e pre ach ing o f L a Roc h e
.

fo uc aul d is , at anyrate , o n ne g ative and unco n .

‘

v e ntio nal l ine s , th o ugh much o f it r e se mb l e s th o se

“ Wo r d s o f th e wi se th at h urt l ik e g o ad s ”
, , and
stick in the mind like nail s .
”

“
The Memo irs o f L a Ro ch efo uc aul d, says
V o l taire , are r ead
“ . bir ma im b ro w by k aart
‘
x n .
’

Th o ugh th e re 1 8 b ut o ne tru th d iscussed i n

th e b o o k — vi z th at se lf l o ve is th e m o tive o f all
.
-

ac ti o n,ye t th i s is re se nte und e r s o man

p d y aspec ts
th at it ne v e r fails to inte r e st The actuali ty and
.

c o nci se ne ss o f th e Re fl e c ti o ns we re s o me th ing ne w
and att r act ive , pre se nting , ind eed , a gr e at c o ntr ast

to th e fl o we r y rh e to r i c and c o nv e n tio nal Op timi sm

o f m o st mo r al is ts o f th e age .

, as H all am say s,
“ A n e vide nt g ene r al i satio n

fr o m l o ng e xpe rie nc e ,wi th o ut pe d antr y,and with

”
o ut d e d uc ti ve argu me n t, th e b o o k fills a se rio us

pl ac e in Fr en ch mo ral ph il o so ph y,b y the s ide o f

th o se o th e r g e ne r al isatio ns ,the g ue sse s at tru th and

th e c riti c i s ms o f l ife and c o nd uc t, put fo rwar d

by
Mo ntaign e , P a sc al ,and L a B ruyere .

Ne x t to its s ingul ar and e ve n unpal atab l e c and o ur ,

the pe cul iari ty o f th e b o o k is its pe rs o nal no te as a
'

Cry o f th e H e art, e xpre ss ing th e de sp air Of a

”
 IN TR ODU CTION x i

no t igno b l e ure in
nat gan a e gr
o e at n atio nal
f
s u ffe r ing , o f misgu id e d and ine ffe cti ve di s turba n c e .

A nd th us , as L a R o ch e fo uc aul d was no t, as
migh t so me time s be fanc ied , a mi santhr o pe , living
in m o r o se re tir e m e nt, b ut an ac tive age nt in all th e
p o l itic al and so c ial life o f th e ti me, it is wo rth
wh ile ,be fo re e x amining his w o rk mo re in detail ,to
gl anc e at th e age and so cie ty o ut o f which e me rg ed
s o s ingul ar a manife s to ag ai n st hum anit
y .

Th e l o ng and c o mpl e x r e li gi o us c ivil w ars o f

th e six tee nth c entury h ad di so rg an i se d so c iety in

Fr anc e fr o m the to p to th e b o tto m A part fr o m

.

th e m e r e li c en tio usne ss o f c o urt l ife alread ro

y p
-

l o nged thr o ugh thre e r e ig n s th e natio n h ad t e

c e ived a mo r al tw i st fr o m its r e li gi o us b itte rne s s,

wh ich was dis pl aye d as much in po litics and
”
dipl o mac y a s in li te r ature and so cial life .

The c o untry was in a c o nditi o n o f appallin g

mi se r y, the r e sul t o f the san guin ar y struggl e s of the
Cath o l ic L e ag ue , and o f pr o l o ng ed e x to rtio nate
tax ano n .

Eve n fr o m the date o f th e State s Gene ral o f -

1 61 4
( wh e n th e grievan c e s o f th e pe o pl e are de

tail ed i n l angu ag e much l ik e that o f th e

r e c o rds o f wide spread ruin , pen ury, famine , and

crime , are h e artre ndi ng to r ead A nd , in the
.

midd l e o f th e c e ntury, the e x aspe rati o n o f all

Van L u a H i t ry f F r h L it r ture ,ii 1 45
n : s o o en c e a . .
x ii IN T R ODU C TION

t h e se e vils ( ne ve r rem edi ed till the great Revo lu

”
ti o n ) pr o d uc ed th e o u tb r e ak o f th e Fr o nde , an
in s urre c tio n o f th e no b ility, th e l o c al p arl iam e nt s,
and th e Thi rd Estate ag ain st Maz ar in and th e Qu een
-

Re g e nt .

A s a po pula r r i sing , th e Fr o nd e ( 1 64 8 5 3
-
)
was a c uri o us pr o to type o f th e great Re vo luti on
o f a c entury and a h alf l ate r . A s a st ruggl e
ag ainst ab so lu te m on archy it c o ntr as ted str ang el y
w ith th e se ri o us c o nte st th e n r ag ing in Engl and .

D uring its three c o mpl e x ph ase s ( with th e details

o f whi ch we are no t c o nc e rne d ) th e Fr en ch ari sto

rac y appe ared fo r the last tim e ranged in arms

ag ai nst th ei r So ve reig n
. But thi s c iv il war
inaugurated , as it s ee m ed, m ainl y b y a fe w no b l e s
and th e i r mi st re sse s, carri ed on b y sangu inary en

a ements in the str ee ts o f P ari s ,and b s ui b s and

gg y q
lammo ns in th e fas hio n ab l e sal o ns— was as r e m ark
fo r the ge ne r al w ant o f prin cipl e o f th e p art ie s
eng ag ed in it as fo r the calamito us suffe ri ngs whi ch

it cause d .

T ure nn e ,the greates t g e ne ral o f Eur o pe ( 1 6 1 1

inv o l ved in fl agr ant r e be ll io n b y th e charms
o f th e fam o us D uchess d e L o ngu ev ill e ; L a
Ro ch e fo uc aul d hims e lf, plu ng ing l ight h ea rte dl y
-

into th e sam e st ruggl e , in sp ir ed p artl y b y a si mi lar

p as sio n,p artl y b y p iq ue at th e r e fus al o f a g o vern o r
ship he h ad ask ed o f the w ee n ; th e P r in ce of
 INT R O DU CTION x i ii
”
Bo ur bo n - Co ndé, th e G reat Co ndé ( 1 61 1

o nl y se c o nd to T ur en ne in mili tary fame , at

first l o yal , th e n en g aging the r o yal troo ps in the

s tr eet s o f th e c ap ital , and , wh en d e feate d , r e ad to
y
be tray his c o untry to Spain ; Cardi nal d e Ret z
th e ro fl igate and un scrupul o us A rch
( 1 61 4 1
p
bi sh o p o f P a ri s ,n ow h e adin g p o pul ar insurr e ctio ns
with a d agge r fo r b re via ry, no w stu d ying th e art
”

o f c o n s ir a cy in th e pa ge s o f Sallust— th e se are
p
t p ic al figur e s o f an age o f la w le ss vi o l en c e,o f so c ial
y
d e mo r al isatio n and diso rde r ,o f c o rrupt and th eatri cal
intrigue , o ve rsh ad o wed b y th e ab so lute de spo ti sm
no w fir s t and fi nall e stab li sh ed
y .

But ano the r fea ture in French life o f the tim e

h ad a mo re di re ct effe ct up o n lite rat ure . That was

th e ge ne s is and de ve lopme nt Of t he ins tit utio n
k no wn as th e Sal o n “ .
”
Earlie r in th e ce nt ury
the yo u ng Ma rquis e d e Ram b o uill et had reti re d

1 60 8 fr o m th e co rru ti o n s o f H e nry IV s c o urt

)
’
p .

to fo und the ne w spe ci es of so c ial ac ad e m whic h

y
!

h as m ad e thé “ H o tel de Ram bo uill et ”

famo us
'

in Fre nch h isto ry . In thi s sch oo l o f cultur e ,re d

fi ned badinage , and phil o s ophi c di scussio n, many

o f th e gr e ate s t wits, po e ts , and th ink e rs to o k re fu ge

fr o m th e imp o ssib l e wo rld o f p o litics The literary

.

atm o s h e r e was, it ma b e fear ed , so mewhat that

p y
”
o f a m agn ific en t
“ h o t h o us e , o r be ca me so so me
-

years b efo r e its ab s ur di ties we re immo rt alis ed

x iv INT R O D U CT I ON

( 1 6 5 9 ) in th e P ri d ewer R id e r
s/e: of Mo l iere .

By h
t at d ate h e r s al o ns we re in fl o ur is h ing
ot

e x i ste nc e , no tab l
y t h o se of M ad ame d e S ab l é

h e rse lf au th o r m ax ims , M ad am e d
( th e O f ) e

S c ud ery ( p o e t and r o man ci st ) ,and M ad ame de L a

Fayette , a m o re r e m ark ab l e ch ar ac te r, intimate l y
ass o c iated with L a R o ch e fo uc aul d and h is bo o k

and the in flu e nc e o f wo man—o r pe rh aps we s h o ul d

sa of
“ gr e at l ad ie s — had be c o me a pe rm ane nt
y
fo rc e in French th o ught and manne rs .

A t th e same time ,to c o n clud e th is sk et ch ,Fr ench

ci vil is atio n h ad ta k e n o n th at im po s in g , b ut e x

travagant and a rtific ial ,gl amo ur ,in wh i ch m o narch y,

with its l e gendary m otto L a at c m moi, started

“ ’ ’ ”

o n th e l o ng d o wn grad e o f l ic ence , ty r anny, and

-

bankruptc y, that led so di re ctl y to r e vo lu tio nary

ch ao s and th e pit .

Wh at is c alled po l iti c al life u nd e r such a re gim e

see ms d e v o id alik e o f l ibe rty and h o ne sty ; and
if so c iety—uppe r cla ss so c iety ,th at is — pr e se nt s, o n
th e surfac e, a b righ te r pr o spe ct , thi s see ms , o n

ne are r vie w , a c o ld and h ard b ri lli anc e , wh ich has

littl e o f the warm th o f l iving hum ani ty ab o ut it .

A dee pl y c o rr o s ive cl ass se lfis h nes s , a want o f the

-

c o mm o n fee li ngs m o s t e sse ntial to th e u nio n o f th e

so cial fab ri c — th e s e are no tic e ab l e traits Wh en we
.

find the am iabl e and cul tured M adame d e Sevig ne

'

writing, with suc h un c o nc eal ed de light, o f th e

 IN TR O DU C TI ON x v

hide ous b arb aritie s in fli c ted o n th e po o r,d efen c e l e ss

B re to n p e as an try , as if m as sa cr e and h anging we r e
a g o o d jo k e , s o l o ng as s h e w as l e ft to e n j o in
y
pe ace the shad e o f h e r b e l o ved w o o d s , we are
'

pe rhaps l e ss surprised to find h e r frie nd ,M de L a . .

Ro ch e fo uc aul d , spe ak ing with c o nte mp t o f p ity

its e lf
. A fee l ing ,he th o ugh t, to b e e xclud ed fr o m
eve ry inte ll ig e nt mind ,and l eft to th e commo people,
“ n

who , be ing unaffe c ted by r e as o n, are o nl y stirred

Fre nch so c ie ty was
”
to ac tio n b y th e ir pa ssio ns .

alr e ad accu mula ting m ate ria ls fo r th e gr e at e x

y
”
pl o si o n of p ity and pass io n o f a ce ntury l ate r
“
.

Il —THE
a A UTH OR

To a pe culiar de gree ,the pr o duct of his me , the

ti

auth o r o f the M ax ims was , no ne th e l e ss, a dis

tin gui s he d and typ ic al Fre nchman,o f o ne o f the
m o st r e no wned famili e s o f th e o ld no bility .

His gr and m oth e r h ad nte rtaine d Cha rle s V

e .

at h e r ch ateau o f V e rne uil ; an an c e sto r was

am o ng th e P r o te stant le ad e rs ma ssacre d o n St
Bar th o l o me w s Eve ; and th e l ast be are r o f th e
’

titl e s at as fo r his o r de r in the ate s

dp y
e u t St

G e ne r al o f 1 7 89 , an d su b se q ue ntl y f ll a vic tim

e

to th e b ri gands o f th e T e rr o r and his o w n ia

”
c o rr up tib le and inc o nve nie nt r e ctitude .
x vi IN TR O DU CT I ON
Frango is, Duk e of Ro ch e fo uc aul d and P rince
of M ars ill ac , s o l di e r , h isto r ian, and mo r ali st, was
b o r n in 1 6 1 3, and died in 1 ry
6 80 . With e ve

ad v antag e of b i rth and ph ys iq u e , c o n si d e rab le

natura l ab il it and a cu tene ss , b ut l ittl e ed uc ati on,
y
h e plung ed, at an e arl y age , into the vo rte x o f
iptrig ue a nd ad ve ntur e so vi vidl y d ep i cted fo r th e
,

m o d e rn r eade r in the p ag es o f M A l e x and re .

Dumas H e figur e s , indee d , as P rinc e d e Mar

.
is

si ll ae in th at e nte rtaining c h ro ni cle o f thi s pe rio d

‘

wh ich bea rs th e famo us n ame o f D A rtagnan i ’ ‘ ‘

and th e e arli e r p o r ti o ns o f hi s o wn m o re au th entic .

m e m o irs ( ne ve r disc o ve red ti ll 1 81 7 ) thr o w

a surprising l ight up o n th e ch ivalr o us o r fan
tasti c en te rpri s e s ia whi c h he st r o v e , it see med ,

to ri val th e e xpl o its o f B uckingh am , jus t as D e

Ret z m o d e lled himse lf upo n Catil in e Fo r tlris .
li

ro m ance o f hi s wasted yo uth h e see ms

to have so ught a s trange re ven g e in the orl d o f w
l ette rs A t l ea st , wh en we fi nd hi m invo l ved,
.

at th e age o f twenty t hr ee , in a pl o t to ca rr
- o ff
y
th e un happ y Quee n and th e Ki ng s favo urite ’

m ist re ss , and sub se q uentl y pu nish ed b y sh o rt te rm e

o f e x il e o r impri so nm e nt in the B astill e , we no te

w ith surpri s e that the bitte r ph il o s o ph y o f the

“ M e m o i re s d e M .
”
D A rt a g n a n , 3 vo s
’
l . x z mo .

Ams te rd a m, 1 71 5
. Se e th e P re fac e to D uma s ’

“ R o man c e an d the rec e n t En gli s h

ed i tio n of th e
“ M e mo i s r .
”
 "
IN T R OD U CT ION x vn

Max ims an d Re fl e c tio n s was b r ed in

wh at might
se e m th e unc o ng e nial atmo sph e r e o f Th e Three
“

Mu s k etee rs ”
Thi s is not s o st rang e if, as see ms
th e c a se , th e ad ve ntur e s , whi ch g av e such di re

o ffe nc e to K in g and Card inal , were th e pra cti cal

ruin o f h is po l itic al pr o spe cts , and l eft h im a dis

appo inted and emb itte r e d,if no t pe rv e rte d , man at

th e age o f thirty thr ee

- .

It was as such that he was c o nfr onte d wit h th e

gre at e nte rpr ise o f hi s life — th e cri si s in the h isto ry
o f his c o u ntry w h en th e h o nesty and inde pe nde nc e
o f a fe w l e adi ng sp i rits mi gh t h ave r e nd e r ed h e r

such signal se rvi ce s .

Of this it ne e d o nl y b e sai d th at he was invo l ved

in the succ e ssi ve ph ase s o f the Fr o nd e by
m o tives mainl y as frivo l ous and unpr inc ipl ed as
th o se o f his fe ll o w c o nsp i rat o rs
- The vanity o r
.

c apric e o f hi mse lf and Mad ame de L o nguev ille

wh o m n ature h ad o nl y inte nded to o rnament a
sal o n — we re no sure guide s fo r th eir p o litic al
p artne rsh ip , and L a Ro che fo ucaul d , we ary an d
d i sappo inted, gl adl y sei ze d th e o cc asi o n o ffe re d
b y th e fav o ur s h e sh o wed to the D uc d e Ne mo urs
to with d r aw fr o m b o th kind s o f i nt ri gue ,in th e

ch ar acte rs o f an injur ed l o ve r and a d e spai ring

p o l iti c ian
.

A pa rt fr o m g ene r al impre ssio ns, a g o o d man y

d etails o f auto b io gr aph y are , we l ea rn, to be
5
x v iii INT R O DU CT I ON
p ick ed f t he M axims s o m e o f the bitte r In
“

o ut o .

and we ary c o mme nts gp o n l o v e , inc o n s tanc y

ax ims 84 and 7 and s uch tO ic s , we ma
( m ,
p y
t r ac e a r e fl e c ti o n o f the infi d e l ity o f th e auth o r s
’

b e autiful mistr es s and the e x tin c ti o n o f hi s e u

thus ias m bo th fo r h e rse lf and th e c aus e to wh ich

s h e cl un
g so d e spe rate l
y I t w as t o
. h e r th at

as a l o ve r h e h ad add r e sse d th e w e ll k no w n l ine s -

fr o m a fo rgotte n tragedy D uryer s A l cyo née ’

P o u r me ri ter so n m p
r, o ur p l a i re a s e a b eau x y e ux
J a i fai rIn gu erre
’
aux r j
o is , e l a uro i s fai te
’
au x

l ine s whi ch thro w s o m e li gh t o n the spirit o f

mis pl ac ed ch ivalry anim ating many a Frondew .

When the l ight h ea rted , if dis astro us re vo l a

-

tio nary st ruggl e was o ve r, and th e two h ad fi nall

y
se parated , he p aro die d the ve rse s with a re fe re nc e
to th e wo und re c ei ved d ur ing a de spe rate figh t in

the Fau b o urg St A nto ine , wh ich ne arly d e priv ed

him Of s ight .

“ P o ur c c cce ur i n c o n s ta n t, q u e n fi n j e c o n n o is mi e ux
’

r
Ja i fai t la gue re aux ro i s ,j e n ai e rd u l e s y e u x
’
p .

At pe rs o nal c o ur ag e was unafl e c ted

'

an rate , his
y
by the c o nte mpt in whi ch he see ms to h o ld that
q u al it
y .

In th e po rt rait ofh imse lf ( writte n be fo re 1 6 5 8)

”
he te ll s us that, “
th o ugh still
y o u ng , h e h ad
x x IN T R OD U CTION

penetr atio n, and a s ingul ar d egree o f irres o lutio n .

*

Ne ith e r q uite o ne th ing Ino r th e ot h e r , no g ene ral

th o ugh a b r ave so l die r , and no dipl o matis t th o ugh

c o n stan tly inv o l ved in o ne intri gu e o r ano th e r, his

s hr e wd sen se and att ra cti ve pe rs o nal ualitie s w e re
q
bal an c ed b y a c e rtain ind e finab le ine ffe ctiv ene ss
in ac tio n, as o f o ne al wa s o n his d efe nc e, h alf
“
y
”
ti mid and h alf ash am e d T his fact,and th e w ant
.

o f all faith in pr ac ti cal vi rtu e which is b re ath ed

i n the M ax im s , c o nvinced D e Ret z th at th e autho r
wo ul d ha v e d o ne b ette r to c o nte nt hims e lf with
p assing fo r the m o st p o l ished c o urti e r o f his time '
'

With th e failure o f the cause fo r whi ch he had

fo ugh t and bled, wh en the two Fr o nd es we re
finall y c rush ed in 1 6 5 3,the r e cam e no co n so l atio n
to hi s vanity H e was no t s o d e v o id o f am b itio n
.

as h e assur e s us , et hi s c o urtie rl ik e d e s ir e fo r
‘

y
so m e pl ac e , o r th e tu to rship o f th e D auph in,
mained ( and natur ally e no ugh ) ungratified .

A fte r ye ars o f fitful intrigue and pe rso nal e x e rti o n

and d ang e r ,h e fo und himse lf re g ard ed as a po liti c al

no ne ntit , th e o b j e c t ne ith e r o f x i e ty r f
y an n o o

c o nc il iatio n I nclude d b y Mazar in in the amne sty

.

granted to th e de fe ate d e ne mie s o f ab so lute m o narch y,

he re tur ned to P a ri s and de v o ted himse lf to re pos e ,
'

M m i r , P rt Ch p 8
”
e o es a P rtr i t d u Du de
1 1. a . . o a c
L a R h f u ul d F r
oc e o ca .
q u ll y
o di d
an p r
etr i t fa can o a o
th eC rd i l b y t h D u k see
a na e “ L e tt r ed M de : es e .

Sé v ign é , ”
1 7t h J une 1 67 5 .
 IN T R OD U C TION x x i

to the r e co ve ry o f his he al th, to the so cie ty o f his

fr iend s,and la st,b ut no t lea st, to the lite rary w o rk
whi ch was to c o nso le h im fo r his fai lure in o th e r
fi e ld s , if no t to ave nge his grie van ces ag ain st th e
w o rld in gene ral .

In 1 66 2 first appe ar ed , in an impe rfe c t and in

c o rre ct fo rm , his M emoir: qf tbe I trig ue: wbi b n c

f ll wed
o o dea tb
tbs
qf L ouis tbc w a n
of
P arir a nd Guy enne, and tbe b npri ronmm t of tbs
P i inccr, o ne of the be st acc o u nts o f th e c o mpl e x
*

and r u s po l itics o f the time A se rio us and

to t o u .

di gni fi ed wo rk , if no t supe ri o r, as M Bayle .

th o ug ht, to th e Co mme nta rie s o f Julius Cm r, at

l e as t it pre se nts a strik in g c o ntr as t to the piquant

re mini sc enc e s o f Cardinal de Ret z .

So m e thr ee ye ars late r the Maxims and Re

fiec tio ns we re l aunched upo n th e w o rld b y the
fam o us pub l ishe r, Claude Barbin q ‘

R e p r in te d in fo rm b y Ren o uard , 1 804- 1 7

c o rrec t .

l
F ro m h is s um tuo us ittl e ed i tio n i s ta e n th e po rt rai t k
wh ic is th e ro n ti s p iec e o f th e p r
h e s e n t v o um e l .

l l
1 See a p a y fu re fe ren c e to h i m i n M ad am”e d e Sé v i gné s
’

le t te rs
( 1 6t h M a rc 1 67 2 h“ T h e w tc
e , r h
s h e s a y s ,d e .

b l l
te s t ed h e r e c au s e s h e o n y wro te e tt e rs ,an d n o t ro m a nc e s
s u c h a s th e
“ P i n c es s d e C e v e s , i n w i c
r ”
l M ad am e h h
d e L a F ay e tt e was a s s i s ted b y M ad am e d e Se g rai s
h
a n d L a R o c efo uc a u d l
T e s e , it s ee ms , we e am o n g
. h r
B b ’
l
a r i n s mo s t s uc ce s s f u p u li c a t i o n s ,w i c
b h h
i n cl ud e t h e
fi rs t ed i tio n , i n oo b k
fo rm , o f P e rraul t s im mo rta
’
l
F a1 ry Sto rie s an d a c edi ta r bl
e c o lec ti o n o f l
p
F re n c h o e try ( 5 v o 8vo , 1 69 3 ) n o wn as k
th e
xx ii INT R ODU CTION
Th e y appe ar ed in ano nymo u s fo rm, but c o upl ed
with a d is c o urse u s uall y att rib uted to M d e Segrais .

a mino r p o e t and fr ie nd o f M ad ame d e L a Fa ette ,

( y )
wh ich re fe rr ed to th e re c e ntl y p ub li she d m e mo irs ,
and c o ul d l e ave littl e d o ub t as to the auth o r s ’

ide ntity . Th e ve nture w as a gr e at succ e ss , th o ugh

it r o use d a sto rm o f cr itic ism to whi ch the au th o r

c o uld no t be ind iffe re nt But, in o ne fo rm o r .

ano ther ,th e b o o k w as c o ntin uall r e printed Y et

y .

ano th e r e di ti o n o f M de L a ‘
.

e xcl ai ms M ad a me d e c o rre cted and e u

larged . So me o f the M ax ims are spl e ndid , o th e rs ,
I m ash am ed to say, I c an t und e rstand H e ave n
’ ’
.

kno ws h o w y o u will .
’

The succ e ss o f th e b o o k be ing assur ed , the

ap o l o g e ti c
“ d isc o urse was w ithdrawn, and a
”

hundr ed m o re maxims we re adde d in the fifth

editi o n th e l ate st te x t to whi ch th e auth o r

was ab l e to put a re vis ing h and .

Fo r s o m e ye ar s he had su ffe re d chro nic to rme nts

fro m th e g o ut, and,in th e spring o f 1 6 80, a s e ve re
atta ck o f fe ve r supe rv e ne d , to wh ich , afte r a d e

ce ti ve r all y , and in sp ite o f the ass istan c e o f an

p
Eng lish ph ys ic ian, sp e c iall y c all ed in,h e succumbe d
ab o u t mid nigh t, M arch 1 6 1 7 -
.

R u i l B rb i
ec e a Th M
n. im ,it m y b
e dd d ,w r
ax s a e a e e e
h r l d d — m u t t y b m d —b y
e a e o ne s no sa “ rt i l
oo e an a c e

fr m t h p
o e enf M d m d S b lé ,i
o a a e f th fi r t
e a n o ne o e s
n um b r e s o f th J e ld S
o urn a m e: cav a .
 I NT R ODU C TI ON xx iii
H e h ad en g o nis ing p ain with a fo rtitud e
d ur ed a

wh ich he ne ed no t h ave d e nied to o th e r ph il o

s o ph e rs ; and hi s d e ath r o use d th e ad mi ratio n e ven
o f th o se wh o k ne w him
“ I
t i s n o t to no purp o s e , write s hi s friend ,
th at h e has g iv e n so much o f his l ife to R g fl c d ionr

fo r he appr o ache s h is last mo ments in s uch fash io n,

that th e y h ave no thi ng new o r st range fo r hi m
”
.

She h ad to ld us be fo re i o f th e g o o dne ss and

'

te nd e rne ss he had e x h ibited at a mo m

.

e nt o f the

mo st h arr o win g d o m e sti c a ffl ictio n, q ual itie s be sid e

wh ich all th e att r ac ti o n s o f his w it sank in to
“

i nsignifi c an c e
'

gratifying to kn o w, fro m the same reliab l e

It is
info rmant, th at th e man who h ad said such h ard
th ings o f fr ie nd s h ip l e ft be h ind h im mo r e th an o ne

grie f st ri ck en fr ie nd , be sid e s the so n s o de v o ted to

-

his father , and th e amiab l e and tal e nte d woman,

with wh o m he maintai ned ,fo r the la st twe nty five -

e ar s o f hi s l ife , a r e l atio n o f inde scri b able cha rm

y
”
and intimac , 1 r g a rdin g h er, pe rha ps ri gh tl , as
y e
y

L e t ters d e Sév i gn é . M a n ,B . 1 3 , 1 7 , 1 6 80 .

a 3rd J u n e , 1 6 7 2 .

I M a ri e M ad e l i n e P i o c h e d e la V e rgn e , Co n te ss e de
’

L a F ay e tte ( 1 63: aut h o re s s of “

Z a id e , t h e ”

P ri n e s de C
c s i n c o nj un c ti o n wi t L a oc e h R h
fo u c aul d) ,a nd th e m o re re m a rk a e“ bl H
i s to i re de M ada me
H e n ri e tte d A n gl e te rre
’ ”
( 1 644 t h e un fo rtu n a te
p l b
ri n c e s s c e e ra te d i n th e ro m a n c e s 0 é
D um a s ) , wh ic h
p bl h
was n o t u i s e d ti ll
xx i v IN T R O DU CTI ON
th e o ne g e nuine w o m an o f an a ti r fic ial d
an c o rrupt
g e ne r atio n .

H is p r m ent he h as hi mse lf d e sc ribed as o f

te m e a

so m e l an ch o l a c ast th at h e was sc arc e l see n to

y y
l augh o n ce in a ye ar A dig ni fi ed figure in c o urt
.

o r c amp ,in h is mann e r u nq u e stio nab l y pr o ud and

re se rv ed , impre s s in g c as ual spe ctato rs as c o ntemp

tuo us , b ut no t reall y so .

Witty—he do e s no t c o nceal maH ho ugh, in

spite o f his cl e ar pe rc e ptio n o f thi ngs and e as y
c o mm and o f l angua ge , h e r e , again,a mo o d y te mpe r

marks him fo r its o wn J ai dam: dc Parf ai t,m ore

’

us e f air,mai: 1m esprit qua la mela aco li: gétc e ve n

-

to the e x te n t, h e th o ug ht, o f ir n ai rin

p g th e ex

pre ss io n o f what he meant to my Fo nd of c o n.

ve rsatio n, he de scri be s hi mse lf, m o re e spe c iall y o f

th e s e rio us di scussio n of mo ral q ue stio ns, no t ave rs e

to the bad a nge o f the day,th o ugh littl e ind ulg ing
.

his ca p ac ity fo r it : addi c ted to r eadi ng , m o re par

tic ularly wh e n c o m bine d with c o nve rsati o n ,a fai rl
y
c o mpe tent auth o r in pro se and ve rse , and a so und
c ritic , if a little g ive n to e xc e ss ive fr ank ne ss ,
co ns cio us th at in argume nt he so meti me s be c o me s
rath e r do gm ati c .

L ittl e tr o ub led b y am bitio n, un d i stur bed by

vi o l e nt pa ssi o n s, he was u ite c apab l e o f m a king
q
o th e rs fee l hi s r e se ntm e nt o f an injur to uc hin h i
y y g s

h o no ur . L ittl e affe c ted b y curi o sity, studio us ly

 INTR ODU CT I ON x x v

c o urteo us ,b ut incl ined to be retic e nt if no t tac iturn ,

de v o id o f fe ar , and, as h as be e n said , sc arc e l y
se n si b l e o f p ity,h e wo ul d yet d o anyt hin g to re
lie ve a frie nd s suffe ring ,e ve n so far as to e xpre ss
’

c o mmise r ati o n fo r th e m , see ing th at peo ple wh o

s uffe r are
“ s o s tu id tb b
at r a t docs tbcm all tbc ood
p g
in tbe war
Th at he k eenl y enjo yed the so c iety o f witty and
cultivated w o me n— not th o se ,we may p re su me ,
wh o se wit m e re ly sh o wed up their fo ll y ( ma xim
34 ) 0 - d o e s n o t a rgu e an
y g e ne r all
y so c iab l e

q u al itie s , and wh e n he add s t hat, in his punctilio u s

po l it ne ss, he ne vei u tte red a wo rd in th eir

e “ '

”
pre se nc e c alc ul ate d to gi ve th em pain , the reade r
who pe ruse s his num e r o us re fle ctio ns o n th e fair
“

se x may wo nd e r ho w much res pe c t und e rlay hi s

attachment s , or wha t the m ag ni fic ent
”
nume r o us
“

po l ish o f the grand age was re all y wo rth .

But L a Ro che fo uc auld died , in an y case , if

h e h ad n o t al ways l ived , s upe ri o r to the prin c ipl es
wh ich he has s k etc hed fo r us with so much
e l o ue n c e
q and pr e c i s io n
. H e died , mo reo v e r , a

di sapp o inted man, and, fr o m hi s o wn po int o f vi e w

s ind i ffe r e n ce t o l ite r ar fame was no t me re l
( i f h i y y
affe c te d , a fail ur e
) .

At bf d
’
an
yrate , hi s c e aza n re is , as has bee n
said, in its pe rs o nal as pe c t, so me th ing o f an o ut
b urst of de spair —the b itte r cry o f an asp ir in g but
 xx vi IN T RO D U C TI O N

i rre s o lute p r
te m e ame nt ugh to wh ich isc a ute eno

se e th at, afte r all, it has to b l am e o nl i ts e lf

y .

Th e pe ss imis m wh ich no w and th e n see ms to

le ave us no sa ti sfactio n with l ife c an h ardl y fail
to c o nve y th e wr ite r s —th e th in k e r s — c o nscio us
’ ’

ne s s o f was ted Opp o rt un itie s ,as if he fe l t in hims e lf,

an d wil d l s o ugh t to jus tif , th e pred e sti ned d e sp air

y
y
o f o ne al wa s d ri ven ab o ut b p a s s io n s e t nev e r
y y y
fill ed with an y ( m ax im e nd o we d with th e
”

k eene s t insigh t into h uman failings yet with out

th e faith and e ne rgy r eq ui red to appl y it pr o fi tab l y

to him se lf .

Th e h arsh ne ss o f much o f hi s e arl ie r criti c is m

o r ab use o f man k in d h e see ms to h ave r e pe nted o f
( )
unde r th e s o ften ing in fluenc e o f age , re p o se , and
th e s o c iety of M adam e d e L a Fayette .

Of th i m d i fi ti th
s r d r m y tr
o ca on eral e ea e a ace s ev

e x am p l es p
b y c o m a ri n g t h e e ar ie r a n d ate r m a x im s l l
r p
un d e a n y i m o rt an t h e a d i n g i n t h e i n d e x ty i c a . A p l
c as e wi ll
b e fo u n d i n ma x ims 82 a n d 4 6 5 L a R o c h e fo u .

ca ld
u w r o t e
( 1 6 6 5) t a t h
“ the sn ort ( fi rti n te rertcd f
i en ds h i r p
i s b ut a k
i n d o f arga i n
”
b In 1 6 8 : . 11 4 : mm ca ll W
hp r
fri e n d s i 1 s n o mo e t h a n a art n e rs i p ,a mutua ca re o f p l
g h
i n te res ts , a n e x c a n e o f go o d o ffi c e s , i n a wo rd a s o rt
.

o f T r fli
a c S
. o a g a i n i n 1 66 5 :
“ It i s n o
t a ture b u t N
Fo rtu n e t at m a k e s h e ro e s
”
In 1 6 7 8 : “ n o t n a ture
.

l ”
a o n e , b ut F
o rtu n e m u s t c o n t i ute s o me t i n rb
g e re h . H
p l
Sta n h o e 3 v e rs i o n i n c ud e s o n l the rev i s ed fo rm ( m ax i m
’

l
No 1 7 0 ,to o , i s m i d e r t a n th e o i gi n a e d i ti o n
. r l .

l
Se v e ra o f t h e ma x i m s , i t m ig t b e ad d ed , ra th e r s uffe r h
fro m re v i s i o n , o n t h e v e ry ri n c i e la i d d o wn b y th e p pl
h
aut o r w ic i t s e f was s u s e q ue n t y re
h h l b l
mo d ell ed .
x x viii I NT R O D U C T I O N
A nd it since Me sd ame s de
wo uld see m c at

Sevign e and d e L a Fayette firs t c ut the pag es

of the “
M o ral Re fl e ctio ns th e y hav e ne v e r

—
ce ased to inte re st and to sh o ck “
.

The y have bee n c en sur ed , ind eed, by the

o rth o d o x o f eve ry succ e ss ive g e ne ratio n
“ Yet .

”
the ir d o ct rine , s ays the first critic al edito r o f
the ni netee nth c e ntury , “ is e ve n wo rse th an th e ir
”
reputatio n A ll the g oo d in hum an nature
.

th e y red uc e to a h o ll o w u n r e al ity A ll ac tio n

.

th ey w o uld b a se upo n me re e g o ism , th e s h am e ful

”
and s o lita r in sti nct, wh i ch th e aut h o r so
y
c o nfo unds with th at h ighe r fo rm o f se lf interest e

e ssennal to the pre se rvati o n o f s o c iet

’

y .

A gainst thi s cha rge th e auth o r de fe nds himse h,

'

so me what h alf he artedly,in the sh o rt preface

-

”
intr od uc e s the D isc o urs e .

We nee d o nl y c o nc e rn o urwlves with th e fac t

”
th at L a Ro ch e fo uc aul d is mo re o f a “ spe c ial ist
th an any o the r m ax im m o ng e r k no wn to l ite ratur e
- .

Even as th e H e b rew pre ach e r d wells upo n the

vanit o f all huma n wi sh e s and e x ien ce m s o
“

er
y p
doe s L a Ro che fo uc aul d cling to his o ne de pre ssi ng
th eme The Max ims, V o l taire rem rk s , are
.

“ ”
rathe r m ate rials fo r a bo o k th an a wo rk in
C
f t
. h e Ex ame n p e fi x e d to A i mé M arti n s v a u
r ’
l
a bl e ed i ti o n o f th e M a x i ms , w ic h h r
o us ed a li v e
y l
co n tro v e rs y .
 IN TR OD U C TI O N
th e ms el ves— mate rials , he might have added, fo r a
“
Natur al H isto ry o f Selfis bncu .

It is true that th e aut h o r h as so m eth ing to say

up o n m o st human q ualitie s, m o st d e p artme nts of
c o nd uct ; but ev en if they did no t mo st o f th e m
c o mmunic ate with thi s ( if M ax . . it is h e re
th at h e spe aks wit h the m o st fri gid ce rtaint y and

th e m os t o ve rwh e lming detail .

Th e Ess ay ( no w Max . 2
) wh i ch he ad ed

the bo o k in its o rig inal fo rm , if it d oe s no t c o ntain

so m e o f the m o st d re ad ful sen ten c es ev e r pe nned ,

is , at l east , c o uch ed in a m o re e l abo rate , m o re
me rc il e ssl y sc ienti fic a vein th an any oth e r ch ap te r
o f th e b o o k . It d e se rve s care ful stud y . It is
an e l o u ent and te rrib l e d en un c iatio n, tha t see ms
q
to b r and na k ed and tre m b ling humanity as with

a h o t iro n . A nd if we put to geth e r o nly a pa rt

o f th e m ate rials r e fe rr ed to , what a tra gi c and

pe netrating stu dy d o th ey pre sent o f that

“ b o tt o ml e ss ab ss
y ( M ax . th at un chart ed

o c e an , th at d ark ,une xpl o r ab l e c o ntine nt whe re

th e tyr anno us , ido l atr o us A la rm of self lo ve,
-

th e inro ua ant p are nt o f a cts and c o nce pti o n s to o

'

m o nstro us fo r its o wn re c o gnitio n bl ind e ve n

to its o wn inte r e st s t r ampl ing on the right s

and fee lings o f o the rs m c ruel

( 2 62, o re

e v e n tha n cruelty par at rimfl e is d oo me d

to pursue fo r e ve r ,under a tho usand fai r and fl eet
x x x IN T R O D U CT I ON

ing di sgui se s th e bhrre n re fl e ctio n o f— its e lf !

It is n ot, assur edl y, fo r hi s pre se ntatio n o f th is
inte ll e ctual vi c e , thi s sp ir itu al d e fo rmi ty , th at L a
Ro ch efo uc aul d is o pe n to attack .

