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Thoughts on Man
His Nature； Productions and Discoveries
Interspersed with Some Particulars
Respecting the Author
by
William Godwin
Oh； the blood more stirs
To rouse a lion； than to start a hare！
SHAKESPEARE
LONDON： EFFINGHAM WILSON； ROYAL EXCHANGE。 1831。
PREFACE
In the ensuing volume I have attempted to give a defined and permanent form to a variety of thoughts； which have occurred to my mind in the course of thirty…four years； it being so long since I published a volume； entitled； the Enquirer；thoughts； which； if they have presented themselves to other men； have； at least so far as I am aware； never been given to the public through the medium of the press。 During a part of this period I had remained to a considerable degree unoccupied in my character of an author； and had delivered little to the press that bore my name。And I beg the reader to believe； that； since I entered in 1791 upon that which may be considered as my vocation in life； I have scarcely in any instance contributed a page to any periodical miscellany。
My mind has been constitutionally meditative； and I should not have felt satisfied； if I had not set in order for publication these special fruits of my meditations。 I had entered upon a certain career； and I held it for my duty not to abandon it。
One thing further I feel prompted to say。 I have always regarded it as my office to address myself to plain men； and in clear and unambiguous terms。 It has been my lot to have occasional intercourse with some of those who consider themselves as profound； who deliver their oracles in obscure phraseology； and who make it their boast that few men can understand them； and those few only through a process of abstract reflection； and by means of unwearied application。
To this class of the oracular I certainly did not belong。 I felt that I had nothing to say； that it should be very difficult to understand。 I resolved； if I could help it； not to 〃darken counsel by words without knowledge。〃 This was my principle in the Enquiry concerning Political Justice。 And I had my reward。 I had a numerous audience of all classes； of every age； and of either sex。 The young and the fair did not feel deterred from consulting my pages。
It may be that that book was published in a propitious season。 I am told that nothing coming from the press will now be welcomed； unless it presents itself in the express form of amusement。 He who shall propose to himself for his principal end； to draw aside in one particular or another the veil from the majesty of intellectual or moral truth； must lay his account in being received with little attention。
I have not been willing to believe this： and I publish my speculations accordingly。 I have aimed at a popular； and （if I could reach it） an interesting style； and； if I am thrust aside and disregarded； I shall console myself with believing that I have not neglected what it was in my power to achieve。
One characteristic of the present publication will not fail to offer itself to the most superficial reader。 I know many men who are misanthropes； and profess to look down with disdain on their species。 My creed is of an opposite character。 All that we observe that is best and most excellent in the intellectual world； is man： and it is easy to perceive in many cases； that the believer in mysteries does little more； than dress up his deity in the choicest of human attributes and qualifications。 I have lived among； and I feel an ardent interest in and love for； my brethren of mankind。 This sentiment； which I regard with complacency in my own breast； I would gladly cherish in others。 In such a cause I am well pleased to enrol myself a missionary。
February 15； 1831。
The particulars respecting the author； referred to in the title…page； will be found principally in Essays VII； IX； XIV； and XVIII。
CONTENTS
Essay。 I。 Of Body and Mind。 The Prologue II。 Of the Distribution of Talents III。 Of Intellectual Abortion IV。 Of the Durability of Human Achievements and Productions V。 Of the Rebelliousness of Man VI。 Of Human Innocence VII。 Of the Duration of Human Life VIII。 Of Human Vegetation IX。 Of Leisure X。 Of Imitation and Invention XI。 Of Self…Love and Benevolence XII。 Of the Liberty of Human Actions XIII。 Of Belief XIV。 Of Youth and Age XV。 Of Love and Friendship XVI。 Of Frankness and Reserve XVII。 Of Ballot XVIII。 Of Diffidence XIX。 Of Self Complacence XX。 Of Phrenology XXI。 Of Astronomy XXII。 Of the Material Universe XXIII。 Of Human Virtue。 The Epilogue
