----They serve, continued my father, to stir the humours----but carry off none of their acrimony: --for my own part, I seldom swear or curse at all --I hold it bad----but if I fall into it by surprize, I generally retain so much presence of mind (right, quoth my uncle _Toby_) as to make it answer my purpose----that is, I swear on till I find myself easy. 
'They serve,' continued my father, 'to stir the temper - not relieve it: for my own part, I seldom curse at all. I think it bad - but if I fall into it by surprise, I generally keep enough presence of mind to make it answer my purpose - that is, I swear on till I find myself easy. 