306.

When we lose the hope of equalling those we admire, admiration gives place to hatred.-Ib.

307.

There is but one man who can believe himself free from envy, and it is he who has never examined his own heart.-Ib.

308.

There is scarce any man who cannot persuade himself of his own merit; has he common sense, he prefers it to genius-has he some diminutive virtues, he gives them the preference to great talents.-Ib.

309.

pro

There really is not a greater, more constant, and more unaccountable folly, than to be moved and voked at the follies of mankind.-Ib.

310.

Obstinacy and vehemency in opinions are the surest proofs of stupidity.-Ib.

311.

Nothing renders the mind so narrow and so little as the want of social intercourse.-Voltaire.

312.

An ambitious desire of being distinguished from the crowd, leads men sometimes to combat, in theory, received opinions; while a timorous self-love, that dreads all new and dangerous attempts, through the apprehension of miscarrying, obliges them to follow those very opinions in practice.-D'Alembert.

313.

To be loved, we should merit but little esteem, all superiority attracts awe and aversion.-Helvetius.

314.

A reserved merit gives at once a disposition to respect and hatred, and an affable merit a disposition to love and contempt.-Ib.

315.

He that would be caressed by those that surround him, should be content with little esteem.-Ib.

316.

Great talents have some admirers and few friends. -Ib.

317.

The man of genius thinks for himself; his opinions are sometimes contrary to those commonly received; he therefore shocks the vanity of the greater number. To offend nobody, we should have no ideas but those of the world; as man is then without genius and without enemies.-Ib.

318.

For what are riches, empire, power,
But larger means to gratify the will?

The steps on which we tread, to rise, and reach
Our wish; and that obtained, down with the scaf-

folding

Of sceptres, crowns, and thrones; they've serv'd

their end,

And are, like lumber, to be left and scorned.

Congreve.

319.

In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all the others all she loves, is love, Which grows a habit she can ne'er get over, And fits her loosely-like an easy glove, As you may find, when'er you like to prove her; She then prefers him in the plural number, Not finding that the addition much encumber. Byron.

320.

'Tis melancholy, and a fearful sign
Of human frailty, folly, also crime,

That love and marriage rarely can combine,
Although they both are born in the same clime;
Marriage from love, like vinegar from wine-
A sad, sour, sober beverage-by time
Is sharpened from its high celestial flavour
Down to a very homely household savour.

321.

Ib.

He that would pass the latter part of his life with honour and decency, must, when he is young, consider that he one day shall be old, and remember when he is old, that he has once been young.Johnson.

322.

In youth it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world; and in age, to act without any measure but interest, and to lose shame without substituting virtue.-Ib.

323.

Such is the condition of life, that something is always wanting to happiness. In youth we have warm hopes, which are soon blasted by rashness and negligence; and great designs, which are defeated

by inexperience. In age, we have knowledge and prudence, without spirit to exert, or motives to prompt them. We are able to plan schemes and regulate measures, but have not time remaining to bring them to completion.—Ib.

324.

If we consider the manner in which those who assume the office of directing the conduct of others, execute their undertaking, it will not be very wonderful that their labours, however zealous or affectionate, are frequently useless. For, what is the advice that is commonly given? A few general maxims, enforced with vehemence, and inculcated with importunity; but failing for want of particular reference and immediate application.-Ib.

325.

It is not often that a man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful. We are sometimes not ourselves conscious of the original motives of our actions; and when we know them, our first care is to hide them from the sight of others, and often from those most diligently, whose superiority either of power or understanding, may entitle them to inspect our lives. It is therefore very probable, that he who endeavours the cure of our intellectual maladies, mistakes their cause, and that his prescriptions avail nothing, because he knows not which of the passions or desires is vitiated. —Ib.

326.

Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or most judicious; but, for the same reason, every one is eager to instruct his neighbours. To be wise or to be virtuous, is to buy dignity

and importance at a high price; but when nothing is necessary to elevation but detection of the follies or the faults of others, no man is so insensible to the voice of fame, as to linger on the ground.—Ib.

327.

Advice is offensive, not because it lays us open to unexpected regret, or convicts us of any fault which had escaped our notice, but because it shows us that we are known to others as well as ourselves; and the officious monitor is persecuted with hatred, not because his accusation is false, but because he assumes the superiority which we are not willing to grant him, and has dared to detect what we desired to conceal.-Ib.

328.

In every performance, perhaps in every great character, part is the gift of nature, part the contribution of accident, and part, very often not the greatest part, the effect of voluntary election and regular design.-Ib.

329.

It requires but little acquaintance with the heart, to know that woman's first wish is to be handsome; and that, consequently, the readiest method of obtaining her kindness is to praise her beauty.—Ib.

330.

Self confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings; yet he who forms his opinion of himself, without knowing the powers of other men, is very liable to error.-Ib.

331.

It may be no less dangerous to claim, on certain occasions, too little than too much. There is some