[97] "He who subdueth his temper is a mighty man," says the Talmudist; and Solomon had said so before him: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov. xvi, 32). A curious parallel to these words is found in an ancient Buddhistic work, entitled _Buddha's Dhammapada_, or Path of Virtue, as follows: "If one man conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors." (Professor Max Mueller's translation, prefixed to _Buddhagosha's Parables_, translated by Captain Rogers.) When a liar speaks the truth, he finds his punishment in being generally disbelieved. The physician who prescribes gratuitously gives a worthless prescription. He who hardens his heart with pride softens his brains with the same. The day is short, the labour vast; but the labourers are still slothful, though the reward is great, and the Master presseth for despatch.[98] [98] Cf. Saadi, _ante_, page 41, "Life is snow," etc. He who teacheth a child is like one who writeth on new paper; and he who teacheth old people is like one who writeth on blotted paper.[99] [99] Locke was anticipated not only by the Talmudist, as above, but long before him by Aristotle, who termed the infant soul _tabula rasa_, which was in all likelihood borrowed by the author of the Persian work on the practical philosophy of the Muhammedans, entitled _Akhlak-i-Jalaly_, who says: "The minds of children are like a clear tablet, equally open to all inscriptions." First learn and then teach. Teach thy tongue to say, "I do not know." The birds of the air despise a miser. If thy goods sell not in one city, take them to another. Victuals prepared by many cooks will be neither cold nor hot.[100] [100] Too many cooks spoil the broth.--_English Proverb_. Two pieces of money in a large jar make more noise than a hundred.[101] [101] Two farthings and a thimble In a tailor's pocket make a jingle.--_English Saying_. Into the well which supplies thee with water cast no stones.[102] [102] "Don't speak ill of the bridge that bore you safe over the stream" seems to be the European equivalent. When love is intense, both find room enough upon one bench; afterwards, they may find themselves cramped in a space of sixty cubits.[103] [103] Python, of Byzantium, was a very corpulent man. He once said to the citizens, in addressing them to make friends after a political dispute: "Gentlemen, you see how stout I am. Well, I have a wife at home who is still stouter. Now, when we are good friends, we can sit together on a very small couch; but when we quarrel, I do assure you, the whole house cannot contain us."--_Athenaeus_, xii.