which nobody but himself ever escaped； he has seen with his own eyes；
whatever other people have heard or read of： he has had more 'bonnes
fortunes' than ever he knew women； and has ridden more miles post in one
day； than ever courier went in two。 He is soon discovered； and as soon
becomes the object of universal contempt and ridicule。 Remember； then；
as long as you live； that nothing but strict truth can carry you through
the world； with either your conscience or your honor unwounded。 It is
not only your duty； but your interest； as a proof of which you may always
observe； that the greatest fools are the greatest liars。 For my own
part； I judge of every man's truth by his degree of understanding。
This letter will； I suppose； find you at Leipsig； where I expect and
require from you attention and accuracy； in both which you have hitherto
been very deficient。 Remember that I shall see you in the summer； shall
examine you most narrowly； and will never forget nor forgive those
faults； which it has been in your own power to prevent or cure； and be
assured that I have many eyes upon you at Leipsig； besides Mr。 Harte's。
Adieu！
LETTER XV
LONDON； October 2； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： By your letter of the 18th past； N。 S。； I find that you are a
tolerably good landscape painter； and can present the several views of
Switzerland to the curious。 I am very glad of it； as it is a proof of
some attention； but I hope you will be as good a portrait painter； which
is a much more noble science。 By portraits； you will easily judge； that
I do not mean the outlines and the coloring of the human figure； but the
inside of the heart and mind of man。 This science requires more
attention； observation； and penetration； than the other； as indeed it is
infinitely more useful。 Search； therefore； with the greatest care； into
the characters of those whom you converse with； endeavor to discover
their predominant passions； their prevailing weaknesses； their vanities；
their follies； and their humors； with all the right and wrong； wise and
silly springs of human actions； which make such inconsistent and
whimsical beings of us rational creatures。 A moderate share of
penetration； with great attention； will infallibly make these necessary
discoveries。 This is the true knowledge of the world； and the world is
a country which nobody ever yet knew by description； one must travel
through it one's self to be acquainted with it。 The scholar； who in the
dust of his closet talks or writes of the world； knows no more of it；
than that orator did of war； who judiciously endeavored to instruct
Hannibal in it。 Courts and camps are the only places to learn the world
in。 There alone all kinds of characters resort； and human nature is seen
in all the various shapes and modes； which education； custom； and habit
give it； whereas； in all other places； one local mode generally prevails；
and producing a seeming though not a real sameness of character。 For
example； one general mode distinguishes an university； another a trading
town； a third a seaport town； and so on； whereas； at a capital； where the
Prince or the Supreme Power resides； some of all these various modes are
to be seen and seen in action too； exerting their utmost skill in pursuit
of their several objects。 Human nature is the same all over the world；
but its operations are so varied by education and habit； that one must
see it in all its dresses in order to be intimately acquainted with it。
The passion of ambition； for instance； is the same in a courtier；
a soldier； or an ecclesiastic； but； from their different educations and
habits； they will take very different methods to gratify it。 Civility；
which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others； is essentially
the same in every country； but good…breeding； as it is called； which is
the manner of exerting that disposition； is different in almost every
country； and merely local； and every man of sense imitates and conforms
to that local good…breeding of the place which he is at。 A conformity
and flexibility of manners is necessary in the course of the world； that
is； with regard to all things which are not wrong in themselves。 The
'versatile ingenium' is the most useful of all。 It can turn itself
instantly from one object to another； assuming the proper manner for
each。 It can be serious with the grave； cheerful with the gay； and
trifling with the frivolous。 Endeavor by all means； to acquire this
talent； for it is a very great one。
As I hardly know anything more useful； than to see； from time to time；
pictures of one's self drawn by different hands； I send you here a sketch
of yourself； drawn at Lausanne； while you were there； and sent over here
by a person who little thought that it would ever fall into my hands： and
indeed it was by the greatest accident in the world that it did。
LETTER XVI
LONDON； October 9； O。 S。 1747。
DEAR BOY： People of your age have； commonly； an unguarded frankness about
them； which makes them the easy prey and bubbles of the artful and the
experienced； they look upon every knave or fool； who tells them that he
