Essays Upon Several Subjects of Literature and Morality: ... Translated from the French of the Abbot Trublet

Front Cover
J. Osborn, 1744 - Philosophy - 426 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 30 - Story agreably ; but every Man may be polite, if he pleafes, at leaft to a certain Degree. Politenefs has infinitely more Power to make a Perfon be loved, and his Company fought after, than the moft extraordinary Parts or Attainments he can be Mafter of.
Page 6 - It were to be wifhed that the greater part of fuch were deflroyed, after firft making an extract out of them of what was worth preferving. It would make a curious book if it were well done, with this title, An extraS of the Books which are not to it read.
Page 31 - We always efteem. the perfon we love more than he deferves, and the perfon we do not...
Page 37 - Qrace imaginable. Hence it is, that we fee a Man of Merit fometimes appear like a Coxcomb, and hear a Man of Genius talk like a Fool.
Page 37 - Things you are ignorant of, unlefs it be with a View to inform yourfelf. A Perfon cannot fail in the Obfervance of this Rule without making himfelf ridiculous ; and yet how often do we fee it tranfgrefled...
Page 30 - The firft rule, with regard to converfation, is, to obferve all the laws of politenefs in it...
Page 43 - I believe there would be fomewhat very improving in a converfation of this kind : and when a mind of a certain order appears undreffed, it muft be a fpe&acle equally agreeable and inftrudtive.
Page 279 - On the contrary, it is fuch a. thought as muft have occurred to every...
Page 34 - ... with. This rule is a confequence of the foregoing. Politenefs dictates it, but it requires more than politenefs to obferve it.
Page 32 - Great talents for converfation require to be accompany'd with great politenefs. He who eclipfes others, owes them great civilities. I was one day at a friend's with M.

Bibliographic information