Magnanimity. Spirit. Fortitude.

MEN of true courage do not threaten, i. 289. [ibid].

Honest policy, as well as true greatness of mind, re|commends that noble doctrine of returning good for evil, ii. 57. [158].

Greatness of soul, and goodness, are inseparable, ii. 126. [225].

A brave and good man will declare his mind to a prince, were he called upon to do it, and if he were likely to do good by his honest freedom, ii. 319. [iii. 63].

What greater Magnanimity can be shewn by mortal, than by a woman of sense, who having been prevailed upon to marry, to her dislike, a man who proves to be of sordid manners, and a tyrant, and deeply sensible of her unhappiness; yet irreproachably and meekly bears her part of the yoke laid upon her? ii. 321. [iii. 65].

A good man will not palliate the faults of a fallen person; yet he will not suffer his zeal for virtue to cause him to insult an object in distress, ii. 327. [iii. 71].

What a noble mind is his, who having been rendered unhappy in his own affairs, can give himself joy in pro|moting the felicity of others! iii. 8. [168].

A great heart undervalued, will swell. It will be put perhaps upon over-valuing itself, iii. 163. [323].

Insolence from a great man, a rich man, or a soldier, is a call upon a man of Spirit to assert himself, iii. 173. [333].

Page  325 The greatest triumph a man can obtain, is to subdue his own passions, iii. 181. [341].

Silence on the contempt of an insolent person, may, in some cases, be thought subscribing to the justice of that contempt, ibid.

A man of Spirit cannot be offended at a man exert|ing Spirit on proper occasion, without lessening himself, iii. 183. [343].

It is difficult, but very laudable, for sufferers to act with Spirit and Temper at the same time, ibid.

Disappointment in Love is one of those cases in which a woman can shew fortitude, iii. 215. [iv. 1].

A man cannot complain, cannot ask for compassion, as a woman can, iii. 383. [iv. 169].

Women, for the honour of their sex, in which their own is included, should not rally and ridicule a woman in love, iv. 57. [iv. 229].

A man of true Spirit will not be solicitous to enter into a family that thinks meanly of him; nor will he seek to subject the woman he loves to the contempt of her own relations, iv. 129. 327. [iv. 301. v. 198].

A weak man made a tyrant, is an insupportable crea|ture, iv. 205. [v. 76].

Women love not to be suspected. Opposition arises from suspicion and contradiction, iv. 272. [v. 143].

A good man may bend beneath a heavy weight, when it is first laid upon him; but if he cannot relieve himself from it, or finds he ought to bear it, he will endeavour to collect his whole strength, and make him|self easy under it, iv. 321. [v. 192].

A noble heart, however disappointed, will not stoop to artifice and contrivance, in order to engage pity, iv. 323. [v. 194].

The noble heart, on a disappointment, not given up to unmanly despair, will lay hold of the next good to that it has lost, iv. 338. [v. 209].

Great minds are above being governed by punctilious forms, where decorum is not neglected, v. 104. [vi. 82].

See Beneficence. Example. Good Man. Good Wife, or Woman. Modesty.

MAN of HONOUR. See Good Man.

Marriages.

FAMILIES are little communities. There are but few solid friendships out of them. They make up wor|thily, and help to secure, the great community of which they are so many miniatures, i. 28. [ibid].

A religious education is the best security for the per|formance of the matrimonial duties, i. 36. [ibid].

Weak men of high fortunes, should not marry either for beauty or wit; but seek for a woman of humble views, who would think herself repaid, by his fortune, the obligation she would lay him under by her accept|ance of him, i. 53. [ibid].

The woman who marries a man to get rid of his im|portunity, falls upon an odd, but perhaps sure, expedient, i. 83. [ibid].

Young people of small or no fortunes, should not be discouraged from marrying, i. 133. [ibid].

Marriage is the highest state of Friendship that mortals can know, i. 259. [ibid].

Equality of fortune and degree, tho' not absolutely necessary to matrimonial felicity, is, however, a cir|cumstance not to be slighted, i. 309. [ibid].

The kind, but not ostentatious regard which a man and wife pay to each other, are equally creditable to themselves, and to the married state, i. 328. [ii. 13].

Marriage is a duty, whenever it can be entered into with prudence, ii. 19. vi. 223. [ii. 120. vii. 223].

It is a state that binds a man and woman together by interest, as well as affection, ii. 324. [iii. 68].

Infirmity requires indulgence: In the very nature of the word and thing, indulgence cannot exist with servility. Between equals, as man and wife, either of them ill, it may, ii. 339. [iii. 83].

