Letters from a Father to His Son

particularly to attend to, were the words of a gentleman
appointed to act as a Judge, and among other things, to inquire
into the causes why people called bankrupts cannot pay what
they owe. This gentleman had great opportunities of knowing the
world, and of observing, that, in a great majority of cases, it is
their own misconduct which leads men into difficulties. You may
therefore look upon what he says, as the words of an able, and
what is better, of a good man, and I cannot do better than repeat
them to you here over again.
He says, "It has been truly said, when a man has once forfeited
the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will
serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood. Indeed, if a man were
to deal in the world only for a day, and should never have
occasion to converse more with mankind—never more need of
their good opinion or good word, it were then no great matter
(speaking of the concernments of this world) if a man spent his
reputation all at once, and ventured it at a throw. But if he is to
continue in the world, and would have the advantage of
conversation while he is in it, let him make use of truth and
sincerity in all his words and actions, for nothing but this will last
and hold out to the end, and all other arts will fail; but truth and
integrity will carry a man through, and bear him out to the last."
I am sure, however that you have had too many opportunities
and advantages, and have too much sense to require me to say
much more on this matter. This letter you must read over and
over again; and whenever you have said or done anything which
your own mind tells you is not correct, and not according to the
instructions in father's first letter to you about truth—then get the
letter, and read it again carefully over; go to your teacher and tell
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