William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| Part I |
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| Passion |
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| 279. Passion is a sort of Fever in the Mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us. | 1 |
| 280. But being, intermitting to be sure, ’t is curable with care. | 2 |
| 281. It more than any thing deprives us of the use of our Judgment; for it raises a Dust very hard to see through. | 3 |
| 282. Like Wine, whose Lees fly by being jogg’d, it is too muddy to Drink. | 4 |
| 283. It may not unfitly be termed, the Mob of the Man, that commits a Riot upon his Reason. | 5 |
| 284. I have sometimes thought, that a Passionate Man is like a weak Spring that cannot stand long lock’d. | 6 |
| 285. And as true, that those things are unfit for use, that can’t bear small Knocks, without breaking. | 7 |
| 286. He that won’t hear can’t Judge, and he that can’t bear Contradiction, may, with all his Wit, miss the Mark. | 8 |
| 287. Objection and Debate Sift out Truth, which needs Temper as well as Judgment. | 9 |
| 288. But above all, observe it in Resentments, for their Passion is most Extravagant. | 10 |
| 289. Never chide for Anger, but Instruction. | 11 |
| 290. He that corrects out of Passion, raises Revenge sooner than Repentance. | 12 |
| 291. It has more of Wantonness than Wisdom, and resembles those that Eat to please their Pallate, rather than their Appetite. | 13 |
| 292. It is the difference between a Wise and a Weak Man; This Judges by the Lump, that by Parts and their Connection. | 14 |
| 293. The Greeks use to say, all Cases are governed by their Circumstances. The same thing may be well and ill as they change or vary the Matter. | 15 |
| 294. A Man’s Strength is shewn by his Bearing. Bonum Agere, & Male Pati, Regis est. 1 | 16 |
| | | Note 1. To do good and ill to endure is the part of a king. [back] |
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