dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第7章
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compel you to act counter to your reason； so nothing can happen to you
but what comes from Providence； and consists with the interest of the
universe。
18。 Let people's tongues and actions be what they will； your business
is to have honour and honesty in your view。 Let them rail； revile； censure；
and condemn； or make you the subject of their scorn and ridicule； what
does it all signify？ You have one certain remedy against all their malice
and folly； and that is； to live so that nobody shall believe them。
19。 Alas； poor mortals！ did we rightly consider our own state and
condition； we should find it would not be long before we have forgot all
the world； and to be even； that all the world will have forgot us likewise。
20。 He that would recommend himself to the public； let him do it by
the candour and modesty of his behaviour； and by a generous indifference
to external advantages。 Let him love mankind； and resign to Providence；
and then his works will follow him； and his good actions will praise him in
the gate。
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DICKORY CRONKE
21。 When you hear a discourse； let your understanding； as far as
possible； keep pace with it； and lead you forward to those things which fall
most within the compass of your own observations。
22。 When vice and treachery shall be rewarded； and virtue and
ability slighted and discountenanced； when ministers of state shall rather
fear man than God； and to screen themselves run into parties and factions；
when noise and clamour； and scandalous reports shall carry everything
before them； it is natural to conclude that a nation in such a state of
infatuation stands upon the brink of destruction； and without the
intervention of some unforeseen accident； must be inevitably ruined。
23。 When a prince is guarded by wise and honest men； and when all
public officers are sure to be rewarded if they do well； and punished if
they do evil； the consequence is plain； justice and honesty will flourish；
and men will be always contriving； not for themselves； but for the honour
and interest of their king and country。
24。 Wicked men may sometimes go unpunished in this world； but
wicked nations never do； because this world is the only place of
punishment of wicked nations； though not for private and particular
persons。
25。 An administration that is merely founded upon human policy
must be always subject to human chance； but that which is founded on the
divine wisdom can no more miscarry than the government of heaven。 To
govern by parties and factions is the advice of an atheist； and sets up a
government by the spirit of Satan。 In such a government the prince can
never be secure under the greatest promises； since； as men's interest
changes； so will their duty and affections likewise。
26。 It is a very ancient observation； and a very true one； that people
generally despise where they flatter； and cringe to those they design to
betray； so that truth and ceremony are； and always will be； two distinct
things。
27。 When you find your friend in an error； undeceive him with
secrecy and civility； and let him see his oversight first by hints and glances；
and if you cannot convince him； leave him with respect； and lay the fault
upon your own management。
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DICKORY CRONKE
28。 When you are under the greatest vexations； then consider that
human life lasts but for a moment； and do not forget but that you are like
the rest of the world； and faulty yourself in many instances； and withal；
remember that anger and impatience often prove more mischievous than
the provocation。
29。 Gentleness and good humour are invincible； provided they are
without hypocrisy and design； they disarm the most barbarous and savage
tempers； and make even malice ashamed of itself。
30。 In all the actions of life let it be your first and principal care to
guard against anger on the one hand； and flattery on the other； for they are
both unserviceable qualities； and do a great deal of mischief in the
government of human life。
31。 When a man turns knave or libertine； and gives way to fear；
jealousy； and fits of the spleen； when his mind complains of his fortune；
and he quits the station in which Providence has placed him； he acts
perfectly counter to humanity； deserts his own nature； and； as it were； runs
away from himself。
32。 Be not heavy in business； disturbed in conversation； nor
impertinent in your thoughts。 Let your judgment be right； your actions
friendly； and your mind contented； let them curse you； threaten you； or
despise you； let them go on； they can never injure your reason or your
virtue； and then all the rest that they can do to you signifies nothing。
33。 The only pleasure of human life is doing the business of the
creation； and which way is that to be compassed very easily？ Most
certainly by the practice of general kindness； by rejecting the importunity
of our senses； by distinguishing truth from falsehood； and by
contemplating the works of the Almighty。
34。 Be sure to mind that which lies before you； whether it be thought；
word； or action； and never postpone an opportunity； or make virtue wait
for you till to…morrow。
35。 Whatever tends neither to the improvement of your reason nor
the benefit of society； think it below you； and when you have done any
considerable service to mankind； do not lessen it by your folly in gaping
after reputation and requital。
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DICKORY CRONKE
36。 When you find yourself sleepy in a morning； rouse yourself； and
consider that you are born to business； and that in doing good in your
generation； you answer your character and act like a man； whereas sleep
and idleness do but degrade you； and sink you down to a brute。
37。 A mind that has nothing of hope； or fear； or aversion； or desire； to
weaken and disturb it； is the most impregnable security。 Hither we may
with safety retire and defy our enemies； and he that sees not this advantage
must be extremely ignorant； and he that forgets it unhappy。
38。 Do not disturb yourself about the faults of other people； but let
everybody's crimes be at their own door。 Have always this great maxim
in your remembrance； that to play the knave is to rebel against religion； all
sorts of injustice being no less than high treason against Heaven itself。
39。 Do not contemn death； but meet it with a decent and religious
fortitude； and look upon it as one of those things which Providence has
ordered。 If you want a cordial to make the apprehensions of dying go
