438.—There is a certain lively gratitude which not only releases us from benefits received, but which also, by making a return to our friends as payment, renders them indebted to us.
["And understood not that a grateful mind, By owing owes not, but is at once Indebted and discharged." Milton. Paradise Lost.]
439.—We should earnestly desire but few things if we clearly knew what we desired.
440.—The cause why the majority of women are so little given to friendship is, that it is insipid after having felt love.
["Those who have experienced a great passion neglect friendship, and those who have united themselves to friendship have nought to do with love."—La Bruyère. Du Coeur.]
441.—As in friendship so in love, we are often happier from ignorance than from knowledge.
442.—We try to make a virtue of vices we are loth to correct.
443.—The most violent passions give some respite, but vanity always disturbs us.
444.—Old fools are more foolish than young fools.
["Malvolio. Infirmity{,} that decays the wise{,} doth eve{r} make the better fool. Clown. God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity{,} for the better increasing of your folly."—Shakespeare. Twelfth Night{, Act I, Scene V}.]