thoughts on man-第10章
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conducted education。 To accomplish this； it is most necessary that it should never be inculcated into him； that he is dull。 Upon the principles of this Essay； any unfavourable appearances that may present themselves； do not arise from the dulness of the pupil； but from the error of those upon whose superintendence he is cast； who require of him the things for which he is not adapted； and neglect those in which he is qualified to excel。
It is further necessary； if self…respect is one of the most desirable results of a well…conducted education； that； as we should not humble the pupil in his own eyes by disgraceful and humiliating language； so we should abstain； as much as possible； from personal ill…treatment； and the employing towards him the measures of an owner towards his purchased or indentured slave。 Indignity is of all things the most hostile to the best purposes of a liberal education。 It may be necessary occasionally to employ； towards a human creature in his years of nonage； the stimulants of exhortation and remonstrance even in the pursuits to which he is best adapted； for the purpose of overcoming the instability and fits of idleness to which all men； and most of all in their early years； are subject： though in such pursuits a necessity of this sort can scarcely be supposed。 The bow must not always be bent； and it is good for us that we should occasionally relax and play the fool。 It may more readily be imagined； that some incitement may be called for in those things which； as has been mentioned above； it may be fit he should learn though with but half a will。 All freaks must not be indulged； admonition is salutary； and that the pupil should be awakened by his instructor to sober reflection and to masculine exertion。 Every Telemachus should have his Mentor。But through the whole it is necessary that the spirit of the pupil should not be broken； and that he should not be treated with contumely。 Stripes should in all instances be regarded as the last resort； and as a sort of problem set up for the wisdom of the wise to solve； whether the urgent case can arise in which it shall be requisite to have recourse to them。
The principles here laid down have the strongest tendency to prove to us how little progress has yet been made in the art of turning human creatures to the best account。 Every man has his place； in which if he can be fixed； the most fastidious judge cannot look upon him with disdain。 But； to effect this arrangement； an exact attention is required to ascertain the pursuit in which he will best succeed。 In India the whole mass of the members of the community is divided into castes； and； instead of a scrupulous attention being paid to the early intimations of individual character； it is already decided upon each； before he comes into the world； which child shall be a priest； and which a soldier； a physician； a lawyer； a merchant； and an artisan。 In Europe we do not carry this so far； and are not so elaborately wrong。 But the rudiments of the same folly flourish among us； and the accident of birth for the most part decides the method of life to which each individual with whatever violence shall be dedicated。 A very few only； by means of energies that no tyranny can subdue； escape from the operation of this murderous decree。
Nature never made a dunce。 Imbecility of mind is as rare； as deformity of the animal frame。 If this position be true； we have only to bear it in mind； feelingly to convince ourselves； how wholesale the error is into which society has hitherto fallen in the destination of its members； and how much yet remains to be done； before our common nature can be vindicated from the basest of all libels； the most murderous of all proscriptions。
There is a passage in Voltaire； in which he expresses himself to this effect： 〃It is after all but a slight line of separation that divides the man of genius from the man of ordinary mould。〃 I remember the place where； and the time when； I read this passage。 But I have been unable to find the expression。 It is however but reasonable that I should refer to it on this occasion； that I may hereby shew so eminent a modern concurring with the venerable ancient in an early era of letters； whose dictum I have prefixed to this Essay； to vouch to a certain extent for the truth of the doctrine I have delivered。
ESSAY III。 OF INTELLECTUAL ABORTION。
In the preceding Essay I have endeavoured to establish the proposition； that every human creature； idiots and extraordinary cases excepted； is endowed with talents； which； if rightly directed； would shew him to be apt； adroit； intelligent and acute； in the walk for which his organisation especially fitted him。
There is however a sort of phenomenon； by no means of rare occurrence； which tends to place the human species under a less favourable point of view。 Many men； as has already appeared； are forced into situations and pursuits ill assorted to their talents； and by that means are exhibited to their contemporaries in a light both despicable and ludicrous。
But this is not all。 Men are not only placed； by the absurd choice of their parents； or an imperious concurrence of circumstances； in destinations and employments in which they can never appear to advantage： they frequently； without any external compulsion； select for themselves objects of their industry； glaringly unadapted to their powers； and in which all their efforts must necessarily terminate in miscarriage。
I remember a young man； who had been bred a hair…dresser； but who experienced； as he believed； the secret visitations of the Muse； and became inspired。 〃With sad civility； and aching head；〃 I perused no fewer than six comedies from the pen of this aspiring genius； in no page of which I could discern any glimmering of poetry or wit； or in reality could form a guess what it was that the writer intended in his elaborate effusions。 Such are the persons enumerated by Pope in the Prologue to his Satires；
a parson； much bemused in beer； A maudlin poetess； a rhyming peer； A clerk； foredoomed his father's sou to cross； Who pens a stanza； when he should engross。
Every manager of a theatre； and every publishing bookseller of eminence； can produce you in each revolving season whole reams； almost cartloads； of blurred paper； testifying the frequent recurrence of this phenomenon。
The cause however of this painful mistake does not lie in the circumstance； that each man has not from the hand of nature an appropriate destination； a sphere assigned him； in which； if life should be prolonged to him； he might be secure of the respect of his neighbours； and might write upon his tomb； 〃I have filled an honourable career； I have finished my course。〃
One of the most glaring infirmities of our nature is discontent。 One of the most unquestionable characteristics of the human mind is the love of novelty。 Omne ignotum pro magnifico est。 We are satiated with those objects which make a part of our business in every day； and are desirous of trying something that is a stranger to us。 Whatever we see through a mist； or in the twilight； is apt to be apprehended by us as something admirable； for the single reason that it is seen imperfectly。 What we are sure that we can easily and adequately effect； we despise。 He that goes into battle with an adversary of more powerful muscle or of greater practice than himself； feels a tingling sensation； not unallied to delight； very different from that which would occur to him； when his victory was easy and secure。
Each man is conscious what it is that he can certainly effect。 This does not therefore present itself to him as an object of ambition。 We have many of us internally something of the spirit expressed by the apostle： 〃Forgetting the things that are behind； we press forward to those that remain。〃 And； so long as this precept is soberly applied； no conduct can be more worthy of praise。 Improvement is the appropriate race of man。 We cannot stand still。 If we do not go forward； we shall inevitably recede。 Shakespear； when he wrote his Hamlet； did not know that he could produce Macbeth and Othello。
But the progress of a man of reflection will be； to a con
