Speaking without thinking is fhooting without taking aim. He doth not lofe his labour who counts every word he Speaks. One mild word quenches more heat than a whole bucket of water. Yes, good words to put off your rotten apples. Give every man good words, but keep your purfe-ftrings clofe. Fine words will not keep a cat from ftarving. He that hath no patience, hath nothing at all. No patience, no true wifdom. Make one bargain with other men, but make four with yourself. There is no fool to a learned fool. The first degree of folly is to think one's felf wife; the next to tell others fo; the third to defpife all counfel. If wife men play the fool, they do it with a vengeance. One fool in one houfe is enough in all confcience. He is not a thorough wife man who cannot play the fool on a juft occafion. A wife man doth that at the first which a fool must do at the laft. Men's years and their faults are always more than they are willing to own. Men's fins and their debts are more than they take them to be. Punishment, though lame, overtakes the finner at the last. He confiders ill, that confiders not on both fides. Think much and often, fpeak little, and write lefs. Confider well, Who you are, What you do, Whence you came, and Whither you are to go. Keep your thoughts to yourself, let your mien be free and open. Drink wine with pears, and water after figs. When the pear is ripe, it must fall of course. He that parts with what he ought, lofes nothing by the fhift. Forgive every man's faults except your own. To forgive injuries is a noble and God-like revenge. "Tis a mark of great proficiency, to bear eafily the failings of other men. Fond love of a man's felf fhews that he doth not know himself. That which a man likes well is half done. He who is ufed to do kindneffes, always finds them when he stands in need. A wife lawyer never goes to law himself. A fluggard takes an hundred fteps because he would not take one in due time. When you are all agreed upon the time, quoth the curate, I will make it rain. I will do what I can, and a little lefs, that I may hold out the better. Truft fome few, but beware of all men. He who knows but little prefently outs with it. He that doth not mind fmall things will never get a great deal. John Dolittle was the fon of Good-wife Spin-little. To know how to be content with a little, is not a morfel for a fool's mouth. That is never to be called little, which a man thinks to be enough. Of two cowards, he hath the better who firft finds the other out. The worst pig often gets the best pear. The devil turns his back when he finds the door fhut against him. The wifer man yields to him who is more than his match. He who thinks he can do moft, is moft mistaken. The wife difcourfes of a poor man go for nothing. Poor folks have neither any kindred nor any friends. Good preachers give their hearers fruit, not flowers. Woe to those preachers who liften not to themfelves. He who quakes for cold, either wants money to buy him cloaths, or wit to put them on. Poverty is a good hated by all men. He that would have a thing done quickly and well, muft do it himself. He who knows most is the leaft prefuming or confident. 'Tis more noble to make yourself great, than to be born fo. The beginning of an amour (or gallantry) is fear, the middle fin, and the end forrow or repentance. The beginning only of a thing is hard, and cofts dear. A fair promife catches the fool. He who is bound for another goes in at the wide end of the horn, and must come out at the narrow if he can. Promifing is not with defign to give, but to please fools. Give no great credit to a great promifer. Profperity is the worst enemy men ufually have. Proverbs bear age, and he who would do well may view himfelf in them as in a looking-glafs. A proverb is the child of experience. He that makes no reckoning of a farthing, will not be worth an half-penny. Avoid carefully the firft ill or mischief, for that will breed an hundred more. Reafon governs the wife man, and a cudgel the fool. Suffering is the mother of fools, reafon of wife men. If you would be as happy as any king, confider not the few that are before, but the many that come behind you. Our religion and our language we fuck in with our milk. Love, knavery, and neceffity, make men good orators. There is no fence against what comes from Heaven. Good husbandry is the first step towards riches. A ftock once gotten, wealth grows up of its own accord. Wealth hides many a great fault. Good ware was never dear, nor a mifs ever worth the money the cofts. The fool's eftate is the first spent. Wealth is his that enjoys it, and the world is his who fcrambles for it. A father with very great wealth, and a fon