OLD QUOTATIONS—The following
quotations were taken by Thomas R. Bayles from an old copy of
“Cobb’s Spelling Book,” published in 1825. Mr. Bayles writes
“Footnotes to Long Island History,” for The Long Island Advance.
“He that can please
nobody, is not so much to pitied as he that nobody can please.
None are so fond of
secrets as those who do not intend to keep them; such persons covet
secrets as a spendthrift covets money, for the purpose of
circulation.
Excess in apparel is
a costly vanity. The very trimmings of the vain would clothe all the
destitute.
A little that a good
man hath is better than the riches of many wicked persons.
Our best friends are
those who tell us our faults and teach us how to correct them.
A kind word , nay,
even a kind look, often affords comfort to the afflicted.
Whose regards dreams
is like him that catches at a shadow and follows the wind.
He seldom lives
frugally, who lives by chance.
Were the life of man
prolonged, he would become so proficient in villainy, that it would
be necessary to drown the world again or to burn it.
The firmest
friendships have been forwed in mutual adversity, as iron is most
strongly united by the fiercest flame.
A wise man leaves past
time for observation and reflection, present time for duty, and time
to come he leaves to Providence.
The loss of wealth may
be regained, the loss of health may be recovered, but that of time
can never be recalled.
The advantage of
living does not consist in length of days, but in the right
improvement of them.
A passionate and
revengeful temper renders a man unfit for advise, deprives him of
his reason, and robs him of all that is great or noble in his
nature.
Those who are ready to
forgive injuries are esteemed for their clemency and forbearance,
whilst those who cherish revenge are dreaded for the mischief they
are capable of doing.
The sweetest revenge
is to do good to our enemies.
Remember this truth,
that God is the common parent of all mankind, and that, therefore
all men are brethren, and what you do for others is all you have
reason to expect from them.
Men are born with two
eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they shall see twice as
much as they say.
The rod and reproof
give wisdom, but a child left to himself will bring his parents to
shame.
The eye that mocks at
his father, and scorns to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley
shall pick it out and the young eagle shall eat it.
Where there is no wood
the fire goes out, and where there is no tattler the strife ceases.
A word fitly spoken is
like the apple of gold in pictures of silver.
Believe nothing
against another, but upon good authority, nor report what would hurt
another, unless it would be a greater hurt to others to conceal it.
The slothful man is a
burden to himself; his hours hang heavily upon his head. He would
eat of the almond, but he hates the trouble of breaking the shell.
If thou seest a man of
understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let his precepts
enlighten thy mind.
The tongue of the
sincere is rooted in his heart; hyprocrisy and deceit have no place
in his words.”