The difference between a suit of clothes and a suit at law is this.-One provides you with pockets, and the other empties them. Why is your shadow like a false friend? Ans. Because it follows you only in sun shine. RIDDLE. What's that which all love more than life, Fear more than death or mortal strife ?- The poor possess, the rich require ?— • From The Book of Humour, Wit, and Wisdom. 164. YES AND NO. Never trust a man who assents to everything you say without making a single correction or suggestion of his own. A man, in fact, who is an incarnate "Yes," is either a fool or a knave. "No" is a hard word to utter. It stumbles on the tongue. When it is out, it never goes into other people's ears pleasantly, but everybody is down upon it. Most men are slaves, because they cannot say "no." Learn to speak this little word, In its proper place; Let no timid doubt be heard, Let thy lips, without disguise, Though a thousand dulcet lies Keep hovering about. For be sure our hearts would lose Future years of woe, If our courage could refuse The present hour with "No." -ELIZA COOK. One "No" averts seventy evils. --HINDUSTANI PROVERB. There is indeed great virtue in a "No," when pro nounced at the right time. -SMILES. As a person's "yes" and "no," so is all his character. A downright yes and no marks the firm, the quick, the rapid, and a slow one, a cautious or timid character, One ought not to give way in everything nor to everybody. To know how to refuse is therefore as important as to know how to consent. This is especially the case with men of position. His nay was nay without recall; His yea was yea, and powerful all; --INSCRIPTION ON BARON STEIN'S TOMB. • From Gracian's Art of Worldly Wisdom, translated from the Spanish by Jacobs, |