Yet after all, Envy doth Virtue as much good as hurt, by provoking it to appear. Nay, it forcibly draweth out, and inviteth Virtue, by giving it a Mind to be revenged of it.
Of Vanity.
The World is nothing but Vanity cut out into several Shapes.
Men often mistake themselves, but they never forget themselves.
A Man must not so entirely fall out with Vanity, as not to take its Assistance in the doing great Things.
Vanity is like some Men who are very useful, if they are kept under; and else not to be endured.
A little Vanity may be allowed in a Man’s Train, but it must not sit down at Table with him.
Without some Share of it, Mens Talents would be buried like Ore in a Mine unwrought.
Men would be less eager to gain Knowledge, if they did not hope to set themselves out by it.
It sheweth the Narrowness of our Nature, that a Man that intendeth any one thing extreamly, hath not Thought enough lest for any thing else.