, 1864-07-08
Thoughts on Various Subjects,
BY DEAN SWIFT.


We have just religion enough to make us
hate, but not enough to make us love one an
other
When we desire or solicit anything, our
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 contederacy against
him.
am apt to think that, in the day Of Judge
ment, there will be small allowances 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 knowl-
edge. 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 pres
ent age is in laying taxes on the next: Flu
ture ages shall talk of this, this shall be ia
nous 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 max
eth great noise, that the enemy may be-
lieve them to be more numerous and strong
than they really are.
have known some men possessed of good
qualities, which were very serviceable to 9th
ers, but useless to themselves; like sun dial
in front OF the house, to inform the neigh
bors and passengers, but not the owner with
in.
If man would register all his opinions
upon love, politics, religion, learning, &c,
beginning from bis youth, and so on to old age
what bundle of inconsistencies and contra
dictions would appear at last!
The social scheme of supplying our wants
by looping off our desires, is like cutting off
our feet when we want shoes.
The reason why so few marriages are hap
py is because young ladies spend their tim
in making nets, not in making cages.
The power of fortune is confessed only by
themiserable, for 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. .s-
Censure is the tax man payeth to the pub
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 a scarcity
of matter and scarcity of words; for whoever
is master of language, and hath mind full
of ideas, will be apt, in speaking, to hesitate
upon the choice Of both; whereas common
speakers have only one set of ideas, and one
set of words to clothe them in, and these are
always ready at the mouth So people come
faster out of a church when it is almost emp
ty 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 hon
ors were more than their DUE and such as
their friends would not believe if they had
not been told. Whereas man truly proud,
thinks the greatest honors below his merit,
and consequently scorns to boast. l there
fore deliver it as a maxim, that whoever has
the character of proud man, ought to con
ceal his vanity.