Chesterfield Letter 139 (1765) [ Concepts ]
… breaking bones, cutting off ears, throwing people out of the window, etc., and all these fine declarations, they ratify with horrible and silly oaths. All this to be thought men of spirit. Astonishing error this, which necessarily reduces … saying it. This however is a common character amongst young men. Carefully avoid this contagion, and content yourself with being calmly and mildly resolute and steddy, when you are thoroughly convinced that you are in the right, for this … the two most detestable and most dangerous Animals that inhabit it. They are wrongheaded, captious, jealous, offended without reason, and offending with as little. The Man of Spirit has immediate recourse to his sword, and the woman of …
Wit | Gentleman
Anthology