We dread still more to show falseness in taste than in mind. Gentleness should approve without prejudice what deserves to be approved, follow what deserves to be followed, and take offence at nothing. But there should be great distinction and great accuracy. We should distinguish between what is good in the abstract and what is good for ourselves, and always follow in reason the natural inclination which carries us towards matters that please us.

If men only wished to excel by the help of their own talents, and in following their duty, there would be nothing false in their taste or in their conduct. They would show what they were, they would judge matters by their lights, and they would attract by their reason. There would be a discernment in their views, in their sentiments, their taste would be true, it would come to them direct, and not from others, they would follow from choice and not from habit or chance. If we are false in admiring what should not be admired, it is oftener from envy that we affix a value to qualities which are good in themselves, but which do not become us. A magistrate is false when he flatters himself he is brave, and that he will be able to be bold in certain cases. He should be as firm and stedfast in a plot which ought to be stifled without fear of being false, as he would be false and absurd in fighting a duel about it.

A woman may like science, but all sciences are not suitable for her, and the doctrines of certain sciences never become her, and when applied by her are always false.

We should allow reason and good sense to fix the value of things, they should determine our taste and give things the merit they deserve, and the importance it is fitting we should give them. But nearly all men are deceived in the price and in the value, and in these mistakes there is always a kind of falseness.

VII. On Air and Manner.

There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of each individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume another.

We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never abandon it, but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason that the majority of children please. It is because they are wrapt up in the air and manner nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. They are changed and corrupted when they quit infancy, they think they should imitate what they see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. In this imitation there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. They have nothing settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being in reality what they want to appear, they seek to appear what they are not.

All men want to be different, and to be greater than they are; they seek for an air other than their own, and a mind different from what they possess; they take their style and manner at chance. They make experiments upon themselves without considering that what suits one person will not suit everyone, that there is no universal rule for taste or manners, and that there are no good copies.

Few men, nevertheless, can have unison in many matters without being a copy of each other, if each follow his natural turn of mind. But in general a person will not wholly follow it. He loves to imitate. We often imitate the same person without perceiving it, and we neglect our own good qualities for the good qualities of others, which generally do not suit us.

I do not pretend, from what I say, that each should so wrap himself up in himself as not to be able to follow example, or to add to his own, useful and serviceable habits, which nature has not given him. Arts and sciences may be proper for the greater part of those who are capable for them. Good manners and politeness are proper for all the world. But, yet acquired qualities should always have a certain agreement and a certain union with our own natural qualities, which they imperceptibly extend and increase. We are elevated to a rank and dignity above ourselves. We are often engaged in a new profession for which nature has not adapted us. All these conditions have each an air which belong to them, but which does not always agree with our natural manner. This change of our fortune often changes our air and our manners, and augments the air of dignity, which is always false when it is too marked, and when it is not united and amalgamated with that which nature has given us. We should unite and blend them together, and thus render them such that they can never be separated.

We should not speak of all subjects in one tone and in the same manner. We do not march at the head of a regiment as we walk on a promenade; and we should use the same style in which we should naturally speak of different things in the same way, with the same difference as we should walk, but always naturally, and as is suitable, either at the head of a regiment or on a promenade. There are some who are not content to abandon the air and manner natural to them to assume those of the rank and dignities to which they have arrived. There are some who assume prematurely the air of the dignities and rank to which they aspire. How many lieutenant-generals assume to be marshals of France, how many barristers vainly repeat the style of the Chancellor and how many female citizens give themselves the airs of duchesses.

But what we are most often vexed at is that no one knows how to conform his air and manners with his appearance, nor his style and words with his thoughts and sentiments, that every one forgets himself and how far he is insensibly removed from the truth. Nearly every one falls into this fault in some way. No one has an ear sufficiently fine to mark perfectly this kind of cadence.

Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; thousands pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the first wish to appear to be what they are not, the second are what they appear.

Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received from nature please in proportion as we know the air, the style, the manner, the sentiments that coincide with our condition and our appearance, and displease in the proportion they are removed from that point.



INDEX

THE LETTER R PRECEDING A REFERENCE REFERS TO THE REFLECTIONS, THE ROMAN NUMERALS REFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTS.



