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And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered ? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain ; it makes no inerease of merit in the person ; it creates envy ; it hastens misfortune.
"What is a butterfly? at best
He's but a caterpillar drest;
The gaudy fop's his picture just,"
But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered by the terms of this sale, six months credit ; and that
perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But ah ! think
what do when you run in debt ; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see
your creditor, you will be in fear when you speak to him, you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying ; for, as poor Richard says, “ the second vice is lying ; the first is running in debt."
And again, to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt's back;" whereas a free born Briton ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. "It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright," as poor Richard truly says.