Who can enough value the joy, the tranquillity of mind, that results from mutual confidence? ii. 340. [iii. 84].

Womens sphere is the house, and their shining-place the sick chamber, in which they can exert all their amiable, their lenient qualities, ibid.

Page  327 A man gives consequence to the woman he marries, and finds his own increased in the respect paid to her, ii. 340. [iii. 84].

They are not the striking, dazling qualities in men and women, that make happy in Marriage, ii. 399. [ii. 143].

Good sense, solid judgment, a natural complacency of temper, a desire of obliging, and an easiness to be obliged, procure the silent and serene happiness in wedlock, to which the tumultuous fervors of passion contribute not, ibid.

Men and women, admired by every one, and admire|ing each other, before Marriage, tho' neither of them unworthy, may not be happy in it, ii. 400. [iii. 144].

Some ladies, to be honest to their matrimonial engage|ments, should condition with their men, to exchange vows with them at the altar, ii. 403. [iii. 147].

The married man, who is known to love his quiet, will often find it difficult to be the master of his family, ii. 404. [iii. 148].

Consideration is not always a friend to wedlock, iii. 334. [iv. 90].

Those who marry for convenience, and deal honestly with each other, are most likely to be happy in Mar|riage, iii. 323. [iv. 109].

The woman who marries the man to whom she is in|different, if she prefer no other to him, may be upon a par with eight women out of twelve who marry, yet make not bad wives, iii. 343. [iv. 129].

In the wedded life, more obedience is sometimes practised by the party who vow'd it not, than by the party who did, iii. 344. [iv. 130].

Convenience, when it is made a motive to Marriage, will hold out its comforts, when a gratified love is eva|porated, iv. 95. [267].

The happiness of a married pair will not be proved under a year, two, or three; since Love, which may be the inducement to the parties to enter into the state, does not always ripen into Friendship; to do which, the merits of each must appear on full proof to the other, iv. 203. [v. 74].

Page  328 A woman who has not prudence, should not marry a man of less understanding than herself, iv. 255. [v. 126].

A soft man and a saucy woman, Lady G. says, are best matched for happiness, v. 4, 5. [275, 276].

The man, she whimsically adds, ought to be meek and humble, who will not let the woman be quiet till she be his [yet knows her indifference to him] v. 5. [276].

Great inconveniencies must generally attend a mar|riage between persons of different persuasions, one of them zealous, the other not indifferent, iv. 304. [v. 175].

A lady politely treated, and politely returning the treatment, in courtship, will not, when love is heightened by duty, and the obligation is doubled, be less deserving than before, of the polite affection of the husband, v. 286. [vi. 264].

The daughterly, the sisterly, duties of a young woman are strengthened, not weakened, by Marriage, v. 371. [vi. 349].

Happy are those Marriages, which give as much joy to the relations on both sides, as to the parties themselves, vi. 127. [vii. 127].

Early Marriages, as well for the sake of the parties, as for that of posterity, are by no means to be encouraged, ibid.

Young people, moreover, should be allowed time to look about them, that they may not repent of the choice made for them, ibid.

Marriage is a state that is attended with so much care and trouble, that it is a kind of faulty indulgence and selfishness to live single, in order to avoid the difficulties it is attended with, ibid.

See Advice and Cautions to Women. Good Wife. Husband and Wife. Love. Marriage. Matri|monial Bickerings. Parents and Children. Pru|dence. Single Women. Widows.

Marriage in advanced Years, and with an In|equality as to Age.

MEN in years, and labouring under infirmities, are far more excusable for marrying a young woman, than a woman in years is for marrying a young man, ii. 340. [iii. 84].

The difference arises from the tenderness and help|fulness of women in their attendance on a sick or infirm husband: While male-nurses are unnatural characters, ibid.

The man in years, who has no children to repine at a mother-in-law, and to vex him by little jealousies arising from a contrariety of interests and views; who is weakly, and often indisposed; may marry without impeachment of his prudence, ibid.

Nor would his relations be worthy of his kindness, who, for selfish views, would wish to continue him in mean hands, rob him of the joys of confidence, and the comfort of tender help from an equal, or one deserving to be made so, ibid.

Such a man has only to take care so to marry, as not to defeat his own end; not with a gay woman who will be fluttering about in public, while he is g4oaning in his chamber, and wishing for her presence, ibid.

If he be a man of family and fortune; he should not aim at a fortune with her: She should be a gentlewoman by birth and education: Of a serious [but not melan|choly] temper: Not a girl as to years; yet, if he has no children, not past the probability of bringing him an heir [which would add to their mutual good understand|ing] ii. 341. [iii. 85].

