The Art of Worldly Wisdom(52)

Never be put out. It is a great aim of prudence never to be embarrassed. It is the sign of a real person, of a noble heart, for magnanimity is not easily put off balance. The passions are the humors of the soul, and every excess in them weakens prudence. If they overflow through the mouth, the reputation will be in danger. Let us therefore be so much and so great a master over ourselves that neither in the most fortunate nor in the most adverse circumstances can anything cause our reputation injury by disturbing our self-possession, but rather enhance it by showing superiority.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />