thoughts on man-第27章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
both the one and the other。 Or； at least； the wisest man that ever existed spends a portion of his time in vacancy and dulness； and the man； whose faculties are seemingly the most obtuse； might； under proper management from the hour of his birth； barring those rare exceptions from the ordinary standard of mind which do not deserve to be taken into the account； have proved apt； adroit； intelligent and acute； in the walk for which his organisation especially fitted him＇15＇。
＇15＇ See above； Essay 3。
Many men without question； in a walk of the same duration as that above described between Temple…Bar and Hyde…Park…Corner； have passed their time in as much activity； and amidst as strong and various excitements； as those enumerated in the passage above quoted。
But the lives of all men； the wise； and those whom by way of contrast we are accustomed to call the dull； are divided between animation and comparative vacancy； and many a man； who by the bursts of his genius has astonished the world； and commanded the veneration of successive ages； has spent a period of time equal to that occupied by a walk from Temple…Bar to Hyde…Park…Corner； in a state of mind as idle； and as little affording materials for recollection； as the dullest man that ever breathed the vital air。
The two states of man which are here attempted to be distinguished； are； first； that in which reason is said to fill her throne； in which will prevails； and directs the powers of mind or of bodily action in one channel or another； and； secondly； that in which these faculties； tired of for ever exercising their prerogatives； or； being awakened as it were from sleep； and having not yet assumed them； abandon the helm； even as a mariner might be supposed to do； in a wide sea； and in a time when no disaster could be apprehended； and leave the vessel of the mind to drift； exactly as chance might direct。
To describe this last state of mind I know not a better term that can be chosen； than that of reverie。 It is of the nature of what I have seen denominated BROWN STUDY＇16＇ a species of dozing and drowsiness； in which all men spend a portion of the waking part of every day of their lives。 Every man must be conscious of passing minutes； perhaps hours of the day； particularly when engaged in exercise in the open air； in this species of neutrality and eviration。 It is often not unpleasant at the time； and leaves no sinking of the spirits behind。 It is probably of a salutary nature； and may be among the means； in a certain degree beneficial like sleep； by which the machine is restored； and the man comes forth from its discipline reinvigorated； and afresh capable of his active duties。
＇16＇ Norris； and Johnson； Dictionary of the English Language。
This condition of our nature has considerably less vitality in it； than we experience in a complete and perfect dream。 In dreaming we are often conscious of lively impressions； of a busy scene； and of objects and feelings succeeding each other with rapidity。 We sometimes imagine ourselves earnestly speaking： and the topics we treat； and the words we employ； are supplied to us with extraordinary fluency。 But the sort of vacancy and inoccupation of which I here treat； has a greater resemblance to the state of mind； without distinct and clearly unfolded ideas； which we experience before we sink into sleep。 The mind is in reality in a condition； more properly accessible to feeling and capable of thought； than actually in the exercise of either the one or the other。 We are conscious of existence and of little more。 We move our legs； and continue in a peripatetic state； for the man who has gone out of his house with a purpose to walk； exercises the power of volition when he sets out； but proceeds in his motion by a semi…voluntary act； by a sort of vis inertiae； which will not cease to operate without an express reason for doing so； and advances a thousand steps without distinctly willing any but the first。 When it is necessary to turn to the right or the left； or to choose between any two directions on which he is called upon to decide； his mind is so far brought into action as the case may expressly require； and no further。
I have here instanced in the case of the peripatetic： but of how many classes and occupations of human life may not the same thing be affirmed？ It happens to the equestrian； as well as to him that walks on foot。 It occurs to him who cultivates the fruits of the earth； and to him who is occupied in any of the thousand manufactures which are the result of human ingenuity。 It happens to the soldier in his march； and to the mariner on board his vessel。 It attends the individuals of the female sex through all their diversified modes of industry； the laundress； the housemaid； the sempstress； the netter of purses； the knotter of fringe； and the worker in tambour； tapestry and embroidery。 In all； the limbs or the fingers are employed mechanically； the attention of the mind is only required at intervals； and the thoughts remain for the most part in a state of non…excitation and repose。
It is a curious question； but extremely difficult of solution； what portion of the day of every human creature must necessarily be spent in this sort of intellectual indolence。 In the lower classes of society its empire is certainly very great； its influence is extensive over a large portion of the opulent and luxurious； it is least among those who are intrusted in the more serious affairs of mankind； and among the literary and the learned； those who waste their lives； and consume the midnight…oil； in the search after knowledge。
It appeared with sufficient clearness in the immediately preceding Essay； that the intellect cannot be always on the stretch； nor the bow of the mind for ever bent。 In the act of composition； unless where the province is of a very inferior kind； it is likely that not more than two or three hours at a time can be advantageously occupied。 But in literary labour it will often occur； that； in addition to the hours expressly engaged in composition； much time may be required for the collecting materials； the collating of authorities； and the bringing together a variety of particulars； so as to sift from the mass those circumstances which may best conduce to the purpose of the writer。 In all these preliminary and inferior enquiries it is less necessary that the mind should be perpetually awake and on the alert； than in the direct office of composition。 The situation is considerably similar of the experimental philosopher； the man who by obstinate and unconquerable application resolves to wrest from nature her secrets； and apply them to the improvement of social life； or to the giving to the human mind a wider range or a more elevated sphere。 A great portion of this employment consists more in the motion of the hands and the opportune glance of the eye； than in the labour of the head； and allows to the operator from time to time an interval of rest from the momentous efforts of invention and discovery； and the careful deduction of consequences in the points to be elucidated。
There is a distinction； sufficiently familiar to all persons who occupy a portion of their time in reading； that is made between books of instruction； and books of amusement。 From the student of mathematics or any of the higher departments of science； from the reader of books of investigation and argument； an active attention is demanded。 Even in the perusal of the history of kingdoms and nations； or of certain memorable periods of public affairs； we can scarcely proceed with any satisfaction； unless in so far as we collect our thoughts； compare one part of the narrative with another； and hold the mind in a state of activity。
We are obliged to reason while we read； and in some degree to construct a discourse of our own； at the same time that we follow the statements of the author before us。 Unless we do this； the sense and spirit of what we read will be apt to slip from under our observation； and we shall by and by discover that we are putting together words and sounds only； when we purposed to store our minds with facts and reflections。 We apprehended not the sense of the writer even when his pages were under
