Part 64

The mind is the atmosphere of the soul.--Joubert.

What is this little, agile, precious fire, this fluttering motion which we call the mind?--Prior.

Just as a particular soil wants some one element to fertilize it, just as the body in some conditions has a kind of famine for one special food, so the mind has its wants, which do not always call for what is best, but which know themselves and are as peremptory as the salt sick sailor's call for a lemon or raw potato.--Holmes.

The best way to prove the clearness of our mind is by showing its faults; as when a stream discovers the dirt at the bottom, it convinces us of the transparency of the water.--Pope.

A mind once cultivated will not lie fallow for half an hour.--Bulwer-Lytton.

~Mischief.~--The opportunity to do mischief is found a hundred times a day, and that of doing good once a year.--Voltaire.

~Miser.~--The miser swimming in gold seems to me like a thirsty fish.--J. Petit Senn.

In all meanness there is a deficit of intellect as well as of heart, and even the cleverness of avarice is but the cunning of imbecility.--Bulwer-Lytton.

~Misery.~--There are a good many real miseries in life that we cannot help smiling at, but they are the smiles that make wrinkles and not dimples.--Holmes.

Misery is so little appertaining to our nature, and happiness so much so, that we in the same degree of illusion only lament over that which has pained us, but leave unnoticed that which has rejoiced us.--Richter.

~Misfortune.~--If all the misfortunes of mankind were cast into a public stock, in order to be equally distributed among the whole species, those who now think themselves the most unhappy would prefer the share they are already possessed of before that which would fall to them by such a division.--Socrates.

Depend upon it, that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery, there never is any recourse to the mention of it.--Johnson.

Flowers never emit so sweet and strong a fragrance as before a storm. Beauteous soul! when a storm approaches thee be as fragrant as a sweet-smelling flower.--Richter.

Our bravest lessons are not learned through success, but misadventure.--Alcott.

There is a chill air surrounding those who are down in the world, and people are glad to get away from them, as from a cold room.--George Eliot.

Men shut their doors against the setting sun.--Shakespeare.

He that is down needs fear no fall.--Bunyan.

~Moderation.~--Till men have been some time free, they know not how to use their freedom. The natives of wine countries are generally sober. In climates where wine is a rarity intemperance abounds. A newly liberated people may be compared to a Northern army encamped on the Rhine or the Xeres. It is said that, when soldiers in such a situation first find themselves able to indulge without restraint in such a rare and expensive luxury, nothing is to be seen but intoxication. Soon, however, plenty teaches discretion; and after wine has been for a few months their daily fare, they become more temperate than they had ever been in their own country. In the same manner, the final and permanent fruits of liberty are wisdom, moderation, and mercy.--Macaulay.

The superior man wishes to be slow in his words, and earnest in his conduct.--Confucius.

Let a man take time enough for the most trivial deed, though it be but the paring of his nails. The buds swell imperceptibly, without hurry or confusion; as if the short spring days were an eternity.--Thoreau.

It is a little stream which flows softly, but freshens everything along its course.--Madame Swetchine.

~Modesty.~--False modesty is the last refinement of vanity. It is a lie.--Bruyère.

The first of all virtues is innocence; the next is modesty. If we banish Modesty out of the world, she carries away with her half the virtue that is in it.--Addison.

He of his port was meek as is a maid.--Chaucer.

Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.--Hazlitt.

Modesty, who, when she goes, is gone forever.--Landor.

Modesty is the conscience of the body.--Balzac.

There are as many kinds of modesty as there are races. To the English woman it is a duty; to the French woman a propriety.--Taine.