278

The courteous memory.  He who is of high rank would do well to furnish himself with a courteous memory: that is to say, to notice everything good about other people and after that to draw a line; in this way one keeps them in a state of pleasant dependence. A man may deal with himself in the same way: whether or not he has a courteous memory in the end determines his own attitude towards himself; it determines whether he regards his own inclinations and intentions with a noble, benevolent or mistrustful eye; and it determines, finally, the nature of these inclinations and intentions themselves.