Part 4
Hath any wronged thee, be bravely revenged. Slight it, and the work's begun; forgive it, and 'tis finished. He is below himself that is not above an injury.
_Quarles._
330.
As gold is tried by the furnace, and the baser metal shown, so the hollow-hearted friend is known by adversity.
_Metastasio._
331.
The rose does not bloom without thorns. True, but would that the thorns did not outlive the rose.
_Richter._
332.
Truth from the mouth of an honest man and severity from a good-natured man have a double effect.
_Hazlitt._
333.
Most virgins marry, just as nuns The same thing the same way renounce; Before they've wit to understand The bold attempt, they take in hand; Or, having stayed and lost their tides, Are out of season grown for brides.
_Butler._
334.
The fountain of content must spring up in the mind, and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove.
_Johnson._
335.
In all things, to serve from the lowest station upwards is necessary. To restrict yourself to a trade is best. For the narrow mind, whatever he attempts is still a trade; for the higher, an art; and the highest in doing one thing does all, or, to speak less paradoxically, in the one thing which he does rightly he sees the likeness of all that is done rightly.
_Goethe._
336.
Misanthropy ariseth from a man trusting another without having sufficient knowledge of his character, and, thinking him to be truthful, sincere, and honourable, finds a little afterwards that he is wicked, faithless, and then he meets with another of the same character. When a man experiences this often, and more particularly from those whom he considered his most dear and best friends, at last, having frequently made a slip, he hates the whole world, and thinks that there is nothing sound at all in any of them.
_Plato._
337.
Pleasure, most often delusive, may be born of delusion. Pleasure, herself a sorceress, may pitch her tents on enchanted ground. But happiness (or, to use a more accurate and comprehensive term, solid well-being) can be built on virtue alone, and must of necessity have truth for its foundation.
_Coleridge._
338.
Entangled in a hundred worldly snares, Self-seeking men, by ignorance deluded, Strive by unrighteous means to pile up riches. Then, in their self-complacency, they say, "This acquisition I have made to-day, That will I gain to-morrow, so much pelf Is hoarded up already, so much more Remains that I have yet to treasure up. This enemy I have destroyed, him also, And others in their turn, I will despatch. I am a lord; I will enjoy myself; I'm wealthy, noble, strong, successful, happy; I'm absolutely perfect; no one else In all the world can be compared to me. Now will I offer up a sacrifice, Give gifts with lavish hand, and be triumphant." Such men, befooled by endless vain conceits, Caught in the meshes of the world's illusion, Immersed in sensuality, descend Down to the foulest hell of unclean spirits.[16]
_Mahábhárata._
[16] Cf. Luke, XII, 17-20; see also 291.
339.
There needs no other charm, nor conjuror, To raise infernal spirits up, but Fear, That makes men pull their horns in, like a snail, That's both a prisoner to itself and jail; Draws more fantastic shapes than in the grains Of knotted wood, in some men's crazy brains, When all the cocks they think they are, and bulls, Are only in the insides of their skulls.
_Butler._
340.
He that rectifies a crooked stick bends it the contrary way, so must he that would reform a vice learn to affect its mere contrary, and in time he shall see the springing blossoms of a happy restoration.
_R. Chamberlain._
341.
The more weakness the more falsehood; strength goes straight: every cannon ball that has in it hollows and holes goes crooked.
_Richter._
342.
Learning dissipates many doubts, and causes things otherwise invisible to be seen, and is the eye of everyone who is not absolutely blind.
_Hitopadesa._
343.
Very distasteful is excessive fame To the sour palate of the envious mind, Who hears with grief his neighbours good by name, And hates the fortune that he ne'er shall find.
_Pindar._
344.
A more glorious victory cannot be gained over another man than this, that when the injury began on his part the kindness should begin on ours.
_Tillotson._
345.
Time, which gnaws and diminishes all things else, augments and increases benefits, because a noble action of liberality done to a man of reason doth grow continually by his generously thinking of it and remembering it.
_Rabelais._
346.
