Aphorism #47 Avoid "Affairs of Honour"

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Aphorism #47 Avoid "Affairs of Honour"

--one of the chiefest aims of prudence. In men of great ability the extremes are kept far asunder, so that there is a long distance between them, and they always keep in the middle of their caution, so that they take time to break through it. It is easier to avoid such affairs than to come well out of them. They test our judgment; it is better to avoid them than to conquer in them. One affair of honour leads to another, and may lead to an affair of dishonour. There are men so constituted by nature or by nation that they easily enter upon such obligations. But for him that walks by the light of reason, such a matter requires long thinking over. There is more valour needed not to take up the affair than to conquer in it. When there is one fool ready for the occasion, one may excuse oneself from being the second.

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[Jane Jane]

Yes I agree with this. I believe that only one in hundreds of thousands has that certain something, an anointing if you will , to be an Alexander the Great and go and do this thing or that and succeed mightily.
The rest of us have perhaps the very same gifts, but in minute quantities and therefore it is nothing but folly for us to go forth and do these things of 'honor'. Better we do quietly what we can do well and stay out of that and live to see another day in dignity and enough freedom if you will to accomplish something in life worth leaving behind, even if it seems lesser.