thoughts on man-第28章
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h facts and reflections。 We apprehended not the sense of the writer even when his pages were under our eye； and of consequence have nothing laid up in the memory after the hour of reading is completed。
In works of amusement it is otherwise； and most especially in writings of fiction。 These are sought after with avidity by the idle； because for the most part they are found to have the virtue of communicating impressions to the reader； even while his mind remains in a state of passiveness。 He finds himself agreeably affected with fits of mirth or of sorrow； and carries away the facts of the tale； at the same time that he is not called upon for the act of attention。 This is therefore one of the modes of luxury especially cultivated in a highly civilized state of society。
The same considerations will also explain to us the principal part of the pleasure that is experienced by mankind in all states of society from public shews and exhibitions。 The spectator is not called upon to exert himself； the amusement and pleasure come to him； while he remains voluptuously at his ease； and it is certain that the exertion we make when we are compelled to contribute to； and become in part the cause of our own entertainment； is more than the human mind is willing to sustain； except at seasons in which we are specially on the alert and awake。
This is further one of the causes why men in general feel prompted to seek the society of their fellows。 We are in part no doubt called upon in select society to bring our own information along with us； and a certain vein of wit； humour or narrative； that we may contribute our proportion to the general stock。 We read the newspapers； the newest publications； and repair to places of fashionable amusement and resort； partly that we may at least be upon a par with the majority of the persons we are likely to meet。 But many do not thus prepare themselves； nor does perhaps any one upon all occasions。
There is another state of human existence in which we expressly dismiss from our hands the reins of the mind； and suffer our minutes and our hours to glide by us undisciplined and at random。
This is； generally speaking； the case in a period of sickness。 We have no longer the courage to be on the alert； and to superintend the march of our thoughts。 It is the same with us for the most part when at any time we lie awake in our beds。 To speak from my own experience； I am in a restless and uneasy state while I am alone in my sitting…room； unless I have some occupation of my own choice； writing or reading； or any of those employments the pursuit of which was chosen at first； and which is more or less under the direction of the will afterwards。 But when awake in my bed； either in health or sickness； I am reasonably content to let my thoughts flow on agreeably to those laws of association by which I find them directed； without giving myself the trouble to direct them into one channel rather than another； or to marshal and actively to prescribe the various turns and mutations they may be impelled to pursue。
It is thus that we are sick； and it is thus that we die。 The man that guides the operations of his own mind； is either to a certain degree in bodily health； or in that health of mind which shall for a longer or shorter time stand forward as the substitute of the health of the body。 When we die； we give up the game； and are not disposed to contend any further。 It is a very usual thing to talk of the struggles of a man in articulo mortis。 But this is probably； like so many other things that occur to us in this sublunary stage； a delusion。 The bystander mistakes for a spontaneous contention and unwillingness to die； what is in reality nothing more than an involuntary contraction and convulsion of the nerves； to which the mind is no party； and is even very probably unconscious。But enough of this； the final and most humiliating state through which mortal men may be called on to pass。
I find then in the history of almost every human creature four different states or modes of existence。 First； there is sleep。 In the strongest degree of contrast to this there is the frame in which we find ourselves； when we write！ or invent and steadily pursue a consecutive train of thinking unattended with the implements of writing； or read in some book of science or otherwise which calls upon us for a fixed attention； or address ourselves to a smaller or greater audience； or are engaged in animated conversation。 In each of these occupations the mind may emphatically be said to be on the alert。
But there are further two distinct states or kinds of mental indolence。 The first is that which we frequently experience during a walk or any other species of bodily exercise； where； when the whole is at an end； we scarcely recollect any thing in which the mind has been employed； but have been in what I may call a healthful torpor； where our limbs have been sufficiently in action to continue our exercise； we have felt the fresh breeze playing on our cheeks； and have been in other respects in a frame of no unpleasing neutrality。 This may be supposed greatly to contribute to our bodily health。 It is the holiday of the faculties： and； as the bow； when it has been for a considerable time unbent； is said to recover its elasticity； so the mind； after a holiday of this sort； comes fresh； and with an increased alacrity； to those occupations which advance man most highly in the scale of being。
But there is a second state of mental indolence； not so complete as this； but which is still indolence； inasmuch as in it the mind is passive； and does not assume the reins of empire。 Such is the state in which we are during our sleepless hours in bed； and in this state our ideas； and the topics that successively occur； appear to go forward without remission； while it seems that it is this busy condition of the mind； and the involuntary activity of our thoughts； that prevent us from sleeping。
The distinction then between these two sorts of indolence is； that in the latter our ideas are perfectly distinct； are attended with consciousness； and can； as we please； be called up to recollection。 This therefore is not what we understand by reverie。 In these waking hours which are spent by us in bed； the mind is no less busy； than it is in sleep during a dream。 The other and more perfect sort of mental indolence； is that which we often experience during our exercise in the open air。 This is of the same nature as the condition of thought which seems to be the necessary precursor of sleep； and is attended with no precise consciousness。
By the whole of the above statement we are led to a new and a modified estimate of the duration of human life。
If by life we understand mere susceptibility； a state of existence in which we are accessible at any moment to the onset of sensation； for example； of painin this sense our life is commensurate； or nearly commensurate； to the entire period； from the quickening of the child in the womb； to the minute at which sense deserts the dying man； and his body becomes an inanimate mass。
But life； in the emphatical sense； and par excellence； is reduced to much narrower limits。 From this species of life it is unavoidable that we should strike off the whole of the interval that is spent in sleep； and thus； as a general rule； the natural day of twenty…four hours is immediately reduced to sixteen。
Of these sixteen hours again； there is a portion that falls under the direction of will and attention； and a portion that is passed by us in a state of mental indolence。 By the ordinary and least cultivated class of mankind； the husbandman； the manufacturer； the soldier； the sailor； and the main body of the female sex； much the greater part of every day is resigned to a state of mental indolence。 The will does not actively interfere； and the attention is not roused。 Even the most intellectual beings of our species pass no inconsiderable portion of every day in a similar condition。 Such is our state for the most part during the time that is given to bodily exercise； and during the time in which we read books of amusement merely； or are employed in witnessing public shews and exhibitions。
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