Were all thy fond endeavours vain To chase away the sufferer's smart, Still hover near, lest absence pain His lonely heart.
For friendship's tones have kindlier power Than odorous fruit, or nectared bowl, To soothe, in sorrow's languid hour, The sinking soul.
_Sa'dí._
347.
The faults of others are easily perceived, but those of oneself are difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides as a cheat hides the false dice from the gamester.
_Dhammapada._
348.
Education and morals will be found almost the whole that goes to make a good man.
_Aristotle._
349.
Toil and pleasure, in their natures opposite, are yet linked together in a kind of necessary connection.
_Livy._
350.
Enjoy thou the prosperity of others, Although thyself unprosperous; noble men Take pleasure in their neighbours' happiness.
_Mahábhárata._
351.
Neither live with a bad man nor be at enmity with him; even as if you take hold of glowing charcoal it will burn you, if you take hold of cold charcoal it will soil you.
_Buddhist._
352.
In the sandal-tree are serpents, in the water lotus flowers, but crocodiles also; even virtues are marred by the vicious--in all enjoyments there is something which impairs our happiness.
_Hitopadesa._
353.
There is no pleasure of life sprouting like a tree from one root but there is some pain joined to it; and again nature brings good out of evil.
_Menander._
354.
The manner of giving shows the character of the giver more than the gift itself. There is a princely manner of giving and accepting.
_Lavater._
355.
Perfect ignorance is quiet, perfect knowledge is quiet; not so the transition from the former to the latter.
_Carlyle._
356.
Superstition is the religion of feeble minds; and they must be tolerated in an admixture of it in some trifling or enthusiastic shape or other; else you will deprive weak minds of a resource found necessary to the strongest.
_Burke._
357.
Fair words without good deeds to a man in misery are like a saddle of gold clapped upon a galled horse.
_Chamberlain._
358.
There is a rabble among the gentry as well as the commonalty; a sort of plebeian heads whose fancy moves with the same wheel as these men--in the same level with mechanics, though their fortunes do sometimes gild their infirmities and their purses compound for their follies.
_Sir Thomas Browne._
359.
It is a common remark that men talk most who think least; just as frogs cease their quacking when a light is brought to the water-side.
_Richter._
360.
Our time is like our money; when we change a guinea the shillings escape as things of small account; when we break a day by idleness in the morning, the rest of the hours lose their importance in our eyes.
_Sir Walter Scott._
361.
Vociferation and calmness of character seldom meet in the same person.
_Lavater._
362.
Wit and wisdom differ. Wit is upon the sudden turn, wisdom is in bringing about ends.
_Selden._
363.
Real and solid happiness springs from moderation.
_Goethe._
364.
In all the world there is no vice Less prone t'excess than avarice; It neither cares for food nor clothing: Nature's content with little, that with nothing.
_Butler._
365.
Beside the streamlet seated, mark how life glides on: That sign, how swift each moment goes, to me's enough. Behold this world's delights, and view its various pains: If not to you, the joy it shows to me's enough.
_Háfiz._
366.
The lake no longer water holds-- Off fly the fowls, the lilies stay: If friends are friends when wealth is gone, The lily's constancy they share.
_Hindu Poetess._
367.
Let us be well persuaded that everyone of us possesses happiness in proportion to his virtue and wisdom, and according as he acts in obedience to their suggestion.
_Aristotle._
368.
All property which comes to hand by means of violence, or infamy, or baseness, however large it may be, is tainted and unblest. On the other hand, whatever is obtained by honest profit, small though it be, brings a blessing with it.[17]
_Akhlak-i-Jalálí._
[17] See 44.
369.
We should know mankind better if we were not so anxious to resemble one another.
_Goethe._
370.
Root out the love of self, as you might the autumn lotus with your hand.
_Buddhist._
371.
Whoever has the seed of virtue and honour implanted in his breast will drop a sympathising tear on the woes of his neighbour.
_Nakhshabí._
372.
