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ure. When his opinion of himself trans*cends his merits^ it is almost impossible thathe should not meet with mortifications to of-fend his pride^ and animate his resentment.If he be not generally applauded, be lays theblame on any thing rather than his own want ofattraction : the caprice of the world ; the influ-ence of party 5 the hatred of rivals ; all conspireto keep him in the back -ground ! When hesees a rich man, who is respected, he says tohimself — ^^ Had I beea wealthy, how I couldhave bought esteem I'* When he hears thevirtuous renowned, he declares, that ^^ hadhe been planted at the same post, he wouldhave achieved greater honours/' On what-ever height he fix^es Sis ambitious eye, therehe sees the station for his actions ; and therehe believes he would have signaliz^ed himselfwith unexampled glory. But what right hashe (to whom an estate has been bestowed inthe talents of the mind), to repine that thegifts of fortune were not added to his otherendowments ? Upon what grounds does herest the presumption, that had he been aricher^ or a more powerful, he would have & been a better man ? The Almighty divldeihis benefits : on some he pours his spirit,jind on others he descends in showers ofgold. It lies with man to appreciate thegifts : but how he despises the best ! Howmurmuring and arrogant are his conclusions !Let him not disdain the truth — that he whothinks himself excusable in falling fromduty in any one situation, would always findsome reason for making the same apology inevery other. Magnanimity is above circum-stance; and any virtue which depends ohthat, is more of constitution than of prin-^ciple.
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