He who is full of faith and modesty, who shrinks from sin, and is full of learning, who is diligent, unremiss, and full of understanding—he, being replete with these seven things, is esteemed a wise man. _Burmese._ 228. If your foot slip, you may recover your balance, but if your tongue slip, you cannot recall your words. _Telugu._ 229. A vacant mind is open to all suggestions, as the hollow mountain returns all sounds. _Chinese._ 230. Women are ever masters when they like, And cozen with their kindness; they have spells Superior to the wand of the magicians; And from their lips the words of wisdom fall, Like softest music on the listening ear. _Firdausī._ 231. A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one. _Simonides._ 232. The wife of bad conduct—constantly pleased with quarrelling—she is known by wise men to be cruel Old Age in the form of a wife. _Panchatantra._ 233. I have often thought that the cause of men’s good or ill fortune depends on whether they make their actions fit with the times. A man having prospered by one mode of acting can never be persuaded that it may be well for him to act differently, whence it is that a man’s Fortune varies, because she changes her times and he does not his ways. _Machiavelli._ 234. By nature all men are alike, but by education very different. _Chinese._ 235. Whilom, ere youth’s conceit had waned, methought Answers to all life’s problems I had wrought; But now, grown old and wise, too late I see My life is spent, and all my lore is nought. _Omar Khayyām._ 236. Weak men gain their object when allied with strong associates: the brook reaches the ocean by the river’s aid. _Māgha._ 237. A swan is out of place among crows, a lion among bulls, a horse among asses, and a wise man among fools. _Burmese._ 238. Whosoever does not persecute them that persecute him; whosoever takes an offence in silence; he who does good because of love; he who is cheerful under his sufferings—these are the friends of God, and of them the Scripture says, “They shall shine forth like the sun at noontide.” _Talmud._ 239.