A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it. _Chinese._ 68. He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober brightens up this world like the moon when freed from clouds. _Dhammapada._ 69. When a base fellow cannot vie with another in merit he will attack him with malicious slander. _Sa’dī._ 70. If a man be not so happy as he desires, let this be his comfort—he is not so wretched as he deserves. _R. Chamberlain._ 71. In conversation humour is more than wit, easiness, more than knowledge; few desire to learn, or to think they need it; all desire to be pleased, or, if not, to be easy. _Sir W. Temple._ 72. The greatest men sometimes overshoot themselves, but then their very mistakes are so many lessons of instruction. _Tom Browne._ 73. We may be as good as we please, if we please to be good. _Barrow._ 74. The round of a passionate man’s life is in contracting debts in his passion which his virtue obliges him to pay. He spends his time in outrage and acknowledgment, injury and reparation. _Johnson._ 75. To reprehend well is the most necessary and the hardest part of friendship. Who is it that does not sometimes merit a check, and yet how few will endure one? Yet wherein can a friend more unfold his love than in preventing dangers before their birth, or in bringing a man to safety who is travelling on the road to ruin? I grant there is a manner of reprehending which turns a benefit into an injury, and then it both strengthens error and wounds the giver. When thou chidest thy wandering friend do it secretly, in season, in love, not in the ear of a popular convention, for oftentimes the presence of a multitude makes a man take up an unjust defence, rather than fall into a just shame. _Feltham._ 76. I put no account on him who esteems himself just as the popular breath may chance to raise him. _Goethe._ 77. He who seeks wealth sacrifices his own pleasure, and, like him who carries burdens for others, bears the load of anxiety. _Hitopadesa._ 78. Circumspection in calamity; mercy in greatness; good speeches in assemblies; fortitude in adversity: these are the self-attained perfections of great souls. _Hitopadesa._ 79. The best preacher is the heart; the best teacher is time; the best book is the world; the best friend is God.