Self l o ve , wh eth e r we li k e to c o nte mpl ate it

”
-

o r not , is the l o ve o f a man s o wn se lf, and o f

’

e v e r thin g e ls e fo r hi s o w n sa k e I t d o es m ak e
y .

pe o pl e ido l ate rs to th e ms e l ve s and tyrants to all

“

the wo rl d b mid e s and had all th e r e st o f th e

'

b o o k be e n m o d e ll ed o n th e se o p e ning s e nte nc e s o f
the o ri ginal ed iti o n, the n, th o ugh no th ing c o ul d

re nde r the m pl easant re adi ng ,it c o uld h ave p ro vo ked

no ve r effe c ti ve re t o rt
y .

But the a uth o r h as al so urged up o n us th e impe r

fe cti o n ( o r un re ality ) o f all appare nt go o d ne ss , the
vulg a rit o f m o ti ve o fte n animating wh at p asse s fo r
y
the b e st and hi gh e s t actio n . H e h as turned up fo r
”
o ur in spe c tio n the di ng , s ea m , and ridi cul o us
y y
side ( th o ugh th e re is l ittl e m irt h in his d ispl ay ) o f
all th at see ms m ag nanimo us a nd di g ni fi ed in hu man

c o nd uct : and , in d o ing this , pe rha ps he has ,as M .

A i me Ma rtin sugge st s ,d rawn r ath e r fro m

- me n
—Frm c hmen o f the Fr o nds — th an fr o m “ man .
”

“
H e be gi n s, says the ind ig na nt critic , “ b y
”

s ti g mati s ing o ur n ature as bas e

. H e e nd s b y
c o rrup ting it .
”
We fee l in o urse l ve s the d isp o si
tio n to s e lfish ne ss , e nv , v anity, ingr atitude
y . W e

give way to it We supp o rt o urse lve s ( as the

.
 INTR ODU C TI ON
a u th o r s ugge sts th at weak p e o pl e d o : No 6 5 7 ) .

on a m axi m . We s ay— such o r such a fee ling ,

practic e,m o tive ,is c o mmo n to hum anity,and— we
c e ase to b lush The re is no do ubt so me tru th in
.

thi s e l o q u ent ind ictment .

Re ve ng e may b e wick ed , e xcl aims the

he r o ine o f a trucul ent s atire o n mo d e rn c ivi lised

”
life, but it s na tural
“ I m no ang e l !
’ ’
.

That is the principl e h e re sugge sted fo r the

student o f th e Maxims H e r ead s that frie nd s hi p
.

is —h o w o ften — a me re traffic o f use ful se rvi c e s ;

gratitude ,a l ive l y antic ipati o n o f future favo urs and
pity,th e i g io us fo re sigh t ( 2 64 ) o f po ssib l e
“ n en

disa ste rs t o o ur s e l ve s ; and , see ing h o w much o f

th e u nd e niab l e th e re is in all th is , gr ad uall y ad mits

to h is s o ul a so rt o f p o iso n o us ap ath y, s aying to

h imse lf ingr ati tude ,tr e ach e ry in fine ,c o l d b l o o d ed

-

s e lfis hn e s s — are all v e ry natur al Th at is eno ugh

.

Im
’
no a n el ”
g .

But if h r is much in the Maxims c alc ul ated to

t e e

d rive the vi rtu o us to d e sp ai r ,th e re is c e rtain l y l ittl e

c o mfo rt in the m fo r th e h e artl e ss and wi ck ed .

“
H yp o cr ite s, it is we ll o bs e rved in th e pre
fato ry ap o l o g y, p ass th ei r time v e ry ill in re ad
“

”
ing a b o o k o f th is ch ar ac te r th at is, if th e
-
y d o

no t wi sh t o b e made e x tr e m e l u nc o mfo rtab l e I t

y .

is q uite p ath eti c to watch a p io us c o mme ntato r

wre st l ing , as it we re, with th e se un c o mpr o mis ing
 x x x n IN T R OD U C TI ON
“ chi ps fro m th e wo rk sh o p o f a wo rl dl y philo
so p he r w h o wil l n o t s ay th at Al l vi rtu e is h ypo
”
cr iey, b ut o nl y th at h yp o crisy is all th e v irtue th at
o u c an get o ut o f c e rtain pe o pl e no r that
y
“ A ll me n re all h ate e ach o t h e r
’
b t o nl h
y u-
y t at

th e re is romc tb ing no t unpl e asin g t i h

’
9 u s_ _
n
_
t e _ _

o f o ur b e st friends .
”
H e re ,
it is t rue , as e ls e wh e re , he can de al in fi ne dis
. tinc ti o ns . Whe n we read, in his curt and frig id
c o mmentary,that A s o ur merit l o we rs ,o ur taste
lw e rs to o M H e w
”
o r that o l o ve s
( ax
. h
no o ne is w o rs e o ff th an he wh o m no bo d l o ve s
y
we can s uppl y te rrib le ad je c tives e no ugh to
paint the de gmd atio n o r the lo ne line s s h e is co n
templa ti ng . But the fac t is th at th e re is a d e lus ive
m al mo st ind ec a rt mate rialim in the simplicity
am i ne d wit h such pe r si s te n c e to hum an m o ti ve s in
g
ge ne ral ,as if man we re a piec e o f b l o o dl e ss cl o ck
wo rk and no t a
”
“ li ving g angl io n o f c o mple x
pas s io ns and cravings Th at is o ne o b vio us re fl ec
.

tio n. B re vity , in it se lf, is apt to be mista k e n no t

o nl f or w it b ut fo r th e e pito me o f truth O n the
y .

o the r h and , the re is so m e d ang e r o f the r e ade r

mi stak ing h is o wn pe s s imism fo r th at o f the aut ho r,

o f hi s r e g a rd ing as s atiri cal c o nd e mnatio n ce rt ain '

bald state ments o f fac t . What if frie nd sh ip be a

k ind o f c o mme rce — is c o mme rc e s o base a th ing as
to e xcl ude all th o ugh t o f o th e rs ? If it doe s, do e s
 INT R O DU C TI ON x xx iii
not h sh o w,as Ro ch e fo ucaul d himse lf te ll s us,
t at

h o w pure ,unad ul te r ated se lfi s h ne ss 5 9 3 ) d e feats its

ow n o b je c t ! If we are stun g b y h ea ring gratit ude
s p o k e n o f as a so rt o f acc o unt k ee p ing , is th e r e
-

no t so m ethi ng pre c io us in the r e fi ne d j usti c e which

g o ve rns its impulse s and k ee ps its Ope r atio n ( 2 2 6 )

dig ni fi ed and inde pe nd ent ? A nd th e criti c wh o
see s ingratitud e in the M y return of an obfigation
c an h ar dl e suspe cted o f d e pre c iating t rue
( 227
) y b
g e ne r o sity A nd if it be o b je cte d th at he so me
.

time s e spe c iall n the mo s t c o mpl et e e d itio n s

( y i )
c o ntr adic ts him se lf,he can sur e l y re pl y, with Wal t
Wh itman “ V e ry well I c o ntradict myse lf I
°
. .

”
am l arg e , I c o nta in mul titude s .

To c o mp ar e , ve rify, ad jus t, all th e se varietie s

o f sh arpl y p o inted c ritic is m, and alm o st c o n fi de ntial
-

info r matio n, is a pl eas ing task whi ch sh all be l e ft to

th e r ead e r .

Fo r hi s guid anc e in gr a zing up and d o wn so

l arge a fi e ld , an inde x h as bee n c o mpil ed , wh ich,
the edito r h o pe s , may se r ve as a cl ue to e ve ry

d is tinc t ide a o r to p ic e mph asi se d o r di scu ss ed in th e

bo o k .

To h andl e b ut a fe w o f th e se ge ms, wh e re sh all

we fi nd in s o sh o rt a c o mp as s a s o un der th eo r y o f
tr ue h app ine ss o f pe ac e o f mind of

c o ur age ( 2 1 6 o f l o ve o f wi sd o m
( 2 32 ,

5 9 9
3 , 6 0 ,7 0 7 , o f r ea l e l o
q u en c e
( 5 ,
2 1

C
x x x iv IN T R ODU C T I ON
and sh am humility ( 2 5 g ,o f th e tie s that unite th e
vi rtu o us o f th e d is gr ac e o f th e u nt r ustful

an d th e mi se r y o f th e u nl o ving

Wh e re s h all we see mo re c o nsc ie ntio u s ly de p ic ted

fo r us the r e l atio ns o f tr e ach e ry and we ak ne s s
of w it and s tup id ity o f c o n fi d e nc e

in o urse l v e s and in o th e r s o f b o o k l e ar nin g

-

and pe d antr y ( 5 86, 6 7 2 , o f v anit

y and

s ince r ity o f bod

y and s o ul o f the

inte ll e c t and the h ea rt ( 1 0 3 8, - Wh o has

unmas ked wi th a d e fte r h and all the o b scure r
we ak ne s se s o f h umanity fro m o ur conceit in mi:
f o rtunc to that e te rnal l ittl e difficult
y of

fo rgiving, no t the pe o pl e who h ave injured us ,b ut

tbc peopl we ba n e inj ured
e o ur thi rst fo r

futile info rmatio n o ur u n appre c iated in te re st

in o the r p e o ple s de s tini e s o ur in s tin c ti ve

’

ave r s io n to o ur b e tte rs o ur c o mme ndatio ns

with a sti ng in the tail and th o s e familia r

c o nve rs atio nal fail ings wh ich make up , in th e

twe n tie th as in the se ve ntee nth c e ntur y,th e wh o le

art of bo re d o m ? ( 1 3 5 , 1 60, 3 1 3, 36 3, 5 9 6,
e tc .

M any h s
of t e e d e l ic ate
re ve l atio ns see m to fall
q u ite natur all y in to th e fo rm o f po pul a r c o nnu

d rums Thu s : Wh y are he r o e s lik e pic ture s ?

.

Am . B eca us e to be a dmired tbey mart be v ie wed f rom

a dis tance W h y d o e s fl atte ry injure us ?
xx x vi IN T R ODU C TION
”
o r th e G reat ( 2 40 on Re c o nc il ia
tio n an c e rtain o th e rs ( 7 1 7 ,
d to th e
”
cl ass o f “ to p ical m ax ims , as d i stingu ish ed fr o m
’
th o se wh ich are n o t fo r an age b ut fo r all tim e .

To th e l atte r cl ass w o ul d b e l o ng th e d re ad ful

sentenc e alread y qu o ted , ag ain st the m o r ally
“ d e fic ie nt with its m o re ch ee ring co r
r e lative and th at acu te e xp o siti o n o f the

princ iple u nde rl ying all m ode rn ad ve rti seme nt :

Wo uld yo u rise in the wo rld ,and get yo ur bus ines s
done P — t he n we a ll po uiéle mews: of pers uading
”
the people it i: done l
a rea dy .

W hv
e a e em ph asised the sinc e ri ty o f the autho r .

If th e re is so me cynic is m in his bo o k , the re is

ve ry l ittl e , if any, o f the sh allo w and fl ippant .

c yni c ism w ith whi ch the m ode rn e pigr ammatis t so

o ft e n trie s to sta rt le o r sh o ck his j ad ed heare r s .

P e rha ps s o me o f the pr o fo undes t max ims o f all,

b y wh at we may c all the ir l abo ured vagu e ne ss ( as
o f an o b s e r ve r st ruggl ing to de sc rib e the ind e s c r ib
ab l e , triumph antly r efute the su s n o f c e rtai n
) gg e ti o

c riti cs th at L a Ro ch efo uc auld s main o b j e ct was to

’

sa so me thi ng s ma r t and cl e ve r D u b tl ss h e d o es
y o . e

sa a fe w s hall o w and see mingl h eartle ss thin s

y y g .

The b e l ie f th at a w o m an s w o rt h r are ly su rvive s

’

he r b eauty ( 4 7 6 ) sc arc ely survives am o ng us .

A nd th e re a re a fe w ( see 366 ) o th e r ma x ims

o f the k ind whic h the p artial Madame de L a
 INT R O DU CT I O N x x x vn

Fay ette d e cl ined to ta ek se rio usly, th eir b itte rne s s

b e ing affe c ted , let us h o pe , by a twing e o f th e
au th o r s p e rsi ste nt e ne m — th e g o ut ; th o ugh it is
’

y
to be r e me m b e r ed th at s o me o f the m o s t unp o pul a r

and app ar entl y c ynic al r e fl e c tio n s w e re as wi ll b e

(
se en ) ne ve r intend ed b y the auth o r fo r the pe rusal
o f p o ste r ity
.

But th e r e is no supe rfic ial rh eto ri cal b rill ian c e

ab o u t L a R oc h e fo uc aul d s mus in g s , as we may
’

“ ”
call th e m, up o n th e se c ret re aso ns fo r things
th e effe c t o f the s ubdi visio n o f l ife in to

diffe r e nt s tag e s in o ur e xp e ri e nc e the

prac tic al u se s o f fo ll y th e ha rm we d o

with o ut kn o wing it the “ ”

r o tatio n, so to
spe ak , o f th e pass io ns o ur l ate nt vi rt ue s

and o ur e te r na lly surpr isin i n o r an c e o f

g g
o urse lve s

No r,ag ain,in th e e ssays —fo r s o we must te rm

the m — up o n th e c o m pl e xity, e x te nt, and mag ic al

po we r o f Se lf L o ve ( 2 ,
- up o n Co ur age
H yp o cri s y in A ffl ictio n the Fe ar o f D e ath

and o ne o r two o t h e rs , wh e r e th e au th o r

s ee ms to be v ainl y struggl ing to fi nd a maxim

c ap ab l e o f incl ud ing all h e w ants to s ay A nd .

e ve n if s o me tO ic s see m di sm is sed w ith a c ni c al

p y
pe tul an c e , it is no such te mpe r th at d we ll s em
ph atic all y upo n th e in tr insic g o o d ness o f m e r e
e x i sten c e that b e l ie ve s e ve ry th in g , e ve n
xxx v iii IN T R O D U C TI O N

the me ane st, to h ave a p e rfe c tio n ( 1 2 6 ) whi ch

”
the disc e rnin g pal ate c an appr e c iate ! A nd
is th e re no t e ve n p o e try in s o m e o f th e se sug
e s tive and far r e ach ing a 0ph th e gms , such as th e
-
g p
c o mp aris o n o f o ur ac tio ns to the l ast s yll ab l e s in
wo rd s wh ich eve ry man m ak e s rh yme to wh at
h e th inks fit o r in th e re m ark th at
“ vi rtue s are l o st in in te r e st as ri v e rs in th e se a ”

h alf fo rmed inte rje ctio n s , as it we re , nu

-

fi nished ske tch e s, ye t givi ng ,in th e fam ili ar Fr ench

metaph o r , t re me nd o us fo o d fo r th o ught ? So me
o f the m o re o b vi o us hum an we ak ne ss e s ma b
y e

ro ughl y o utlined , e ve n h e re and the re c rud e l y

c aric atured —mis tak e s e as y to c o rre ct as to c o n
de mn But if we tr ac e o ut all the de l ic ate sh ade s ,
.

th e nuances o f instin ct , c o nd uct, manne r , mo tive ,

he re s o pe rse ve ringl y e xp o sed ,we may agre e th at

life wo ul d ind ee d b e a fine , grac io us , and b e autiful
th ing if we c o ul d tak e e ve r y h int, fo ll o w o ut

e ve r ne g ativ e princ ipl e e mph as i se d , in th e m o r al

y
M ax ims o f L a Roc h e fo uc aul d .

IV — Brs u o c a armr

T m: Bib l io gr aph y of the wo rk has an inte re s t

inv o l ved in the nat ure and m inute ne ss o f its c o n
te nt s . L ik e a c ask et o f je we ls o r a c ase o f
 I N T RO D U C T I O N xx x i x
“ sp e cime ns, h andl ed al te rn ative l y b y the in
uis itive pu b l ic and th e th o ugh tful cur ato r , th e
q
m ax ims subj e c ted to di ffe re nt edito r ial h and s ,
mul tipli e d , re d uc e d , e xp and ed , and r e arr an g ed ,
pre s ent k al eid o sc o pic v ariati o ns , o f wh i ch ,h o we ve r ,
o nl y th o s e e ffe c ted b th e auth o r ne e d se rio usl
y y
c o nc e rn us .

Fi rs t pub l ish e d , as h as bee n s aid, in 1 66 it i s

no t to o much to s a th at th e b o o k h as b e e n ine c e
y
s antl
y r epr inte d , in o ne fo rm o r ano th e r ,in re spo n se

to a d e mand ste ad il y mai ntai ned thro ugh the

se v e nteen th , e igh tee nth , and n ine teen th c e nturi es .

Of th e fi ve au th e ntic e di ti o ns p ub l is h ed in the
l ifetime o f L a Ro ch e fo uc aul d th e o rig inal o f
1 66 5 c o mpri se d o nl y 3 1 7 max ims In th at .

o f 1 6 66 th e
y w e re r e d uc ed to 30 2 I n 1 67 1
.

he incr e as ed th e m to 34 1 , an d in 1 6 7 5 to 4 1 3,
wh il e in the l ate st te xt re vised by the au th o r
th e amo unt to
( 1 67 8
) y 5 4
0 .

In thi s and the sub se q ue nt bibl io gr aph y o f the

Th e H guea
”
e di ti o n , i f i t c an b e c all ed s o , o f 1 6 64
“

( i n d u c e d b y t h e s uc c es s o f t h e M e m o i rs p u ibl h
s ed , as

b
h a s ee n s aid , i n r b bl
i s c h i e fl y i n te e s ti n g a s a i i o
g r h l
a p i c a ra ri ty .D i s c o v e re d b
y W ll
i e ms , t h e h
i s to ri a n

l
o f t h e E z e v i r P re s s , i n l
1 87 9 , i t c o n ta i n ed o n y 1 88
h h l
m ax i m s , o f w i c , a pp a re n t y ,n o t a th i rd e p re s e n ted r
an y ge n ui n e te x t .See t h e re p ri n t , b y M . l
P au y o f
. l
th e B i b i N a ti o n a e , 1 883 Th e Br i ti sh M u s e um p o s
s e s s es th e e d i ti o n s o f 1 664- 6 - 1 - 5 - 8 a n d so m e
5 7 7 7 9 93 2- ,
-

twe n ty - fi v e o f a te d ate
l r .
xl IN T R O D U CT I O N

Max ims we may tr ace a s truggl e betwee n publi c

cur io sity and o rth od o x c e nsur e ; b e twe e n th e
au th o r s k no w n wish e s and th e ta ste o r pr inc ipl e
’

o f h is edito rs . Th us th e impo rtant max im ( o r

e ssa o n s e lf l o ve , wh ich s at th e h e ad
y) to o d
-

o f th e o r ig inal e d iti o n, and migh t see m th e k e y

st o ne o f th e wh o l e w o rk , was w ith d rawn b y th e

au th o r to g et h e r w ith so me s i x t m o r e ,and e ith e r
y
r e pl aced b y o the rs , o r re sto red in vario usl y m o dified
fo rms ,whi ch the r eade r may e x am ine and c o mp are
in any o f the mo d e rn c ritic al ed itio n s .

Thus it will be see n th at the first five re ce s sio ns

Max ims ( 1 6 6 5 6 6 7 1 7 5 and 7 8) difi e r
'

o f th e - - -

m ate riall y,fr o m o ne ano the r : and subseq ue nt edito rs

we re le ft to ch o o se wh eth e r th e y o uld re print
”
w
o ri g in al e xt o f 1 66 5 , 6 l ate st
“ “
( )
a th e
”
t ( ) th e

r e vise d ed itio n o f 1 6 7 8, o r ( c ) a c o mplete

c o lle c tio n o f all the m axi ms e x tant in any .

Am e l o t d e la H o ussaye , th e h isto rian o f

V e nice , was o ne o f the first to c o ll e c t and r ein
s t ate ,in 1
7 4
1 , th e m a x i ms r e j e c ted b
y t h e au th o r .

G ab rie l B ro tie r, the c e l e b r ated edito r o f T ac itus,

pro d uc ed a c ritic al , b ut unsatisfac to ry, edi ti o n in
1 7 89 ,and M A ime Ma r
.
- tin ,s o m e thi rty y e ars l ate r ,

ave us th e firs t arr ang e m e nt ad ap te d to m o d e rn

g
standard s o f c o mple te ne ss and auth e nti c ity— viz .

e te x t o f 1 6 7 8, e m bo d in auth o r s
( )
’
r th y g t h e

l ate st c o rre c tio ns , with ( 2 ) the variants re je c ted

 IN T RO DU CTI O N x li

by him ( printed at th e fo o t o f th e pa g e ) and

suppl eme nts c o mpris ing ( 3 ) all th e max ims fi nall y
e xpunge d b y him, and ( 4 ) such o the r o f his
e p igr ammati c sayings and 60m mats as c o ul d be
c o ll e c ted fro m th e c o rr e spo ndenc e o f Mada me d e
Sévigné and o th e r c o nte mp o r ary so urc e s .

Th e first Engl ish ve r si o n o f th e wo rk wo uld

see m to b e th at o f Mrs A phra Be h n, be arin g th e
curio us title o f Se ne c a unmask ed, o r Mo ral
“ ” “

Re fl e ctio ns , et c , . 1 6 85 ; a l o o se and p artial

p araphr ase o f s o me o f the e arlie r max ims , fo r
furth e r n o ti ce o f wh ich the r e ad e r may be re fe rr ed
to th e r e marks o f D e an Stanh o pe o n p 4 . .

The tr ansl ati o n h e re r e printed be ars no nam e ,

as th e r e ad e r w ill h ave o b se r ved ,and th e Catal o gue

o f th e B r iti sh M use um , that clue to s o many an

an o n mo us or ps e u d o n m o us p e rso nal it , ad d s
y y y
no thin g to what w e are to l d up o n th e titl e p ag e-
.

Fr o m the fac t that th e tr ansl ato r appe nd s to

th e b o o k as a s o r t o f antid o te c e rtain “ Chr i stia n
Max ims ”
o f hi s o wn
( w h ich it has no t be e n

th o ugh t wo rth whi l e to in clud e in th e pre se nt

e d iti o n , we migh t infe r m to b e no t o nl y a
) ‘
hi
Fre n ch sch o l ar but a divi ne . A r e fe r e n c e to
th e c o nte mp o ra ry ad ve rti se m e nt s o f th e pu b l ish e r ,

Ri ch ard Sare , r e veal s two cli ents o f his answe r ing

th is d e scrip ti o n , J e r e my Co ll ie r , th en o cc up ied

up o n his Eccl e s ias ti cal H is to ry , and — D ean

“
x lii I NT R O D U C TI ON
Stanh o pe I nte r nal e viden c e incl ined o ne to th e
.

l atte r, a c o ncl usio n c o nfirm e d b y the D ictio nar y

o f Nati o nal Bio gr aph , wh ich r e fe rs to the b o o k
*
y
a wo rk th at migh t be c o ns ide re d al ie n to
“
as

It was c e rtainl y a b o o k o f ill re pu te

”
h is mind .

amo n g th e o rth o d o x ,wh ich e xpl ain s th e ano n m it

y y
o f a v e rs io n g ive n to th e wo rl d b o ne o f th e mo s t
y

On th e y h
a ut o ri t D e an s o T o dd s
o f C a n te r
f
’ “

b ury a n d Chal m e r s D ie t o f B i o gra p h y B o th th es e

’
. .
”

a uth o rs , a n d th e Re W e e d o n B utl e r v. L i fe an d
W ri ti ngs o f D ea n Sta n ho p e , 1 7 9 7 ) d es c ri b e th e tra n s
”

l atio n b rie fl y , an d n o t q ui te ac c u ra te l y , p e rhap s , a s

if fro m trad i t io n , n o t o s e rv a ti o n b .

In my c o p y o f “ L Es tra n ge s e d i ti o n o f JEso p s
’ ’ ’

F a l e s ( Sa re 8: Co , 1 7 0 8) th e p re s e n t wo k i s d ul y
b . r
a d v e rti s e d , wi th i t s full ti tl e ,s i z e ,an d p ri c e , T we l v e s
6d , b ut amo n g a no n y mo us wo rk s
”
P ri c e rs . T he .

s am e l i s t o f Sare s p u l i c ati o n s i n c l ud e s
b L Es tra n ge s
’ ’ ’

Fa l es ,m o ral i z e d ( a s e q ue l to th e
b JEs o p Co ll i e r s
’

M a rc us A ure l i us , a n d h i s “ M a x i ms fro m th e F re n c h
B ; L o c k e s wo rk s o n um an e U n de rs tan d
H
” ’
of o s s ue t
i ng an d Educ atio n ( st h ed i t io n s ) ; al s o Ep ic te tus s ’

“ M o ra l s ” a n d C a rro n ’s “ h W
i s d o m d o n e i n to En gli s h
,
w F h ” “ Th e t wo l
fro m t h e n e e s t r e n c ed i t i o n . as t b y

th e R e v D r St a n h o p e , D e a n o f Ca n te r u ry b
”
. G i ve n .

so m uc h ma te ri al fo r co nj e c ture , th e c l ai m s o f C arro n h
a n d Ep i c te tu s c o m i n e d se e me d tob o u twe i
g t at o f h h
M a rcu s A u e l i us a n dr o s s ue t B O n e m ay , p e r a p s ,
. h
h
i n fe r a lso t at th e m an ual o f H
uman e P rud en ce o r
th e A rt b y w i c h ha man m a
y ra i se im se lf an d h hi s
Fo rtu n e to g ra n d e ur, i n c l uded i n t h e a o v e , an d b
”

s p e c ial l y a d v e rt i s e d O pp o s i te th e fi rs t p age o f th e
M a x im s , was a l s o b y th e D e a n A t l e a s t t h i s n o te
m ay rem i n d c o ll ec t o rs a n d l i ra ria n s o f t h e i n te re s tb
a n d i mp o rt a n c e a ttac i n g to e a rl y p u l i s e s c ata l o u e s ,
h b hr
’
g
r
un iq ue s o u c e s o f i n fo rmati o n .
xl iv IN T R O DU C TI ON

m e mo rial is to b e see n With in th e rails o f the

c o m munio n tab l e .

Stanh o pe s l e isure w o ul d se e m to h av e be en
’

l arge l y o ccupied in tr ansl atio n Be side s h is nume r

.

o us th e o l o g ic al w o rk s , h e pu b l ish ed
( 1 6 9 4 and

1 7 00
) an E ngl ish ve rs io n, alr e ad y r e fe rr e d to ,

of th e
“
M o ral s o f Ep ic te tus , “”
Ch arr o n, o f
Wisd o m d o ne into Engl ish fro m th e newe st
Fre nch Editi o n T
”
(3 v o ls
.
, h e C hr is tian

P atte rn ( th e
“ Im itar ia Cb ris ti and a trans la

tio n o f th e Co nfe ss io ns o f Marcus A ur el ius 1 69 7

and fro m wh ich J e re my Co llie r bo rr o wed ,

with d ue ackno wl ed g ment, th e Co ll e c tio n o f
“

A uth o ri tie s
”
use d fo r hi s o wn .

In the pr e fac e to the M ax ims o f Ro ch e fo ucauld

it will b e n o tic e d th at th e t ransl ato r cl aims fo r his
edi tio n th at it is m o re c o mpl ete th an any yet
pub l is hed in the o r iginal Fr ench Tak ing all the
.

max ims c o mpr ise d in th e two ed itio ns o f L yo ns

and P ar is , pu b l ished in 1 6 9 1 , and th e P re fac e
and D is c o ur se incl ude d in th e o ne and o m itted

o r abrid g ed in the o th e r , h e g ive s us L a Ro ch e - 4

fo uc auld s wo rk in a much full e r fo rm th an we

’

sh o ul d e xpe ct .

M A ime Martin, c o ll ating all the editio ns and

.
-

add ing ma x ims d rawn fr o m th e L ette r s , e tc .

( w h ich a re , o f c o urs e , no tru e p art o f th e o rig inal

wo rk ) , o nly m ake s up a to tal o f 6 2 8 . D e an

 INT R OD U C T IO N x lv
Stanh o pe prin ts 77 2 ,cluding a g o o d m any, as
in

will b e se e n by a r e fe r enc e to th e inde x ,in wh at

e ngr av e rs w o ul d c all “ two s tate s
”
.

H e h as , p e rh aps , includ ed a fe w m axims which ,

if th e y we r e pr inte d in c e rtain Fre nch edi tio ns ( mg .

th at o f 1 6 9 3 e r e g ar ded as o f d o u btful
) m a
y b
au th entic it and he h as o mitted o ne wh ich ,th o ugh
y ;
suppre sse d al o ng with se ve r al o the r r e fl e c tio ns b y
L a R o ch e fo uc aul d h ims e lf, is, pr o bab l y at th i s
m o ment, the mo st fam o us o f all— No 9 9 in the .

o rig in al ed ition o f 1 6 8 :
“ In th e mi sfo rtune o f
5
o ur b e st friend s th e re i s al wa s so m e th ing n ot un
y
”
pl easing to us . Thi s I h ave acc o rd ingl y ventur ed
to add in th e pl ac e wh e r e it sh o ul d be fo und be fo r e

th e max im No 2 36 in thi s bo o k ,whi ch mo llifi e s

( .
)
and e xpl ai ns it .

With the abo ve e xc ep ti o n,the tr an slato r 8 cl aim

’

to hav e pr e sented us w ith a c o mpl ete and idio mati c

v e rs io n o f L a Roc h e fo ucaul d s w o rk see ms ampl

’

y
j us tifi e d The reade r famil iar with th e o r ig in al
.

will find h e re ,in a ch aracte ri s tic and c o nte mp o rary

Engli s h d re ss ,the wh o l e po int and purpo rt o f th e se
m any h und red Fre nch e pigrams , and it might e as il y
be argu e d th at m o s t o f th e m, e spe c iall y th e be st
and th e b r ie fe st , h ave l o s t l ittl e o r noth ing b th eir
y
ch ang e o f natio nal ity .

A w o rd in c o n cl usio n may b e said of the arr ang e

me nt o f th e maxi ms B rie fl y, th e re is no ne , o r
.
xl v i INT R OD U C T I ON

ve ry l ittl e The y go al o ne , the m o st de spe r ate

.

o ne s
( wh i ch th e b o l d e s t e dito r migh t s hrin k fr o m

t rying to c atch and o r i n s mall gr o ups

-
mo difying o r c o rr e c ting o ne ano th e r — b ut th e
auth o r w o ul d be th e l ast pe rs o n, as h e te lls us ,to
“

stand o ut fo r any m eth o dic al o rd e r in th e ir g o ing .

In its us ual fo rm the b oo k b e ars tr ac e s o f its

g e ne sis and hi sto ry , as de scribed ab o ve . Th e
e a rl ie st,and pe rh aps m o st spo ntane o us , m axi ms are ,

as a rule — with s o me impo rtant e xc e ptio n s — 4 0 be

fo und ne ar the b e ginn ing, wh ile th o se sub s e qu e ntl y

add e d o ccup e l ate r p a rts and to ward s th e
“
y t h
e nd will usu all b e fo und a go o d man fo r whi ch
y y
the ind ust ry ( see p . o r p iet ,o r l axi t
y y o f the

e dito r is mainl y re sp o ns ib le . Thus th e bib li o graph y

o f an pa rticul ar e ssay o r m axim — wh ich ma b
y y e

se par ate d b y se ve ral hund red s fr o m its antid o te ,

c o rre c ti ve , o r re vise d fo rm — h as l ittl e to say to its
sub je c t m atte r A nd th o ugh ,fo r me r e pl easure o f
-
.

pe rus al ,the auth o r s agree ab le variety is no t to

’

be be tte r ed , fo r the purpo se o f c o mp aring all his

se ntiments o n any given to pic , an ind e x is indi s
pe nsab le The d isc o ve r y o f a pa rti cul ar quo tatio n,
.

parall e l o r dupl ic ate ( Cf maxims 1 89 and

. in
L a Ro ch e fo uc auld , is to o o fte n l ik e l o o k ing fo r
a needl e , n o t in a b o ttl e o f h a ,b ut in a b o x full
y
o f o th e r nee dl e s , much ali k e in s i ze and sh ape , b ut

d iffe re ntl y p o inted.

 INT R OD U C TI ON x l v ii
By way of clu e to t hi s maz e th e pre s ent edito r
h as atte mp te d to enume rate e ve ry di s ti nc t s ub j e c t
o r s ig ni fic ant ide a c o mpr is ed in th e 7 7 2 m ax ims

whi ch , fo r thi s purp o se , h ave be en nu mbe red c o n

s e c utive l thr o ugh o ut, th o ugh with o u t di s tur b ing
y
the o r ig inal di vi s io n o f the te x t into fo ur p arts and

a suppl e m ent .

G H
. . P .

6 K ING S BEN C H WALK

’

T EMP LE
M O RA L M A XIM S

REFL ECTIO N S .

In IV P A R T S .

Writt en i n Franc/z, b y th e

D UK E o f R o s /3 6 fl a w/t
N o w ma de En gli s h .

(
H
i lt s § t rs nh fi hi ti nn, R e v i s e d an d
Co rre c te d , wi th th e A d di tio n o f
CXXXV M A XIM S, n o t Tran
s l ate d b e fo re .

L O N D O N

P r inte d fo r R i /
c ya r d S
a re , at Gray Inn -

Ga te , in Ho/bom , M DC C V I .

1
.
7 ob
 TH E

TR H N S L A TO R:
’

P R EFA C E
‘

S s o o n as thi s l ittl e Boo k fe ll into my H and s ,

I c o ul d no t fo rbe ar mak ing Enquir y, wh e th e r
an
y o f o ur Co untr
y
- M en h ad d o ne th e g o od

Se rvi c e o f c o mmuni cati ng it to th e E g/is } R eader

n ; s .

Th e Ente r tainme nt it g ave me , th e e xc e eding

Ch arac te rs I h ad h e ard o f it, whi ch ind ee d I
th o ugh t e x tr av ag ant, till my o w e rusal c o nvinc d
’
n

me , th e y we re its ust d ue ) and the D e s ir e o f

'

making th e se w ise bse rvatio ns , and the A d van

tage s o f th e m mo r e d iffus ive , as we ll at th at o f
impre ssing th e m mo r e str o ngl y upo n my se lf,mo ved
me to r e s o l ve up o n s p en di ng so me l e isur e H o urs
in natur al i zin g thi s gr e at Fo r e ig ne r . But the
U nd e r tak ing so o n a pe ared mo r e di fli c ult, th an th e
pro p o rtio n o f th e B o o k te mp ted me to e xpe c t .

Fo r th e Tr ans l atin g e ve ry wh e r e l ite r all y and c o n

c ise ly, wo ul d h ave l e ft s o me P assa g e s d ark , and

sc arc e inte ll igibl e A nd a l o o se P araphr ase ( be

.

side s th at it i s a L ibe rty no t to b e indulg ed , e xc e p t

in Case s o f gre at Ne c e ss ity ) w o ul d ta k e o ff fr o m
th e Be auty and Str e ng th o f such Re u s e n o us ; the
-
 THE TR AN SL AT OR S P R EFA C E 5 ’

p aring the Two Bo o ks to g e th e r ,no ne will be fo und

to h av e e sc ape d me ,no r any o th e r D iffe r enc e be
tween th e m no w r e maining , e xc e p t in th e O rd e r
o f th e Ran nm o n s . Th e P as sag e s add e d are
l ik ewise numb red acc o rding to th e P a ri Editio n ,
s

fr o m wh e nc e th e y are tak e n The Franc/J P r e fac e

.

to the Re ad e r Tr an sl ated fr o m th e nc e , b e c ause

so me th ing l arge r ; and r efe rr ing p ar tic ul arly to a
D isc o urse upo n th e s e Rs rns crro us , wh o ll y want
ing in the I mpr e ss io n at L y o ns .Th at D isc o ur s e ,
E n lir/ c an o th e r H and s l ik e wi se in se r ted
( g b y ) i
h e r e , th e D e sig n wh e reo f is to r e mo ve so me Ob
ec ti o ns , to wh ich th is B o o k h ath b e e n th o ugh t
j
li ab le So th at all due Car e h ath bee n tak e n, th at
.

th i s Tr ans l atio n migh t h ave it s u tmo s t P e rfe c tio n,

’

and th e A u th o r no w appe ars in En li b , mo r e full ,

s
g
and with much gr e ate r A d v antag e ,th an an E d it i
y on

o f his ,th at e v e r I e t sawin th e O r ig inal L an gu ag e

y .
 P R E FA C E
TO THE

R EA D ER

Genera l Approba tion wbicb tb e P ublicb ba r

lea s ed to i ve tbere Mo r al R e fl e c tio n s ,is
p g
a bo v e wbat I a m a ble to s a n tbeir Fa vo ur
in fi nit ely
f
y i f

a nd
if y tb e a r e really o
f t b at intri m ic V a lue, as 1

ta bs tbem to be, an d b o n e v ery good R eas ons to be

lie ve, tir almo s t impos s ible to do tbem a greater
’

tba n to imagine tbey s ta nd in need of a n Apo logy .

1 e ball at p res ent content my s elf to rema rk Two

Tbingr Firs t, Tb at by tb c Wo rd I nte r e s t, o ur
A utbor does no t a lway s unders ta nd wba t we commonly
call Wo rl d l I n te r e s t, cub ic/J b a r tbs P
y urs uit
of
W ea ltb
f or its o nl
y jO b ect, but a n I n te r e s t o
f’ H o no ur

an d Glor
y
. M y S econd R ema rl ii ,
( a nd ti r in a
.

ma nner tbe Fo undatio n 0 a ll tbere R e fl ections

) T b at

tb e j udicio us P ers on s o made tb cm, only consi der:

M an l ind in tbe pres ent deplora ble State of N a ture,as
ti: o verrun wit/J Ign ora nce,a nd corru ted by Sin
’

p
a n d tb ere o re wbato ver b e ra : b nite N umber
f y of t at infi
«

6
 PR EF A CE TO THE R E AD E R 7
D efects tbat are to be f oun d in tbeir
pp a a rent

in tbe leas t concern tb os e b appy but

f w F
ea v o urites wbom Hea v en is pleas ed to p res erv e
rom tb em by
f
s ome

ba v e enterta ined agai ns t tb es e M a x ims , 1

it conv enient to in s ert tbe f ollo wing L etter,
wbicb lately f ell into my Ha nd s, a nd was written
s inc e tbc Firs t Edi tion o b is M a nus cri t a nd n ow
f t p
a t tbis Juncture,wben ev er R ea de r ta l es tbc reedo m
y f
to pas s bis own Judgment upon tbem ; it comes out
v er s ea s onab l to clea r tbc
y y tba t
may be urged agains t tbes e as al so to ex

Tbis ,at leas t,

it b a s perf ormed, it bas a bunda ntly demons trated tbem
to contain notbing but a pure A brid t of M ora lity ,
co forma ble to s ev era l Fatbers o t e Cb urcb ,a nd tb a t
n f
tbc P ers on wb o writ tbem,bad a grea t deal of reas on
tbat be could not well mis s bis a , in
y W
ollo win s uc b ex ienced a nd cfi s i nteres ted Guide s
f g r .

