The Art of Worldly Wisdom(63)

To be the First of the Kind is an Excellence. And to be eminent in it as well, a double one. To have the first move is a great advantage when the players are equal. Many a person would have been a veritable phoenix if he had been the first of the sort. Those who come first are the heirs of Fame; the others get only a younger brother's allowance: whatever they do, they cannot persuade the world they are anything more than parrots. The skill of prodigies may find a new path to eminence, and prudence accompanies them all the way. By the novelty of their enterprises sages write their names in the golden books of heroes. Some prefer to be first in things of minor import than second in greater exploits.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />