Maxims of Talleyrand.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1815, 25 July 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

Maxims of Talleyrand.

Prudence in a woman should be an instinct, not a virtue. A rich man despises those who flatter him tco much, and hates those who do not flatter him at all. Life, to a young man. is like a new acquaintance, of whom he grows disgusted as he advances iv years. If you wish to appear agreeable in society you must consent to be taught many things which you know already. Both erudition and »gricnlture ought to be encouraged by government ; wit and manufactures will come of themselves. The reputation of a man iB like his shadow — gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when it follows. There are two things to which we never grow accustomed— the ravages of time and I the injustice of our fellow-men. 1 There are many vices which do not deprive us of friends ; there are many virtues which prevent our having any. The errors of great men and the good deeds o£ reprobates should not be reckoned in our estimates of their respectiv3 characters. To succeed in the world it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discover who is a fool than to discover who is a clever man. It is sometimes quite enough for a man to feign ignorance of that which he knows, to gain the reputation of knowing* that of which he is ignorant.

Barbee customer) ; " How dees the razor cut ? ' Customer (savagely) : " You ought to know; you've cut me twice with it already."