Thoughts and Reflections of Halifax, I

George Savile, Marquis of Hlifax (1633 – 1695), Moral Thoughts and Reflections, in: A Character of King Charles the Second (London: 1750):

Of the World

To underftand the World, and to like it, are two things not easily to be reconciled. [p. 118]

It is the Fools and the Knaves that make the Wheels of the World turn. They are the World; those few who have Sense or Honesty sneak up and down single, but never go in Herds. [118]

A Man that steps aside from the World, and hath leisure to observe it without Interest or Design, thinks all Mankind as mad as they think him, for not agreeing with them in their Mistakes. [118]

Of Ambition

Men make it such a Point of Honour to be fit for Business, that they forget to examine whether Business is fit for a Man of Sense. [119]

There is Reason to think the most celebrated Philosophers would have been Bunglers at Business; but the Reason is because they despised it. [119]

Of Cunning and Knavery

In this Age, when it is said of a Man, He knows how to live, it may be imply'd he is not very honest. [122]

Of Folly and Fools

A Fool is naturally recommended to our Kindness by setting us off by the Comparison. Men are grateful to Fools for giving them the Pleasure of contemning them. [127]

Most Men make little other use of their Speech than to give evidence against their own Understanding. [130]

A Fool hath no Dialogue within himself, the first Thought carrieth him without the Reply of a second. [131]

Till Follies become ruinous, the World is better with than it would be without them. [132]

Of Apologies

To a Man who hath a mind to find a Fault, an Excuse generally giveth farther hold. [136]

Explaining is generally half confessing. [136]

There is hardly any Man so strict as not to vary a little from Truth when he is to make an Excuse. [138]

Of Vanity

Men often mistake themselves, but they never forget themselves. [141]

It sheweth the Narrowness of our Nature, that a Man that intendeth any one thing extreamly, hath not Thought enough left for any thing else. [142]

Our Pride maketh us over-value our Stock of Thought, so as to trade much beyond what it is able to make good. [142]

Many aspire to learn what they can never comprehend, as others pretend to teach what they themselves do not know. [143]

The Vanity of teaching often tempteth a Man to forget he is a Blockhead. [143]

Selfe Learning

Great Reading without applying it is like Corn heaped that is not stirred, it groweth musty. [147]

The Reading of most Men, is like a Wardrobe of old Cloaths that are seldom used. [148]

Of Friendship

In the Commerce of the World, Men struggle little less with their Friends, than they do with their Enemies. [151]