Do naught to others which, if done to thee, would cause thee pain: this is the sum of duty.[18]
_Mahábhárata._
[18] Cf. Matt. VII, 12.
373.
A bad man, though raised to honour, always returns to his natural course, as a dog's tail, though warmed by the fire and rubbed with oil, retains its form.[19]
_Hitopadesa._
[19] Cf. Arab proverb: "A dog's tail never can be made straight."
374.
The man who cannot blush, and who has no feelings of fear, has reached the acme of impudence.
_Menander._
375.
It is the usual consolation of the envious, if they cannot maintain their superiority, to represent those by whom they are surpassed as inferior to some one else.
_Plutarch._
376.
Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is bound in the chain of wishing for ever.
_Seneca._
377.
I do remember stopping by the way, To watch a potter thumping his wet clay; And with its all-obliterated tongue It murmured, "Gently, brother, gently, pray!"
_Omar Khayyám._
378.
If you only knew the evils which others suffer, you would willingly submit to those which you now bear.
_Philemon._
379.
Children form a bond of union than which the human heart finds none more enduring.
_Livy._
380.
The sweetest pleasures soonest cloy, And its best flavour temperance gives to joy.
_Juvenal._
381.
To our own sorrows serious heed we give, But for another's we soon cease to grieve.
_Pindar._
382.
Can anything be more absurd than that the nearer we are to our journey's end, we should lay in the more provision for it?
_Cicero._
383.
Set about whatever you intend to do; the beginning is half the battle.
_Ausonius._
384.
All smatterers are more brisk and pert Than those who understand an art; As little sparkles shine more bright Than glowing coals that gave them light.
_Butler._
385.
No prince, how great soever, begets his predecessors, and the noblest rivers are not navigable to the fountain.
_A. Marvell._
386.
The guilty man may escape, but he cannot be sure of doing so.
_Epicurus._
387.
In everything you will find annoyances, but you ought to consider whether the advantages do not predominate.
_Menander._
388.
Dreams in general take their rise from those incidents which have most occupied the thoughts during the day.
_Herodotus._
389.
Sleeping, we image what awake we wish; Dogs dream of bones, and fishermen of fish.[20]
_Theocritus._
[20] Cf. Arab proverb: "The dream of the cat is always about mice."
390.
A man who does not endeavour to _seem_ more than he is will generally be thought nothing of. We habitually make such large deductions for pretence and imposture that no real merit will stand against them. It is necessary to set off our good qualities with a certain air of plausibility and self-importance, as some attention to fashion is necessary.
_Hazlitt._
391.
There is nothing more beautiful than cheerfulness in an old face, and among country people it is always a sign of a well-regulated life.
_Richter._
392.
From things which have been obtained after having been long desired men almost never derive the pleasure and delight which they had anticipated.
_Guicciardini._
393.
Seest thou good days? Prepare for evil times. No summer but hath its winter. He never reaped comfort in adversity that sowed not in prosperity.
_Quarles._
394.
Every man knows his own but not others' defects and miseries; and 'tis the nature of all men still to reflect upon themselves their own misfortunes, not to examine or consider other men's, not to confer themselves with others; to recount their own miseries but not their good gifts, fortunes, benefits which they have, to ruminate on their adversity, but not once to think on their prosperity, not what they have but what they want.
_Burton._
395.
Some people, you would think, are made up of nothing but title and genealogy; the stamp of dignity defaces in them the very character of humanity, and transports them to such a degree of haughtiness that they reckon it below them to exercise good nature or good manners.
_L'Estrange._
396.
He alone is poor who does not possess knowledge.
_Talmud._
397.
It is not enough to know; we must apply what we know. It is not enough to will; we must also act.
_Goethe._
398.
Words of blame from those who are hostile to a great man cannot injure him. The moon is not hurt when barked at by a dog.
_Arabic._
399.
The value of three things is justly appreciated by all classes of men: youth, by the old; health, by the diseased; and wealth, by the needy.
_Omar Khayyám._
400.
As one might nurse a tiny flame, The able and far-seeing man, E'en with the smallest capital, Can raise himself to wealth.
