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！
inguished in the outset； are merely suffered to live that they may furnish manure and nourishment to their betters。 On the contrary； each man； according to this hypothesis； has a sphere in which he may shine； and may contemplate the exercise of his own powers with a well…grounded satisfaction。 He produces something as perfect in its kind； as that which is effected under another form by the more brilliant and illustrious of his species。 He stands forward with a serene confidence in the ranks of his fellow…creatures； and says； 〃I also have my place in society； that I fill in a manner with which I have a right to be satisfied。〃 He vests a certain portion of ingenuity in the work he turns out。 He incorporates his mind with the labour of his hands； and a competent observer will find character and individuality in it。
He has therefore nothing of the sheepishness of the ordinary schoolboy； the tasks imposed upon whom by his instructor are foreign to the true bent of his mind； and who stands cowed before his seniors； shrinking under the judgment they may pass upon him； and the oppression they may exercise towards him。 He is probably competent to talk in a manner that may afford instruction to men in other respects wise and accomplished； and is no less clear and well…digested in his discourse respecting the subjects to which his study and labour have been applied； than they are on the questions that have exercised the powers of analysis with which they are endowed。 Like Elihu in the Book of Job； he says； 〃I am young； and you are old； I said therefore； Days shall speak； and multitude of years shall teach wisdom。 But there is a spirit in man； and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding。 Great men are not always wise； neither do the aged understand judgment。 Hearken therefore to me； and I also will shew my opinion。〃
What however in the last instance is affirmed； is not always realised in the experiment。 The humblest mechanic； who works con amore； and feels that he discharges his office creditably； has a sober satisfaction in the retrospect； and is able to express himself perspicuously and well on the subject that has occupied his industry。 He has a just confidence in himself。 If the occasion arises； on which he should speak on the subject of what he does； and the methods he adopts for effecting it； he will undoubtedly acquit himself to the satisfaction of those who hear him。 He knows that the explanations he can afford will be sound and masculine； and will stand the test of a rigid examination。
But； in proportion as he feels the ground on which he stands； and his own power to make it good； he will not fail to retire from an audience that is not willing to be informed by him。 He will often appear in the presence of those； whom the established arrangements of society call his superiors； who are more copiously endowed with the treasures of language； and who； confident perhaps in the advantage of opulence； and what is called； however they may have received it； a liberal education； regard with disdain his artless and unornamented explanations。 He did not； it may be； expect this。 And； having experienced several times such unmerited treatment； he is not willing again to encounter it。 He knew the worth of what he had to offer。 And； finding others indisposed to listen to his suggestions； he contentedly confines them within the circle of his own thoughts。
To this it must be added that； though he is able to explain himself perspicuously； yet he is not master of the graces of speech； nor even perhaps of the niceties of grammar。 His voice is not tuned to those winning inflections by which men； accustomed to the higher ranks of society； are enabled so to express themselves；
That aged ears play truant at their tales； And younger hearings are quite ravished； So sweet and voluble is their discourse。
On the contrary there is a ruggedness in his manner that jars upon the sense。 It is easy for the light and supercilious to turn him into ridicule。 And those who will not be satisfied with the soundness of his matter； expounded； as he is able to expound it； in clear and appropriate terms； will yield him small credit； and listen to him with little delight。
These considerations therefore bring us back again to the reasons of the prevalent opinion； that the majority of mankind are dull； and of apprehension narrow and confused。 The mass of boys in the process of their education appear so； because little of what is addressed to them by their instructors； awakens their curiosity； and inspires them with the desire to excel。 The concealed spark of ambition is not yet cleared from the crust that enveloped it as it first came from the hand of nature。 And in like manner the elder persons； who have not experienced the advantages of a liberal education； or by whom small profit was made by those advantages； being defective in exterior graces； are generally listened to with impatience； and therefore want the confidence and the inclination to tell what they know。
But these latter； if they are not attended to upon the subjects to which their attention and ingenuity have been applied； do not the less possess a knowledge and skill which are intrinsically worthy of applause。 They therefore contentedly shut up the sum of their acquisitions in their own bosoms； and are satisfied with the consciousness that they have not been deficient in performing an adequate part in the generation of men among whom they live。
Those persons who favour the opinion of the incessant improveableness of the human species； have felt strongly prompted to embrace the creed of Helvetius； who affirms that the minds of men； as they are born into the world； are in a state of equality； alike prepared for any kind of discipline and instruction that may be afforded them； and that it depends upon education only； in the largest sense of that word； including every impression that may be made upon the mind； intentional or accidental； from the hour of our birth； whether we shall be poets or philosophers； dancers or singers； chemists or mathematicians； astronomers or dissectors of the faculties of our common nature。
But this is not true。 It has already appeared in the course of this Essay； that the talent； or； more accurately speaking； the original suitableness of the individual for the cultivation； of music or painting； depends upon certain peculiarities that we bring into the world with us。 The same thing may be affirmed of the poet。 As； in the infinite variety of human beings； there are no two faces so alike that they cannot be distinguished； nor even two leaves plucked from the same tree； so there are varieties in the senses； the organs； and the internal structure of the human species； however delicate； and to the touch of the bystander evanescent； which give to each individual a predisposition to rise to excellence in one particular art or attainment； rather than in any other。
And this view of things； if well considered； is as favourable； nay； more so； to the hypothesis of the successive improveableness of the human species； as the creed of Helvetius。 According to that philosopher； every human creature that is born into the world； is capable of becoming； or being made； the equal of Homer； Bacon or Newton； and as easily and surely of the one as the other。 This creed； if sincerely embraced； no doubt affords a strong stimulus to both preceptor and pupil； since； if true； it teaches us that any thing can be made of any thing； and that； wherever there is mind； it is within the compass of possibility； not only that that mind can be raised to a high pitch of excellence； but even to a high pitch of that excellence； whatever it is； that we shall prefer to all others； and most earnestly desire。
Still this creed will； after all； leave both preceptor and pupil in a state of feeling considerably unsatisfactory。 What it sets before us； is too vast and indefinite。 We shall be left long perhaps in a state of balance as to what species of excellence we shall choose； and； in the immense field of accessible improvement it offers to us； without land…mark or compass for the direction of our course； it is scarcely possible that we should feel that assured confidence and anticipation of success； which are perhaps indispensibly required to the completion of a truly arduous undertaking。
But； upon the principles laid down in this Essay； the case is widely different。 We are here presented in every individual human creature with a subject better fitted for one sort of cultivation than another。 We are excited to an earnest study of the individual； that we may the more unerringly discover what pursuit it is for which his nature and qualifications especially prepare him。 We may be long in choosing。 We may be even on the brink of committing a considerable mistake。 Our subsequent observations may enable us to correct the inference we were disposed to make from those which went before。 Our sagacity is flattered by the result of the laborious scrutiny which this view of our common nature imposes upon us。
In addition to this we reap two important advantages。
In the first place； we feel assured that every child that is born has his suitable spher