Do not look for faults in the characters or habits of your friends—the critic generally likes to communicate her opinions or discoveries—hence arises a habit of detraction.
XLIX.
Never encourage tattling or detraction; if there were no listeners this petty vice could not exist; besides, the habit of listening to this sort of gossip will soon induce you to participate, by similar communications.
L.
Abjure punning, and exercising even the most refined RAILLERY: the latter requires both observation and talent, and most people mistake satire for raillery; the one may be the offspring of a vicious, the former must be of an enlightened and benevolent mind.
LI.
Do not appear abstracted while another person is speaking; and never interrupt another by intruding a remark of your own.
LII.
Avoid pedantry and dogmatism. Be not obtrusively positive in the assertion of your opinions—modesty of speech, as well as manner, is highly ornamental in a woman.