1799: ] 
of the intricacies of form, and am the 
more angry with myfelf becaufe I fee 
men with mean underftandings acquire 
what I could not attain. 
In the treating of topics at all profound 
and difficult, I am obliged to reflect mugh 
as I proceed, to prevent my ideas from 
falling into confufion. If I perceive that 
I am liftened to, the fubject feems to 
vanifh from me, or my thoughts rife in 
fuch hurry and diforder that nothing is 
diftinét. But when difficult points are 
difcufled in converfation, where there are 
other {peakers, I acquit mylelf infinitely 
better. 
I never could fee tears, without fym- 
pathy. ;: 
I may be faid to have a paflion for 
fricndfhip. 
I am prone to forgive, becaufe hatred 
is a troublefome companion. When my 
enemy wifhes to be reconciled, he applies 
to my vanity, and I can no longer regard 
as an enemy one who does me the favour 
to give me a good opinion of mytelf. 
When I am refiding in the country, 
among my vaffals, I mever encourage un- 
favourable veports of any of them. Ifa 
tale-bearer would repeat fomething faid 
to my difadvantage, I interrupt him with 
faying—I do not wifh to incur the dan- 
ger of believing a falfe report, and would 
not give myfelf the trouble to hate a 
knave. 
At the age of 35, I was once more in 
hove. 
I can no more make vifits with merce- 
nary views, than I can accompany birds 
through the air. 
In the buftle of public life, I felt as if 
I could not endure retirement. In re- 
tirement, I forgot the world. 
A man of eminent merit I can never 
bear to analyze; a man, who, with valuas 
ble qualities, does not rife above medio- 
crity, I analyze very carefully. 
I believe I am the only writer who has 
not been {mitten with the paflion of being 
reputed a wit; and my intimate friends 
know that in converfation I never affect 
it, but have fenfe enough to ule the lan- 
guage of thofe with whom J affociate. 
I have often had the misfortune to be 
difguited with perfons whole good-will I 
had earneftly fought. 
I never, loit but one friend, through 
any mifunderftanding ; and I have lived 
with my children as with friends. 
It has been a principle of my whole 
life, never to do, by the agency of others, 
what I could do for myfelf; and hence I 
have improved my fortune by means 
Portrait of Montefquieu, by Himfelf. 
133 
within my own reach—moderation and 
economy—-unmingled with foreign aid, 
which is always mean or unjuft.. 
When I have feen a company expeét to 
find me excel in converfation, I have been 
more than ufually unfuccefsful. I would 
rather be prefent with men of talents to 
enliven my underftanding, than with 
fools to applaud my iayings. 
The perfons .L moit defpife are—the 
minor wits; and men of high ftation 
without probity. 
I never wrote a pafquinade; I have 
committed miftakes enough, but never 
was guilty of ill-will to any one. 
I never was prodigal in my expences, 
yet Iam not avaricious, and I know of 
no enterprize that I would at any time 
have undertaken to ama{s riches. 
It has been very prejudicial to my af- 
fairs, that I could never forbear to defpife 
thofe I could not efteem. 
] have not failed to increafe my pro- 
perty, my lands being greatly improved ; 
but Iam perfuaded,.my motive was ra- 
ther to enlarge my power than my re- 
venue. : 
On my entering into life, I was fpoken 
of as a man of talents, and people of con- 
dition gave mea favorable reception ; but 
when the fuccefs of my PERSIAN LET- 
TERS proved perhaps that I was not un- 
worthy of my reputation, and the public 
hegan to eiteem me, my reception with 
the great was difcouraging, and I expe- 
rienced innumerable mortifications. The 
great, inwardly wounded with the glory 
of a celebrated name, feek to humble it. 
In general, he only can patiently endure 
the fame ot others, who deferves tame 
himfelt. 
Ido not think I ever expended” four 
pounds for the fake of fhew, or made one 
vifit tor the fake of intereft. In what I 
undertake, I employ no trick; and am 
leis anxious for the fuccefs of my _enter-. 
prize, than for the difcharge of my duty 
in it. 
Had I been born in England, nothing 
could have confoled me in failing to ac- 
cumulate a large fortune; I do not la- 
ment the mediocrity of my circumftances 
in France. 
I own, I have too much vanity to with 
my children to make a {plendid fortune, 
for they would find it difficult to pro- | 
nounce their father’s name, and my tomb 
would be a monument to perpetuate their 
difgrace. I donot fuppofe they would 
level my tomb with the ground; but 
they would fcarcely rebuild it, if thrown - 
down. ‘Their origin would embarra{s 
thea 
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