licentious, dissolute sort, this leaving always ill impressions upon
the mind; that it be no way injurious or vexatious to others; and
that too much time be not spent this way, to the neglect of those
duties and offices of life which belong to their station and
condition in the world. However, though there is not any necessity
that men should aim at being important and weighty in every sentence
they speak: yet since useful subjects, at least of some kinds, are
as entertaining as others, a wise man, even when he desires to
unbend his mind from business, would choose that the conversation
might turn upon somewhat instructive.

The last thing is, the government of the tongue as relating to
discourse of the affairs of others, and giving of characters. These
are in a manner the same; and one can scarce call it an indifferent
subject, because discourse upon it almost perpetually runs into
somewhat criminal.

And, first of all, it were very much to be wished that this did not
take up so great a part of conversation; because it is indeed a
subject of a dangerous nature. Let any one consider the various
interests, competitions, and little misunderstandings which arise
amongst men; and he will soon see that he is not unprejudiced and
impartial; that he is not, as I may speak, neutral enough to trust
himself with talking of the character and concerns of his neighbour,
in a free, careless, and unreserved manner. There is perpetually,
and often it is not attended to, a rivalship amongst people of one
kind or another in respect to wit, beauty, learning, fortune, and
that one thing will insensibly influence them to speak to the
disadvantage of others, even where there is no formed malice or ill-
design. Since therefore it is so hard to enter into this subject