THOUGHTS； &c。
ESSAY I。 OF BODY AND MIND。
THE PROLOGUE。
There is no subject that more frequently occupies the attention of the contemplative than man： yet there are many circumstances concerning him that we shall hardly admit to have been sufficiently considered。
Familiarity breeds contempt。 That which we see every day and every hour； it is difficult for us to regard with admiration。 To almost every one of our stronger emotions novelty is a necessary ingredient。 The simple appetites of our nature may perhaps form an exception。 The appetite for food is perpetually renewed in a healthy subject with scarcely any diminution and love； even the most refined； being combined with one of our original impulses； will sometimes for that reason withstand a thousand trials； and perpetuate itself for years。 In all other cases it is required； that a fresh impulse should be given； that attention should anew be excited； or we cannot admire。 Things often seen pass feebly before our senses； and scarcely awake the languid soul。
〃Man is the most excellent and noble creature of the world； the principal and mighty work of God； the wonder of nature； the marvel of marvels＇1＇。〃
＇1＇ Anatomy of Melancholy； p。 1。
Let us have regard to his corporeal structure。 There is a simplicity in it； that at first perhaps we slightly consider。 But how exactly is it fashioned for strength and agility！ It is in no way incumbered。 It is like the marble when it comes out of the hand of the consummate sculptor； every thing unnecessary is carefully chiseled away； and the joints； the muscles； the articulations； and the veins come out； clean and finished。 It has long ago been observed； that beauty； as well as virtue； is the middle between all extremes： that nose which is neither specially long； nor short； nor thick； nor thin； is the perfect nose； and so of the rest。 In like manner； when I speak of man generally； I do not regard any aberrations of form； obesity； a thick calf； a thin calf； I take the middle between all extremes； and this is emphatically man。
Man cannot keep pace with a starting horse： but he can persevere； and beats him in the end。
What an infinite variety of works is man by his corporeal form enabled to accomplish！ In this respect he casts the whole creation behind him。
What a machine is the human hand！ When we analyse its parts and its uses； it appears to be the most consummate of our members。 And yet there are other parts； that may maintain no mean rivalship against it。
What a sublimity is to be attributed to his upright form！ He is not fashioned； veluti pecora； quae natura prona atque ventri obedientia finxit。 He is made coeli convexa tueri。 The looks that are given him in his original structure； are 〃looks commercing with the skies。〃
How surpassingly beautiful are the features of his countenance； the eyes； the nose； the mouth！ How noble do they appear in a state of repose！ With what never…ending variety and emphasis do they express the emotions of his mind！ In the visage of man； uncorrupted and undebased； we read the frankness and ingenuousness of his soul； the clearness of his reflections； the penetration of his spirit。 What a volume of understanding is unrolled in his broad； expanded； lofty brow！ In his countenance we see expressed at one time sedate confidence and awful intrepidity； and at another godlike condescension and the most melting tenderness。 Who can behold the human eye； suddenly suffused with moisture； or gushing with tears unbid； and the quivering lip； without unspeakable emotion？ Shakespear talks of an eye； 〃whose bend could awe the world。〃
What a miraculous thing is the human complexion！ We are sent into the world naked； that all the variations of the blood might be made visible。 However trite； I cannot avoid quoting here the lines of the most deep…thinking and philosophical of our poets：
We understood Her by her sight： her pure and eloquent blood Spoke in her cheeks； and so distinctly wrought； That one might almost say her body thought。
What a curious phenomenon is that of blushing！ It is impossible to witness this phenomenon without interest and sympathy。 It comes at once； unanticipated by the person in whom we behold it。 It comes from the soul； and expresses with equal certainty shame； modesty； and vivid； uncontrollable affection。 It spreads； as it were in so many stages； over the cheeks； the brow； and the neck； of him or her in whom the sentiment that gives birth to it is working。
Thus far I have not mentioned speech； not perhaps the most inestimable of human gifts； but； if