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"A man may have virtue, capacity, and good conduct," says La Bruy,re, "and yet be insupportable; the air and manner which we neglect, as little things, are frequently what the world judges us by, and makes them decide for or against us." In your intercourse with the world you must take persons as they are, and society as you find it. You must never oppose the one, nor attempt to alter the other.
"Certainly, sir it is not such lords as you are who are allowed to wait in the ante-chamber, only just now he has a secret conference with Monsieur de Bruy." "De Bruy!" cried the friends, "'tis then useless our seeing monsieur the coadjutor this evening," said Aramis, "so we give it up." And they hastened to quit the palace, followed by Bazin, who was lavish of bows and compliments.
"We may define politeness," says La Bruy,re, "though we cannot tell where to fix it in practice. It observes received usages and customs, is bound to times and places, and is not the same thing in the two sexes or in different conditions. Wit alone cannot obtain it: it is acquired and brought to perfection by emulation.
Flattery is the smoothest path to success; and the most refined and gratifying compliment you can pay, is to listen. "The wit of conversation consists more in finding it in others," says La Bruy,re, "than in showing a great deal yourself: he who goes from your conversation pleased with himself and his own wit, is perfectly well pleased with you.
"What have you done with Monsieur de Bruy? Has he by any possibility gone to change his face which was too like that of Monsieur de Mazarin? There is an abundance of Italian masks at the Palais Royal, from harlequin even to pantaloon." "Chevalier! chevalier!" said Athos. "Leave me alone," said Aramis impatiently. "You know well that I don't like to leave things half finished."
"Confederacies difficult; why. "Seldom in war a match for single persons nor in peace; therefore kings make themselves absolute. Confederacies in learning every great work the work of one. Bruy. Scholars friendship like ladies. Scribebamus, &c. Mart. The apple of discord the laurel of discord the poverty of criticism. Swift's opinion of the power of six geniuses united. That union scarce possible.
Lord Chesterfield says that the Duke of Marlborough owed his first promotions to the suavity of his manners, and that without it he could not have risen. La Bruy,re has elsewhere given this happy definition of politeness, the other passage being rather a description of it.
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