with no virtue at 302 all. all. Little wealth, and little care and trouble. The Roman conquers by fitting ftill at home. Between robbing and reftoring, men commonly get thirty in the hundred. He is learned enough who knows how to live well. The more a man knows, the less credulous he is. There is no harm in defiring to be thought wife by others, but a great deal in a man's thinking himself to be fo. Bare wages never made a fervant rich. Lofing much breeds bad blood. Health without any money is half fickness. When a man is tumbling down, every faint lends a hand. He that unfeafonably plays the wife man is a fool. He that pretends too much to wifdom is counted a fool. A wife man never fets his heart upon what he cannot have. A lewd batchelor makes a jealous husband. That crown is well spent which faves you ten. Love can do much, but fcorn or difdain can do more. If you would have a thing kept fecret, never tell it to any one; and if you would not have a thing known of you, never do it. Whatever you are going to do or fay, think well first what may be the confequence of it. They are always felling wit to others who have leaft of it for themfelves. He that gains time gains a great point. Every ditch is full of after-wit. A little wit will ferve a fortunate man. The favour of the court is like fair weather in winter. Neither take for a fervant him who you must entreat, nor a kinfman, nor a friend, if you would have a good one. A man never lofes by doing good offices to others. He that would be well ferved, muft know when to change his fervants. Ignorance and profperity make men bold and confident. He who employs one fervant in any businesses, hath him all there; who employs two, hath half a fervant; who three, hath never a one. Either a civil grant, or a civil denial. When you have any business with a man give him title enough. The covetous man is the bailiff, not the mafter, of his own eftate. Trouble not your head about the weather, or the government. Like with like looks well, and lafts long. All worldly joy is but a fhort-lived dream. That is a curfed pleasure that makes a man a fool. The foldier is well paid for doing mischief. A foldier, fire, and water, foon make room for themselves. A confidering careful man is half a conjurer. A man would not be alone even in paradife. One nap finds ut, or draws on another. Have good luck, and you may lie in bed. He that will maintain every thing must have his fword always ready drawn. That houfe is in an ill cafe where the diftaff commands the sword. One sword keeps another in the fcabbard. He that speaks ill of other men, burns his own tongue. He that is moft liberal where he should be fo, is the best hufband. He is gainer enough who gives over a vain hope. A mighty hope is a mighty cheat. Hope is a pleasant kind of deceit. A man cannot leave his experience or wisdom to his heirs. Fools learn to live at their own coft, the wife at other men's. He is mafter of the whole world who hath no value for it. He who faith Woman, faith Wo to man. One enemy is too much for a man in a great post, and an hundred friends are too few. Let us enjoy the prefent, we shall have trouble enough hereafter. Men toil and take pains in order to live easily at laft. He that takes no care of himself, muft not expect it from others. Industry makes a gallant man, and breaks ill fortune. Study, like a staff of cotton, beats without noife. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are a tempeft and hail-ftorm. If pride were a deadly difeafe, how many would be now in their graves! He who cannot hold his peace will never live at eafe. A fool will be always talking, right or wrong. In filence there is many a good morfel. Pray hold your peace, or you will make me fall afleep. The table, a fecret thief, fends its mafter to the hofpital. Begin your web, and God will fupply you with thread. Too much fear is an enemy to good deliberation. As foon as ever God hath a church built for him, the devil gets a tabernacle fet up for himfelf. Time is a file that wears, and makes no noife. Nothing is fo hard to bear well as profperity. Patience, time, and money, fet every thing to rights. The true art of making gold is to have a good eftate, and to spend but little of it. Abate two thirds of all the reports you hear. A fair face, or a fine head, and very little brains in it. He who lives wickedly lives always in fear. A beautiful face is a pleafing traitor. If three know it, all the world will know it too. Many have too much, but nobody hath enough. An honest man hath half as much more brains as he needs, a knave hath not half enough. A wife man changes his mind when there is reafon for it. From hearing, comes wildom; and from speaking, repentance. Old age is an evil defired by all men, and youth an advantage which no young man underftands. He that would have a good revenge, let him leave it to God. Would you be revenged on your enemy? live as you ought, and you have done it to purpofe. He that will revenge every affront, either falls from a good poft, or never gets up to it. Truth is an inhabitant of heaven. That which feems probable is the greatest enemy to the truth. A thousand probabilities cannot make one truth. 