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thing； for we are born to inquire after truth： it belongs to a greater
power to possess it。 It is not； as Democritus said； hid in the bottom of
the deeps； but rather elevated to an infinite height in the divine
knowledge。 The world is but a school of inquisition： it is not who shall
enter the ring； but who shall run the best courses。 He may as well play
the fool who speaks true； as he who speaks false； for we are upon the
manner； not the matter； of speaking。 'Tis my humour as much to regard
the form as the substance； and the advocate as much as the cause； as
Alcibiades ordered we should： and every day pass away my time in reading
authors without any consideration of their learning； their manner is what
I look after； not their subject： And just so do I hunt after the
conversation of any eminent wit； not that he may teach me； but that I may
know him； and that knowing him； if I think him worthy of imitation； I may
imitate him。 Every man may speak truly； but to speak methodically；
prudently； and fully； is a talent that few men have。 The falsity that
proceeds from ignorance does not offend me； but the foppery of it。 I
have broken off several treaties that would have been of advantage to
me； by reason of the impertinent contestations of those with whom I
treated。 I am not moved once in a year at the faults of those over whom
I have authority； but upon the account of the ridiculous obstinacy of
their allegations； denials； excuses； we are every day going together by
the ears； they neither understand what is said； nor why； and answer
accordingly； 'tis enough to drive a man mad。 I never feel any hurt upon
my head but when 'tis knocked against another； and more easily forgive
the vices of my servants than their boldness； importunity； and folly； let
them do less； provided they understand what they do： you live in hope to
warm their affection to your service； but there is nothing to be had or
to be expected from a stock。
But what； if I take things otherwise than they are？ Perhaps I do； and
therefore it is that I accuse my own impatience； and hold； in the first
place； that it is equally vicious both in him that is in the right； and
in him that is in the wrong； for 'tis always a tyrannic sourness not to
endure a form contrary to one's own： and； besides； there cannot； in
truth； be a greater； more constant； nor more irregular folly than to be
moved and angry at the follies of the world； for it principally makes us
quarrel with ourselves； and the old philosopher never wanted an occasion
for his tears whilst he considered himself。 Miso； one of the seven
sages； of a Timonian and Democritic humour； being asked； 〃what he
laughed at； being alone？〃〃That I do laugh alone；〃 answered he。 How
many ridiculous things； in my own opinion； do I say and answer every day
that comes over my head？ and then how many more； according to the
opinion of others？ If I bite my own lips； what ought others to do？ In
fine； we must live amongst the living； and let the river run under the
bridge without our care； or； at least； without our interference。 In
truth； why do we meet a man with a hunch…back； or any other deformity；
without being moved； and cannot endure the encounter of a deformed mind
without being angry？ this vicious sourness sticks more to the judge than
to the crime。 Let us always have this saying of Plato in our mouths： 〃Do
not I think things unsound； because I am not sound in myself？ Am I not
myself in fault？ may not my observations reflect upon myself？〃a wise
and divine saying； that lashes the most universal and common error of
mankind。 Not only the reproaches that we throw in the face of one
another； but our reasons also； our arguments and controversies； are
reboundable upon us； and we wound ourselves with our own weapons： of
which antiquity。 has left me enough grave examples。 It was ingeniously
and home…said by him； who was the inventor of this sentence：
〃Stercus cuique suum bene olet。〃
＇〃To every man his own excrements smell well。〃Erasmus＇
We see nothing behind us； we mock ourselves an hundred times a day； when
we deride our neighbours； and we detest in others the defects which are
more manifest in us； and which we admire with marvellous inadvertency and
impudence。 It was but yesterday that I heard a man of understanding and
of good rank； as pleasantly as justly scoffing at the folly of another；
who did nothing but torment everybody with the catalogue of his genealogy
and alliances； above half of them false （for they are most apt to fall
into such ridiculous discourses； whose qualities are most dubious and
least sure）； and yet； would he have looked into himself； he would have
discerned himself to be no less intemperate arid wearisome in extolling
his wife's pedigree。 O importunate presumption； with which the wife sees
herself armed by the hands of her own husband。 Did he understand Latin；
we should say to him：
〃Age； si hic non insanit satis sua sponte； instiga。〃
＇〃Come！ if of himself he is not mad enough； urge him on。〃
Terence； And。； iv。 2； 9。＇
I do not say that no man should accuse another； who is not clean
himself；for then no one would ever accuse；clean from the same sort of
spot； but I mean that our judgment； falling upon another who is then in
question； should not； at the same time； spare ourselves； but sentence us
with an inward and severe authority。 'Tis an office of charity； that he
who cannot reclaim himself from a vice； should； nevertheless； endeavour
to remove it from another； in whom； peradventure； it may not have so deep
and so malignant a root； neither do him who reproves me for my fault that
he himself is guilty of the same。 What of that？ The reproof is；
notwithstanding； true and of very good use。 Had we a good nose； our own
ordure would stink worse to us； forasmuch as it is our own： and Socrates
is of opinion that whoever should find himself； his son； and a stranger
guilty of any violence and wrong； ought to begin with himself； present
himself first to the sentence of justice； and implore； to purge himself；
the assistance of the hand of the executioner； in the next place； he
should proceed to his son； and lastly； to the stranger。 If this precept
seem too severe； he ought at least to present himself the first； to the
punishment of his own conscience。
The senses are our first and proper judges； which perceive not things but
by external accidents； and 'tis no wonder； if in all the parts of the
service of our society； there is so perpetual and universal a mixture of
ceremonies and superficial appearances； insomuch that the best and most
effectual part of our polities therein consist。 'Tis still man with whom
we have to do； of whom the condition is wonderfully corporal。 Let those
who； of these late years； would erect for us such a contemplative and
immaterial an exercise of religion； not wonder if there be some who think
it had vanished and melted through their fingers had it not more upheld
itself among us as a mark； title； and instrument of division and faction；
than by itself。 As in conference； the gravity； robe； and fortune of him
who speaks； o