CHAP. II.] PRECEPTS FOR RlSlVa IK LIFE. 83l 



that "lie was of a pliant temper:"' and hence it is. that 

 grave, solemn, and unchangeable natures generally meet with 

 more respect than felicity. This defect some men have im- 

 planted in them by nature, as being in themselves stiff, 

 knotty, and imfit for bending ; but in others it is acquired 

 by custom, which is a second nature, or from an opinion, 

 which easily steals into men's minds, that they should never 

 change the method of acting they had once found good and 

 prosperous. Thus Machiavel prudently observes of Fabius 

 Maximus, " That he would obstinately retain his old inve- 

 terate custom of delaying and protracting the war, when now 

 the nature was changed and required brisker measures." ' In 

 others again, the same defect proceeds from want of judg- 

 ment, when men do not seasonably distinguish the periods 

 of things and actions, but alter too late, after the opportunity 

 is slipped. And something of this kind Demosthenes repre- 

 hended in the Athenians, when he said, " They were like 

 rustics in a fencing-school, who always, after a blow, guard 

 the part that was hit, and not before."" And lastly, this 

 defect in others, because they are unwilling that the labour 

 they have taken in the way once entered should be lost, and 

 know not how to sound a retreat, but rather trust they shall 

 conquer occasions by perseverance. But this obstinacy and 

 restiveness of the mind, from whatever root it proceeds, is 

 highly prejudicial to business and men's private fortunes : on 

 the contrary, nothing is more politic than to make the wheels 

 of the mind concentric with the wheels of fortune, and 

 capable of turning together with them. And thus much of 

 the two summary or collective precepts for advancing one's 

 fortune. 



The scattered precepts for rising in life are numerous : we 

 shall single out a few by way of example. The first is, that 

 the builder of his fortune properly use and apply his rule, 

 that is, accustom his mind to measure and estimate the price 

 and value of things, as they conduce more or less to his par- 

 ticular fortune and ends, and this with diligence, not by 

 halves. It is surprising, yet very true, that many have the 

 logical part of their mind set i-ight and the mathematical 

 wrong, and judge traly of the consequences of things, but 

 very unskilfully of their value. Hence some men are fond 



• B. xxxix. 40. ' Discorao sopra L:' v. " Philippic L 



