****
A thief on his trial refused to be sworn.
"Of what use," queried he, "will my evidence be?
If I tell the whole truth, I shall get the Old Nick;
If I tell what's not true, the Old Nick will get me."
Francis E. Leupp
(From the Century magazine, pp976 Volume 29, March 1885)
Perhaps our Fair Leader had the same thoughts as he strove to deceived us all, with his claims of innocence?
***
This choice or none. (Webster's Accounting House and Family Dictionary,
1856)
Hobson's Choice (Random House College Dictionary) The choice of taking
either that which is offered or nothing; the absence of a real choice (after
Thomas Hobson (1544-1631) of Cambridge, England, who rented horses and gave
his customer only one choice, that of the horse nearest the stable door).
Hobson apparently did this as a favor to his horses. He let them out in strict rotation thus ensuring that neither would one be constantly chosen and thus over worked, nor would one languish in the stable, not earning its keep. When a traveler wished to exchange his weary "bones" for a fresh mount, he was offered Hobson's choice. Take what was offered or go on to the next livery which was as much as a day away.
Me thinks our Fair Leader rotates issues, always keeping a fresh one on the front burner. Or as was once said, "keeping the pot boiling".
***
Milton immortalized Hobson with the following lines:
Ease was his chief disease; and to judge right,
He died for heaviness that his cart went light;
His leisure told him that his time was come,
And lack of load made his life burdensome.
(From W. E. Espy's book, Thou Improper, Thou Uncommon Noun, pp336.)
And what is our Fair Leader to do after his term lapses?
***
"The question is," said Alice, "Whether you can make words mean so many
different things"
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master that's
all."
Lewis Carroll
(From the beginning of Words at Play by W. E. Espy)
And our Fair Leader said, "It depends on what the meaning of is, is",
as he offered us no choice at all.
Then he made the decision to embark on WAR to save his ...,
alas, we await Old Nick to make the call?
But what of our Fair Leader? Is fair the proper adjective to describe him justly? I repair to Crabb's Snonymes, the 1849 edition by Harpers Brothers.
Fair, Honest, Equitable, Reasonable.
Fair in Saxon fagar, comes probably from the Latin pulcher beautiful; honest, in Latin honestus, comes from honos honour; equitale signifies having equity, or according to equity; reasonable, having reason, or according to reason.
Fair is said of persons or things; honest mostly characterizes the person, either as to his conduct or his principle. When fair and honest are both applied to the external conduct, the former expresses more than the latter; a man may be honest without being fair; he cannot be fair without being honest. Fairness enters into every minute circumstance connected with the interests of the parties, and weighs them alike for both; honesty is contented with a literal conformity to the law, it consults the interest of one party; the fair dealer looks to his neighbour as well as himself, he wishes only for an equal share of advantage; a man may be an honest dealer while he looks to no one's advantage but his own: the fair man always acts from a principle of right; the honest man may be so from a motive of fear.
When these epithets are employed to characterize the man generally, fairness expresses less than honest. Fairness is employed only in regard to commercial transactions or minor personal concerns; if the worlding prefer these means which are the fairest, it is not because they are fair, but because they seem to him most likely to prove successful.' Blair. Honesty ranks among the first moral virtues, and elevates a man high above his fellow-creatures;
An honest man's the noblest work of God
Pope.
Should he at length, so truly good and great,
Prevail, and rule with honest views the state,
Then must he toil for an ungrateful race,
Submit to clamour, libels, and disgrace.
Jenyns.
A man is fair who is ready to allow his competitor the same advantages as he enjoys himself in every matter however trivial; or he is honest in all his looks, words, and actions: neither his tongue nor his countenance ever belie his heart. A fair man makes himself acceptable.