_Buddhist._
401.
By a husband wealth is accumulated; by a wife is its preservation.
_Burmese._
402.
It is very hard for the mind to disengage itself from a subject on which it has been long employed. The thoughts will be rising of themselves from time to time, though we have given them no encouragement, as the tossings and fluctuations of the sea continue several hours after the winds are laid.
_Addison._
403.
Hypocrisy will serve as well To propagate a church as zeal; As persecution and promotion Do equally advance devotion: So round white stones will serve, they say, As well as eggs, to make hens lay.
_Butler._
404.
Man differs from other animals particularly in this, that he is imitative, and acquires his rudiments of knowledge in this way; besides, the delight in imitation is universal.
_Aristotle._
405.
The hooting fowler seldom takes much game. When a man has a project in his mind, digested and fixed by consideration, it is wise to keep it secret till the time that his designs arrive at their despatch and perfection. He is unwise who brags much either of what he will do or what he shall have, for if what he speaks of fall not out accordingly, instead of applause, a mock and scorn will follow him.
_Feltham._
406.
What is the most profitable? Fellowship with the good. What is the worst thing in the world? The society of evil men. What is the greatest loss? Failure in one's duty. Where is the greatest peace? In truth and righteousness. Who is the hero? The man who subdues his senses. Who is the best beloved? The faithful wife. What is wealth? Knowledge. What is the most perfect happiness? Staying at home.
_Bhartrihari._
407.
If a man says that it is right to give every one his due, and therefore thinks within his own mind that injury is due from a just man to his enemies but kindness to his friends, he was not wise who said so, for he spoke not the truth, for in no case has it appeared to be just to injure any one.[21]
_Plato._
[21] Cf. Matt. V, 43, 44.
408.
Faith is like love, it cannot be forced. Therefore it is a dangerous operation if an attempt be made to introduce or bind it by state regulations; for, as the attempt to force love begets hatred, so also to compel religious belief produces rank unbelief.
_Schopenhauer._
409.
We are like vessels tossed on the bosom of the deep; our passions are the winds that sweep us impetuously forward; each pleasure is a rock; the whole life is a wide ocean. Reason is the pilot to guide us, but often allows itself to be led astray by the storms of pride.
_Metastasio._
410.
Empty is the house of a childless man; as empty is the mind of a bachelor; empty are all quarters of the world to an ignorant man; but poverty is total emptiness.
_Hitopadesa._
411.
The wicked have no stability, for they do not remain in consistency with themselves; they continue friends only for a short time, rejoicing in each other's wickedness.
_Aristotle._
412.
It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.
_Demosthenes._
413.
A man ought not to return evil for evil, as many think, since at no time ought we to do an injury to our neighbour.[22]
_Plato._
[22] Cf. Rom. XII, 19; 1 Thess. V, 15.
414.
In all that belongs to man you cannot find a greater wonder than memory. What a treasury of all things! What a record! What a journal of all! As if provident Nature, because she would have man circumspect, had furnished him with an account-book, to carry always with him. Yet it neither burthens nor takes up room.
_Feltham._
415.
He who will not freely and sadly confess that he is _much_ a fool is _all_ a fool.
_Fuller._
416.
The man with hoary head is not revered as aged by the gods, but only he who has true knowledge; he, though young, is old.
_Manu._
417.
No fathers and mothers think their own children ugly, and this self-deceit is yet stronger with respect to the offspring of the mind.
_Cervantes._
418.
In thy apparel avoid singularity, profuseness, and gaudiness. Be not too early in the fashion, nor too late. Decency is half way between affectation and neglect. The body is the shell of the soul, apparel is the husk of that shell; the husk often tells you what the kernel is.
_Quarles._
419.
We have more faith in a well-written romance while we are reading it than in common history. The vividness of the representations in the one case more than counterbalances the mere knowledge of the truth of facts in the other.
_Hazlitt._
420.
It is easy to lose important opportunities, and difficult to regain them; therefore when they present themselves it is the more necessary to make every effort to retain them.
