without Ceremony; he is quite superior to the _Affectation_ of a
Virtue or Accomplishment, which he thinks does not belong to him;
scorns all _Imitation_ of others; and contemns the rest of the World
for being servilely obedient to Forms and Customs; disclaiming all
such Submission himself, and regulating his Conduct in general by his
own _Conviction_,

The _Humourist_ is forward upon many Occasions to deliver his Opinion,
in a peremptory Manner, and before he is desir'd; but he gives it
sincerely, unbiass'd by _Fear_ or _Regard_, and then leaves it to the
Persons concern'd to determine for themselves; For he is more pleas'd
in the Bottom to find his Opinion _slighted_, and to see the Conduct
of others agreeable to that System of Folly and Weakness, which he has
established with himself, to be the Course of their Actions.--To view
a rational Conduct, even in pursuance of his own Advice, would greatly
disappoint him; and be a Contradiction to this _System_ he has laid
down;--Besides it would deprive him of an Occasion of gratifying his
Spleen, with the Contempt of that Folly, which he esteems to be
natural to the rest of Mankind; For he considers himself in the World,
like a _sober_ Person in the Company of Men, who are _drunken_ or
_mad_; He may advise them to be calm, and to avoid hurting themselves,
but he does not expect they will regard his Advice; On the
contrary, he is more pleas'd with observing their _Freaks_ and
_Extravagancies_.--It is from hence that he discourages and
depreciates all who pretend to _Discretion_; Persons of this Temper
not yielding him Sport or Diversion.

It is certain that the _Humourist_ is excessively _proud_, and yet
without knowing or suspecting it. For from the Liberty which he
frankly allows to others, of rejecting his Opinion, he is fully