Ability, 162, 165, 199, 245, 283, 288. SEE Cleverness ———, Sovereign, 244. Absence, 276. Accent, country, 342, XCIV. Accidents, 59, 310. Acquaintances, 426. SEE FRIENDS. Acknowledgements, 225. Actions, 1, 7, 57, 58, 160, 161, 382, 409, CXX. Actors, 256. Admiration, 178, 294, 474. Adroitness of mind, R.II. Adversity, 25. ———— of Friends, XV. Advice, 110, 116, 283, 378, CXVII. Affairs, 453, R II. Affectation, 134, 493. Affections, 232. Afflictions, 233, 355, 362, 493, XCVII, XV. Age, 222, 405, LXXIII. SEE Old Age. Agreeableness, 255, R.V. Agreement, 240. Air, 399, 495, R.7. — Of a Citizen, 393. Ambition, 24, 91, 246, 293, 490. Anger, XXX. Application, 41, 243. Appearances, 64, 166, 199, 256, 302, 431, 457, R.VII. —————, Conformity of Manners with, R.7. Applause, 272. Approbation, 51, 280. Artifices, 117, 124, 125, 126, R.II. Astonishment, 384. Avarice, 167, 491, 492.



Ballads, 211. Beauty, 240, 474, 497, LI. ——— of the Mind, R.II. Bel esprit defined, R.II. Benefits, 14, 298, 299, 301, CXXII. Benefactors, 96, 317, CXXII. Blame, CVIII. Blindness, XIX. Boasting, 141, 307. Boredom, 141, 304, 352. SEE Ennui. Bouts rimes, 382, CXX. Bravery, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 365, 504. SEE Courage and Valour. Brilliancy of Mind, R.II. Brilliant things, LII.



Capacity, 375. Caprice, 45. Chance, 57, 344, XCV. SEE Fortune. Character, LVI, R.II. Chastity, 1. SEE Virtue of Women. Cheating, 114, 127. Circumstances, 59, 470. Civility, 260. Clemency, 15, 16. Cleverness, 162, 269, 245, 399. Coarseness, 372. Comedy, 211, R.III. Compassion, 463. SEE Pity. Complaisance, 481, R.IV. Conduct, 163, 227, 378, CXVII. Confidants, whom we make, R.I. Confidence, 239, 365, 475, XLIX, R.1, R.IV. Confidence, difference from Sincerity —————, defined, R.I. Consolation, 325. Constancy, 19, 20, 21, 175, 176, 420. Contempt, 322. ———— of Death, 504. Contentment, LXXX. Contradictions, 478. Conversation, 139, 140, 142, 312, 313, 314, 364, 391, 421, CIV, R.V. Copies, 133. Coquetry, 241. SEE Flirtation. Country Manner, 393. ——— Accent, 342. Courage, 1, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221, XLII. SEE Bravery. Covetousness, opposed to Reason, 469 Cowardice, 215, 480. Cowards, 370. Crimes, 183, 465, XXXV, XXXVII. Cunning, 126, 129, 394, 407. Curiosity, 173.



Danger, XLII. Death, 21, 23, 26. ——, Contempt of, 504. Deceit, 86, 117, 118, 124, 127, 129, 395, 434. SEE ALSO Self-Deceit. Deception, CXXI. Decency, 447. Defects, 31, 90, 493, LXXII. SEE Faults. Delicacy, 128, R.II. Dependency, result of Confidence, R.I. Designs, 160, 161. Desires, 439, 469, LXXXII, LXXXV. Despicable Persons, 322. Detail, Mind given to, R.II. Details, 41, 106. Devotion, 427. Devotees, 427. Devout, LXXVI. Differences, 135. Dignities, R.VII. Discretion, R.V. Disguise, 119, 246, 282. Disgrace, 235, 412. Dishonour, 326, LXIX. Distrust, 84, 86, 335. Divination, 425. Doubt, 348. Docility, R.IV. Dupes, 87, 102.



