In all labour there is profit— All labour will produce abundance, but garrulity nothing but want. Houbigant. Solomon here separates the fruit of the labour of the tongue and the labour of the hands; as if want was the revenue of the one, and wealth the revenue of the other: for it commonly happens, that they who talk liberally, boast much, and promise mighty matters, are beggars; and receive no benefit by their boastings, or by any thing they discourse of. Nay, rather for the most part, such men are not industrious and diligent in their employments, but only feed and fill themselves with words as with wind. Certainly, as the poet says, Qui silet est firmus; he who is conscious to himself of proficiency in his endeavours, contents himself with inward applause in his own breast, and holds his peace; but he who knows within himself that he only hunts after vain-glory, and hath nothing else to live upon, talks abundantly, and reports wonder unto others. See Lord Bacon as above.

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