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ADVANTAGES OF READING.

The foundation must be laid by reading. General principles must be had from books, which, however, must be brought to the test of real life. In conversation you never get a system. What is said upon a subject is to be gathered from a hundred people. The parts of a truth, which a man gets thus, are at such a distance from each other that he never attains to a full view.

FLATTERY.

Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true: but, in the second place, whether he thinks so or not, he certainly thinks those whom he flatters of consequence enough to be flattered.

TESTIMONY AND ARGUMEnt.

Testimony is like an arrow shot from a long bow; the force of it depends on the strength of the hand that draws it. Argument is like an arrow from a cross-bow, which has equal force though shot by a child.

EPITAPH WRITING.

The writer of an epitaph should not be considered as saying nothing but what is strictly true. Allowance must be made for some degree of exaggerated praise. In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.

REAL HISTORY RARE.

We must consider how very little history there is; I mean, real authentic history. That certain kings reigned, and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true; but all the colouring, all the philosophy of history, is conjecture.

BUTLER'S HUDIBRAS.

There is in Hudibras a great deal of bullion, which will always last. But, to be sure, the brightest strokes of his wit owed their force to the impression of the characters, which was upon men's minds at the time; to their knowing them at table and in the street; in short, being familiar with them; and, above all, to his satire being directed against those whom a little while before they had hated and feared.

RULE OF CONVERSATION.

Some people tell you that they let themselves down to the capacity of their hearers. I never do that. I speak uniformly in as intelligible a manner as I can.

DEBTS.

Small debts are like small shot; they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound. Great debts are like cannon; of loud noise, but little danger.

A SHIP COMPARED TO A JAIL.

No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned. A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.

SPENDING MONEY.

No money is better spent than what is laid out for domestic satisfaction. A man is pleased that his wife is dressed as well as other people, and a wife is pleased that she is dressed.

120 TABLE TALK OF JOHNSON.

JUDGMENT.

As a man advances in life he gets what is better than admiration,—judgment, to estimate things at their true value.

ADMIRATION AND JUDGMENT,

Admiration and love are like being intoxicated with champagne; judgment and friendship like being enlivened.

MAJORITY AND SUPERIORITY.

There is a difference between majority and superiority; majority is applied to number, and superiority to power.

PERFECTION UNATTAINABLE.

He that claims, either in himself or for another, the honours of perfection, will surely injure the reputation which he designs to assist.

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