good…will； and he must be anxious to relieve every little pain； and to contribute to the enjoyment and complacent feelings； of those with whom he is permanently or accidentally connected。 〃Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh。〃
There are two considerations by which we ought to be directed in the exercise of the faculty of speech。
The first is； that we should tell our neighbour all that it would be useful to him to know。 We must have no sinister or bye ends。 〃No man liveth to himself。〃 We are all of us members of the great congregation of mankind。 The same blood should circulate through every limb and every muscle。 Our pulses should beat time to each other； and we should have one common sensorium； vibrating throughout； upon every material accident that occurs； and when any object is at stake essentially affecting the welfare of our fellow…beings。 We should forget ourselves in the interest that we feel for the happiness of others； and； if this were universal； each man would be a gainer； inasmuch as he lost himself； and was cared and watched for by many。
In all these respects we must have no reserve。 We should only consider what it is that it would be beneficial to have declared。
We must not look back to ourselves； and consult the dictates of a narrow and self…interested prudence。 The whole essence of communication is adulterated； if； instead of attending to the direct effects of what suggests itself to our tongue； we are to consider how by a circuitous route it may react upon our own pleasures and advantage。
Nor only are we bound to communicate to our neighbour all that it will be useful to him to know。 We have many neighbours； beside those to whom we immediately address ourselves。 To these our absent fellow…beings； we owe a thousand duties。 We are bound to defend those whom we hear aspersed； and who are spoken unworthily of by the persons whom we incidentally encounter。 We should be the forward and spontaneous advocates of merit in every shape and in every individual in whom we know it to exist。 What a character would that man make for himself； of whom it was notorious that he consecrated his faculty of speech to the refuting unjust imputations against whomsoever they were directed； to the contradicting all false and malicious reports； and to the bringing forth obscure and unrecognised worth from the shades in which it lay hid！ What a world should we live in； if all men were thus prompt and fearless to do justice to all the worth they knew or apprehended to exist！ Justice； simple justice； if it extended no farther than barely to the faculty of speech； would in no long time put down all misrepresentation and calumny； bring all that is good and meritorious into honour； and； so to speak； set every man in his true and rightful position。 But whoever would attempt this； must do it in all honour； without parade； and with no ever…and…anon looking back upon his achievement； and saying； See to how much credit I am entitled！as if he laid more stress upon himself； the doer of this justice； than upon justice in its intrinsic nature and claims。
But we not only owe something to the advantage and interest of our neighbours； but something also to the sacred divinity of Truth。 I am not only to tell my neighbour whatever I know that may be beneficial to him； respecting his position in society； his faults； what other men appear to contemplate that may conduce to his advantage or injury； and to advise him how the one may best be forwarded； or the other defeated and brought to nothing： I am bound also to consider in what way it may be in my power so to act on his mind； as shall most enlarge his views； confirm and animate his good resolutions； and meliorate his dispositions and temper。 We are all members of one great community： and we shall never sufficiently discharge our duty in that respect； till； like the ancient Spartans； the love of the whole becomes our predominant passion； and we cease to imagine that we belong to ourselves； so much as to the entire body of which we are a part。 There are certain views in morality； in politics； and various other important subjects； the general prevalence of which will be of the highest benefit to the society of which we are members； and it becomes us in this respect； with proper temperance and moderation； to conform ourselves to the zealous and fervent precept of the apostle； to 〃promulgate the truth and be instant； in season and out of season；〃 that we may by all means leave some monument of our good intentions behind us； and feel that we have not lived in vain。
There is a maxim extremely in vogue in the ordinary intercourses of society； which deserves to be noticed here； for the purpose of exposing it to merited condemnation。 It is very common between friends； or persons calling themselves such； to say； 〃Do not ask my advice in a certain crisis of your life； I will not give it； hereafter； if the thing turns out wrong； you will reflect on me； and say that it was at my suggestion that you were involved in calamity。〃 This is a dastardly excuse； and shews a pitiful selfishness in the man that urges it。
