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by thimkerbell 400 days ago
Nice. On the virtue of silence: "in conversation [knowledge is] obtain’d rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue, ..."
3 comments

> My list of virtues contain’d at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my pride show’d itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent, of which he convinc’d me by mentioning several instances; I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest, and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning to the word.

> I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it.

(I alway laugh at this because to be truly humble a person can not boast of being virtuous therefore can't boast of being humble which creates a paradox.)

As a high school teacher would say:

“The good Lord gave you two eyes, two ears, but only one mouth”

("nice" in the good sense, I mean)