43
Certain authors, speaking of their works, say, "My book," "My commentary," "My history," &c. They resemble middle-class people who have a house of their own, and always have "My house" on their tongue. They would do better to say, "Our book," "Our commentary," "Our history," &c., because there is in them usually more of other people's than their own.
44
Do you wish people to believe good of you? Don't speak.
45
Languages are ciphers, wherein letters are not changed into letters, but words into words, so that an unknown language is decipherable.
46
A maker of witticisms, a bad character.
47
There are some who speak well and write badly. For the place and the audience warm them, and draw from their minds more than they think of without that warmth.
48
When we find words repeated in a discourse, and, in trying to correct them, discover that they are so appropriate that we would spoil the discourse, we must leave them alone. This is the test; and our attempt is the work of envy, which is blind, and does not see that repetition is not in this place a fault; for there is no general rule.
49
To mask nature and disguise her. No more king, pope, bishop—but august monarch, &c.; not Paris—the capital of the kingdom. There are places in which we ought to call
