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Accidents. Lucky and Unlucky

No accidents are so unlucky, but that the prudent may draw some advantage from them; nor are there any so lucky, but what the imprudent may turn to their prejudice. Maxims, VIII.-ROCHEFOUCAULT.

ACQUAINTANCES. Youthful

I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I don't like to think myself growing In the next place, young acquaintances must last longest, if they do last; and then, sir, young men have more virtue than old men; they have more generous sentiments in every respect. I love the young dogs of this sage, they have more wit and humour and knowledge of life than we had; but then the dogs are not so good scholars. Boswell's Life of Johnson.

B

ACTION should attend upon Thought.

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook,

Unless the deed go with it: From this moment,
The very firstlings of my heart shall be

The firstlings of my hand.

ACTIONS.

Macbeth, Act IV. Scene I.-SHAKSPERE.

Origin of

Great actions, the lustre of which dazzles us, are represented by politicians as the effects of deep design; whereas they are commonly the effects of caprice and passion. Thus the war between Augustus and Antony, supposed to be owing to their ambition to give a master to the world, arose probably from jealousy.

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ACTIONS. Importance of a Man's

Our acts our angels are, or good or ill,

Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.

Upon an honest man's fortune.-JOHN FLETCHER.

ACTIONS the Result of Chance.

Men may boast of their great actions; but they are oftener the effect of chance than of design.

Maxims, XI.-ROCHEFOUCAULT.

ACTIVITY and POWER. Difference between

There is a great distinction between power and activity of mind; and it is important to keep this differ

ence in view. Power, strictly speaking, is the capability of thinking, feeling, or perceiving, however small in amount that capability may be; and in this sense it is synonymous with faculty: action is the exercise of power; while activity denotes the quickness, great or small, with which the action is performed, and also the degree of proneness to act. The distinction between power, action, and activity of the mental faculties, is widely recognized by describers of human nature.

System of Phrenology.--Dr. THOS. BROWN.

ACTS. Good

Our best deeds,

How wanting in their weight!

Night Thoughts, VI. Line 82.
EDWARD YOUNG.

ADVANTAGE better than Rashness.

Advantage is a better soldier than rashness.

King Henry V. Act III. Scene VI.

SHAKSPERE.

ADVERSITY. Parentage and Power of

Daughter of Jove, relentless power,
Thou tamer of the human breast,
Whose iron scourge, and torturing hour,
The bad affright, afflict the best!
Bound in thy adamantine chain,
The proud are taught to taste of pain,

And purple tyrants vainly groan

With pangs unfelt before, unpitied, and alone.
Hymn to Adversity.-THOMAS GRAY.

ADVERSITY and PROSPERITY.

Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament, adversity is the blessing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favour. Yet even in the Old Testament, if you listen to David's harp, you shall hear as many funereal airs as carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.

ADVICE.

Essay on Adversity.-LORD BACON.

Insincerity in asking

Nothing is less sincere than our manner of asking and of giving advice. He who asks advice would seem to have a respectful deference for the opinion of his friend; whilst yet he only aims at getting his own approved of, and his friend responsible for his conduct. On the other hand, he who gives it, repays the confidence supposed to be placed in him, by a seemingly disinterested zeal, whilst he seldom means any thing by the advice he gives but his own interest or reputation.

Maxims, XIX.-ROCHEFOUCAULT.

AFFECTION of One preferred to the admiration of

Many.

I'd rather than that crowds should sigh
For me, that from some kindred eye

The trickling tear should steal.

To my Lyre: An Ode.-H. K. WHITE.

AFFLICTION. Mercy in

Alas! what were our hopes without our fears!
There is a mercy in affliction's smart—

It heals those wounds of sin which mock all human

art.

Resignation.-Rev. H. CAUNTER.

AFFLICTION should be borne Patiently.

Henceforth I'll bear

Affliction, till it do cry out itself,

Enough, enough, and die.

King Lear, Act IV. Scene VI.--SHAKSPERE.

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There are in affliction several kinds of hypocrisy. Under the pretence of weeping for the loss of one who was dear to us, we weep for ourselves: we weep over the diminution of our fortune, of our pleasure, of our importance. Thus have the dead the honour of tears which stream only for the living. I call this a sort of hypocrisy, because we impose on ourselves. There is

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