Maxims of Cardinal De Retz.
SOME of the most celebrated aphorisms ever given to the world are those of Cardinal De Retz. As a writer the fame of De Retz rests upon the “Memoirs,” a “most striking and brilliant work.” But his maxims have their value, as the reflections which a great and able man formed from long experience and practice in great business. This was Lord Chesterfield’s opinion, and he adds, “They are true conclusions, drawn from facts, not from speculation.” We subjoin a few of them: Weak men never yield at the proper time. There are no small steps in great affairs. I am persuaded that greater qualities are required to form a good party leader than to form an emperor of the universe; and that in order of the qualities which compose him, resolution should walk hand in hand with judgment—I mean heroic judgment, the principal use of which is to distinguish the extraordinary from the impossible. Upon men of small understanding nothing makes so deep an impression as what they do not understand. When fear rises to a certain height it produces the same effect as temerity. Fear never supplies the proper remedy. We should never play with favor; we cannot too closely embrace it when it is real, nor fly too far from it when it is false. A man who distrusts himself never truly confides in any one. Men never believe others can do what they cannot do themselves. The effects of weakness are inconceivable, and I maintain that they are far vaster than those of the most violent passions. I have remarked that ill-founded enmities are ever the most obstinate. The reason of this is clear. As offenses of that kind exist only in the imagination, they never fail to grow and swell in that receptacle, too fruitful to evil fancies.