In a word, tho' he never sought, yet, at the same time, as he seldom shunned occasions of saying what came uppermost, and without much ceremony; ----he had but too many temptations in life, of scattering his wit and his humour, --his gibes and his jests about him. 
Although he never sought occasions for speaking out, he had too many temptations of scattering his wit and his jests. 