He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our
skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our
skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]

So when two dogs are fighting in the streets,
When a third dog one of the two dogs meets:
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So when two dogs are fighting in the streets,
When a third dog one of the two dogs meets:
With angry teeth he bites him to the bone,
And this dog smarts for what that dog has done.

But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
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But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
From sharp contentions.

Agreement exists in disagreement.
[Lat., Mansit concordia discors.]

Agreement exists in disagreement.
[Lat., Mansit concordia discors.]

Thus when a barber and collier fight,
The barber beats the luckless collier--white;
The dusty collier heaves read more

Thus when a barber and collier fight,
The barber beats the luckless collier--white;
The dusty collier heaves his ponderous sack,
And, big with vengeance, beats the barber--black.
In comes the brick-dust man, with grime o'er spread,
And beats the collier and the barber--red;
Black, red, and white, in various clouds are toss'd,
And in the dust they raise the combatants are lost.

And the combat ceased, for want of combatants.
[Fr., Et le combat cessa, faute de combattants.]

And the combat ceased, for want of combatants.
[Fr., Et le combat cessa, faute de combattants.]

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention read more

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on
usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them
doth curse me.