letters to his son, 1748-第3章
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e common effect of the inconsideracy of youth; against which I beg you will be most carefully upon your guard。 The value of moments; when cast up; is immense; if well employed; if thrown away; their loss is irrecoverable。 Every moment may be put to some use; and that with much more pleasure; than if unemployed。 Do not imagine; that by the employment of time; I mean an uninterrupted application to serious studies。 No; pleasures are; at proper times; both as necessary and as useful; they fashion and form you for the world; they teach you characters; and show you the human heart in its unguarded minutes。 But then remember to make that use of them。 I have known many people; from laziness of mind; go through both pleasure and business with equal inattention; neither enjoying the one; nor doing the other; thinking themselves men of pleasure; because they were mingled with those who were; and men of business; because they had business to do; though they did not do it。 Whatever you do; do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly; not superficially。 'Approfondissez': go to the bottom of things。 Any thing half done or half known; is; in my mind; neither done nor known at all。 Nay worse; it often misleads。 There is hardly any place or any company; where you may not gain knowledge; if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing; and is glad to talk upon that one thing。 Seek and you will find; in this world as well as in the next。 See everything; inquire into everything; and you may excuse your curiosity; and the questions you ask which otherwise might be thought impertinent; by your manner of asking them; for most things depend a great deal upon the manner。 As; for example; I AM AFRAID THAT I AM VERY TROUBLESOME WITH MY QUESTIONS; BUT NOBODY CAN INFORM ME SO WELL AS YOU; or something of that kind。
Now that you are in a Lutheran country; go to their churches; and observe the manner of their public worship; attend to their ceremonies; and inquire the meaning and intention of everyone of them。 And; as you will soon understand German well enough; attend to their sermons; and observe their manner of preaching。 Inform yourself of their church government: whether it resides in the sovereign; or in consistories and synods。 Whence arises the maintenance of their clergy; whether from tithes; as in England; or from voluntary contributions; or from pensions from the state。 Do the same thing when you are in Roman Catholic countries; go to their churches; see all their ceremonies: ask the meaning of them; get the terms explained to you。 As; for instance; Prime; Tierce; Sexte; Nones; Matins; Angelus; High Mass; Vespers; Complines; etc。 Inform yourself of their several religious orders; their founders; their rules; their vows; their habits; their revenues; etc。 But; when you frequent places of public worship; as I would have you go to all the different ones you meet with; remember; that however erroneous; they are none of them objects of laughter and ridicule。 Honest error is to be pitied; not ridiculed。 The object of all the public worships in the world is the same; it is that great eternal Being who created everything。 The different manners of worship are by no means subjects of ridicule。 Each sect thinks its own is the best; and I know no infallible judge in this world; to decide which is the best。 Make the same inquiries; wherever you are; concerning the revenues; the military establishment; the trade; the commerce; and the police of every country。 And you would do well to keep a blank paper book; which the Germans call an ALBUM; and there; instead of desiring; as they do; every fool they meet with to scribble something; write down all these things as soon as they come to your knowledge from good authorities。
I had almost forgotten one thing; which I would recommend as an object for your curiosity and information; that is; the administration of justice; which; as it is always carried on in open court; you may; and I would have you; go and see it with attention and inquiry。
I have now but one anxiety left; which is concerning you。 I would have you be; what I know nobody isperfect。 As that is impossible; I would have you as near perfection as possible。 I know nobody in a fairer way toward it than yourself; if you please。 Never were so much pains taken for anybody's education as for yours; and never had anybody those opportunities of knowledge and improvement which you; have had; and still have; I hope; I wish; I doubt; and fear alternately。 This only I am sure of; that you will prove either the greatest pain or the greatest pleasure of; Yours。
LETTER XXX
BATH; February 22; O。 S。 1748。
DEAR Boy: Every excellency; and every virtue; has its kindred vice or weakness; and if carried beyond certain bounds; sinks into one or the other。 Generosity often runs into profusion; economy into avarice; courage into rashness; caution into timidity; and so on:insomuch that; I believe; there is more judgment required; for the proper conduct of our virtues; than for avoiding their opposite vices。 Vice; in its true light; is so deformed; that it shocks us at first sight; and would hardly ever seduce us; if it did not; at first; wear the mask of some virtue。 But virtue is; in itself; so beautiful; that it charms us at first sight; engages us more and more upon further acquaintance; and; as with other beauties; we think excess impossible; it is here that judgment is necessary; to moderate and direct the effects of an excellent cause。 I shall apply this reasoning; at present; not to any particular virtue; but to an excellency; which; for want of judgment; is often the cause of ridiculous and blamable effects; I mean; great learning; which; if not accompanied with sound judgment; frequently carries us into error; pride; and pedantry。 As; I hope; you will possess that excellency in its utmost extent; and yet without its too common failings; the hints; which my experience can suggest; may probably not be useless to you。
Some learned men; proud of their knowledge; only speak to decide; and give judgment without appeal; the consequence of which is; that mankind; provoked by the insult; and injured by the oppression; revolt; and; in order to shake off the tyranny; even call the lawful authority in question。 The more you know; the modester you should be: and (by the bye) that modesty is the surest way of gratifying your vanity。 Even where you are sure; seem rather doubtful; represent; but do not pronounce; and; if you would convince others; seem open to conviction yourself。
Others; to show their learning; or often from the prejudices of a school… education; where they hear of nothing else; are always talking of the ancients; as something more than men; and of the moderns; as something less。 They are never without a classic or two in their pockets; they stick to the old good sense; they read none of the modern trash; and will show you; plainly; that no improvement has been made; in any one art or science; these last seventeen hundred years。 I would by no means have you disown your acquaintance with the ancients: but still less would I have you brag of an exclusive intimacy with them。 Speak of the moderns without contempt; and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by their merits; but not by their ages; and if you happen to have an Elzevir classic in your pocket neither show it nor mention it。
Some great scholars; most absurdly; draw all their maxims; both for public and private life; from what they call parallel cases in the ancient authors; without considering; that; in the first place; there never were; since the creation of the world; two cases exactly parallel; and; in the next place; that there never was a case stated; or even known; by any historian; with every one of its circumstances; which; however; ought to be known; in order to be reasoned from。 Reason upon the case itself; and the several circumstances that attend it; and act accordingly; but not from the authority of ancient poets; or historians。 Take into your consideration; if you please; cases seemingly analogous; but take them as helps only; not as guides。 We are really so prejudiced by our education; that; as the ancients deified their h