登陆注册
5221300000011

第11章 LETTER 3(1)

An Objection against the Utility of History Removed.II.The False and True Aims of Those who Study it.III.Of the History of the First Ages,With Reflections on the State of Ancient History Profane and Sacred.

Were these letters to fall into the hands of some ingenious persons who adorn the age we live in,your lordship's correspondent would be joked upon for his project of improving men in virtue and wisdom by the study of history.

The general characters of men,it would be said,are determined by their natural constitutions,as their particular actions are by immediate objects.

Many very conversant in history would be cited,who have proved ill men,or bad politicians;and a long roll would be produced of others,who have arrived at a great pitch of private,and public virtue,without any assistance of this kind.Something has been said already to anticipate this objection;but,since I have heard several persons affirm such propositions with great confidence,a loud laugh,or a silent sneer at the pedants who presumed to think otherwise;I will spend a few paragraphs,with your lordship's leave,to show that such affirmations,for to affirm amongst these fine men is to reason,either prove too much,or prove nothing.

If our general characters were determined absolutely,as they are certainly influenced,by our constitutions,and if our particular actions were so by immediate objects;all instruction by precept,as well as example,and all endeavors to form the moral character by education,would be unnecessary.

Even the little care that is taken,and surely it is impossible to take less,in the training up our youth,would be too much.But the truth is widely different from this representation of it;for,what is vice,and what is virtue?I speak of them in a large and philosophical sense.The former is,I think,no more than the excess,abuse,and misapplication of appetites,desires,and passions,natural and innocent,nay useful and necessary.The latter consists in the moderation and government,in the use and application of these appetites,desires,and passions,according to the rules of reason,and therefore often in opposition to their own blind impulse.

What now is education?that part,that principle and most neglected part of it,I mean,which tends to form the moral character?It is,I think,an institution designed to lead men from their tender years,by precept and example,by argument and authority,to the practice,and to the habit of practising these rules.The stronger our appetites,desires,and passions are,the harder indeed is the task of education:but when these efforts of education are proportioned to this strength,although our keenest appetites and desires,and our ruling passions cannot be reduced to a quiet and uniform submission,yet,are not their excesses assuaged?are not their abuses and misapplications,in some degree,diverted or checked?Though the pilot cannot lay the storm,cannot he carry the ship,by his art,better through it,and often prevent the wreck that would always happen,without him?If Alexander who loved wine,and was naturally choleric,had been bred under the severity of Roman discipline,it is probable he would neither have made a bonfire of Persepolis for his whore,nor have killed his friend.If Scipio,who was naturally given to women,for which anecdote we have,if I mistake not,the authority of Polybius,as well as some verses of Naevius preserved by A.

Gellius,bad been educated by Olympius at the court of Philip,it is improbable that he would have restored the beautiful Spaniard.In short,if the renowned Socrates bad not corrected nature by art,this first apostle of the Gentiles had been a very profligate fellow,by his own confession;for he was inclined to all the vices Zopyrus imputed to him,as they say,on the observation of his physiognomy.

With him,therefore,who denies the effects of education,it would be in vain to dispute;and with him who admits them,there can be dispute,concerning that share which I ascribe to the study of history,in forming our moral characters,and making us better men.The very persons who pretend that inclinations cannot be restrained,nor habits corrected,against our natural bent,would be the first perhaps to prove,in certain cases,the contrary.A fortune at court,or the favors of a lady,have prevailed on many to conceal,and they could not conceal without restraining,which is one step towards correcting,the vices they were by nature addicted to the most.Shall we imagine now,that the beauty of virtue and the deformity of vice,the charms of a bright and lasting reputation,the terror of being delivered over as criminals to all posterity,the real benefit arising from a conscientious discharge of the duty we owe to others,which benefit fortune can neither hinder nor take away,and the reasonableness of conforming ourselves to the designs of God manifested in the constitution of the human nature;shall we imagine,I say,that ill these are not able to acquire the same power over those who are continually called upon to a contemplation of them,and they who apply themselves to the study of history are so called upon,as other motives,mean and sordid in comparison of these,can usurp on other men?

2.That the study of history,far from making us wiser,and more useful citizens,as well as better men,may be of no advantage whatsoever;that it may serve to render us mere antiquaries and scholars;or that it may help to make us forward coxcombs,and prating pedants,I have already allowed.