is their friend； to be really so； and pay that profession of simulated
friendship； with an indiscreet and unbounded confidence； always to their
loss； often to their ruin。 Beware； therefore； now that you are coming
into the world； of these preferred friendships。 Receive them with great
civility； but with great incredulity too； and pay them with compliments；
but not with confidence。 Do not let your vanity and self…love make you
suppose that people become your friends at first sight； or even upon a
short acquaintance。 Real friendship is a slow grower and never thrives
unless engrafted upon a stock of known and reciprocal merit。 There is
another kind of nominal friendship among young people； which is warm for
the time； but by good luck； of short duration。 This friendship is
hastily produced； by their being accidentally thrown together； and
pursuing the course of riot and debauchery。 A fine friendship； truly；
and well cemented by drunkenness and lewdness。 It should rather be
called a conspiracy against morals and good manners； and be punished as
such by the civil magistrate。 However； they have the impudence and folly
to call this confederacy a friendship。 They lend one another money；
for bad purposes； they engage in quarrels； offensive and defensive for
their accomplices； they tell one another all they know； and often more
too； when； of a sudden； some accident disperses them； and they think no
more of each other； unless it be to betray and laugh； at their imprudent
confidence。 Remember to make a great difference between companions and
friends； for a very complaisant and agreeable companion may； and often
does； prove a very improper and a very dangerous friend。 People will；
in a great degree； and not without reason； form their opinion of you；
upon that which they have of your friends； and there is a Spanish
proverb； which says very justly； TELL ME WHO YOU LIVE WITH AND I WILL
TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE。 One may fairly suppose； that the man who makes a
knave or a fool his friend； has something very bad to do or to conceal。
But； at the same time that you carefully decline the friendship of knaves
and fools； if it can be called friendship； there is no occasion to make
either of them your enemies； wantonly and unprovoked； for they are
numerous bodies： and I； would rather choose a secure neutrality； than
alliance； or war with either of them。 You may be a declared enemy to
their vices and follies； without being marked out by them as a personal
one。 Their enmity is the next dangerous thing to their friendship。
Have a real reserve with almost everybody； and have a seeming reserve
with almost nobody； for it is very disagreeable to seem reserved； and
very dangerous not to be so。 Few people find the true medium； many are
ridiculously mysterious and reserved upon trifles； and many imprudently
communicative of all they know。
The next thing to the choice of your friends； is the choice of your
company。 Endeavor； as much as you can； to keep company with people above
you： there you rise； as much as you sink with people below you； for （as I
have mentioned before） you are whatever the company you keep is。 Do not
mistake； when I say company above you； and think that I mean with regard
to； their birth： that is the least consideration； but I mean with regard
to their merit； and the light in which the world considers them。
There are two sorts of good company； one； which is called the beau monde；
and consists of the people who have the lead in courts； and in the gay
parts of life； the other consists of those who are distinguished by some
peculiar merit； or who excel in some particular and valuable art or
science。 For my own part； I used to think myself in company as； much
above me； when I was with Mr。 Addison and Mr。 Pope； as if I had been with
all the princes in Europe。 What I mean by low company； which should by
all means be avoided； is the company of those； who； absolutely
insignificant and contemptible in themselves； think they are honored by
being in your company； and who flatter every vice and every folly you
have； in order to engage you to converse with them。 The pride of being
the first of the company is but too common； but it is very silly； and
very prejudicial。 Nothing in the world lets down a character quicker
than that wrong turn。
You may possibly ask me； whether a man has it always in his power to get
the best company？ and how？ I say； Yes； he has； by deserving it；
providing he is but in circumstances which enable him to appear upon the
footing of a gentleman。 Merit and good…breeding will make their way
everywhere。 Knowledge will introduce him； and good…breeding will endear
him to the best companies： for； as I have often told you； politeness and
good…breeding are absolutely necessary to adorn any； or all other good
qualities or talents。 Without them； no knowledge； no perfection
whatever； is seen in its best light。 The scholar； without good…breeding；
is a pedant； the philosopher； a cynic； the soldier； a brute； and every
man disagreeable。
I long to hear； f