Book of Wise Sayings
[23] Cf. 221; also Metastasio:
Voce dal fuggita
Poi richiamar non vale;
Non si trattien lo strale
Quando dall' arco usci.
[The word that once escapes the tongue cannot be
recalled; the arrow cannot be detained which has once
sped from the bow.]
439.
The old lose one of the greatest privileges of man, for they are no
longer judged by their contemporaries.
_Goethe._
440.
When the man of a naturally good propensity has much wealth it
injures his advancement in wisdom; when a worthless man has much
wealth it increases his faults.
_Chinese._
441.
In youth a man is deluded by other ideas than those which delude him
in middle life, and again in his decay he embraces other ideas.
_Mahabharata._
442.
To consider, Is this man of our own or an alien? is a mark of
little-minded persons; but the whole earth is of kin to the
generous-hearted.[24]
_Panchatantra._
[24] Cf. Luke, X, 29, ff.
443.
Skill in advising others is easily attained by men; but to practise
righteousness themselves is what only a few can succeed in doing.
_Hitopadesa._
444.
Hast thou not perfect excellence, 'tis best
To keep thy tongue in silence, for 'tis this
Which shames a man; as lightness does attest
The nut is empty, nor of value is.
_Sa'di._
445.
Understand a man by his deeds and words; the impressions of others
lead to false judgment.
_Talmud._
446.
A man of feeble character resembles a reed that bends with every
gust of wind.
_Magha._
447.
There is no fire like passion; there is no shark like hatred; there
is no snare like folly; there is no torrent like greed.
_Dhammapada._
448.
Commit a sin twice, and it will not seem to thee a sin.
_Talmud._
449.
Liberality attended with mild language; learning without pride;
valour united with mercy; wealth accompanied with a generous
contempt of it--these four qualities are with difficulty acquired.
_Hitopadesa._
450.
Inquire about your neighbour before you build, and about your
companions before you travel.
_Arabic._
451.
Though you may yourself abound in treasure, teach your son some
handicraft; for a heavy purse of gold and silver may run to waste,
but the purse of the artisan's industry can never get empty.
_Sa'di._
452.
It is an observation no less just than common that there is no
stronger test of a man's real character than power and authority,
exciting, as they do, every passion, and discovering every latent
vice.
_Plutarch._
453.
Rather skin a carcass for pay in the public streets than be idly
dependent on charity.
_Talmud._
454.
Knowledge produces mildness of speech; mildness of speech, a good
character; a good character, wealth; wealth, if virtuous actions
attend it, happiness.
_Hitopadesa._
455.
O how wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the
soul. The intellect of man sits enshrined visibly upon his forehead
and in his eye; and the heart of man is written upon his
countenance. But the soul reveals itself in the voice only, as God
revealed himself to the prophet in the still small voice, and in a
voice from the Burning Bush. The soul of man is audible, not
visible. A sound alone betrays the flowing of the eternal fountain
invisible to man.
_Longfellow._
456.
Every gift, though small, is in reality great, if it be given with
affection.[25]
_Philemon._
[25] See also 80.
457.
Good words, good deeds, and beautiful expressions
A wise man ever culls from every quarter,
E'en as a gleaner gathers ears of corn.
_Mahabharata._
458.
In poverty and other misfortunes of life men think friends to be
their only refuge. The young they keep out of mischief, to the old
they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime
of life they incite to noble deeds.
_Aristotle._
459.
Heed not the flatterer's fulsome talk,
He from thee hopes some trifle to obtain;
Thou wilt, shouldst thou his wishes baulk,
Ten hundred times as much of censure gain.
_Sa'di._
460.
By the fall of water-drops the pot is filled: such is the increase
of riches, of knowledge, and of virtue.
_Hitopadesa._
461.
We deliberate about the parcels of life, but not about life itself,
and so we arrive all unawares at its different epochs, and have the
trouble of beginning all again. And so finally it is that we do not
walk as men confidently towards death, but let death come suddenly
upon us.
_Seneca._
462.
