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ers and the marks of youth and inexperience。 If you receive the matter kindly； and observe my prescriptions scrupulously； you will secure the future advantages of time and join them to the present inestimable ones of one…and…twenty。
I most earnestly recommend one thing to you； during your present stay at Paris。 I own it is not the most agreeable； but I affirm it to be the most useful thing in the world to one of your age； and therefore I do hope that you will force and constrain yourself to do it。 I mean； to converse frequently； or rather to be in company frequently with both men and women much your superiors in age and rank。 I am very sensible that； at your age； 'vous y entrez pour peu de chose； et meme souvent pour rien； et que vous y passerez meme quelques mauvais quart…d'heures'； but no matter； you will be a solid gainer by it： you will see； hear； and learn the turn and manners of those people； you will gain premature experience by it； and it will give you a habit of engaging and respectful attentions。 Versailles； as much as possible； though probably unentertaining： the Palais Royal often； however dull： foreign ministers of the first rank； frequently； and women； though old； who are respectable and respected for their rank or parts； such as Madame de Pusieux； Madame de Nivernois； Madame d'Aiguillon； Madame Geoffrain； etc。 This 'sujetion'； if it be one to you； will cost you but very little in these three or four months that you are yet to pass in Paris； and will bring you in a great deal； nor will it； nor ought it； to hinder you from being in a more entertaining company a great part of the day。 'Vous pouvez； si vous le voulex； tirer un grand parti de ces quatre mois'。 May God make you so； and bless you！ Adieu。
LETTER CLXXXII
BATH； November 16； O。 S。 1752。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Vanity； or to call it by a gentler name； the desire of admiration and applause； is； perhaps； the most universal principle of human actions； I do not say that it is the best； and I will own that it is sometimes the cause of both foolish and criminal effects。 But it is so much oftener the principle of right things； that though they ought to have a better； yet； considering human nature； that principle is to be encouraged and cherished； in consideration of its effects。 Where that desire is wanting； we are apt to be indifferent； listless； indolent； and inert； we do not exert our powers； and we appear to be as much below ourselves as the vainest man living can desire to appear above what he really is。
As I have made you my confessor； and do not scruple to confess even my weaknesses to you； I will fairly own that I had that vanity； that weakness； if it be one； to a prodigious degree； and； what is more； I confess it without repentance： nay； I am glad I had it； since； if I have had the good fortune to please in the world； it is to that powerful and active principle that I owe it。 I began the world； not with a bare desire； but with an insatiable thirst； a rage of popularity； applause； and admiration。 If this made me do some silly things on one hand； it made me； on the other hand； do almost all the right things that I did； it made me attentive and civil to the women I disliked； and to the men I despised； in hopes of the applause of both： though I neither desired； nor would I have accepted the favors of the one； nor the friendship of the other。 I always dressed； looked； and talked my best； and； I own； was overjoyed whenever I perceived； that by all three； or by any one of them； the company was pleased with me。 To men； I talked whatever I thought would give them the best opinion of my parts and learning； and to women； what I was sure would please them； flattery； gallantry； and love。 And； moreover； I will own to you； under the secrecy of confession； that my vanity has very often made me take great pains to make a woman in love with me； if I could； for whose person I would not have given a pinch of snuff。 In company with men； I always endeavored to outshine； or at least； if possible； to equal the most shining man in it。 This desire elicited whatever powers I had to gratify it； and where I could not perhaps shine in the first； enabled me； at least； to shine in a second or third sphere。 By these means I soon grew in fashion； and when a man is once in fashion； all he does is right。 It was infinite pleasure to me to find my own fashion and popularity。 I was sent for to all parties of pleasure； both of men or women； where； in some measure； I gave the 'ton'。 This gave me the reputation of having had some women of condition； and that reputation； whether true or false； really got me others。 With the men I was a Proteus； and assumed every shape； in order to please them all： among the gay； I was the gayest； among the grave； the gravest； and I never omitted the least attentions of good…breeding； or the least offices of friendship； that could either please； or attach them to me： and accordingly I was soon connected with all the men of any fashion or figure in town。
To this principle of vanity； which philosophers call a mean one； and which I do not； I owe great part of the figure which I have made in life。 I wish you had as much； but I fear you have too little of it； and you seem to have a degree of laziness and listlessness about you that makes you indifferent as to general applause。 This is not in character at your age； and would be barely pardonable in an elderly and philosophical man。 It is a vulgar； ordinary saying； but it is a very true one； that one should always put the best foot foremost。 One should please； shine； and dazzle； wherever it is possible。 At Paris； I am sure you must observe 'que chacun se fait valoir autant qu'il est possible'； and La Bruyere observes； very justly； qu'on ne vaut dans ce monde que ce qu'on veut valoir'： wherever applause is in question； you will never see a French man； nor woman； remiss or negligent。 Observe the eternal attentions and politeness that all people have there for one another。 'Ce n'est pas pour leurs beaux yeux au moins'。 No； but for their own sakes； for commendations and applause。 Let me then recommend this principle of vanity to you； act upon it 'meo periculo'； I promise you it will turn to your account。 Practice all the arts that ever coquette did； to please。 Be alert and indefatigable in making every man admire； and every woman in love with you。 I can tell you too； that nothing will carry you higher in the world。
I have had no letter from you since your arrival at Paris； though you must have been long enough there to have written me two or three。 In about ten or twelve days I propose leaving this place； and going to London； I have found considerable benefit by my stay here； but not all that I want。 Make my compliments to Lord Albemarle。
LETTER CLXXXIII
BATH； November 28； 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： Since my last to you； I have read Madame Maintenon's 〃Letters〃； I am sure they are genuine； and they both entertained and informed me。 They have brought me acquainted with the character of that able and artful lady； whom I am convinced that I now know much better than her directeur the Abby de Fenelon （afterward Archbishop of Cambray） did； when he wrote her the 185th letter