Roger L'Estrange

“ They that cannot see into the End of Things, may well be at a Loss in the Reason of them; and a Well-Meaning Piety is the Destruction of many an Honest Man, that fits Innocently Brooding upon the Political Projects of Other People, tho’ with the Heart all the While, of a Patriot, and a True Friend to the Publique. ”

“ He that thinks to Oblige Hard-Hearted People by an Officious Tenderness, and to fare the Better Himself for putting it into Their Power to Hurt him, will find only so much Time, Pains, and Good-Will, utterly cast away, at the Foot of his Account. 'Tis Good however, to Hope, and to Presume the Best, provided that a Man be Prepar'd for the Worst: Not forgetting the Old Proverb, That many a Man brings up a Bird to Peck out his Own Eyes. ”

“ A Misguided Zeal makes him Deaf and Blind to the True State, and Issue of Things. He fits his Time out, and what's the End on't; but the Plot Naturally Discloses it self in a Common Ruine? It is a Great Infelicity to make a Wrong Choice of a Friend: But when Men are Adyertis’d of the Danger beforehand, it is as Great a Fault if they will take No Warning. ”