'Tis no great pains to speak the truth. That is most true which we leaft care to hear. Truth hath the plague in his houfe (i. e. is carefully avoided). A wife man will not tell fuch a truth as every one will take for a lie. Long voyages occafion great lies. The world makes men drunk as much as wine doth. Wine and youth are fire upon fire. Enrich your younger age with virtue's lore. 'Tis virtue's picture which we find in books. Virtue must be our trade and study, not our chance. We fhall have a houfe without a fault in the next world. Tell me what life you lead, and I will tell you how you fhall die. He is in a low form who never thinks beyond this fhort life. Vices are learned without a teacher. Wicked men are dead whilst they live. He is rich who defires nothing more. To recover a bad man is a double kindness or virtue. Who are you for? I am for him whom I get most by. He who eats but of one difh never wants a phyfician. He hath lived to ill purpose who cannot hope to live after his death. Live as they did of old; fpeak as men do now. The mob is a terrible monfter. Hell is very full of good meanings and intentions. He only is well kept whom God keeps. Break the legs of an evil cuftom. Tyrant custom makes a flave of reason. Experience is the father, and memory the mother of wisdom. He who doeth every thing he has a mind to do, doth not what he should do. He who says all that he has a mind to fay, hears what he hath no mind to hear. That city thrives beft where virtue is most efteemed and rewarded. He cannot go wrong whom virtue guides. The fword kills many, but wine many more. "Tis truth which makes the man angry. He who tells all the truth he knows, muft lie in the streets. Oil and truth will get uppermoft at the laft. A probable story is the best weapon of calumny. He counts very unfkilfully who leaves God out of his reckoning, No thing is of any great value but God only. All is good that God fends us. He that hath children, all his morfels are not his own. Thought is a nimble footman. Many know every thing elfe, but nothing at all of themfelves. We ought not to give the fine flour to the devil, and the bran to God. Six foot of earth make all men of one fize. He that is born of a hen muft fcrape for his living. Afflictions draw men up towards heaven. That which does us good is never too late. Since my house must be burnt, I will warm myfelf at it. Tell every body your bufinefs, and the devil will do it for you. A man was hanged for faying what was true. Do not all that you can do; fpend not all that you have; believe not all that you hear; and tell not all that you know. A man fhould learn to fail with all winds. He is the man indeed who can govern himfelf as he ought. He that would, live long, muft fometimes change his courfe of life. When children are little they make their parents heads ach; and when they are grown up, they make their hearts ach. To preach well, you must first practife what you teach others. Ufe or practice of a thing is the beft master. A man that hath learning is worth two who have it not. A fool knows his own bufinefs better than a wife man doth another's. He who understands most is other men's mafter. Have a care of-Had I known this before.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Command your fervant, and do it yourself, and you will have lefs trouble. You may know the mafter by his man. He who ferves the public hath but a fcurvy master. He that would have good offices done to him, must do them to others. 'Tis the only true liberty to ferve our good God. The common foldier's blood makes the general a great man. An huge great house is an huge great trouble. Never advise a man to go to the wars, nor to marry. Go to the war with as many as you can, and with as few to counfel. 