Education, 261. Elevation, 399, 400, 403. Eloquence, 8, 249, 250. Employments, 164, 419, 449. Enemies, 114, 397, 458, 463. Ennui, 122, 141, 304, 312, 352, CXII, R.II. Envy, 27, 28, 280, 281, 328, 376, 433, 476, 486. Epithets assigned to the Mind, R.II. Esteem, 296. Establish, 56, 280. Evils, 121, 197, 269, 454, 464, XCIII. Example, 230. Exchange of secrets, R.I. Experience, 405. Expedients, 287. Expression, refined, R.V.



Faculties of the Mind, 174. Failings, 397, 403. Falseness, R.VI. ————, disguised, 282. ————, kinds of, R.VI. Familiarity, R.IV. Fame, 157. Farces, men compared to, 211. Faults, 37, 112, 155, 184, 190, 194, 196, 251, 354, 365, 372, 397, 403, 411, 428, 493, 494, V, LXV, CX, CXV. Favourites, 55. Fear, 370, LXVIII. Feeling, 255. Ferocity, XXXIII. Fickleness, 179, 181, 498. Fidelity, 247. ————, hardest test of, R.I. ———— in love, 331, 381, C. Figure and air, R.VII. Firmness, 19, 479. Flattery, 123, 144, 152, 198, 320, 329. Flirts, 406, 418. Flirtation, 107, 241, 277, 332, 334, 349, 376, LXIV. Follies, 156, 300, 408, 416. Folly, 207, 208, 209, 210, 231, 300, 310, 311, 318, XXIV. Fools, 140, 210, 309, 318, 357, 414, 451, 456, ——, old, 444. ——, witty, 451, 456. Force of Mind, 30, 42, 237. Forgetfulness, XXVI. Forgiveness, 330. Fortitude, 19. SEE Bravery. Fortune, 1, 17, 45, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, 154, 212, 227, 323, 343, 380, 391, 392, 399, 403, 435, 449, IX., CXIX. Friends, 84, 114, 179, 235, 279, 315, 319, 428. ———, adversity of, XV. ———, disgrace of, 235. ———, faults of, 428. ———, true ones, LXXXVI. Friendship, 80, 81, 83, 376, 410, 427, 440, 441, 473, XXII, CXXIV. —————, defined, 83. —————, women do not care for, 440. —————, rarer than love, 473. Funerals, XXXVIII.



Gallantry, 100. SEE Flirtation. ———— of mind, 100. Generosity, 246. Genius, R.II. Gentleness, R.VI. Ghosts, 76. Gifts of the mind, R.II. Glory, 157, 198, 221, 268. Good, 121, 185, 229, 238, 303, XCIII. ——, how to be, XLVII. Goodness, 237, 275, 284, XLVI. Good grace, 67, R.VII. Good man, who is a, 206. God nature, 481. Good qualities, 29, 90, 337, 365, 397, 462. Good sense, 67, 347, CVI. Good taste, 258. —————, rarity of, R.III. ——, women, 368, XCVI. Government of others, 151. Grace, 67. Gracefulness, 240. Gratitude, 223, 224, 225, 279, 298, 438, XLIII. Gravity, 257. Great men, what they cannot acquire, LXXXIV. Great minds, 142. Great names, 94. Greediness, 66.



Habit, 426. Happy, who are, 49. Happiness, 48, 61, VII, LXXX, LXXXI. hatred, 338. Head, 102, 108. Health, 188, LVII. Heart, 98, 102, 103, 108, 478, 484. Heroes, 24, 53, 185. Honesty, 202, 206. Honour, 270. Hope, 168, LXVIII. Humility, 254, 358, LXXVI, LXXIX Humiliation, 272. Humour, 47. SEE Temper. Hypocrisy, 218. ———— of afflictions, 233.



Idleness, 169, 266, 267, 398, 482, 487, XVIII., LV. Ills, 174. SEE Evils. Illusions, 123. Imagination, 478. Imitation, 230, XLIV, R.V. Impertinence, 502. Impossibilities, 30. Incapacity, 126. Inclination, 253, 390. Inconsistency, 135. Inconstancy, 181. Inconvenience, 242. Indifference, 172, XXIII. Indiscretion, 429. Indolence. SEE Idleness, and Laziness. Infidelity, 359, 360, 381, 429. Ingratitude, 96, 226, 306, 317. Injuries, 14. Injustice, 78. Innocence, 465. Instinct, 123. Integrity, 170. Interest, 39, 40, 66, 85, 172, 187, 232, 253, 305, 390. Interests, 66. Intrepidity, 217, XL. Intrigue, 73. Invention, 287.



