persons and conversation4 more or 4 Conversation, less pleasing; at whatever table, s. familiar disthey may meet with meats and course. 5Worse,a. more ill, more bad, the compara tive of bad. drinks of better and of worse taste, 3 Under these circumstances, the two sorts of people abovementioned, fix their attention, those who are disposed to be happy, on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conversation; the well dressed dishes, the goodness of the wines, the fine weather, c. and enjoy all with cheerful 4 Those who are to be unhappy, think and speak only on the contraries. Hence they are continually discontented themselves and by their remarks* sour the pleasures of society 2 offend personally many people, and make themselves ererywhere disagreeable. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, make of the face. 8 Defects, s, failings, faults, blemishes. 9 Cheerfulness, s, free from gloominess. such unhappy3 persons would be more to be pitied. be 5 But as the disposition to criticise, and to be disgusted, is perhaps, taken up originally4 by imitation, and is, unawares, grown into a habit,5 which though at present strong, may nevertheless cured, when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their felicity; I hope this little admonition,6 may be of service to them and put them on changing a habit, which, though in the exercise it is chiefly an act of imagination, yet has serious consequences in life, as it brings on real griefs? and misfortunes. + 6 For as many are offended by, and no body loves this sort of people; no one shews them more than the most common civility8 and respect, and scarcely that; and this frequently puts them out of humor, and draws them into disputes and contentions. If they aim at obtaining9 some advantage in rank or fortune, no body wishes them success, or will stir a step or speak a word to favor their pretensions.* 7 If they incur public censure or disgrace, no one will defend or excuse, and many join to aggravate their misconduct, and render them able. completely odious:* If these peo- Odious, ple will not change this bad habit, hateful, detestand condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without fretting themselves and others about their contraries, it is good for others to 2 Avoid v. to avoid2 an acquaintance with them; shun, to escape, which is always disagreeable, and to evacuate, to sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one finds one's self entangled in their quarrels. quit. 3 Intimacy 8, close familiari ty 4 Thermome- 8 An old philosophical friend of mine was grown, from experience, very cautious in this particular, and carefully avoided any intimacy3 with such people. He had, like other philosophers, a thermometer4 to shew him the heat of the weather; and a barometer,5 to mark when it was likely to prove good a weather glass. or bad; but there being no instru- 6 Instrument, ment6 invented to discover at first s. a tool, deed sight this unpleasing disposition in of contract. a person, he, for that purpose, made use of his legs; one of which was remarkably handsome, the other, by some accident, crooked and deformed.7 9 If a stranger at the first interview, regarded his ugly leg more than his handsome one, he doubted him. If he spake of it and took no notice of the handsome leg, that was sufficient to determine my phi 7 Deformed, part. disfigured, made ugly, dis honored. losophers to have no further acquaintance with him. 10. Every body has not this two legged instrument; but every one with little attention, may observe 8 Philosopher, s.a man deep in knowledge. signs of that carping,9 fault finding 9 Carping, part. disposition, and take the same res- fault finding. olution of avoiding the acquaintance of those infected with it. I, therefore, advise those critical, querulous, discontented, unhappy people, that if they wish to be respected and beloved by others, and happy in themselves, they should leave off looking at the ugly leg. * Querulous, ☀habitually complaining. Retirement, not suitable to a melan choly mind. 1. When we consider* the short duration of human life, when extended even to the longest period, and the many perplexities,2 cares, and anxieties,3 which contribute to disturb the repose of those whom we should be led to consider as happy mortals, what is there in our sublunary4 pursuits that ought to make any long and lasting impression5 on our minds? 2. We have seen many of the wisest people, on the loss of a darling child, or on a sudden and un expected wreck of their affairs, re tire from the world, and endeavor 6 Consolation, s. to seek consolation,6 by indulging their melancholy7 in some gloomy retreat. Surely, however, nothing can be inore inconsistent with the dignity of human natures than such a conduct. 3. Ifto fly from the face of an enemy in the hour of battle; and seek a retreat in some sequestered forest, may be considered cowardice in the soldier, it is not less so in the moral militant,9 who has not courage to face the storms of fortune, but precipitately flies from the field of adversity, the ground of which he ought to dispute inch by inch. alleviation of ness. 8 Nature, s na tive state of any thing, constitution, disposition, world, natural affection. the state of the 2 Maxim, a leading truth, general princi. ple. indi 4. It is a maxim2 that fortune favors the daring, and shuns the coward. Whatever may be the whims and caprice of dame fortune, who sometimes makes a peer of a beggar, and as often reduces the peer to a state of penury,3 yet ex- 3 Penury, perience tells us that she is seldom poverty able, for any considerable length of time, to withstand resolute and unremitted importunities ;4 and, 4 Importunity, when she has hurled5 us, to the bottom of her wheel, whatever motion that wheel afterwards makes, it must throw us upwards. As those, who have enjoyed a good gence, want. s incessant soli. citation. 5 Hurled, part. thrown with violence. |