of the coxcomb.

10. When you see a man of sense look about for applause, and discover an
itching inclination to be commended; lay traps for a little incense,
even from those whose opinion he values in nothing but his own favour;
who is safe against this weakness? or who knows whether he is guilty of
it or not? The best way to get clear of such a light fondness for
applause is, to take all possible care to throw off the love of it upon
occasions that are not in themselves laudable; but, as it appears, we
hope for no praise from them.

11. Of this nature are all graces in men's persons, dress, and bodily
deportment; which will naturally be winning and attractive if we think
not of them, but lose their force in proportion to our endeavour to make
them such.

When our consciousness turns upon the main design of life, and our
thoughts are employed upon the chief purpose either in business or
pleasure, we should never betray an affectation, for we cannot be guilty
of it, but when we give the passion for praise an unbridled liberty, our
pleasure in little perfections robs us of what is due to us for great
virtues and worthy qualities.

12. How many excellent speeches and honest actions are lost, for want of
being indifferent where we ought! Men are oppressed with regard to their
way of speaking and acting, instead of having their thoughts bent upon
what they should do or say; and by that means bury a capacity for great
things, by their fear of failing in indifferent things. This, perhaps,
cannot be called affectation; but it has some tincture of it, at least
so far, as that their fear of erring in a thing of no consequence argues