not have excelled in fome one art. How is it then that their number is fo fcanty? Plain ly from the folly of deeming ourselves capable of every thing, and of despifing what cofts us the least trouble. We are often mistaken for men of pleafure, because we are not men of business; and for men of business, because we are not men of pleasure. A great genius finds leifure for both; an inferior genius for neither. Those who have great application to trifles, have seldom a capacity for matters of impor tance. Pain affects us more than Pleasure. Happiness is lefs valued when we poffefs it, than when we have loft it. Different Pains compared. The pains of the mind are harder to bear than those of the body. Paffion. Nothing so apt to enflame paffion as hopes and fears: A young woman of a calm tem per and modeft deportment is lefs apt to at- The plaineft man, animated with paffion, affects us more than the greatest orator without it. We ought to diftruft our paffions, even when they appear the most reasonable. Violent paffions are formed in folitude. In the buftle of the world no object has time to make a deep impreffion.. Our Opinions are fwayed more by Every man efteems his own misfortune the greatest. The prefent misfortune is always deemed the greatest And therefore small causes are fufficient to make a man uneafy, when great opes are not in the way. That That reason which is favourable to our 13 defires, appears always the best. Change of condition begets new paffions, 14 and confequently new opinions. In matters of demonftration, it argues a weakness of judgment to differ: Not so in matters of opinion; for thefe are influenced by affection perhaps more than by reason. A plain man, fincere and credulous, will build upon very weak teftimony; while the diffident and fufpicious will scarce be fatif fied with the ftrongeft. It is the province of reason and experience to correct these ex tremes. It is idle, as well as abfurd, to impofe our 15 opinions upon others. The fame ground of conviction operates differently on the fame man in different circumftances, and on different men in the fame circumstances. A man is no fooner found lefs guilty than 16 expected, but he is concluded more innocent than he is. Slight perfecution makes converts: Severe 17 perfecution, on the contrary, hardens the heart against all conviction.. Thofe Those who take their opinions upon trust, are always the most violent. We judge of moft things by Comparifon. A man does but faintly relish that felicity which costs him nothing: Happy they whom pain leads to pleasure. Joy fuggefts pleasant Thoughts, and Grief thofe that are Melancholy, A new forrow recalls all the former. A perfon in diftrefs is more fenfible of grief than of joy. Hence it is, that those who have never tafted of affliction, are little moved at the diftreffes of others. A Man is always in a hurry to defend his weak fide. It is in fome measure pleading guilty to be over hafty or folicitous in making a defence. He acknowledges the fact, who turns angry at an afperfion. Who, Who inceffantly vaunts of his probity and honour, and fwears to gain belief, has. not even the art of counterfeiting. Cuftom. Men are governed by cuftom. Not one of a thoufand thinks for himself; and the few who are emancipated, dare not act up to their freedom, for fear of being thought whimfical. Custom is the great leveller. It corrects the inequality of fortune, by leffening equally the pleasures of the prince, and the pains of the peasant. Choose what is the moft fit, custom will make it the most agreeable. Cuftom bestows eafe and confidence, even 18. in the middle of dangers. Our opinions are greatly influenced by 19 cuftom. Manners are in a continual flux: Formerly, men were hypocrites of virtue: According to the present mode, they are hypocrites of vice.. Mag |