The Passions of the Mind in General

and prudent Politician, by penetrating the nature and qualities of his affections, by reſtraining their inordinate motions, winneth a gratious cariage of himſelfe, and rendereth his conuerſation moft gratefull to men: for I my ſelfe haue ſeene ſome, Gentlemen by blood, and Noblemen by birth, yet ſo appaſsionate in affections, that their company was to moſt men intollerable: Prover. 15.18. for true is that Salomon ſaide, Vir iracundus prouocat rixas, qui patiens eſt mitigat ſuſcitatas, An angry man raiſeth brawles, but a patient man appeaſeth them after they be raiſed. And therefore howe vngratefull muſt his company ſeeme, whoſe paſsions ouer-rule him? and men had neede of an Aſtrolabe alwayes, to ſee in what height or eleuation his affections are, left, by caſting forth a ſparke of fire, his gun-powdred minde of a ſodayne be inflamed. I omit how he may inſinuate himſelfe into other mens loue and affections, how in trauelling in ſtrange countries he may diſcouer, to what paſsion the people are moſt inclined; for as I haue ſeene by experience, there is no Nation in Europe that hath not ſome extraordinarie affection, either in pride, anger, luſt, inconſtancie, gluttonie, drunkenneſſe, ſlouth, or ſuch like paſsion: much it importeth in good conuerſation, to know exactly the companies inclination; and his ſocietie cannot but be gratefull, whoſe paſsions are moderate, and behauiour circumſpect. I ſay nothing of Magiſtrates, who may by this matter vnderstand the inclinations and diſpoſitions of their inferiours and ſubiects. But finally I will conclude, that this ſubiect I intreat of, comprehendeth the chiefe obiect that all the antient Philoſophers aymed at, wherein they placed the moſt of their felicitie, that was, Noſce teipſum, Know thy self: the