The power of nature is only the power of ufing, to any certain purpose, the materials which diligence procures, or opportunity fup

ENGLISH NABOBS, &c.

THOSE who make an illegal use of power in foreign countries, to enrich themselves and dependants; live with hearts full of that malignity which fear of detection always generates in them, who are to defend unjuft acquifitions againft lawful authority; and when they come home with riches thus acquired, they bring minds hardened in evil; too proud for reproof, and too stupid for reflection. They offend the high by their infolence, and corrupt the low by their examples.

NO man can safely do that by others, which might be done by himself. He that indulges negligence, will quickly become ignorant of

4

own affairs; and he that trufts without referve, will at laft be deceived.

1

Rambler, vol. 4. Po 14.

NOVELTY.

TO oblige the most fertile genius to fay only what is new, would be to contract his volumes to a few pages.

Idler, vol. ii. p. 187.

OPIN IONAI

THE opinion prevalent in one age, as truths above the reach of controverfy, are confuted and rejected in another, and rife again to reception in remoter times. Thus, the human mind is kept in motion without progrefs. Thus, fometimes, truth and error, and fometimes contrarieties of error, take each other's place by reciprocal invafion.

Preface to Shakespear, p. 54.

Much of the pain and pleasure of mankind arifes from the conjectures which every one: makes of the thoughts of others. We all enjoy

praise

praise which we do not hear, and refent con

tempt which we do not fee.

TO improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life. Many wants are fuffered which might have once been fupplied, and much time is loft in regretting the time which had been loft before.

The Patriot, p. 1.

He that waits for an opportunity to do much at once, may breathe out his life in idle wishes, and regret, in the laft hour, his ufelefs intentions and barren zeal.

Idler, vol. 1. p. 22.

P.

PARENT S.

I'N general, those parents have most reverence, who moft deserve it; for he that lives well, cannot be defpifed.

P. of Abiffinia, p. 155.

PA

PATRIO T.

A PATRIOT is he, whofe public conduct is regulated by one fingle motive, viz. the love of his country; who, as an agent, in parliament, has for himself, neither hope, nor fear; neither kindness, nor refentment; but refers every thing to the common interest.

The Patriot, p. 3.

PAS SI O N.

THE adventitious peculiarities of perfonal habits are only fuperficial dies, bright and pleafing for a while, yet foon fading to a dim tint, without any remains of former luftre. But the discrimination of true paffion are the colours of nature; they pervade the whole mafs, and can only perifh with the body that exhibits them.

Preface to Shakespeare, p. 18.

Paffion, in its first violence, controls intereft, as the eddy, for a while, runs against

the stream.

Taxation no Tyranny, P• 3.

PAIN

PAIN.

PAIN is lefs fubject than pleasure to ca

prices of expreffion.

Idler, vol. 1. p 282.

PATRONAGE,

A MAN confpicuous in a high station, who multiplies hopes, that he may multiply dependents, may be confidered as a beast of

prey.

Idler, vol. 1. p. 79.

To follicit patronage is, at least, in the event, to fet virtue to fale. None can be pleafed without praise, and few can be praised without falfhood; few can be affiduous without fervility, and none can be fervile without corruption. Rambler, vol. 2. p. 298.

PLEASURE.

WHATEVER profeffes to benefit by pleafing, must please at once. What is perceived by flow degrees, may gratify us with the confciouf. nefs of improvement, but will never strike us with the fenfe of pleasure.

Life of Cowley.

Pleafure