'Tis better keeping out of a quarrel, than to make it up afterward. Great birth is a very poor dish on the table. Neither buy any thing of, nor fell to, your friend. Sicknefs or diseases are vifits from God. Sickness is a perfonal citation before our Judge. Beauty and folly do not often part company. Beauty beats a call upon a drum. Teeth placed before the tongue give good advice. A great many pair of fhoes are worn out before men do all they say. A 303 great great many words will not fill a purse. Make a flow anfwer to an hafty queftion. Self-praife is the ground of hatred. Speaking evil of one another is the fifth element men are made up of. When a man fpeaks you fair, look to your purfe. Play not with a man till you hurt him, nor jeft till you fhame him. Eating more than you should at once, makes you eat lefs afterward. He makes his grief light who thinks it fo. He thinks but ill who doth not think twice of a thing. He who goes about a thing himfelf, hath a mind to have it done; who fends another, cares not whether it be done or no. There is no discretion in love, nor counfel in anger. Wishes never can fill a fack. The first step a man makes towards being good, it to know he is not fo already. He who is bad to his relations is wort to himfelf. 'Tis good to know our friends failings, but not to publish them. A man may fee his own faults in those which others do. 'Tis the virtue of faints to be always going on from one kind and degree of virture to another. A man may talk like a wife man, and yet act like a fool. Every one thinks he hath more than his share of brains. The first chapter (or point) of fools is to think they are wife men. Difcretion, or a true judgment of things, is the parent of all virtue. Chastity is the chief and most charming beauty. Little confcience and great diligence make a rich man. Never count four except you have them in your bag. Open your door to a fair day, but make yourself ready for a foul one. A little too late is too late ftill. A good man is ever at home whereever he chance to be. Building is a word that men pay dear for. If you would be healthful, clothe yourself warm, and eat fparingly. Rich men are flaves condemned to the mines. Many men's eftates come in at the door, and go out at the chimney. Wealth is more dear to men than their blood or life is. Foul dirty water makes the river great. That great faint intereft rules the world alone, Their power and their will are the meafures princes take of right and wrong. In governing others you muft do what you can do, not all you would do. A wife man will stay for a convenient season, and will bend a little, rather than be torn up by the roots. Eyer buy your wit at other men's charges. You must let your phlegm fubdue your choler, if you would not fpoil your bufinefs. Take not phyfic when you are well, left you die to be better. Do not do evil to get good by it, which never yet happened to any. That pleafure's much too dear which is bought with any pain. To live poor that a man may die rich, is to be the king of fools, or a fool in grain. Good wine makes a bad head, and a long ftory. Be as eafy as you can in this world, provided you take good care to be happy in the next. Live well, and be chearful. A man knows no more to any purpose than he practifes. He that doth most at once, doth leaft. He is a wretch whofe hopes are all below. Thank you, good puss, ftarved my cat. No great good comes without looking after it. Gather the role, and leave the thorn behind. He who would be rich in one year is hanged at fick months end. He who hath a mouth will certainly eat. Go early to the market, and as late as ever you can to a battle. The barber learns to have at the beards of fools. He who is lucky (or rich) paffes for a wife man too. He commands enough who is ruled by a wife man. He who reveals his fecret makes himself a flave. Gaming fhews what metal a man is made of of. How can the cat help it if the maid be a fool? Fools grow up apace without any watering. God fupplies him with more who lays out his estate well. The printing-prefs is the mother of errors. Let me fee your man dead, and I will tell you how rich he is. Men live one half of the year with art and deceit, and the other half with deceit and art. Do yourself a kindness, Sir. [The beggar's phrafe for Give alms.] I was well, would be better; took phyfic, and died. [On a monument.] All row galley-wife; every man draws to wards himfelf. He who hath money and capers is provided for Lent. A proud man hath vexation or fretting enough. He who buys by the penny keeps his own house and other men's too. Tell me what com pany you keep, and I will tell you wha: you do. At a good pennyworth paufe a while. He who doth his own business deth not foul his fingers. 