Book of Wise Sayings
In all companies there are more fools than wise men, and the greater
part always gets the better of the wiser.
_Rabelais._
575.
Talents are best nurtured in solitude; character is best formed in
the stormy billows of the world.
_Goethe._
576.
No one ought to despond in adverse circumstances, for they may turn
out to be the cause of good to us.[30]
_Menander._
[30] Cf. Job V, 17; Heb. XII, 6.
577.
The constant man loses not his virtue in misfortune. A torch may
point towards the ground, but its flame will still point upwards.
_Bhartrihari._
578.
A man should never despise himself, for brilliant success never
attends on the man who is contemned by himself.
_Mahabharata._
579.
It is the character of a simpleton to be a bore. A man of sense sees
at once whether he is welcome or tiresome; he knows to withdraw the
moment that precedes that in which he would be in the least in the
way.
_La Bruyere._
580.
The man of first rate excellence is virtuous in spite of
instruction; he of the middle class is so after instruction; the
lowest order of men are vicious in spite of instruction.
_Chinese._
581.
Not to attend at the door of the wealthy, and not to use the voice
of petition--these constitute the best life of a man.
_Hitopadesa._
582.
What a man can do and suffer is unknown to himself till some
occasion presents itself which draws out the hidden power. Just as
one sees not in the water of an unruffled pond the fury and roar
with which it can dash down a steep rock without injury to itself,
or how high it is capable of rising; or as little as one can suspect
the latent heat in ice-cold water.
_Schopenhauer._
583.
Comprehensive talkers are apt to be tiresome when we are not athirst
for information; but, to be quite fair, we must admit that superior
reticence is a good deal due to lack of matter. Speech is often
barren, but silence also does not necessarily brood over a full
nest. Your still fowl, blinking at you without remark, may all the
while be sitting on one addled nest-egg; and, when it takes to
cackling, will have nothing to announce but that addled delusion.
_George Eliot._
584.
The sage who engages in controversy with ignorant people must not
expect to be treated with honour; and if a fool should overpower a
philosopher by his loquacity it is not to be wondered at, for a
common stone will break a jewel.
_Sa'di._
585.
Success is like a lovely woman, wooed by many men, but folded in the
arms of him alone who, free from over-zeal, firmly persists and
calmly perseveres.
_Bharavi._
586.
A feverish display of over-zeal,
At the first outset, is an obstacle
To all success; water, however cold,
Will penetrate the ground by slow degrees.
_Hitopadesa._
587.
Treat no one with disdain; with patience bear
Reviling language; with an angry man
Be never angry; blessings give for curses.[31]
_Manu._
[31] Cf. Matt. V, II, 44.
588.
E'en as a traveller, meeting with the shade
Of some o'erhanging tree, awhile reposes,
Then leaves its shelter to pursue his way,
So men meet friends, then part with them for ever.
_Hitopadesa._
589.
Single is every living creature born,
Single he passes to another world,
Single he eats the fruit of evil deeds,
Single, the fruit of good; and when he leaves
His body, like a log or heap of clay,
Upon the ground, his kinsmen walk away:
Virtue alone stays by him at the tomb,
And bears him through the dreary, trackless gloom.
_Manu._
INDEX.
Abilities, 17.
Absent friend, 496.
Abuse of the great, 398.
Actions to be avoided, 570.
Actor, man an, 37.
Admonition, friendly, 553.
Advance step by step, 131.
Adversity, 8, 30, 57, 78, 175, 184, 185, 330, 366, 393, 477,
576, 577.
Advice, 82, 172, 193, 443.
Affectation, 87.
Age should be indulgent, 464.
Age, reverence for, 484.
Agreeableness, 258, 296.
Alms-giving, pride in, 318.
Ambition, petty, 165.
Amusements necessary, 111.
Ancestry, boast of, 239, 240, 385, 395, 493.
Angel, brute, man, 199.
Anger, 117, 119, 130.
Angry man, 518, 587.
Annoyances, 387.
Anxiety, needless, 298.
Apparel, 418.
Arrogance, 267.
