Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/369

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Happy," writes: "Everything we read makes us better or worse, and, by a necessary consequence, increases or lessens our happiness. Be scrupulous in the choice of your books; often ask yourself what influence your reading exercises upon your conduct. If after having read such and such a work that pleases you - philosophy, history, fiction - or else such and such a review, or magazine, or newspaper in which you take delight - - if you then find yourself more slothful about discharging your duties, more dry and cross toward your equals, harder toward your inferiors, with more disrelish for your state of life, more greedy for pleasures, enjoyments, honors, riches - do not hesitate about giving up such readings i they would poison your life and endanger your eternal happiness."

"Learning is more profound When in few solid authors it may be found; A few books, digested well, do feed The mind; much cloys, and doth ill humor breed." - Robert Heath.

"A good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life," - Milton.

XLVI. The enemy in alcohol

I. Some persons assert that the word alcohol is derived from the Arabic "al-ghol," evil spirit. We will not seek to