a character, because he should get a hundred thousand pounds by it; whereas he was so blasted that he had no longer an opportunity of cheating people. Is is possible, then, that an honest man can neglect what a wise rogue would purchase so dear? [Same date.]
A Nice Distinction—Exaggeration.—Lord
Bacon, very justly, makes a distinction between
simulation and dissimulation, and allows the latter
rather than the former; but still observes that they
are the weaker sort of politicians who have recourse
to either. A man who has strength of mind and
strength of parts wants neither of them. "Certainly,"
says he, "the ablest men that ever were have
all had an openness and frankness of dealing, and a
name of certainty and veracity; but then they were
like horses well managed, for they could tell, passing
well, when to stop or turn; and at such times, when
they thought the case indeed required some dissimulation,
if then they used it, it came to pass that the
former opinion spread abroad, of their good faith
and clearness of dealing, made them almost invisible."
There are people who indulge themselves in
a sort of lying, which they reckon innocent, and
which in one sense is so; for it hurts nobody but
themselves. This sort of lying is the spurious off-
