thoughts on man-第35章
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ual all through。
Sometimes I was unreasonably presumptuous； and sometimes unnecessarily distrustful。 Experience has taught me in various instances a sober confidence in my decisions； but that is all the difference。 So to express it； I had then the same tools to work with as now； but the magazine of materials upon which I had to operate was scantily supplied。 Like the apothecary in Romeo and Juliet； the faculty； such as it was； was within me； but my shelves contained but a small amount of furniture：
A beggarly account of empty boxes； Remnants of packthread； and old cakes of roses； Which； thinly scattered； served to make a shew。
In speaking thus of the intellectual powers of my youth； I am however conceding too much。 It is true； 〃Practice maketh perfect。〃 But it is surprising； in apt and towardly youth； how much there is to commend in the first essays。 The novice； who has his faculties lively and on the alert； will strike with his hammer almost exactly where the blow ought to be placed； and give nearly the precisely right force to the act。 He will seize the thread it was fitting to seize； and； though he fail again and again； will shew an adroitness upon the whole that we scarcely know how to account for。 The man whose career shall ultimately be crowned with success； will demonstrate in the beginning that he was destined to succeed。
There is therefore no radical difference between the child and the man。 His flesh becomes more firm and sinewy； his bones grow more solid and powerful； his joints are more completely strung。 But he is still essentially the same being that he was。 When a genuine philosopher holds a new…born child in his arms； and carefully examines it； he perceives in it various indications of temper and seeds of character。 It was all there； though folded up and confused； and not obtruding itself upon the remark of every careless spectator。 It continues with the child through life； grows with his growth； and never leaves him till he is at last consigned to the tomb。 How absurd then by artful rules and positive institutions to undertake to separate what can never be divided！ The child is occasionally grave and reflecting； and deduces well…founded inferences； he draws on the past； and plunges into the wide ocean of the future。 In proportion as the child advances into the youth； his intervals of gravity increase； and he builds up theories and judgments； some of which no future time shall suffice to overturn。 It is idle to suppose that the first activity of our faculties； when every thing is new and produces an unbated impression； when the mind is uncumbered； and every interest and every feeling bid us be observing and awake； should pass for nothing。 We lay up stores then； which shall never be exhausted。 Our minds are the reverse of worn and obtuse。 We bring faculties into the world with us fresh from the hands of the all…bounteous giver； they are not yet moulded to a senseless routine； they are not yet corrupted by the ill lessons of effrontery； impudence and vice。 Childhood is beautiful； youth is ingenuous； and it can be nothing but a principle which is hostile to all that most adorns this sublunary scene； that would with violence and despotic rule mar the fairest flower that creation has to boast。
It happens therefore almost unavoidably that； when the man mature looks back upon the little incidents of his youth； he sees them to a surprising degree in the same light； and forms the same conclusions respecting them； as he did when they were actually passing。 〃The forgeries of opinion；〃 says Cicero； 〃speedily pass away； but the rules and decisions of nature are strengthened。〃 Bitter reproaches and acts of violence are the offspring of perturbation engendered upon imbecility； and therefore can never be approved upon a sober and impartial revision。 And； if they are to be impeached in the judgment of an equal and indifferent observer； we may be sure they will be emphatically condemned by the grave and enlightened censor who looks back upon the years of his own nonage； and recollects that he was himself the victim of the intemperance to be pronounced upon。 The interest that he must necessarily take in the scenes in which he once had an engrossing concern； will supply peculiar luminousness to his views。 He taxes himself to be just。 The transaction is over now； and is passed to the events that preceded the universal deluge。 He holds the balance with a steadiness； which sets at defiance all attempts to give it a false direction one way or the other。 But the judgment he made on the case at the time； and immediately after the humiliation he suffered； remains with him。 It was the sentiment of his ripening youth； it was the opinion of his opening manhood； and it still attends him； when he is already fast yielding to the incroachments and irresistible assaults of declining years。
ESSAY XV。 OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP。
Who is it that says； 〃There is no love but among equals？〃 Be it who it may； it is a saying universally known； and that is in every one's mouth。 The contrary is precisely the truth； and is the great secret of every thing that is admirable in our moral nature。
By love it is my intention here to understand； not a calm； tranquil； and； as it were； half…pronounced feeling； but a passion of the mind。 We may doubtless entertain an approbation of other men； without adverting to the question how they stand in relation to ourselves； as equals or otherwise。 But the sentiment I am here considering； is that where the person in whom it resides most strongly sympathises with the joys and sorrows of another； desires his gratification； hopes for his welfare； and shrinks from the anticipation of his being injured； in a word； is the sentiment which has most the spirit of sacrifice in it； and prepares the person in whom it dwells； to postpone his own advantage to the advantage of him who is the object of it。