She ought to be one who has been acquainted with affliction. Must consider her Marriage with him, as an act both of condescension in herself, and preferment, ii. 387. [iii. 131].

Her tenderness will, by this means, be engaged, and her dignity supported, ibid.

Page  330 A woman for her morality's sake, ought not to marry a man in years in hopes of his death, iii. 230. [iv. 16].

If a woman has but the shadow of a doubt, whether she can behave in Marriage with condescension and in|dulgence to a man of unequal years, she ought not to be tempted, by the most advantageous proposals, to ac|cept of him, ibid.

Clandestine Marriages. Inferior Marriages. Fortune-Hunters.

A WOMAN who marries beneath herself, must expect to be rejected, scorned for one while, if not for ever, by her natural friends, ii. 168. [269].

What right has a daughter to give to her father and mother a son, to her brothers and sisters a brother, to whom they are averse? ibid.

Have not they at least as good a right to reject him for their relation, as she had to choose him for her husband? ibid.

The woman who marries a man of mean understanding, as well as of mean birth and fortune, must blush at every civility paid him in her own family, ii. 184. [285].

While he, perhaps, will have the higher opinion of himself, for their very civilities, and for having succeeded with her, ibid.

Inferior men, and Fortune-hunters, now find an easy introduction to women of fortune, at public places, ii. 268. [iii. 12].

A woman of the greatest fortune is but a woman, and is to be attacked and prevailed upon by the same methods, which succeed with one of the slenderest, ii. 268. [iii. 12, 13].

And perhaps is won with equal, if not with greater ease; since, if she have a romantic turn, and the man a great deal of art and flattery, she will miscall that turn generosity; and, supposing she can lay a lover under obli|gation, will meet him her full half way, ii. 268, 269. [iii. 13].

How necessary is it then, for parents or guardians, to have a watchful eye over their wards and daughtersPage  331of rank and fortune; the rather, as Fortune-hunters are generally the most unworthy of men.

In the address of a man of small fortune, to a woman of great, his love may well be suspected, ii. 269. [iii. 13].

See Advice to Women. Daughters. Fancy. Female Dignity. Femalities. Girls. Libertines. Love at first Sight. First Love. Modesty. Parents and Children. Prudence. Protestations. Single Women. Vincibility of Love.

Marriage Treaties. Settlements.

MARRIAGE Settlements ought not to be made so large, as to make a wife independent of her husband, and to put it out of his power, with discretion, to engage her gratitude by his generosity, iv. 194. [v. 65].

The hearts of young women are apt, unjustly, to rise against the notions of bargain and sale, as some phrase it, in a Matrimonial Treaty, v. 62. [vi. 40].

The reproach of Smithfield bargains, in a Marriage contract, is an odium cast upon prudence, principally by those, who wish a young woman to encourage a clan|destine and unequal address, ibid.

But should not the flagrant selfishness of such be pe|netrated; since they can mean nothing but their own interest, at the very time they would have a young woman pay no regard to hers?

Previous stipulations are surely indispensible provisions among us changeable mortals, however promising the sunshine may be at setting out, v. 62. [vi. 40].

A man, whose proposals of Marriage are unexception|able, should be spared the indelicacy of asking questions as to fortune, v. 71. [vi. 49].

Generosity requires not, of even a generous man, that in a Treaty of Marriage, since the interest of himself and his wife will be one, that he should make a compli|ment to his affection, by giving up her natural right; especially if there be no one of her family in low circum|stances, v. 73, 74. [vi. 51, 52].

A prudent lover will not be either romantic or osten|tatious. Page  332 He will be as glad to follow, as to set, a good example, v. 74, 75. [vi. 52, 53].

If the lady's fortune be an ascertained one, and he in easy circumstances, he will not accept of contributions from such of her friends, as are not the nearest to her in relation, and who have others who stand in an equal degree of proximity to them, to make it up, ibid.

Marriage Proposals.

THERE never was a Treaty of Marriage set on foot, that carried not its conveniencies and inconveniencies, in the face of it, iii. 229. [iv. 15].

A polite and good man will not make a proposal to a lady in behalf of a friend, which, for the sake of her sex, has not her honour and dignity for its first object, ibid.

A person who has a right to choose, ought not to in|cur displeasure for making use of it, ibid.

Explicitness in every case becomes the proposer, iii. 230. [iv. 16].

