“The discreet man finds out the talents of those he converses with, and knows how to apply them to proper uses.”

— Joseph Addison

No. 225.
The Tatler (1711–1714)
Context: The discreet man finds out the talents of those he converses with, and knows how to apply them to proper uses. Accordingly, if we look into particular communities and divisions of men, we may observe that it is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to the society.

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Joseph Addison 226

politician, writer and playwright 1672–1719

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“The discreet man finds out the talents of those he converses with, and knows how to apply them to proper uses. Accordingly, if we look into particular communities and divisions of men, we may observe that it is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to the society.”

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No. 225
The Tatler (1711–1714)

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“You find out more about God from the Moral Law than from the universe in general just as you find out more about a man by listening to his conversation than by looking at a house he has built.”

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