‘The gentleman is ashamed of his word outstripping his deed’ (XIV.27), and ‘claims made immodestly are difficult to live up to’ (XIV.20). Hence ‘in antiquity men were loath to speak’ ‘because they counted it shameful if their person failed to keep up with their words’ (IV.22). The safest course to take is never to make any claims until the deed is done. Thus, the gentleman ‘puts his words into action before allowing his words to follow his action’ (II.13).