A man of strict honour, proposing an advantageous alliance, will not seek strongly to attach the friends of the young lady in favour of his proposal, till he know her mind, lest he impose a difficulty upon her, that nei|ther for her own sake, or the man's, ought to be laid, ibid.

A declared, and not unreasonable aversion, should not be attempted to be overcome, iii. 231. [iv. 17].

A generous proposer will, in case of a reasonable op|position to his proposal, be an advocate for the person refusing, rather than the persuader, ibid

It is an indelicacy hastily to urge a modest woman for an affirmative to a proposal of Marriage, when she has received it without giving a negative, ibid.

A lady's consent is enough implied in an early pro|posal, if she declare herself disengaged, and refer her|self to her friends, ibid.

Masters. Mistresses. Servants.

MASTERS and Mistresses are answerable for the cha|racter, and even for the behaviour, of their domestics, i. 23. [ibid].

Page  333 Wages to a good Servant are not to be stood upon, i. 134. [ibid].

An honest Servant should be enabled to lay up for age and infirmity, ibid.

What has not a Master to answer for, who puts a servant on a wicked action? i. 238. [ibid].

By the behaviour of Masters and Servants to each other, the good and bad qualities of each may be judged of, i. 321, 322. ii. 302, 303. [ii. 6, 7. iii. 46, 47. 49].

Servants are as sensible as Masters and Mistresses. They speak to their feelings, ii. 302. [iii. 46].

Servants, when they find themselves of use, will not be always Servants, ii. 339. [iii. 83].

A man of honour will not accept of intelligence from another person's Servants, tho' to serve himself, iii. 157. [317].

A man, to have good Servants, will treat them as ne|cessary parts of his family, iii. 352. [iv. 138].

He will not entrust secrets to them, the keeping or disclosing of which, might make them of importance to him:

He will give them no bad example:

He will not be angry with them but for wilful faults:

If those are not habitual, he will shame them into amendment, by gentle expostulation and forgiveness:

If they are not capable of generous shame, and the fault be repeated, he will part with them; but with such kindness, as will cause their fellow-servants to blame them, and take warning:

He will be fond of occasions to praise them:

Even when they mistake, if it be with a good inten|tion, they will have his approbation of that, and endea|vours to set them right as to the act:

He will make sobriety an indispensable qualification for his service:

He will insist upon his Servants being kind and com|passionate to one another:

And, as a compassionate heart cannot be habitually an unjust one, he will by this means make their good-na|ture contribute as well to his security as quiet.

Page  334 Generally speaking, a Master may make a Servant what he pleases, iii. 352. [iv. 138].

Servants judge by example, rather than by precept; and almost always by their feelings, ibid.

The most insupportable of all dominion, is that of Servants, iv. 223. [v. 94].

A truly religious Servant, of whatever persuasion, cannot be a bad one, iv. 224. [v. 95].

A good Master, if his Servants live but up to their own professions, will indulge them in all reasonable op|portunities of pursuing the dictates of their own con|sciences, ibid.

The worthiness of a man will be frequently known by his kindness to his domestics, and by their general good behaviour and civility, v. 81. [vi. 59].

Masters find it their interest, as well as duty, to pro|mote family devotion among their Servants, vi. 32. [vii. 32].

See Example. Generosity. Good Man. Magna|nimity.

Matrimonial Bickerings.

FEW women, in a Matrimonial Debate, have reason to lay all the fault at the husband's door, iii. 242. [iv. 28].

What foolish things are the quarrels of married peo|ple! Since they must come to an agreement again; and the sooner the better, before hard blows are struck, that will leave marks, ibid.

A petulant wife makes that husband appear unpolite, who with a good-natured wife would have been thought a polite one, iii. 244. [iv. 30].

Shall there be a misunderstanding between man and wife, and an husband court a refused hand? ibid.

In a contention between man and wife, there must pass some mutual recriminations on their making up, to keep each in countenance on their past folly, iii. 245. [iv. 31].

Women are of gentle natures; accustomed to be hu|moured, opposition sits not easy upon them, ibid.

Women indirectly allow of the superiority of men, Page  335 when they expect them to bear with their perversenesses, iii. 245. [iv. 31].

What then has an husband to do, but, in pity to his wife, and compliment to himself, [if he find her fer|vent] to bear with her foibles? iii. 246. [iv. 32].

A prudent man, if he find his wife in the wrong, will endeavour to be in the right; and if she be inclined to dispute, leave her to recover herself; for arguments with a stedfast woman, will beget arguments, ibid.

Those reconciliations will be the most durable, in which the lady makes the advances, ibid.

Married people should not be quick to hear what is said by either, when in ill humour, iii. 248. [iv. 34].