A nd la s tly,tbat e b ad f ull L iberty f

o M an,

s a me man ner a s tbc bad do ne

N ow,after a ”, V eneration wbic b is due to

tbes e illus trious f
o tb c Cb urcb , be n ot s
fl
u icient

to s top tbc M o utbs of tbc Critic bs , but tbey a re re

s o lv ed, in o os ition to oo d M an ne rs a nd
pp g
con demn tb c O inion o b es e Great M en in conde mn
p f t
ing tbis B oob I wo uld adv is e tbc R eader not to be
influenced by s uc b a rtial
be determined by t e rs t p
Hea rt but to ta be a ll Se lf
L o v e s ball ba v e no s ba rc in tbc Judgment wb icb be
8 P R EF A C E TO THE R EA D ER

tbem . For if be s u f i rs bims e

lf to be

corru t a Co uns ello r,it is not to be s u o s ed

p pp
tba t be will s be w a ny
A s tbey pa rticularly c mt Fa v o ur to tbes e Maxi ms
: Se lf- L o v e witb de ba uc b

be s ure,
.

tbc Re fl e c
ti o ns, as tb at H e at or Su b til ty h e e xpr e s s e s in
co m bating th e m . But as it will b e a d iffic ul t
M atte r to p e rswade e ve ry se ns ib l e Man, th at h e
canno t c o nd e mn th e m o ut o f any o th e r Mo tive th an
th at of I nte r e s t disguis ed,of P r id e ,a nd Se lf- L o ve
tb c bes t W a
y t b e R eader ca n ta be,i n m
y p0 inio n ,is

to s a tisfi e b ims elf, tbat none o bes e Max ims c onc ern
f t
Him in rticular,a nd tba t He alo ne is ex cepted f ro m
tbem, tb o ugb tb ey s eem to be ene ral Af ter be bas
b
.

done tbis , I da re a ns wer f or im,tbat be will be tbe

rs t M a n tbat s ball s ubs cribe to tb c Trutb b
fi of t em,

and ,wh at is m o r e , be l ie v e th at th e are o f migh t

y y
B e ne fi t to the W o rl d , in di sc o ve r ing all th e Fo llie s

and Foible s o f M an kind .

A s f o r wbat rega rd s tbe Orde r of tbes e

tbc Reader will at f irs t v ie w dis cov er,
all u o n di i rent M atters , it was in a manner
p j
impo s s ible to place tbem in an ex act M etb od A nd .

tb a i b ere a re s ev eral u o n tbe s ame Sub ect, it wa s

’

p j
ud ed l e tbem al wa s
no t
j g p p r o er to
p ac
y on e
f
a ter

a n o tber, o r d b c R eade r, wb o is
f f ear
of is us tin
g g t
enera ll bes t entertained witb an a reeable V a riet
g y g y
.
 P R EF A C E TO THE R E AD E R 9

A D isc o urse upo n Re

th e flectio ns , o r Sen tences ,and

M oral M ax ims ,in a L e tte r to a Friend .

S I R,
W
A m not able po s itiv ely to tell y ou, h eth e r all th e se
I M ora l R efl ections we re writ b y M o nsie ur D e
al th o the Stil e and M anne r o f th e m see m to t e
’

se mbl e his But g ive me le ave , Sir, to te ll yo u,

.

th at up o n th e se O cc asio n s , I g e ne r all y dise ng ag e

my se lf fr o m p o pul ar Re po rt s, and ti s e no ugh to
’

m ak e me be lie ve , th at th e y d o no t be l o ng to him,
be c ause th e pu b l ick O pinio n h as fathe r d th e m upo n
’

h im . Thus I h ave fai rl y and ing e nu o usl y an s we r d ’

o ur Fi rs t Que stio n A n d as fo r th e r e st, if ou

y .
y
h ad no t an abs o lu te A u th o r ity o ve r me , whi ch I
must ne ve r dispute , I sh o ul d wave a farth e r Ex
aminatio n o f th e m Fo r a Man so h ighl y pre
W
.

o s se s s d ,as I am,in h is Es te e m fo r thi s o rk ,has

’

p
no t th at L ibe rt to ju d g e trul o f it, as is re ui si te
y y q .

Ne ve r th e l e ss , s inc e yo u h ave bee n pl e ased to o rd e r

it so ,I willf ra nbly giv e y o u my Opin io n,witb out any
D es ign to s et up f or a M al er of D is s ertations , or
concernin m s el witb tbc P ers on wbo
g y f
to ba v e writ tbis B oob Tis eas ie to
’
.

rs t Sigb t, tbat it was n ev er des igned to vi si t the

fi
W o rl d , b ut o nl
y wr i t fo r th e S ati sfac ti o n o f a

P e rso n, who , in my Op inio n, d oe s no t asp ire to

th e G l o r y o f be ing an A uth o r . A nd i it s bould
bappen to belong to M ons ieur D e ca n as s ure

y ou , t b a t bis R e uta tio n is es tabfis bed in tbe

p W o rld b
y
b etter Titles , th at h e w u e no les s ( fis
’
s o ma n o d b
y
turb d to b ea r tbat tb es e Re fl e c tio ns are ma de public},
’
Io P R EFA C E TO THE R EA D ER

tba n be was wben tbc Me m o irs tbat were a ttributed

to bim were rinted B ut, Sir, o u need n ot be in
p .
y
ormed,wba t a P ro ens it b ere is ,in tbis A e, to
f p y t g
p ublis b a ll ma nner o
f N ov elties , a nd es eciall
p y tb os e

tb at go un de r a ny celebrated Na me, wb icb , of it

ent to recommend tb em to tbc W o rld
°

is s u .

ou no w is a n un do ubted Trutb , N a mes alone s et a

y
P rice upon Tbings witb tbos e P eople, tbat a re not
in a Capacity of finding o ut tbeir Intrins ic V alue .

Tbc true M erit of tbes e Re fl e c tio ns is unders tood but

by a v ery fi w P eople , tb a tis certain tba t a bundance
’ ’

o
f p res uming Wud o
’
b e Wi ts pretend to gi v e y ou
’
tbeir O inions of tbem A f o r m s el I don t
p
p .s
y re

tend to b a v e D elicacy a nd P enetra tio n en ougb to f orm

I s ay D elicacy a nd P ene
tra tion ,beca us e,to gua lifle a M a nf or s ucb a P rov ince,
b e mus t be M a s ter botb of one a nd tbc otber . A nd
tb a it were po s s ible f or me to fl a tter my s elf,tbat I
’

os s es s ed botb tbes e ua lities , I a m inclined to

p Q
tba t I s bo uld j ind but v ery f e w P a s s ages in tbes e
Re fl e c ti o n s to a mend .I can tb ere dis cov er no tbing
but a bappy Force and Spirit, Tb o ugb ts truly elev a ted
a nd B old,a no ble Turn
of E x
pres s ion , acco

witb a certa in A ir of Qua lity , th at d o e s no t be l o ng

to all tb a t ba v e V a ni ty eno ugb to s et up f or A utb ors .

I o wn indeed tbere is n ot tba t Order a nd A rt in

tbem wb icb one wo uld des ire, a nd tbat a lea rned
M an, wbo enj oy ed a greater s ba rc of L eis ure tban
o ur A utb or s A a irs s eem to a llo w bim, wo u d
’ ’

j
tbro wn bim into a better M etbod . B ut a M a n wb o
urel w rites b i s el a n d to di v ert b is M ind
p y f o r m
otber B us ines s , wbo s ets do wn

tbey co me into bis Hea d,does not

 P R EF A CE TO THE R EA D ER II

so religious ly b
o s erv e N ic eties of R ules ,a s Tb ey
tbc
wbo ma be a P rof es s ion and B us ine s s of Writing,a nd
to get R ep uta tion by tbeir P ens Nev ertbeles s ,
.

Irregula rity b as its peculiar Graces , and s ucb

I don t bn o w
’
Graces too a s A rt ca n nev er imita te .

wbetber y o u will agree witb me in tbis P oint but

tba b
’
a m s ure o
f incurrin
g t c l n di na tion o
g f tbe

Criticbs by wba t 1 a m going to s ay ,y et I ca nno t f or

bear to aflirm to y o u,tba t a s long as I liv e, 1 s bafl
ma be no s cruple to prefer tbc ea s ie negligent Stile of
P ers ons of Co nabtion , wb icb bas W a nd S rit in it,
to tbc s la v is b R egula rity of a D octo r, t nev er

co nv ers ed witb a n
y tbi n
g bu t bis B oobs T h e .

mo r e c as ie and ne gl ig e nt he appe ared in wh ate ve r

h e s aid o r did , th e m o re agr ee ab ly was it r e c e ived
l
fo r its natur a and simpl e A ir I borro w tbis
.

P a s s age o ut of T ac itus ,a nd b a v e s et do wn tbc L atin

in tb c M a rgin ,tba t if y o u a re s o minded, y o u may
a nd tb a I a m s ens ible bo w reat a M a s ter
’
rea d it g
o u a re o tba t L an ua e, et s ince tbis D is co urs e ma
y f g g y y
os s ibl reacb otber Ha nd s ,tbat a re utterl una c ua in ted
p y y q
witb it, I s ba llf ollo w tbe s ame Co nduc t, wbene v er I
b a v e a ny Occa s ion to ma be Cita tion s N o w, Sir, is
.

it n ot a n unq ues tiona ble Trutb ,tbat tbis Jus tnes s and
Afi ctation, wbicb is s o ugb t after witb s o mus b Study ,
al wa s ca rries a certain Sti nes s a nd Cons traint tba t
-fl
'

y
displea s es us P A nd tba t tbc Gentlemen wb o a re s ucb
Sla v es to R ules ,b a v e n one of tb os e B ea uties , wbere
A rt disguis es it s elf under tbe Appea rances of Nature

D i c taq ue fac taq ue ej us q uan to so l uti o ra , q ua n dam

s u i n e gli e n ti um p ra fe re n t i a , t an to g rati u s i n s p ec i em
g
s im p l i c i ta ti s ac c i p i eb an t ur
. Tac A i m 1 x 6
. . . .
 P R EFA C E TO THE R EAD ER 1
3
of M en co rru
pted,inv aded by P ride and Self -L ov e,
a nd inco m a s s d a bo ut witb
p
’
ill E
Gov erno r of a To wn bes eiged,wb of o r want of Silv er,
w
x a n les , as t b c

ma bes M oney of L ea tb er a nd P as t- boa rd . Tbis

in Sb ape a nd Figure, res embles tbc Good , tis
’

a t tbc s a me P rice, but notbin b d o wnrs bt

p f
ut o g u t g
M is ery a nd N eces s ity ma bes it go current a mo ng tbc
B es ieged Af ter tb e s a me ma nner, tbc generality of
W
.

b a mane A ctio n s , wbicb pa s s witb tbe o rld

f or s o

ma ny V ertues , of tentimes b a
a nd R es embla nce o b nev ertbeles s , tbey don t
’

f t em

cea s e to ca rr s o me M erit witb tbem, and to cballen e

y g
o ur Es teem in s ome M ea s ure . It being v ery difi cult,
b uma nely spea bing,to bav e a ny better . B ut a dmitting
our A utb o r believ ed, tbat tbere was n o trul
yp f er ect

V ertue in M an ,y et, con s idering bim in tbc pure State

o
f N atu r e, b e is not tbe
f irs t tbat ad v a nc ed tbis

no t a ra id to lie under tbc Scandal

f
uo ta tion witb y ou, 1 co uld cite
Q
o u s ev eral A utbors ,na F b bc Cb urcb ,a nd
y y at ers
of t
celebra ted Sain ts , wb o were nio n, tb a t Se
of p O i lf
L ov e, and P ride, were tbc v ery So ul of i be mos t
Heroical A ctions tbc P agans ca n boa s t of . 1 could
ma be it s o me o
f t b em b av e no t ev en

a rdo ned L ucr e tia, wbom all tbe

p f
o

W o rld belie v ed to be v ertuo us , till tb e

y M er d
’

tbe Fa ls ity o tba t V ertue ,wb icb roduced tbc L iberty

f p
R o me ,a nd ba s dra wn tbc A dmira tion o s o ma ny
f
o
f
Ca n y ou imagine, Sir, tba t Sene ca
ma b es b is wi se M an s tand upo n tbe
s a me L ev el witb tb c Gods , was trul} W
is e ,

tba t be wa s rea lly ers waded o wbat b endeav o urs

p f ;
to o tber P eople, witb s o mucb Ins olence
 P R EF A C E To THE R EA D ER

d Os tenta tion P
an N ev ertbeles s bis P ride cou d ’

not b inder b i m ro m o wnin n otb er la ces ,tbat

f g i ( )
a P
be ba d nev er bebeld in tbc W
o rld a n Ex a m le o
p f tbat

Idea wbicb be propo s ed tba t it wa s im o s s ible to

p
fi nd s o cons umma te a V i rtue a mong M en and tbat
tbc mos t pefi i ct a mo ng tb em, wa s b e wb o b a d tbc
'

ewes t D fects H ran b y con es s es , tbat o ne

f e ( )
b e
.
f l f
may reproac b So crate s witb ma in ta ini ng s ome s us
pected Correspondences , P l ato and A r isto tl e witb be
ing Cov etous , a nd Ep icurus witb P rodigality a nd
P leas ure A nd y et be cries o ut in a mo s t wonderf ul
P as s ion ,a t tbc s a me Time, That We sh o ul d be b ut
to o happ y, c o u d we arri v e to c o p y and imi ta te
’

th e ir ve V ic e s Tbis wors bi f ul P bilo epber

y
.

been muc in tbc rigbt o n t, if e b ad s a i as mucb

’

b o wn V ices bc Trutb , a M an
o
f ’ is
f o r, to s a
y t
wou d not b a v e been o v er unbappy , cou d be ba v e ’

been able to enj oy , as tbis poor Stoic b did,all ma nner

R c bes , Ho no ur an d P lea s ure, a t tbe s a me Time
o
f i
wben be ma de a Sbew of despis ing tbem to s ee
bims elf abs olute ? M a s ter of tbc Empire, a nd Em
“

J o v em p l us n o n p o e q u m b o um v irum S
ss a n . en . Epis t .

83 .
- D eus n o n v i n c i t s ap i en tem fce li c i ta te ,e tiams i v in c i t

es ta te : Sen .

Ub i en im i ll um i n v e n i e s q uem t o t s as c uli s q uarri mus

( ) a

s a p i e n te m p ro o p t i mo e s t m i n i m e m a us l . Sen de .

Tr
( b Obj i c i te P l ato n i q u o d p e ti e ri t p e c un i am , ri s to A
p
t el 1 q uo d a c c e p e ri t ,E i c u ro q u o d c o n s um p s e ri t ,So c ra ti
A l c ib i ad e m P h ae d ram o b j ec ta te , O v o s u s u M a x im é
p b
flatl i c e s ,c um ri m um v o i s i m i ta t i v i ti a n o s tra c o n ti ge ri t .

f Se n e c am ad o ri u n tur, ta n q uam i n ge n te s 8: su p ra
p ri v a tu m m o dum e v e ct as O p es ad h uc a uge re t , q uéd q ue
s tudi a c i v i um i n s e v e rt e re t , h o rto rum q uo q u e a me n i
 P R EFA C E TO THE R EA D ER 1 5
perour na
y , a nd a Galla nt f
o tbc Empres s at tbc
me Time to os s es s magnfi ceut P a laces , delicio us
f
sa

Gardens ,a nd t us ,f a ll s tretcb d a t bis Eas e , as be

’

wa s , to preacb up M o dera tion a nd Co ns tancy , and

rd bno ws wba t in tbe M ds t o ro di i o us
f p g
a

P lenty a nd W ea ltb D o y o u believ e, Sir, tba t tbis

mo rtified Hypocrite, wb o s o well co unterf eited tbc
M as ter of bis P a s s ions , cou d, ’

V ertue, but tb at
V ices , an d tbat wben
be d d not repent b im
b is Imperial P upil tbe P o wer to ma be bim
D o but v iew tbis migb ty P retender at a
’
nearer dis tanc e, a nd y o u ll s ee tb at in ma bing a ll

tbes e u o n tb c Immo rtalit b

fi ne R ea s o nin s
g p y f o t c

Soul, be endea v ours to H ood- winb bims l

tbc Fea rs of D ea tb ; b e s ummons
up all é
e
to ma be a s olemn Grimac e a t rtin
g b e bites bis

Tongue,les t be s bo uld conf es s t at P ain is an Ev il

be pretend s tba l R ea s on is a ble to *
div es t a M a n
a ll P as s io n, a nd ins tea d

rais es b ims elf a bov e tb c in my

Opinion ,be ba d a cted mucb more libe an b ones t M an ,
if b e ba d
f ya irl o w n d tb c
’
W
ea bnes s a nd Corru tio n
p
o
f H uma n N a ture,a nd no t ta ben s o macb P a ins to

banter tbe W o rld witb bis

On tbc otb er Han d, tb c A ut
us es a d flZ rent Conduct
j -
H e
. la s
y o
p en a ll tbe

M s eries of M a n,but tben we mus t unders tand bim

ta te , vi llaru m m agn i fi c e n t ifi q uasi p ri n c i p em s u p e r
.

gre d e re tu r . Tac A. nn 1 1 4
. . .

Sap i e n tem s i i n P h ala ri d i s t auro p e rura tur,e x c ama l

r l
tu um d u c e e s t, hl
ad me n i i att i n e t Epic ap ud Sen
. . .
 16 P R EFA C E TO THE R EA DER

qf M a n,as be is b
a andon d to bis
’

n ot
of a Cb ris tia n H e ma bes it

tba t in spite of all tbe E f b is R eas o n

orts
of
Sel - L ov e will s till ta be s a nctua ry in s ome of tbc mos t
p riv ate R ec es s es
f
o b is H ea rt W b ere tb e
y m eet,

rom Time to Time, witb s cient N o uris b ment, to

f ufl i
s rea d tbeir V enom im erce tibl , u on tbc
p p p y p g reates t

P a rt of its M ov ements .

Tbc Second Obj ection y ou told me of ,a nd wbicb bas

rea t deal nit witb tbe orme r,is , Th at th e se
a
g of afi y f
R e fl e c tio n s pa ss in th e W
o rl d ,r ath e r fr o m the Sub

tiltie s o f an aus te re Cen so r ,wh o pu ts an ill Co n

st ructio n u n the mo s t indiffe r ent A c ti o n s, th an
fo r s o l id ru ths Tau tell me, Th at so m e o f yo ur
.

Friend s h ave assur ed yo u, w ith all th e imag inab l e

A ppea ran c e s o f Sin c e r ity ,th at th ey k new b y th e ir
n c e , th at a M an d oe s s o me time s d o

th o ut h avi ng any o th e r V ie w o r P r o spe c t,

than th at o f G o o d ; nay, s o meti me s wi th o u t an
y
V ie w at all, e ith e r fo r G o o d o r Evi l , b ut b y a
natur al I nte grit o f Mind ,wh ich in cl ined h im to
y
wh at is G o o d , with o ut his o wn th ink ing o f it I .

wis b it were in my P o wer to belie v e tbes e Gentlemen

u o n tbeir
p W ord, a nd tba t it were true tba t Huma ne

Na ture b as none but rea s onable M otio ns ,a n d tbal a ll

o ur A ction s were na tura ll v ertuo us B ut, Sir,bo w
y .

s ba ll we reconc ile tb c Tes timon o ur Friend s, to

y f yo

tb e Sentiments of tbe grea tes t Fa tbers o tbc Cb urcb ,

f
wb o ba v e a s s ured us , Th at a ll o ur V e r tu e s ,w ith o u t
th e A s s is ta nc e o f Faith , are o nl I m p e rfe c tio n s ;
‘

y
th at o ur W ill was b o r n b l ind ; th at its D e sir e s
we r e b l ind , its C o nd uc t s till mo re b l ind, and th at
it was no wo nde r if a Man u nde r s o much b l ind
 P R E F A C E TO THE R EA D ER 1 7
ne ss,was in a pe rpe tu al State of wand ring
. N or
is tb is a ll,f or tbey proceed to talb i n a bigb er Stra in,
and tell us , tba t i n s ucb a Co ndi tio n ,th e P ru d en c e o f

Man do es no t p ene tr ate into fu tur e Th ings, and

appo ints n o th ing , b ut as it h as a r el ati o n to P rid e ;

th at hi s T e mpe r an c e m od e r ate s no Exc e sse s, but

th o se that hi s P ri de c o nd e mned be fo r e ; th at hi s
Co ns tanc y no far th e r supp o rts its s e lf und e r th e
P r e ssure o f Cal amitie s , th an as it is e nc o ur ag ed by
his P r id e ; and lastl y, th at all hi s V e rtue s, with
th at e x te rio r P o mp o f Me ri t, wh ich mak e s th e m be
ad mir ed , h ad no o th e r End b ut thi s A dmi r ati o n,

th e L o ve o f v ain G l o r y, and th e I nte r e st o f P r id e .

One migbtfi nd almo s t an in finite n umber o

f A u tb orities

Opinion,but if 1 s bo uld once begin to c ite

to y ou, tbe efi ct wo u d be, th at I
’

sh o ul d gi ve my se lf a l ittl e m o re tro ubl e ,and th at

o u w o u d no t r e c e ive mo r e P l e as ure b F
’
y y it or .

tbis Cons ide ration , I tbinb,tbc bes t way botb f or y ou

an d me , will be to o u a n A brid ment o a ll tbis
giv e
y g f
in tbc Compas s f
o Six V ers es .

Si le Jour de la Foy .
*

Re as o n wo u d b l ind l y w and e r in the Night,

’

If active Faith with drew th e ch ee rful L ight .

A sp ir ing P r id e d el ud e s th e d ark en d Mind,

’
.

A nd turn s to P o is o n wh at was g o o d d e s ign d

’
.

Self- L o ve invade s ea ch Co rne r o f th e So ul ,

Turns V ic e t o V e rtue ,and c o rrup ts th e h o l e W .

After a ll, if we mus t believe tbat y our Friend :

Br b e eni, Entretiem Solitai res ( P r
a is ,
 18 P R EF A CE TO T HE R EA D ER

ba v e tbc Gif t of tbis liv ely Faitb, tbat s uppres s es a”

tbc ill Incli nations of Se! - L o ve , if God ba s bes to wed
s uc b ex tra o rfi n a y Fa v ours u on tbem,
r p
tbemf rom tbc common Imp urities of tbe o W
witb all m Hea rt,give my V ote f or tbeir Canoniz a
ti on, and re reely decla re to tbem, tbat tbe M o r al
f’
Re fle ctio ns don t in tbc leas t concern tbem Tbere
.

is no reas on to imagi ne ,tbat tbc P ers on wbo writ

tbem, ev er des igned to meddle witb tbc Sa ints f or

as I told
y ou be o re, bis B us ine s s is onl
f y w itb M an

as be is co rru ted : He ma i nta ins ,tbat be genera ll

p y
commits Ev il, wben bis Self- L o v e
fl utters b im tba t

be s doing Good , and tbat be of ten deceives bims el

’

wben be wo u d j udge of bims elf,beca us i Nature does

’

not s inc erel lain to bim tbc real M otiv es tba t

y ex
p
ma be bim act . In tbis wretcbed State, wbere P ride
is tbe o rigina l of a ll bis A ctions , tbe Saints are tbe
f i rs t tbat de cla re W
a r a a ins t bim, and treat bim
g
tdy wors e tba n tbe A utbo r of tbe Re fl e ct io n s
is f
Iy o u s bo uld b a ve a D es ire at an
y T ime to

cons ult tbos e P as s ages , wbic b I ba v e o bs erv ed i n

tbeir W ritings u on tbis A rticle, y o u will s oon be

p
s wa ded tbat I ba v e told y o u n otbing but tbe Trutb ;

fi I reques t y o u,to s atisfie y o ur s elf f o r tbc pres ent

witb tbes e V ers es , wbicb will in pa rt ex pla in to y ou
wbat otbers tbo ugbt about tbis M atter .

L e D e s ir d e s H o nneurs .
*

Th e L ust o f H o no ur , R ich e s and D e l igh t,

P r o d uc e s V ic e , and l e ad s us to the Righ t .

B l ind I nte re s t th e wav e ring H e art o e rsways ,

’

A nd to fre sh Err o rs th e vain Sl ave b et ray s .

Bre b e uf,Ent, Sol .

 PR EFA C E TO THE R EA DER 19

Nay, Remedie s pr o d uc e a sharpe r P ain,

One ill s uppre s s d , ano th e r s tr ait d oe s r e ign
’

Wh ile h e re this Tyrant d o e s triumph ant ride ,

.

One Sin 1 8 b y a se c o nd Sin d e s tro y d

’
.

Mo ntague , wbom I cannot witbo ut me

so remors e

o u, a ter tb c Fatbers o b
o
f C o ns cience
q uote to
y f f t e

Cb urcb, s ay s bappily eno ugb , upon tbc s a me Subj ect,

Th at h is So ul h as two di ffe re nt Fac e s ; that in
vain s h e e nde av o ur ed to l o o k b a ck up o n h e r s e lf,

fo r s he o nl y pe rc e ive s th at wh ich Se lf- L o ve h as

di sg uised , wh il e th e o th e r is th o s e
M
rc e ive d b
y
wh o are no t c o nc e r ned in th e as ue r ade
q I
f . I
durs t build upon s o bold a M eta bar, I wo u d s ay ,
’

tbat tbc Soul of a M a n,corrupte j

i s made li be

M eda ls , wbicb repres ent tbc Figure of a Saint,and

tbat of a D ev il,in one Face,a nd by tbe s a me Straubs .

Tis no tbing but tbc difierent s ituation of tbos e tbat

’

loob upon it,tbat cbanges tbc Ofiect . One M an s ees

a Saint,an d tbc otber s ees a D ev il Tbes e Com
.

a ris ons ma s erve to ins truc t us , tbat wben Se

p y lf
L ov e bas once got b e Hea rt, P ride
s s es s ion o
f t
does s o efi ctua lly b ind tbc R ea s on, and sprea d s o
v as t a n Obs c urit o v er a ll its Fa c ulties ,tbat it ca nnot
y
orm a true Jud ment o b e leas t o o ur M otions ,
f g f t f
n or o
f it s elf
g ive us an
y cert a in R u les
f o r o ur

Conduct M e n,s ay s H o rac e ,H e re upo n th e s tage

W
.

o f thi s o rl d ,are l ik e a C o mp an o f Tr av e ll e rs ,
y

V elut s ilv is ubi pas s im

P ala n tes error certo de tramite pelfi t .

Ille s in is trors um b ic dex tro rs um o bit ,un us utri ue

g
Error,s od v a ri illuaE t artibus
p .

H o r Sat L ib i i 3
. . . . .
 P R EF A C E TO TH E R EA D ER 21

Obs curity is not a lway s tbc A utbor s Fa ult

’
. Re
eas e, M a x ims a nd Sen tences ,as
fl ections ,o r
if y pou l
tbc W orld bas tbes e, o ugbt to be
writ in a s uccinct a s b inde rs a M an

f rom g iv in
g tb at P ers ic uit
p y in bis W ritin s , wbic b
g
is to be des ired . Tbey a re libe tbc fi rs t Sbetcbes of
a P i cture, wbere a n in enio us E e will eas il
g y y
all tbc P e ectio n o rt, a nd tbc B ea ut b
rf f A y f o t e

D es ign B ut tben tbis B ea uty is not

W
.

unders tood b a ll tbc o rld, a nd a ltbo tbc lineaments

’

y
urs , et o r all tbat,
a re n ot s et o ut in
y f
Fo r tbis R eas on
tbe R ea de r o ugbt to penetra te into tbe Sens e a nd Force
o tbe
f W o rds ,tbc M nd o u bt to run ov er tbc wb o/e
g
Ex tent of tbeir Signfyication, before it s its do wn an d
roceeds to Jud ment
p g .

Tbe Fo urtb Obj ection, unles s I a m mis ta ben , was

tbis , Th at th e M ax im s ,fo r th e m o st a rt, are to o
ge ne ral To n ba v e been told, Th at US a P ie c e
.
p
o f I n us ti c e to fix the D e fe c ts o f p articula r M e n
j
upo n the wh o le Rac e B es ides tbc A ccount I ba v e
.

receiv ed
f rom
y ou o
f tbc d
fi i rent O in ions
p y o u ba v e

bea rd upon tbis Subj ect, I bno w wbat us es to be

enerall ob ected to tbo s e P ers ons , wbo fi s co v er a nd
g y j
con de mn V ices . Tbeir cens ure is ca lle d tbc P o r
tis uq ed agains t tbem,tba t
’
tra iture of tbc P ain ter
tbey res emble P eople tro ubled witb tbc Tel/o w
Ja undice, wbo s ee ev ery Tbing y ello w, beca us e tbey
a re s o tbems elv es . N o w if it were true , tbat a
M an ca nnot cens ure tbc Corruption of tbc Hea rt i n
enera l, witbo ut in din
g f g m ore o
f it in

a no tber do es , we o u bt tben to ta be it ranted,

g f gor

tbat tbos e P bilos opbers , wbo s e Apopbtbeg ms ba v e

 22 P R EF A C E TO THE R EA D ER

been deliv ered do wn to us by D io g e ne s L ae rtius ,

were tbc greates t D eba uc bees of tbeir Ti mes . W e

o u bt to attacb tb c M emo C ato ,a nd beb ev e be

g ry f
o

was tbc mos t profligate wretcb in Ro m e , beca us e

be cens ured tbc V ices of tbc R epubbc b .

tbc Cas e , I da re s wear f o r tbc A utbor of tbc R e

ections , wboev er be is , tbat be will not be mucb
fl
troubled at tbe ill Na ture of bis A dv ers a ries ,s ince,
tbc B us ines s of R eligio n ex cepted, be will s ca rce be
ta ben eitber f or a better or a wis er M a n tban Cato .

A s f or wbat rega rd s bis Ex pres s ion , wbicb s ome

P ers ons pretend is too general, I can only s ay tbis ,
tbat it is a difi cult M atter to a v oid it in Sentences ,
witbout robbing tbem of a ll tbeir Salt,tbeir Force and
,

Spirit. Nor is tbis all ; f or common Conv ers ation

teacbes us ,tba t ev en wbere general Ex pres s ions a re
us ed, we ta be tbem in a li mited Sens e, witb s ncb

and s uc b R es tric tions , a nd tbis witb o ut a n

’
y b ody s

interpo s ing to ins truct us . A s f or Ex a mple, wb en

we bear a M an s ay , A ll P a ris we nt to mee t the.

K ing , or, A ll th e Co urt was at th e P l ay, ev ery

bno ws , tbat it only s ignifies tbc greates t P a rt .

O nion , tbat tbes e R ea s ons

l f y o u a re
of pi a re not

bc M o utbs o b c Criticbs , ou need

s
ufi c ient to s to
p t f t y
o nl tell tbem, tbat, wben G entle men a re s o eas il
y y
s ca n da li z ed a t tbc Terms o enera l Cens ure, tis
’
f g
a

beca us e it touc bes tbem af ter to o liv ely a ma nner,

in tbc mos t s ens ible P a rt of tbeir Hea rts .

Tis indeed v ery certa in, tba t Tau and I are

ac ua inted witb s ev era l P ers on s o
q f g reat W artb a nd

Hono ur, wbo a re not in tbc leas t of ended at tbc

Freedom of tbes e Re fl e c tio n s . I mea n tbos e, tbat
ba v e a mortal A v ers ion to Hypocris ie,and wbo mal e
 P R EFA C E TO THE R EA D ER 2
3
no Scruple a t all to conf es s botb wbat tbey fi el in
tbems elv es , a nd wbat tbey obs erv e in otbers B ut .

e w P eo le a re ca a ble o
f p f
or tba t will ut t ems elv es
p
doing it .A nd if by meer
Flattery s till attend s tbem,a nd s o binders tbc Ope ra
tion of tbe ca ll to

tbes e empty P retende rs .

H uo rn o s o no , e mi preggio d
* ’
e sse r hum an o ,
E te c o ,c h e s e i huo mo ,
E ch al tr o e s se r n o n puo s ,
’

C o me h uo mo p arl o d i c o s a hum ana .

E se d i c o tal no me fo rs e ti sd e g ni,
G u ard a G arz o n Sup e rb o ;
Che ne l d is h umanarti,
No n dive ngh i una fi e r a, an zi ch un D io
Obs erv e, Sir, in wbat terms we ougbt to spea b of
tbc P ride of H uma ne Nature Ins tead of being a ngry
.

witb tbc M irro ur tba t s bews us our Fa ults ,ins tea d

o bea rin a n ill IVs/l to tbe P ers on wbo is s o cba rit
f g
able to dis co v er tbem to us ,o ugbt we not ra tber to

ma be us e of tbe us ,to ind

f
o ut o ur Self- L o v e a n d o ur

s elv es rom tbc continua l

f o ur

Reas on P Ca n a M a n a b
g
to tbo s e Two V ices ,tbat were tbe la mentable Occa
s ions o
f tbc R ev olt o
f o ur irs t P a rent, or too macb
f
decry tbos e unfortunate Sources ,f rom wbence all o ur
M is eries proceed P
Gua rin i P as tor Fido. A c t I Sc 1
. H ome s uns b wnani
. .

me a lien am . T e ren ce Heauto n trm i x

. . . .
 2
4 P R EFA C E TO THE R EA D ER

Otbers a re a t tbeir L iberty to ta l e tbc Re fl e c tio ns

a ter wbat man ne r tbe l A s el
f y p ea s e
. s
f or m
y
I loob upon tbem to be a true a nd ba nds om R epre
a ll tbc I firmities our im udent P re
s enta tion
of n of y p
tender to W i s dom . tba t in ev er y S trobe

tbc L ov e o Trutb bis M a s b , a nd s bews

f
bim as be i s in bis proper Colours . I cons ider tbem
as tbc Ins tru ctions o
f a n a ble M as ter, wbo was

er ectly ve rs ed in tbc A rt
p f of bnowin
g M en , w b o

de x te ro us ly lay s open a ll tbc s ev era l P a rts tbey

u on tbe Tbea tre of tbe
p W o rld, a nd wb o not

i
bid s us mind tbc s ev era l Cba rc cters of tbc P ers ons
upo n tbe Stage, but llfl s up a Corner of tbc Curtain ,
‘

and s ati i es us , tba t tbis L ov e r a nd tbat King in

g
a Tragedy ,a re tbe v er y n umerica l A cto rs , tbat play
tbc M o unteban b a nd tbc M erry - A ndrew in a Fa rce .

If reely o wn to y o u,tbat I ba v e rea d notb ing in tbis

Age,tbat giv es me a greater Contempt f or M an, or
ma bes me more s ens ible of my own V a nity . I f a ncy ,
tba t as of ten as I open tbc B oob, Ifi nd s ometbing tbat
res embles tbe s ecret M ov ements of my Hea rt,I in quire
into my s el to ex a mi ne wbetber be spea bs tb c Trutb,
and Ifi nd tbat generally be tells botb me a nd otbers

mo re tban tbey s a w .A t fi rs t I a m s omewbat fi s

leas ed witb bim, I s o metimes blus b to s ee b o w ex actly
p
be bas cb v ined, but after I ba v e witb s ome V iolenc e to
my Nature read Him, I perceiv e tba t if I do n t f rom
’

tbence lea rn to become more wis e ,I lea rn tbis at leas t,

tba t I b a v e no P retence to aspire to tbat T i tle . A nd
la s tly, I lea rn f rom tbe true R epres entation be gi ves
me of my s el not s ottis bly to f all into a n A dmiration
of tb os e V ertues ,tbc v er
y p S lendor o
f w b icb
of end s

o ur E e-s H crites indeed as s tbeir T

y n t .
ypo
p i m e but
 P R EF A C E To THE R EAD ER 25

ve
ry ill i n reading a B oob of tb is Cba racter,and tbos e
a re tbc on l P ers ons in tbc
y Wo rld tbat will rais e a

Nois e a nd Cla mour a bo ut it . L et me tbergfo re con

ure o u,dea r Sir, to giv e n o beed to tbos e tbat v ent
j y
tbeir M a li c e agains t it,a nd to res t as s ured, tbat tbc
true tbeir In to s ee tbos e My s teries
rev ea led, n tbeir P o wer,tbe w
if
’
it i o u d
y
ca re ully concea l botb ro m otbers and tbems elv es
f .

A nd now,Sir,w crea s it was my Intention to s end

nd m s f ins ens ib ly en a ed to write
y ou a L etter, I
fi y g g
a teeb o us D is co urs e Ca ll it as y ou pleas e,eitber a
°

D is co urs e o r a L etter,it s ignifies not macb ,prov ided

’
tis s o b a y as to give y o u s ome Sa ti f action ,a nd r bat
fi
s

ou will m e tbe Hono ur to believ e,tb en I am, witb

y

S IR,
Y o ur Mos t H um b l e , we.
 M o ral R efl e c tio ns
Our V ertues a re, oftentime s ,in Reality ,
no better tban V ices dis uis ed
g .

W HA T we ta e k fo r V e rtue ,
no th i ng e lse b ut the C o n c ur r
fre que ntly,
1 s,

e n ce o f se ve ral
A c tio ns, and se ve r al A i ms, which e ithe r o ur o wn
I nd ustry, o r Fo rt une fo r us,c o ntrive s to b ring to
eth e r : A nd w e are much m i sta k en, if w e th ink
g
th at Me n are al way s sto u t, fr o m a P r in c ipl e o f
V al o ur , o r Wo me n ch ast, fr o m a P rinc ip le o f

y II
Se lf-L o ve is the L m an s o wn Se lf, and
ease o f a
’

o f e ve ry th ing e lse , fo r h is o wn Sak e It m ak e s

.

