8 infirmities by Isaac Watts 1600-1700
1) Beware of one who appears reserved, silent and withdraws from difficult topics, who appears to have no inclination to discourse, no tolerable capacity of speech and language for the communication of his sentiments.
2) Beware of one who appears haughty and proud of his knowledge, imperious in his airs, and is always fond of imposing his sentiments on all the company.
3) Beware of one who appears positive and dogmatical in his own opinions and will to dispute to the end; who resists the brightest evidence of truth rather than suffer himself to be overcome, or yield to the plainest or strongest of reasoning’s.
4) Beware of one who appears always to affects to outshine all the company, whilst rest must be silent and attentive.
5) Beware of one who appears whiffing and unsteady turn of mind, who cannot keep close to a point of controversy, but wanders from it perpetually and is always asking to say something, whether it be pertinent the question or not.
6) Beware of one who appears fretful and peevish and given to resentment upon all occasions; if he know not how to bear contradiction or is ready to take things in the wrong sense; if he be swift to feel a supposed offence or to imagine himself affronted and then break out into a sudden passion or retain silent and sullen wrath.
7) Beware of one who appears to affect wit on all occasions and is full of his conceits and puns quirks and quibbles jests and repartees; these may agreeably entertain and animate an hour of mirth, but they have no place in the search after truth.
8) Beware of one who appears to carry always about him a sort of craft, and cunning, and disguise and act rather like a spy than a friend. Beware, for such a one will make an ill use of freedom in conversation, and immediately charge upon you.
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When Christ said, “beware of men”, I wonder if that warning did not imply this: “beware lest through men, that is, through perpetual comparison with other men, through habit and externalities, you allow yourself to be defrauded of the supreme good.” [Soren Kierkegaard, Works of Love, pg. 293]
Patrick Watts 