When fair is employed as an epithet to qualify things, or to designate their
nature, it approaches very near to signification to equitable and
reasonable; they are all opposed to what is unjust: fair and equitable
suppose two object put in collision; reasonable is employed abstractedly;
what is fair and equitable is so in relation to all circumstances; what is
reasonable is so of itself. An estimate is fair in which profit and loss,
merit and demerit, with every collateral circumstance, is duly weighed; a
judgement is equitable which decides suitably and advantageously for both
parties; a price is reasonable which does not exceed the limits of reason or
propriety. A decision may be either fair or equitable; but the former is
said mostly in regard to trifling matters, even in our games and amusements,
and the latter in regard to the important rights of mankind. It is the
business of the umpire to decide fairly between the combatants or the
competitors for a prize; it is the business of the judge to decide equitably
between men whose property is at issue; "a man is very unlikely to judge
equitably when his passions are agitated by a sense of wrong"
Johnson
.
A demand, a charge, a proposition, or an offer may be said to be either fair
or reasonable; but the former term always bears a relation to what is right
between man and man; the later to what is right in itself, according to
circumstances; The reasonableness of a test is not hard to be proved.'
Johnson.
Honor (v. Honour) may be taken either for that which is intrinsically
belongs to a person, or for that which is conferred on him; dignity, from
the Latin dignus worthy, signifying worthiness, may be equally applied to
what is intrinsick or extrinsick of a man.
In the first case honour has a reference to what is esteemed by others;
dignity to that which is esteemed by ourselves: a sense of honour impels a
man to do that which is esteemed honourable among men; a sense of dignity to
do that which is consistent with the worth and greatness of his nature; the
former strives to elevate himself as an individual; the latter to raise
himself to the standard of his species: the former may lead a person astray;
but the latter is an unerring guide. It is honour which sometimes makes a
man first insult his friend, then draw his sword upon him whom he has
insulted: it is dignity; which makes him despise every paltry affront from
others, and apologize for every apparent affront on his own part. This
distinction between the terms is kept up in their application to what is
extraneous of a man: the honour is that which is conferred on him by
others:
When a proud aspiring man meets with honours and preferments, these are the
things which are ready to lay hold of his heart and affections.'
South.
The dignity is the worth or value which is added to his condition
. Him Tullus next in dignity succeeds. Dryden.
Hence we always speak of honours as conferred or received, but dignities are possessed or maintained. Honours may sometimes be casual; but dignities are always permanent, an act of condescension from the sovereign is an honour; but the dignity lies in the elevation of the office. Hence it is the honours are mostly civil or political; dignities ecclesiastical.
------------------
Glory, Honour.
Glory is something dazzling and widely diffused. The Latin word gloria, anciently written glosia, is in all probability connected with our words gloss, glaze, glitter, glow, through the medium of the norther words gleissen, glotzen, glanzen, gluhen, all which come from the Hebrew, a live coal. That the moral idea of glory is best represented by light is evident from the glory which is painted round the head of our Saviour; honour is something less splendid, but more solid (v. Honour)).
Glory impels to extraordinary efforts and to great undertakings:
Hence is our love of fame; a love so strong,
We think no dangers great nor labours long,
By which we hope our beings to extend,
And to remotest times in glory to descend.
Guenons
Honor induces to a discharge of one's duty; As virtue is the most
reasonable and genuine source of honour, we generally find in titles an
intimation of some particular merit that should recommend men to the high
stations which they possess' Addison. Excellence in the attainment, and
success in the exploit, bring glory; a faithful exercise of one's talents
reflects honor. Glory is connected with every thing which has a peculiar
publick interest; honour is more properly obtained within a private circle.
Glory is not confined to the nation or life of the individual by whom it is
sought; it spreads over all the earth, and descends to the latest posterity;
honour is limited to those who are connected with the subject of it, and
eye-witnesses to his actions. Glory is attainable but by few, and may be an
object of indifference to any one; honour is more or less within the reach
of all, and must be disregarded by on one. A general at the head of an
army; goes in pursuit of glory; the humble citizen who acts his part in
society so as to obtain the approbation of his fellow-citizens is in the
road for honour. A nation acquires glory by the splendour of its victories,
and the superiority in arts as well as arms; it obtains honour by its strict
adherence to equity and good faith in all its dealings with other nations.