P e o ple Ido la ters to th e m se l ve s ,and to all

the Wo rld be sid e s A s w o uld pl
. ar, if

Fortune d id b ut furn ish the m wi th P o we r and

O pp o rtunitie s o f sh e win It neve r r e st s , o r
fix e s any whe re fro m H or de , and, if fo r a littl e
while i t d we ll upo n so me o th e r thing, tie o nl y as ’

B ees d o , when they ligh t up m Flo wers , wi th a

26
 MOR A L R EFL EC TION S 27

de si gn to d r aw all the V ertue th e re to th e i r o wn

A d van tag e . No th ing 1 8 so r ag ing and vio l e nt as
its D e sir e s, No th ing so clo se as its D e si gn s,
No th ing so ing e ni o us as its M anag e men t o f th e m .

It h ath m o re Fe tch e s an d D o ub les th an c an e ve r

be d e s c rib d ; it tr ans fo rms it se lf into m o re di ffe r
’

e nt Sh ape s , th an are in all Ov id s Me tam o rph o se s,

’

and its Ex tr ac tio ns are m o r e sub tle

th an any b mis try c an p ar alle l : It

too d e e p e ve r to be s o u nd ed , and to o d ar
be see n thr o ugh , th e re it sits u ndi sc o ve red , e ven
m
fr o m th e nic e s t, and o st pe netrati ng Ey e, and
runs a th o usand wild M a z es und isc e rned : Nay, it
i s so me time s c o nc e aled fr o m its o wn se lf, and c o n
c e ive s and ch e r ish e s , and b r ings up a W o rl d o f

Incb na tions and A eetions ,with o u t s o much as be ing

sensibIe wh e n e are born , o r h o w th e are bred
y y .

A nd so m e o f th e se Co nceptions are so m o nst r o us,

th at wh e n th e y c o me to th e B irtb , it eith e r d oe s
n o t k no w th e m, o r c anno t be pr e v ail ed upo n to

ow n th e m. Fro m th is gr o s s D ark ne ss pr o ceed all

its e x tr avag ant and r id i cul o us O p ini o ns o f its se lf,
all its Erro r s and Ig n o r anc e s,and sq u ish Stupidi tie s
in its o wn Case . Th is 1 8 th e Reaso n,why i t o fte n
th inks th o se P ardons k illed and d e ad , whi ch are
o nl
y l ai d to sl ee p. H e n c e it se e m s co nte nt to sit

d o wn uie tly ,wh e n it is o nl y tak ing B r e ath fo r a

g
fr esh bas e ; and th ink s th o se i sl-e g ue l o st,
fg a
whi ch are o nl y satis fied 3 l itt e o r e pre se nt
.
.

A nd ye t thi s thi ck M i s t, wh ich h ind e rs it fr o m

se e ing it se lf,is no Ob struc tio n to its si gh t o f any
thing e lse ; fo r in th i s it is l ik e th e E e s o f o ur
y
Bo d y, whi ch pe rcei ve all oth e r Objects , and are
 M OR AL REF L ECTI ONS 29

ch ang e ; B ut as to it se lf, it is th e same thin g ,

wh eth e r i t h ave o ne o r mo re such I n cl in atio n s .

Fo r it d iv ide s it se lf to se ve r al , o r c o ll e c ts and
d e te r mine s it se lf inti re ly to o ne , at pl e asure , and
as O cc as io n s o ffe r th e mse l ve s. It is fickle , no t
o nl b e c ause th e Thi ng s with o u t us are un stabl e ,
y
b ut fr o m a th o usand inward Ca us es , inti rel y o wi ng
to it se lf ; I n c o n stan c y , L e vi ty , L o ve o f No ve l ty,
Nause atings , and D is gust s ; and th e be in g ti red
with wh at it h ath alread y, mak e s it ch ang eab l e
e ve ry M o me nt . It is W h imsi c al and H umo ur
s o me , and
y o u ma
y so m e tim e s o b se rv e i t tak ing

infi nite P ains and u s ing th e u tm o st A ppl ic atio n and

Z e al , fo r T hings th at c anno t b e any A d vantage ,
na f iv hic h are s ur e to pr o ve pr e j ud ic ial A nd
y .
yet

pur s ue the m it will , mee rly be c ause it will h ave

th e m . It is u nacc o u ntabl e and chil di sh , and o fte n
b us ie s it se lf ab o u t il lrifl g s and Imper
‘
tinencie s fi nd s
the gre ate st Re l is h and D e l igh t in th e fl atte st and
mo s t ins ip id Th ings , and re se rv e s all its Eag e rn e ss
and W ar mth fo r the m e ane s t, and mo s t co n
te mptib le . It e nte rs into all Q ua li ties , and all
Co nd itio n s o f L ife ; it l ive s in e ve r y P l ac e ; it
l ive s up o n e ve ry Th ing , nay it l ive s up o n No th ing ;
It se r ve s it se lf b o th o f th e Enj o yme nt o f Th ings ,
and o f th e w ant o f th e m ; it tak e s P ar t with th e

W
ve r y Me n th at mak e a r up o n it,and engages in
th e i r D e sig n s ag ain st i t se lf
. A nd , wh ich is mo st
s ur riz i ng, it j o ins w i th th e m in th e H ati ng o f it
se lp -
pl o ts to its o wn di sad vantage , and c o nspir e s
and e nd e av o urs i ts o wn D e st ruc tio n In a Wo rd,
"
.

all its Car e i s to s u b s ist , and r ath e r th an no t be at

all,it is c o nte nt to be its o w n Enemy . W e ou ht

'

g
go MO R AL R E F L E CT I O N S
no t h re fo re to th ink it s tr ange , if we m ee t it
t e
s o meti m e s in Co j unctio n with th e m o st r ig o r o us
n

Mo rtificati o n, and fi nd it e n te ring b o l dl y into

L eague With thi s A dvers a ry , to w o rk its o wn
R uin ; fo r at th e sam e ti me , th at it pulls it se lf
d o wn in o ne P la ce ,it b uil d s it se lf up in ano the r
Wh e n we thin k it re no unc e s and fo rsa k e s its
.

P l e asure ,it o nl y suspe nd s o r ch ange s it ; and wh e n

we fanc y it conq uered, and to tall y routed, we find
it r i se vi cto rio us , and its v e ry D e fe at c o n trib u te s to
its Triumb Thi s is the tru e P ic ture o f S l L o ve, e - '

whi ch is s o pred om inant, th at a Man s w

.

h o l e L ife
’

is b ut o ne c o ntinue d Ex e rcise ,and s tro ng A gi tati o n

“

o f it . The Sea indee d is a ve ry se nsibl e Ré

s embl anc e Of th is P as ion, and the p e rpetual Ebbings
s

and Flowi s o f the W a v es th e re are a l ive l d

-
a n
g n
y
faithful Emblem o f th at re stl e ss Succ e ssio n o f
Tbo ugbt , and th o se b o iste r o u s Ro ulings o f the
s

M md,wh ich are et e rnall y c ause d and k e p t up b y it .

III
Sel f- L o e v is th e gre ate st Flatte re rin the W rl d
o .

IV
Wh en a M an h ath trave lled ne ve r sofar, and
di sc o ve red ne v e r s o mu c h in th e W o rld o
f Sel

L o w ,ye t still th e Terra Incognita will tak e up a

c o nside rab le P art o f th e M ap .

V
Se lf- L o ve
is m o r e in g enio us, h n
t a th e mo st
ing enio us Man in the o rl d W .
 MOR A L R E F L E C TI O N S 3 1

v1
The Co ntmuanc e P ass1 o n s m o re
O 0 O

o f o ur
O

1 8 no in

o ur o wn P o we r ,th an th e Te rm of o ur L f
i e.

V II
P assio n v e ry o ften mak e s the wi se s t Me n Foo l s ,
and ve ry o fte n too in sp ir e s the gr eate s t 17 6 0 1s

W it .

V I II
Th o se gr eat and gl o rio us A c tio ns , th at even
d az le o ur Eye s with th e ir L ustr e , are r e pre se nted
b y P o l itic ian s , a s th e r e sul t o f gr eat Wi sd o m,and
e xc e ll e nt D e sign ; whe r ea s , in tr uth, th e y are
c o mmo nl y th e Effe c ts o f P assio n and H umo ur
Th us th e War b e twee n A ugus tu and A ntony ,
.

wh ich is usu all y th o ugh t to pr o c eed fr o m G r e at

ne ss o f So ul , an d an A mbitio n th at e ach o f th e m

had to be c o me Maste r o f the Wo rl d, was , ve ry

pr o bab l y, no mo re th an Env y and Emul atio n .

IX
Th e P ass io ns are th e on ly O rato rs h
t at are

always succ e s sful pe rs wading The y are a k ind

in .

o f A rt in Natur e , th at up o n infall ib l e
R ul e s ; and th e pl ain e s t with the hE lp Of
‘

P ass io n, sh all pr e vail m o r e , th an the mo s t elo

u e nt Man w ith o u t it
q .

X
Th e re is in th e P assio ns such a c onstant Ten
3 2 MO R AL R E F L E CTI O NS
deney to pr ivate I nte re st an d I n jus ti c e, th at it is
d ange r o us to b e gui ded b y th e m .A nd ind eed,
we sh o ul d no t dar e to trust th e m,e v en th e n wh en
th ey appe ar m o st fair and r ea s o nab l e .

The H e art o f Man ve r fi nd s a c o nstan t Suc

e

c essio n o f P assio ns ; inso much ,th at th e de str o ying

an d pull ing d o wn o f One , pr o v e s g e ne r all to be
y
no th ing e lse ,b ut th e pr o d uc tio n and th e setting up

o f A n o th e r .

XII
Th e P ass io ns, ( s o odd a Wy
a of b r ee di ng h y
t e
h ave ) d o v e r y o fte n g ive Bir th to o th e rs o f 3
Nature mo st c o ntra ry and distant fr o m th e ir o wn .

Thus A v aric e s o m e ti me s b rings fo rth P r o d iEal it ,

y -

an d P r o dig alit v a ri c e : A M an s Re sO iI
'
’

y A II On is

ve r o ften th e e ffe c t o f L e t ; and hi s d aring

y q y
B o l dne ss, th at o f Co wardic e and Fe ar .

XII I
A fte r all th e C ar e Me n c an ta k e to c o nc e al th e ir
P as si o n s, and put th e m o ff unde r th e Dr e ss o f
P ie t and H o no ur ; the D isgui se is to o th in, and
b e sur e to disc o v e r all, at o ne T im e o r o th e r .

XIV
Th e L o ve o f o ur se lve s can l e ss be ar to h ave
o ur I n clinatio n s c o nd e mned,than o ur Op inio ns .
 M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS 33
XV
Me n are l y apt to fo rg e t the K ind ne sse s
no t o n

and I nj urie s th at h av e be e n d o ne th e m , b ut wh ich

is a gre at d e al mo re , th e y h ate th e Pe r so n s th at
'

h ave o b l ig e d th e m, and lay as ide the ir Re se nt

ments ag ains t th o se th at h av e use d th e m ill Th e .

Tr o ub l e o f re turning Favo urs, and re ve ng ing o f

Wr o ngs, is a Sl ave ry, it see ms , which th ey c an
ve ry hardly sub mit to .

XV I
en c y o f P r ince s I s,ve ry o fte n, o nl y a
to g ain up o n th e A ffe c tio ns o f th e i r
Su b j e c ts .

XV I I
Th at Cl e m e nc y,wh ich the Wo rl d crie s up fo r
such a m igh ty V e rtue , pro ceed s s o metime s fr o m
e ntati o n ; so m etim e s fr o m L az ine ss a nd Ne gl e c t ,
Os t
ve ry o fte n fr o m Fear, and al mo st al ways fro m a
Mixt ure o f all th e se to g e th e r .

X V III
Th e Mod e r atio n P eo ple 1 n P ro s pe rity, 1 8 th e
of

e ffe c t o f a s mo o th and c o mp o se d T e mpe r , o wing to

the C alm o f their goo d Fo rtun e .

XIX
Mod e r atio n is a Fear o f fall ing into
and C ont em wh ich th o se wh o gro w
th eir g o o d o rtune , mo st justl y d raw

C
34 M OR AL R EFL EC TI ONS
s e lve s It is a k ind o f b o as ti ng the G re atne ss o f
.

o ur Mind and , i n sh o rt ,th e M o d e r atio n o f Me n,

in th e m o st e x al te d Fo rtune s, is a D e s ire to b e
th o ugh t ab o v e th o se Thi ngs th at h ave r ai se d th e m
s o h igh .

XX
No bo d y is weak , b ut he is str o ng e no ugh
so to
be ar th e M isfo rtu ne s th at he d o e s no t fee l .

XXI
The C o nstanc y o f the Wis e is no thing e lse ,b ut
th e K nack o f c o nc eal ing th e ir P assio n and Tr o u bl e .

XXII
W fte o e n se e Mal e fac to rs , wh en th e y
led to are

Ex e cu ti o n, put o n Re s o l utio n and a C o nte mp t o f

D e ath ,wh ich , in Truth ,i s no th ing e lse ,b ut fe aring
to l oo k it i n th e Fac e : So th at th is pre te nd ed
B r ave ry may ve r y trul y be said , to d o the same
g o od O ffi c e to th e ir Mind ,th at the H and ke rch ief,
o r Nigh t- Ca d o e s to th e ir E e s
p y .

XXII I
P h il o so ph y fi nd s it an e asi e matte r to va is h
p ast and future Evils,b ut the pre se nt are c o m § ffl y
to o hard fo r it .

XXI V
V e ry fe w P e o ple are ac quainte d with D e ath ;
th e und e rg o it, c o mm o nl , n o t s o much o ut o f
y y .
 MOR A L R EF L ECTIONS 35
Re s o lutio n, as C usto m and I nse n sib il ity ; and the
W
gre ate st P art o f the o rld pre te nd,th ay are c o n
te nt to di e , o nl y be c ause the k no w th e c anno t
y y
h elp it .

XXV
Wh en G r eat Me n
s ink u nde r the L eng th o f
th e ir Mis fo r tu ne s, th is d isc o ve r s , th at it was n o t the
G r e atne ss o f th e i r So ul , b ut o f th e ir A m b itio n, th at
k e pt up th eir S irita s o l o ng and th at,setti ng as ide
ab und anc e o f s uity ,H e r oe s are just l ik e c o m mo n

Me n .

XXV I
It re qui re s m o re V e rtue to be ar goo d Fo rtune
h n
t a ill .

M r
w m
'

h s
& l
ry cp
a

D eath and the Sun are wo Th ings

t no t to be
l o o ked upo n wi th a stead y Eye .

XX V II I
Men are o tef n
fo o l ish, as to boast and value
so

th e mse l v e s up o n th ei r P as si o ns ,e ve n th o se th at are
mo s t vic io us B ut Env y is a P a ssi o n so full o f
.

Co w ar di c e and Sh am e ,th at no bo d y e ver had the

C o nfi de nc e to o wn it .

XXIX
The re is so m e th ing to be said fo r Jealo usie,
be c ause thi s o nl y de s ig ns the P r e se rv atio n o f so me
G o o d ,wh ich we e ith e r h ave ,o r th ink we h ave a
 M OR AL R E FL E CT I O N S 37
XXX V
Th e be ing pr o ud o ur selve s mak e s us c o mpl ain of

h rs,and
ot e uneas ie at th e ir be ing so .

XXX V I
A ll Me n are pr o ud al ik e The o nl y diffe re nce
.

is ,tha t all do no t tak e th e sam e Me th o d s o f sh e w

ing it .

XXX V I I
It l oo ks lik e an I ndu g e nc e o f Nature to gi ve us
l
Pr id e , th at, after sh e h ad tak e n sucb wise Care to
fi t th e O rg an s o f the B o d y fo r o ur H app ine s s and
Co nve nienc e , we mi gh t be de l ive red fr o m th e
Tro ubl e of kn o wing o ur own Im pe rfe c tio ns .

XXXV II I
P r ide h ath agreate r sh ar e tha n G oo d ne ss in th e
Re pr o o fs we g ive o th e r P eo pl e fo r th e ir Faul ts ;
and we chi de th e m ,no t so much with a D e sig n to

m end th em; as to mak e th e m be lie ve that we o ur

s e lv e s are no t u il ty o f th em
g .

XXXIX
W pr mis i pr p rti
e o e n o o o n to o ur H o pe s,and we
k p ur Wo rd i pr p rti
ee o n o o o n to o ur Fears .

XL
Inte r e st spe aks all m anne r of L an
guage s, and
38 M O R A L R E F L E CTI ON S
ac ts all so rts o f P arts ; nay, e ve n th at of a Man
th at h ath no r e gar d at all to I nte re st .

XL I
I nte re st ma k es so me P eo pl e b l in d , and ot e h rs
i
qu ck s-igh ted .

XL II
Th e y that use to e mpl o y th e ir Mind s too much
upo n Tri fl e s, c o mmo nl y mak e the ms e lves incap ab le
o f any Th ing that is Se r io us o r G r e at .

X L II I
W hve a e no t Str e n gth e no ugh to fo ll o w o ur

Rea so n so far as it wo ul d c arry us .

XL IV
A Man o fte n th inks h e g o v e rn s himse lf,wh enall
th e while h e is go ve rne d an d m anage d ; and wh ile
‘

his U nd e rs tandi ng d ir e c ts to o ne D e sig n,his A ffe c

tio n s in se ns ib ly d r aw him in to an o th e r .

XL V
Th e Str ength and W k ss
ea ne of a Man s Mind
’

are mis ta k e n and impr o e r T e r ms ; fo r th e s e are

p
re all y no o th e r th an the ) rgans o f o ur Bo die s be ing
we ll o r ill di sp o sed .
 M OR AL R E F L E CT I ON S 39
XL V I
The Wh imsic l ss a ne of o ur o wn H um o ur is a

h us and time S mo re fickl e and unacc o untabl e , than

' '

t o
wh at we b l am e so much in Fo rtune .

XL V II
The Fo ndne ss Indi fi e rence th at the P hilo
’

or

s o ph e rs e xpr e s a d fo r L ife , was a T ang

’
ut el
p
o f the L o ve o f th e m se l ve s, w h ich wil no mo re
b e ar r eas o ning u o n,th an the Re lis h of th e P al ate ,
o r the Ch o ic e 0 C o l o urs .

XL V II I
Al l the Gifts of Fo rtune are just as our o wn
H um o ur is ple ased to rate the m .

XL I X
H app ine ss do e s no t co n si st in th e Things th e m
éelve s , but In the Re l ish we h ave o f th e m d a
a
n
1

Man hath attained é to M y f i t?

an d no t wh at o the r co ple

Eve ry man s go od d ill Fo rtune I s c o n stantl y

’
an

g
mo re l
o r e ss than he s
e te e ms it.
 MOR A L R EFL EC T IONS
L I

P eo ple th at are c o nc eited o f their o n Me r it, w

tak e a P ride in b e in g unfo rtunate , th at s o th e m
se lv e s and o th e rs may th ink th e m c o nside r able
e no ugh to b e th e Env and the M ark o f Fo r tune
y .

No th in g ou ght in r easo n to morti fie o ur Se lf

Sati sfac tio n m o r e , th an the c o ns ide rin g th at we
c o nd em n at o ne T ime , wh at we h ighly ppr o ve
a

an d c o mrh end at an o th e r .

L III
H o w diffe ren t so eve r Me n s Fo r tu ne s may be ,
’

t h e re is al way s s o m e th in g o r o th e r , th at b al an c e s
th e Ill and th e Goo d , and ma k e s all e ve n at l as t .

Th o ugh Nature be ne ve r so li beral,yet c an s he

n o t m ak e a Hero al o ne F o rtune must Co ntrib ute
h er P a rt to o ; and till bo th c o ncur, the Wo rk
.

c anno t be pe rfe c ted .

L V
' '

Wh en the P h ilo so Ph e rs de sp i sed Ricbes , it wa s

be c ause th e y h ad a mind to v“indi c ate th ei r o wn
M erit, and ta k e a Re venge upo n the I nj ustic e o f
Fo rtune, b y vil ifying th o se Enj o ym e nts whi ch s he
had n o t g i ve n th e m : Th is was a Secr et to ward
 M OR A L R EF L EC T I ON S
‘

4 1

off the Contempt h

P ov erty brings , a kind o f
t at
w in d in g B y
- P ath to ge t in to the Estee m o f th e

W o rld, and wh en R iebes h ad no t made th e m c o n

s id e rab le , to mak e th e m se lv e s so s o m e o th e r aW
y .

L VI

W he ate Fav ourites , b e caus e e ar e w

fo nd of
Favo ur o ur se l ve s Th e I ndi gnatio n we pro fe s s
'

g s t o th e rs who are in p o sse ssio n, so o ths and

a ain

s o ften s a l ittl e th e Co nc e rn fo r o ur o wn be ing

e xclu d ed . A nd we d e ny to pay the m o ur Re .

s e c ts , b e c ause we wo ul d fain, but c anno t, tak e

p
aw a th at wh ich m ak e s th e m r e spe c te d b all th e
y y
World be side s .

L V II
The c o m mo n Way to d o o ne s B usine ss and ’

ris e in the Wo rl d , is to use all ssib le Means o f

p e r s wad ing P eo pl e, th at o ne s us ine ss is d o ne
’

alre ad y .

L V III
Th o ugh Me n are apt to fl atte r and e xal t th e m
s e l ve s with th e ir Great A tcbie vements ,yet th e se are,
'

in Tru th ,ve ry o fte n o wing ,no t so much to D e sign ,

as Ch anc e .

L IX
O ur A ctions see m to h ave th eir luc k y and un
luck y Stars ,to wh i ch a gre at P art o f th at B lame
42 M O R AL R EFL ECT IONS
and t h at Commen da tion is d ue ,whi ch is given to th e
A ctions t e h m se lve s .

L X

The re is no A cc ide nt so e x qgi s ite ly unfo rtu nate ,

_ _

b ut wi se Me n will m ak e so m e ad vantag e o f it ;
no r an
y s o intire l
y fo rtunate , but Fools ma
y tur n it

to th e ir o w n P re ju di c e .

L XI

Fortune c o nve rts eve ry Th ing to th eA dvanta ge

L XII
Me n s Happines s
’
and M i s ery d e pe n ds l ge th e r
a to

as much up o n th e ir o wn Humour,as it do e s upo n

Fortune .

L XII I
Sincerity is a c e rtain o f H e ar t
O pe n ne ss It is .

to b e fo u nd b ut in v e ry fe w,and wh at we c o mm o nly
l oo k upo n to be so , is o nl y a m o r e c unning s o r t o f
D is s imula ti on ,to insinuate o ur se lve s in to th e Co n
/

fid e nc m mers .

L XI V
Our A ve rsi o n to a L ie , is c o mm o nl y a se cret
A mbitio n, to make wh at we say c o n sid e r ab l e , and
have e ve ry Wo rd r e ceived with a r e l igio us Re spe ct .
 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS 43
v

Tru th has sc arc e d o ne so much g oo d in the

W orld, as th e fal se A ppe aranc e s o f it have d o ne

hur t .

L XV I
No P r ai se s are th o ugh t too gre at fo r Wi d m,
s o

and et h i
the gh e st P ifc h o f it c anno t in sur e a Man
y
th e m o st c o ns id e rab l e Ev e nt The rea so n o f which
.

is, th at Man is the su b j e c t o f its Opera tion , and he

is th e mo st fickl e an d ch ang eab l e Cre ature in th e
Wo rld .

L XV I I

A wise Man sh o ul d rde r his D e sign s, and set

o

all h is inte r e st s in th e ir pr o pe r P la c e s : Thi s O r d e r

is o fte n c o nfo unded b y a f oo lis b Gr efi nes s , whi ch , e

wh il e it pu ts us upo n pur s uing so ma sev e ral

Th ings at o nc e ,th at in Eage rne ss fo r yatte rs of
l e ss c o nside r atio n,we grasp at Trifl e s ,and let go
Things o f gr e ate r value .

L XV II I
A g o o d Me in is to the B o dy , wh at goo d Sense
is to the M ind .

L XIX
v e ry h ard to g ive a just D e fi nitio n of L ov e ;
It i s
th e m o st we are ab l e to say o f it is th is , That in
th e So ul,it is a D e sire to Gov ern ; in S rits it is a
°

Sy mpatby ; and in the B ody , it is o y a se cret

 M O R A L R EFL ECT I ONS 45
L XX V
L o ve 1 3 o ne sam e in the Or iginal , b ut
an d the

th e re are a Th o usa nd Co p ie s o f it, and it ma be

y
all di ffe r in g fr o m o ne ano th e r .

5
L m o re c o ntinue w
o ve c an no ith o u t a c o n stant
M o tio n, th an Fir e c an ; and wh e n o nc e yo u ta ke
H o p e and Fe ar aw ay, yo u tak e fr o m it, its v e ry
L ife and Being
“
.

L X XV II
) ( It is with True L o ve , as with G h o sts and
A pp ar itio n s, a Thi ng th at eve ry bgd y talks o f,
and sc arc e an b od h ath see n
y y .

L XXV II I
ve h ath its Name bo rro wed b y a Wo rl d o f
L o

D e al ing s and A ffair s that are fathe r ( 1 up o n it ; ’

wh e n, al as ! L o ve h ath n o mo r e c o nc e rn in th em ,
th an th e D o ge h ath in wh at is d o ne at Venice .

L XXIX
Wh at the Ge ne ralit y o f P e o call th e L o ve
o fJ usti c e , is o nl
y th e Fe ar ,
g b y In
us ti c e
j .
 46 M O R A L R EFL EC TI ONS
L XXX
Sil e n c e i s the be st Se curity to h
t at man who
distrusts h im self .

L XXXI
The Th ing th at m ake s o ur Fr ie nd sh ips so s h o rt
a nd ch ang e ab l e , i s , th at th e Qual itie s and D is

p o s itio ns o f the So ul are ve r y h ard , and th o se o f

th e U nd e rs tand ing and Wit, v e ry es sie to b e
k no wn .

L XXXI I

74 The m o st
di sinte r e s te d L o ve is , afte r all, b ut
a k ind o f B arg ain, in wh i ch th e cl e ar L o ve o f

o ur o wn se lve s al w a s pr o po se s to be the G aine r

y
so me Wa
y o r o th e r .

L XXXIII
The Re c o nc il iatio n of Ene m ie s is c o mm o nl y a

D e s ire to b e tte r o ur o wn Co ndi tio n ; a be ing

h ar assed and ti red o ut with a State o f War ;
and a Fe ar o f so m e il l A cc ide nt, wh ich w e are

willing to p re ve nt .

L XXXI V
Wh ne we h av e l o ved se lve s wea ry, the
o ur

k ind e st and mo s t we lc o me Th ing th at c an be , is

s o me A c t o f I n fid e l ity, wh ich may fairl y d is
e ng ag e o ur A ffe c tio n .
 M OR A L R EFLEC T ION S 47
L XXXV

w
“

It is much l e ss fo r a M an s H o no ur to d i str ust

’

k his Frie nd s,th an to be d e c e ived b y th e m

l
.

x L XXXV I
W fte o e nti m e s. h we l o ve P e rs o ns abo ve
t at
us ,wh e n it is not hing
b ut I nte re st th at mak e s us
fo nd o f th em ; and all o ur A ppl ic ati o ns and A t
te nd an c e s , are no t s o much up o n th e acc o unt o f
an G o od w e d e si re to d o th e m , as fo r wh at we
y
e xpe c t and h O e th e y ma d o us
p y .

L XXX V I I
Our o wn de al o us ie g ive s a fair P g tenc e fo r th e
K nave ry o f o the r P e o pl e .

L X XX V III
With wh at Fac e we e x p e c t,ano th e r sh o ul d
c an

k ee p o ur Se cr e ts , wh e n we c o ul d no t k ee p th e m
o ur s l s
e ve ?

L XXXIX
Th e L o ve se l ve s mak e s o ur Fr iends ap
o f o ur

zar mo r e o r l e ss d e s e r ving in P r o p o rt io n to the

pselight we tak e in th e m, and the Measur e s b y

wh ich we judg e o f th e i r Wo rth ,de pe nd upo n th e
Manne r o f th e ir c o nve rsing with us
4s MO R AL R EFL EC TI ON S
'

Eve r y b o d y fo r w ant o f Memo r y ;

c o mpl ains
b ut y o u ne ve r fin d any b o d y c omp lain o f the
W e ak ne ss o f h is Ju d me n t
g .

Wh en idle Men h ave indul ged

, h mselve s as
t e
m uch as th e y th ink fit,no b o d y 1 8 th e n s o full o f.

H as te and A c tiv ity as th e y, be c ause th e y h o pe

th is q uic k ni ng o f Othe rs , wil l give them th e
'

p utatio n o f D il ig e nc e .

XCII
Th e gre ate st A m b itio n d oe s no t appear at all

s o , wh e n it fi nd s wh at it woul d fain asp ir e to ,

ab so lu te ly impo ss i b l e to be attain ed .

X CII I
Th e dis ab us ing a Man str o ngl y po s se ss d with ’
an

Op i i
n on o f h is own W
o rth , i s th e v e r y s ame ill
~

O ffi c e th at was d o ne th e F0 01 at z i t/s ens , who

fanc ie d all th e Sh ips th at c am e into H arb o ur we re
h is o wn .

X CI V
Old Fo lks l o ve migh til y to g ive g o o d A d vice ,
b e c ause th i s mak e s th e m s o me s o rt o f amend s, fo r
b e ing in c ap ab l e n o w o f se tting ill Ex ampl es
‘

.
 M OR A L R EF L ECTI ONS 49
XCV
G r e at Ch ar ac te r s d o r ath e r l e s sen, th an l
e x a t,
'

h s th at k no w no t
t o e h o w to m aintain, and mak e
th e m g o o d .

Th at Man, we may be sur e , is a P e rso n o f

tr ue Wo r th , wh o m we fi nd th o se wh o e nv hi m
y
m o s t,are ye t fo rc ed to c o mme nd .

X CV II
It is an A rgume nt, o ur o wn A ffe cti o n is b ut
small ,wh e n o ur Fr ie nd s gro w c o l d to us , and we
are no t se ns ib l e o f it .

X CV III
The m ak ing a be twee n JJGL and
D iffe r e nc e
Judgment,i s a V ulga r Error Judgment is no thin g
.

e l se b ut th e ex ceeding B rigb tnes s o f I V “ , whi ch ,

l ik e L igbt,p ie rc e s into the ve ry B ottom of Tbings ,
o b se r ve s all th at o ugh t to be o b se r ve d th e re , and

di sc o ve rs wh at se e med to be p as t an y b o di e s fi ndi ng
o ut : Fr o m wh en c e we must c o nclude , th at the
Energy and Ex tens ion o f th is L ig/Jt o f the ”f i t,i s
th e ve ry Th ing th at pr o d uc e s all th o se Effe c ts ,
usuall y as cr ibe d to the Judgment .

X CI X
Eve ry bo d y ta kes up o n h im to gi ve a g oo d
D
5 0 MOR A L R EFL ECT I ONS
Ch ar ac te r o f hi s o wn H o ne s ty, but no bo d y to
speak we ll o f his o wn A b ili ty .

p o lite Wit c o nsis ts

Th e in c
ni e , curio us , and
c o mm endab l e Th o ugh ts .

CI
The Gallantry o f the Wit is ex
p res t in Flatter!
well c o uch ed .

CII
Itf h appe ns,th at s o m e Things Offe r th e m
O ten

se l ve s fi ne r in th e ve ry firs t Th o ugh t, th an it we re
o ss ib le fo r a Man to ha ve m ad e th e m b A r t and
y
tud y .

The Und e rstandi ng is c o ns tantly the Gully of

Many Pe o pl e c quainted with th eir o wn

’

are a

A b ili tie s, th at are no t ac uai nted with th ei r o w

'

n
q
H e art s .

CV

Men and A ctions are lik e Go j eets o f h

t at
h ave th eir nic e P o ints o f b e ing dis ti d is
c e rned So me
.
you must c o m e ve ry ne a r to , to
 MOR AL R EF L ECT ION S 5 r

judge o f th e m e xac tl y, and h rs

ot e are be tte r see n
at a gr e ate r di s tan c e .

CV I

H e is no t to as s fo r a M an
R ea s on, wh o of

stumb l e s updn '

on b
y ch ance ; but he th at
“

k no ws, and can j ud ge , and h ath a true Re lish

of it.

CV II
c ssary, in o rd e r to k no w Things
'

It is
’ “

ne e

thro u hly w ll k no w the P a rti c ul ars o f th e m ;

'

g e , to

and th e se b e ing infi nite, mak e o ur K n o wl ed g e e ve r

supe rficial and impe rfe ct .

C V III
It is o ne k ind o f A ffe c tatio n, to put P eo pl e upo n
o b se rv ing ,th at we are no t at all affe c ted .

CIX
It is no t in th e P o we r o f th e ”f it to disse mbl e
the I ncl inatio ns ve ry l o ng .

H ea
t Of Blood make s yo u ng P e o pl e ch ange th e ir
Incli na tions f O te n ,and
Cus tom m ak e s o ld One s k ee p
to th ei rs a gre at whil e .
 MOR AL R EFL ECT I ONS 53
cx vn

No th ing b etr ays m o r e want o f Sincerity ,th an the

Me th od s c o mm o nly used in ask ing and r e c e ivin g
H e th at asks it, pr e te nd s to a r e spe c tful
1 D e fe r e n c e fo r th e Op inio n o f hi s Friend, and all
S th e wh ile o nl y de signs to h ave hi s o wn
and sh el te r h is A ctions unde r th e
ano th e r ; and h e th at g ive s it, r e tur n s th e se P ro

f es s ions W i th a pr e tend ed K indnes s and i m artia l

p
Z ea l,and yet ha th g ene r all y no o th e r End 1 n the
ad vi sin h im b ut h i s ow n In teres t and Honour
g , .

CXV III
The cu nning e st D is imulation is wh e n a Man
s

prete nd s to be c augh t,and a Man is ne ve r so easil y

o v e r re ach ed , as wh e n h e is c o ntr iv ing to o v e r
-

r eac h Oth e rs .

CXIX

An h o ne st Intention o f sing up o n no bo d y ,
l ays us o pe n to b e fr impo sed upo n o ur
se l ve s .

CXX
W e are so used di sse mb l e with o th e r P eople ,
to
h in Tim e we
t at c o m e to de ce iv e and disse mbl e
with o ur se lve s .

CXXI
Treaelrery is o ftne r the Effe c t of Wlea nes s h
t an
o f a fo rm d D es ign
’
.
-
54 MO R A L REFLECTIO N S

cx x u

Me n freq ue ntl y d o G o o d , only tog ive th e m‘

se l ve s Oppo rtunity o f d o ing Ill with gr e ate r

CXXI I I
Th e r e s i stanc e w e m a k e to o ur

to th eir W ed nes s , mo r e th an o ur Stra tgtb .

CXXI V
Men ne ve r w o ul d j
en o
y an
y
ne v er fl atte red th e mse lve s .

CXXV
Th e mo st inge ni o us Me n con tinu ally
c o nd e mn Tr ick ing ; b ut th is is Often

th e y may use it mo r e c o nve nie ntl y th e mse l v e s ,wh en

so me gr eat O cc as io n o r I nte re st Offe rs it self to
th em

CXXV I
To cr afty D ealirg ; is a Sign o f a l ittl e Soul
use
an d it g e ne r all fall s o ut, th at h e wh o c o nc eals
y
hi m self b y it in o ne Ins tance, betrays himse lf as
much by it in ano th e r .

Tricks and Trea cbery are the P r ac tic e of Foch

h
t at h ave no t t t e no ugh to b e Hones t .
 M OR A L R EFLECT I ONS 55
C XX V I II
The m o s t e ffe c tu al Way to be M d, is to
fansie o n e s se lf wise r than o ne s N igbbo urs
’
e .

CXXIX
Too gr eat a De ee of Subtilty is c o u nte rfe it
Ex actne ss ,and u
tr e x actne s s is the be st and mo st

CXXX
The be 1ng a B locl bead, is so m etime s the be st
Se c urity a ain t
g s be in g impo se d upo n b y a Man
of I t .

CXXXI
A weak Mind is th e o n ly D efect o ut of o ur
P owe r to m end .

CXXXII
Wh n e c Women h ave g iven th e mse l ve s o ve r
on e

to mak e L ov e , th e d o ing it o n is the leas t Faul t

th ey c an b e g uil ty of .

CXXXIII
It h much e as ia to be wise in n h r Man s
a ot e
’

C o nc er n,th an in o ne s o wn ’
.
 M OR A L R EFL ECTI ONS S7
CXL

One Re aso n,why we fi nd s o ve ry fe w Me n o f

Sens e and agr e e ab l e Conv ers a tion, is, Th at al mo st
e ve r s M nd is m o r e inte nt up o n wh at h e
’

y b od
y i
h imse lf h ath a mind to say, th an upo n mak ing
pe rtine nt Repl ie s to wh at th e re st o f the C o mp any
sa
y to h im . Th e m o st In en io us an d Com la is a nt
g p
So r t go no farth e r th an pr e te ndi n g to h eark e n at
tentive ly ; wh e n at th e sa me T im e , a M an may
pl ainl y see , th at bo th th e ir Eye s and the ir Mind
are r o v ing fr o m wh at i s said to th e m,and po s tin g

b ack again to wh at th e y l o ng to be at th e mse l ve s

Whe r e as it o ught to be c o ns ide red , th at to see k
.

o ne s o wn P l e as ur e so v e r P as s io na tely, c an ne v e r
y
be the way e ith e r to pl e a se o r pe rsw ad e o th e rs ;
and th at dilig e nt Attention, and pr o pe r R ees ,

are th e ve ry Th ings that acc o mpl ish a an fo r

Co mp any .

CX L I
A Man o f W
t w o ul d fi nd h imse lf so m etime s
mise r ab l y at a l o ss, if th e r e w e re no Fools to d ive r t
him w ith th e ir C o mp any

CX L II
W o ft
e en b rag o f neve r be ing o ut o f H um o ur ,
and a re so v ain as ne v e r to th ink o ur se lve s bad
C o mp any .

