Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about Literary and Philosophical Essays.

Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about Literary and Philosophical Essays.
merchandize as we have, than to ingrosse and purchase new commodities.  Silence and modestie are qualities very convenient to civil conversation.  It is also necessary that a young man be rather taught to be discreetly-sparing and close-handed, than prodigally-wastfull and lavish in his expences, and moderate in husbanding his wealth when he shall come to possesse it.  And not to take pepper in the nose for every foolish tale that shall be spoken in his presence, because it is an uncivil importunity to contradict whatsoever is not agreeing to our humour:  let him be pleased to correct himselfe.  And let him not seeme to blame that in others which he refuseth to doe himselfe, nor goe about to withstand common fashions, Licet sapere sine pompa, sine invidia:  [Footnote:  Sen.  Epist. ciii. f.] “A man may bee wise without ostentation, without envie.”  Let him avoid those imperious images of the world, those uncivil behaviours and childish ambition wherewith, God wot, too-too many are possest:  that is, to make a faire shew of that which is not in him:  endevouring to be reputed other than indeed he is; and as if reprehension and new devices were hard to come by, he would by that meane acquire into himselfe the name of some peculiar vertue.  As it pertaineth but to great Poets to use the libertie of arts; so is it tolerable but in noble minds and great spirits to have a preheminence above ordinarie fashions.  Si quid Socrates et Aristippus contra morem et consuetudinem fecerunt, idem sibi ne arbitretur licere:  Magis enim illi et divinis bonis hanc licentiam assequebantur:  [Footnote:  Cic.  Off. 1. i.] “If Socrates and Aristippus have done ought against custome or good manner, let not a man thinke he may doe the same:  for they obtained this licence by their great and excellent good parts:”  He shall be taught not to enter rashly into discourse or contesting, but when he shall encounter with a Champion worthie his strength; And then would I not have him imploy all the tricks that may fit his turne, but only such as may stand him in most stead.  That he be taught to be curious in making choice of his reasons, loving pertinency, and by consequence brevitie.  That above all, he be instructed to yeeld, yea to quit his weapons unto truth, as soone as he shall discerne the same, whether it proceed from his adversarie, or upon better advice from himselfe; for he shall not be preferred to any place of eminencie above others, for repeating of a prescript [Footnote:  Fixed beforehand.] part; and he is not engaged to defend any cause, further than he may approove it; nor shall he bee of that trade where the libertie for a man to repent and re-advise himselfe is sold for readie money, Neque, ut omnia, que praescripta et imperata sint, defendat, necessitate ulla cogitur:  [Footnote:  Cic.  Acad.  Qu.  I. iv.] “Nor is he inforced by any necessitie to defend and make good all that is prescribed and commanded him.”  If his tutor agree with my humour, he shall frame
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Literary and Philosophical Essays: French, German and Italian from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.