同类推荐
  • 考古质疑

    考古质疑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说摩利支天菩萨陀罗尼经

    佛说摩利支天菩萨陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Illustrious Gaudissart

    The Illustrious Gaudissart

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 春阿氏谋夫案

    春阿氏谋夫案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 要修科仪戒律钞

    要修科仪戒律钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 幽隐山庄

    幽隐山庄

    一个沦陷于中国西汉时期的古罗马家族,他们的背后隐藏了多少的泪水和血腥?千年的禁锢到底是一种信仰,还是人性的抹灭?在这个诡秘的幽隐山庄里,各种诡异的事情不断上演着:盛产父杀女的变态家族;能梦到灾难的奇异女子;灭绝万年却又复生的惊人物种。当鲜血染红整片山庄的时候,谁才能给出最后的答案?往事已沉,碎梦依旧。那饱经风霜的沉沦岁月,终归是一场充满哀伤的古老惋歌!
  • 无限之星际旋转

    无限之星际旋转

    M星,一个虽小但是神秘的地方,它像是一个世界,更像是一个平台。他们的公民似乎有着与众不同的能力。他们在神的指引下进行着时空变换,就像游戏般......低贱、富贵平凡、出众并没有什么不同,他们只有一项任务...便是完成神所下达的指示
  • 琥珀里的时光

    琥珀里的时光

    一缕又一缕光芒在琥珀中流溢,一段又一段时光在琥珀中流逝。有人选择遗忘,有人选择执念。当琥珀中的光再现时,他对她说:“这是最后一次了,我所能对你做的。如果时光倒流,如果可以重新开始,你愿意回到哪一刻......”
  • 珞珈谪仙记

    珞珈谪仙记

    这里是仙侠世界中的“珞珈界”。工学部主教变成通天高楼;网球场变成龙腾云海;鲲鹏广场云抟九万;樱花大道花开千里;鉴海烟波无极;珞樱大帝在珞珈山悟道成圣,于樱花城堡建立珞樱帝国……将珞珈山下的世界变成一片神仙浩土,其中人往来修道,斩妖除魔,生死轮回……歌曰:“天地泰,日月长。珞珈界,图自强。南北东西,樱花无量。乾坤上下,万道争光。黄鹄一举兮,知山川之纡曲。息焉游焉,亿兆莫疆。再举兮,知天地之圆方。藏焉修焉,同于阴阳。念茫茫宙合,悠悠文物。鸡鸣风雨,日就月将。游心太玄兮,踏浪溟沧。明明德兮,履道皇皇。大道兮无亲,珞珈兮永昌。”
  • 快穿女王:危险消除吖

    快穿女王:危险消除吖

    “有一个健康的身体,真的好好阿。”付芍低头看着红润的手指,眸色淡淡,但若是熟悉她的人(作者)都知道她此刻心情不差。――来自那个世界的人,为什么一直追杀我呢一个金色眸子的男人。第一个世界见面时他是个鬼马少年,被她各种欺负。第二个世界见面时他是个高冷反派,与她斗智斗勇。第三个……――edCbAS“那么多个世界,我穿梭的意义是什么呢。”“为了遇见我。”――欢迎来到,快穿世界。
  • 金光明忏法补助仪

    金光明忏法补助仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你若不曾来 叫我如何老

    你若不曾来 叫我如何老

    花火试读馆绝版选定之作,千万粉丝翘首期盼。“暖系”言情女生苏格兰折耳猫,温暖虐爱新作暖暖来袭。人生中最大的幸福或许就是遇到一个愿意用爱来包容你成长的人。而对于温冉来说,这辈子做过的最勇敢的一件事,就是爱上这样一个人。温冉的父亲是将门之后,深迷考古却因患上抑郁症而在一场车祸身亡,因母亲是家世普通的女子,父亲死后,被温家扫地出门。在遇到生命里对的那个人前,她对感情总是不敢轻易尝试。直到她遇见了叶以祯,并在一次课题实验中成为叶以祯专门指导的学生。叶以祯名校毕业,长相英俊。讲课风趣,深受学生喜爱。他用自己的温柔与包容,一步一步将她带入自己的世界。
  • 艺苑卮言

    艺苑卮言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绝当(中国好小说)

    绝当(中国好小说)

    因挪用公款炒股被判刑七年的古长风刑满出狱,回到了府后街。面对亲有的众叛亲离,古长风重整旗鼓,干起了典当的行业。随着古嘉寄卖商行的营业,古长风也积累了大量的资产。一个80后的女人谢柳儿在一次办理典当业务中,结识了古长风,二人由此发生了一段曲折的爱情故事。
  • 前世今生牵丝戏

    前世今生牵丝戏

    你相信人有“通天”的本领吗?我相信!是坚信……