Book of Wise Sayings Part 9

When you see a man elated with pride, glorying in his riches and high descent, rising even above fortune, look out for his speedy punishment; for he is only raised the higher that he may fall with a heavier crash.

Menander.

292.

The ridiculous is produced by any defect that is unattended by pain, or fatal consequences; thus, an ugly and deformed countenance does not fail to cause laughter, if it is not occasioned by pain.

Aristotle.

293.

Happy the man who early learns the difference between his wishes and his powers.

Goethe.

294.

There is nothing more pitiable in the world than an irresolute man vacillating between two feelings, who would willingly unite the two, and who does not perceive that nothing can unite them.

Goethe.

295.

Beauty in a modest woman is like fire at a distance, or like a sharp sword: neither doth the one burn nor the other wound him that comes not too near them.

Cervantes.

296.

We are more sociable and get on better with people by the heart than the intellect.

La Bruyere.

297.

A good man may fall, but he falls like a ball [and rebounds]; the ign.o.ble man falls like a lump of clay.

Bhartrihari.

298.

Do not anxiously expect what is not yet come; do not vainly regret what is already past.

Chinese.

299.

The way to subject all things to thyself is to subject thyself to reason; thou shalt govern many if reason govern thee. Wouldst thou be a monarch of a little world, command thyself.

Quarles.

300.

If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had their deadliest foe in their own breast, and their whole happiness would be reduced to mere seeming.

Metastasio.

301.

There are many who talk on from ignorance rather than from knowledge, and who find the former an inexhaustible fund of conversation.

Hazlitt.

302.

Whoever brings cheerfulness to his work, and is ever active, dashes through the world's labours.

Tieck.

303.

Grossness is not difficult to define: it is obtrusive and objectionable pleasantry.

Theophrastus.

304.

Do not consider any vice as trivial, and therefore practise it; do not consider any virtue as unimportant, and therefore neglect it.

Chinese.

305.

To bad as well as good, to all, A generous man compa.s.sion shows; On earth no mortal lives, he knows, Who does not oft through weakness fall.

Ramayana.

306.

The good extend their loving care To men, however mean or vile; E'en base Chandalas'[12] dwellings share Th' impartial sunbeam's silver smile.

Hitopadesa.

[12] Chandalas, or Pariahs, are the lowest, or of no caste.

307.

Let a man accept with confidence valuable knowledge even from a person of low degree, good instruction regarding duty even from a humble man, and a jewel of a wife even from an ign.o.ble family.

Manu.

308.

We cannot too soon convince ourselves how easily we may be dispensed with in the world. What important personages we imagine ourselves to be! We think that we alone are the life of the circle in which we move; in our absence, we fancy that life, existence, breath will come to a general pause, and, alas, the gap which we leave is scarcely perceptible, so quickly is it filled again; nay, it is often the place, if not of something better, at least for something more agreeable.

Goethe.

309.

The friends.h.i.+ps formed between good and evil men differ. The friends.h.i.+p of the good, at first faint like the morning light, continually increases; the friends.h.i.+p of the evil at the very beginning is like the light of midday, and dies away like the light of evening.[13]

Bhartrihari.

[13] In many parts of the East there is practically no twilight.

310.

A hundred long leagues is no distance for him who would quench the thirst of covetousness; but a contented mind has no solicitude for grasping wealth.

Hitopadesa.

311.

The n.o.ble-minded dedicate themselves to the promotion of the happiness of others--even of those who injure them. True happiness consists in making happy.

Bharavi.

312.

A benefit given to the good is like characters engraven on a stone; a benefit given to the evil is like a line drawn on water.

Buddhist.

313.

The undertaking of a careless man succeeds not, though he use the right expedients: a clever hunter, though well placed in ambush, kills not his quarry if he falls asleep.

Bharavi.

314.

All love, at first, like generous wine, Ferments and frets until 'tis fine; But when 'tis settled on the lee, And from th' impurer matter free, Becomes the richer still the older, And proves the pleasanter the colder.

Butler.

315.

Safe in thy breast close lock up thy intents, For he that knows thy purpose best prevents.

Randolph.

316.

Frugality should ever be practised, but not excessive parsimony.

Hitopadesa.

317.

He who receives a favour must retain a recollection of it for all time to come; but he who confers should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid and ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred on him, and to talk of it, is little different from a reproach.

Demosthenes.

318.

Pride not thyself on thy religious works, Give to the poor, but talk not of thy gifts: By pride religious merit melts away, The merit of thy alms, by ostentation.

Manu.

319.

The empty beds of rivers fill again; Trees leafless now renew their vernal bloom; Returning moons their l.u.s.trous phase resume; But man a second youth expects in vain.[14]

Somadeva.

[14] Cf. Job, XIV, 7.

320.

Shall He to thee His aid refuse Who clothes the swan in dazzling white, Who robes in green the parrot bright, The peac.o.c.ks decks in rainbow hues?[15]

Hitopadesa.

[15] Cf. Matt. VI, 25, 26.

321.

A bad man is as much pleased as a good man is distressed to speak ill of others.

Mahabharata.

322.

Every bird has its decoy, and every man is led and misled in his own peculiar way.

Goethe.

323.