Married people, who openly differ, make bystanders judges over them, iii. 333. [iv. 116].

Those bystanders will remember, when the parties are willing to forget, ibid.

And their fame will be the sport of those beneath them, as well in understanding, as degree, ibid.

How many debatings, if not direct quarrels, are saved, by the frequent absence of the good man, from his meek wife! iv. 84. [256].

In what can men and their wives, who are much to|gether, employ themselves, but in proving and defend|ing, quarelling and making-up? (Lady G.) ibid.

Especially, if they both marry for love; for then, both honest souls, having promised more happiness to each other, than they can possibly meet with, have no|thing to do, but reproach each other, tacitly at least, for their disappointment, (Lady G.) ibid.

Married people, in their debatings, should not choose either mediators or witnesses, iv. 86. [258].

Married folks, brought up differently, of different hu|mours, inclinations, need not study for occasions of de|bate, iv. 190. [v. 61].

See Femalities.

Matronly State.

GOOD wives, mothers, mistresses,, dignify the Ma|tronly State, and make it the most estimable stage of fe|male life, iv. 200. [v. 71].

Page  336 When health and a good conscience accompany the Matronly State of life, there cannot be an happier 〈◊〉 woman, v. 52. [vi. 30].

See Good Wife.

Meannesses.

ALL men, who can be guilty of a premeditated base+ness, are mean, i. 290. [ibid].

It is a Meanness, as well as Injustice, to depreciate a worthy person, whose favour we are not so happy as to obtain, ii. 18. [119].

Little-spirited men choose to be obliged to [good-na|tured] relations, in hopes that they will less vigorously exact payment than a stranger, ii. 131. [232].

The man who habitually degrades himself, will be liable to be despised, perhaps insulted, by his own me|nials, ii. 315. [iii. 59].

Violent spirits, when over-awed, are generally tame in their submissions, ii. 331. [iii. 75].

When a woman has submitted to take a price for her honour, she must, at times, appear despicable, even in the eyes of her seducer, ii. 332. [iii. 76].

The fawning, cringing slaves of persons in power, are the first to insult them in their disgrace, ii. 338. [iii. 82].

Cardinal Wolsey, in a train made up of persons even nobly descended, in his fall, found but one Cromwell, ii. 338. [iii. 82].

A spirit that will fawn and cringe, will be a tyrant in power, iii. 52. [212].

Ungenerous persons detected in a Meanness, hardly know how to forgive the man to whose forgivingness they are obliged, iv. 291. [v. 162].

What a narrowness must there be in the heart of that man, who cannot allow himself to look with pleasure and kindness on a worthy heir, because he is his heir, v. 234. [vi. 212].

Mediation.

OFFICIOUS Mediators frequently make light diffe|rences heavy, iii. 317. [iv. 103].

Page  337 Officious Mediations often widen wounds that would heal of themselves, iv. 175. [v. 46].

An Umpire or Mediator, who wishes to reconcile par|ties at variance, may, when the point in dispute is re|ferred to him, best effect his end, by enquiring of each party separately, what his expectation is; and when he has brought them near, pronounce; having prepared the one to advance the other to concede, as of their own motion, beyond what was to be pronounced by him, vi. 53. [vii. 53].

See Friendship. Generosity. Good Man.

MELANCHOLY. See Grief.

Men and Women.

FROM sixteen to twenty-four, Women are generally aforehand with Men in ripeness of understanding, i. 259. [ibid].

Tho' after that time, Men may ripen into a superiority, ibid.

The intellects of Women usually ripen sooner than those of Men; but Men, when ripened, like trees of slow growth, generally hold longer, are capable of higher perfection, and serve to nobler purposes, ibid.

As Men and Women are brothers and sisters, can Womens failings be peculiar to themselves? i. 266. [ibid].

Must it needs be, that a daughter of the same father and mother, must be more silly, more unsteady, more im|pertinent, more absurd, than her brother? ibid.

Women, in general, want not to travel abroad to render them easy and polite in conversation, i. 271. [ibid].

Yet this, perhaps, must be allowed, that Women who travel, generally return more fantastic than Men; and yet few of the latter improve themselves by going abroad.

To judge comparatively of the genius's of Men and Women, instances should be drawn from equal degrees of both, and who have had equal opportunities of im|provement, i. 272. [ibid].

Men in their raillery are generally less delicate than Women, i. 275. [ibid].

Page  338 Women can better account for the approbation and dislikes of Women, than Men can, i. 318. [ii. 3].