Arts, mothers of the, 540.
Associates to be avoided, 571.
Associates, wicked, 215.
Associations, 542.
Attributes of hand, head, etc., 513.
Authority, 151, 452, 561.
Avarice, 38, 310, 364, 382, 481.
Bad men, 15, 351.
Beauty, 100, 179, 295, 565.
Beginning, etc., 383.
Behaviour, 430.
Beloved, best, 406.
Beneficence, 4, 5, 191, 485.
Benefits, 312, 345.
"Bless those that curse you," 587.
Blockhead in fine clothes, 465.
Blockhead, lively, 562.
Boastfulness, 248.
Bodily and mental qualities, 204.
Body, the soul's tent, 272.
Books, 96, 195, 196, 197, 252, 283, 550.
Bores, 579.
Borrowing, 429.
Braying men, 554.
Business, do your own, 564.
Calmness, 361.
Capacities of men, 32.
Caution in changing, 131.
Character, portraying, 160.
Character, test of men, 109.
Charity, 94.
Cheerfulness, 302, 391.
Children, 379.
Circumstances, 67.
Clever men, 86.
Companions, 450.
Conduct, best, 214.
Confidence, 268.
Consolation, 346.
Constancy of friends, 366.
Contemporaries' approval, 156.
Contentment, 10, 52, 101, 135, 334, 471, 538.
Contrasts in life, 502.
Controversy with ignorant men, 584.
Conversation, 71.
Daily cares and duties, 503.
Dangers reconcile foes, 274.
Death, 26, 138, 461.
Deception, 243.
Deeds and words, 445.
Delusions, 441.
Deportment, 206.
Derision of superiority, 521.
Designs, 315, 405, 466.
Difficulties, 425.
Diligence, 189, 428.
Discontent, 222, 520.
Distinctions, invidious, 557.
"Do unto others," etc., 372.
Doctrine entering the ear only, 285.
Dog's tail, 373.
Doubt, 7.
Dreams, 388, 389.
Dull minds, 278.
Ears and tongue, 273.
Eat moderately, 572.
Education and morals, 348.
Eminence, 563.
Employment, want of, 11.
Empty things, 410.
Endurance, 582.
Energy, 95, 149.
Enjoyments, alloyed, 352, 353.
Envy, 124, 168, 271, 343, 375, 525.
Equality of men, 234.
Errors in judgment, 64.
Evil men reformed, 68.
Evil not to be returned, 413.
Evil plotters, 162, 569.
Evil speaking, 321.
Excellence and mediocrity, 60.
Exertion, 134, 263, 468, 510.
Expenditure, 176, 247, 511.
Experience, 36.
Faculties of men limited, 120.
Faith not to be forced, 408.
Falsehood, 341.
Fame of good and evil deeds, 277.
Fame, worldly, 34, 158.
Familiarity with the great, 255.
Fancy, charm of, 514.
Fashions, old, despised, 169.
Fate and wishes, 376.
Fate and youth, 122.
Fathers and sons, 519.
Faults, 20, 39, 41, 198, 219, 269, 347.
Favours, conferring, 317.
Fear, 339.
Feeble characters, 446.
Feeling, sudden transitions of, 127.
Flattery, 13, 250, 251, 323, 459, 528.
Foes and friends, 84.
Foibles, men's, 322.
Follies, 97.
Folly's reward, 567.
Fools, 108, 166, 181, 265, 415, 465, 541, 561, 574.
Forgiveness, 329, 344.
Fortune, 56, 173, 233, 249, 262, 276, 536, 552.
Friends, 16, 98, 174, 432, 458, 478, 496, 544, 547, 588.
Friendship, 24, 116, 309, 330, 346, 477.
Frugality, 316.
Generosity, 140.
Genius dull in society, 534.
Gifts, 80, 456, 529.
Giving, manner of, 354, 483.
God, the best friend, 79.
Gold beautifies, 422, 427.
Golden mean, 21.
Good, doing, 110, 136, 137, 145, 209.
Good for evil, 25, 311.
Good and bad men falling, 297.
Good man, 15, 288.