CX L III
A s great lVits h ave a pe culiar Facul ty o f sayi ng
58 M O R A L R EFLEC T I ONS
a gr eat deal in a l ittl e ; so h alf witted F llo ws havee

a T al ent o f talk ing much , and e t sa in n th in

y y g o g .

a r my
The Exc e ll encie s h r
P e o pl e are ex to lled
of o t e

and valued m o r e fro m a g o o d O inio n o f o ur o w

'

p n

Jud gment, th an a ju st Este em o f th ei r or th ; W

and wh e n w e pr e te nd to c o mm e nd o th e r Me n, tis
’

W
b y a Side - i nd , to q mt e ther Me n upo n co m
me nd ing na .

CX L V

No b o d y lo ve s to upo n the c o mm
be e nding

Str ain ; and ind ee d we se l d o m to uch upo n it with

o ut so m e little B -
y E nd P.r ais e I s a m o r e in g enio us,

c o nc ea l ed , and nice r k ind o f Flatte r y,th at c o ns ul ts

the Sati s f ac ti o n bo th Of th e Gi v er and Recei ver,
th o b y v e r y d iffe r e nt Ways Th e o ne acc e p ts it,
’
.

as a Re ward d ue to h is D e s e r t ; th e o th e r g iv e s it,

th at h e may b e lo o k t upo n as a Just and a D iscr ee t

Pe rson .

CX L V I
We o ften ch use to m ak e use o f C o mmendations
that ca r a Sting 1 n th e T ail and b ak ing Me n

at th e T
t
y
e b o und ,
( as it w e re
) y la o pe n so m e

D efe cts in the P e rso ns s o c o mmended , wh ich we

d are no t v e n ture to e xp o se any o th e r Way .

CX L V II
The D e s ign o f c o mm e nd ing h rs,is usually to
ot e

be c o mm e nd ed o ne s se lf
’

.
 MOR AL R EFL EC T I ONS 59
CX L V III
Few P eo pl e h av e the Wi d mt li k
s o o e Repr o o fs
th at wo ul d d o th em g o od ,bette r than P raises th at
d o th e m hurt .

CX L IX
So me Cen sures are a Co mmendation , and so me
Commendations are no b e tte r tha n Scandal .

CL

He h r fuse s
t at e th e first T ine it is o ffe red ,
d oe s it,be cause he wo ul d h e ar it a se c o nd
'

CL I

The D e sire o f be ing wo rth y the Co mmend atio ns

o f the Wo rld,is a gre at A s si s ta n ce and strength ning

to o ur V irtue s ; and to ex to l Men s W it,o r Co urage, .

o r B ea uty , is to c o ntr ib u te to th e in cr ease o f the m .

C L II
It is sie r m atte r to manag e
an e a h s h
o t er ,t an to

k ee p fr o m being man aged o ne s se lf .

C L III
If we did no t flatte r our sel ve s,the Flattenes of
o th e r P eople c o uld néve rh ur
t us .
 MOR A L R EFL EC TIONS 61
CL X

It isi no t eno ugh fo r M en to ha ve gre a t A ecom

’

lis bments , ex c ept th ey h av e the A rt o f managi ng

p
r

h em .

C L XI
Th o ugh an A ction he neve r so Glorious in it self,
it o ugh t no t to p ass fo r Great,if it be no t th e Ef fct e

of W is dom,and g o od D es ign .

C L XII
Wh oeve r e xpec ts to h ave what he d oe s,turn to
'

g o o d A cc o unt, must tak e car e to pro po rtio n h is

A ctio n s ,and the End s he pr o po se s fr o m th em .

C L XIII
If a M an h ath th e A dd re ss o f using g od e rate
A bilities to th e be s t A dv antage, th is sh all
s te al up o n th e World, and b rin g him o fte 8 in to

greate r Reputation th an r eal M erit .

C L XI V
Th e r e are a World o f P r o c ee dings,th at appe ar
o dd a nd r id ic ul o us, wh ich e t are gr o u nd ed u ) O 11
y
se cret Reas ons ,th at are ve ry s o lid and subs tantial .

CL XV
It is eas ie r fo r a M a n to b e th o ugh t fit fo r an
Employ ment th at he h ath no t,than fo r o ne th at he
stand s alre ady po s se s t o f,and is his pr o pe r P o st.
62 MO R A L R EFL ECT I ONS
'

CL XV I
The Estee m f Good M en is th e Re w ard o f o ur
o

W ortls , but th e R e uta tion o f the

p o rld in g e ne r al , W
is the Gift o f o ur Fate .

x V II
' ‘

CL
Th e A ppearance s of Go o d nes s and D ese rt o ften
' '

m ee t with a gre ate r Re ward fro m the Wo rld,th an

real Go o dne s s and D esert it self .

I
CL XV III
Co veto us ne ss i s m o re p
o p o sit e to P rud e nc e and

goo d M anage me nt,tha n L ibe rality is .

CL XI X
Th o ugh Hope be e xc ee d ing de c e itful ,ye t it is o f
th is g o o d use to us, th at wh il e we are tr ave ll ing
thr o ugh th is L ife ,i t c o nd uc ts us an eas ie r and m o r e
pl eas ant Way to o urJ o urney s End '
.

C L XX
Many P e o pl e are k e p t w ith in th ei r Du ty ,bec ause
th e y h ave no t th e Co ura e , o r w ill no t b e at th e
g
P ai ns o f b e ing wick ed ; and in such C as e s o fte n
tim e s o ur V e rtu e r uns aw ay w ith all th e P r ai se
,
.

XXI
CL
It is h ar d to de te r mine , whe th er a clear , Open
 MOR A L R EFL ECTI ONS 63
and h o no urabl e P r oc ee ding , be the Re sul t o f go od
P r in c iple s,o r g o o d Manage m e n t .

CL XXII
V e r tu e s are l o st in Interes t,as Rive rs are in th e
Sea .

CL XXIII
W str o ngly po ss e st with a g oo d pini on
g
e are so

o f o ur se lv e s,th at w e ta k e th o se Th ings fo r ert ues ,

which are no o th e r than V ice th at l o o k li k e th e m ,

s

and such as the L ov e of o ur se l ve s impo ses upo n

us with .

CL XXI V
Th e re are se ve ral So rts o f Curios ities , o ne h
t at
fr o m Interes t,wh ich puts us up o n l e ar nin g
ro c ee d s
h ings th at c an be any way use ful and be ne fic ial to
us ; and ano th e r , fr o m P ride , th at co me s fr o m an
Itcb o f k n o wing m o re th an o th e r P eo pl e .

C L XXV
A M an s M ts are e mpl o ye d to be tte r purp o s e s in
b e ari ng up u nd e r the Misfo rtune s th at lie up o n th em
at pr e s ent, th an in fo r e see in th se that ma c m
g o
y o e

up o n him h e r e after .

CL XX V I
C o ns tanc y in L ov e is a p e rpe tu al I nc o ns tancy ,
wh ich fixe s o ur H e arts fas t to all the A e c o m
 M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS 65
fic k l e , o nl y to be be fo r e - hand with th e m an d j us tifie
o ur o wn Inconrta ncy .

CL XXXI
Our R epen tance: g ene r all y no t s o much a
are

Conc e r n and Re mo rs e fo r the Ill s we h ave d o ne ,

as a Dr e ad o f th o se we we r e in d ang e r o f su ffe r in
g .

CL XXXII
Th e re is an l neonrta ey th at pr o c eed s fro m an
n

uns e ttl e d Judg ment, a natur al L e vi ty an d Weak ne s s ,

th at e s o use s all O p ini o n s as the y co me , and thin ks
as o th e r e o le th i n k and th e r e i s ano th e r much
p
'

mo r e e xc us ab l e , that ar is e s fr o m a D isl ik e and

D is appro ving o f the Th ing s th ems el ve s .

CL XXXIII '

V ic e s are m ingl e d with V ertuer,just as p o i sono us

Ingredient: are put into M edi cines A wi se and
.

skilful H and te mp e r s th e m to ge the r, and mak e s

'

e xc e ll e nt us e o f th e m ag ai ns t th e M isfo rtune s that

atte nd H uma n e L
ife .

CL XXXI V
So me Crimes ge t Hono ur and R eno wn by b e ing
c o mmitte M mo r e P o m
b a gr e ate r Numbe r
y
é
and i n a h igh e r D e gr ee o f vi c k ed ne s s th an o th e rs

A nd h e nCe it is ,th at pu b l ick R obberier, P lun deringr

and Sacéin e,h av e be en loo k d up o n as Exc e ll e nc ie s
’
g
B
66 M O R A L R EFL ECT I ONS
and no b l e A tc hi e ve ments , se izing who l e
and the
Countrier, th o ugh ne ve r s o u nj us tl y and b arb ar o usl y,
is d igni fi ed with th e G l o r io us Name o f g ai ning
Conquer“ .

CL XX X V
W c f ss
e on e o ur Faul ts, b y h Sinc e rity to
t at
m ak e am e nd s fo r th e I njury th e y h ave d o ne us in
th e Estee m o f Oth e rs .

CL X XX V I
So me Heroes h ave bee n acc o unte d so fo r be ing
gre atl y Wrei ed,no l e ss th an o th e rs fo r be ing gre atl y

CL XXX V II
W e d o no t al ways d e sp i se Me n th at h ave so me
V i c e s , b ut it is i mpo ssib l e no t to d e sp i se th o se th at
h ave no V ertue .

CL x x x v r
u
Th e Nam e and P r ete n c e of V ertue is as se rvic e
l
ab e to o ne s l atera l ,as re al V ices .

CL x x x ix
The H eal th o f th e
W
So ul is h at we c an b e n o
mo re se cur e o f,th an th at o f o ur Body : A n d th o ugh
'

a M an ma m far fr o m V ieeand P a rd o n , e t h e
‘

y y
is in as much D ange r o f fall in g into th e m, as o ne
 M OR A L R EFL ECTI ONS 67

m ape rfe c t State of H e al th i s Of h aving a Fit of

Sick ne ss .

CXC

Nature se e ms ch Man s Bir th to h ave m ark t

at e a
’

o ut the B o un d s o f e ve r o ne s V ertue: and V ieee,

y
and to ha ve d e te r mined h o w G o o d o r h o wWi ck e d

th at Man sh all be c ap ab l e o f b e ing .

CXCI
No ne but Gre at Me n are c ap abl e of be ing gre atl y

CXCII
V ice: may b e said to ta k e us fro m o ne to anoth e r
in th e Co ur se o f o ur L ive s, j ust as In n - h ep ”:
wh e re we l od ge up o n a J o urne y d o and I q u e s tio n,
wh e th e r if we c o uld trav e l th e same Ro ad twic e
o ve r , th e Ex e r ie nc e o f h aving b e e n o nc e ill used ,

p
wo uld pre vai with us to ch ange o ur H o use ne x t
T im e .

CXCIII
Wh e n o ur W f rs k
ee: o a e us , we pl ease s l s
o ur e ve

with an Op inio n ,th at we p ar te d first,and l eft the m .

CXCI V
The D istem pe rs h ave th e ir Re l apse s,
o f the So ul
as man and as d ang e r o u s as th o s e o f the B o d ;
y y
and wh at w e tak e fo r a pe r fe c t Cure ,is gene r all y
 MO R AL R EFL ECT I ON S 69

Turenne, if it we r e no t o ut o f a D e s ig n to l e sse n
th e m b o th .

CC
Th e D e si re to be th o ugh t a wise M an,o fte n
tim e s h ind e rs o ne s c o m in g to b e r e all y s uch .

CCI

V ertue w o ul d no t m ak e such A d vanc e s,if th e re

we re no t a l ittl e V a nity to bea r it Co mp any .

C CI I
He h fansies such a su ffic ie nc y in h imself, th at
t at
he p an l ive w ith o ut all the Wo rl d , is migh til y mis
tak e n ; b ut h e th at imagi ne s h imse lf s o ne c e ss a r y,
th at o th er P e o pl e c ann o t l ive with o ut hi m,is a gr e at
d e al m o re mi stak e n .

CCIII
Th o se Me n h ave b ut a c o unte rfeit V ertue, who
di s se mb l e th e ir Faul ts , and h id e th e m fr o m o th e r s
and th emse l ve s . Th e M e n o f tru e u na ffe cted
Go o d ne ss k no w th e ir o wn Fail ings pe rfe c tl y,and
c o nfe ss th e m fr ee ly .

CCI V
He h w o uld be a tr ul y ho ne st Man, must
t at be
imm o d e r ate l y d e si r o us o f no th ing .
7 0 M OR A L R EFLEC TI ONS
ccv
Nic ene ss o f B e h av io ur in Wm o i
en, s o n l y a D re ss
or P aint,wh ich h
t e y us e ,th e be tte r to se t o ff th e i r

C CV I
Wmo en : V ertue is e nt ly h in g , but a
no t

Re gar d to th e ir o wn Q an d a T e nd e rne ss fo r
th e ir R ep utation .

C CV II
Th e re is no be tte r P r o o f o f a Man s be ing truly ’

Good, th an his d e s i ri ng to be c o n stantly u nde r the

Ob se rvatio n o f g o o d M en .

I IICCV
Fo ll y d o gs us e v e ry wh e re , and at all T ime s .

If o ne Man se e m wi se r th an h is Neigbéo urn it is

o nl , b e c aus e h is Fo llie: are be tte r su ite d to h is
y
A ge and hi s Fortune .

C CIX
Th e re are a gre at many Callie: th at k no w it,
and mak e ve r g o o d U se o f th e We ak nes s and
y
Eas ine ss o f th e ir o wn Temper .

CCX
He h live s with o ut
t at Folly , is no t s o wise as

he imag ine s .
 M OR A L R EFL ECTIONS 7 1

CCXI
B o th Folly an d Wi d m c
ro o me up o n us with

CCXII

So m e Me n are l ik e B alla d r, th at are in eve ry

Bo d ie s Mo uth a l ittl e whil e.

CCXIII

The ge ne ral ity o f the World k no wno o th e r Way

o f j ud g ing P e o pl e s Wo r th , b ut b th e V gue th e
y y o

are in ,o r th e Fo rtune s th e y hav e me t with .

CCXI V

Th e L o ve Reputa tion , th e Fe ar o f Sbame,

of

th e D e s ig n o f pr o mo ting an l a tera l ,the D e s ire o f

m ak ing L ife e as ie and c o nve nie nt, and a l o ng ing to
p ull d o wn s o me abo ve us ,are fre que ntl y the Cause s
o f th at V al o ur s o much cr ie d up in the orld W .

C CX V
V a lour in priv ate Soldier: is a h azard o us Trad e ,
wh ich thgy h ave bo und th e mse l ve s to ,to ge t th e ir
L ive l ih o o d .

CC X V I
Co mpl eat Courage, and ab s o l ute Co wa rdic e, are
Ex tr e me s th at ve ry few Me n fall into The v as t .
 M O R AL R EFLEC TI ON S 73
CCX V I I
True V alo ur w o ul d d o all h
t at, whe n l
a o ne ,

h
t at it c o uld do , if all the W ldor we re by .

CCXV II I
Fe arle s snes s is m o re th an o rdinary Stre ngth o f
a

M ind,th at raise s it abo ve the Tr o u bl e s , D iso rd e rs ,

and Emo tio ns wh ich the P r o spe ct o f gr e at D ang e rs

are used to ro d uce A nd by this in ward St ren gth

.

it is ,th at eroe: pr e se rv e the mse l ve s in a Ca lm and

ui et State, ch o a P r e se nce o f M i nd , and th e fre e

'

q y
us e o f th e ir lg e as o n in th e m id s t o f tho se te rri bl e

A cc ide nts ,th at am aze and c o nfo und o the r P eo ple .

CCXIX

Hypoeririe is 3 So rt of Homage wh ich V it e pays

to V ertue .

CCXX
Mo s t M e n are will ing to e xp o se th eir P e rs o n s
in an Engagement, fo r th e l o ve o f Hono ur ; b ut
ve r f e w a re c o nte nt to e xp o se t h e mse l ve s s o fa r,
y
as th e d e s ig n th e o up o n r e ui re s, to r e nd e r it
y g q
succ e s s ful .

CCXXI
Th e Courage o f a grea t many M en ,and th e V ertue
of a gre at many W
o me n , are th e e ffe ct o f V a nit ,
y
Soo me ,and e spe c ially a su itab le Cons titution .
74 M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS
ccx x u

Me n are loth to l o se th e ir
L iv er,and ye t the y
are d e sir o us o f e tti ng Hon o ur to o , wh ich i s th e
g
rea so n wh y Me n o f Ga llantry us e mo re D e x te r ity
and Wit to d e cl ine D ea tb , th an Kna w: d o to
se cure th e ir Ed a m .

Cc x x IIl

The re are r y few P e rs o ns , b ut disc o ve r as

ve

so o n as th ey c o me to d e cl ine in Y e ars , wh e re ,

th e ch ie f Faili ngs lie , b o th o f th e ir B ody and

th e ir M md .

CCXXI V
G ratitude am o ng Frim dr, is l ik e Credi t amo ng
Tradcm m , it k ee ps B us ine ss up , and maintain s th e
Corrcrpon dm ce . A nd we
fr e q ue ntl y pay no t s o
much o ut o f a th at we o ugh t to d is
P ri n c ipl e
ch arge o ur D btr, as to se cure o ur s el ve s a P l ac e
e

to be trus ted in ano th e r T ime .

CCXX V
So me th e re are wh o h av e d o ne all th at c an be
e xpe c te d b
y a W
y o f Gra titude, and are no t ab l e

fo r all th at, to pl e ase th e ms e l ve s up o n th e ir be in g

grate ful , no t satisfi ed w ith wh at th e y h ave d o ne .

CCXX V I
Th at wh ich o cc asio ns s o many Mis tak e s in the
 M OR A L R EF L E C TI O N S 75
Computation: o f Me n, whe n th e y e xpe ct Retur ns
fo r Favo urs, is , th at bo th the Giv er and the
R eceiv er are pr o ud , and s o th e se Two c an ne ve r
a gre e up o n the v al u e o f the K ind ne sse s tha t ha ve

b e e n d o ne Th e Giv er o ve r - re ck o n s, and the

.

Receiv er un de rv alue s th e m .

CCX X V I I
To m ake to o much has te to r e turn an

is o ne s o rt o f Ingratitude .

CCXXV I II
Me n find it mo re e as e i to se t B ou nd s to h r
t ei
A c k no wl ed gme nts , th an to t e i h r H o pe s d
an th e ir
D e s i re s .

CCXXIX
P ride ne ve r c an ind ure to be in D ebt,and
L ne v e r c are s to
o ve
py
a .

CCXXX
Th e G o o d h we h ave re c e ived , sh o ul d
t at
q ualific

fo r the 1 11 th at h ath be e n d o ne us .

CC XXX I
No th ing is o f so stile nt spre ad ing 3 Nature,as
Example ; and no fi at) d oe s any e xc ee ding G o od ,
 M OR A L R E F L E CTI O N S 77
t h is is the Afl etion o f a s o rt o f P e rs o ns, th at
r e tend to a D ecenc , and a n e ve r d g C c e rn
i
n o n
p y
in th e i r G r ief . W h en Time , th e ya s ter o f all
Th ing s , h ath wo rn Off the Co nc e rn th ey r e all y
h ad , th e n th e y will nee d s b e o b s tinate i n th ei r
Sorro ws , and still c arry o n th e ir Complaints and
th e ir Sig/ ss . Th e y put o n all th e Ch ar ac te rs o f
M ourni g and Sa dnes , and tak e a gr e at de al o f
n s

P ains b y all th e ir A tions , to m ak e th e Wo rld

c

b e l ie ve , thei r M elo s /Joly c an ne ve r h ave any res t,

n
an
y ces s ati on, b ut i n th e G ra v e . Th i s di sm al ,

tire s o me , and s o l e mn V anity 1 8 mo s t usual am o ng

amb itio us W om n Th ei r Sex hath shut th e m o ut
fr o mall th e c o mmo n Ways th at l e ad to H o no ur ,
e .

and th at mak e s th e m atte mp t t o sig na l i ze the m

se l ve s , b y all th is P age antr y o f an Afi etion , to o

dee p to ad mit o f any Co mfo rt . Th e re are yet
ano th e r s o rt Of Tea rs , th at h ave b ut sh all o w
Springs , q uickl y and e asil y fl o w, and are as e as il y
d ried up ag ai n ; th e se are such as wee p to g ain
the Re pu tati o n of Tendern es s and go o d Nature ;
s uch as c r b e c aus e th e w o ul d be p itied ; such
y y
as cr b e cause th e y w o ul d mak e o th e r P eo pl e
y
cry ; and , in a Wo rd, such as c ry , o nl y b e c ause
th e are ash am ed n o t to c r y
y .

C cx x x v

Our C o nc e rn fo r th e l o ss o f o ur Friend s ,is not

al wa s fr o m a Se ns e o f th e ir W o rtb , b ut r ath e r o f
y
o ur o w n o cc as io ns fo r th e m ; and th at we have

l o s t s o me ,wh o h ad a go od Opinio n of us
. .
78 M O R AL R E F L E C T I O N S
CCXXX V I
W e are e a sil y co mf orted fo r the D isgr ac e s o f o ur
Fr ie nd s , wh e n th e y g ive us an o cc as io n o f e xpre s s
ing o ur T e nd e rn e ss fo r th e m .

C C XXXV II
One w o ul d th ink , th at Se lf L o ve w e re O ve r
-

re ach ed b y G o od Nature and V e rtue , and th at a

-

M an wh o ll y fo rg et s and ne gl e c ts h ims e lf,wh e n h e

is emplo y d in pr o mo tin g th e A d vantag e o f Oth e r s
’
.

B ut, wh e n all is d o ne , th is is th e m o st e ffe c tual

Way o f c o mp assing a Man s o wn Ends ; it is
’ ~

p utti ng o ut to I nte re st, wh e n we pretend to ive

free l y ; in a Wo rd ,it is w inni ng o ve r th e A é c e

ti o ns o f all th at k no w us ,and g aini ng up o n th e m

b y a m o r e nic e and d e xte r o us Way .

CCXXX V III
No M an d e se rve s to b e c o mme nde d fo r his
V e rtu e , wh o h ath it n o t i n hi s P o we r to b e
'

wi ck ed ; all o th e r G o o d ne s s is g e ne r all y no be tte r

th an Sl o th ,o r an Imp o tenc e in th e W
ill .

CCXXXIX
It i s s afe r to d o mo st Me n H urt, th an to do
th e m to o much G o o d .

CCX L
No th ing impo se s m o re upo n o ur P ride , h
t an
 M OR AL R EF L EC TI ON S 79
th e I ntim ac y and p artic ul ar Confidence: o f G reat
P e r s o n s ; fo r we l o o k upo n o ur se l ve s as ad mitted
to th e s e b y vi rtu e o f o ur o wn D e s e rt ; and ne v e r
c o nside r , th at it h appe ns much Oft ne r, fr o m a
p articul ar V anity in th e ir H umo ur , o r th e no t
be ing ab l e to k ee p a Se cr et Fo r i nd e ed , a Man
.

may Ob se rv e , th at th e unb o s o mi ng o ne s s e lf to
ano th e r , is a ki nd o f re l e as e to th e S o ul , whi ch

strive s to l ighten its B urd e n, and find Ease , b y

thr o wing o ff the We igh t th at lay h e avy up o n it .

CC X L I
If we l o o k p A gre e ab l e ne ss di s tin c t fr o m
u on

B eauty, we may c all it a s o rt o f P r o p o rtio n, the

Rul e s o f wh ich no b o d y c an p o s itive l y d e fi ne ; a
se cre t re l atio n o f th e L ine s to o ne ano th e r , and
o f all th e s e to g et h e r , to th e C mple x io n and A ir
o

o f the P e rs o n .

CCX L II
A Coequet Humour is th e very Nature o f o me n, W
b ut all o f th e m d o n o t pr actis e it,b e c au se s o me
are r e str aine d , e ith e r b Fe ar , o r b b e tte r Se n se
y y .

C CX L II I
W fr qu tly
e e
ren r l s
a e t o ub e o me to Ot e h rs , whe n
we thi nk it imp o ssib l e fo r us e v e r to be so .

C CX L IV
Th e re are b ut ve ry fe w Things impo ss ib l e in
 M OR A L R EFL ECTI ONS 81

E10 uence is much s ee n in the Ton e and Ca denc e

as

o f th e e s ,and A ir o f th e Fac e ,as in th e Cb oice

y
o f proper Ex pres s ions .

C CL I
True Eloquence c o ns is ts in s aying all that is fi t
to b e s aid , and l e aving o ut all th at is no t fi t .

CC L II
Th e re are s o me P e rs o ns , up o n wh o m th ei r ve ry
Fa ults an d Fa ilings s it grac e full y ; and th e re are
Ot h e rs ,wh o se v e r y Ex cellencies and A ccompfis bments
d o no t be c o me th e m .

C CL III
It is as c o mm o n fo r Me n to ch ang e th e ir P al ate s ,
as it is unusu al to s ee th e m ch ang e th ei r I n cl inati o ns .

C CL IV
I nte r e st is th e Th ing th at p uts Me n up o n
e x e rc is ing th e ir V ertues and c s o f all K ind s .

CC L V

is v e ry Ofte n o nl y th e pu tti ng o n o f a
Submis s ion , b y wh ich M e n h o p e to b ring o th e r
P e o pl e to sub mit to th e m : It i s a m o re arti fic ial
 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS
s o rt of P ride, wh ich d e b as e s it s e lf with a D e sign
Of be ing e x al te d ; a nd th o ugh th is V ice transfo rm

it s e lf into a Th o us and s e ve r al Sh ap e s , yet th e

D isgui s e is ne ve r mo re e ffe ctu al ,no r mo re c apab l e
o f d e c e ivin g th e W
o rl d ,th an wh en c o nc e al ed u nde r

a Fo rm o f Humili y
t .

C CL V I
Th e Res entment: o f th e Soul h ave each o f th em
h
t eir T o ne Cad e n c e o f th e
and V oice,th e ir Ges tures
o f the B o d y,and th e ir Forms and A ir e c uli ar to
’

i
th e m ; and ,as this P r o priety i s w e ll o r il o bs e rv e d l
in th e s am e P r o p o rti o n the P e rs o ns pl eas e o r dis
pl ease us ‘

CCL V II
Men o f all P rof es s ions c t an Ai r, and Out
af e f
s ide ,th at may m ak e appe ar wh at th e y are t h o ught
to b e ; s o th at a Man may s ay, Th at th e wh o l e
Wo rl d is mad e up o f no th ing but A ppe aranc e s .

CC L V III
is a k ind o f mystic al Be h avi o ur in the
o ut to c o nc eal ,and se t o ff th e D e fe c ts

in h
t at ano t e h r b ath fo r him .
 MO R A L R E F L E CTI O NS 83

CC L X
C ivili ty is a D e sire to be c ivill y used, and to be
th o ught an acco mplis h d w e ll b r ed Man
’
.

CC L XI
.

The b reeding we g ive y oun

g P eo le, is b ut
p an

na l Se lf- L o ve , b wh ich we mak e h

t em
ave a bette r C o nceit of he mse lves .

CCL XII
Se lf- L o v e h ath no wh e re a greate r sh ar e , no r
is m o r e pr e d o minant in any P as s io n, th an i n th at
f L e , and Men are al w s m r e dis p o s ed to
V o o v a
y o

s acrific e all th e B ase o f th e m th ey l o ve , than to

p art with any D e gree o f th ei r o wn .

CCL XIII
Wh at we c all
L ib e r al ity, is fo r the m o st p art
o nl y th e V anity o f Gi ving ; and we e x e rc i se it,

be c aus e we are mo r e fo nd o f that V an ity,th an o f

the Thi ng we g ive .

CC L XI V
P ity andC o mp assio n is freq uentl y a Sen se o f o ur
ow n M is fo rtu ne s , in th o se o f o th e r M e n : It i s an

ingenious Fores igl t o f th e D i a ters th at may fall

s s s

up o n us h e re afte r We r e l ie ve o th e rs , th at th ey
.

may return th e l ik e ,wh e n o ur o wn O cc as io ns c all

 "
M OR AL R E F L E CTI O NS 85
c e rn , and yet are c o ntent to h ave o ur H o no ur an d
Re putatio n d e p e nd up o n th e J ud gme nt o f P eo pl e
th at are sur e to be ag ains t us , fo r e ith e r th e i r
Je alo us ie , o r th e ir P re j udi c e s , o r th e ir Ign o r anc e
will incl ine th e m to be s o A nd we sh o ul d ne ve r
W
.

e xp o s e o ur Eas e , and o ur L ive s , s o man a s as

y y
we d o ,if it we re no t to b ribe Me n to g ive Se nte nc e
in o ur Favo ur .

XI X
CCL
Th e r e are b ut fe w Me n wi se eno ugh to k no w
all th e Misch ie f th e d o
y .

XX CCL
Th e H o no ur we h ave alr e ad y g o tte n,is an Eu
a e me nt fo r th at wh ich we me an to et
g g g .

CCLXXI
Y o uth is a c o ntinual D ru nk e nnes s, th e v e ry
Fe ve r o f Re as o n .

CC L
XXII
We l o ve to spe nd o ur Jud gments up o n o th e r
P e o pl e s D e sti ny , b ut ne ve r c ar e th at th e y sh o ul d
sp e nd th eirs up o n us .

CC L XXIII
Th e re are a great many Me n valu ed in th e
Wo rld ,wh o h ave no th ing to re c o mme nd th em,b ut
se r vic e ab l e V ice s
.
86 M O R AL R EFL EC T I ON S

C C L XXI V
The li ving stric t! b y Rul e , fo r th e pr e s e r vatio n
o f Healtb ,is o ne 0 th e m o st tr o u b l e s o m e D i se a se s
th at c an b e .

CCL XXV

That g o o d D isp o s iti o n wh ich bo asts o f being

mo s t te nd e r ,i s o ft en stifl ed b y the l e ast I nte re st
.

CC L XX V I
A b s enc e c o o ls m o d e r ate P ass io ns , and infi ame s
vi o l e nt o ne s ; jus t as th e Wi nd b l o ws o ut C an dl e s ,

b ut k indl e s Fire s .

C C L XX V I I
Wo me n o ft en fan c y th emse lve s in L o ve , whe n
th e r e is no s uch matte r . Th e D ive rs io n o f an
A mo ur,th e l ittl e C o mm o tio n s th at an I trigue r ai s e s
n

in th e ir B r e as ts ; th e natur al I n cl in ati o n to be
Co urted ,and th e Tr o u b l e o f de nying , m ak e s th e m
fanc y th at wh at th ey fee l is P assio n ; wh en, in
Tru th ,it is n o thi ng b ut a coguet Humo ur .

C CL XX V III
Th e t ur l y h o ne st Man is ,wh o is vertu o us with o ut
A ffe c tatio n .

CCL XXIX
Wh at mak e s us o fte n di s satis fy d with th o se wh o
’

u nde rtak e an A cc o mmod atio n, is , th at th ey v e ry

o ft e n sacr i fic e th e I nte r e st o f th eir Fri e nd s ,to the
 M OR A L R EFL EC TIO NS 87
I nte r e st o f th e Succ e s s o f th e ir Ne g o tiati o n,whi ch
be c o me s th e ir o wn b y th e H o no ur o f h aving suc
c e e ded in th e Ente rpr i z e .

C CL XXX
Wh en we C a ge p
u on T e nde r ne ss o ur
th e
Frie nds h ave fo r us ,th i s s ve ry o fte n,no t so much
I

o ut o f a Se ns e o f G r atitude ,as fr o m a D e s ir e to

p e rswade P e o pl e o f o ur o wn gre at Wo rth ,th at c an

d e se r ve s o much Kindne ss .

CC L XXXI
The A ppl ause we give to Me n, th at are just
s etting up fo r Re putati o n in the Wo rld , is o fte n

Sp irit o f Envy ; and a s e cr e t way o f d e

tr ac ting fr o m Oth e r s , th at h ave e s tab lish ed a g o o d
Re pu tati o n to th e mse l ve s alre ad y .

C CL XXXII
P r ide th at insp ir e s us w ith s o much Envy , is
s o meti m e s o f us e to ward the m od e rati ng it to o .

CCL XXXIII
Th e re are s o m e Co unte rfeits so ve ry l ik e Truths ,
th at we s h o ul d inj ure o ur Jud g ments ,no t to su b mit
to th e Ch e at .

CCL XXXI V
It i s s o m etime s as
gr eat a P o int o f Wisd m ,t
o o
 M OR A L R EFL EC T I ONS 89
CC L XXXIX
A ffe c ted P l ainne s s is b ut a ni ec r and m o re
l ab o ur e d Clyea t .

CCX C
Th e H umo ur o cc as io ns mo r e D e fe c ts th an th e
U nde rstand ing .

CCXI

Me ns D e se r ts li ke Fruits ,fo r th e y have

are b o th
o f th e m th e ir p arti cul ar Se as o ns .

CCX CII

O ne may say o f M e ns H umo urs , th at th e y re

se mb l e th e ge ne r al ity o f B uil d ings ,th e y h ave s e ve r al
P r o s p e c ts , so me o f th e m agreeab l e ,and so m e much
ot eh rwis e.

CCXCIII
Mo d e rati o n c an ne v e r h ave th e h o no ur o f con
tending with A mb iti o n , and s ubduing it ; fo r th ey
c anno t p o s s ibl y mee t in th e s ame B re as t Mo d e ra .

tio n is th eFe e b l e ne s s and Sl o th So ul ,

of th e
wh e r eas A mb itio n is th e W arm th ,and th e A c ti vit
y
o f it.

CCX CI
V

W l w ys l
e a a o ve t h o s th at
e a d m ir e us , b ut we do
no t a l ways l o ve th o s e th at we ad m ir e .
90 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS

CCX CV

W e are ve ry far fr o m always k no wing o ur o wn

Mind s .

CCXCV I
It is h ard matte r to l o ve th o s e , fo r wh o m we
a

h ave no t a r e al Es te em ; and it is e ve ry wh it as
h ard to l o ve th o s e,th at we th ink a great d e al be tte r
th an o ur s e lv e s .

CCXC V I I
The H um o urs of th e Bo d y h ave a cons tant

Co urs e, and reg ula r M otion, th at ins ens ib l y d raws

o ur W ill afte r it ; th e y tak e th e ir R o u nd s to g et h e r ,
and g o ve rn us b tur n s : So th at o ur Cons titution
y
h ath , in Truth , 3 ve r y c o nside r ab le Sh are in all we
d o ,th o ugh we c anno t alway s pe rc e ive it .

CCX CV III
A gre at many Me ns Gra titude is no th ing e ls e,b ut
a se cr et D e s ire to h o o k in m o r e valu ab l e Ki nd

ne sse s h e r e afte r .

C CXCIX
A lm o st e ve ry b o dy k s
d e l igh t to re turn
ta e a

sm all Fa v ours ; a gre at m any

t h e i r A ck no w
p y
a

led gme nts fo r mo de r ate o ne s , b ut th e re is sc arc e

an b o d , b ut is unth an kful fo r such as are e x tra
y y
o r di nary .
 MO R AL R EFL ECT IO NS 9 1

CCC

So m e Follies , li k e D is eas es , are caugh t b y In

CCCI
A bund anc e o f Me n d e sp ise R icbes ,b ut fe w k no w
h o w to dis p o se o f th e m .

CC CII
It is in Matte rs o f no gr e at m o me n t c o mm o nl y,
wh e re we venture ,no t to be l ie ve P r o bab il itie s .

CC CII I
Wh r M en say in o ur Commendation ,th e y te ll
ate ve

us n o th i ng but what we k ne w be fo re .

CCCI V

W ft f rg i
e o en o ve h s h h ave i j ured us, but
t o e t at n

we c an n e ve r p ard o n th o s e th at we have i j ured n .

CC CV
Interes t, upo n wh ich we c o mmo nl y lay the b l ame
o f all o ur ill A c tio n s , o fte nti me s d e se rv e s th e c o m

me nd atio n d ue to o ur g o od o ne s .

CCCV I
A Man se l d o m fi nd s P eo pl e unth ank fult till he
c ease s to b e in a Concfi tion of ob liging them an
y
farth e r .
 M OR AL R EFL EC T I ON S 93
e as ie in o ne h e r s Co mp any, is be c aus e the y
an o t
’

n e ve r ta lk of an
y thi ng b ut th e ms e l ve s .

CCCXIII
Wh at an Th ing it is , that o ur M emories
o dd

sh o ul d se rve us to re c o ll e c t all th e l ittl e Circum

s ta nces th at h ave h appe ned to us , and et th at
y
we sh o ul d no t re me mbe r, h o w o fte n we h ave
to l d th e m o ve r and Ove r a ain, to o ne and th e
g
same P e rs o n ?
CCCXI V
The e xc ee ding D e l igh t we ta k e in di sc o urs ing
ab o ut o ur s e l v e s , ma
y we ll m ak e us s uspe c t, th at

we all o w b ut ve ry l ittl e P l ea sure to th em th at

c o nve rse with us .

C CCXV
Th e Re as o n why we d o no t let o ur Friend s see
th e ve ry b o tto m o f o ur Hearts , is , n o t s o much ,
fr o m an
y d is trust we h av e of h m , as th at we
t e
h ave o f o ur s e lve s .

CCCX V I
H alf wi e P e o pl e c an ne ve r be sinc e re
nd
- .

CCCX V II
Th e Mi sfo rtune O f o b l ig ing unth ankful P e o pl e
is no v e r gr eat Mis fo rtune , b ut to b e o b l ig ed to
y
a B ru te , is o ne no t to be end ur ed .
94 MO R AL R EFL ECT I ONS

CCC X V III
So m e may be fo und to cure Folly,but
n o ne that can rm a pe rv e rs e Sp irit .

CCCXIX
No bo d y can c o ntinue l o ng to t hin k r e sp e c tfull y
of t h e ir Fri ds and
en B enef acto rs ,if th e y all o w th e m
se l ve s the libe rty to talk o ften o f th e ir Faul ts .

CCCXX
Toc o mmend P rinces fo r V ertues whi ch th e y have
no t,is o nly to ta k e a safe Way o f abusing th e m .

