Maxims. Le Duc de
sense of delicacy and from criticizing too harshly. I am far from disliking an argument, and not infrequently take a part, although I am inclined to maintain my contentions with too great vehemence. Hence, when my opponent sustains an incorrect theory, in my eagerness to defend the right, I, in turn, become quite illogical.
My sentiments are upright; my impulses are fine, and so eagerly do I desire to be honest that my friends can do me no greater service than to point out my faults. Those who have known me intimately and have been good enough to give me advice on this point can bear witness that I have always accepted their suggestions with the greatest alacrity and submission.
My passions are not violent and are well controlled. Rarely has any one seen me in a rage, nor have I ever hated any person. Nevertheless, I am not above revenge if I have been offended in such manner that honor demands that I resent the insult. Indeed I am convinced that my sense of duty would so well play the part of hate that I should pursue my vengeance even more tenaciously than the next man.
I am not a victim of ambition; I am not a coward and in nowise fearful of death. I am not easily moved to pity, and I would prefer to be entirely insensible to it. Yet there is nothing I would not do to console an afflicted person, and I verily believe that one should do all in one’s power, even to the extent of expressing great sympathy for their grief, for people in affliction are sufficiently stupid to derive great consolation from such expressions. On the other hand, I maintain that while one should express sympathy, one should scrupulously avoid feeling it. It is a profitless sentiment which does little but weaken the heart, and one which should be left to the common people, who, since they do nothing logically, must look to passion to stimulate action.
I am an ardent admirer of noble passions; they are the hall-marks of great intellects, and although the anxieties dependent thereupon are somewhat opposed to austerity of mind, they nevertheless conform so well with the severest virtue that I deem it wrong to condemn them. I, who know so well all the delicacy and strength which are a part of a great love, am certain that if ever I love, it will assuredly be after this fashion, and yet, made as I am, I doubt whether this perception will ever pass from my mind to my heart.
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