These different motives produce the excesses which men are guilty of in the negligence of and provision for themselves. Usury, stock-jobbing, extortion, and oppression have their seed in the dread of want; and vanity, (15) riot, and prodigality, from the shame of it: but both these excesses are infinitely below the pursuit of a reasonable creature. After we have taken care to command so much as is necessary for maintaining ourselves in the order of men suitable to our character, the care of superfluities is (20) a vice no less extravagant[73] than the neglect of necessaries would have been before. [73] In what sense here used? Certain it is that they are both out of[74] nature when she is followed with reason and good sense. It is from this reflection that I always read Mr. Cowley with the greatest (25) pleasure. His magnanimity is as much above that of other considerable men, as his understanding; and it is a true distinguishing spirit in the elegant author who published his works, to dwell so much upon the temper of his mind and the moderation of his desires. By this means he has rendered his friend as amiable as famous. That state of life which bears the face of poverty with Mr. Cowley's "great vulgar," is admirably described,[75] and (115: 5) it is no small satisfaction to those of the same turn of desire, that he produces the authority of the wisest men of the best age of the world, to strengthen his opinion of the ordinary pursuits of mankind. [74] At variance with. [75] Can you so paraphrase this sentence as to bring any clear meaning out of it? It would, methinks, be no ill maxim of life, if, (10) according to that ancestor of Sir Roger whom I lately mentioned, every man would point to himself what sum he would resolve not to exceed. He might by this means cheat himself into a tranquillity on this side of that expectation, or convert what he should (15) get above it to nobler uses than his own pleasures or necessities. This temper of mind would exempt a man from an ignorant envy of restless men above him, and a more inexcusable contempt of happy men below him. This (20) would be sailing by some compass, living with some design; but to be eternally bewildered in prospects of future gain, and putting on unnecessary armour against improbable blows of fortune, is a mechanic being,[76] which has not good sense for its direction, but is carried on by (25) a sort of acquired instinct towards things below our consideration and unworthy our esteem. [76] Steele's careless English again; recast the sentence so as to express his meaning more correctly.