"Ipsa quidem virtus, sibimet pulcherrima merces."<ref>So also Home,—
<poem>
"Amen! and virtue is its own reward."
Douglas, Act. iii. Sc. 1.
And Claudian, quoted by Chesterfield,
"Ipsa quidem virtus pretium sibi, solaque latè
Fortunæ secura nitet," etc.
</ref> </poem>
Politeness a Necessity.—Know, then, that as
learning, honor, and virtue are absolutely necessary
to gain you the esteem and admiration of mankind;
politeness and good breeding are equally necessary,
to make you welcome and agreeable in conversation
and common life. Great talents, such as honor, virtue,
learning, and parts, are above the generality of
the world; who neither possess them themselves, nor
judge of them rightly in others; but all people are
judges of the lesser talents, such as civility, affability,
and an obliging, agreeable address and manner;
because they feel the good effects of them, as making
society easy and pleasing.
Good Breeding and Good Sense.—Good sense
must, in many cases, determine good breeding; because
the same thing that would be civil at one time,
and to one person, may be quite otherwise at another
time, and to another person; but there are
some general rules of good breeding, that hold
always true, and in all cases. [About February,
1741.]