Jealousy, 28, 32, 324, 336, 359, 361, 446, 503, CII. Joy, XIV. Judges, 268. Judgment, 89, 97, 248. ———— of the World, 212, 455. Justice, 78, 458, XII.



Kindness, 14, 85. Knowledge, 106.



Labour of Body, effect of, LXXVII. Laments, 355. Laziness, 367. SEE Idleness. Leader, 43. Levity, 179, 181. Liberality, 167, 263. Liberty in Society, R.IV. Limits to Confidence, R.I. Little Minds, 142. Love, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 136, 259, 262, 274, 286, 296, 321, 335, 336, 348, 349, 351, 353, 361, 371, 374, 385, 395, 396, 402, 417, 418, 422, 430, 440, 441, 459, 466, 471, 473, 499, 500, 501, X, XI, XIII, LVIII, LX, LXII, LXXXVIII, XCIX, CIII, CXXI. —— defined, 68. ——, Coldness in, LX. ——, Effect of absence on, 276. —— akin to Hate, 111. —— of Women, 466, 471, 499. ——, Novelty in, 274. ——, Infidelity in, LXIV. ——, Old age of, 430. ——, Cure for, 417, 459. Loss of Friends, XLV. Lovers, 312, 362, LXXXVII, XCVII. Lunatic, 353. Luxury, LIV. Lying, 63.



Madmen, 353, 414. Malady, LVII. Magistrates, R.VI. Magnanimity, 248, LIII. ————— defined, 285. Malice, 483. Manners, R.VII. Mankind, 436, XXXVI. Marriages, 113. Maxims, LXVII. Mediocrity, 375. Memory, 89, 313. Men easier to know than Man, 436. Merit, 50, 92, 95, 153, 156, 165, 166, 273, 291, 379, 401, 437, 455, CXVIII. Mind, 101, 103, 265, 357, 448, 482, CIX. Mind, Capacities of, R.II. Miserable, 49. Misfortunes, 19, 24, 174, 325. ————— of Friends. XV. ————— of Enemies, 463. Mistaken people, 386. Mistrust, 86. Mockery, R.II. Moderation, 17, 18, 293, 308, III, IV. Money, Man compared to, XXXII. Motives, 409.



Names, Great, 94. Natural goodness, 275. Natural, to be, 431. ———, always pleasing, R.VII. Nature, 53, 153, 189, 365, 404. Negotiations, 278. Novelty in study, 178. ——— in love, 274. ——— in friendship, 426.



Obligations, 299, 317, 438. SEE Benefits and Gratitude. Obstinacy, 234, 424. ———— its cause, 265. Occasions. SEE Opportunities. Old Age, 109, 210, 418, 423, 430, 461. Old Men, 93. Openness of heart, R.1. Opinions, 13, 234, CXXIII, R.V. Opinionatedness, R.V. Opportunities, 345, 453, CV.



Passions, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122, 188, 266, 276, 404, 422, 443, 460, 471, 477, 484, 485, 486, 500, II. Peace of Mind, VIII. Penetration, 377, 425, CXVI. Perfection, R.II. Perseverance, 177. Perspective, 104. Persuasion, 8. Philosophers, 46, 54, 504, XXI. Philosophy, 22. ————— of a Footman, 504, LXXV. Pity, 264. Pleasing, 413, CXXV. ————, Mode of, XLVIII, R.V. ————, Mind a, R.II. Point of view, R.IV. Politeness, 372, R.V. Politeness of Mind, 99. Praise, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 272, 356, 432, XXVII, CVII. Preoccupation, 92, R.III. Pride, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 228, 234, 239, 254, 267, 281, 450, 462, 463, 472, VI, XIX. Princes, 15, 320. Proceedings, 170. Productions of the Mind, R.II. Professions, 256. Promises, 38. Proportion, R.VI. Propriety, 447. ———— in Women, XXXIV. Prosperity, 25. Providence, XXXIX. Prudence, 65, LXXXVIII, R.I.



