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what you can find tolerable there； and commend it； without comparing it to anything better。 I have known many British Yahoos； who though while they were at Paris conformed to no one French custom； as soon as they got anywhere else； talked of nothing but what they did； saw； and eat at Paris。 The freedom of the French is not to be used indiscriminately at all the courts in Germany； though their easiness may； and ought； but that； too； at some places more than others。 The courts of Manheim and Bonn； I take to be a little more unbarbarized than some others； that of Mayence； an ecclesiastical one； as well as that of Treves （neither of which is much frequented by foreigners）； retains； I conceive； a great deal of the Goth and Vandal still。 There； more reserve and ceremony are necessary； and not a word of the French。 At Berlin； you cannot be too French。 Hanover； Brunswick； Cassel； etc。； are of the mixed kind； 'un peu decrottes； mais pas assez'。
Another thing； which I most earnestly recommend to you； not only in Germany； but in every part of the world where you may ever be； is not only real； but seeming attention； to whoever you speak to； or to whoever speaks to you。 There is nothing so brutally shocking； nor so little forgiven； as a seeming inattention to the person who is speaking to you： and I have known many a man knocked down； for （in my opinion） a much lighter provocation； than that shocking inattention which I mean。 I have seen many people； who； while you are speaking to them； instead of looking at； and attending to you； fix their eyes upon the ceiling or some other part of the room； look out of the window； play with a dog； twirl their snuff…box； or pick their nose。 Nothing discovers a little； futile； frivolous mind more than this； and nothing is so offensively ill…bred； it is an explicit declaration on your part； that every the most trifling object； deserves your attention more than all that can be said by the person who is speaking to you。 Judge of the sentiments of hatred and resentment； which such treatment must excite in every breast where any degree of self…love dwells； and I am sure I never yet met with that breast where there was not a great deal： I repeat it again and again （for it is highly necessary for you to remember it）； that sort of vanity and self…love is inseparable from human nature； whatever may be its rank or condition； even your footmen will sooner forget and forgive a beating； than any manifest mark of slight and contempt。 Be therefore； I beg of you； not only really； but seemingly and manifestly attentive to whoever speaks to you； nay； more； take their 'ton'； and tune yourself to their unison。 Be serious with the serious； gay with the gay； and trifle with the triflers。 In assuming these various shapes； endeavor to make each of them seem to sit easy upon you； and even to appear to be your own natural one。 This is the true and useful versatility； of which a thorough knowledge of the world at once teaches the utility and the means of acquiring。
I am very sure； at least I hope； that you will never make use of a silly expression； which is the favorite expression； and the absurd excuse of all fools and blockheads； I CANNOT DO SUCH A THING； a thing by no means either morally or physically impossible。 I CANNOT attend long together to the same thing； says one fool； that is； he is such a fool that he will not。 I remember a very awkward fellow； who did not know what to do with his sword； and who always took it off before dinner； saying that he could not possibly dine with his sword on； upon which I could not help telling him； that I really believed he could without any probable danger either to himself or others。 It is a shame and an absurdity； for any man to say that he cannot do all those things； which are commonly done by all the rest of mankind。
Another thing that I must earnestly warn you against is laziness； by which more people have lost the fruit of their travels than； perhaps； by any other thing。 Pray be always in motion。 Early in the morning go and see things； and the rest of the day go and see people。 If you stay but a week at a place； and that an insignificant one； see； however； all that is to be seen there； know as many people； and get into as many houses； as ever you can。
I recommend to you likewise； though probably you have thought of it yourself； to carry in your pocket a map of Germany； in which the postroads are marked； and also some short book of travels through Germany。 The former will help to imprint in your memory situations and distances； and the latter will point out many things for you to see； that might otherwise possibly escape you； and which； though they may be in themselves of little consequence； you would regret not having seen； after having been at the places where they were。
Thus warned and provided for your journey； God speed you； 'Felix faustumque sit！ Adieu。
LETTER CLXVII
LONDON； May 27； O。 S。 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： I send you the inclosed original from a friend of ours； with my own commentaries upon the text； a text which I have so often paraphrased； and commented upon already； that I believe I can hardly say anything new upon it； but； however； I cannot give it over till I am better convinced； than I yet am； that you feel all the utility； the importance； and the necessity of it； nay； not only feel； but practice it。 Your panegyrist allows you； what most fathers would be more than satisified with； in a son； and chides me for not contenting myself with 'l'essentiellement bon'； but I； who have been in no one respect like other fathers； cannot neither； like them； content myself with 'l'essentiellement bon'； because I know that it will not do your business in the world； while you want 'quelques couches de vernis'。 Few fathers care much for their sons； or； at least； most of them care more for their money： and； consequently； content themselves with giving them； at the cheapest rate； the common run of education： that is； a school till eighteen； the university till twenty； and a couple of years riding post through the several towns of Europe； impatient till their boobies come home to be married； and； as they call it； settled。 Of those who really love their sons； few know how to do it。 Some spoil them by fondling them while they are young； and then quarrel with them when they are grown up； for having been spoiled； some love them like mothers； and attend only to the bodily health and strength of the hopes of their family； solemnize his birthday； and rejoice； like the subjects of the Great Mogul； at the increase of his bulk； while others； minding； as they think； only essentials； take pains and pleasure to see in their heir； all their favorite weaknesses and imperfections。 I hope and believe that I have kept clear of all of these errors in the education which I have given you。 No weaknesses of my own have warped it； no parsimony has starved it； no rigor has deformed it。 Sound and extensive learning was the foundation which I meant to layI have laid it； but that alone； I knew； would by no means be sufficient： the ornamental； the showish； the pleasing superstructure was to be begun。 In that view； I threw you into the great world； entirely your ow