Having placed love among the passions； which is no vehement assumption； I then say； there can be no passion； and by consequence no love； where there is not imagination。 In cases where every thing is understood； and measured； and reduced to rule； love is out of the question。 Whenever this sentiment prevails； I must have my attention fixed more on the absent than the present； more upon what I do not see than on what I do see。 My thoughts will be taken up with the future or the past； with what is to come or what has been。 Of the present there is necessarily no image。 Sentiment is nothing； till you have arrived at a mystery and a veil； something that is seen obscurely； that is just hinted at in the distance； that has neither certain outline nor colour； but that is left for the mind to fill up according to its pleasure and in the best manner it is able。
The great model of the affection of love in human beings； is the sentiment which subsists between parents and children。
Let not this appear a paradox。 There is another relation in human society to which this epithet has more emphatically been given： but； if we analyse the matter strictly； we shall find that all that is most sacred and beautiful in the passion between the sexes； has relation to offspring。 What Milton calls； 〃The rites mysterious of connubial love；〃 would have little charm in them in reflection； to a mind one degree above the brutes； were it not for the mystery they include； of their tendency to give existence to a new human creature like ourselves。 Were it not for this circumstance； a man and a woman would hardly ever have learned to live together； there scarcely could have been such a thing as domestic society； but every intercourse of this sort would have been 〃casual； joyless； unendeared；〃 and the propensity would have brought along with it nothing more of beauty； lustre and grace； than the pure animal appetites of hunger and thirst。 Bearing in mind these considerations； I do not therefore hesitate to say； that the great model of the affection of love in human beings； is the sentiment which subsists between parents and children。
The original feature in this sentiment is the conscious feeling of the protector and the protected。 Our passions cannot subsist in lazy indolence； passion and action must operate on each other； passion must produce action； and action give strength to the tide of passion。 We do not vehemently desire； where we can do nothing。 It is in a very faint way that I entertain a wish to possess the faculty of flying； and an ordinary man can scarcely be said to desire to be a king or an emperor。 None but a madman； of plebeian rank； falls in love with a princess。 But shew me a good thing within my reach； convince me that it is in my power to attain it； demonstrate to me that it is fit for me； and I am fit for it； then begins the career of passion。 In the same manner； I cannot love a person vehemently； and strongly interest myself in his miscarriages or success； till I feel that I can be something to him。 Love cannot dwell in a state of impotence。 To affect and be affected； this is the common nature I require； this is the being that is like unto myself； all other likeness resides in the logic and the definition； but has nothing to do with feeling or with practice。
What can be more clear and sound in explanation； than the love of a parent to his child？ The affection he bears and its counterpart are the ornaments of the world； and the spring of every thing that makes life worth having。 Whatever besides has a tendency to illustrate and honour our nature； descends from these； or is copied from these； grows out of them as the branches of a tree from the trunk； or is formed upon them as a model； and derives from them its shape； its character； and its soul。 Yet there are men so industrious and expert to strip the world we live in of all that adorns it； that they can see nothing glorious in these affections； but find the one to be all selfishness； and the other all prejudice and superstition。
The love of the parent to his child is nursed and fostered by two plain considerations； first； that the subject is capable of receiving much； and secondly； that my power concerning it is great and extensive。
When an infant is presented to my observation； what a wide field of sentiment and reflection is opened to me！ Few minds are industrious and ductile enough completely to compass this field； if the infant is only accidentally brought under their view。 But； if it is an infant with which I begin to be acquainted to…day； and my acquaintance with which shall not end perhaps till one of us ceases to exist； how is it possible that the view of its little figure should not lead me to the meditation of its future history； the successive stages of human life； and the various scenes and mutations and vicissitudes and fortunes through which it is destined to pass？ The Book of Fate lies open before me。 This infant； powerless and almost impassive now； is reserved for many sorrows and many joys； and will one day possess a power； formidable and fearful to afflict those within its reach； or calculated to diffuse blessings； wisdom； virtue； happiness； to all around。 I conceive all the various destinations of which man is susceptible； my fancy at least is free to select that which pleases me best； I
