The national whig., 1847-06-17
PICKINGS.
BY DEAN SWIFT.

II
We have just religion enough to make us
hate, but not enough to make MS love one
another.
When we desire 10 solicit anything, oul
minds run wholly on the good side or cir
cumstances of it; when it is obtained, our
minds run only on the bad ones.
When true genius appeareth in the
world, you may know him by this infallible
sign, that the ounces are all in confederacy
against him.
am apt to think that, in the day OF
judgment, there will be small allowance
given to the wise for their want Of morals,
or to the ignorant for their want of faith,
because both are without excuse. This
renders the advantages equal Of ignorance
and knowledge. But some scruples in the
wise, and some vices in the ignorant, will
perhaps be forgiven upon the strength Of
temptation TO each.
1t is pleasant to observe how free the
present age is in laying taxes on the next:
Future ages shall talk Of this; this shall
be famous to all posterity;' whereas their
time and thoughts will be taken up about
present things as ours are now.
1t is in disputes as in armies, where the
weaker side setteth up false lights, and
maketh great noise, that the enemy may
believe them to be more numerous and
strong than they really are.
| have known some men possessed Of
good qualities, which were very servicea-
BILE to others, but useless to themselves,
like sun-dial on the front OF a house, to in
form the neighbors and passengers but not
the owner within.
lfa man would register all his opinions
upon love, politics, religion, learning, &C.,
beginning from his youth, and SO on to old
age, what bundle of Inconsistencies and
contradictions would appear at last!
The stoical schemes Of supplying our
wants by looping of our desires, is like
cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
The reason why so few marriages are
happy is, because young ladies' spend so
much time in making nets, not in making
cages.
The power Of fortune is confessed only
| by the miserable, Tor the happy impute all
their success to prudence and merit
Ambition often puts men upon doing the
meanest Offices: SO, climbing is performed
in the same posture with creeping.
Censure is the tax man payeth to the
public for being eminent.
No wise man ever wished to be young
er.
An idle reason lessons the weight Of the
good ones you gave before.
Complaint is the largest tribute heaven
receives and the sincerest part Of our devo-
ton.
The common fuency of speech in many
men and most women, is owing to scar
city of matter and scarcity of words: for
whoever is a master Of language, and hath
a mind full of ideas, will be apt, in speaking,
to hesitate upon the choice Of both; where
as common speakers have only one set OF
words to clothe them in, and these are al
ways ready at the mouth. So opeople come
faster out of church when it is almost
empty, than when a crowd is at the door
To be vain is rather mark of humility
than pride. Vain men delight in telling
what honors have been done them, and
what great company they have kept, and
the like, by which they plainly confess
that these honors were more than their due,
and such as their friends would not believe
if they had not been told; whereas a man
truly proud thinks the greatest honors be-
low his merit and consequently scorns TO
boast. | therefore deliver it as maxim,
that whoever desires the character of a
proud man, ought to conceal his vanity.