Our own nation has acquired glory by the help of its brave warriours; it has
gained honour by the justice and generosity of its government. The military
career of Alexander was glorious; his humane treatment of the Persian
princesses who were his prisoners was an honourable trait in his character.
The abolition of the slave trade by the English government was a glorious
triumph of Christianity over the worst principles of human nature; the
national conduct of England during the revolutionary period reflects honour
on the English name.
Glory is a sentiment, selfish in its nature, but salutary or pernicious in
its effect, according as it is directed;
If glory cannot move a mind so mean,
Nor future praise from fading pleasures wean,
Yet why should he defraud his son of fame,
And grudge the Romans their immortal name?
Dryden
Honour is a principle disinterested in its nature, and beneficial in its
operations:
Sir Francis Bacon.
For greatness of genius and compass of knowledge, did honour to his age and
country
Addison.
A thirst for glory is seldom indulged but an the expense of others, as it is not attainable in the plain path of duty; there are but few opportunities of acquiring it by elevated acts of goodness, and still fewer who have the virtue to embrace the opportunities that offer; a love of honour can never be indulged but to the advantage of others; it is restricted by fixed laws; it requires a sacrifice of every selfish consideration, and a due regard to the rights of others; it is associated with nothing but virtue.
----
Dishonest, Knavish
Dishonest marks the contrary to honest; knavish marks the likeness to a
knave.
Dishonest characterizes simply the mode of action; knavish characterizes the
agent as well as the action; what is dishonest violates the established laws
of man; what is knavish supposes peculiar art and design in the
accomplishment. It is dishonest to take any thing from another which does
not belong to one; it is knavish to get it by fraud or artifice, or by
imposing on the confidence of another. We may prevent dishonest practices
by ordinary means of security; but we must not trust ourselves in the
company of knavish people if we do not wish to be overreached; Gaming is
too unreasonable and dishonest for a gentleman to addict himself to it.'
Lord Lyttleton.
Not to laugh when nature prompts is but a knavish, hypocritical way of
making a mask of one's face.'
Pope
Right, Just, Proper
Right in German recht, Latin rectus, signifies upright, not leaning to one side or the other, standing as it ought; just, in Latin justus, from jus law, signifies according to the rule of right; fit, v. Fit; proper, in Latin proprius, signifies belonging to a given rule.
Right is here the general term; the others express modes of right. The right and wrong are defined by the written will of God, or are written in our hearts according to the original constitutions of our nature; the just and unjust are determined by the written laws of men; the fit and unfit, on the contrary, have various shades and degrees that are not so easily definable by any forms of speech or written rules.
The right and wrong depend upon no circumstance; what is once right or wrong is always right or wrong; but the just or unjust , proper or improper are relatively so according to the circumstances of the case; it is a just rule for every man to have that which is his own; but what is just to the individual may be unjust to society. It is proper for every man to take charge of his own concerns; but it would be improper for a man in an unsound state of mind to undertake such a charge.
The right and wrong are often beyond the reach of our faculties to discern; but the just, fit and proper are always to be distinguished sufficiently to be observed. Right is applicable to all matters, important or otherwise; just is employed only in matters of essential interest; proper is rather applicable to the minor concerns of like. Every thing that is done may be characterized as right or wrong; ever thing done to others may be measured by the rule of just or unjust; in our social intercourse, as well as in our private transactions, justness and propriety must always be consulted. As Christians, we desire to do that which is right in the sight of God and man; as members of civil society, we wish to be just in our dealings; as rational and intelligent beings, we wish to do what is fit and proper in every action, however trivial;
Hear then my argument confess we must
(Capitals IS IS added for emphasis by jsw)
There is a great difference between good pleading and just composition'
Melmoth (Letters of Pliny)
. 'Visters are no proper companions in the chamber of sickness.'