Were Men in general lively, chearful, good, there would be but few bad Women, i. 415. [ii. 100].

Woman's weakness is man's strength, ii. 83. [184].

Men who inveigh against Women indiscriminately, must be supposed to have kept bad company, ibid.

Men who hope to carry a point with a Woman by passion and insolence, behave quite differently to Men, ii. 180. [281].

Apprehensiveness, the child of prudence, is as cha|racteristic in a Woman, as courage is in a Man, ii. 183. [284].

Men and Women are so much alike, that, put custom and difference of education out of the question, the meaning of the one may be generally guessed at by that of the other, in cases where the heart is concerned, ii. 197. [298].

Men and Women are devils to one another: They need no other tempter, ii. 218. [319].

Womens minds have generally a lighter turn than those of Men [owing perhaps to their finer imaginations: But if so, how watchful an eye ought to be kept upon daughters!] ii. 267. [iii. 11].

Were Men in general to value Women for those good qualities only, which are characteristic of the sex, they would never want objects worthy of their love, for com|panions, ii. 321. [iii. 65].

Affection between Man and Woman once forfeited, can hardly ever be recovered, ii. 339. [iii. 73].

When two persons, who have lived in familiarity with each other, differ, the fault is seldom wholly on one side, ii. 332. [iii. 76].

Women dislike not that a Man should be decently free with them, but not impertinent, iv. 152. [v. 23]

A Woman may be eloquent in her grief; when a Man, tho' his heart were torn in pieces, must hardly be heard to complain, iv. 335. [v. 206].

Greatly, therefore, are the distresses of a manly heart to be pitied, ibid.

Men and Women can hardly have great troubles but what must arise from each other, ibid.

Page  339 It is in the power of either sex to mend the other, v. 47, 48. [vi. 25, 26].

The same Men and Women are not always the same, v. 224. [vi. 202].

The Woman who knows herself to be wrong, may, one day, mend: But what hopes is there of her, who, however faulty in her conduct, believes herself to be right? v. 307. [vi. 285].

See Duties Moral and Religious. Education. Ex|ample. Friendship. Good Man. Husband and Wife. Love. Marriage. Magnanimity. Mo|desty. Prudence. Single Women. Wit.

Military Men.

A SOLDIER is the least master of his own life, of any man in the community, i. 372. [ii. 57].

The principal officer of a corps in his quarters, how|ever subordinate and low, is looked upon in the neigh|bourhood, as a general, ii. 167. [268].

A Soldier must generally be a slave to his superiors, a tyrant to those beneath him, ii. 182. [283].

Women are the most delicate parts of the creation; conscious that they stand in need of protection, they na|turally love brave men, ibid.

The army is, perhaps, more indebted for many a gal|lant man, to the gay appearance its officers are ex|pected to make, and to the favour of women on that account, than to a true martial spirit, ii. 182. [283].

But how can a Soldier's wife expect constant pro|tection from her husband, who is less his own, and, con|sequently, less hers, than almost any other man; a Sailor excepted? ibid.

Mirth. Joy. Laughter.

THE general Laugh that is excited by a man's laugh|ing at what he says himself, has usually more of con|tempt than approbation in it, i. 55. [ibid].

Mirth, however insipid, will occasion smiles, tho' sometimes at the expence of the mirthful, i. 58. [ibid].

Gloom, severity, moroseness, will be disgustful even in a Solomon, ibid.

Page  340 The man, who laughs at his own absurdities, leaves us at liberty to suppose, that his folly is his choice, i. 59. [ibid].

Laughing is almost as catching as gaping, when peo|ple are disposed to be merry, however silly the occasion, i. 79. [ibid].

Comfort approaches nearer to happiness, than Joy, iii. 222. [iv. 8].

The Joy of sensible people is easy, serene, deep, full; that of others is mad, loud, tumultuous, noisy, iv. 48. [220].

In the highest of our pleasures, the sighing heart will remind us of imperfection, iv. 231. [v. 102].

Abundant reason for Joy has the person, who has it still in his or her power, to avoid an evil, and choose a good, iv. 383. [v. 254].

Immoderate Joy is the parent of many a silly word and action, iv. 198. v. 13. [v. 69. 284].

There may be a fulness even in laudable Joy, that will mingle dissatisfaction with it, v. 48. [vi. 26].

Hence may be deduced, says Miss Byron, an argument, that the completion of our happiness must be referred to a more perfect state than this, v. 49. [vi. 27].

To weak spirits, sudden Joy is almost as painful at the time, as grief would have been, v. 83. [vi. 61].

There is nothing so unwelcome as an unseasonable jest, v. 83. [vi. 61].

