From one act, or circumstance, you will readily judge what is the real character or disposition of the man. This may to a certain degree be admitted as a test; as, if a man be detected in any deliberate act of villany, where there has been an evident design to defraud or injure another, we may without hesitation pronounce the party to be a bad man: but the converse of this, may not be so surely depended on, and we may not with safety, from one single act of charity, or kindness, pronounce the party to be a good man, or trust him as much. So also, if a man from walking over Bagshot Heath, should take upon him to determine the state of this country, as to its fertility, and should describe it as in general barren and inhospitable, or from being deceived by an individual, with whom he had been engaged in business, should determine that the inhabitants are faithless, and not to be trusted, it is evident, that in both cases, he would be found to have passed a rash and precipitate judgment.
Fuente: Erasmo, 178.
