dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第5章
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those； too； be such as are absolutely necessary。 By this rule you will
draw the bulk of your business into a narrow compass； and have the
double pleasure of making your actions good； and few into the bargain。
7。 He that torments himself because things do not happen just as he
would have them； is but a sort of ulcer in the world； and he that is selfish；
narrow…souled； and sets up for a separate interest； is a kind of voluntary
outlaw； and disincorporates himself from mankind。
8。 Never think anything below you which reason and your own
circumstances require； and never suffer yourself to be deterred by the ill…
grounded notions of censure and reproach； but when honesty and
conscience prompt you to say or do anything； do it boldly； never balk your
resolution or start at the consequence。
9。 If a man does me an injury； what is that to me？ It is his own
action； and let him account for it。 As for me； I am in my proper station；
and only doing the business that Providence has allotted； and withal； I
ought to consider that the best way to revenge； is not to imitate the injury。
10。 When you happen to be ruffled and put out of humour by any
cross accident； retire immediately into your reason； and do not suffer your
passion to overrule you a moment； for the sooner you recover yourself
now； the better you will be able to guard yourself for the future。
11。 Do not be like those ill…natured people that； though they do not
love to give a good word to their contemporaries； yet are mighty fond of
their own commendations。 This argues a perverse and unjust temper； and
often exposes the authors to scorn and contempt。
12。 If any one convinces you of an error； change your opinion and
thank him for it： truth and information are your business； and can never
hurt anybody。 On the contrary； he that is proud and stubborn； and
wilfully continues in a mistake； it is he that receives the mischief。
13。 Because you see a thing difficult； do not instantly conclude it to
be impossible to master it。 Diligence and industry are seldom defeated。
Look； therefore； narrowly into the thing itself； and what you observe
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proper and practicable in another； conclude likewise within your own
power。
14。 The principal business of human life is run through within the
short compass of twenty…four hours； and when you have taken a deliberate
view of the present age； you have seen as much as if you had begun with
the world； the rest being nothing else but an endless round of the same
thing over and over again。
15。 Bring your will to your fate； and suit your mind to your
circumstances。 Love your friends and forgive your enemies； and do
justice to all mankind； and you will be secure to make your passage easy；
and enjoy most of the comforts human life is capable to afford you。
16。 When you have a mind to entertain yourself in your retirements；
let it be with the good qualifications of your friends and acquaintance。
Think with pleasure and satisfaction upon the honour and bravery of one；
the modesty of another； the generosity of a third； and so on； there being
nothing more pleasant and diverting than the lively images and the
advantages of those we love and converse with。
17。 As nothing can deprive you of the privileges of your nature； or
compel you to act counter to your reason； so nothing can happen to you
but what comes from Providence； and consists with the interest of the
universe。
18。 Let people's tongues and actions be what they will； your business
is to have honour and honesty in your view。 Let them rail； revile； censure；
and condemn； or make you the subject of their scorn and ridicule； what
does it all signify？ You have one certain remedy against all their malice
and folly； and that is； to live so that nobody shall believe them。
19。 Alas； poor mortals！ did we rightly consider our own state and
condition； we should find it would not be long before we have forgot all
the world； and to be even； that all the world will have forgot us likewise。
20。 He that would recommend himself to the public； let him do it by
the candour and modesty of his behaviour； and by a generous indifference
to external advantages。 Let him love mankind； and resign to Providence；
and then his works will follow him； and his good actions will praise him in
the gate。
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21。 When you hear a discourse； let your understanding； as far as
possible； keep pace with it； and lead you forward to those things which fall
most within the compass of your own observations。
22。 When vice and treachery shall be rewarded； and virtue and
ability slighted and discountenanced； when ministers of state shall rather
fear man than God； and to screen themselves run into parties and factions；
when noise and clamour； and scandalous reports shall carry everything
before them； it is natural to conclude that a nation in such a state of
infatuation stands upon the brink of destruction； and without the
intervention of some unforeseen accident； must be inevitably ruined。
23。 When a prince is guarded by wise and honest men； and when all
public officers are sure to be rewarded if they do well； and punished if
they do evil； the consequence is plain； justice and honesty will flourish；
and men will be always contriving； not for themselves； but for the honour
and interest of their king and country。
24。 Wicked men may sometimes go unpunished in this world； but
wicked nations never do； because this world is the only place of
punishment of wicked nations； though not for private and particular
persons。
25。 An administration that is merely founded upon human policy
must be always subject to human chance； but that which is founded on the
divine wisdom can no more miscarry than the government of heaven。 To
govern by parties and factions is the advice of an atheist； and sets up a
government by the spirit of Satan。 In such a government the prince can
never be secure under the greatest promises； since； as men's interest
changes； so will their duty and affections likewise。
26。 It is a very ancient observation； and a very true one； that people
generally despise where they flatter； and cringe to those they design to
betray； so that truth and ceremony are； and always will be； two distinct
things。
27。 When you find your friend in an error； undeceive him with
secrecy and civility； and let him see his oversight first by hints and glances；
and if you cannot convince him； leave him with respect； and lay the fault
upon your own management。
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28。 When you are under the greatest vexations； then consider that
human life lasts but for a moment； and do not forget but that you are like
the rest of the world； and faulty yourself in many instances； and withal；
remember that anger and impatience often prove more mischievous than
the provocation。
29。 Gentleness and good humour are invincible； provided they are
without hypocrisy and design； they disarm the most barbarous and savage
tempers； and make even malice ashamed of itself。
30。 In all the actions of life let it be your first and principal care to
guard against anger on the one hand； and flattery on the other； for they are
both unserviceable qualities； and do a great deal of mischief in the
government of human life。
31。 When a man turns knave or libertine； and gives way to fear；
jealousy； and fits of the spleen； when his mind complains of his fortune；
and he quits the station in which Providence has placed him； he acts
perfectly counter to humanity； deserts his own nature； and； as it were； runs
away from himself。
32。 Be not heavy in business； disturbed in conversation； nor
impertinent in your thoughts。 Let your judgment be right； your actions
friendly； and your mind contented； let them curse you； threaten you； or
despise you； let them go on； they can never injure your reason or your
virtue； and then all the rest that they can do to you signifies nothing。
33。 The only pleasure of human life is doing the business of the
creation； and which way is that to be compassed very easily？ Most
certainly by the practice of general kindness； by rejecting the importunity
of our senses； by distinguishing truth from falsehood； and by
contemplating the works of the Almighty。
34。 Be sure to mind that which lies before you； whether it be thought；
word； or action； and never postpone an opportunity； or make virtue wait
for you till to…morrow。
35。 Whatever tends neither to the improvement of your reason nor
the benefit of society； think it below you； and when you have done any
considerable service to mankind； do not lessen it by your folly in gaping
after reputation and requital。
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36。 When you find yourself sleepy in a morning； rouse yourself； and
consider that you are born to business； and that in doing good in your
generation； you answer your character and act like a man； whereas
