{"id":"01KG8AN2ADJ3C0F4ANZNBWXMRK","cid":"bafkreidi4ifg3dcv6752jcnzo4xqz6a6d5iv4p5ncp6mqyzj32o25kdtgu","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":9898,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:52.921Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 6","source_file":"01KG89J1JSYKSGCE149MH9HF6A","start_line":9843,"text":"whimsical humors; nor ever feels any compunction at receiving the\r\ngreatest possible favors from those who are as able to grant, as free to\r\nbestow. He himself bestows upon occasion; so that, at bottom, common\r\ncharity steps in to dictate a favorable consideration for all possible\r\nprofferings; seeing that the acceptance shall only the more enrich him,\r\nindirectly, for new and larger beneficences of his own.\r\n\r\nAnd as for those who noways pretend with themselves to regulate their\r\ndeportment by considerations of genuine benevolence, and to whom such\r\ncourteous profferings hypocritically come from persons whom they suspect\r\nfor secret enemies; then to such minds not only will their own worldly\r\ntactics at once forbid the uncivil blank repulse of such offers; but if\r\nthey are secretly malicious as well as frigid, or if they are at all\r\ncapable of being fully gratified by the sense of concealed superiority\r\nand mastership (which precious few men are) then how delightful for such\r\npersons under the guise of mere acquiescence in his own voluntary\r\ncivilities, to make genteel use of their foe. For one would like to\r\nknow, what were foes made for except to be used? In the rude ages men\r\nhunted and javelined the tiger, because they hated him for a\r\nmischief-minded wild-beast; but in these enlightened times, though we\r\nlove the tiger as little as ever, still we mostly hunt him for the sake\r\nof his skin. A wise man then will wear his tiger; every morning put on\r\nhis tiger for a robe to keep him warm and adorn him. In this view, foes\r\nare far more desirable than friends; for who would hunt and kill his own\r\nfaithful affectionate dog for the sake of his skin? and is a dog's skin\r\nas valuable as a tiger's? Cases there are where it becomes soberly\r\nadvisable, by direct arts to convert some well-wishers into foes. It is\r\nfalse that in point of policy a man should never make enemies. As\r\nwell-wishers some men may not only be nugatory but positive obstacles in\r\nyour peculiar plans; but as foes you may subordinately cement them into\r\nyour general design.\r\n\r\nBut into these ulterior refinements of cool Tuscan policy, Pierre as yet\r\nhad never become initiated; his experiences hitherto not having been\r\nvaried and ripe enough for that; besides, he had altogether too much\r\ngenerous blood in his heart. Nevertheless, thereafter, in a less\r\nimmature hour, though still he shall not have the heart to practice upon\r\nsuch maxims as the above, yet shall he have the brain thoroughly to\r\ncomprehend their practicability; which is not always the case. And\r\ngenerally, in worldly wisdom, men will deny to one the possession of all\r\ninsight, which one does not by his every-day outward life practically\r\nreveal. It is a very common error of some unscrupulously\r\ninfidel-minded, selfish, unprincipled, or downright knavish men, to\r\nsuppose that believing men, or benevolent-hearted men, or good men, do\r\nnot know enough to be unscrupulously selfish, do not know enough to be\r\nunscrupulous knaves. And thus--thanks to the world!--are there many\r\nspies in the world's camp, who are mistaken for strolling simpletons.\r\nAnd these strolling simpletons seem to act upon the principle, that in\r\ncertain things, we do not so much learn, by showing that already we know\r\na vast deal, as by negatively seeming rather ignorant. But here we press\r\nupon the frontiers of that sort of wisdom, which it is very well to\r\npossess, but not sagacious to show that you possess. Still, men there\r\nare, who having quite done with the world, all its mere worldly contents\r\nare become so far indifferent, that they care little of what mere\r\nworldly imprudence they may be guilty.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 6"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AKTMST8DGQPXYV857P8DN","peer_type":"subsection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JSYKSGCE149MH9HF6A","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AN2A3SY9KJ4K6TCSPZ2PG","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AN2ADP4HXHXGG42R9F1TD","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:57.677Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:25.263Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}