It is no very good symptom, either of nations or individuals, that
they deal much in vaticination. Happy men are full of the present,
for its bounty suffices them; and wise men also, for its duties
engage them. Our grand business undoubtedly is not to see what lies
dimly at a distance, but to do what clearly lies at hand.
_Carlyle._
463.
Law does not put the least restraint
Upon our freedom, but maintain'st;
Or, if it does, 'tis for our good,
To give us freer latitude:
For wholesome laws preserve us free,
By stinting of our liberty.
_Butler._
464.
It is only necessary to grow old in order to become more indulgent.
I see no fault committed that I have not been myself inclined to.
_Goethe._
465.
Even a blockhead may respect inspire,
So long as he is suitably attired;
A fool may gain esteem among the wise,
So long as he has sense to hold his tongue.
_Hitopadesa._
466.
A wise man should never resolve upon anything, at least, never let
the world know his resolution, for if he cannot reach that he is
ashamed.[26]
_Selden._
[26] See 406.
467.
Men's minds are generally ingenious in palliating guilt in
themselves.
_Livy._
468.
Prosperity is acquired by exertion, and there is no fruit for him
who doth not exert himself: the fawns go not into the mouth of a
sleeping lion.
_Hitopadesa._
469.
Wickedness, by whomsoever committed, is odious, but most of all in
men of learning; for learning is the weapon with which Satan is
combated, and when a man is made captive with arms in his hand his
shame is more excessive.
_Sa'di._
470.
He that will give himself to all manner of ways to get money may be
rich; so he that lets fly all he knows or thinks may by chance be
satirically witty. Honesty sometimes keeps a man from growing rich,
and civility from being witty.
_Selden._
471.
Men are not rich or poor according to what they possess but to what
they desire. The only rich man is he that with content enjoys a
competence.
_R. Chamberlain._
472.
Poverty is not dishonourable in itself, but only when it arises from
idleness, intemperance, extravagance, and folly.
_Plutarch._
473.
Do nothing rashly; want of circumspection is the chief cause of
failure and disaster. Fortune, wise lover of the wise, selects him
for her lord who ere he acts reflects.
_Bharavi._
474.
First think, and if thy thoughts approve thy will,
Then speak, and after, what thou speak'st fulfil.
_Randolph._
475.
It cannot but be injurious to the human mind never to be called into
effort: the habit of receiving pleasure without any exertion of
thought, by the mere excitement of curiosity, and sensibility, may
be justly ranked among the worst effects of habitual novel-reading.
_Coleridge._
476.
Patience is the chiefest fruit of study; a man that strives to make
himself different from other men by much reading gains this chiefest
good, that in all fortunes he hath something to entertain and
comfort himself withal.
_Selden._
477.
Friendship throws a greater lustre on prosperity, while it lightens
adversity by sharing in its griefs and troubles.
_Cicero._
478.
There is nothing more becoming a wise man than to make choice of
friends, for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art. Let them
therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee
for gain; but make election rather of thy betters than thy
inferiors; shunning always such as are poor and needy, for if thou
givest twenty gifts and refuse to do the like but once, all that
thou hast done will be lost, and such men will become thy mortal
enemies.
_Sir W. Raleigh, to his Son._
479.
Learning is like Scanderbeg's sword, either good or bad according to
him who hath it: an excellent weapon, if well used; otherwise, like
a sharp razor in the hand of a child.
_R. Chamberlain._
480.
The greater part of mankind employ their first years to make their
last miserable.
_La Bruyere._
481.
I hate the miser, whose unsocial breast
Locks from the world his useless stores.
Wealth by the bounteous only is enjoyed,
Whose treasures, in diffusive good employed,
The rich return of fame and friends procure,
And 'gainst a sad reverse a safe retreat secure.
_Pindar._
482.
Wisdom alone is the true and unalloyed coin for which we ought to
exchange all things, for this and with this everything is bought and
sold--fortitude, temperance, and justice; in a word, true virtue
subsists with wisdom.
_Plato._
483.
If thou intendest to do a good act, do it quickly, and then thou
wilt excite gratitude; a favour if it be slow in being conferred
causes ingratitude.
_Ausonius._
484.
'Tis those who reverence the old
That are the men versed in the Faith;