If Thou Desire To Be Held Wise,

Be Not Too Slow In The Breaking Of A Sinful Custom; A Quick, Courageous Resolution Is Better Than A Gradual Deliberation; In Such A Combat He Is The Bravest Soldier That Lays About Him Without Fear Or Wit. Wit Pleads, Fear Disheartens; He That Would Kill Hydra Had Better Strike Off One Neck Than Five Heads: Fell The Tree, And The Branches Are Soon Cut Off.

God Is Alpha And Omega In The Great World: Endeavor To Make Him So In The Little World; Make Him Thy Evening Epilogue And Thy Morning Prologue; Practice To Make Him Thy Last Thought At Night When Thou Sleepest, And Thy First Thought In The Morning When Thou Awakest; So Shall Thy Fancy Be Sanctified In The Night, And Thy Understanding Rectified In The Day; So Shall Thy Rest Be Peaceful, Thy Labors Prosperous, Thy Life Pious, And Thy Death Glorious.

Be Very Circumspect In The Choice Of Thy Company. In The Society Of Thine Equals Thou Shalt Enjoy More Pleasure; In The Society Of Thy Superiors Thou Shalt Find More Profit. To Be The Best In The Company Is The Way To Grow Worse; The Best Means To Grow Better Is To Be The Worst There.

If Thy Words Be Too Luxuriant, Confine Them, Lest They Confine Thee; He That Thinks He Never Can Speak Enough May Easily Speak Too Much. A Full Tongue And An Empty Brain Are Seldom Parted.

Be Not Too Great A Niggard In The Commendations Of Him That Professes Thy Own Quality: If He Deserve Thy Praise, Thou Hast Discovered Thy Judgment; If Not, Thy Modesty: Honor Either Returns Or Reflects To The Giver.