The life and letters of Benjamin Jowett, M. A., master of Balliol college, Oxford.

Letters, 1865-1870

43I

evil of any one, which I am always doing, and which I always
feel to be a great weakness, and can often trace in myself to
a personal motive. I think it is well to know people as they
really are, but that it would be nobler and better to hold one's
tongue about them.
I was glad to see Mr. Mundella exhorting the trades unions
to take up education. I am inclined strongly to think that
the spirit of education and improvement of the dwellings of the
poor may come from some inspiration of their own.
To
May 19, I869.
I don't mind real prophetic denunciations of bad people,
and I wish to keep my head clear about political people and
their motives. But I think if you ever mean to act in the
world you should exercise great reticence in speaking of them.
This is my theory, but has not been my practice hitherto.
I think that things are said against people chiefly from a want
of self-control. And when you come to act with them or talk
with them, your influence over them seems to be taken away
by the consciousness that you have not always spoken well
of them (perhaps deservedly). I think that the world requires
infinitely more courage and infinitely more caution than it
possesses at present.
I had a very nice party here on Saturday.
To
May 28, I869.
We have three compacts: First, that you are to give an
hour a day to writing or some unprofessional occupation (and
not to overwork), in return for which I will observe hours
and days. All this is to be strictly observed. Secondly, we
have a minor compact,, not to be observed so strictly, not to
speak evil of others-even against Simon Magus not to 'bring
a railing accusation'; this, however, may be occasionally broken
when human nature can endure no longer. N.B.-It does not
rest on any religious ground, but merelyon expediency.-Thirdly,
we will have a great compact that every year is to be calmer,