MY DEAR FRIEND:I mentioned to you,some time ago a sentence which Iwould most earnestly wish you always to retain in your thoughts,and observe in your conduct.It is 'suaviter in modo,fortiter in re'
[gentleness of manners,with firmness of mind D.W.].I do not know any one rule so unexceptionably useful and necessary in every part of life.
I shall therefore take it for my text to-day,and as old men love preaching,and I have some right to preach to you,I here present you with my sermon upon these words.To proceed,then,regularly and PULPITICALLY,I will first show you,my beloved,the necessary connection of the two members of my text 'suaviter in modo:fortiter in re'.In the next place,I shall set forth the advantages and utility resulting from a strict observance of the precept contained in my text;and conclude with an application of the whole.The 'suaviter in modo'alone would degenerate and sink into a mean,timid complaisance and passiveness,if not supported and dignified by the 'fortiter in re',which would also run into impetuosity and brutality,if not tempered and softened by the 'suaviter in modo':however,they are seldom united.
The warm,choleric man,with strong animal spirits,despises the 'suaviter in modo',and thinks to,carry all before him by the 'fortiter in re'.He may,possibly,by great accident,now and then succeed,when he has only weak and timid people to deal with;but his general fate will be,to shock offend,be hated,and fail.On the other hand,the cunning,crafty man thinks to gain all his ends by the 'suaviter in modo'only;HEBECOMES ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN;he seems to have no opinion of his own,and servilely adopts the present opinion of the present person;he insinuates himself only into the esteem of fools,but is soon detected,and surely despised by everybody else.The wise man (who differs as much from the cunning,as from the choleric man)alone joins the 'suaviter in modo'with the 'fortiter in re'.Now to the advantages arising from the strict observance of this precept:
If you are in authority,and have a right to command,your commands delivered 'suaviter in modo'will be willingly,cheerfully,and consequently well obeyed;whereas,if given only 'fortiter',that is brutally,they will rather,as Tacitus says,be interrupted than executed.For my own part,if I bid my footman bring me a glass of wine,in a rough insulting manner,I should expect that,in obeying me,he would contrive to spill some of it upon me:and I am sure I should deserve it.A cool,steady resolution should show that where you have a right to command you will be obeyed;but at the same time,a gentleness in the manner of enforcing that obedience should make it a cheerful one,and soften as much as possible the mortifying consciousness of inferiority.If you are to ask a favor,or even to solicit your due,you must do it 'suaviter in modo',or you will give those who have a mind to refuse you,either a pretense to do it,by resenting the manner;but,on the other hand,you must,by a steady perseverance and decent tenaciousness,show the 'fortiter in re'.The right motives are seldom the true ones of men's actions,especially of kings,ministers,and people in high stations;who often give to importunity and fear,what they would refuse to justice or to merit.By the 'suaviter in modo'