and all who we friendly to us; valiant in face of our enemy; generous to the vanquished; polite—always in all cases: so the four cardinal virtues wish us to be.
557
Marching against an enemy.—How acceptable sound bad music and bad motives when we march against an enemy !
558
Not to veil one’s virtues.—I love the men who are transparent like water, and who, to borrow the language of Pope, “do not hide from view the turbid bottom of their stream.” But even they are possessed of a certain vanity, though it be of a rare and more sublimated kind: some wish us to see only the mad and slight the transparence of the water which enables us to see to the bottom. None less than Gautama Buddha has given rise to the vanity of those few by the formula: “Let your sins shine before men and veil your virtues.” But this means to afford an unpleasant spectacle to the world—it offends against good taste.
559
Nothing in excess.—How often is the individual encouraged to set up a goal beyond his power in order to attain at least that which lies within the reach of his abilities and strenuous efforts? But is it really de-
