MAXIMS AND MORAL SENTENCES.

1.

THE word of God proves the truth of religion; the corruption of man, its necessity; government, its advantages.

2.

Where religion speaks, reason has only a right to hear.

3.

Nothing but religion is capable of changing pains into pleasures.

4.

To make good use of life, one should have in youth the experience of advanced years, and in old age the vigor of youth.

5.

If we had a fore-feeling of the trouble of correcting ourselves, we should have none in keeping ourselves free from faults.

6.

In order to be applauded for what we do, we must not too much applaud ourselves.

7.

Hope makes time very long, and enjoyment very short.

8.

Long ailments wear out pain, and long hopes joy.

9.

Those who ought to be secure from calumny, are generally those who avoid it least.

10.

We wish no evil to those we despise; but those who have a right to despise us.

11.

We ought to be more offended at extravagant praise than injuries.

12.

It is more honorable to acknowledge our faults than boast of our merits.

13.

How can we love a life which leads to death, and byways always beset with thorns?

14.

Good-humor is the health of the soul, sad

ness its poison.

15.

Reason shows us our duty; he who can make us love our duty is more powerful than reason itself.

16.

An implacable hatred is a greater burden than we usually think it is.

17.

It is as natural to fear as to hope, when one is unfortunate.

18.

It is rare that an unfortunate person has friends, and still more rare that he has relations.

19.

I believe, indeed, that it is more laudable to suffer great misfortunes than to do great things.

20.

Fortune sells herself at a dear rate to those who seek after her; but often courts to her those who seem less solicitous about her favors.

21.

Modesty ought to be the virtue of those who are deficient in other virtues.

22.

Praises are satire when insincere.

23.

Almost always the most indigent are the most generous.

24.

The idea of happiness is often more flattering than the happiness itself.

25.

The ties of friendship are at present so slight, that they break of themselves; they

only draw hearts near each other, but do not unite them.

26.

A hard and polished piece of marble reflects the objects that are presented before it. The same may be said of most men. The troubles of another skim over the surface of their soul, but go no farther.

27.

A man greater than his misfortunes shows he was not deserving of them.

28.

The courage which emulation inspires for an enterprise soon finds the means of succeeding.

29.

To cease hearing a babbler is the surest way to make him hold his tongue.

30.

The desire of pleasing is not laudable, but so far as we endeavor at the same time to make ourselves esteemed.

31.

To live in quiet, we should undertake noth