Life and Literature Part 73

--_Junius._

1007

One of dull intellect cannot come in, nor go away, nor sit, nor rise, nor stand, like a man of sense.

--_La Bruyere._

1008

G.o.d has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.

--_Bacon._

1009

Respect other people's opinions; Intolerance is usually an index of weakness.

1010

_Irresolution._--Don't stand s.h.i.+vering upon the bank; plunge in at once and have it over.

--_Haliburton._

J

1011

The wife of a distinguished man when asked where her jewels were, replied, "my jewels are my children, my husband, and his triumphs."

1012

MOTHER'S JEWELS.

A lady who was very rich, and fond of pomp and show, after having displayed, in a visit she made, her diamonds, pearls, and richest jewels, earnestly desired Cornelia, the ill.u.s.trious, to let her see her jewels also. Cornelia dexterously turned the conversation to another subject, to wait the return of her sons, who were gone to the public schools. When they returned and entered their mother's apartment, she said to the rich lady, pointing to them with her hand, "These are my jewels, and the only ornaments I admire."

1013

JOY.

When you first saw the light of this world you were crying, and your friends were full of joy;--Live, so, that when you die, your friends will cry and you will be full of joy.

1014

Of joys departed, Not to return, how painful the remembrance!

--_R. Blair._

1015

I cannot speak, tears so obstruct my words, And choke me with unutterable joy.

--_Otway._

1016

Joy when it's shared, its pleasure doubles, And sorrow, loses half its troubles.

1017

_Johnson_: "It is commonly a weak man who marries for love." We then talked of marrying women of fortune; and I (Boswell) mentioned a common remark, that a man may be, upon the whole, richer by marrying a woman with a very small portion, because a woman of fortune will be proportionally expensive; whereas a woman who brings none will be very moderate in expenses. _Johnson_: "Depend upon it, Sir, this is not true.

A woman of fortune, being used to the handling of money, spends it judiciously; but a woman who gets the command of money for the first time upon her marriage, has such a gust in spending it, that she throws it away with great profusion."

--_Boswell's Johnson._

1018

Never risk a joke, even the least offensive in its nature and the most common, with a person who is not well-bred, or possessed of sense to comprehend it.

--_La Bruyere._

1019

A CONSCIENTIOUS JUDGE.

Sir Matthew Hale was very exact and impartial in his administration of justice. One of the first peers of England went once to his chamber and told him--"That having a suit in law to be tried before him, he was there to acquaint him with it, that he might the better understand it when he should come to be heard in court." Upon which Sir Matthew interrupted him, and said--"He did not deal fairly to come to his chamber about such affairs, for he never received any information of causes but in open court, where both parties were to be heard alike," so he would not suffer him to go on. Whereupon his grace (for he was a Duke) went away not a little dissatisfied, and complained of it to the king, as a rudeness that was not to be endured. But his majesty bade him content himself that he was no worse used, and said--"He verily believed he would have used himself no better, if he had gone to solicit him in any of his own causes."

1020

When we are too young our judgment is at fault; so also when we are too old.

--_Pascal._