_Guicciardini._
421.
Among wonderful things is a sore-eyed man who is an oculist.
_Arabic._
422.
Gold gives the appearance of beauty even to ugliness; but everything becomes frightful with poverty.
_Boileau._
423.
When the scale of sensuality bears down that of reason, the baseness of our nature conducts us to most preposterous conclusions.
_R. Chamberlain._
424.
Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.
_Bhartrihari._
425.
The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.
_Goethe._
426.
We must oblige everybody as much as we can; we have often need of assistance from those inferior to ourselves.
_La Fontaine._
427.
We magnify the wealthy man, though his parts be never so poor. The poor man we despise, be he never so well qualified. Gold is the coverlet of imperfections. It is the fool's curtain, which hides all his defects from the world.
_Feltham._
428.
There is nothing more operative than sedulity and diligence. A man would wonder at the mighty things which have been done by degrees and gentle augmentations. Diligence and moderation are the best steps whereby to climb to any excellence, nay, it is rare that there is any other other way.
_Feltham._
429.
In sooth, it is a shame to choose rather to be still borrowing in all places, from everybody, than to work and win.
_Rabelais._
430.
Behaviour is a mirror in which every one shows his image.
_Goethe._
431.
There is nothing more daring than ignorance.
_Menander._
432.
It is not easy to stop the fire when the water is at a distance; friends at hand are better than relations afar off.
_Chinese._
433.
The lustre of a virtuous character cannot be defaced, nor can the vices of a vicious man ever become lucid. A jewel preserves its lustre, though trodden in the mud, but a brass pot, though placed upon the head, is brass still.
_Panchatantra._
434.
Noble birth is an accident of fortune, noble actions characterise the great.
_Goldoni._
435.
Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought.
_Hazlitt._
436.
When anyone is modest, not after praise, but after censure, then he is really so.
_Richter._
437.
Experience has always shown, and reason shows, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.
_Guicciardini._
438.
Give not thy tongue too great a liberty, lest it take thee prisoner. A word unspoken is like thy sword in thy scabbard; if vented, the sword is in another's hand.[23] If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.
_Quarles._
[23] Cf. 221; also Metastasio:
Voce dal fuggita Poi richiamar non vale; Non si trattien lo strale Quando dall' arco uscì.
[The word that once escapes the tongue cannot be recalled; the arrow cannot be detained which has once sped from the bow.]
439.
The old lose one of the greatest privileges of man, for they are no longer judged by their contemporaries.
_Goethe._
440.
When the man of a naturally good propensity has much wealth it injures his advancement in wisdom; when a worthless man has much wealth it increases his faults.
_Chinese._
441.
In youth a man is deluded by other ideas than those which delude him in middle life, and again in his decay he embraces other ideas.
_Mahábhárata._
442.
To consider, Is this man of our own or an alien? is a mark of little-minded persons; but the whole earth is of kin to the generous-hearted.[24]
_Panchatantra._
[24] Cf. Luke, X, 29, ff.
443.
Skill in advising others is easily attained by men; but to practise righteousness themselves is what only a few can succeed in doing.
_Hitopadesa._
444.
Hast thou not perfect excellence, 'tis best To keep thy tongue in silence, for 'tis this Which shames a man; as lightness does attest The nut is empty, nor of value is.
_Sa'dí._
445.
Understand a man by his deeds and words; the impressions of others lead to false judgment.
_Talmud._
446.
A man of feeble character resembles a reed that bends with every gust of wind.
_Mágha._
447.
There is no fire like passion; there is no shark like hatred; there is no snare like folly; there is no torrent like greed.
_Dhammapada._
448.
Commit a sin twice, and it will not seem to thee a sin.
_Talmud._
449.
Liberality attended with mild language; learning without pride; valour united with mercy; wealth accompanied with a generous contempt of it--these four qualities are with difficulty acquired.
_Hitopadesa._
450.
Inquire about your neighbour before you build, and about your companions before you travel.
_Arabic._
451.