'Tis good feafting a other men's houfes. A wife man makes a virtue of what he cannot help. Talk but little, and live as you fhould do. $153. Old Spanish Proverbs. He is a rich man who hath God for his friend. He is the beft fcholar who hath learned to live well. A handful of mother wit is worth a bushel of learning. When all men fay you are an ass, 'tis time to bray. bray. Change of weather finds difcourfe for fools. A pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt. The forrow men have for others hangs upon one hair. A wife man changes his mind, a fool never will. That day on which you marry you either mar or make yourself. God comes to fee, or look upon us, without a bell. You had better leave your enemy fomething when you die, than live to beg of your friend. That's a wife delay which makes the road fafe. Cure your fore eyes only with your elbow. Let us thank God, and be content with what we have. The foot of the owner is the best manure for his land. He is my friend who grinds at my mill. Enjoy that little you have while the fool is hunting for more. Saying and doing do not dine together. Money cures all difeafes. A life ill-fpent makes a fad old-age. 'Tis money that makes men lords. We talk, but God doth what he pleafes. May you have good luck, my fon, and a little wit will ferve your turn. Gifts break through itone walls. Go not to your doctor for every ail, nor to your lawyer for every quarrel, nor to your pitcher for every thirft. There is no better looking-glafs than an old true friend. A wall between both best preferves friendfhip. The fum of all is, to ferve God well, and to do no ill thing. The creditor always hath a better memory than the debtor. Setting down in writing is a lafting memory. Repentance always cofts very dear. Good-breeding and money make our fons gentlemen. As you ufe your father, fo your children will ufe you. There is no evil, but fome good ufe may be made of it. No price is great enough for good counfel. Examine not the pedigree nor patrimony of a good man. There is no ill thing in Spain but that which can speak. Praife the man whofe bread God keep me from him whom I truft, from him whom I truft not I fhall keep myself. Keep out of an hafty man's way for a while, out of a fullen man's all days of your life. If you love me, John, your deeds will tell me fo. I defy all fetters, though they were made of gold. Few die of hunger, an hundred thoufand of furfeits. Govern yourself by reafon, though fome like it, others do not. If you would know the worth of a ducat, go and borrow one. No companion like money. A good wife is the workmanship of a good hufband. The fool fell in love with the lady's laced apron. The friar who asks for you eat. God's fake, afks for himself too. God keeps him who takes what care he can of himself. Nothing is valuable in this world, except as it tends to the next. Smoke, raining into the house, and a talking wife, make a man run out of doors. There is no to-morrow for an afking friend. God keep me from ftill-water, from that which is rough I will keep myfelf. Take your wife's firft advice, not her second. Tel not what you know, judge not what you fee, and you will live in quiet. Hear reafon, or he will make herfelf be heard. Gifts enter every where without a wimble. A great fortune with a wife is a bed full of brambles. One pin for your purse, and two for your mouth. There was never but one man who never did a fault. He who promifes runs into debt. He who holds his peace gathers ftones. Leave your fon a good reputation and an employment. Receive your money before you give a receipt for it, and take a receipt before you pay it. God doth the cure, and the phyfician takes the money for it. Thinking is very far from knowing the truth. Fools make great feafts, and wife men eat of them. June, July, August, and Carthagena, are the four best ports of Spain. A gentle calf fucks her own mother, and four cows more (between two own brothers, two witneffes, and a notary). The devil brings a modeft man to the court. He who will have a mule without any fault, must keep none. The wolves eat the poor afs that hath many owners. Vifit your aunt, but not every day in the year. In an hundred years time princes are peasants, and in an hundred and ten peasants grow princes. The poor cat is whipped becaufe our dame will not spin. Leave your jest whilst you are most pleased with it. Whither goest thou, grief? Where I am ufed to go. Leave a dog and a great talker in the middle of the street. Never trust a man whom you have injured. The laws go on the king's errands. rents love indeed, others only talk of it. Three helping one another will do as much as fix men fingle. She fpins well who breeds her children well. You can not do better for your daughter than to breed her virtuoufly, nor for your fon than to fit him for an employment. Lock your door, that fo you may keep your neighbour honeft. Civil obliging lan guage cofts but little, and doth a great deal of good. One "Take it " is better than two "Thou shalt have it's." Prayers and 304 provender Pa |