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He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another.
He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another.
 The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of 
the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging read more 
 The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of 
the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it, 
and that which tends most to the perpetuation of society itself. 
It makes our weakness subservient to our virtue; it grafts 
benevolence even upon avarice. The possession of family wealth 
and of the distinction which attends hereditary possessions (as 
most concerned in it,) are the natural securities for this 
transmission. 
The wisdom of our ancestors.
The wisdom of our ancestors.
 What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
 Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards.  
 What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
 Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards. 
 It is disgraceful when the passers-by exclaim, "O ancient house! 
alas, how unlike is thy present master to thy read more 
 It is disgraceful when the passers-by exclaim, "O ancient house! 
alas, how unlike is thy present master to thy former one."
 [Lat., Odiosum est enim, cum a praetereuntibus dicatur:--O domus 
antiqua, heu, quam dispari dominare domino.] 
 The man who has not anything to boast of but his illustrious 
ancestors is like a potato,--the only good read more 
 The man who has not anything to boast of but his illustrious 
ancestors is like a potato,--the only good belonging to him is 
under ground. 
 A degenerate nobleman, or one that is proud of his birth, is like 
a turnip. There is nothing good read more 
 A degenerate nobleman, or one that is proud of his birth, is like 
a turnip. There is nothing good of him but that which is 
underground. 
 Few sons attain the praise
 Of their great sires and most their sires disgrace.  
 Few sons attain the praise
 Of their great sires and most their sires disgrace. 
 Say, when the ground our father Adam till'd,
 And mother Eve the humble distaff held,
  Who then read more 
 Say, when the ground our father Adam till'd,
 And mother Eve the humble distaff held,
  Who then his pedigree presumed to trace,
   Or challenged the prerogative of place?
    [Lat., Primus Adam duro cum vertet arva ligone,
     Pensaque de vili deceret Eva colo:
      Ecquis in hoc poterat vir nobilis orbe videri?
       Et modo quisquam alios ante locandue erir?