MORAL CHARACTER
THE moral character of a man should be not only pure,
but, like Caesar's wife, unsuspected. The least speck or blemish upon it is
fatal. Nothing degrades and vilifies more; for it excites and unites
detestation and contempt. There are, however, wretches in the world profligate
enough to explode all notions of moral good and evil; to maintain that they are
merely local, and depend entirely upon the customs and fashions of different
countries; nay, there are still, if possible, more unaccountable wretches: I
mean, those who affect to preach and propagate such absurd and infamous notions,
without believing them themselves. Avoid, as much as possible, the company of
such people, who reflect a degree of discredit and infamy upon all who converse
with them. But, as you may sometimes, by accident, fall into such company, take
great care that no complaisance, no good-humor, no warmth of festal mirth, ever
make you seem even to acquiesce, much less approve or applaud, such infamous
doctrines. On the other hand, do not debate, nor enter into serious argument, upon
a subject so much below it; but content yourself with telling them, that you
know they are not serious; that you have a much better opinion of them than they
would have you have; and that you are very sure they would not practice the
doctrine they preach. But put your private mark upon them, and shun them
forever afterwards.
There is nothing so delicate as a man’s
moral character, and nothing which it is his interest so much to preserve pure.
Should he be suspected of injustice, malignity, perfidy, lying, etc., all the
parts and knowledge in the world will never procure him esteem, friendship, or
respect. I therefore recommend to you a most scrupulous tenderness for your
moral character, and the utmost care not to say or to do the least thing that
may, ever so slightly, taint it. Show yourself, upon all occasions, the friend,
but not the bully of virtue. Even Colonel Chartres, (who was the most notorious
blasted rascal in the world, and who had, by all sorts of crimes, amassed
immense wealth,) sensible of the disadvantage of a bad character, was once
heard to say, that “although he would not give one farthing for virtue, he
would give ten thousand pounds for a character; because he should get a hundred
thousand pounds by it.” Is it possible, then, that an honest man can neglect
what a wise rogue would purchase so dear?
There
is one of the vices above mentioned, into which people of good education, and,
in the main, of good principles, sometimes fall, from mistaken notions of
skill, dexterity, and self-defense, I mean lying: though it is inseparably
attended with more infamy and loss than any other. But I have before given you
my sentiments very freely on this subject: I shall, therefore, conclude this
head with entreating you to be scrupulously jealous of the purity of your moral
character: keep it immaculate, unblemished, unsullied, and it will be
unsuspected. Defamation and calumny never attack where there is no weak place:
they magnify, but they do not create.
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