fhall find that part of our duration very fmall, of which we can truly call ourfelves masters, or which we can spend wholly at our own choice.

Ditto, v. 3. P. 13.

Time, like money, may be loft by unfeasonable avarice.

Life of Burman, p. 295.

Time is the inflexible enemy of all falfe hypothefes.

Treatise on the Longitude, p. 10.

An Italian philofopher expreffed in his motto, "that time was his eftate." An eftate, indeed, which will produce nothing without cultivation, but will always abundantly repay the labours of industry, and fatisfy the most extenfive defires, if no part of it be suffered to lie wafte by negligence, to be over-run with noxious plants, or laid out for fhow rather than for use.

ΤΙΜΕ

Rambler, v. 3. p. 18.

PAST.

WHETHER it be that life has more vexations than comforts, or what is in event just the same, that evil makes deeper impreffions than good, it is certain

that

that few can review the time paft, without heaviness of heart. He remembers many calamities incurred by folly; many opportunities loft by negligence. The

fhades of the dead rife up before him, and he laments the companions of his youth, the partners of his amufements, the affiftants of his labours, whom the hand of death has fnatched away.

Idler, v. I. p. 249.

TRIFLE S.

IT may be frequently remarked of the studious and fpeculative, that they are proud of trifles, and that their amusements feem frivolous and childish; whether it be that men, confcious of great reputation, think themfelves above the reach of cenfure, and fafe in the admiffion of negligent indulgencies, or that mankind expect, from elevated genius, an uniformity of greatnefs, and watch its degradation with malicious wonder, like him, who having followed with his eye an eagie into the clouds, fhould lament that she ever defcended to a perch.

Life of Pope.

Trifles

Trifles always require exuberance of ornament. The building which has no ftrength, can be valued only for the grace of its decorations. The pebble must be polished with care, which hopes to be valued as a diamond, and words ought furely to be laboured, when they are intended to ftand for things.

Rambler, v. 3. p. 280.

To proportion the eagerness of conteft to its importance, feems too hard a task for human wifdom. The pride of wit has kept ages bufy in the difcuffion of useless queftions; and the pride of power has deftroyed armies to gain or to keep unprofitable poffeffions.

Falkland Islands, p. I.

TRAVELLING.

ALL travel has its advantages: if the paffenger vifits better countries, he may learn to improve his own; and if fortune carries him to worfe, he may learn to enjoy it.

Western Islands, p. 322.

He that would travel for the entertainment of others, fhould remember, that the

great object of remark is HUMAN LIFE. Every nation has fomething in its manufactures, its works of genius, its medicines, its agriculture, its customs, and its policy. He only is a useful traveller, who brings home fomething by which his country may be benefited, who procures fome fupply of want, or fome mitigation of evil, which may enable his readers to compare their condition with that of others; to improve it wherever it is worfe, and wherever it is better, to enjoy it.

Idler, v. 2. p. 253.

TRADE.

NOTHING dejects a trader like the in

terruption of his profits.

Taxation no Tyranny, p. 8.

TRU UT H.

TRUTH is fcarcely to be heard, but by those from whom it can ferve no interest to conceal it.

Rambler, v. 3. p. 269.

Truth, like beauty, varies its fashions, and is best recommended by different dreffes, to different minds,

There is no crime more infamous than the violation of truth; it is apparent, that men can be fociable beings no longer than they can believe each other. When speech is employed only as the vehicle of falfehood, every man must difunite himself from others, inhabit his own cave, and feek prey only for himself.

Idler, v. 1. p. 108,

V.

VANITY.

THOSE whom their virtue reftrains from deceiving others, are often difpofed, by their vanity, to deceive themselves.

Life of Blackmore.

The vanity of men, in advanced life, is generally strongly excited by the amorous attention of young women.

Life of Swift.

When any one complains of the want of what he is known to poffefs in an uncommon degree, he certainly waits with impatience to be contradicted.