There are loud Laughs, which betray more vexed|ness than mirth, v. 90. [vi. 68].

The Joy that seems to be of an easy and familiar na|ture, is the Joy that is likely to last, v. 334. [vi. 312].

Men of sense are most capable of joyful sensations; and have their balances; since it is as certain, that they are most susceptible of painful ones, v. 354. [vi. 332].

Miscellaneous Observations.

GOOD hearts are apt to be credulous, i. 25. [ibid].

Men give not themselves their intellects: No one should be despised for want of genius, i. 52. 55. [ibid].

What we want to tell, we wish our friend to have cu|riosity to enquire about, i. 55. [ibid].

Over-wisdom is as foolish a thing as moderate folly. i. 59. [ibid].

Page  341 A graceful yielding in debate, is more reputable than a victory obtained by heat and obstinacy, i. 67. [ibid].

The honest poor are a valuable part of the creation, i. 133. [ibid].

Riches never yet of themselves made any body happy, i. 157. iv. 227. [i. 157. v. 98].

Marriage is too generally thought an amends for every outrage, i. 213. [ibid].

Odious circumstances may invert the force of the kindest words, i. 217. [ibid].

One of the heaviest evils, to a worthy mind, is to be slighted by those whom it loves, i. 275. [ibid].

People long used to error, submit not without re|luctance to new methods of proceeding, i. 319. [ii. 4].

Goodness to goodness is a natural attraction, i. 330. [ii. 15].

The man who finds himself more feared than beloved, must generally have something in his outward behaviour to correct, i. 335. ii. 20. [ii. 283. iii. 27].

True merit will never want admirers, i. 392. [ii. 77].

That, to some, will be thought weak and silly in write|ing or speaking, which, to others, will appear as a beauty, i. 397. [ii. 82].

We are apt to try to recollect circumstances in another's story, when the case is likely to be our own, which at the time, we disregarded, i. 406. [ii. 91].

Mortification is sometimes the happiest thing that can befall a proud man, as it may teach him to think better of others, and not so highly of himself, i. 411. [ii. 96].

Too much emotion on a slight charge, is a kind of tacit confession, ii. 7. [108].

The eye and the ear are too often great misleaders, ii. 29. [130].

We know not to what inconveniencies a small de|parture from principle will lead, ii. 164. [265].

He that will not impose on another, will himself least bear to be imposed upon, ii. 172. [273].

The expectation of a favoured person's company, di|minishes the pleasure, that would be full in the com|pany we have, were not he or she expected, ii. 296. [iii. 40].

Page  342 There are faults that must be left to heaven to punish, and against the consequences of which, it behoves us only, for our own sakes, to guard, ii. 364. [iii. 108].

Things out of our power have often a very different appearance to what they had when we believed they were in it, ii. 368. [iii. 112].

Uncalled-for apologies are tacit confessions, iii. 16. [172].

Men are too apt to govern themselves by events, with|out looking into causes, iii. 205. [365].

Ill use of power will take reputation from the op|pressor, and give it to the oppressed, iii. 238. [iv. 24].

Perverse tempers, when properly touched, are some|times capable of sudden and generous turns, iii. 250. [iv. 36].

Persons to whom the world has been kind, generally make a great deal of a little pain, iii. 327. [iv. 113].

Aggressors lay themselves open to severe reprisals, iv. 330. [116].

When our hearts are set upon a particular subject, we are apt to think every other impertinent, and beside the purpose, iii. 344. [iv. 130].

Trifles, insisted upon, make frequently the widest breaches, iv. 18. [190].

Odd characters are sometimes needful, to make even ones shine, iv. 54. [226].

All human excellence is but comparative, iv. 55. [227].

Many a one may be thought well of in conversation, who, by putting pen to paper expose themselves, iv. 67. [239].

A rooted malevolence, tho', for a time, appeased, will occasionally recur, iv. 127. [299].

On a first visit from one we greatly respect, and wish to oblige, a kind of uneasy sensation will perplex us, after he or she has left us, as if something was omitted or done, that might weaken us in the person's good opi|nion, iv. 153. 193. [v. 24. 64].

We pray for long life; and what for, asks Lady G.? but for leave to out-live our teeth and our friends; to stand in the way of our elbowing relations; and to change Page  343 our swan-skins for skins of buff; which, nevertheless, will not keep out either cold or infirmity, iv. 250. [v. 121].

As well the courage as the quality, be it ever so high; of the man who can be premeditatedly unjust, is to be despised, iv. 197. [v. 68].

