BOOK III PART III
quality to ourselves is a source of virtue, as well
as its agreeableness to others; and it is certain,
that nothing is more useful to us in the conduct
of life, than a due degree of pride, which makes
us sensible of our own merit, and gives us a
confidence and assurance in all our projects
and enterprizes. Whatever capacity any one
may be endowed with, it is entirely useless
to him, if he be not acquainted with it, and
form not designs suitable to it. It is requisite
on all occasions to know our own force; and
were it allowable to err on either side, it would
be more advantageous to over-rate our merit,
than to form ideas of it, below its just standard.
Fortune commonly favours the bold and en-
terprizing; and nothing inspires us with more
boldness than a good opinion of ourselves.
Add to this, that though pride, or self-