Johnson
----
Straight, Right, Direct.
Straight, from the Latin strictus, participle of stringo to tighten or bind,
signifies confined, that is, turning neither to the right nor left.
Straight is applied, therefore, in its proper sense, to corporeal objects; a
path is straight is kept within a shorter space than if it were curved;
Truth is the shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a
straight line'
Right and direct, from the Latin rectus,
regulated or made as it ought, are said of that which is made by the force
of the understanding, or by an actual effort, what one wishes it to be;
hence, the mathematician speaks of a right line, as the line which lies most
justly between two points and has been made the basis of mathematical
figures; and the moralist speaks of the right opinion, as that which has
been formed by the best rule of the understanding;
Then from pole to pole
Milton
On the same ground, we speak of a direct answer, as that which has been
framed as to bring soonest and easiest to the point desired; There be, that
are in nature faithful and sincere, and plain and direct, not crafty and
involved.'
Bacon
Candid, Open, Sincere.
Candid, in French candide, Latin candidus, from candeo to shine, signifies
to be pure as truth itself; open is in Saxon open, French ouvert, German
offen, from the preposition up, German auf, Duch op, &c., because erectness
is a characteristick of truth and openness; sincere, French sincere, Latin
sincerus, probably from the Greek ... signifying dictated by or going with
the heart.
Candour arises from a conscious purity of intention; openness from a warmth
of feeling and love of communication; sincerity from a love of truth.
Candour obliges us to acknowledge whatever may make against ourselves; it is
disinterested;
Self-conviction is the path to virtue,
Openness impels us to utter whatever passes in the mind; it is unguarded;
The fondest and firmest friendships are dissolved by such openness and
sincerity as interrupt our enjoyment of our own approbation.'
Johnson.
Sincerity prevents us from speaking what we do not think; it is positive;
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles,
A candid man will have no reserve when openness is necessary; an open man
cannot maintain a reserve at any time; a sincere man will maintain a reserve
only as far as it is consistent with truth.
Candour wins much upon those who come in connection with it; it removes
misunderstandings and obviates differences; the want of it occasions
suspicion and discontent. Openness gains as many enemies as friends; it
requires to be well regulated not to be offensive; there is no mind so pure
and disciplined that all the thoughts and feelings which it gives birth to,
may or ought to be made publick. Sincerity is an indispensable virtue; the
want of it is always mischievous and frequently fatal.
Sincere, Honest, True, Plain.
Sincere (v. Candid) is here the most comprehensive term; honest (v Honesty),
true, and plain (v. Even) are but modes of sincerity.
Rustick mirth goes round,
***
With this I leave the reader to consider: is fair the correct epithet in
describing our Leader? Or perhaps, with "tongue-in-cheek" it is proposed to
question?
For more about words, their use and abuse may I recommend the delightful
songs of Tom Lehrer. Many of the lyrics are on the web at:
Lehrer's gibes were intended for the 50's and 60's, but how appropriate
today.
Poetry and sayings mostly from Crabb's Synonymes, Published in 1848 by
Harper Brothers and still one of the best.
Try these:
Karolevitz,
,
Education,
Huggins (the
emperor),
Espy(Snallygasters)
and for more about Joe Wortham:
Please send comments to: [email protected]
A God there is supremely wise and just.
Jenyns
Tillotson.
He views inbreadth, and without longer pause,
Down right into the world's first region throws
His flight precipitant.
An honourable candour thus adorns
Ingenuous minds.
C. Johnson.
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate.
Shakespeare
Sincerity is a fundamental characteristick of the person; a man is sincere
form the conviction of his mind.; honesty is the expression of the feeling;
it is the dictate of the heart; we look for a sincere friend, and an honest
companion;
The simple joke that takes the shepherd's heart,
Easily pleas'd, the long loud laugh sincere.
Thomson
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