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principibus vices.[47]

355. Continuous eloquence wearies.

Princes and kings sometimes play. They are not always on their thrones. They
weary there. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in
everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.

Nature acts by progress, itus et reditus. It goes and returns, then advances
further, then twice as much backwards, then more forward than ever, etc.

The tide of the sea behaves in the same manner; and so, apparently, does the
sun in its course.

356. The nourishment of the body is little by little. Fullness of
nourishment and smallness of substance.

357. When we would pursue virtues to their extremes on either side, vices
present themselves, which insinuate themselves insensibly there, in their
insensible journey towards the infinitely little; and vices present
themselves in a crowd towards the infinitely great, so that we lose
ourselves in them and no longer see virtues. We find fault with perfection
itself.

358. Man is neither angel nor brute, and the unfortunate thing is that he
who would act the angel acts the brute.

359. We do not sustain ourselves in virtue by our own strength, but by the
balancing of two opposed vices, just as we remain upright amidst two
contrary gales. Remove one of the vices, and we fall into