if he apply his questions to the skill of the persons whom he asketh; for he shall give them occasion to please themselves in speaking, and himself shall continually gather knowledge:  but let his questions not be troublesome, for that is fit for a poser; and let him be sure to leave other men their turns to speak:  nay, if there be any that would reign and take up all the time, let him find means to take them off, and to bring others on, as musicians use to do with those that dance too long galliards.  If you dissemble sometimes your knowledge of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought, another time, to know that you know not.  Speech of a man’s self ought to be seldom, and well chosen.  I knew one was wont to say in scorn, “He must needs be a wise man, he speaks so much of himself;” and there is but one case wherein a man may commend himself with good grace, and that is in commending virtue in another, especially if it be such a virtue whereunto himself pretendeth.  Speech of touch towards others should be sparingly used; for discourse ought to be as a field, without coming home to any man.  I knew two noblemen, of the west part of England, whereof the one was given to scoff, but kept ever royal cheer in his house; the other would ask of those that had been at the other’s table, “Tell truly, was there never a flout or dry blow given?” To which the guest would answer, “Such and such a thing passed.”  The lord would say, “I thought he would mar a good dinner.”  Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal, is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.  A good continued speech, without a good speech of interlocution, shows slowness; and a good reply, or second speech, without a good settled speech, showeth shallowness and weakness.  As we see in beasts, that those that are weakest in the course, are yet nimblest in the turn; as it is betwixt the greyhound and the hare.  To use too many circumstances, ere one come to the matter, is wearisome; to use none at all, is blunt.

—­Bacon.

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Think as little as possible about any good in yourself; turn your eyes resolutely from any view of your acquirement, your influence, your plan, your success, your following:  above all, speak as little as possible about yourself.  The inordinateness of our self-love makes speech about ourselves like the putting of the lighted torch to the dried wood which has been laid in order for the burning.  Nothing but duty should open our lips upon this dangerous theme, except it be in humble confession of our sinfulness before our God.  Again, be specially upon the watch against those little tricks by which the vain man seeks to bring round the conversation to himself, and gain the praise or notice which the thirsty ears drink in so greedily; and even if praise comes unsought, it is well, whilst men are uttering it, to guard yourself by thinking of some secret cause for humbling yourself inwardly to God; thinking into what these pleasant accents would be changed if all that is known to God, and even to yourself, stood suddenly revealed to man.