A Character of King Charles the Second Part 12

Kindness is apt to be as _afraid_ of Esteem, as that is to be _ashamed_ of Kindness.

Our Kindness is greatest to those that will do what we would have them, in which our Esteem cannot always go along.

Miscellaneous Thoughts AND REFLECTIONS.

[Sidenote: _Of Advice and Correction._]

The Rule _of doing as we would be done by_, is never less observed than it is in telling others their Faults. But Men intend more to shew others that they are free from the Fault, than to dissuade them from committing it.

They are so pleased with the prudent Shape of an Adviser, that it raiseth the value they have of themselves, whilst they are about it.

Certainly, to give Advice to a Friend, either asked or unasked, is so far from a Fault, that it is a Duty; but if a Man love to give Advice, it is a sure sign that he himself wanteth it.

A Man whilst he is advising putteth his Understanding upon Tiptoes, and is unwilling to bring it down again.

A weak Man had rather _be thought_ to know, than _know_, and that maketh him so impatient to be told of a Mistake.

He who will not be the better for other Mens Faults, hath no cure left for his own.

But he that can probe himself to cure his own Faults, will seldom need either the Surgery of his Friends or of his Enemies.

[Sidenote: _Of Alterations._]

In a corrupted Age the putting the World in order would breed Confusion.

A rooted Disease must be _stroaked away_, rather than _kicked away_.

As soon as Men have Understanding enough to find a Fault, they have enough to see the danger of mending it.

Desiring to have any thing mended, is venturing to have it spoiled: To know when to let Things alone, is a high pitch of good Sense. But a Fool hath an Eagerness, like a Monkey in a Gla.s.s Shop, to break every thing in the handling.

_Curing_ and _Mending_ are generally meer Words of Art not to be relied upon. They are set out in Bills, but the _Mountebanks_ only get by them.

[Sidenote: _Bashfulness._]

Great Bashfulness is oftener an Effect of Pride than of Modesty.

Modesty is oftner mistaken than any other Virtue.

[Sidenote: _Boldness._]

Wise Venturing is the most commendable Part of human Prudence.

It is the upper Story of Prudence, whereas perpetual Caution is a kind of under-ground Wisdom that doth not care to see the Light.

It is best for great Men to shoot over, and for lesser Men to shoot short.

[Sidenote: _Borrowers of Opinions._]

Men who borrow their Opinions can never repay their Debts.

They are Beggars by Nature, and can therefore never get a Stock to grow rich upon.

A Man who hath not a distinguis.h.i.+ng Head, is safest by not minding what any body sayeth.

He had better trust to his own Opinion, than spoil another Man's for want of apprehending it.

[Sidenote: _Candour._]

It is some kind of Scandal not to bear with the Faults of an honest Man.

It is not loving Honesty enough to allow it distinguis.h.i.+ng Privileges.

There are some decent Faults which may pretend to be in the lower Rank of Virtues; and surely where Honour or Grat.i.tude are the Motives, Censure must be a good deal silenced.

[Sidenote: _Of Caution and Suspicion._]

Men must be saved in this World by their Want of Faith.

A Man that getteth Care into his Thoughts, cannot properly be said to trade without a Stock.

Care and right Thought will produce Crops all the Year without staying for the Seasons.

A Man is to go about his own Business as if he had not a Friend in the World to help him in it.

He that relieth upon himself will be oppressed by others with Offers of their Service.

All are apt to shrink from those that lean upon them.

If Men would think how often their own Words are thrown at their Heads, they would less often let them go out of their Mouths.

Mens Words are Bullets that their Enemies take up and make use of against them.

A Man watches himself best when others watch him too.

It is as necessary for us to suppress our Reason when it offendeth, as our Mistakes when they expose us.

In an unreasonable Age, a Man's Reason let loose would undo him.

A wise Man will do with his Reason as a Miser doth with his Money, h.o.a.rd it, but be very sparing in the Expence of it.

A Man that should call every thing by its right Name, would hardly pa.s.s the Streets without being knock'd down as a common Enemy.

A Man cannot be more in the Wrong than to own without Distinction the being in the Right.