Qualities, 29, 162, 397, 470, 498, R.VI, R.VII. ————, Bad, 468. ————, Good, 88, 337, 462. ————, Great, 159, 433. ————, of Mind, classified, R.II. Quarrels, 496, Quoting oneself, R.V.



Raillery, R.II, R.IV. Rank, 401. Reason, 42, 105, 325, 365, 467, 469, XX, R.VI. Recollection in Memory{, 313}. Reconciliation, 82. Refinement, R.II. Regret, 355. Relapses, 193. Remedies, 288. ———— for love 459. Remonstrances, 37. Repentance, 180. Repose, 268. Reproaches, 148. Reputation, 268, 412. Resolution, L. Revenge, 14. Riches, 54. Ridicule, 133, 134, 326, 418, 422. Rules for Conversation, R.V. Rusticity, 393.



Satire, 483, R.II, R.IV. Sciences, R.VI. Secrets, XVI, R.I. ———, How they should be kept, R.I. Self-deceit, 115, 452. Self-love, 2, 3, 4, 228, 236, 247, 261, 262, 339, 494, 500, I, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, LXVI, LXXIV. ———— in love, 262. Self-satisfaction, 51. Sensibility, 275. Sensible People, 347, CVI. Sentiment, 255, R.VI. Severity of Women, 204, 333. Shame, 213, 220. Silence, 79, 137, 138, CXIV. Silliness. SEE Folly. Simplicity, 289. Sincerity, 62, 316, 366, 383, 457. ————, Difference between it and Confidence, R.I. ————, defined, R.I. ———— of Lovers, LXI. Skill, LXIV. Sobriety, XXV. Society, 87, 201, R.IV. ———, Distinction between it and Friendship, R.IV. Soul, 80, 188, 194. Souls, Great, XXXI. Sorrows, LXXVIII. Stages of Life, 405. Strength of mind, 19, 20, 21, 504. Studies, why new ones are pleasing, 178. ———, what to study, XCII. Subtilty, 128. Sun, 26.



Talents, 468. ———, latent, 344, XCV. Talkativeness, 314. Taste, 13, 109, 252, 390, 467, CXX, R.III, R.VI. ——, good, 258, R.III. ——, cause of diversities in, R.III. ——, false, R.III. Tears, 233, 373. Temper, 47, 290, 292. Temperament, 220, 222, 297, 346. Times for speaking, R.V. Timidity, 169, 480. Titles, XXXII. Tranquillity, 488. Treachery, 120, 126. Treason, 120. Trickery, 86, 350, XCI. SEE Deceit. Trifles, 41. Truth, 64, LI. Tyranny, R.I.



Understanding, 89. Untruth, 63. SEE Lying. Unhappy, CXXV.



Valour, 1, 213, 214, 215, 216. SEE Bravery and Courage. Vanity, 137, 158, 200, 232, 388, 389, 443, 467, 483. Variety of mind, R.IV. Vice, 182, 186, 187, 189, 191, 192, 195, 218, 253, 273, 380, 442, 445, XXIX. Violence, 363, 369, 466, CXIII. Victory, XII. Virtue, 1, 25, 169, 171, 182, 186, 187, 189, 200, 218, 253, 380, 388, 442, 445, 489, XXIX. Virtue of Women, 1, 220, 367, XCVIII. Vivacity, 416.



Weakness, 130, 445. Wealth, Contempt of, 301. Weariness. SEE Ennui. Wicked people, 284. Wife jealous sometimes desirable, LXXXIX. Will, 30. Wisdom, 132, 210, 231, 323, 444, LXXXIII. Wise Man, who is a, 203, XCI. Wishes, 295. Wit, 199, 340, 413, 415, 421, 502. Wives, 364, CIV. Woman, 131, 204, 205, 220, 241, 277, 332, 333, 334, 340, 346, 362, 367, 368, 418, 429, 440, 466, 471, 474, LXX, XC. Women, Severity of, 333. ——, Virtue of, 205, 220, XC. ——, Power of, LXXI. Wonder, 384. World, 201. ——, Judgment of, 268. ——, Approbation of, 201. ——, Establishment in, 56. ——, Praise and censure of, 454.



Young men, 378, 495. Youth, 271, 341.

THE END