Lesson 23 – Of Benefits, and of Unthankfulness.

Of Benefits, and of Unthankfulness.

1. Benefits ought to be as well borne in mind, as received with the hand.
2.The remembrance of Benefits ought never to wax old.
3. The will of the giver, and not the value of the gift, is to be regarded.
4. He is worthy to be deceived which, while he bestowed a benefit, thought of the receiving of another.
5. A small thing given willingly is more acceptable, than that which is grudgingly given, be it of never so great price.
6. One gift well given, recovers many losses.
7. a gift, grudgingly given of a niggard, is called a Stony Loaf; which, although it be bitter, is needful to be received of the hungry.
8. He is unthankful, which acknowledges not the good that is done him. He is more unthankful, that to his power requites it not. But he is most unthankful, that forgets it utterly.
9. To be unthankful is an uncomely thing.
10. There is no greater Treasure than Discretion and Wit; no greater Poverty than Ignorance; no better Friendship than Good Conditions; no better Guide than Good Fortune.
11. Hastiness causes Repentance.
12. Frowardness causes hindrance.
13. Pride is the cause of Hatred; and Sloth, of Dispraise.
14. Experience is a good chastisement.
15. It is better to seek, and not to find; than to find,and not to profit.
16. All things may be changed, save Nature; and all things eschewed, save Death.
17. Wit without Learning is like a tree without fruit.
18. It is better to suffer great necessity, than to borrow of him, whom a man may not trust.
19. The end of sickness is Death; and the end of darkness is Light.
20. Change of the World is a good Teacher.
21. The hasty man is never without trouble.
22. There are three sorts of men woeful to be seen. A rich man fallen into poverty. A virtuous man dispraised. And a wise man scorned of the ignorant.
23. He hath Riches sufficient; that needs neither to flatter, nor to borrow.
24. He does himself wrong; which obeys them whom he ought not.
25. Sufficient is the Castle which keeps wise men from all evil works.
26. Truth is the guide of all goodness, both in God and Man; which whoso will be made blessed and happy by it must be made partaker of it at the beginning of his life; that he may spend much of his time therein; for such a man is faithful, and to be trusted.
27. He that wittingly lies is untrustworthy; but he that lies unwittingly is mad: both of which properties are to be abhorred. For neither the untrustworthy , nor the mad, man can possibly become true friends.
28. He, truly, is to be honoured which does no wrong himself; and he which suffers none other to do him wrong, is worthy double honour, and more too.
29. He which is good himself; or abounds in any good thing whereof he may give other men part, and does it: he is, of all men, to be most highly honoured. And he that would so do, and cannot, deserves the second place. But he that envies to make any others partakers of what good he may, is to be abhorred.
30.We should not despise any good thing, because an evil man has it; but labour earnestly to get it, because it is good.
31. It is easy for a man to fall to all kinds of Vice; the way thereto is so ready and short. But God has made the way to Virtue hard, sharp, and rough: but though it appears so at first; yet, at the end, it is very pleasant.
32. Malice is easy to be taken; for, in all kinds of treaties, she puts herself in the throng.
33. Virtue shall be renowned for ever: but an evil man (both while he lives , and when he is dead) shall be forgotten; or else remembered to his friends’ dishonesty.
34. Wicked things continue not long in one estate: but always toss to and fro, waxing worse and worse, without any kind of measure or steadiness.