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is uncertain； and that the ills of others ought not to afflict us so much
as our own。
I will not here omit； that I never mutiny so much against France； that I
am not perfectly friends with Paris； that city has ever had my heart from
my infancy； and it has fallen out； as of excellent things； that the more
beautiful cities I have seen since； the more the beauty of this still
wins upon my affection。 I love her for herself； and more in her own
native being； than in all the pomp of foreign and acquired
embellishments。 I love her tenderly； even to her warts and blemishes。
I am a Frenchman only through this great city； great in people； great in
the felicity of her situation； but； above all； great and incomparable in
variety and diversity of commodities： the glory of France； and one of the
most noble ornaments of the world。 May God drive our divisions far from
her。 Entire and united； I think her sufficiently defended from all other
violences。 I give her caution that； of all sorts of people； those will
be the worst that shall set her in discord； I have no fear for her； but
of herself； and； certainly； I have as much fear for her as for any other
part of the kingdom。 Whilst she shall continue； I shall never want a
retreat； where I may stand at bay； sufficient to make me amends for
parting with any other retreat。
Not because Socrates has said so； but because it is in truth my own
humour； and peradventure not without some excess； I look upon all men as
my compatriots； and embrace a Polander as a Frenchman； preferring the
universal and common tie to all national ties whatever。 I am not much
taken with the sweetness of a native air： acquaintance wholly new and
wholly my own appear to me full as good as the other common and
fortuitous ones with Four neighbours： friendships that are purely of our
own acquiring ordinarily carry it above those to which the communication
of climate or of blood oblige us。 Nature has placed us in the world free
and unbound； we imprison ourselves in certain straits； like the kings of
Persia； who obliged themselves to drink no other water but that of the
river Choaspes； foolishly quitted claim to their right in all other
streams； and； so far as concerned themselves； dried up all the other
rivers of the world。 What Socrates did towards his end； to look upon a
sentence of banishment as worse than a sentence of death against him； I
shall； I think； never be either so decrepid or so strictly habituated to
my own country to be of that opinion。 These celestial lives have images
enough that I embrace more by esteem than affection； and they have some
also so elevated and extraordinary that I cannot embrace them so much as
by esteem； forasmuch as I cannot conceive them。 That fancy was singular
in a man who thought the whole world his city； it is true that he
disdained travel； and had hardly ever set his foot out of the Attic
territories。 What say you to his complaint of the money his friends
offered to save his life； and that he refused to come out of prison by
the mediation of others； in order not to disobey the laws in a time when
they were otherwise so corrupt？ These examples are of the first kind for
me； of the second； there are others that I could find out in the same
person： many of these rare examples surpass the force of my action； but
some of them； moreover； surpass the force of my judgment。
Besides these reasons； travel is in my opinion a very profitable
exercise； the soul is there continually employed in observing new and
unknown things； and I do not know； as I have often said a better school
wherein to model life than by incessantly exposing to it the diversity
of so many other lives； fancies； and usances； and by making it relish a
perpetual variety of forms of human nature。 The body is； therein；
neither idle nor overwrought； and that moderate agitation puts it in
breath。 I can keep on horseback； tormented with the stone as I am；
without alighting or being weary； eight or ten hours together：
〃Vires ultra sorternque senectae。〃
＇〃Beyond the strength and lot of age。〃AEneid； vi。 114。＇
No season is enemy to me but the parching heat of a scorching sun； for
the umbrellas made use of in Italy； ever since the time of the ancient
Romans； more burden a man's arm than they relieve his head。 I would fain
know how it was that the Persians； so long ago and in the infancy of
luxury； made ventilators where they wanted them； and planted shades； as
Xenophon reports they did。 I love rain； and to dabble in the dirt； as
well as ducks do。 The change of air and climate never touches me； every
sky is alike； I am only troubled with inward alterations which I breed
within myself； and those are not so frequent in travel。 I am hard to be
got out； but being once upon the road； I hold out as well as the best。
I take as much pains in little as in great attempts； and am as solicitous
to equip myself for a short journey； if but to visit a neighbour； as for
the longest voyage。 I have learned to travel after the Spanish fashion；
and to make but one stage of a great many miles； and in excessive heats
I always travel by night； from sun set to sunrise。 The other method of
baiting by the way； in haste and hurry to gobble up a dinner； is；
especially in short days； very inconvenient。 My horses perform the
better； never any horse tired under me that was able to hold out the
first day's journey。 I water them at every brook I meet； and have only a
care they have so much way to go before I come to my inn； as will digest
the water in their bellies。 My unwillingness to rise in a morning gives
my servants leisure to dine at their ease before they set out； for my own
part； I never eat too late； my appetite comes to me in eating； and not
else； I am never hungry but at table。
Some of my friends blame me for continuing this travelling humour； being
married and old。 But they are out in't； 'tis the best time to leave a
man's house； when he has put it into a way of continuing without him； and
settled such order as corresponds with its former government。 'Tis much
greater imprudence to abandon it to a less faithful housekeeper； and who
will be less solicitous to look after your affairs。
The most useful and honourable knowledge and employment for the mother of
a family is the science of good housewifery。 I see some that are
covetous indeed； but very few that are good managers。 'Tis the supreme
quality of a woman； which a man ought to seek before any other； as the
only dowry that must ruin or preserve our houses。 Let men say what they
will； according to the experience I have learned； I require in married
women the economical virtue above all other virtues； I put my wife to't；
as a concern of her own； leaving her； by my absence； the whole government
of my affairs。 I see； and am vexed to see； in several families I know；
Monsieur about noon come home all jaded and ruffled about his affairs；
when Madame is still dressing her hair and tricking up herself； forsooth；
in her closet： this is for queens to do； and that's a question； too： 'tis
ridiculous and unjust that the laziness of our wives should be maintained
with