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imanage of a Double Tongue, with a foolish Credulity to work upon. There's hardly a greater Peft to Government, Converfation, the Peace of Societies, Relations and Families, than officious Tale-bearers, Whifperers, and bufie Intermedlers: Thefe Pick-thanks are enough to fet Mankind together by the Ears; they live upon Calumny and Slander, and cover themselves too under the Seal of Secrecy and Friendship. The Sin of Traducing is Diabolical, according to the very Letter; and if the Office be artificially manag'd, 'tis enough to put the whole World into a Flame, and no body the wifer which way it came. The Mifchief may be promoted by Mifreprefenting, Misunderstanding, or Mifinterpreting our Neighbours Thoughts, Words and Deeds; and no Wound fo mortal as that where the Poyfon works under a pretence of Kindness: Nay, there are ways of Commendation and Infinuation, of Affection and Efteem, that kill a Man as fure as a Gun. This Practice is the bane of all Truft, and it is as frequent in the Intrigues of Courts and States, as in the moft ordinary Accidents of Life. 'Tis enough to break the neck of all Honeft Purposes, to fupprefs all generous and publick fpirited Motions, and to ftifle all honourable Inclinations in the very Conception. But next to the Practice of thefe lewd Offices, deliver all Honest Men from lying at the Mercy of thofe that encourage and entertain them.

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Defigns, Undertakings, Succefs.

E that minds and bufies himself about fmall
Interefts, becomes usually unfit for

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Though an Action appear never fo bright and glorious in it felf, it is not to be accounted great, if it be not the effect of Wisdom and Defign.

Great Men's Honour ought always to be rated by the Methods they employ to carry on and accomplish their Designs.

A Wife Man fhould order his Defigns, and fet all his Interefts in their proper Places. This Order is of ten difturb'd by a foolish Greedinefs, which while it puts us upon pursuing feveral things at once, makes us eager for matters of lefs Confideration; and we let the Main go, while we grafp at the Acceffories. There must be a true Proportion of the Actions to the Defigns, without which, it is impoffible for a Man to gain his Ends.

There are a world of Proceedings that appear odd and ridiculous, which yet are grounded upon fecret Reasons, that are very folid and fubftantial.

It is hard to determine, whether a clear, open and honourable Proceeding be the refult of good Principles, or fubtile Craft and Addrefs.

It is with fome Affairs, as it is with moft Difeafes; they are rather fowr'd and exafperated, than allay'd by untimely Remedies: And the height of Skill and Wisdom, is to know when they can bear the handling.

There are but very few things impoffible in their own Nature; and we want not Means to conquer Difficulties, fo much as Application and Refolution in the ufe of Means.

The diflike we commonly have of Negotiators, (or Arbitrators,) arifes from their being generally apt to facrifice all the Interest of their Friends, for the advancing and bringing about their Negotiation,which they make their own Intereft, by the Credit of having fucceeded in their Undertakings.

It is generally in Matters of no great moment, where we venture not to believe Probabilities.

We should defire very few things paffionately, if we did but perfectly know the Nature of the thing we defire.

In great Undertakings, the improving of Opportunities goes a greater way than the starting of

them.

No Commendations are thought too great for Prudence: And yet the higheft pitch of it cann ot enfure a Man the most inconfiderable Event.

We should often blush for our best Actions, if the World did but fee all the Motives upon which they' were grounded.

Good Succefs is often owing to want of Judgment, for a nice Difcretion keeps a man from venturing upon feveral Attempts, which meer want of Confideration makes frequently turn to good ac

count.

Our Actions are like the laft Syllables of Words, which every Man makes Rhime to what he thinks fit.

We execute flowly what we refolve upon unwillingly.

Any thing that is extraordinary, looks great, if the Succefs be favourable; as every thing that's great looks foolish, if the Succefs be contrary.

There is a critical Point in the declining of all States, where their Ruin would be unavoidable, if one knew how eafie it were to deftroy them; but for want of fore-fight clear enough, or a fufficient Courage,Men are content with a little, when they might do more, making either the Meannefs of Spirit, or the want of Greatness in the Soul, pafs for Prudence.

Whatever we undertake, we muft propofe to our thoughts fome great and extraordinary aim,and even fuch

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fuch as is above our reach: For we could hardly be perfwaded to begin our Journey, if we were fure to go no farther than we really fhall.

There is not any thing fo finall,but there goes Art and Application toward the acquiring of it.

'Tis of mighty Ufe to Men in any great and daring Attempt, to have their Followers and others think, there is Destiny in their behalf; that they are God's Inftruments, only accomplishing what he has long defign'd they fhould; this renders them both most violent in their Motions, and incurable either by any Admonitions, or even almost by any Unfuccefsfulness or Difcouragements.

Any thing is a good Reafon for a Way to him, who before-hand is refolv ́d to take it; he blames or commends, condemns or juftifies, as a corrupt Party, not as an equal Fudge. Self-Love fteers all its Determinations; and following all its Windings, it is never true to the reality of the thing, but to its own concern therein; which being differently affected by any ways, at different Times, it accor dingly either applauds or decrys them, and has a Judgment of them when they are in our own Cafe, and another when they are in our Neighbours.

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Experience makes many a Wife Man of a Fool; and Security makes many a Fool of a Wife Man.

There's no forcing Nature against her Biafs, or inverting the Methods of Providence. Irregular Defires and unreasonable Undertakings, muft expect to meet with Difappointments: There is a proper Time for all Things, and nothing fucceeds well, but what's done in Seafon.

Hafty Refolutions are feldom Fortunate, and it is a piece of neceffary Prudence for a Man, before he refolves any thing, to confider what may be the Confequences of it.

*Tis matter of Skill and Addrefs, when a Man cannot honeftly compass what he would be at, to appear eafie and indifferent upon all Repulfes and Difappointments. Befide, it improves all our Difappointments into Providences, when we can let fall the vain defire of any thing, without feeling the lofs of it.

Improbability and Impoffibility, are two frightful Words to weaker Minds, but by diligent and wife Men, they are generally found to be only the Excufes of Idleness and Ignorance. For the most part, they lie not in the things themselves, but in Men's falfe Opinions concerning them; they are raised by Opinions, but are foon abolifh'd by Works. Many things that were at firft improbable to the Minds of Men, are not fo to their Eyes; many that seem'd unpracticable to their Thoughts, are quite otherwife to their Hands: Many that are too difficult for their naked Hands, may be foon perform'd by the fame Hands, if they are ftrengthen'd by Inftruments, and guided by Methods: Many that are unmanageable by a few Hands, and a few Inftruments, are easie to the joint-force of a Multitude: Many that fail in one Age, may fucceed by the renew'd Endeavours of another. It is not therefore the conceit or fancy of Men alone, that is of fufficient Authority to condemn the most unlikely things for impoffible; unless they have been attempted in vain, by many Eyes, many Hands, many Inftruments, and many Ages.

*The Errors of Young Men are the rune of Bufinefs; but the Errors of Aged Men amount but to this, that more might have been done, or fooner. Toung Men, in the Conduct and Management of Affairs, embrace more than they can hold; ftir more than they can quiet; fly to the end without Confide

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