CCC XXI
W e may s o o ne r be b r o ugh t to lov e th em th at
us , th an th e m th at lov e us m o r e than w e d e s ir e th e
y
sh o uld d o .

CCCXXII
b ut h s
t o e t ath

CCCXX II I
O ur lVis dom lies as much at the Mercy of
Fortune, as o ur P o sse ss io ns d o .

CCCXXI V

go g
e lo ic is no t s o much fr o m th e lov e o f ano t h e r,
th e lov e o f o ur se lve s
'

as .
 MO R A L R EFL EC TI ON S 95
cccx x v
W e f
o te ntime s are c o mfo rted Mis fo rtunes
fo r
b y the want o f Reas on and Judgment, wh ich th e
Stre ng th o f Reas on c o ul d no t c o mfo rt us und e r .

CCCXX V I
The ex s ing o f a Man, dish o no urs
o him m o re
h n
t a a r D ish o no ur .

CCCXX V II
When we o wn small Fa ults ,it is with a Des ig n
to m ak e P e o pl e be l ie ve ,we h ave no gr e at cum .

CCCXX V III
Envy is mo re inc ap ab l e o f Reconcilmion than
Hatred .

CC CXXIX
Me n fanc y so metime s ,th e y h ave an A ve r s io n to
Flattery , whe n, al as ! it is
-
o nly to the manne r o f
e xpre ssing it .

C W
CCCXXXI
It is h arde r to c o nti nu e faithful , afte r go o d
Succ e ss , man afte r ill Usag e .
 MOR A L R EF L EC T IONS 97
CCCX L

Mo st W m s Wit t
o en en d s mOre tci th e impr o ving
h r
t ei Folly, th an h r
t ei R eas on .

C CC X L I
Th e P as s ions of To utb are n o t m o re d ang e r o us ,
h
t an th e L uk e warmne s s of Old A ge .

CCC XL I I
The T ang o f a M an s nati ve
’
sti
by cks
him, as much in h is Mind and D i spo s itio n, as it

d o e s in his T o ne o f

He h
t at w o ul d m ak e a G re at Man, mu s t l e arn

CCCX L IV
The ge ne r al ity o f M e n are l ik e P lants , th at h ave
se cr e t V ertues ,whi ch are fo u nd o ut b C b
y a nee .

C CCX L V
O cc as io ns mak e us k no w n to ot h e rs , and m uch
mo re s o to o ur se l ve s .

CCCX L V I
Wm o en ne ver can have an
y suc h th ing as stric t
9 8 MO R A L R EFL EC TIONS

R ules in th e ir M ind and D ispo s ition ,if h r

t ei Con
s titution b e b ut c o nse nti ng .

CCCX L V II
W s lde e om meet with an
y wis e M en , e xc e p t

such as are o f o ur o wn Opinio n .

CCCX L V I II
Wh en a Man is in L ove,h e d o ub ts , v e r y o ft e n,

wh at h e mo st firmly b e li e ve s .

CCCX L IX
Th e gre ate s t ! Mi rac l L ove c an wo rk ,is
e to c ur e
P e o pl e o f th eir Coq uet H um o ur .

CCC L
Th e Reas o n why we h av e s o l ittl e P atie nc e with
th o s e th at h av e tr i ck ed us , is b e c aus e th e y fan c y
th e mse lve s to have m o r e Wit than we .

CCC L I
Wh en a Man is o ut of L ov e with h ims e lf, he
fi nd s it th e h arde st Th ing in th e Wo rl d to b re ak .

CCC L I I
W e g e ne rall y s o o nest we ary o f th o s e Me n,
are

wh o m we o ught ne ve r to b e we ary o f at all .

 MOR A L R EFL EC TI ON S 99
CCC L III
mplis h d M an may l o ve ind iscr e etl y,
I ’
An ac co

b ut no t sp ttis hl
y .

CCC L IV
Th e re are s o m e Fa ults , wh ich wh en de x te r o usl y
m anag ed , m ak e a b righ te r She w h
t an V ertue it
s e lf .

CCC L V
So me Men are m o re wis e d th an l ame nted wh e n
’

we l o se th e m and o th e rs v e r
y much l am e nted , and

ve r y l ittl e mis s d
’
.

CCC L V I
W v ry s ld m c mm
‘

e e e o o en d any bo d y in go o d
r s
ea ne t, e xc e pt such as ad mir e us .

CCC L V II -

Me an Souls are e xc e edingl

y struck wi th li ttl e

Th ing s , b ut gre at Souls see all, and are di s c o m

p o sed b y no ne .

CCC L V III
Humility is th e sure Evid e nc e o f Cbris tia n V crtue s

With o ut th is we re tain all o ur Faults s till ,and th e y

.
.

are o nl c o ve r ed o ve r with P rid e , wh ich h id e s th e m

y
fr o m o th e r Men s Ob erv ation,and s o metime s fr o m
’
s

o ur o wn to o . r

CCC L IX
Unf a itbf ulnes s o ugh t to
q u ench o ur L ov e
q ui te,
 M O R A L R EFL EC TI ONS 1 01

and h is Confi dences , fr o m Reas o n and Expe rie nc e

o nl , if h e wo uld k e e p th is Qual it fr o m b e in g
y y
vic io us ; and o n th e o th e r s id e , Co ura e and g o o d
g
«

Na ture must b e b o rn with us , Or we c an ne v e r ha ve

th e m in any g o o d D e r ee
g .

CCC L XV
Th o ugh we ret end ne ve r s o much to distr ust
th e Sinc e r ity 0 th o se we c o nv e rs e with , ye t s ti ll
we th ink th e y te ll m o r e Trut h to us , th an to any
b o d y e lse
.

CC CL XV I
Th e re is m any an h o ne st Wmo an weary of he r
Tr ad e .

CCC L X V II
The g e ne r al ity o f h o ne st Women are l ik e hi d
Treas ures , wh ich are safe , o nl y be c ause no bo d y
h ath s o ught afte r th em .

CCC L XV III
Th e Fo rc e M e n h mse l ve s , to hind e r
us e to t e
L o v e, is o ftentime s mo r e cr ue l , th an the se v ere s t
U sage fr o m th e P arty be l o ve d
'
.

CCC L XIX
V e ry fe w Cowards k no w the utmo s t o f h r
t ei
own Fe ars .
Io z M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS
CCC L XX
It is c o mm o nl y th e Faul t o f P e o pl e in
th at th e y are n o t s e ns ib l e wh e n th e c e a se
y
be l o ved .

CCC L XXI
No th ing is s o u nwe lc o m e a Sigh t,as th e P e rs o n
we low , wh en we h av e bee n co quetting it with s o m e
b o d y else .

CCC L XXII
Th e re are so me Tea rs , th at afte r th e y h ave
ch e ated o th e r P eo pl e , c arry o n th e D e c eit, and
imp o se up o n o ur v e ry se lve s at l as t .

CC CL XXII I
Th e M an that th ink s h e l o v e s h is M is tres s fo r
h e r o wn s ak e ,is mi gh til y mis tak e n .

C CCL XXI V
A Man may be ar h is Faul ts pretty p atiently,
when h e is h ard ned s o far as to o wn th e m .

C C CL XXV

and t ru e L ove

CCCL XXV I
Th e gre ate st Faul t o f P ene tra tion , is no t c o m ing
sh o rt o f th e Mark , b ut o ve rsh o o ting it .
 MOR A L R EFL ECT I ONS Io g

CCCL XXV I I
Me n give us A diviee,no t th e g d
oo Sens e to ma k e
a wise use o f it .

CCC L XX V III
Wh en o ur M erit l o we rs ,o ur Tas te l o we rs with it .

C CC L XXIX
Fortune m ak e s o ur V ertues and V ices visib l e ,just
as L ight d oe s th e O b j e c ts o f Sigh t .

CCC L XXX
Wh en a Man fo rc e s to be c o nstant in
h is L ov e,th is is no

C CC L XXX I
O ur A ctio ns are l ik e th e l as t Syll ab l e s in Word r,

wh ich eve ry Man m ak e s Rbime to wh at he th inks

fit .

CC CLXXXI I
Th e D e sire o f talk ing o f o ur s e l ve s ,and sh ewing
o ur Fail ing s o n th at s id e we are c o nte nt th e y sh o ul d

be s ee n o n, m ak e s up a gr e at P art o f o ur Sinc erity .

CC C L
XXXII I
Th e re is no thing d e serve s s o much to be
wo nd e red at, as th at Me n sh o ul d l iv e s o l o ng,
and wo nde r at an Thi ng
y .
 M OR AL R EFL EC TI ON S 1 05

CCCXCI
W sh uld m
e o g
ana e o ur s e v e l s with reg ard to o ur
Fortune ,as we d o wit h r e g ard to o ur Hen/ti) When .

g o o d, e nj o y and make th e be st o f it ; whe n ill,

e ar it p atie ntl , and ne ve r tak e s tr o ng P b s icl ,
b y y
with o ut an abs o lute ne ec ss ity .

CCCXCII

Th e A ir o f a Citiz en is so meti m e s l o st in an

v A rm ,b ut
y v r
ne e in a Court .

'
’

CC CXCIII
One Man may be to o cunning fo r anothe r ,b ut
no bo d c an be too cunning fo r all th e Wo r ld
y .

CCCXC IV

Tis bette r fo r a M an s o me time s to be de c e ived

’

in wh at he lov es ,than to be und e ce ived .

CC CXCV
Th e firs t L o v e r is k e pt a l o ng wh ile ,wh e n no
Offe r 1 8 m ad e o f a se c o nd .

CCCX CV I
W h e ave no t th e Co nfi d e nc e y in g ene r al
to sa

Te rms, th at o ur se l ve s h ave no ill Qua fities , and

th at o ur Ene mie s b av e d o ne s ; b ut whe n
'

no
go o
1 06 M OR A L R EF L EC T I ON S

we ta lk of P arti c ul ars , we are pre tty ne ar think

ing so .

CCCXCV I I
Of all o ur Faul ts , we are m o s t e as il y rec o nc il ed
to Idlenes s ; we pe rswad e o ur s e l ve s , that it is
all ied t o all th e P e ac e ab l e V ertues , and as fo r th e

r e st,th at it d o e s no t d e st r o y any o f th e m utte rly,

b ut o nl y suspe nd s th e Ex e rc i se o f th em .

CCCXC V III
The re is a f Mi nd, th at h ath no
S
d e pend an c e upo n Tis a c e rtain A ir o f
’

A u th o rity , that see ms to lay us o ut fo r G reat

Thi ngs . Tis a v alue whi ch we inse nsib ly set
’

upo n o ur se lv e s, and b th is Qu al it it is , th at we
y y
usurp th e Re spe c ts o f o th e r P e o pl e , as if th e y we re
o ur d ue ; and th is it is c o m mo nl , th at r aise s us
y
mo re abo ve th e m, than eith e r Birta, o r Hono urs ,
o r e v e n D es ert it se lf .

CCCXCIX
Th e re
is W rth s m tim
o o e e s, with out a G reatne ss
o f So ul, b ut h r
t e e is neve r a
gr e at So ul wi th o u t

s o me D e gree o f W rth
o .

CCCC
G r e atne ss of M ind s et s o ff M erit, as go o d
d r e s s ing d o e s h and so me P e rso ns .
 M OR AL R EFL EC TI ON S Io 7

CCCCI

L o V 6 !s sh e le ast Part 0f a mo di h Co u rtsh l

'

s) p
.

t
-A

CCCCII

Fortune so me time s mak e s o ur ve ry Faifi gs the n

Means o f rais ing us A nd th e re are s o me tro ub l e

.

so me Fe ll o ws, who d e s e rv e to be r e warded s o far,

as to h ave th ei r A b se nc e purch as e d b P r e ferme nts
y
at a dis tanc e .

CCCCIII

Nature see ms to h ave tre asured up in e ve ry o ne

o f o ur Min d s s o me se cr e t Talents , and s o me o ne

p arti c ul ar Facul ty, wh ich we are no t se ns ib l e o f ;

it is th e P rivil e g e o f th e P as ions al o ne , to b ring
s

th e se to L igh t, and to d ir e c t us s o m time s to s ure r e

and m o r e e xc e ll ent A ims th an it is p o ss ib l e fo r A rt

to do .

CCCCIV

W c e o me l g ethe r fres h
a to and w into
ra th e
s eve ral Stage s o f L ife, and no twithst andin g we
h ave l ived s o l o ng ,are as much to see k so me time s ,
as if w e h ad ne v e r h ad an Expe rie n c e at all
y .

CCCCV

Coquets pre te nd to b e je al o us o f th e ir L o vers ,to

“

c o nc e al th ei r E vy o f o th e r Women
n .
 MO R A L R EFLECT I ON S
'

1 09

CCCCXII

A fte r h aving e xp o se d th e Fal sity of many

so

s e e ming V rtue ,it is b ut r eas o na b l e I

e s s h o ul d add

so me wh at o f th at D e c e it th e re I s in the Contempt o f
D eath ; th at Cont mpt o f it I mean, wh ich th e
e

H e ath e ns pr et ende d to d e r ive fr o m th e Str e ng th o f

Na ture and R ea s on ,with o u t any H o pe o f a b e tt e r
L ife to ani mate th e m . Th e re is a grea t de al o f
D iffe r e nc e betwee n s u ffe r ing D eath with B rave ry
and Re s o lu tio n, and sli ghting it . Th e fo rmer is
ve r us u al , b ut I v e r m uc h suspe c t, th at th e o th e r
y y
i s neV e r real and s inc e re
‘
r . Th e re h ath be e n a gre at
d eal written, tis c o nfes s d , and as much as th e
’ ’

Sua eet w ll r pr e ,th at D ear s is no Evil ;

/
j i b e a , to o v

and me n o f v e r i nfe ri o r C ba rac ters , as w e ll as

y
Heroes , h av e furnis h d us wi th a great m any
’

e minent Ex ampl e s in c o nfi rmatio n o f thi s O ini o n

p .

B ut s till I am ve ry m uch pe rswade d , that no wi se

Man e ve r be lie ved so ; and the tro u b l e they are at
to p e rs wade o the rs and th e mse l ve s , s he ws pl ainl ,
y
th at th i s was no s uch easie U nd e rta k ing The re
.

may b e a gr eat many Re as o n s, wh y Men sh o ul d

be o ut o f Co nc e it with L ife ; b ut th e r e c an be
n o ne , wh
y w e sh o ul d d e sp ise De ath : E ven th o se

wh o run v o lu ntar il y up o n it, do no t r e ck o n it so

inc o ns id e rab l e a M atte r , but are c o nfo und ed , and

d e cl ine it as m uch as o th e r s ,if it appr o ach th e m

in an y o th e r Sh ap e,b ut tha t o f th e ir o wn ch u s ing .

The gr e at D isparity o b se rv ab l e b e twee n th e Courage

o f a Wo rl d o f b r av e M e n,h ath no o th e r Fo u nd a ti on

th an th is , Th at th e y h av e diffe r ent Ide as o f D e ath ,

and th at it a ars m o r e pr e sen t to th eir Fan cy
pp e
‘
I TO MO R AL R EFL ECT I ONS
p
u on s o me O cc asi o ns , and s o me Time s ,th an it
at

d o e s at o th e rs. H en c e it is , th at afte r h avi ng

sl igh ted wh at th e y d id no t k no w, th e y are afraid
wh e n th e y c o me to b e b e tte r ac q uai nted with it .

If a Man w o ul d pe rs wad e h imse lf,th at it is no t th e

v ery gr eate st o f Evils , h e mus t de cl ine l o o k ing it
i n th e Fac e , and c o ns ide r ing all its g as tl y Circum
s tances. The wise st and th e b rav e s t Me n, are
the t h at ta k e th e fair e st an d m o s t h o no ur ab l e
y
P r e te nc e s, to avo id th e Co n s ide r atio n o f it . B ut
e ve ry b o d th at k no ws it as it reall is , fi nd s it to
y y
be a Th ing full o f Ho rror Th e ne c e ss ity o f
.

d ying ,was wh at th e P bilo opl ers o wed th ei r Con

s s

”m o f Mind to ; th e t h o ugh t wh e n th e r e w as
y
no g emed y , b ut a Man mus t go , it was b e st t o

o wi t h a g o o d Grace A n d , s inc e th e re was no

g .

P o ssi b il ity o f m ak ing th e ir L iv e s Eterna l, th ey

wo ul d s tick at no th ing to ma k e th e ir Names so ,
and se cure all t h at fr o m th e Wrec k , whi ch was

capabl e o f be ing se cur ed L et us put th e be st

.

Fac e up o n th e Matte r we can, satis fie o ur se l ve s

with no t spe ak ing all we th ink ; and h o pe m o re
fr o m a h app y Con titution, th an all the fe e b l e
s

Re as o nin gs , th at gull us with a Fanc y o f o ur

b e i ng abl e to m eet D e ath un c o nc e rned . Th e
H o no ur o f d ying g allantl y ; th e H o pe o f bei ng
l ame n ted wh en we are g o ne ; the D e si re o f l eaving
a go o d Name b e hind us ; th e Ce rtainty o f a
D elive ran c e fr o m the Mise ries o f th e pre se nt
and o f d e pe ndi ng no l o n g e r u o n a fickl e
p
hu mo urs o me Fo rt une , are Remedie s th at we shall
d o w e ll to mak e o ur b e st o f .

But th o ugh th e se b e no c o nte mp tib l e Re medie s ,

 M O R A L R EF L ECT I ON S III

t we mus t no t supp o s e th e a re infallib l e o ne s .

e
yhe m h elp to ut us In gIea rt, just as
po o r a
y a
y p
n an En a eme t, c o nt rib ute s to e n c o ur ag e
i
g g n

th e Soldiers th at a re to march ne ar , wh e re th e
Ene my are firing b e h ind it Wh il e th e y are at a.

di stanc e , th ey i mag in e it may b e a g o o d Sh el te r,

b ut wh e n th e y c o me up to the P l ac e , Expe ri e nc e
c o nvinc e s th em, it is b ut a thin D e fenc e Tis .
’

a vain I mag inatio n , and to o fatal a Flatte r , to

y
thi n k th at D eath h ath th e same P ac e ne ar at
H and , whi ch we fanc y him to h av e , wh il e we
v ie w hi m at a di stanc e ; and th at o ur Rea so nings,

wh ich in Tru th are We ak ne ss it s e lf, will pr o ve o f

s o h ard ne d a T e mpe r as to h o l d o ut pr o o f, and

n o t yie l d to th e s e v e re s t o f all Tr al s B e s id e s,
y .

it sh e ws we are b ut l ittl e ac q uai nted with th e

P o we r o f Self L o v e, wh e n we imag ine , th at will
-

d o us any s e rvi c e to w ard the l o o k ing upo n th at

ve r Th ing as a Tr ifl e , wh ich must o f ne c e ssi ty
y
b e its utte r Ru in ; and Reas o n, in whi ch we s o
o ften tak e Sanc tu ar , h ath no t the P o w e r up o n
y
th is o ccas io n to mak e us b e li e ve , wh at we wi s h
to fi nd t rue S o far fr o m th at, th at this b e t r ays
.

us o ftene r th an any o th e r thin g ; and instead o f

an imati ng us w ith a Cont m t o f D e ath , g ive s us a
p e

mo r e l ive l y Re pre s e ntati o n o f all its Terror and

Ga tlines s
s A ll it i s ab l e to d o in o ur b e h alf, is
.

o nl t o ad vi s e , th at we wo ul d tur n o ur H ea d s
y
an o th e r Wa , and d ive rt the Th o ugh t b fix i ng
y y
o ur E e s up o n s o me o th e r O b j e c t s C a to and
y .

B rutus ch o se No b l e o ne s inde e d A P ag e n o t
.

l o ng ago s atis fi e d hi mse lf with d anc ing up o n the

Scafiold,wh ith e r h e was b r o ugh t to be b r o k e up o n
 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS I13

N ew M ora l R
’

c tzo n s .

P A R T II .

CCCCXIII
'

“1 3
A MA N c an ne e v r pl e ase l o ng, th at h ath b ut o ne

So rt o f Wit .

CCCCXIV
Fools and Cox o
com s see
‘

all by t h eir o wn H um o ur ,

CC CCXV

Wit s r s s
e ve o me time s to m ak e us pl ay th e Fool
with gre ate r Co n
fidence .

CCCCXV I
B ri s k ne ss , th at incre as e s with Old Age,is b ut o ne

D egree re m o ved fr o m Folly .

CCCCXV II
Th e first Cur e in L ov e is al ways th e b e st .

CCCCXV III

Yo ung Wm o en that w o uld ac t be h ugh t

t o Co quet,
H
x 14 MOR A L R EFL ECT I ON S

an d Old M en th at wo ul d not be R idiculo us ,sh o ul d

n e ve r ta lk o fL ov e,as if th e y ha d any c o nc e rn in it .

CCCCXIX

W e see m G reat in an Employ ment be l o w o ur

may
D es ert,b ut we v e r y o fte n l o o k littl e in o ne th at is
to o b ig fo r us .

CCCCXX

W e in o ur Misfo rtu ne s tak e th at fo r

f
o te n

Co ns ta ncy and P a tience, wh ich is o nly D e j e ctio n

o f M ind ; we s uffe r with o ut d ar ing to h o l d u o ur
p
Hea d s , j us t as Cowards let th e ms e l ve s be k n o c k t
Head, be cause th e y h ave no t Courage to
’ ’
0 th
strik e ag ain .

CCCCXXI

C o nfi de nc e go e s farth e r in Company ,th an Wte .

CCCCXXII

A ll o ur P as s ions e ng ag e us in Faul ts ; b ut th o se
are th e mo s t ridicul o us o ne s ,that L o ve m ak e s us
c o mmit .

CCCCXXIII

Fe w Me n kn o w h o w to b e o ld .

CCCCXXIV

We lu va e o ur se lve s up o n Failings m o st di s tan t

 MO 1 15

fro m o ur o wn ; wh e n
we b r ag f be ing Ob st e re m to
'

o
p

CCCCXXV
'

A penetrating M t h ath an A ir of D ivinatio n,

wh ich swe lls o ur V a ity mo re n h
t an an
y o th er

A cc o mpl ish me nt o f th e Mind .

Cc c c x x v1

Th e Be auty of N ov elty , ngth o f

an d the L e

Cus tom, th o ugh s o ve r y o pp o s ite to o ne ano th e r ,

e t agr ee in th i s , th at th e b o th al i k e k ee p us
y y
fr o m d isc o ve ring the Faults o f o ur Friends .

CCCCXXV II

Mo st Frie nd s give us a D isli k e to

and m o st D e vo tee s to V o ws .

CCCCXXV III
W es il y fo rg ive o ur Friend s th o se
ea Faults ,b y
wh ich o ur se lve s are no t o ffe nded .

CCCCXXIX
Wm o en in L ov e c an s o o ne r fo rgive great Q
c h small
ey
n t an Infid elitie s .

CCCCXXX
It is with an o ld L ow ,as it is with o ld Age,
 M ORA L R EFL EC TION S 11 7
CCCCXXXV II
A M an s ’
W rth
o is no t to be s
e tee med so much
acc o rding to hi s g o o d Qualities ,as acc o rdin g to th e

use h e m ak e s o f th e m .

CCCCXXXV
III
Th e re is a k in d o f A ckn o wl edgme nt,that d oe s
no t o nl di sch arg e us o f all p ast Oofiga tions , b ut
y
mak e s o ur Friends o ur D ebtors fo r ne w K ind ne sse s,
wh il e we pay what we are inde bted for o ld o nes .

CCCCXXXIX

W sh ul d d sir v ry f w Th i gs P
e o e e e e n si
a s ona tely ,if
we di d b ut p e rfe c tly
'

kno w th e Natur e o f th e

Th ings we de sir e .

CCCCXL

The Re aso n why mo st Women have so little

” ‘

Sens e o f Friends bip , is be c au se th is is b ut a c o l d

and fl at P a s s ion, to th o s e th at h ave fe l t th at o f

L o v e.

W e CCCCXL I

In Friends b tp as w e ll as L ov e, Ign o ranc e ve ry

c o ntr ib ute s m o re to o ur Happines s , th an

u o p n th o se Faults
1 1 8 M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS
CCCCXL III
ll o w us s o me re st,b ut
P as s io ns a

k ee ps us pe rpetuall y in m o ti o n .
.

CCCCXL IV

The o ld e r a Fool is ,th e w o r se h e is .

CCCCXL V

Irre so lutio n is m o re o pp o site

CCCCXL V I

Th e Pains we fee l fr o m 86am

th e r e fo r e s o c utting , b e c aus e V anity c an g ive us no
A ss istan ce in th e b ea ring th e m .

CCCCXL V II
‘

D e ce ncy is the l eas t o f all L a ws ,and yet the

m o st fo ll o wed .

CCCCXL V III
A g o o d D isp o s itio n fi nd s it e asie r to sub mit to
pe rvers e o ne s ,than to dir e ct and manag e th e m .

CCCCXL IX
Wh en Fo rtun eurp ri ze s a Man with a great
s

P r e fe rme nt, to wh ich h e is neith e r ad v an c ed b y

D e gree s , no r r ai sed b e fo re b y his o wn H o pes ;
 R EFL EC T I ON S 1 1 9
b le fo r hi m to be h ave h ims e lf well ,
th e W o rl d th in k h e d e se rv e s his

CCCCL

Wh at we c ut o ff fr o m o ut r
h r Faul ts ,is ve ry
ot e

f
O te n b ut so much a dd e d to o ur P ride .

CCCCL I
'

The re are no Co x eo r
nbs so r ub l e s o m e ,as th o se
t o
th at h av e s o m e l t .

CCCC L II

Eve ry M an h inks h imself

t in s o me o ne g o o d
Qual ity o r o th e r ,e qual to the P e r s o n h e h ath th e
h igh e st Estee m fo r .

C CCCL III
In A ffai rs o f Cons equenc e, it 1 8 no t a Man ’
8

Bus ine ss s o much to see k O cc as io ns , as to m ak e

th e be s t o f th o se th at o ffe r th e mse lv e s .

CCCCL IV

sp eak ing , It we re a g o o d saving

G e ne r all y
Barg ain, to reno unc e all th e g o od Men said o f
us, up o n Condition th e y wo uld say no ill .

CCCCL V

Asmuch as th e Wo rl d is incl ined to th ink ill o f

o n e an o th e r , we se e th e m o fte ne r fav o ur ab l e to

false Me r it, th an injur io us to true .

 M OR AL R EFL ECT ION S 121

Faul ts we th in k o ur se l ve s fr ee fr o m ,in cline s us to

unde rv alue the g o o d Q ual itie s we want .

CCCCL XIII
Th e b e w ail in g o ur Ene mi es Misfo rtune s, is
s o me time s mo re th e Effe c t Of P ride than o f
Goo d Na ture ; we e xpr e ss o ur P ity and C o m
passio n, to m ak e th e m k no w th at we are abo ve
h m
t e .

CCCC L XIV
It is imp o ss ib l e fo r us y Th i n g with o u t
to l o ve an

so m e r es p e c t to o ur s e l ve s ; and we o nl y c o ns ul t
o ur o wn I cli a tio , and o ur o wn P l e as ur e , wh e n
n n n

we pr e fe r o ur Frie nd s be fo re o ur o wn I nte re st, and

e t thi s P r e fe r e nc e is th e o nl Thin g , th at can
y y
r e nder Friends bip p e rfe ct and since re .

CCCCL XV
Wh at Men c all Friends /s ip, is no mo re t a h n
Societ l
y ;
’
tis o n ly '
a m utu al c are of In teres ts , an
exchange o f g oo d Ofi ees : In a W o r d , it i s o nl
y
a s o r t o f Tr i }, in whi ch Self- L r pr o p o se s
op c ov e ev e

to be th e G ain e r .

CC CC L XV I
i

The re is an t
Ex ce s s b o th in Happine s s -
and
M P o wer
‘

o f Se n sati o n
'

s er ab o v e o ur
y .

CCCC L XV II
‘

I nno c e nc e do e s no t fi nd ne a r so much P r o te ctio n

as G uil t .

1 r
P a tn e r sh i p .
1 22 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS
CCCCL XV III
O f all l
v io e nt P a s s io n s , th at wh ich m isbec o me s
a Woman l eas t,is L ov e .

CCCCL XIX
V anit
y pre vails with us to d e ny s lve s,m o r e
o ur e

h
t an Reaso n can do .

CCCCL XX

Th e r e are so m e bad Q ua lities , t ath m ak e gr e at

A cc o mpl ishm ents .

CCCC L XXI
Me n ne ve r de s ire an y Th in g ve ry e ag e rly,whi ch
h
t ey d e s ire o nl b
y y th e D i ct ate s o f Re as o n .

CCCCL XXII
A ll Q ual itie s are d o ubtful and unc e r tain bo th
o ur

in G o o d and Evil ; and th ey are al mo st all at th e

d is po sal o f T ime and O pp o r tunity .

CCCC L XXII I
At first Wo me n l o v e th eir L ov er,b ut afte rw ar d s
th e l o v e th e P as s io n it self
y .

CCCCL XXIV

P ride, as we ll h r P a s s ions , h ath its nu

‘

as ot e

acc o u ntab l e Wbim i s es ; we are as h amed to o w n o ur

 M OR AL R EFL EC TI O NS 1 23

s e l ve s Jealous ,wh e n we are so and

y f r war d s
e t a te

we lva ue o ur se ve l s up o n h aving b ee n s o , an d fo r
being c ap ab l e o f b e ing s o.

CCCCL XXV

As u nc o m mo n a Th ing as tru e L ov e is ,
y et eas ie r to find th an tru e Frie nd s h ip .

CCCCL XXV I

Fe w W m s Wrtb l sts l g r th
o en o a on e an h r
t ei

CCCCL XXV II

The gre ate st P art o f o ur inti mate

pr o c e ed fr o m a D e sir e e ithe r to be p itied or

CCCCL XXV III

O ur En vy al ways l asts l o ng e r th an the go o d

Fo rtune o f th o se we env
y .

CCCCL XXIX
Th e sameRes olution wh ich h e lps to r e s ist L one,
h e lps to mak e it mo r e v io l e nt and l as ting too .

P e o pl e o f u ns e ttl ed Mind s are al way s d r i ven ab o u t

with P as sions , b ut ne ve r ab s o lute l y filled with any .

CCCCL XXX
It i s no t in the P o we r of Imagina tion it se lf,to
 MO R AL R EFL ECTI ON S 1 25

CCCCL XXXV I
W sp k
e ea ill of o t eh r P e o pl e , c o mm o nl y no t so

much o ut o f M alice, as P ride .

CCCCL XXXV II
Wh en th e So ul is ru ffl ed b y the re m ain s o f o ne
P as s ion, it i s mo re di sp o s e d to e nte rtain a n e w o ne ,
th an wh e n it is intire ly cur ed, and at r e st fr o m all .

CC CCL XXXV III

“

Th o s e th at h ave h ad great P as s ions ,e st ee m th e m

se lve s pe rpetually h appy,and unhappy in be ing cur ed
o f th e m .

CCCC L XXXIX
Th e re are few e r Me n fr ee fr o m Envy , th an
In teres t .

CCCCXC
O ur Mind s are as much gi ven to L a z ines s , as

o ur B o fi es .

CCCCXCI
Th e Comp o sed ne ss , D iso rde r o f o ur
o r th e

Humo ur, d oes n o t d e pe nd s o much up o n th e gr e at

and mo s t c o n s id e r ab l e A cc id e nts o f o ur L iv e s , as

up o n a suitab l e , o r un suitab l e Manage m ent o f l ittl e

,

T hings , that b e fall us e ve ry D ay .

CCCC XCII
Tho ugh Men are e x tremel y ”a ked, yet th ey
f
 I2 6 M OR A L R EFL EC TI ONS
n e ve r h ad th eConfidenc e to pr o fe ss th e m s e l ve s
Ene mie s to V ertue , and e v e n wh e n th e y tak e
d e l igh t in p e rse cu ting it, th e y e ith e r prete nd no t
to t h ink it r e al , o r fo rg e s o m e Faul ts, and lay
to its ch arg e .

CCCCXCIII

I Men f
O te n
g o fr o m L ov e to A mbition , b ut th e
y
N ld o m c o me b a ck ag ain fr o m A mbition to L ov e .

CCCCXCIV

Extre m e Cov etous nes s isg ene rall y m istak en : No

P as io i n th e Wo rl d s o o fte n mis s e s o f its A im,
s n

n o r is s o much p re vai l ed up o n b th e pr e s e nt, in

y
prejudi c e to a futur e I nte re st .

CCCCXCV

C o veto us ne ss s o metime s is the C ause o f q uite

c o ntrary Effe c ts Th e r e are a Wo rl d o f P e o pl e ,
.

th at s a cr ific e all th e ir pr e s e nt P o s s e s s io ns to d o u b t
ful and di stant H o pe s ; and o th e r s ag ain s l igh t
gre at A d vantag e s th at are future , fo r th e sak e o f
so me m e an and p itiful Gain in prese nt .

CCCCXCV I

One w o ul d think , Me n c o ul d ne ve r supp o s e th ey

h ad Faul ts e no ugh , th e y are s o pe rp e tuall y ad di ng
to th e numb e r o f th e m, b y s o me ar tic ul ar Q ual iti e s

which th e y affe ct to set themse ve s o ff with ,

 M OR A L R EFL ECT I O N S 1 27

th e s e th e y ch e rish and cul tivate s o c are full y, th at

th e y c o me at l as t to th e Na tural, and p ast th e ir
P o we r to me nd , th o ugh th e y w o ul d .

CCCCXCV II

Me n are m o re se nsibl e o f th eir o wn Failings ,

than we are apt to imag ine ; fo r th e y are se ld o m
in th e Wr o ng , wh en we h ear th e m talk o f th ei r
Co nd uct Th e same P ri nc ipl e Of Self L ov e that
.
-

b l ind s th e m at o th e r T ime s , mak e s th e m q ui ck

s i h ted up on th e s e Occas io ns , and sh e ws th e m
h ing s in s o t rue a L ight, th at it fo rc e s th e m
to suppr e ss o r d isgu is e th e l e as t Matte rs that are
l iab l e to b e c o nde mned .

CCCCXCV III

Wh en
y oun
g M en c o m e first into th e W ld,
or

it is fit t b e e ith e r ve r y M odes t, o r
h e y sh o ul d
ve r Tenac io us ; fo r b ri sk P art s , and a c o mpo s ed
y
T e mp e r , c o mm o nl y turn to Impertinence .

CCCCXCIX

Qu arr e ls wo ul d ne ve r l as t l o ng, if th e re we re
n o t Faul ts o n b o th Sid e s .

D
It s ig nifi e s littl e fo r W
o men to b e y o u ng , e xc e p t

th e y be H and s o m , no r H and s o m , e xc e p t th e b
y e

y g
o un .
 MO R A L R EFL ECT I ONS 1 29

DV I I
Je alo us ie is th e gr e ate s t o f Ev il s, and m ee ts with
l e as t P ity fr o m th e P e rs o ns th at o cc as io n it .

D V II I
Me n o f indgfi rent P art s are apt to c o nde mn e ve ry
Thi ng ab o ve th eir o wn Capa ity c .

D IX
M o st y oung M en th ink th e y fo ll o w
th ey are r o ugh and ill b r ed .
Nature, he nw
DX
Th e G r ac e o f b e ing Ne w, is to L ov e ; as the
G l o s s i s to th e Fr uit, it g ive s it a L us tre,whi ch is
e as il d e fac e d , and wh e n o nc e g o ne , ne v e r ret urn s
y
an
y m o re
.

DXI
If we l o o k ni c e ly into the se ve r al Effe ct s o f
E vy , it will be fo und t o c arry a M an m o re
n

fr o m hi s D uty , th an Interes t d oe s .

D XII
Mo st Men are a sh amed of h aving l o ve d th em
s elve s , wh en th e y l eave o ff d o ing it .

D XIII
A g o o d T aste o f Things is m o re th e Effe ct
of Jud g ment th an Wit .
1 30 MOR A L R EFL ECT ION S
D XI V
Men are o bs tinate in c o ntradicting Op inio ns
e ne rall rec e ive d , no t s o much b e c ause th e r
g y y a e
'

ig no r ant, as be c au se th e y a re pr o ud ; th o s e th at
are o n th e righ t Sid e h av e go t th e uppe r H and ,

and th e y s c o rn to ta k e up with th e l o we r .

D XV
P r o spe r o us P e rs o ns l do m m end much ; th ey
se

al wa s thi n k th e m s e l ve s i n the righ t, s o l o ng as

y
Fortune appr o ve s th eir ill Co ndu ct .

DX V I
No th ing sh o ul d be a gre ate r H um il iatio n to
P e rso ns th at h av e d e s e rv e d gre at P r ai s e s , than
t he Tr o u b l e th e y are ete r nall y at, to mak e th e m
se lve s valued b y p o o r and l ittl e Th ings .

D XV II
Fl atte r y is l ik e false Mo ne y,and i f it w e r e no t
fo r o ur o wn V anity c o ul d ne ve r p ass in payment .

D X V III
Some ung rate ful M e n are l ess to b l ame fo r In
ra titude ,th an th e P e rs o ns th at l ai d the Obli ations
g g
up o n th e m .

'

D XIX
Our bad —
.

Qu alities c o mmon l y tak e ba ses in

Con ve rs ation, th an o ur g o o d o nes .
 '

M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS 1

3 1

DXX
Men w o ul d ne ve r l ive l o ng to g eth e r in
so

and g o o d Co rre on dence, if th e di d no t mut

p s
y
mak e Fo o ls o f o ne an o th e r .

DXXI
Wh at we ll
P as s ions , are in Tru th no thing
ca

el se , b ut so in any diffe re nt D e gree s o f H e at, an d

‘

Co ld in the Bl o o d .

DXXI I
Mo d e r atio n in P r o spe rity is ge ne rally n oth ing
e l s e , b ut A ppre h en s io n of the Sh ame th at atte nds

an ind e ce nt Tr anspo rt, o r the Fe ar o f l os ing

wh at o ne h ath .

DXXIII
Mo d e r atio n is l ik e Te mperanc e a Man w o ul d
'

be we ll e no ugh pl e as ed to e at mo r e , b ut o nl y h e 1 8
afraid it Will no t a gr ee with his H e al th .

