great, and convincing considerations; I do not hate opinions contrary to my own: I am so far from being angry to see a discrepancy betwixt mine and other men's judgments, and from rendering myself unfit for the society of men, from being of another sense and party than mine, that on the contrary (the most general way that nature has followed being variety, and more in souls than bodies, forasmuch as they are of a more supple substance, and more susceptible of forms) I find it much more rare to see our humours and designs jump and agree. And there never were, in the world, two opinions alike, no more than two hairs, or two grains: their most universal quality is diversity. THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK ESSAYS OF MONTAIGNE BOOK THE THIRD CHAPTER I OF UTILITY AND HONESTY No man is free from speaking foolish things; but the worst on't is, when a man labours to play the fool: "Ne ista bercle magno jam conatu magnas nugas dixerit.” 1 This does not concern me; mine slip from me with as little care as they are of little value, and 'tis the better for them. I would presently part with them for what they are worth, and neither buy nor sell them, but as they weigh. I speak on paper, as I do to the first person I meet; and that this is true, observe what follows. 2 To whom ought not treachery to be hateful, when Tiberius refused it in a thing of so great importance to him? He had word sent him from Germany that if he thought fit, they would rid him of Arminius by poison: this was the most potent enemy the Romans had, who had defeated them so ignominiously under Varus, and who alone prevented their aggrandisement in those parts. He returned answer, "that the people of Rome were wont to revenge themselves of their enemies by open ways, and with their swords in their hands, and not clandestinely and by fraud:" he quitted the profitable for the honest. 1 "Nay she, by Hercules! with a great effort will shortly say a mighty trifle."-Terence, Heaut., act iii. s. 4. 2 Tacitus, Annal., ii. 88. VOL. III. 225 P |