He that is loudly praifed, will be clamorously cenfured. He that rifes haftily into fame, will be in danger of finking fuddenly into oblivion.

Idler, v. 2, P. 35.

The memory of mifchief is no defirable fame.

P. of Abyffinia, p. 257.

The true fatisfaction which is to be drawn from the confcioufnefs that we fhall Thare the attention of future times, must arise from the hope, that with our names, our virtues fhall be propagated, and that thofe whom we cannot benefit in our lives, may receive inftruction from our example, and incitement from our renown.

Rambler, v. 1, p. 298,

Fame cannot spread wide, or endure long, that is not rooted in nature, and manured by art. That which hopes to refist the blasts of malignity, and stand firm against the attacks of time, muft contain in itself some original principle of growth.

Ditto, v. 3, p. 292.

FRIEND

FRIENDSHIP.

Few love their friends fo well, as not to defire fuperiority by unexpenfive benefacti

on.

False Alarm, p. 47.

Friendship in letter-writing has no tendency to fecure veracity; for by whom can a man fo much wish to be thought better than he is, as by him whofe kindness he defires to gain or keep? Even in writing to the world there is lefs conftraint; the author is not confronted with his reader, and takes his chance of approbation amongst the different difpofitions of mankind. But a letter is addreffed to a fingle mind, of which the prejudices and partialities are known, and must therefore please, if not by favouring them, by forbearing to oppofe them.

Life of Pope.

Friendship is not always the fequel of ob

ligation.

Life of Thomson.

Unequal friendships are eafily diffolved. This is often the fault of the fuperior; yet if we look without prejudice on the world, we shall often find that men, whofe consciousness of their own merit, fets them above the compliances of fervility, are apt enough, in the

affociation with fuperiors, to watch their own dignity, with trouble fome and punctilious jealoufy, and in the fervour of independence, to exact that attention which they refufe to pay.

Life of Gray.

So many qualities are neceffary to the poffibility of friendship, and so many accidents, must concur to its rife and its continuance, that the greatest part of mankind content themselves without it, and fupply its place as they can with intereft and dependence.

Rambler, v. 2, p. 59.

That friendship may be at once fond and lafting, there must not only be equal virtue on each part, but virtue of the fame kind; not only the fame end must be proposed, but the fame means must be approved by both.

Ditto, ditto, p. 61.

Among the uncertainties of the human ftate, we are doomed to number the instability of friendship.

Life of Addifon.

It were happy if, in forming friendships, virtue could concur with pleasure ;—but the greateft part of human gratifications approach fo nearly to vice, that few who make the delight of others their rule of conduct, can avoid difingenuous compliances ---yet cer

tainly

tainly he that fuffers himself to be driven, or allured from virtue, mistakes his own intereft, fince he gains fuccour by means, for which his friend, if ever he becomes wife, must scorn him; and for which, at last, he muft fcorn himself.

Rambler, v. 4, P. 5.

Many have talked, in very exalted language, of the perpetuity of friendship; of invincible conftancy and unalienable kindnefs; and fome examples have been seen of men who have continued faithful to their earliest choice, and whofe affections have predominated over changes of fortune, and contrariety of opinion. But these inftances are memorable, because they are rare. friendship which is to be practifed, or expected by common mortals, must take its rife from mutual pleafure, and muít end when the power ceafes of delighting each other.

Idier, v. 1, p. 126.

The

The most fatal disease of frier.dship is gradual decay, or diflike hourly increafed by caufes too flender for complaint, and too numerous for romoval Those who are angry

may he reconcil d. Those who have been injured may receive a recompence; but when the defire of pleafing, and willingne

to be pleased, is filently diminished, the renovation of friendship is hopeless; as when the vital powers fink into languor, there is no longer any ufe of the phyfician.

Ditto, ditto, p. 130.

FLATTERY.

In every inftance of vanity it will be found that the blame ought to be shared among more than it generally reaches. All who exalt trifles by immoderate praise, or instigate needlefs emulation by invidious incitements, are to be confidered as perverters of reason, and corrupters of the world; and fince every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he fhould be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to fet too high a value upon things, by which no real excellence is conferred.

Rambler, v. 2, p. 74

To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praifes are not believed by those who pronounce them; for they prove at least our power, and fhew that our favour is valued, fince it is purchased by the meannefs of falfehood.