63.  It is a piece of politeness not to interrupt a person in a story, whether you have heard it before or not.  Nay, if a well-bred man is asked whether he has heard it, he will answer no, and let the person go on, though he knows it already.  Some are fond of telling a story, because they think they tell it well; others pride themselves in being the first teller of it, and others are pleased at being thought entrusted with it.  Now, all these persons you would disappoint by answering yes; and, as I have told you before, as the greatest proof of politeness is to make every body happy about you, I would never deprive a person of any secret satisfaction of this sort, when I could gratify by a minute’s attention.

64.  Be not ashamed of asking questions, if such questions lead to information:  always accompany them with some excuse, and you will never be reckoned impertinent.  But, abrupt questions, without some apology, by all means avoid, as they imply design.  There is a way of fishing for facts, which, if done judiciously, will answer every purpose, such as taking things you wish to know for granted:  this will, perhaps, lead some officious person to set you right.  So again, by saying, you have heard so and so, and sometimes seeming to know more than you do, you will often get an information, which you would lose by direct questions, as these would put people upon their guard, and frequently defeat the very end you aim at.

65.  Make it a rule never to reflect on any body of people, for by this means you will create a number of enemies.  There are good and bad of all professions, lawyers, soldiers, parsons or citizens.  They are all men, subject to the same passions, differing only in their manner according to the way they have been bred up in.  For this reason, it is unjust, as well as indiscreet, to attack them as a corps collectively.  Many a young man has thought himself extremely clever in abusing the clergy.  What are the clergy more than other men?  Can you suppose a black gown can make any alteration in his nature?  Fie, fie, think seriously, and I am convinced you will never do it.

66.  But above all, let no example, no fashion, no witticism, no foolish desire of rising above what knaves call prejudices, tempt you to excuse, extenuate or ridicule the least breach of morality, but upon every occasion shew the greatest abhorrence of such proceedings, and hold virtue and religion in the highest veneration.

It is a great piece of ill-manners to interrupt any one while speaking, by speaking yourself, or calling off the attention of the company to any foreign matter.  But this every child knows.

67.  The last thing I shall mention, is that of concealing your learning, except on particular occasions.  Reserve this for learned men, and let them rather extort it from you, than you be too willing to display it.  Hence you will be thought modest, and to have more knowledge than you really have.  Never seem more wise or learned than the company you are in.  He who affects to shew his learning, will be frequently questioned; and if found superficial, will be sneered at; if otherwise, he will be deemed a pedant.  Real merit will always shew itself, and nothing can lessen it in the opinion of the world, but a man’s exhibiting it himself.