They thought I informed, because I pleased them Unaffected silence upon that subject is the only true medium Unintelligible to his readers, and sometimes to himself Use palliatives when you contradict We love to be pleased better than to be informed Woman like her, who has always pleased, and often been pleased Women are the only refiners of the merit of men Yielded commonly without conviction LETTERS TO HIS SON, 1752 [LC#06][lc06sxxx.xxx]3356 Our prejudices are our mistresses; reason is at best our wife, very often heard indeed, but seldom minded. Enjoy every moment; pleasures do not commonly last so long as life, and therefore should not be neglected; and the longest life is too short for knowledge, consequently every moment is precious. A young fellow ought to be wiser than he should seem to be; and an old fellow ought to seem wise whether he really be so or not. Laziness of mind, or inattention, are as great enemies to knowledge as incapacity; for, in truth, what difference is there between a man who will not, and a man who cannot be informed? This difference only, that the former is justly to be blamed, the latter to be pitied. And yet how many there are, very capable of receiving knowledge, who from laziness, inattention, and incuriousness, will not so much as ask for it, much less take the least pains to acquire it! Vicissitudes frequently make friends of enemies, and enemies of friends; you must labor, therefore, to acquire that great and uncommon talent of hating with good-breeding and loving with prudence.