It is true； that we ought ever to be on the alert； that we may not induce our friend into evil。 We should be upon our guard； that we may not from overweening arrogance and self…conceit dictate to another； overpower his more sober judgment； and assume a rashness for him； in which perhaps we would not dare to indulge for ourselves。 We should be modest in our suggestions； and rather supply him with materials for decision； than with a decision absolutely made。 There may however be cases where an opposite proceeding is necessary。 We must arrest our friend； nay； even him who is merely our fellow…creature； with a strong arm； when we see him hovering on the brink of a precipice； or the danger is so obvious； that nothing but absolute blindness could conceal it from an impartial bystander。
But in all cases our best judgment should always be at the service of our brethren of mankind。 〃Give to him that asketh thee； and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away。〃
This may not always be practicable or just； when applied to the goods of fortune： but the case of advice； information； and laws of conduct； comes within that of Ennius； to suffer our neighbour to light his candle at our lamp。 To do so will enrich him； without making us a jot the poorer。 We should indeed respect the right of private judgment； and scarcely in any case allow our will to supersede his will in his own proper province。 But we should on no account suffer any cowardly fears for ourselves； to induce us to withhold from him any assistance that our wider information or our sounder judgment might supply to him。
The next consideration by which we should be directed in the exercise of the faculty of speech； is that we should employ it so as should best conduce to the pleasure of our neighbour。 Man is a different creature in the savage and the civilised state。 It has been affirmed； and it may be true； that the savage man is a stranger to that disagreeable frame of mind； known by the name of ennui。 He can pore upon the babbling stream； or stretch himself upon a sunny bank； from the rising to the setting of the sun； and be satisfied。 He is scarcely roused from this torpid state but by the cravings of nature。 If they can be supplied without effort； he immediately relapses into his former supineness； and； if it requires search； industry and exertion to procure their gratification； he still more eagerly embraces the repose； which previous fatigue renders doubly welcome。
But； when the mind has once been wakened up from its original lethargy； when we have overstepped the boundary which divides the man from the beast； and are made desirous of improvement； while at the same moment the tumultuous passions that draw us in infinitely diversified directions are called into act； the case becomes exceedingly different。 It might be difficult at first to rouse man from his original lethargy： it is next to impossible that he should ever again be restored to it。 The appetite of the mind being once thoroughly awakened in society； the human species are found to be perpetually craving after new intellectual food。 We read； we write； we discourse； we ford rivers； and scale mountains； and engage in various pursuits； for the pure pleasure that the activity and earnestness of the pursuit afford us。 The day of the savage and the civilised man are still called by the same name。 They may be measured by a pendulum； and will be found to be of the same duration。 But in all other points of view they are inexpressibly different。
Hence therefore arises another duty that is incumbent upon us as to the exercise of the faculty of speech。 This duty will be more or less urgent according to the situation in which we are placed。
If I sit down in a numerous assembly； if I become one of a convivial party of ten or twelve persons； I may unblamed be for the greater part； or entirely silent； if I please。 I must appear to enter into their sentiments and pleasures； or； if I do not； I shall be an unwelcome guest； but it may scarcely be required for me to clothe my feelings with articulate speech。
But； when my society shall be that of a few friends only； and still more if the question is of spending hours or days in the society of a single friend； my duty becomes altered； and a greater degree of activity will be required from me。 There are cases； where the minor morals of the species will be of more importance than those which in their own nature are cardinal。 Duties of the highest magnitude will perhaps only be brought into requisition upon extraordinary occasions； but the opportunities we have of lessening the inconveniences of our neighbour； or of adding to his accommodations and the amount of his agreeable feelings； are innumerable。 An acceptable and welcome member of society therefore will not talk； only when he has something important to communicate。 He will also study how he may amuse his friend with agreeable narratives； lively remarks； sallies of wit； or any of those thousand nothings； which' set off with a wish to please and a benevolent temper； will often entertain more and win the entire good will of