Life and Literature Part 72

990

It is a common thing for men to hate the authors of their preferment, as the witnesses of their mean original.

991

At the first entrance into thy estate keep a low sail; thou mayest rise with honor; thou canst not decline without shame; he that begins as his father ended, will be apt to end as his father began.

992

Some grave their wrongs on marble; He more just, Stooped down serene, and wrote them on the dust; Trod under foot, the sport of every wind, Swept from the earth, and blotted from His mind; There, secret in the grave, He bade them lie, And grieved they could not escape the Almighty's eye.

993

One is keen to suspect a quarter from which one has once received a hurt. "A burnt child dreads the fire."

994

The n.o.blest remedy for injuries is oblivion.

--_From the French._

995

Hath any wronged thee?

Be bravely revenged; Slight it, and the work is begun; Forgive it, and 'tis finished.

He is below himself who is not above an injury.

996

A man hurts himself by injuring me: what, then shall I therefore hurt myself by injuring him?

997

_Ink--Described_:--The colored slave that waits upon thought; a drop may make a million think.

--_Byron._

998

The innocent are gay.

--_Cowper._

999

There is no real courage in innocence.

1000

What narrow innocence it is for one to be good only according to the law.

--_Seneca._

1001

Better confide and be deceiv'd A thousand times by treacherous foes, Than once accuse the innocent Or let suspicion mar repose.

1002

It is only the vulgar who are always fancying themselves insulted. If a man treads on another's toe in good society, do you think it is taken as an insult?

1003

I once met a man who had forgiven an injury. I hope some day to meet the man who has forgiven an insult.

1004

POLITICAL INTEGRITY.

The borough of Hull, in the reign of Charles II, chose Andrew Marvell, a young gentleman of little or no fortune, and maintained him in London for the service of the public. With a view to bribe him, his old school-fellow, the Lord Treasurer Danby, went to him in his garret. At parting, the Lord Treasurer slipped into his hands an order upon the treasury for 1000, and then went into his chariot. Marvell looking at the paper, called after the treasurer--"My lord, I request another moment." They went up again to the garret, and the servant boy was called--"What had I for dinner yesterday?" "Don't you remember, sir, you had the little shoulder of mutton that you ordered me to bring from a woman in the market?" "Very right. What have I for dinner today?" "Don't you know, sir, that you made me lay up the blade-bone to broil?" "'Tis so; very right. Go away." "My lord, do you hear that? Andrew Marvell's dinner is provided; there's your piece of paper, I want it not. I knew the sort of kindness you intended. I live here to serve my const.i.tuents.

The ministry may seek men for their purpose; I am not one."

1005

Integrity is to be preferred to eloquence.

--_Aeschines._

1006

The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their professions.