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النشر الإلكتروني

From the manner of men bearing their condition we often pity the prosperous, and admire the unfortunate.

So stupid and brutish, so worthless and scandalous, are too many seen in this degenerate age, that grandeur and equipage are looked upon as more indispensable than Charity; and those creatures, which contribute merely to our pomp, or our diversion, are more tenderly and sumptuously maintained, than such as are in necessity among ourselves,

Those persons, says Tacitus, are under a mighty error, who know not how to distinguish between liberality and luxury. Abundance of men know how to squander that do not know how to give,

We are come to such an extraordinary pitch of politeness, that the affection of being gay, and in fashion, has very near taken from us our good sense, and our religion.

The vain is the most distinguished son of folly. In what does this man lay out the faculties of an immortal soul? That time on which depends eternity? That estate which, well disposed of, might,

in some measure, purchase heaven? What is his serious labour, subtle machination, ardent desire, and reigning ambition ?—To be seen. This ridiculous, but true answer, renders all grave censure almost superfluous.

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What if a body might have all the pleasures in the world for the asking? Who would so unman himself, as by accepting of them, to desert his soul, and, become a perpetual slave to his senses?

All worldly happiness consists in opinion.

The temperate man's pleasures are durable, because they are regular: and all his life is calm and because it is innocent.

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The Egyptians at their feasts, to prevent excesses, set a skeleton before their guests, with this motto, Remember, ye must be shortly such.

There is but one solid pleasure in life; and that is our duty. How miserable then, how unwise, how unpardonable are they, who make that one a pain!

The consideration of the dignity and excellency

of our nature plainly informs us, how mean and unworthy it is to dissolve in luxury, softness, and effeminacy; and how becoming it is, on the other hand, to lead a life of frugality, temperance and sobriety.

Some by wit may get wealth; but none by wealth can purchase wit.

A good man will love himself too well to lose, and his neighbour also to win an estate by gaming. Love of gaming corrupts the best principles in the world.

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Among many other evils that attend gaming, are these loss of time; loss of reputation; loss of health; loss of fortune; loss of temper; ruin of families; defrauding of creditors; and what is often the effect of it, the loss of life itself.

There is no remark more common among the ancient historians, than that, when the state was corrupted with avarice and luxury, it was in danger of being betrayed or sold.

If they who affect an outward show, knew how many divide their trivial taste, they would be

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ashamed of themselves, and grow wiser, and bestow their superfluities in helping the needy, and befriending the neglected.

Richness of dress contributes nothing to a man of sense, but rather makes his sense inquired into. The more the body is set off, the mind appears the less.

Those men who destroy a healthful constitution of body by intemperance, and an irregular life, do as manifestly kill themselves, as those who hang, or poison, or drown themselves.

The greatest pleasure wealth can afford us, is that of doing good. It is a happy thing, when a man's pleasure is also his perfection.

All men of estates are, in effect, but trustees for the benefit of the distressed; and will be so reckoned, when they are to give an account.

It is an insolence natural to the wealthy to affix, as much as in them lies, the character of a man to his circumstances. Take away, said Lactantius, pride and boasting from rich men, and there will be no difference between a poor man and a rich.

A mean estate is not to be contemned; nor the rich, that is foolish, to be had in admiration

In the flourishing commonwealths of Greece and Rome, it was either some brave action against the enemy, or eminent justice, virtue, or ability, that raised one man above another; wealth had no share in it.

Cast an eye into the gay world, what see we, for the most part, but a set of querulous, emaciated, fluttering, fantastical beings, worn out in the keen pursuit of pleasure; creatures that know own, condemn, deplore, yet still pursue their own infelicity? The decayed monuments of error ! The thin remains of what is called delight.

He only is worthy of esteem, that knows what is just and honest, and dares do it; that is master of his own passions, and scorns to be a slave to another's: such a one, in the lowest poverty, is a far better man, and merits more respect, than those gay things, who owe all their greatness and reputation to their rentals and revenues.

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Of all things this world affords us, the sion and enjoyment of wisdom alone is immortal.

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