thoughts on man-第54章
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re are certain views in morality； in politics； and various other important subjects； the general prevalence of which will be of the highest benefit to the society of which we are members； and it becomes us in this respect； with proper temperance and moderation； to conform ourselves to the zealous and fervent precept of the apostle； to 〃promulgate the truth and be instant； in season and out of season；〃 that we may by all means leave some monument of our good intentions behind us； and feel that we have not lived in vain。
There is a maxim extremely in vogue in the ordinary intercourses of society； which deserves to be noticed here； for the purpose of exposing it to merited condemnation。 It is very common between friends； or persons calling themselves such； to say； 〃Do not ask my advice in a certain crisis of your life； I will not give it； hereafter； if the thing turns out wrong； you will reflect on me； and say that it was at my suggestion that you were involved in calamity。〃 This is a dastardly excuse； and shews a pitiful selfishness in the man that urges it。
It is true； that we ought ever to be on the alert； that we may not induce our friend into evil。 We should be upon our guard； that we may not from overweening arrogance and self…conceit dictate to another； overpower his more sober judgment； and assume a rashness for him； in which perhaps we would not dare to indulge for ourselves。 We should be modest in our suggestions； and rather supply him with materials for decision； than with a decision absolutely made。 There may however be cases where an opposite proceeding is necessary。 We must arrest our friend； nay； even him who is merely our fellow…creature； with a strong arm； when we see him hovering on the brink of a precipice； or the danger is so obvious； that nothing but absolute blindness could conceal it from an impartial bystander。
But in all cases our best judgment should always be at the service of our brethren of mankind。 〃Give to him that asketh thee； and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away。〃
This may not always be practicable or just； when applied to the goods of fortune： but the case of advice； information； and laws of conduct； comes within that of Ennius； to suffer our neighbour to light his candle at our lamp。 To do so will enrich him； without making us a jot the poorer。 We should indeed respect the right of private judgment； and scarcely in any case allow our will to supersede his will in his own proper province。 But we should on no account suffer any cowardly fears for ourselves； to induce us to withhold from him any assistance that our wider information or our sounder judgment might supply to him。
The next consideration by which we should be directed in the exercise of the faculty of speech； is that we should employ it so as should best conduce to the pleasure of our neighbour。 Man is a different creature in the savage and the civilised state。 It has been affirmed； and it may be true； that the savage man is a stranger to that disagreeable frame of mind； known by the name of ennui。 He can pore upon the babbling stream； or stretch himself upon a sunny bank； from the rising to the setting of the sun； and be satisfied。 He is scarcely roused from this torpid state but by the cravings of nature。 If they can be supplied without effort； he immediately relapses into his former supineness； and； if it requires search； industry and exertion to procure their gratification； he still more eagerly embraces the repose； which previous fatigue renders doubly welcome。
But； when the mind has once been wakened up from its original lethargy； when we have overstepped the boundary which divides the man from the beast； and are made desirous of improvement； while at the same moment the tumultuous passions that draw us in infinitely diversified directions are called into act； the case becomes exceedingly different。 It might be difficult at first to rouse man from his original lethargy： it is next to impossible that he should ever again be restored to it。 The appetite of the mind being once thoroughly awakened in society； the human species are found to be perpetually craving after new intellectual food。 We read； we write； we discourse； we ford rivers； and scale mountains； and engage in various pursuits； for the pure pleasure that the activity and earnestness of the pursuit afford us。 The day of the savage and the civilised man are still called by the same name。 They may be measured by a pendulum； and will be found to be of the same duration。 But in all other points of view they are inexpressibly different。
Hence therefore arises another duty that is incumbent upon us as to the exercise of the faculty of speech。 This duty will be more or less urgent according to the situation in which we are placed。
If I sit down in a numerous assembly； if I become one of a convivial party of ten or twelve persons； I may unblamed be for the greater part； or entirely silent； if I please。 I must appear to enter into their sentiments and pleasures； or； if I do not； I shall be an unwelcome guest； but it may scarcely be required for me to clothe my feelings with articulate speech。
But； when my society shall be that of a few friends only； and still more if the question is of spending hours or days in the society of a single friend； my duty becomes altered； and a greater degree of activity will be required from me。 There are cases； where the minor morals of the species will be of more importance than those which in their own nature are cardinal。 Duties of the highest magnitude will perhaps only be brought into requisition upon extraordinary occasions； but the opportunities we have of lessening the inconveniences of our neighbour； or of adding to his accommodations and the amount of his agreeable feelings； are innumerable。 An acceptable and welcome member of society therefore will not talk； only when he has something important to communicate。 He will also study how he may amuse his friend with agreeable narratives； lively remarks； sallies of wit； or any of those thousand nothings； which' set off with a wish to please and a benevolent temper； will often entertain more and win the entire good will of the person to whom they are addressed； than the wisest discourse； or the vein of conversation which may exhibit the powers and genius of the speaker to the greatest advantage。
Men of a dull and saturnine complexion will soon get to an end of all they felt it incumbent on them to say to their comrades。 But the same thing will probably happen； though at a much later period； between friends of an active mind； of the largest stores of information； and whose powers have been exercised upon the greatest variety of sentiments； principles； and original veins of thinking。 When two such men first fall into society； each will feel as if he had found a treasure。 Their communications are without end； their garrulity is excited； and converts into a perennial spring。 The topics upon which they are prompted to converse are so numerous； that one seems to jostle out the other。
It may proceed thus from day to day； from month to month； and perhaps from year to year。 But； according to the old proverb； 〃It is a long lane that has no turning。〃 The persons here described will have a vast variety of topics upon which they are incited to compare their opinions； and will lay down these topics and take them up again times without number。 Upon some； one of the parties will feel himself entirely at home while the other is comparatively a novice； and； in others； the advantage will be with the other； so that the gain of both； in this free and unrestrained opening of the soul； will be incalculable。 But the time will come； like as in perusing an author of the most extraordinary genius and the most versatile powers； that the reading of each other's minds will be exhausted。 They know so much of each other's tone of thinking； that all that can be said will be anticipated。 The living voice； the sparkling eye； and the beaming countenance will do much to put off the evil day； when we shall say； I have had enough。 But the time will come in which we shall feel that this after all is but little； and we shall become sluggish； ourselves to
