There is not one grain in the universe, either too much or too little, nothing to be added, nothing to be spared: nor so much as any one particle of it, that mankind may not be either the better or the worse for, according as it is applied.

CROWNS.

L'Estrange.

There are three crowns: the crown of the law, the crown of the priesthood, and the crown of royalty; but the crown of a good name is superior to them all.

CONCEIT.

Talmud Tr. Aboth.

Self-conceit is a weighty quality, and will sometimes bring down the scale when there is nothing else in it. It magnifies a fault beyond proportion, and swells every omission into an outrage.

Jeremy Collier.

Very few men are wise by their own counsel, or learned by their own teaching; for he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a

master.

Ben Jonson.

A conceited man is naturally ungrateful; he has too great an opinion of his own merit to value the most generous acts of kindness that

can be done him; and, as his ingratitude will not let him serve any man, so his conceitedness will scarce ever suffer any man to serve him.

Shelley.

Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of his substance, not of ornament.
Shakespeare.

CHARITY.

He that never changed any of his opinions, never corrected any of his mistakes; and he who was never wise enough to find out any mistakes in himself, will not be charitable enough to excuse (what he reckons) mistakes in others.

Whichcote.

A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise.

Shakespeare.

Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.

Shakespeare.

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. Shakespeare.

"Glory to the selfish rich man's gorgeous offering!" is still the cry of the world's orator, too often even of those most nobly gifted. "Glory to the widow's mite!" is that still sweet inward song of the true heart, taught in endless harmonies issuing from the face of God.

Sterling.

Those who are constrained to solicit for assistance are really to be pitied; those who receive it without, are to be envied; but those who bestow it unasked, are to be admired.

Zimmerman.

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself what you wish to be.

Thomas à Kempis.

Let him that is assured he errs in nothing, take upon him to condemn every man that errs in anything.

Whichcote.

"The heart that feels it an indignity to receive a benefit, would be too narrow to confer one, unless from selfish motives.

Charity, or tenderness for the poor, which is now justly considered by a great part of mankind as inseparable from piety, and in which almost all the goodness of the present age consists, is, I think, known only to those who enjoy, either immediately or by transmission, the light of revelation.

"The Idler."

"Uncharitable censurers should expect no charity from others."

Let the charitably-minded do what, when,

where, how, to whom, and how much, God and their own goodness shall direct them.

CONTENTMENT.

Thomas Fuller.

Contentment is the true philosopher's stone. The poor are rich that have it, and the rich are poor without it.

Shelley.

Do not pursue the things of this world immoderately; be not dejected at any disappointment; crave nothing too eagerly; rejoice not excessively at any prosperity; so shall you live quietly and die contentedly.

'Tis better to be lowly born,

Shelley.

And range with humble livers in content, Than to be perked up in a glistening grief, And wear a golden sorrow.

Shakespeare.

Those, who with their present state are not

content,

May find a worse, for their just punishment.

Shelley.

Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content; The quiet mind is richer than a crown.

Obscured life sits down a type of bliss:
A mind content both crown and kingdom is.

Greene.

When man has cast off his ambitious greatness,
And sunk into the sweetness of himself,
Built his foundation upon honest thoughts,
Not great but good desires his daily servants,
How quietly he sleeps! How joyfully

He wakes again, and looks on his possessions, And from his willing labours feeds with pleasure!

Beaumont and Fletcher.

Happy are those,

That knowing, in their births, they are subject to Uncertain changes, are still prepared and arm'd For either fortune: a rare principle,

And with much labour learn'd in Wisdom's school.

Massinger.

CONSISTENCY.

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages, prince's palaces. It is a good

divine that follows his own instructions: I can easier teach twenty men what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.

To thine ownself be true;

Shakespeare.

And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou can'st not then be false to any man.

Shakespeare.