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Article ESSAY ON PRUDENCE. ← Page 3 of 5 →
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Essay On Prudence.
By watching , therefore , over our desires , we must hinder , as much as in us lies , the rise or progress of disorderly passions . We must even have an eye over those that seem innocent , because they soon cease to be so by becoming immoderate .
WORDS . To know how to govern the tongue , is a rare , but necessary and useful science . A person who has brought his soul under proper discipline , by regulating his thoughts , desires , and affections , must Itave made a considerable proficiency in this science ; for the tongue is only the interpreter of the mind . The remaining part is a trifle in
comparison of this : the work , however , is not completed ; for we are still to observe , that there are thoughts , desires , and affections , of such a nature , that , though they are innocent while confined within our breasts , yet become indecent and culpable by being divulged by the tongue . indiscretion in discourse is a fault in which injustice is added to
imprudence . To reveal the secret either of a friend , or of any other person , is disposing of another man ' s property ; ' tis abusing a trust , an abuse so much the . more criminal , as it js always irreparable . If you lavish a sum of money with which you were entrusted , perhaps you will be able some time or other to make restitution ; but how is it possible to make a secretonce divulgedreturn into the recesses
, , t > f darkness ? Whether yon have or have not promised to be silent , your obligation to secrecy is tlie same , " if the confidence be of such a nature as to require it : to hear tiie story out , is engaging not to reveal it .
To recommend discretion to a confidant who is prudent and circumspect , is an unnecessary precaution ; because , without your recommendation , he knows how to be silent : to charge a fool with secrecy , is likewise a superfluous trouble ; you can have no security from his prornie ' e . He does not think himself obliged to secrecy , if he has not given his word ; , and , if by chance he is silent , it is owing to want of memory or opportunity . Butif unluckily he has
pro-, mised to be discreet , neither opportunity , nor memory will fail him . After his promise is made , he weighs and examines it , which before he did not ; he thinks he has gone too far , and wants to recal his word . What a heavy burden must a secret be to a fool ! He is sure not to forget what you have committed to his trust : for how is it possible for him to carry so ponderous a load , without thinking of it ? He
imagines every one perceives the confusion which he inwardl y feels , that they penetrate into the recesses of his breast , and there read the secret . To save himself , therefore , the vexation of having it found out , he at length resolves to betray his trust , after strictly charging his new confidant to remember , that what he has disclosed to him is an affair of the utmost importance . Be then always upon your guard ; for , thougli you be only a confidant , you may meet with some prying meddlers , who , pretending to share the confidence of your friend , may inform themselves froni
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essay On Prudence.
By watching , therefore , over our desires , we must hinder , as much as in us lies , the rise or progress of disorderly passions . We must even have an eye over those that seem innocent , because they soon cease to be so by becoming immoderate .
WORDS . To know how to govern the tongue , is a rare , but necessary and useful science . A person who has brought his soul under proper discipline , by regulating his thoughts , desires , and affections , must Itave made a considerable proficiency in this science ; for the tongue is only the interpreter of the mind . The remaining part is a trifle in
comparison of this : the work , however , is not completed ; for we are still to observe , that there are thoughts , desires , and affections , of such a nature , that , though they are innocent while confined within our breasts , yet become indecent and culpable by being divulged by the tongue . indiscretion in discourse is a fault in which injustice is added to
imprudence . To reveal the secret either of a friend , or of any other person , is disposing of another man ' s property ; ' tis abusing a trust , an abuse so much the . more criminal , as it js always irreparable . If you lavish a sum of money with which you were entrusted , perhaps you will be able some time or other to make restitution ; but how is it possible to make a secretonce divulgedreturn into the recesses
, , t > f darkness ? Whether yon have or have not promised to be silent , your obligation to secrecy is tlie same , " if the confidence be of such a nature as to require it : to hear tiie story out , is engaging not to reveal it .
To recommend discretion to a confidant who is prudent and circumspect , is an unnecessary precaution ; because , without your recommendation , he knows how to be silent : to charge a fool with secrecy , is likewise a superfluous trouble ; you can have no security from his prornie ' e . He does not think himself obliged to secrecy , if he has not given his word ; , and , if by chance he is silent , it is owing to want of memory or opportunity . Butif unluckily he has
pro-, mised to be discreet , neither opportunity , nor memory will fail him . After his promise is made , he weighs and examines it , which before he did not ; he thinks he has gone too far , and wants to recal his word . What a heavy burden must a secret be to a fool ! He is sure not to forget what you have committed to his trust : for how is it possible for him to carry so ponderous a load , without thinking of it ? He
imagines every one perceives the confusion which he inwardl y feels , that they penetrate into the recesses of his breast , and there read the secret . To save himself , therefore , the vexation of having it found out , he at length resolves to betray his trust , after strictly charging his new confidant to remember , that what he has disclosed to him is an affair of the utmost importance . Be then always upon your guard ; for , thougli you be only a confidant , you may meet with some prying meddlers , who , pretending to share the confidence of your friend , may inform themselves froni