Great princes are not always great men, iv. 221. [v. 92].

Those who can allow themselves in some deviations, may be suspected in others, ibid.

In competitions, we may afford to speak handsomely of the man we neither envy nor fear, iv. 356. [v. 227].

Every one is not called upon, by the occasion, to act nobly, iv. 364. [v. 235].

It is not always given us to know what is best for ourselves, v. 4. [275].

Tempers, as well as complexions, generally are best suited by contraries, ibid.

Were we all equally to like the same person or thing, we should for ever be engaged in broils, ibid.

Early perfection generally induces an early decay, v. 9. [280].

We may be very differently affected by the same event, when judged of at distance, or near, v. 56. [vi. 34].

A busy mind should be always employed, in order to keep it out of mischief, v. 81. [vi. 59].

It is not unusual for a person to seek, as his greatest good, what found, would be his greatest misfortune, v. 184. [vi. 162].

Disagreeable qualities cannot always be separated from good ones in the same person, since the one, perhaps, is the constitutional occasion of the other, v. 189. [vi. 167].

Those are the truest admirers of fine flowers, who love to see them in their borders, and seldomest pluck the fading fragrance, ibid.

The less delicate crop, put them in their bosoms, and in an hour or two, after one parting and careless smell, throw them away, ibid.

Women love to surprize, and to be surprized; but it Page  344 is a love that often draws them into inconveniencies, v. 268. 270. [vi. 246. 248].

Things are generally best as they are, v. 315. [vi. 293].

People of condition, when either their curiosity or plea|sure is concerned, like sometimes to engage with dif|ficulties, and to be put to little inconveniencies, for no|velty sake, and that they may have something to talk of, v. 318. [vi. 296].

She that boasts of her good behaviour on particular occasions, when she acts but as she ought, reflects upon herself, v. 326. [vi. 304].

It is a common thing for a person in a coach, to call for the attention of his company in it, to something that passes as they ride, and at the same time to thrust his head out of the window, so that nobody can see but himself, v. 346. [vi. 324].

True jests are not always the most welcome. Tell a woman of forty, that she is sixty or seventy, and she will not be so angry as if her true age were nearly guessed at: The one nobody will believe; the other every-body, v. 347. [vi. 325].

The man who is officious to excuse, or palliate an evi|dent fault in another, may give a suspicion of his put|ing in an indirect claim to an allowance for the like faults of his own, vi. 55. [vii. 55].

When once the mind has been disordered, there is danger, on extraordinary occasions, of its shewing itself capable of extravagance, even after the cure is supposed to be perfected, vi. 101. [vii. 101].

See General Observations.

MISFORTUNE. See Adversity.

MISTRESSES. See Masters.

Modesty. Decorum.

A MAN who deserves the name of a gentleman, will be careful in his conversation not to offend a chaste ear, i. 49. [ibid].

Modesty is easily alarmed; the proper answer to one Page  345 who had said, that women, on certain subjects, were very quick, i. 50. [ibid].

A woman of virtue would be wanting to her character, if she did not resent reflexions made in her company that might be construed an insult on Modesty, ibid.

A pure heart, whether in man or woman, will, on every occasion, in every company, be pure, ibid.

Volubility of speech, is generally owing to want of doubt, i. 56. [ibid].

To hear more, and speak less, is a rule that deserves to be remembred, ibid.

Modest men must have merit, i. 104. [ibid].

Self-diffidence is a quality, from which the worthy of either sex cannot be wholly free, i. 304. [ibid].

Ought a Modest woman, who would not wish to look silly under the staring, confident eye of a bold man, to choose such a one for a husband? iii. 3. [162].

Modesty in a man gives an agreeable self-confidence to a woman, iii. 2, 3. 8. [162. 168].

All men, good and bad, admire Modesty in women: What a reflection on their own sex, then, do those wo|men cast, who do not admire the same grace in a man! iii. 227. [iv. 13].

Meekness and Modesty are characteristic qualities in women, of which men are justly fond, iii. 307. [iv. 93].

A modest man loses nothing by subscribing to the vi|sible superiority of a worthy friend, iii. 345. [iv. 131].

A young woman's Modesty will often cover her with confusion, for what people of sense and candour will consider as a beauty, v. 4. [275].

Something is due to the fashion in dress; and shall not those customs which have their foundation in Modesty, and are characteristic of the gentler sex, be intitled to approbation? v. 168. [vi. 146].

See Advice and Cautions to Women. Delicacy. Fe|male Dignity. Good Man. Goodness. Liber|tines. Love. Marriage. Single Women.