DXXI V
A ll th e W rl d thi k s Th t
o n a a Faul t in h
ano t er,

whi ch the y think so in h mse lve s

t e .

D XXV
Wh n P ride h ath us ed all its A rtific es , and
.

l
i
e

ap e a red in all its Sh ape s, and pl a ed all the

p .

y
P ar ts o f Humane L ife, as if it were gro wn w eary
 MOR A L R EFL ECT I ONS 1 33
DXXX
H o w sh o ul d we be ab l e to s ay what will pl eas e
us h e r eafte r, wh en we sc arc e k no w e x actly what
we w o ul d h av at pr s nt
e e e ?

DXXXI
Justic e with m any Me n, is o nl y the Fear o f
h aving wh at is o ur o wn tak e n fr o m us Th is .

mak e s th e m te nd e r o f th eir Ne igh b o urs P r o pe rty,

a nd c ar e ful n o t to in vad e it Th is fe ar h o l d s M e n
.

in,with in th e Co mp as s Of th at Estate ,whi ch B iri b

o r Fo rtune ha th g ive n th e m, and we r e it n o t fo r

th i s , th e y wo ul d c o ntinually b e m ak ing I ncurs io ns

up o n o ne ano th e r .

DXXXII
J ustic e in w e ll b e h aved Jud es ,is O fte n
g on l y th e
L o v e o f th e ir P re fe rrn e nt
.

DXXXIII
Th e first M o tio n ofJo y fo r th e H app ine s s o f
o ur Fr ie nd s , i s n o t al wa s th e Effe c t e ith e r o f
y
Goo d Na ture, o r Friends bi b ut o f Sel - L o v e,
wh ich fl atte r s us with th e o e ,th at o ur tur n o f
p
be ing h app y is c o ming , o r th at we sh all r e ap s o me
be ne fi t fr o m th e ir Goo d Fortune .

DXXXI V
A s if th e P o we r o f tr an s fo r min g it s e lf w e re
sm all , Sel - L ov e d oe s fr e q ue ntl y tr ansfo rm its
1
34 M O R AL REFLECTI ON S

Ob j e ct s t o o and th at a fte r a ve ry strang e manne r .

It no t o nl y di sgui se s the m so artific iall , as to de

y
c e ive its se lf, b ut it pe rfe c tl a l te r s th e Natur e and
y
Co nd itio n o f th e Thi ngs t h e mse l ve s . Thus wh e n
an P e rs o n a ct s i n Opp o si tio n t o us Sel L -
y , ov e

s s e s Se nte n c e up o n e ve r A c t io n,w ith th e utmo s t

ppigo ur o f J ustic e ; it aggravate s e ve ry D e fe ct o f

y

h is , and m ak e s it l o o k mons tro us and b orrible ; and

it s et s all h is Exc e ll e n c ie s in s o ill a L igh t,th at
th e y l o o k mo r e d is agr ee ab l e th an h is D e fe c ts A nd
.

e t wh e n an o f o ur A ffai rs b ri ngs th is P e rs o n b ack

y y
a g ai n t o Re c o nc il iati o n and Fav o ur ,th e Satis fac tio n

we r e c ei ve , pre se ntl y re sto re s h is Me rit,and all o ws

him all th at o ur A ve rsion s o l ate l y to o k fr o m h im .

H is ill Qua lities are u tte rl y fo rg o t , and his go o d “

One s appe ar with gr e ate r L u tre th an b e fo r e ; nay,

s

we su mmo n all o ur I nd ulg e nc e and P artial ity to

e xc us e an d us tifi e th e Qu arr e l h e fo rme rl h ad
j y
ag ai ns t us . Th is is a Truth atte s ted b y e ve ry
P as s ion ,b ut n o ne g iv e s s uch cl e ar Evid e n c e o f it
as L o v e . Fo r we fi nd th e L ov er, wh e n full o f
R age and R ev e g , at th e Ne gl e c t o r th e U nfaith
n e

ful ne ss o f his M is tre ss ,yet lay b y all the V io l e nc e

o f hi s R e s e ntme nts , and o ne v ie w o f h e r, c al ms his

P a ions ag ain
ss . H is Tr ans p o rt and Jo y pr o no un c e s
th is B ea uty i nno c e nt,accuse s h im s e lf al o ne ,and c o n
d e mns n o th in g but h is o wn c o n d e mnin g h e r b e fo r e .

By th is s tr ang e magical P o w r o f Se l L o v , the

e - e

b l ack e s t and b as e st A c ti o ns o f h is M is tre s s are

'

made wh ite and inn o c e nt,and h e tak e s th e Faul t o ff

fr o m h e r to lay it up o n hims elf .
 MOR AL R EFL ECT I ONS 1
35
D XXX V -

The m o st rni cio us Effe ct

P ride,is ,T hat it
of

b l ind s Mens E
s te s
y fo r thi s cheris h e s and 1 nc rea se s

th e V ice, and will n o t let us s e e any o f th o se

Re me die s ,th at migh t e ith e r so fte n o ur Misfo rt une s ,
o r c o rr e c t o ur Ex tr avag an cie s .

D XX XV I

Wh en o n ec Men are past all H o pe s o f fi nding

.

Re as o n fr o m o th e rs , th e y gr o w p as t all Re aso n
th ems e lv e s
.

D XXXVH

Th e P h il o s o ph e rs ,and spe c iall y Seneca, did not

e

re m o ve Me ns Faul ts b y th eir I nst ruc tio ns,b ut o nl y

di r e cted th e m to c o ntr ib ute the m o re to th e se ttin g
up th eir P ride .

D XXX V I II
Th e wis e st M e n c o mmo nl y sh e w th e msel ve s so
in l e ss M atte r s , and g e ne r all y fail in th o se o f th e
gre ate st Co ns e que nc e .

D XXXIX

Th e ni ce st Folly pr o ce ed s fr o m th e ni c es t

D XL
So b rie ty is ve ry o fte n o nl y a Fo ndn e ss o f H e al th ,
and th e Effe c t o f a we ak Co nst itu ti o n,w hic h will
'

no t be ar I nte mp e r anc e .
 M OR A L R EFL ECT I ONS 1 37
DX L V II
Eve ry M an t ath h ath s o me V ices is no t d e sp ise d ,
b ut e ve ry M an that hath no V ertue, is , and o ugh t
to b e ,d e sp i se d
.

DX L V III
Th o se th at find no D ispo sitio n in th emse l ve s to
b e gui l ty o f gre at Faul ts , are n o t apt, up o n sl igh t
G r o u nd s ,to susp e ct o th e rs o f th e m .

DX L IX
P o mp o us Funera ls are made mo re o ut o f a

D e sig n to gratifie the V anity o f the L iving ,th an to

d o H o no ur to the D ead .

DL

In th e mid st o f all the unc e rtain and vario us

A cc id e nts in th e W o rl d , we ma
y di sc e rn a se cr et

Co nne x io n, a c e rtain M et h o d , and r e gul ar O r d e r ,

c o nstantl y o b se rved b y P rov idence, wh ich b rings
e ve r Th i ng in , in its d ue P lac e , and mak e s all
y
-

c o ntrib ute to th e fulfil ling th e End s appo inted

fo r it.

DL I
Fe arl e ss ness is req ui site to b u o y up th e M ind in
M céednes s ,and Conspiracies ,b ut V al o ur is su ffi c ie nt
to g ive a Man Co nstanc y o f M ind in H o no ur ab l e
A c tio ns ,and the H az ards o f W ar .
1
38 M OR A L R EFL ECTION S
D L II
‘

No Man g g fo r h is own C o urage ,wh o

c an e n a e

was ne ve r in an
y D ang e r th at m ight put it upo n the
Try al .

D L III
Imitatio n always s u c ceed s ill ; and e ve n th o se
Th ings wh ich whe n N atural are mo s t g rac e ful and
ch arming , whe n put o n, and afi ected , we nause ate
'

and d e sp ise .

D L IV
G o od ne ss ,wh en uni ve rs al ,and sh e w ed to all th e
World, with o ut di stinc tio n, is ve ry h ardly kn o wn
fr o m gre at Cunning and A ddr e ss .

DL V
Th e Wy a b e al
to s afe ,1 8 to p o ss e ss o th e r
P e o pl e wi th a O p ini o n ,
n h at th e y c an ne ve r d o an
ill Th ing to us , with o u t s uffe ring fo r it .

A Man s o wn Co nfid en c e in hi mse lf m ak e s up

’
a

gre at P art of th at Trust wh ich h e h ath in ot h e rs

“

D L V II
T he re i s a k ind Of g e ne ral Re vo lutio n, not m
‘

o re

vi si ble l n th e Turn it g ive s to the Fo rtune s o f the

World, th an it is in th e ch ang e o f M ens U nd er
=
'

standing s ,and th e d iffe rent Re lish o f Wit -

.
 M OR A L R EFLECTIONS 1
39
D L V I II
Mag nanimity is a b o ld Str o k e o f P ride,b y wh ich
a Man g et s ab o v e hi mse lf, in o rd e r to get ab o v e

e ve r Th ing e lse
’

y .

DL IX
L uxury, and to o gr e at D e li c ac y in a State , is
a sur e Si g n th at th e ir A ffai rs are in a d e cl ining

Co ndi ti o n ; fo r wh e n Me n are s o ni c e and c urio us

in th e i r o wn C o nc e r n s , th e y mind no thi ng b ut
r ivate I nte re st,and tak e o ff all th e ir Care fro m the
publ ick
)
.

DL X
Of all th e P a s s ions we are e xpo se d to ,no ne is
mo r e c o nc e al e d fr o m o ur K no wl e d g e th an I dl e ne ss .

It i s the mo s t vio l ent, and the mo st mischi e vo us o f

an ,and e t at th e sam e T ime its V i o l e nc e we are
y y
ne ve r se ns i b l e o f,and th e D amag e we sus tai n b it
y
is ve ry s e l d o m s ee n. If we c o nside r its P o we r
c ar e fully,it will be fo und, up o n all Occ asio ns , to
r e ig n ab s o l ute o ve r all o ur Se ntime nts,o ur I nte re sts ,
and o ur P l e asur e s. Th is is a R emora th at c an st o p
th e l arg e s t Sh ips ,and a Ca lm o f wo rs e Co n se q u en c e
to o ur A ffair s ,th an an y R ock s ,and Storms . Th e
Ease and Q uie t o f Sl o th ,is a se cret Ch arm upo n
th e So ul, to susp e nd its m o s t e ag e r P ursui ts , and
sh ak e s its mo st pe rem to ry Re s o l uti o ns In a
Wo rd , to g ive a true mage o f this P as s ion, we
.

m ust s ay,th at it is a supp o sed Fe lic ity o f th e Soul,

th at mak e s h e r e as ie un d e r all h e r L o sse s , and
suppl ie s the P l ac e o f all h er Enjo yme nts and
A d vantage s .
M a x i ms an d M ix ed T/zo ug/zts .

P A RT III .

D L XV I
A s n o th ing betr ays gre ate r W
e ak ne ss and w ant o f

R ea s on, th an to s ub mi t o ne s Jud g me nt to ano th e r

Man s with o ut any Ex aminatio n, o r Co ns ide ratio n
’

o f o ur o wn ; s o n o th ing argu e s a gre at S irit, and

p
tru e W i s do m,m o re th an the sub mi ttin g to A lmi gh t
y
G o d with an ab s o l ute and impl ic it Faith , an d be
lie ving wh ate ve r h e says upo n th e single A uth o rity
o f h is o w n W o rd
.

D L X V II
Tru e Wo rth d o e s no t d e pend up o n T im es no r
Fash io ns . Th e y th at h ave o nl y th e A dvantag e o f
a Co urt A ir,an
y w h e r e e lse a re n o b ette r th an th ei r

Ne igh b o urs But g o o d Sen e,L ea rning,and ”f i s dom,

. s

are Q ual ific ati o ns th at r e c o mm e nd a Man ,and m ak e

h im V al ued e ve ry wh e r e ,and at all ti me s .

1 41
I4 : M AXIM S
D L X V III
I nste ad o f appl ying o ur s e l v e s to k no w o th e rs,we
mind no th in g e ls e ,but th e mak ing o ur s e l ve s kn o wn .

It wo ul d turn to much bette r A cc o unt, to h e ar and

so g et m o r e K no wl ed g e ; th an to talk all,th at we

may pu bli sh wh at we h ave go t alre ad y .

D L XI X
It i s so metim e s o f great Us e fo r a M an to pre -

tend h e is D e c e iv ed : Fo r wh en we le t a Sub til e

Fe ll o w se e th at we are se nsi b l e o f his Tri cks , it
.

give s h im Occas ion to pl ay m o re .

DL XX
Me n Jud ge of h ings so v e ry Sl igh tl y and
t
Supe rfi ci ally, that the m o st O rd inary W o rds and

fi ctions set o ff wi th a g o o d G race and s o m e l ittle

K no wled ge h o w matte rs go in the Wo rl d , v e ry
'

'
.

o fte n tak e m o re, th an the m o st P r o fo und Z Vi s dom .

D L XXI
To be ve ry much di ssatisfi ed with a Man s ’

i s a We ak ne ss . But to be highl y pl e ase d

o ne s Se lf, is d o wn righ t Folly .

D L XX II
Me n of m ean Capacities , and ill
es pe c iall o ur h alf witte d Fe ll o ws,
-
y y
B oo ks, are mo st a t
p fto be
 M AXI MS 1 43

No ne b ut m anly Souls c an u n say what th ey h ave

said ,and fo rsak e an Erro ur whe n th e y find th e m
selve s o n th e wr o ng s ide .

”
D L XXIII
A M an
’
s gre ate st Wis dom c Ons ists in be ing se

D L XXI V
Hones ty d Sincerity in o ur D eal ings uts ill
an

Me n o ut o f th eir Eyass ; it b re aks 1 th e ir

M e as ure s b y wh ich th e y h o pe d to c o mp ass th e ir
End s ; fo r K nave s c o mm o nly thi nk , th at n o th ing
can be d o ne , b ut b y K n ave ry .

D L XX V
It is a h ard T ask up o n K na ve s to be pe rpe tuall y
e mpl o e d in c o n c e al ing th e ir o wn
y W
ant o f Sincerit ,
y
and mak ing am e nds fo r the B r e ach e s o f th e ir

D L XXV I
Th e y th at d o all by Tri ck ing ,o ught ho we ve r no
c o nsul t th eir o wn Reas o s o far, as to c o nvin c e
n

th e m s e l ve s , th at such a B e h avi o ur c ann o t go l o ng

und ete c ted whe re Me n are ing e nio us , and al ways
up o n th e Watch to di sc o ve r th e m ; th o th e m
’
a
y y
s e e fi t to pr ete nd th e are i mp o se d up o n fo r a w h il
y e ,
o nl to di ssemb l e th ei r b e ing se ns ib l e o f th e Ch e at
y .
 M A XIMS 1 45

satis fi ed , th e y s e e th o se t hing s Cl e arly, wh ich th e y

h ave b ut a ve ry dark and impe rfe c t Sense o f, and
see o nl
y thr o ugh th e th ick M i s t o f a cl o ud ed

U nde rstandin g .

D L XXXI
It is e ve ry wh it as u nre as o nab l e , fo r a M an to
accuse h ims e lf fo r hi s Faul ts e x tr avag antl , as it
y
is to e xc us e h ims e lf so . Th o se th at b l ame th e m
s e l ve s s o ve r much d it r o ft n, b e c ause
y , o ve
y e

th e c anno t e nd ur e to b e b l ame d b b od
y y an
y y
e l se ; o r e lse o ut o f a v ai n H um o ur , to pe rswad e

P e o pl e that th e y are d ul y se nsibl e o f th e ir o wn

Failings .

D L XXXII
It argu e s gr e at Wi sd o m to o wn o ur o wn Faul ts
and o ur P e rfe c tio n s sin c e r e l A nd is a We ak ne ss
y.

no t to all o w bo th th e g o o d and the bad Qualiti e s th at

we re all y h ave .

D L XXXIII
Th e Wo rl d is s o fo nd o f e ve ry thi ng , th at is
fre sh and un c o mmo n,th at Me n tak e se cre t P l e as ur e ,
and fi nd Ente r tai nme nt, e ven in th e Sigh t o f th e

dis males t and mo s t tr ag ic al A ccidents ; and th at,

b e c ause th e are ne w and p artly fr o m a
y y ,
ri nc i le o f ill Nature th at is in us
p .

D L XXXI V
M en migh t c o me to a to l e rab l e g o o d K no wl ed g e
o f th e ms e l ve s , b ut th e se l d o m ta k e th e P ain s o f
y
e n uir ing into th e ms e lv e s , s o much as is ne c e ssa r
q y
K
1
46
fo r th e attainin it ; and
to b e th o ugh t wh y th e y
be wh at th e y sh o ul d be
M A XI M S
g th e y are m o re So l ic ito us
sh o ul d be , than reall y to
.

DL x x x v

If P e o pl e we re b ut as c are ful to b e wh at th ey
o ugh t, as to s ee m s o , an d imp o s e up o n o th e rs , b y

c o nc e ali ng wh at in Tru th th e y are , th e y might

sh e w the ms e l ve s b o l dl y, and save a w o rl d o f
’

Tr o ub l e w hi ch Dis s imulation pu ts th e m to .

DL X XXV I
Th e re is no Man
but may fi nd gre at A d vantag e
fr o m L ea rnin b ut the n it is as true ,: th at th e re
d
_

are few wh o o n o t fi nd g r e at P r ejudi c e to o ,fr o m

th e No tio ns th e y ac q ui r e b y Studie s, e xc e p t th e y
use th e m ,as if th e y w e r e natur al to th e m .

D L XXXV H

Th e re I s a c e r tain T e mpe r ve r y nic e to h it, in

o ur Carriag e to P e r s on s ab o v e us , s o as to all o w
o ur se l ve s all th e Fr e ed o m th at i s n e c e ss ar to
y
di ve rt and e nte rtain th e m ; and ye t to tak e no ne
.

that may be any way o ffens ive , o r b r e ak in u po n

th e H o no ur and Re spe c t d ue to th e ir Qu alit
y .

D L XXX V III
Men Ofte n m o re d e sir o us see m fo rvmrd
'

are to
and b usy to s e rve o th e rs , th an to be s uc c es s ftfl
 M AXIM S 1 47

in it, and h ad rath e r have it in th ei r P o we r to

upb r aid th e ir Friend s with an Obli g atio n, th an
re all y to o blige‘ th em .

D L XXXIX
m .

Men are s o metime s b e h o l di ng to want o f Jud g

me nt fo r g o o d Succ e s s,fo r a j ud ici o us P e r s o n wo ul d
no t v e ntur e up o n se ve r al A tte mp ts ,wh ich M e n w ho
want Co nsider ation,f requently are fo rtuna te in .

Fo rme r m e s are s o metime s c ryed up , o nl y to

ti
run d o w n th e pr e s ent, an d we v al ue wh at is no w
no mo re ,th at we ma sl igh t th at wh ich is
y .

D XCI
Th e r e is a k ind o f c o mmand ing P o wer in Me ns
manne r o f sp e ak ing , and i n th e ir A c tio n s S o me
.

th ing th at mak e s its o wn way wh e r e v e r it c o me s ,

and e ng a g e s Re sp e c t and A tte ntio n b e fo r e H and .

It i s o f us e up o n all O cc as io ns , and s o gr e at, as

e v e n to c arr w h ate v e r o ne h ath a Mind to
y .

DXCII
Th is c o mmand ing Faculty , s o use ful up o n all
O cc as io ns , is no o the r th an a gr ac e ful A uth o r ity,
p ro c e e d ing fr o m a Greatnes s and El ation o f
'

ev

So ul .
 M A XIM S 1 49

la is a nt, et no farth e r than prete nd ing to h e ark en

p g
atte nti ve l , wh e n at th e same ti me a M an ma
y y
pl ainl y see , th at b o th th eir Eyes and th ei r Mind s
are r o ving fr o m wh at is said to th e m , and p o s tin g

b ack ag ain to wh at th ey l o ng to b e at th e m se l ve s
Wh r s
.

e ea we o ugh t to k no w, that to see k o ne s

own P l e as ure s o v e ry P a s s ionately , c an nev e r be
the way to pl e as e th e Compass d h
t at
f
d il ig e nt A tt e ntio n and pr o pe r I epartee s are a
much gr e ate r A cc o mpli sh me nt, th an di sc o urs in g
ne ve r s o we ll , wh e n thi s is d o ne with o ut ev e r
atte ndi ng , o r answ e ring to the matte r th e n in
H and .

D XCV II
G o od Fo rtune alm o s t al way s al te rs the P ro
c ee d ings and th e A i r o f a Man, and mak e s him

f ts ano th e r th ing in all h is Be h avio ur and

gi nve rsati o n Thi s is a great Wea kne ss to trick
.

and se t o ne s se lf o ff with what is no t o ur o w n .

If V irtue w e re e steeme d abo ve all o th e r thi ngs,

no Fav o ur , no A d vanc e ment wo ul d be ab l e to
ch ange Men eith e r in th eir Temper o r th eir

DX CV I II
W sh ul d u
e o s l s to o th e r P e o pl es Fo llie s,
se o ur e ve

and no t tak e O ffe n c e at e v e r

y W
I inence, that

p asse s in o ur Co mp any .

D X CIX
A great So ul k s wh ate ver h appen s,
ta e and
1 50 M A XI M S
h r
t e e is as much Wis d o m in b e aring with o th e r
'
'

P eo pl e s D efl cts ,as in b e ing sen sib l e o f their

go o d

It is a great A rgum e nt o f an e x tr ao rdinary

‘

J ud g me nt, wh e n a Man is ab l e to d is c o ve r what

is in ano th e rs B r eas t, and to c o nc e al wh at is in
its o wn .

DCI
Talk ing r
all 3 Faul t, th at in B us ines s
is
'

g eat so
'

an d Co rs ation , if wh at is g o o d b e sh o r t,it is fo r
nv e

th at Reas o n d o ub l g oo d ; and a M an g ains th at

y
b y B re vi ty, which w o ul d o fte n b e l o st b y b e ing
ted io us .

DCII
e
g ene rall
y g ain an Asce nd ant, and are

Maste rs ve r th os e we are ve r y we ll ac quainted

o

with ; b e c ause the Man that is pe rfe c tl y k no wn,

is in so me M easure su b j e c ted to th e P e rs o n that

D C III
Stu dy , and the Enquir y afte r Tru th , h ath ve ry
o ften o nl
y t h i s E ffe c t, Th at it m ak e s us k n o w

ex pe rim e nta ll h o w i g no r ant we are b N at ur e

y y .

ls

D CI V
Men m o st e stee m ed wh e n the World d o e s
are

no t k no w the utm o st o f th eir A bilitie s Fo r things .

 M A XIMS 1 5 1

h
t at are und e rsto od but b y h al ve s , are always p re
sum ed gre ate r th an r e ally th e y are .

D CV

Th e D e sire of be ing th o ugh t a W

i se M an v e ry
f
o te n h inde r s o ne fr o m b e ing s o ,fo r such a o ne is
mo r e W
s o l ic ito us to let th e orld see wh at Kn o w
l ed ge h e hath ,th an to l e arn th at wh ich h e wants .

D CV I
L ittl e ne ss o f So ul, and Ignora nce, and P re
s um tion , mak e s P e o pl e o b s ti nate in th e i r O i nions ;
p p
fo r Op inio native M e n will no t b e l ie v e wh at th e y
c an no t c o mpre h e nd ; and th at th e re are b ut ve ry
fe w things th at the y are ab l e to c o mpr eh e nd .

DC V II
To d is o wn o ur Fa ults , wh e n we are told of

h m , is
t e b ut to mak e th e m m o re and gre ate r .

D CV III
W sh l d
e ou r e g ar d
no t h o w mu ch g o od a Friend
h ath d o ne us ,s o much as h o w much h e d e s ir e d and
e nd eav o ur ed to d o us .

D CIX
Th o wh y e o ught n o t to

t e
l
do us ,yet
l o ve o ur

it i s
Friends, o n
a
ly
plain C ase,
 M A XI MS 15 ;

g ive th em , g il d s , acc o mmo date s, and sweete ns the

mo s t u ngr ateful Matte rs A ll th is is o wing to th e
We ak nes s , and the P re p o sse ssio n o f Me ns Jud g
.

me nts .

D CXI V
W sh uld m k th
e o a e e Falllt J '
o f O th e rs , r ath e r a

W r i g d I struc ti
a n n an n on to l s h an a
o ur s e ve , t

Sub je c t o f M irtb , and Mo ck e ry o f th o se th at

c o mmit th e m .

D CX V
Th e Co nve rs atio n of Me n th at are of a do g
matic al an d g o ve r ning
Spirit is the tro ub le s o me s t
th ing th at c an b e . W
e s h o ul d be al wa s re ad
y y t o

sub mit to the Truth ,and r e c e ive it re adily,let it

c o me fro m wh at H and it will .

D CXV I
A Man may l e ar n as much b y o th e r P e o pl e s
Fa ults , as b y th e i r Ins tructions The Ex ampl e s .

o f I mpe rfec ti o n are in a m anne r as use ful to war d s

th e mak ing a Man pe rfe c t, as th o se o f i s dom and W

DCX V II
W e are be tte r
pl e ase d with th o se th at strive to
imitate us , th an with th o s e th at end eavo ur to e q ual
us ; fo r I mitatio n argue s Estee m , b ut a D e sire o f
E qu al ity argu e s Env y .
1 54 MAXIM S
DCX V III
’
Ti s ve ry c o m me nd ab l e P ie c e o f A dd re ss to
a

m ak e a D eni al go d o wn we ll with s o ft and c ivil

’

Expre ss io ns , and b y Co urte s ie to m ak e am end s fo r

th e K in d nes s we cann ot gr an t .

D CXIX
Th e re are 3 So rt o f P e rs o ns th at s ay No so ve ry
n atur all y, th at th eir No al ways ush e rs in wh ate ve r
th e y a re ab o u t to s ay . Th is m ak e s th e m s o dis
a gr ee ab l e , th at th o th e y be pr e vail ed up o n with
’

much Imp o rtunity to grant a

th e G r ace and th e Co mm e nd ati o n
are u tte rly l o st b so v e ry unto war d a Be g inn ing
y .

DCX X
A ll Th ings o ugh t no t to b e grante d ,no r all Me n
to be gr atifi e d . It is al to g eth e r as c o mmend ab l e ,
to d eny up o n a j us t Occas ion, as to g ive in d ue
Seas on . Thi s mak e s s o me P e o pl es No be tte r
r e ce ived , than o th e r P e o pl e s Tes . A D e ni al,
whe n m anage d with g o od Nature, and so fte ne d
ive s mo r e Sati sfacti on to a M an
o f U nd e rs tan din g ,th an a Fav o ur c o l d ly and rud e l y

DCXXI
The re is a gre at deal o f Wis dom re q uired in th e
Ch oic e o f g o o d C o uns el, as w e ll as in th e b ei ng
ab l e to ad vi s e o ne s o wn se lf . Men of the b est
 M A XIM S 1 55
Jud gm ent are al ways mo st r e ad y to c o nsul t th e
Op inio ns o f o th e r s , and it is o ne Em inent I n s tan c e
of W i d om to sub mit o ne s se lf to the g o o d Co nduc t
s

o f a Friend .

D CXXII
The D octri nes of Cb ris tie nity ,wh ich o ugh t to be
de r ive d o nl y fr o m th e Tru ths c o ntaine d in the
Gospel, are g ene r all y re pre se nted to us , acc o rding
to the T e mpe r and C o mple x io n o f o ur Teacbers .

So m e o ut o f an e xc ee ding Te nd e rne ss and g o o d

Na ture, and o th e rs fr o m a s o ur and rugg ed DIG- P

po s itio n, fo rm and implo y the Jus tice and Me rc y

o f G od ,jus t acc o r d ing to th ei r o w n A ppre hens ions
o f Th ings .

DCXXIII
In th e Stu dy o f H um ane L ear ning, o ur Soul
o ugh t al wa s to pre s e r ve its o w n F r ee d o m, and
y
no t ins lave it s e lf to o th e r P e o pl e s Fan cies
. The
L ibe rty o f th e Judg me nt sh o ul d ha ve its full Sc o pe ,
and no t tak e an Th ing up o n Trus t, fr o m th e
y
C re dit o f any Man s A u th o rity
’
. When diffe ren t
Opini ons are pro po se d t o us , we sho ul d c o nside r
and chuse ,if the re are s uc h Odd s be tw e e n th m, as
e

to ad mit o f a Ch o ic e , and if th e re b e no t,th en w e

sh o uld c o ntinue in suspe nc e sti ll .

D CXXIV
C o ntradic tio n sh o ul d awak e n o ur A ttentio n and
Car e ,b ut n o t o urP a s s ion Th o se that o ppo se us ,
' '

o ugh t r ath e r to b e he a r d than avo ided ; fo r w e

 IS7

Fo ll y to h ear o nes se lf in Co mp any,as lk

to ta all,

and h ea r no bo d y b ut o n e s Self .

DCXX V III 1/
A Man is b ut l ittl e th e bette r fo r l ik ing himse lf,
wh e n no b od y e lse l ik e s him Fo r an immo d e rate
.

L aw o f o ne s Se lf,is ve ry o ften ch as ti sed b y Co n

te mp t fr o m o th e rs .

DCXXIX
Th e re is al ways ,und e r the greate st D e vo tio n,a
P r o p o rti o n o f Sel L ov e c o nc eal ed , gre at e no ugh
-

to s et B o u nd s to o ur Ch arity .

DCXXX
So me P eo pl e are so b li nd , and
fl atte r th e mse lve s
to s o gr e at a D e gre e , th at th e y al way s be lie v e wh at
th e y wi s h , and th ink to m ak e e ve ry b o d b e l ie ve
y
wh at th e y h ave a mind to Th o th e A rg ume nts
.
’

th e y wo ul d pe rswad e with are ne v e r s o p oo r and

we ak ,th e ir P re p o ss e ss io ns are s o str o ng ,th at the y
th in k th e y n ee d o nl y talk l o ud and b ig, and be ve r y
p o sitive,to mak e all the Wo rl d o f th eir Op inio n .

D CXXXI
Ig no r anc e c re ate s Irr e s o lutio n and Fe ar,L e arn
ing mak e s Me n bo l d and assur ed ,b ut no th ing di s
'

tur b a a Mind th at is trul y wi se , and k no ws h o w

to d is ting uish Thi ngs ri gh tly .
1 58 M A XI MS
D CXXXII
It is a g e ne ral Failing ,that Men n e v e rth ink th e ir
own Fo rtu ne s too gr eat,no r th e i r o w n W
it to o
l ittl e .

D CXXXII I
Th e re Cann o t be a meane r Th ing ,th an to take
ad v anta e o f o ne s Qu al it nd G re atne s s ,t o ridi c ul e
g y a

and ins ul t o ve r th o se o f an infe rio ur C o nditio n .

DCX XX IV
Wh po sitive Man hath o nc e be gun to di spute
en a

an th in g ,h is Mind is fi n ed up ag ains t all L igh t

y
and b e t te r I n fo r matio n O pp o sitio n pr o vo k e s h im,
.

th o ugh t h e r e b e ne ve r s o g o o d G r o u nd fo r it, and

h e se e ms to be afr aid o f no m m r h l s
'

’
g m o e ,t an e t h e

sh o uld be c o n vi nced o f the Tru th .

DCXXX V
The Sh ame o f b e in g
c o mme nde d with o ut
D e se rt, so metime s puts Me n up o n d o in
ot h e rwi se th e w o ul d ne ve r h av e o nc e att
y
to do .

DCXXX V I
It is much b e tte r that great P e rso ns sh o ul d th
afte r H o no ur ; n a ,th at th e s h o ul d e ven b e
y y
upo n th e acc o unt o f d o ing we ll, than th at

s h o ul d be wh o ll cl e ar o f th is P a ndas F r
y . o

th e G o o d th e d o ,pr o c e eds no t fr o m a P r in
y
o f V ertue , et the Wo rld h o we ve r h ath th w f
y
 M A XIM S
g h at th e ir V anity mak e s th e m d o ,wh at,if
vanta e ,t

th e y we r e no t v ain,th e y wo ul d n o t ha v e d o ne .

DCXXXV I I
Th ey th at are s o fo o li sh ,as to value th e mse l ve s
mee rly fo r th e ir Q uality, d o in a gre at m e asure
sl ight that ve r y Th ing th at g ave th e m the ir Q ual ity .

Fo r, th o th e y r e c e iv e it by D e sc e nt no w, yet it
’

was the V ir tu e o f the ir A nc e sto rs th at first e n

no b l ed th e i r B l o o d .

Dc x x x v m
' '

L o ve‘
mak e s us impo se upo n our se l ves in
al mo s t e v e r
y
3k ind o f Th ing : W
e h ear F aul ts

c o nde mned b y o th e r P eo pl e ; nay, we o fte n c o n

d e mn th e m with o ur o wn M o uth s , and yet ta k e no
c are to amend th e m A nd th at,e ith e r be c ause we
.

are no t se ns ib l e o f th e Ill th at w e c arr y ab o ut us ,

o r e ls e t h at w e l o o k up o n o ur o wn Ill s thro ugh

false G l asse s ,and mi s tak e th e m fo r so mething th at

is G OOd a '

D CXXXIX
It is noCo ns eq ue nc e , that a M an is ve rtuo us ,
be c aus e we se e him d o ve rtu o us A ction s "
.We are
rate ful fo r a K ind ne ss s o meti me s , o n l s e r ve
g y to

o ur se l ve s fo r the Re putatio n o f G ratitud e ,and to

gain an A d van tage o f be ing mo re bo l dl y ungrate ful
fo r s o me o th e r Favo urs ,wh ich we a re no t inclined
to ack n o wl e d g e .
 M A XI M S 161

wh e re no t h ing is m o re usual ,than to find s l s

o ur e ve

c h e ated.
‘
t

D CX L I V

Wh r s e e o e ve r L r e al, it is th e g o ve rning
o ve is
It pe rfe c tl y fo rms the So ul,th e f ffi ti , c o ns

and the Unders ta ndi g afte r its o wn M odel

n Its .

be ing greate r o r l e ss , d oe s no t d e pe nd upo n th e

Ca p ac ity o f th e P e r s o n, o f wh o m it h ath tak e n
P o s s e ss io n , b ut up o n its o wn Str e ngt h and P r o p o r
tio n ; and in t ruth , L o v e s e e ms to be ar the s ame
re l atio n to the P e rs o n in low,th at th e So ul be ars
to the Bo d y animated b y it.

D CX L V

L o fve h ath such pe c ul iar d istingui sh ing Qua kties ,

th at it c an ne ith e r b e c o nc e al ed , wh e r e it r e all y is ,
n o r c o u nte rfe ited ,wh e r e it re all i s no t
y .

DCX L V I
A ll D ive rs io ns th at are ve ry e nte rtaining ,are o f
d ang e r o u s Co n s e q ue n c e to Cb ris tia ity ; b ut o f all n

th at the Wo rl d h ath fo un d o ut, no ne s h o ul d b e

mo r e c autio usl y us e d th an P l y Th e y g iv e s o
a s .

n ic e , s o n atur al a Re pr e s entati o n o f th e P a s s ions ,

th e y r e all y b e g e t and ins p ir e th e m, and e sp e c iall y

th at o f L o e, wh e n it i s d e scr ib e d , as a m o d e s t and
v

a ve rtuo u s P a s ion s Fo r th e m o r e inn o c e nt it

.

appe ar s to inn o c e nt P e rs o n s , th e m o r e s till th e

y
fi nd th e mse l ve s di s p o se d to r e c e ive and s ub mit to i t .

The y fanc y to th e mse l ve s a Se n se o f H o no ur ,and

L
1 62 M AXIMS
at th e sam e T ime ,th at th is is no way inj ure d b y
s o d is cr ee t an A ffe c tio n
. Thus P e o pl e r is e fro r
P lay with th e i r H e a rt s so fil l! o f th e So ftne s s e
.

L o v e,and th e i r J ud g ments s o s atis fi ed o f its In1

c e nc e ,th at th e y are in a p e rfe c t D isp o s itio n to tan
.

in its firs t I mpre ss io ns re adil y, o r r ath e r ind ee d 1

see k and c o urt O cc as io n s o f infe c ting s o me b o dy e ls «

with it,th at s o th ey may re c e ive th e s ame P l easure s,

and th e same D e v o tio ns wh ich th e h av e seen so
y
m o vingl y re pre sented upon the Stag e .
 M ix ed Tb o ugb ts .

P A R T IV .

D CX L V II
Self-L o v e, acc o r di ng as it is righ ot eh rwise ,
und e rs to o d and applye d , is th e Cause o f all the
M o ral V ertues ,and V ices in the o rl d W .

DCX L V III
That P rudence,wh ich is made use o f in the g o od
M anage me nt o f Me n s A ffairs , wh e n tak e n in its
’

t rue Se ns e , is o nl y a wi se and mo r e j ud ic io us L ov e
o f o ur se l ve s ; an d th e o pp o site t o th is , is pe rfe c t

B lindne ss and I nc o ns ide r atio n .

D CX L IX
Th o ugh it may be d ,with
s ai gre at Tru th , upo n
th at M e n ne ve r ac t with o ut a re g ard
ow n I teres t, et w il l it b e n o Co n se ue n c e
n
y q
th e nc e ,th at all th e y d o i s c o rr up t,and n o such
g as Jus tice no r Ho ty l e ft in th e Wo rl d
nes .

m ay g o ve r n th e mse l ve s b y No b l e End s , and

I tere ts full o f Co mmend atio n and H o n o ur
n s .

th e ve ry Th ing , th at d e no m inate s any

 M A XIMS 1 65

D CL III
Th is Max im , Tbat tb c mo s t s ec ret Tbings a re ( fis
co v ere d a t one Ti me ( n
o r at er, s
y l
i e as t o f
to sa th e
it ) ve r y un c e rtain ; fo r we c an o nl y ju d g e o f wh at
we d o no t k no w,b y wh at we k no w alre ad y ; and
c o n se que ntl y,wh at we d o no t yet k no w c an g ive
us no fur th e r L igh t into it .

