Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices

Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices

Virtue, I grant you, is an empty boast;
But shall the dignity of vice be lost?

Virtue, I grant you, is an empty boast;
But shall the dignity of vice be lost?

This is the essential evil of vice, that it debases man.

This is the essential evil of vice, that it debases man.

And last the Vice and Follies of the Age.

And last the Vice and Follies of the Age.

Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.

Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.

If you don't want anyone to know it, don't do it.

If you don't want anyone to know it, don't do it.

Those vices [luxury and neglect of decent manners] are vices of
men, not of the times.
[Lat., Hominum read more

Those vices [luxury and neglect of decent manners] are vices of
men, not of the times.
[Lat., Hominum sunt ista [vitia], non temporum.

If individuals have no vices, their virtues may be of use to us.

If individuals have no vices, their virtues may be of use to us.

Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut than shown;
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Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut than shown;
For vice repeated is like the wand'ring wind,
Blows dust in others' eye, to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear
To stop the air would hurt them.