1.As the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed,to please or to persuade, I wish wellmeaning and sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive,assuming manner,that seldom fails to disgust,tends to create opposition,and to defeat most of those purposes for which speech was given to us.
2.In fact,if you wish to instruct others,a positive and dogmatical manner in advacing your sentiments may occasion opposition and prevent a candid attention.If you desire instruction and improbement from others,you should not,at the same time,express yourself fixed in your present opinions.Modest and sensible men,who do not love disputation,will leave you undisturbed in the possession of your errors.In adopting such a manner,you can seldom expect to please your hearers,or obtain the concurrence you desire
3.I concluded,at length,that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to e completely virtuous,was not sufficient to prevent our slipping;and that the contrary habits must be broken,and good ones acquired and established,before we can have any dependence on a steady,uniform recitude of conduct.For this purpose I therefore tried the following method.
4.“Seest thou a man diligent in his calling,he shall stand before kings,he shall not stand before mean men”——Solomom
5.
(1). TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
(9). MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
(10). CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
(11). TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
(12). CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
(13). HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
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