Flattery.

In every instance of vanity it will be found that the blame ought to be shared among more than it generally reaches. All who exalt trifles by immoderate praise, or instigate needless emulation by invidious incitements, are to be considered as perverters of reason, and corrupters of the world; and since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things, by which no real excellence is conferred. Rambler, vol. 4.

In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it; for no species of falsehood is more frequent than flattery, to which the coward is betrayed by fear, the dependant by interest, and the friend by tenderness. Those who are neither servile nor timorous are yet desirous to bestow pleasure; and while unjust demands of praise continue to be made, there will always be some whom hope, fear, or kindness, will dispose to pay them.

Ibid.

Folly.

No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannise, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability. Prince of Abyssinia.

Fortune.

Fortune often delights to dignify what nature has neglected, and that renown, which cannot be claimed by intrinsic excellence or greatness, is sometimes derived from unexpected accidents.

Falkland Islands.

Examples need not be sought at any great distance, to prove that superiority of fortune has a natural tendency to kindle pride, and that pride seldom fails to exert itself in contempt and insult. This is often the effect of hereditary wealth, and of honours only enjoyed by the merit of othLife of Savage.

ers.

Fear.

Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil; but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear reason, but to assist it; nor should it be suffered to tyrannise in the imagination, to raise phantoms

of horror, or beset life with supernumerary distresses. Rambler, vol. 3

Forgiveness.

Whoever considers the weakness both of himself and others, will not long want persuasives to forgiveness. We know not to what degree of malignity any injury is to be imputed, or how much its guilt, if we were to inspect the mind of him that committed it, would be extenuated by mistake, precipitance, or negligence. We cannot be certain how much more we feel than was intended, or how much we increase the mischief to ourselves by voluntary aggravations. We may charge to desigu the effects of accident. We may think the blow violent, only because we have made ourselves delicate and tender; we are, on every side, in danger of error and guilt, which we are certain to avoid only by speedy forgiveness.

Frugality.

Ibid. vol. 4.

Frugality may be termed the daughter of prudence, the sister of temperance, and the parent of liberty. He that is extravagant will quickly become poor, and poverty will enforce dependence, and invite corruption. It will almost always produce

a passive compliance with the wickedness of others, and there are few who do not learn by degrees to practise those crimes which they cease to censure.

Rambler, vol. 2.

Though, in every age, there are some who, by bold adventures or by favourable accidents, rise suddenly into riches, the bulk of mankind must owe their affluence to small and gradual profits, below which their expense must be resolutely reduced.

Ibid

The mercantile wisdom of "a penny saved is two pence got," may be accommodated to all conditions, by observing, that not only they who pursue any lucrative employment will save time when they forbear expense, and that time may be employed to the increase of profit, but that they, who are above such minute considerations, will find, by every victory over appetite or passion, new strength added to the mind, will gain the power of refusing those solicitations by which the young and vivacious are hourly assaulted, and, in time, set themselves above the reach of extravagance and folly. Ibid

It appears evident that frugality is n

cessary even to complete the pleasure of expense; for it may be generally remarked of those who squander what they know their fortune not sufficient to allow, that, in their most jovial expense, there always breaks out some proof of discontent and impatience they either scatter with a kind of wild desperation and affected lavishness, as criminals brave the gallows when they cannot escape it, or pay their money with a peevish anxiety, and endeavour at once to spend idly, and to save meanly having neither firmness to deny their passions, nor courage to gratify them, they murmur at their own enjoyments, and poison the bowl of pleasure by reflections on the cost.

Fashion.

Rambler, vol. 3.

There are few enterprises so hopeless as contests with the fashion, in which the opponents are not only made confident by their numbers, and strong by their union, but are hardened by contempt of their antagonist, whom they always look upon as a wretch of low notions, contracted views, mean conversation, and narrow fortune; who envies the elevations which he cannot reach; who would gladly imbitter the happiness which his inelegance or indi