A VARICE.

FEW liften without a defire of conviction. to those who advise them to spare their money.

Idler, v. 1, p. 144.

Avarice is always poor, but poor by her own fault.

Ditto, v. 2, p. 116.

Avarice is an uniform and tractable vice; other intellectual diftempers are different in different conftitutions of mind. That which foothes the pride of one, will offend the pride of another; but to the favour of the covetous bring money, and nothing is denied.

Prince of Abyffinia, p. 232.

ADMIRATION. ADMIRATION must be continued by that novelty which firft produced it; and. how much foever is given, there must always. be reafon to imagine that more remains.

Rambler, v. 4, Pr 257.

A man once diftinguished, foon gains ad

'mirers.

Life of Roger Afcham, p. 244

AM

AMBITIO

N.

-AMBITION, fcornful of reftraint, Ev'n from the birth, affects fupreme command, Swells in the breaft, and with refiftlefs force O'erbears each gentler motion of the mind; As when a deluge overfpreads the plains, The wand'ring rivulets and filver lakes Mix undiftinguifh'd in the general roar.

Irene, p. 32

AT HE IS T.

It has been long obferved that an Atheist has no just reafon for endeavouring conver-1 fions, and yet none harrafs thofe minds which they can influence with more importunity of folicitation to adopt their opinions. In proportion as they doubt the truth of their own doctrines, they are defirous to gain the atteftation of another understanding, and induftrioufly labour to win a profelyte, and eagerly catch at the flightest pretence to dignify their fect with a celebrated name.

Life of Sir T. Browne, p. 283.

ANGER.

ANG E R.

THE maxim which Periander of Corinth, one of the feven fages of Greece, left as a memorial of his knowledge and benevolence, was, "Be mafter of your anger." He confidered anger as the great difturber of human life; the chief enemy both of public happinefs and private tranquility, and thought he could not lay on pofterity a stronger obligation to reverence his memory, than by leaving them a falutary caution against this outrageous paffion. Pride is undoubtedly the origin of anger; but pride, like every other paffion, if it once breaks loofe from reason, counteracts its own purposes. A paffionate man, upon the review of his day, will have very few gratifications to offer to his pride, when he has confidered how his outrages were caufed; why they were borne, and in what they are likely to end at last.

Rambler, v. 1, p. 60 & 62.

ABILITY.

IT was well obferved by Pythagoras, that ability and neceffity dwell near each other.

Idler, v. 2, p. 154.

ACC

ACCIDENT.

IN every performance, perhaps in every great character, part is the gift of nature, part the contribution of accident, and part, very often not the greatest part, the effect of voluntary election and regular defign.

Memoirs of the King of Pruffia, p. 100.

ANTICIPATION. WHATEVER advantage we fnatch beyond a certain portion allotted us by nature, is like money spent before it is due, which at the time of regular payment, will be miffed and regretted.

Idler, v. 2, p. 35.

APPLAUSE.

IT frequently happens that applaufe abates diligence. Whoever finds himself to have performed more than was demanded, will be contented to fpare the labour of unneceffary performances, and fit down to enjoy at ease his fuperfluities of honour. But long intervals of pleasure diffipate

attention

attention and weaken conftancy; nor is it easy for him that has funk from diligence into floth, to roufe out of his lethargy, to recollect his notions, rekindle his curiofity, with his former ardour in the

and engage toils of study.

Rambler, vol. 3, P. 34

ART.

The nobleft beauties of art are thofe of which the effect is fo extended with rational nature, or at leaft with the whole circle of polished life. What is lefs than this can be only pretty, the plaything of fafhion, and the amusement of a day.

Johnfon's Life of West.

APPEARANCES. (often deceitful)

In the condition of men, it frequently happens that grief and anxiety lie hid under the golden robes of profperity, and the gloom of calamity is cheered by secret radiations of hope and comfort; as in the works of nature, the bog is fometimes covered with flowers, and the mine concealed in the barien crags. Rambler, v. 3, p. 135.