Good man's intellect, 89.
Good name, 29, 289.
Goodness, 73, 153, 238.
Good son, 16.
Good wife, 16.
Good words, 457.
Good work undone, 35.
Gratitude, 317.
Great men, intercourse with, 177.
Great souls, qualities of, 78.
Greed, 447.
Grief, useless, 207, 324.
Griefs, secret, 300, 378, 394.
Grossness, 303.
Guilty men, 386.
Handicraft, 451.
Happiness, 58, 66, 70, 187, 253, 262, 311, 337, 363, 367, 406,
523.
Harsh words, 192.
Hatred, 123, 447, 549.
Health, 52.
Heart, 62, 79, 129, 132, 545.
Hearts and beauty, 179.
Heaven's gate, 543.
Hero, 406.
Hoary head, 416.
Home, 253, 406, 523.
Humility, 150, 157.
Husband, 161, 401, 490.
Hypocrisy, 403.
Idleness, 424.
Ignorance, 103, 198, 199, 290, 301, 355, 431.
Imitativeness, 404.
Impudence, 374.
Increase, by degrees, 460.
Independence, 581.
Indiscreet men, 85.
Inherent badness, 373.
Injury rebounds, 126.
Injury unjustifiable, 407, 413.
Insignificance, man's individual, 308.
Instruction, 580.
Irresolution, 294.
Judge things by their merit, 196.
Judgments, how formed, 259.
Kindness, 4, 5, 54, 92, 129, 305, 306, 311, 344.
Kinsmen and strangers, 91.
Knowledge, 3, 7, 43, 55, 201, 205, 218, 225, 286, 307, 355,
396, 397, 416, 454, 508, 546.
Labour, 275, 429, 453, 506.
Laughter, 47, 163, 186.
Law, 463.
Law and physic, 167.
Learning, 40, 43, 143, 342, 449, 479, 491, 504, 509.
Liars, 246.
Liberality, 93, 94, 140, 241, 449, 498.
Life, 23, 83, 125, 133, 144, 235, 287, 326, 365, 461, 502,
535, 539.
Loquacity, 182, 301, 359, 583.
Loss, greatest, 406.
Losses half felt, 216.
Love, 314.
Low-minded men, 485.
Man, an actor, 37.
Man an intellectual animal, 128.
Mankind, knowledge of, 369.
"Many cooks," etc., 437.
Marriage, 333.
Mean, the golden, 21.
Mediocrity and excellence, 60.
Memory, 414.
Men, difficult to know, 33.
Men like ships, 409.
Mental faculties, limited, 120.
Mental offspring, 417.
Mental and bodily qualifications, 204.
Merit, innate, 433.
Merit, true and false, 242.
Merit without praise, 104.
Middling fortune, 536.
Mind, 115, 226, 229, 270, 279.
Misanthropy, 336.
Miser, 481.
Misery, 357.
Mistakes, 72.
Modesty, 159, 282, 436, 522, 548.
Money, 188, 190, 368, 573.
Mothers' greatest joy, 566.
Morning, lesson of the, 139.
Nature praises the Creator, 512.
Neighbour, every man one's, 442.
Neighbours and companions, 450.
Night, silence of, 266.
Noble birth, 434.
Noble-minded men, 485.
Novel-reading, 475.
Obliging others, 426.
Old age, 439, 484.
Old and new things, 196.
Old man, 65.
Opportunities, 185, 420.
Oppression, 191.
Origin, one common, 9.
Outward perfection, 499.
Parents' affection, 154.
Parsimony, 316.
Passionate man, 74.
Passions, 1, 2, 119, 280, 447.
Past, present and future, 326.
Patience, 42, 118, 135, 185, 207, 476.
Peace, greatest, 406.
Personal troubles, 31.
Personation, 102.
Physic and law, 167.
"Physician, heal thyself," 421.
Pity, 124.
Place, things out of, 237.
Plagiarism, 96.
Plans, miscarried, 327.
Pleasure, 337.
Pleasure and pain, 353.
Pleasure in others' welfare, 350.
Poesy, 260.