of himself, without your endeavors; and that cannot be helped; but nothing is more insulting, more mortifying, and less forgiven, than avowedly to take pains to make a man feel a mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune, etc. In the two last articles it is unjust, they not being in his power; and in the first it is both ill-bred and ill-natured. Good breeding and good nature do incline us rather to help and raise people up to ourselves, than to mortify and depress them, and, in truth, our own private interest concurs in it, as it is making ourselves so many friends, instead of so many enemies. [July 6, 1748.]
Les Attentions.—The constant practice of
what the French call les attentions is a most necessary
ingredient in the art of pleasing; they flatter
the self-love of those to whom they are shown; they
engage, they captivate, more than things of much
greater importance. The duties of social life every
man is obliged to discharge; but these attentions are
voluntary acts, the free-will offerings of good breeding
and good nature; they are received, remembered,
and returned as such. Women, particularly, have
a right to them; and any omission in that respect is
downright ill breeding. [Same date.]
An Educational Test.—Tell me what Greek
