thoughts on man-第22章
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ssion itself is the emblem of peace。 All its occupations； from seed…time to harvest； are tranquil； and there is nothing which belongs to it； that can obviously be applied to rouse the angry passions； and place men in a frame of hostility to each other。 Next to the cultivator； come the manufacturer； the artificer； the carpenter； the mason； the joiner； the cabinet…maker； all those numerous classes of persons； who are employed in forming garments for us to wear； houses to live in； and moveables and instruments for the accommodation of the species。 All these persons are； of necessity； of a peaceable demeanour。 So are those who are not employed in producing the conveniencies of life； but in conducting the affairs of barter and exchange。 Add to these； such as are engaged in literature； either in the study of what has already been produced； or in adding to the stock； in science or the liberal arts； in the instructing mankind in religion and their duties； or in the education of youth。 〃Civility；〃 〃civil；〃 are indeed terms which express a state of peaceable occupation； in opposition to what is military； and imply a tranquil frame of mind； and the absence of contention； uproar and violence。 It is therefore clear； that the majority of mankind are civil； devoted to the arts of peace； and so far as relates to acts of violence innocent； and that the sons of rapine constitute the exception to the general character。
We come into the world under a hard and unpalatable law； 〃In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread。〃 It is a bitter decree that is promulgated against us； 〃He that will not work； neither shall he eat。〃 We all of us love to do our own will； and to be free from the manacles of restraint。 What our hearts 〃find us to do；〃 that we are disposed to execute 〃with all our might。〃 Some men are lovers of strenuous occupation。 They build and they plant； they raise splendid edifices； and lay out pleasure…grounds of mighty extent。 Or they devote their minds to the acquisition of knowledge； they
outwatch the bear； With thrice great Hermes； or unsphere The spirit of Plato； to unfold What worlds； or what vast regions hold The immortal mind。
Others again would waste perhaps their whole lives in reverie and idleness。 They are constituted of materials so kindly and serene； that their spirits never flag from want of occupation and external excitement。 They could lie for ever on a sunny bank； in a condition divided between thinking and no thinking； refreshed by the fanning breeze； viewing the undulations of the soil； and the rippling of the brook； admiring the azure heavens； and the vast； the bold； and the sublime figure of the clouds； yielding themselves occasionally to 〃thick…coming fancies；〃 and day…dreams； and the endless romances of an undisciplined mind；
And find no end； in wandering mazes lost。
But all men； alike the busy of constitution and the idle； would desire to follow the impulses of their own minds； unbroken in upon by harsh necessity； or the imperious commands of their fellows。
We cannot however； by the resistless law of our existence； live； except the few who by the accident of their birth are privileged to draw their supplies from the labour of others； without exerting ourselves to procure by our efforts or ingenuity the necessaries of food； lodging and attire。 He that would obtain them for himself in an uninhabited island； would find that this amounted to a severe tax upon that freedom of motion and thought which would otherwise be his inheritance。 And he who has his lot cast in a populous community； exists in a condition somewhat analogous to that of a negro slave； except that he may to a limited extent select the occupation to which he shall addict himself； or may at least starve； in part or in whole； uncontroled； and at his choice。 Such is； as it were； the universal lot。
'Tis destiny unshunnable like death： Even then this dire necessity falls on us； When we do quicken。
I go forth in the streets； and observe the occupations of other men。 I remark the shops that on every side beset my path。 It is curious and striking； how vast are the ingenuity and contrivance of human beings； to wring from their fellow…creatures； 〃from the hard hands of peasants〃 and artisans； a part of their earnings； that they also may live。 We soon become feelingly convinced； that we also must enter into the vast procession of industry； upon pain that otherwise；
Like to an entered tide； they all rush by； And leave you hindmost： there you lie； For pavement to the abject rear； o'errun And trampled on。
It is through the effect of this necessity； that civilised communities become what they are。 We all fall into our ranks。 Each one is member of a certain company or squadron。 We know our respective places； and are marshaled and disciplined with an exactness scarcely less than that of the individuals of a mighty army。 We are therefore little disposed to interrupt the occupations of each other。 We are intent upon the peculiar employment to which we have become devoted。 We 〃rise up early； and lie down late；〃 and have no leisure to trouble ourselves with the pursuits of others。 Hence of necessity it happens in a civilised community； that a vast majority of the species are innocent； and have no inclination to molest or interrupt each other's avocations。
But； as this condition of human society preserves us in comparative innocence； and renders the social arrangement in the midst of which we exist； to a certain degree a soothing and agreeable spectacle； so on the other hand it is not less true that its immediate tendency is； to clip the wings of the thinking principle within us； and plunge the members of the community in which we live into a barren and ungratifying mediocrity。 Hence it should be the aim of those persons； who from their situation have more or less the means of looking through the vast assemblage of their countrymen； of penetrating 〃into the seeds〃 of character； and determining 〃which grain will grow； and which will not；〃 to apply themselves to the redeeming such as are worthy of their care from the oblivious gulph into which the mass of the species is of necessity plunged。 It is therefore an ill saying； when applied in the most rigorous extent； 〃Let every man maintain himself； and be his own provider： why should we help him？〃
The help however that we should afford to our fellow…men requires of us great discernment in its administration。 The deceitfulness of appearances is endless。 And nothing can well be at the same time more lamentable and more ludicrous； than the spectacle of those persons； the weaver； the thresher； and the mechanic； who by injudicious patronage are drawn from their proper sphere； only to exhibit upon a larger stage their imbecility and inanity； to shew those moderate powers； which in their proper application would have carried their possessors through life with respect； distorted into absurdity； and used in the attempt to make us look upon a dwarf； as if he were one of the Titans who in the commencement of recorded time astonished the earth。
It is also true to a great degree； that those efforts of the human mind are most healthful and vigorous； in which the possessor of talents 〃administers to himself；〃 and contends with the different obstacles that arise；
throwing them aside； And stemming them with hearts of controversy。
Many illustrious examples however may be found in the annals of literature； of patronage judiciously and generously applied； where men have been raised by the kindness of others from the obscurest situations； and placed on high； like beacons； to illuminate the world。 And； independently of all examples； a sound application of the common sense of the human mind would teach us； that the worthies of the earth； though miracles； are not omnipotent； and that a certain aid； from those who by counsel or opulence are enabled to afford it； have oft times produced the noblest effects； have carried on the generous impulse that works within us； and prompted us manfully to proceed； when the weakness of our nature was ready to give in from despair。
But the thing that in this
