In brute nature no creatures are favorites but a certain compensation balances every gift and every defect. A surplusage given to one part is paid out of a reduction from another part. If the head and neck are enlarged the body and extremities are cut short. “Economical nature has prescribed to herself a Civil list, a budget in whose single chapters she reserves to herself entire freedom, but in the sum total ever remains true to herself since if on one side too much is given she immediately subtracts it on the other and in the most decided manner makes all square.” All things are administered under the same law.—Every faculty which is a receiver of pleasure has an equal penalty put on its abuse: it is to answer for its moderation with its life.

Human life is an endless exhibition of this law of balance or compensation. All things are double, one against another. “Harm watch, harm catch”; says the proverb. And again, “for every grain of wit that a man hath, is there a grain of folly”; No man had ever a point of pride that was not injurious to him and no man had ever a defect that was not somehow made useful to him. The stag in the fable admired his horns and blamed his feet but when the hunter came, his feet saved him, and, afterwards, caught in the thicket, his horns destroyed him. Every man in his lifetime needs to thank his faults. As no man thoroughly understands a truth until first he has contended against it, so no man has a thorough acquaintance with the hindrances or talents of men until he has suffered from the one and seen the triumph of the other over his own want of the same.