D CL I V
No th ing c o nduc e s m o r e to the m ak ing o ur L ife
h appy, th an to k no w Th ings as th e y r eall y a re ;
and th i s Wis d m must be ac quired b y fre que nt
o

Re fl e c tio n s upo n M en , and th e A ffai rs o f the

World ; fo r o th e rwise Bo o ks will c o ntrib u te b ut
l ittl e to it .

D CL V
A l mo s t ll
a th e M i se rie s o f L ife are o wing to
th e false No ti o ns Me n h av e o f th e W ld,or an d a ll
h
t at is d o ne in it .

D CL V I
True El o quenc e i s g o o d Se ns e , del ive r e d in a
Natura l, and unaffe c te d Way Th at wh ich mus t
.

b e se t o ff with Tr o p e s and O rn ame nts ,i s a cc e p t

ab l e ,o nl b e c aus e th e G e ne r al ity o f Me n are e as il
y y
imp o se d upo n,and se e Th ings b ut b y h al ve s .

D CL V II
Max ims are to the Mind , ju s t wh at a Staff is to
th e B o d y,wh e n a Man c anno t supp o rt h imse lf b y
 1 66 M AXI MS
h is o wn Stre ng th . Me n u nd Sense ,th at s e e
of s o

Th ings in th eir full and j ust P r o o rtio ns ,h ave no

nee d o f g e ne r al Ob se rv ati o n s to h e p
p th e m o ut .

D CL V III
The gre at Ch arac te rs o f be ing Men o f H o no ur
and J us tic e , are v e r o fte n gr o unded m o r e up o n
y
Fo rms,and a K n ack o f app e aring to b e such ,th an
an t rue and s o l id Wo r th
y .

D CL IX
Th o s e th at h ave the A cc o mpl ish me nts Es se ntial
to th e mak ing a g o o d M an, supp o s in g th e y need n o
A rt, ne gl e c t Fo r mal itie s ; ac t mo r e acc o r ding to
N a tur , and c o ns e qu e ntl y m o r e in th e D ark
e Fo r .

th o se th at ju d g e o f th e m, h ave s o me th ing e lse to

d o , th an to e x amine th e m ; and s o th e y pr o no unc e
Se nte nc e o nl y a cc o rd ing to o u tward A pp e ar anc e s .

DCL X
No man be J us t and G o o d ,w ith o u t
rfe c tl
“

c an
y
a gr e at Me as ur e 0 Se n s e , and righ t R ea s o ,wh ich
n

will al ways c arr y him to ch use th e j uste r Sid e in

e ver A c ti o n o f h is L ife A n d it is a o o lis b
y .
f
Th ing to e x to l wick e d Me n, an d K nav e s , as th e
Wo rld c o mmo nl y d o , fo r P e rs o ns o f Wit and
’

U nd e r s tand ing Such P e o pl e h ave o nl y o ne P ar t

.

o f th at s o un d Se n se ,wh ich ma k e s th e m succ e ssful

up o n s o me O cc as io ns , but impe rfe c t,and at a l o ss
up o n a Th o us and o th e rs .
 M A XIM S 1 67

D C L XI
C o urage in Me n, and Cba s tity in W o me n, are

e stee me d th e pr in c ip al V e r tue s o f e ach Sex , be c ause

th e
y are th e h ar d e st to pr ac tis e :W h en th es e V e r

tue s want e ith e r th at Co ns ti tuti o n , o r th at G r ac e

th at sh o ul d s us tain and k ee p th e m up , th e y s o o n
gr o w we ak , and are pre se ntl y sacrific e d to th e
L ov e o f L ife and P le asur e .

DC L XII
Yo u sh all sc arc e me et with a Maste r , b ut crie s
o ut, up o n all Se rv ants , th at th e are R o ue and
y g s

th e P lagues o f a Fami l y ; and if Se rv ants e ve r

c o me to be M as te rs , the y will say j ust th e sa m e
th ing . Th e Reas on is , be c aus e g e ne r ally,it is no t
th e Qu al itie s, b ut th e Fo r tu ne s o f Me n,th at mak e s
th e di ffe r e nc e betwee n th e m .

DC L XIII
P eopl e d o no t mak e it th e ir Bus ine ss to be in
the righ t, s o much as to b e th o ugh t s o ; th is mak e s
th e m stickl e s o s tifi y fo r th e ir o wn Op inio ns , e v e n
th e n wh en th e y k no w and are satis fi ed th e y are
false .

DC L XI V
Err o rs s o me time s h ave as l o ng a run, as the
gre ate st Tru ths ; be c ause , wh e n th e s e Err o r s are
o nc e r e c ei ved fo r Truth s , Me n ad mit wh ate ve r
m ak e s fo r th e m with an impl ic it Co nse nt ; and
 M A XI MS 1 69

D CL XIX
D e vo tio n is a T e mpe r o f th e Mind el
y
Sp ir itual , and d e r ive s it se lf fr o m G o d o ns e
.

ue ntl ,it is a ve r nic e Th in g , and o ugh t to b e

q y y
o b se r ve d v e r n arr o wl , and w ith e x c e e d ing C au
y y
tio n, b y th o s e th at wo ul d k e e p th e ms e lv e s fr o m
b e in g d e c eived in it .

DC L XX
The h igh e s t P itch o f P e rfe ctio n,th at M e n are
c ap ab l e o f,is to be thr o ughl y ac quainted with th e ir
o wn We ak ne s s , th e ir V anit , and M is e r and th e
y y ;
l e s s g o o d Se nse any o ne h ath ,th e l es s h e kno ws
o f th e s e Matte rs .

D CL XXI
Th e r e is a s o rt o f Ignora nce, th at k no ws no th ing
at all, an d e t is n o t n e ar s o d e sp ic ab l e , as th at
y
k ind o f Ignora nc e, wh ich is full o f Err o r and
I mp e r tinenc e , and p ass e s up o n a gre at m any fo r
L e ar ning and K no wl e d g e .

D CL XXII
To o se rvile a Sub mis s io n to th e B o o ks an d
Opinio ns A n c ie nts , as if th e s e we re Ete rn al
o f th e

Truths , re veale d b y G o d h ims e lf, h ath s p o il e d

m any an inge nio us M an, and pl ague d the orld W
with ab und anc e o f P eda nts .

D CL XXIII
If we set a side th o se Case s ,in wh ich Religion i s
I7 o M A XIM S
c o nc e rn ed , a Man o ugh t to me asure h is Stud ie s
and hi s B o o ks b th e Stand ar d o f h is o wn Rea s on,
y
and n o t ins lave h is R eas on to his B o o ks .

D CL XXI V
Stu d io us Me n pr o p o se to th e ms e l ve s the fill ing
th eir H ead s with No tio ns , th at they may talk
fluentl y and nic el y, and be tak e n no tic e o f in th e
World ; mo re th an th eir o wn r eal I mpr o ve me nt,
an d b ette r I nfo rm atio n,th at th e y migh t be u al ifi e d
q
to m ak e a righ t Jud g me nt o f Th in gs .

DC L XXV ‘

Such W o r ds as sy
p
atbiz e, Je ne s ca
q
’
ua s ,

q
y y
Occult Qua fities , and a h o usand m o r e o f th e s am e
k ind , h ave no Se n s e no r Significatio n at all A .

Man is wo nde rfull y de c e ived ,if h e fan sie s h ims e lf

o ne o t th e wi se r fo r th e m
j . Th e
y we r e o nl
y fo und

o ut to s uppl th e wan t o f Re a s o n ,and to be us e d ,

y
wh e n we w o ul d fain s ay s o m e th ing , b ut indee d
h ave n o thi ng to s ay .

D C L XXV I
We attrib u te m o re to Reas o n, th an is h er d ue .

She fr e que ntl y usurp s wh at o f r igh t be l o ngs to o ur

Co ns titutio n and wo ul d h av e b ut fe w A d vantag e s,
’

if s h e h ad n o m o re th an are stric tl y h e r o wn .

D C L XXV II
It is but v e ry se l d o m, th at Reas on cur es o ur
 M AK IM S 17 1

P a s s ions , b ut o ne P as s ion i s c o mmo nl y cu re d b y

a no th e r . R eas on ind ee d o fte n str ik e s in with the
st r o ng e st Sid e ; and th e r e is n o P as s ion s o e x
travagant, b ut h ath its R eas on re ad y to k ee p it
in C o u nte nanc e .

DC L XX V III
Go od andr igh t R eas on is a L igh t in the M ind,
b y wh ich it di s c e r n s Th ings as th e y are in th e m
s e l v e s ; b ut in th is W o rld thi s L igh t is in c o m as se d ,
p
and d ark ened b a Th o us and M i s ts and Cl o ud s
y .

D CL XXIX
Re pu tatio n wo ul d no t be s o h ighl y v alu e d ,if we
d id b ut d ul y c o ns ide r , h o w v e r y un ju s t Me n are ,
b o th in the g ivin g and th e tak ing o f it away ag ain
W
.

e sh o ul d b e s ur e to de se rv e it b d o ing we ll ,
y
and wh e n th at Ca r e i s o nc e ta k e n, no t be o v e r

an x io us ab o u t th e Succ e ss .

D CL XXX
To o tende r a Se nse of wh at h r
ot e P e o pl e ysa

ill f us , d o e s b ut e nte r tain th e

o Mal ic e o f th e
W o rld, wh ich d e s ir e s n o th ing mo r e h
t an th at it
may d is tur b us .

DC L XXXI
The abs o lute want o f su ch a Se nse ,s o as be
to
mo ved at no t h ing th e y s ay,is a c o ntr ary Ex tre am,
h
t at pr o duc e s the sam e Effe c t . Th is is such a
 M AXIMS 173

Sal vatio n up o n gre ate r h az ar d ,than th e s o fte st and

mo s t mo ving P l ays Th o se are th e Or ig inal ,the se
.

o nl th e I mag e and Co p ; th o se k ind l e and in sp ir e

y y
th e P a s s ions , th e se o nl y awak e and e nte rtai n th em .

D CL XXX V I
P l ays and Mus ick wo uld have but fe w A d
mire rs ,if o ne h ad n e ve r fe l t L ov e,no r any o the r
P a s s ions .

DC L XXX V II
It is c o m mo n Th ing to imag ine we l o ve a
a

Man o f gre at Int re t and Fortune, with a v e ry

e s

s inc e r e P as ion ; b ut this is wh at we c anno t be

s

s ure o f till he be s trippe d o f all the A d vantag e s

of Pow e r and G r ea tne ss ,th en o ne uic k l di sc e r ns
y
wh at it was th at e ng aged o ur ffe cti o ns If .

Intere t we r e at the bo tto m o f it, th o H o no ur

’
s

may k e e p it up fo r s o m e T im e , ye t it qui ckl y

gr o ws wea r y,and l e ts it fall to the G r o und .

D C L XXXV III
G r atitu de is th e V e rtu e of wise and ge ne r o us
M ind s .

DC L XXXIX
I ngr atitu de is the Faul t of Fo ols and Clo wns .

DCX C
Th e re are s o me so rt of P e o pl e , th at ne ve r l oo k
1 74 M A XI MS
into B o o k , and ye t with th e ir
a o wn Sto ck o f
Natural P a rts , h ave a b e tte r Sen se of Th ings th at
d e pe nd upo n cle ar and true Rea s on, th an s o me
g re at and bo o k ish P rofes s ors
.

D CXCI
G o o d Sens e and Reas on o ugh t to b e the U mp ire
o f all Rul e s , b o th A n c ient and M o d e rn ; wh ate ve r

d oe s no t agree wi th thi s Standard c anno t be

DCX CII
Nature was give n to e x e rci se the P bilos opb rs , e

l ik e so me da rk Riddl e ; e ve r y o ne m ak e s his o wn
Se nse the Ke y,and o ut o f th at c o ntr iv e s hi s o wn
Sy ste m .H e th at b y th e se P rinc ipl e s e xpl ain s
mo st D iffi cul tie s ,may be all o we d thus far to val ue
hims elf, th at he hath hi t upo n the m o s t pr o bab l e
Op in io n .

DCXCIII
B o dil y P ain is th e o nl y Evil atte nd ing hum ane
L ife , th at is p as t the P o we r o f Reas on, e ith e r to
cure o r to a ssw age .

D CX C I V
Fo rtune g ive s o ut the P art s Me n are to pl ay
up o n th i s Stag e o f the W o rld, b l indl , a nd j us t
y
a cc o r ding to h e r o wn unacc o untab le H u mo ur
Th is is th e R eas on wh th e r e is s o much ill ac ting
be cause Me n ve ry se do m hit upo n th o se Char
 M A XIM S I7 5

acte rs t h at are fit fo r th e m ; o r to spe a k in a mo re

Cbris tia n Styl e , wh at we c all Fortune, is no o th e r
th an th e P r o vid e nc e o f God, wh ich pe r mits th o s e
D is o rd e rs , fo r R ea s ons wh ich we are no t ab l e
to c o mpr e h e nd .

DCX CV
Reas on and E perience o ugh t alw ays
x to go H and
in H and in th e D i sc o ve r y o f Nature .

D CX CV I
If fre qu ent Med itatio ns upo n D eath , d o no t
mak e us be tte r Me n, yet m eth inks th e y sh o ul d
mo d e r ate o ur P as s ions h o we ve r ,and put s o me re
str aint up o n o ur A va n ce and A mbition
'
‘
.

D CXCV II
Eve ry th ing in th is L ife is acc ide ntal , e ve n o ur
Birth th at b rings us into it De ath is the o nl y th ing
.

we c an b e s ure o f A n d yet we be have o ur s e l ve s ,

'

jus t as if all the re st we re c e rtain ,and D eath al o ne

unc e rtai n.

D CX CV III
L ife is g o o d in it s o wn Na ture The gre ate s t
g o o d in the World,b ut the mo st unthriftil y s quande r d
.

awa A nd it is n o t o f th is , b ut o f o ur o w E
y. n x

travaganc e that we h ave r e aso n to c o mpl ain .

D CXCIX
No th ing is so h ard to p e rs wade Me n to ,as th e
 M A XI M S 1 77
D CCII I
Th e A rt o f pl easin g in C omp an y is , no t to
e xpl ain th ings to o p artic ul arl y , to e xpre s s o nl y
o ne h alf, and l e ave yo ur H e ar e r s to mak e o ut
th e r e s t Th is arg ue s yo u h ave a g o o d Op inio n
.

o f th e P e r s o n s o u c o nv e rs e w ith ; and n o th in g
y
is mo r e agr e eab l e to Me n s L o v e o f th e mse l ve s .

D CCI V
Th e G r o u nd o f al mo s t all o ur false Re as o nings
is , th at we s e l d o m l o o k any farth e r, th an o ne s id e
ues tio : Wh e r e as , if a M an wo ul d d o his
o f th e
Q n

A rg ument r igh t,h e o ugh t to co nsid e r it in its u tmo st

L d
atitu e .

D CCV
Th e re are s o many Exc e ll e nc ie s ,s o many Be autie s
in N a ture,tha t if any b e s up e rfl uo us ,it is n o t be c ause
th e r e are to o man , b ut b e c aus e we ch o o s e ,and use
y
th e m ill .

D CC V I
T h e Ci rc umstanc e s o f th o s e , wh o are intrus ted
with th e Tr e asur e s and th e Co u nc il s o f P rinc e s ,
are much l e ss fickl e , th an th e irs t hat are to ro
p
vid e fo r th e ir D ive r s i o n s Me n are no t al ways
.

in th e H umour to tak e th ei r P l e asur e , b ut th e y

are alw ays di sp o s e d to H o no ur and Rich e s .

DC CV II
Th e h igh e st lVis dom,is fo r a Man to be s ens ib l e ,
h
t at he wants it .
1 78 M A XI MS
D CCV III
Th e re is no such th ing as true Wi s do m in thi s
World, e xc e pt th at wh ich instruc ts us in Cbris tian
M orality . Fo r th is , if we ab s tr ac t fr o m it all the
Suppo rts o f Faith , and A d vantag e s o f R eligion , i s
o f it s e lf th e m o st pur e and p e rfe ct Rul e o f L ife

D CCIX
Th e V ulg ar v alu e and c ry up A ctio ns and o th e r
Th ings , no t o nl y fo r th e ir Exc e lle nc e , b ut m o re
e ne r all fo r th e U nc o m mo nne s s o f th e m and th is
g y
give s O ccas io n to M e th o d s Me n tak e
to gain th e A ppr o

DCCX
The Co urt is th e P eculia r, wh e r e A mbition is
s u re am.
p A ll h r
ot e P a s s ions , e ve n L ov e it s e lf,
and all L aws t ruckl e unde r h e r; and th e r e are no
so rts o f U nio ns b ut s h e c an b o th k nit to g e th e r,

and b r e ak asu nd e r .

DCCXI
A mbitio us Me n ch e at th e ms e lve s , wh e n th e fix
up o n any Ends fo r th e ir A mbition Th o s e E . ?
wh en th ey are attaine d to , are c o nve rted into
Means, sub o rdinate to s o mething farth e r .

DC CXII
A go od Ch arac te r , in wh ich al l th e W ld
or
 M A XIM S 1 79

r s
ag ee , and which nues
co nti a great whi l e, is
s el do m false .

DCCXIII
Th e Op inio n o f th o se P b ilos opbers ,th at will h ave
Beasts to be inD e gree mo re th an M aebines ,
no

which m o ve th e ms e lve s , is e xc eedi ng h ard to c o n

c ei ve. But th at o f s o me o th e r P b ilos opbers , wh o
assi g n th e m a Soul th at is c o rp o re al , and et n o t
y
a bo d y ne ith e r, is al to g eth e r i nc o mpr e h e nsi b l e
.

D CCXI V
A great
Re pu tatio n is a gre at Ch arg e ve r y h ard
fo r a M an to a c q uit h ims e lf we ll o f : A n o b scur e
L ife i s m o r e Natural , and mo r e Eas ie .

DCCXV
D iogenes , th at m ade ch o ic e o f a Tub fo r his
dwe ll ing , was a Fo ol, s o much the m o re e x q u is ite ,
and r e fi ne d , as h e th o ugh t h ims e lf, and e x p e c ted
th e Wrld s h o ul d Es tee m hi m, much wi se r th an
o

th e r e st o f M ank ind .

D CCXV I
G reat Offic e s , gre at H o no urs , are m o st
an d
trul y s aid to b e gr e at B urd e ns : Th e Sl av e ry o f
th e m i s b ut s o much th e gr e ate r , b e c aus e it c o n
c e rns the Se rvi c e o f the P ub l ick ; fo r the P e o pl e
are a M as te r sc arc e e v e r to b e s ati sfi ed .
 1 81
D CCXXI
Raile ry is an I nj ury d is gu is ed , full o f M al ic e
and Ill - Natur e , wh i ch is e ndur e d w ith s o much
le ss P atie nc e , as it sh e ws , th at th e y wh o us e it,
wo ul d be th o ugh t ab o v e us .

D CCXXII
P rin c e s and P e rs o ns in Emine nt Statio ns , w ill
d o we ll to b e e xc ee dingl y r e s e r ve d , as to th i s
P art o f Co nve rs atio n . Th e Re s e ntm e nts o f th e ir
Raile ry are th e m o r e d ang e r o us , b e c ause k e p t
mo re c o nc e al e d, and th at M e n are e ve r c o ntriving
W
s o me private ays o f Re veng e fo r it .

DC CXXIII
ve ry oft e n r s w of U nde r
b et a
y ant

M e n call it i n to th eir Re l ie f, wh e n
no th ing o f Se nse and A r ume i l t l e ft
g ,
th e ms e lv e s.

DC CXXIV
A gre at m any P e o pl e are fo nd o f Bo o ks,as th e y
are o f Fur nitur e ; to d r e s s and s e t o ff th e ir Ro o ms ,

mo r e th an to ad o rn ahd in ric h th eir Mind s

‘

D CCXX V
T1 a th eI nfatuation o f M is ers ,to tak e Go l d and
Silve r fo r Things re ally G o o d , wh e r e as th e y
1 82 M A XI M S
on l y s o me of th e Me an s by wh ich g o od Th ings
’
a re ro c ur d .
p
D CC XX V I
So me P e o pl e are s o fo nd o f b e ing Su b tl e and
A b st rus e up o n all O cc as io ns , th at th e y r e all y o ve r
sh o o t the Mark Th e s e r e fi ned P e rs o ns are as far
.

fro m Truth ,as th e V ulg ar , wh o se gr o ss Igno r anc e

mak e s th e m fall s h o rt o f it .

D CCXXV II
Tru th is plain and natura l,th e gre at Se cr et is h o w
to fi nd it .

DCCXX V II I
Th e gr eat M istak e o f m o st No b l e men, is , th at
the y l o o k up o n th e ir No b il ity,as a C har ac te r given
th e m b y Nature .

DCCXXIX
Tru e Qual ity,and th at wh ich c o m e s b y Na ture,
is o nl y th e No b l e A d vantag e s and End o wm e nts o f
th e B o d y and th e Mind .

D CCXXX
Th e m o re anc ient that No b ility is, whi ch we
d e riv e o nl y fr o m o ur A n c e sto rs ,th e l e ss v alu ab l e it
is , and th e m o r e susp ic io us and un c e rtain The .

So n o f a Marsh al o f France, wh o b y hi s o wn
Wo rth h ath rais ed himse lf to th is Offi c e , sh o ul d in
 M A XI M S 1 83
all r e as o n be mo r e No b l e ,th an th e P o s te rity th at
d e sc e nd fr o m him Th is Spring o f H o no ur is yet
.

fre sh in th e So n s V eins ,and k e pt up by th e Ex

’

ampl e o f th e Fath e r ; b ut th e furth e r it ru n s fr o m

th e Fo untai n- H e ad , th e w eak e r and the dr e r it

y
gr o ws .

DC CXXXI
W e are
p v er
s ur r1 z e d
y D a , to se e s o m e M en
y
e

th at are c o me fr o m th e v e ry Dr e gs o f th e P e o pl e ,
raise th e mse lve s to gr e at Fo r tune s and H o no urs ;
and we c o mm o nl m entio n th is w i th Sc o rn and
y
Re pr o ach , as if all th e G r e at Famil ie s in th e World
h ad no t as me an a B e g inning , if we wo ul d b ut tak e
P ain s to tr ace th e m b ack to th ei r first O riginals .

DCCXXXII
The gre ate stP art o f th o se Co mpl aints we mak e
g
a ain st o ur Ne ighb o urs , are o wing to th e w ant o f
Re fl e c tio n up o n s lve s
o ur e .

D CC XXXIII
The L ov e o f l s incl ine s us to l o o k up o n
o ur s e v e

all th e P l e asur e s , and H app ine s s o f L ife ,as Th in g s

th at we h av e a Righ t to c all o urs ; and up o n all th e

E il and C la mities , as Th ings Fo r e ig n and U n
v : a

natu r al , and s uch as are Wr o ngs an d H ar d s h ip s

up o n us Thi s g ive s o cc asio n to all the C o mpl aints

.

we b e ar against Humane L ife .

 BY

M o n s ie ur D e la Rocb ef o u ca u/t .

D CCXXXV III
A G REAT m any P e o pl e g ive th e mse l v e s up to D ev o
ti o n,b ut no b o d y g ive s h imse lf up to H u mil ity .

DC CXXX IX
B o dil y L ab o ur k ee ps o f P ain o f Mind ; d
an

b y s o d o ing m ak e s th e P o o r h app y '

.

D CCXL
Th e Mo rtifi catio ns wh ich no bo d y k no ws o f,

are Mo rtific atio ns ind e ed , th e re s t are mad e eas ie

by o ur V anity .

D C CX L I
Th e Al tar on wh ich G od wo uld h ave a ll o ur

Sacr i fic e s f r
o f e e d , is H umil ity .

D CCX L II
A few Th ings su ffic e to m ak e a wi se Man
1 85
I 86 M A XI M S
h appy ,b ut it is no t in th e P o we r o f any to c o ntent
a Fo o l ; and th is i s th e tr ue Re as o n w h y much
th e gre ate st P ar t o f M an k ind are mis e r ab l e .

D CCX L III
W gi
e vese l ve s mo re
o ur P ain, to mak e Me n
th ink us h app ,th an to m ak e o ur e s lve s re all y so
y .

DCCX L IV

It is much eas ie r to q u e nch

‘
a firs t D es ire ,th an
to satis fie all th o se th at are sure to fo ll o w afte r .

DC CX L V

Wisd m t
o o th e Mind ,is as H e alth to the B od y .

D CCX L V I
In r e g ard ne ith e r H e al th o f B o dy, n o r P e ac e o f
Mind, c an be c o nfe rr d by the G r eate s t Me n up o n
’

Earth ; th e u tmo st Fav o urs th e y c an d o us are

bo ugh t too cle ar .

DCCX L V II
B e fo r e we set o ur H e ar ts to o much up o n an
y
Thing , le t us e x amine h o w h app y th o se are , wh o
alr e ad p o sse ss it
y .

DC CX L V III
Th e greate st Tr e asur e in t h is Wo rl d ,is a true
 M AX IM S 1 87
Fr ie nd, and ye t it is
'

aTre asure which Me n l east

r ub l e the mse lve s
t o to l o o k afte r .

D CCX L IX
L o ve rs are b l ind to th e Fail ings of h r
t ei
M is tre sse s ,till the end ing o f th e Ch arm o pe n th e ir

DC CL
P rude nc e and L o ve we r e nev e r m ade fo r o ne

an o the r ; as much as
y ou dd
a to th e o ne ,
yo u
c e rtainl y tak e fr o m th e o t e h r .

D CC L I
A je al o us Wife g ive s he r H us band th is sati sfac
tio n at l e as t,th at h e i s s ur e ,fr o m he r, c o ntinually
to h ear o f wh at he l o v e s .

D CCL I I
H o w s ad a Case is th at p o o r Wm o an in,wh o is
at th e sam e T ime v io le ntly in L o ve , an d infl e x ib l
y
v e rtu o us
D c L III é
A wis e M an fi nd s it m o r e fo r h is A d vantag e ,to
d e cl ine th e Co mb at, th an to g ain th e Co nq ue st .

DCC L IV
Th e re is m o re ne ed o f re ading Me n th an B o o ks .
 MA XIM S 1 89
DCC L XI
W s ld m ll w
e e o a o an
y Me n to have goo d Se n se ,
wh o are no t o f o ur o wn Op inio n .

D CC L XII
Me n find faul t with th e mse l ve s, pure l y to
put
ot eh rs up o n c o mmending th em .

D CC L XIII
L ittl e So uls k
ta e o ffe n e at th ec l e ast Thi ngs .

D CC L XI V
Th e r e are s o me D efe cts ,wh ich wh e n pla c ed in
a c o nv e nie nt L igh t,l o o k m o r e agr ee ab l than e ve n
y
P e rfe c tio n it se lf .

D C CL XV
W e l ways think th e m tr o ub l e so me , th at
a o ur

se l ve s are tr o u b l e s o me to .

DCC L XV I
A Man v r fi nd s it h arde r to spe ak as h e
ne e

ough t, th an wh e n o ut o f Co unte nanc e no t to find

so meth ing to sa
y .

DCC L XV II
No Faul ts unp ard o nab le in th o se wh o
are c an

pr evail with the mse lve s to ackno wl ed ge th e m .

1 90 M A XIMS
D CCL X V II I
No th ing is m o re n at ural tous,o r impo se s m o r e
upo n us ,th an th e P e rs was io n th at we are be l o v e d
.

DCC L XIX
W tk m r
e a e o e de ligh t in see ing the P e rs o ns th at
h ave b e e n b e h o l de n to us,th an th e m to wh o m we
a re b e h o l de n .

D CC L XX
Th e r e m o re
is d ifficul ty in c o nc e al ing o ur re al
Sentiments , th an in c o u nte rfe iting th e Sentim e nts
we h ave no t .

DC C L XXI
Fr ie nd s hips , afte r R e c o n c il iatio n,are m o re nic e
to be k e p t, th an th o se th at we r e ne ve r b r o k e n
at all.

DCC L XXII
He h l ik e s no b o d y; h ath a much w o rs e Time
t at
o f 1 t,th an h e wh o m no b ody l ik e s .
 IN D EX

A bili ty,9 9 , 1 63 “ h
C as ti ty , 1 , 2 06 , 36 6, 66 1
A c cen t, 342 r
Ch is tian ity , 6 2 2 , 699 , 7 02 ,
Ac co m pl is h men ts , 1 60 7 08
A cqua intan ce , 1 7 9 , 5 9 2 Citize n , 39 1
A c nvi ty ( id l e ) ,9 1 Civi l i ty ,2 60
w A d vi ce , 94 , 1 1 1 , 1 1 7 , 284, Cl e m e n c y , 1 6 1 8
-

37 7 ,6 2 1 r
Co u tes y , 6 1 8
A ffe c ta tio n , 1 08, 2 7 8, 2 89 Co urts h ip , 40 1
A ffe cti o n s ,44, 9 7 , 1 03 Co v e to us n e s s , 1 68
A flli c ti o n s ,2 33 6 -
Co mm e nd a tio n , 1 44 1 5 1 ,
1 99 . 3 2 0, 35 6. 432 . 5 43.

42 37 7444 46 1 , 66 8
. 6 35 . 7 62
A bl
gre e a en e s s ,2 4 1 ,5 96 ,7 03 Co mpan y ,207
w -A b m iti o n ,9 2 ,2 4 7 ,2 94 ,493 , Co n c e it,9 3
7 1 0, 7 1 1 4 Co n fi d e n c e , 4 2 1 ,47 7
An cie n ts ,6 7 2 r
Co n q ue s ts a n d C i m e s , 1 84
An ge r, 5 44 Co n s tan c y , 2 0 2 5 , 1 7 6 ,42 0
-

A pp e aran c es , 1 67 , 2 5 7 ,45 7 , Co n te n tm e n t, 7 4 2
5 7 0 , 5 88,6 1 9
-
Co n tra dic ti o n , 6 2 4
A ppl ica tio n , Co n v e rsa tio n , 1 6 6, 363,5 1 9 ,
A pp ro ba tio n . 7 09 5 96 . 6 2 7 . 6 85 , 7 03
Co p ies , 1 34
Ba lan ce o fFo rtun e , 5 3 Co q ue try , 2 4 2 , 32 2
Barb in , p ub l is h e r, x x i Co urage , 2 1 4 2 1 8, 2 20 2 2 2 ,
- -

Beas ts , 7 1 3 5 5 1 2 , 66 1
-

B o d y , th e , 2 9 7 Co urt, 7 1 0
Bo o k s , 5 7 2 , 6 4, 69 0, 7 24,
5 Co ward ice , 369 , 482 . See
7 54 Co urage
B re v i t ,60 1
y Crimes , 1 84
Cun n in g, 39 3
Curio s iti es , 1 7 4, 6 1 2
 IN D EX 1 93
I d l enes s ,9 1 , 1 7 0,2 66 7 ,39 7 -
. Lo v e , 6 9 7 8, 82 , 84 , 1 1 2 ,
4 85 . 4 90 . 5 60 1 3 7 . 2 5 9 . 2 6 2 . 2 87 . 34 8 9 . -

I gno ra n c e , 4 4 1 , 63 1 , 6 7 1 368. 37 0 . 3 7 1 . 3 7 3 . 380 .

I ll n a ture , 5 83 384 1 459 1
I mi ta ti o n , 6 1 7 47 9 1 6 841
I n cl in a tio n s , 99 , 1 00, 2 5 3. 7 5°
389 P l a to n i c , 683
In c o n s ta n c y, 1 7 9 , 1 80 . 1 82 Lo v e rs , 3 1 2 , 7 49
I n d e pe n d en c e ,20 2 , 5 87 ,6 2 3 Luc k , 5 9
“
I n fi d e l ity , 3 5 9 , 4 2 9 Lux ury , 5 5 9
In ra titud e , 306 , 5 1 8, 5 7 7 , Lying, 64 See T rick e ry.

39 . 689
I nn o c e n ce ,467
I n te res t, 2 , 40, 4 1 ,sé s 2 54. Magn an im ity , 2 4 9 , 2 86 , 5 5 8
8 Ma nk in d 436 480 7 5 4
3 5 3 9 , e tc
. . .
0 ,
Ma nn e r, 68, 5 9 1 2 , 6 1 9
.

I re s o l utio n , 44 5 ,47 9
r -

Ma trimo ny , 1 1 4
Jea l o usy . 33. 87 . 324 .
2 9 . 30. Max im s , th e , o f L a R o c h e
36 1 1 4 7 4 1 7 SI fo uca u d l
Jud gm e n t, 90 , 9 8,600, 6 26 l h
gene ra c ara te o f, V 11 1 , c r
o f o th e s , 7 3 7r x x v ii

Jus tice , 7 9 , 5 3 1 2 , 660 - mo d ifi catio ns o f, x x vi , n .

b bl
i io gra ph
y o f, x x x v iii
Knaves ,5 7 4 6 -
. Se e T ri c k ery r r
o d e o f, x lv

La bo ur 7 39
l r
En g is h t an s a tio n s o f,x li l
.
Mean n e ss , 35 7
L an a ( o f th e so ul ) ,2 5 6
ge M e mo ry . 90 3 1 3
La ay ette , M m e de , x x iii, .

M e rit 4 5 5 7 3 5
.

. .
x x x vn

L a R o ch e fo uca u
x v
Lif e o f, x v -x x v n
Me m o irs o f,x i
Ma x im s o f Se e Max ims
.
c h a ra c te r o f. x x
L ea rn i n g, 5 86 ,
Lib e ra l ity , 1 68, 2 6 3
l d ,famil y o f, M m d , D e fe c ts o f, 1 9 5
Mise rs , 7 2 5
M is e ry , 7 4 2
M is fo rtune , 1 7 5 , 2 35
M o d e ra tio n , 1 8, 2 9 4 , 308,
i ii 32 2 3
64 1 M o d e s ty , 1 ,2 46 , 49 8, 5 42 ,
l
fa s e , 5 81 2 , 7 07
-

Li be rty ( o f min d ) ,6 2 3
606 . 7 6 3
e ,D uch ess d e ,11 1 1 ,
l
M o iere , v ii , x iv
M o rtifi c a tio n , 7 40
Mo tiv es ,408
N atural n es s ,4 31
19
4 IND EX
N a ture 69 2 . 69 5 . 7 1 5
. Rai ll ery 7 29 3 .

fo rtune , 1 5 4 R am bo uill e t, H o te l d e ,x 1 1 l
N e ig ” o urs , 6 5 0, 7 32
hb Ra n k , 6 2 5 1 6 3 39 6 37
No , 6 1 9 R a rity a n d v a l ue , 7 36
N o il ity , 4 33, 7 2 8-7 3 1
b R e as o n,4 3, 1 06 ,5 36,6 7 6 8,
N o ve l ty ,42 6 ,5 9 3 69 1 . 69 5
R eas o n in g, 7 04
Ob llga ti o n ,2 2 7 1 3 I 7 1 4 381 7 69 R e co nci l iatio n ,83
.

Ob s ti nac y ,5 1 4 R e fusa l ,6 1 8,6 2 0

Oc cas i o ns , 34 5 R e p ro o fs , 1 48
O pin io n , 9 3, 34 7 R e putatio n , 1 66 , 2 06 , 2 68,
Op in io n a tiv e n e ss , 9 3, 5 7 2 , 41 1 . 65 2 . 67 9 . 7 1 2.
5 80 , 606 , 6 1 5 , 62 4 , 6 34, 714
R Ch es s 5 5 1 5 7 9 1 69 9
0

66 3. 7 6 1
E
Os te n tatio n , 1 38, 6 2 5 Ri n gs , 1 5 9

Sa l e, M d e ,x iv ,x ix
b .

Sa fe ty . 5 55
P arv e nu , 7 3 1 Sa l o n s ,
P as s io n s , 6 1 1 , 2 8, 1 2
-
27 6 , c
S a rs , o n th e m in d , 1 9 5
4 2 2 1 460 : 4 7 9 1 487 1 5 2 1 1
“
r
Scu d e y , M me d e , v1 .

5 26 Se cre ts , 88
P as t, th e , 5 90 Segra is , M d e , x x u .

P en e tra tio n , 3 7 6 Se l f c o n fi d e n c e , 5 7 1
P e rs e v e ran c e , 1 7 8 Se lf k n o wl e dge , 345 , 5 84,
P h i los o h
e rs , 2 3, 47 , 5 5 670
P ity , 2 46 3 Se l f l o v e , 1 5 , 1 4 , 89 ,
-

l
P ay s , 6 46 , 6 86 2 37 . 2 6 1 339 . 4 9 7 .
l
P e as in g,a rt o f, 7 03 5 3 41 S461 S9 3 4 .
l
P eas ure , 1 2 4 z . 6 39 . 6 38. 6 4 7 9 . 7
P o v e rty , 5 5 Se lf sa tis fa cti o n ( an d th e re
P rid e . 34. 38. 2 82 . 4 5 0. 4 7 4. v e rse ) , 5 7 1

5 2 5 , 5 3 5 . 37 , 6 3 3 Se ns itiv e ness ,680 2 -

e ( Co n d é ) , 1 99 e rv an ts , 66 2

,
P rin c e s 32 0, 7 06 , 7 1 8 gigh t, 1 0
P ro mis es , 39 Si l e n c e , 0 £
p
P ro s e rity ,4 1 5 Sin ce rity , 6 3 1 85 ,

P ro v id e n c e , 5 5 0, 69 4 3 1 6 . 36 5 . 382 5 63
P rud en ce ,648, 7 5 0 b
So rie ty , 5 40
So c ie ty , 46 5
Q r l
ua re s , 499 h h
So ul , eal t o f, 1 89 , 1 94
 Wi fe ,363,7 S1 . 7 6
5
Will , 3 1
Wis d o m, 66, 1 33, 1 61 -
4,
2 32 2
3 2 31 5 39 1

Wit, 98, 1 00 -
1 02 , 1
41 , 4 1 3
4 1 5 . 42 5 . 4 5 1 . 4 5 6 . 6 1 9
Wo m en , 1 , 1 3 2 , 205 6 ,2 4 2 ,
-

2 7 7.
3 3 4.
2 -
366 7 .
44 01 4 69 1 5 00 2
5 02 1 75 21 75 71
759
Wo n d e r ,383
Wo rl d ,o p inio n o f th e,680 -
2
Wo rth ,5 6 7

h
Yo ut , 2 7 1 : 34 1 3 0
5 9: 5 1 01
S6 5