made personal identity to consist in consciousness; man not being the same at sixty, as he was at twenty.-Sylva. DCCCLXIX. Duelling-Mr. Sage.-I have never read of a duel among the Romans, and yet their nobility used more liberty with their tongues than one may do now, without being challenged. Sir Mark.--Perhaps the Romans were of opinion, that ill language and brutal manners reflected only on those who were guilty of them; and that a man's reputation was not at all cleared by cutting the person's throat who had reflected upon it: but the custom of those times had fixed the scandal in the action; whereas, now it lies in the reproach.-Tatler. DCCCLXX. The Right of Voting.-Want of property is no proof of wanting industry, talents, or virtue. Then why should a deficiency of fortune annihilate a man's political consequence? If an individual be without property and not supported by public or private benefactions, he must, unless a robber, be considered industrious. But a man of property has no such assurance in his favour. A poor man, so circumstanced, has, therefore, a much better right to vote than a rich man, on the mere account of contributing to the state.-Ensor. DCCCLXXI. Military Fame.-Hence it is, that warriors have been termed heroes, and the eulogy of heroes has been the con stant business of historians and poets, from the days of Nimrod down to the present century. Homer, for his astonishing variety, animation, and sublimity, has not a warmer admirer than myself; he has been for three thousand years, like a reigning sovereign, applauded, as a matter of course, whether from love or fear; for no man with safety to his own character can refuse to join the chorus of his praise. I never can express (and his other admirers have not done it for me) the pleasure I receive from his poems; but in a view of philanthropy, I consider his existence as having been a serious misfortune to the human race. He has given to military life a charm which few men can resist, a splendour which envelopes the scenes of carnage in a cloud of glory, which dazzles the eyes of every beholder, steals from us our natural sensibilities in exchange for the artificial, debases men to brutes under the pretext of exalting them to gods, and obliterates with the same irresistible stroke the moral duties of life and the true policy of nations. Alexander is not the only human monster that has been formed after the model of Achilles; nor Persia and Egypt the only countries depopulated for no other reason than the desire of rivalling predecessors in military fame.-Barlow's Advice to the Privileged Orders. DCCCLXXII, Intemperance." Doth not intemperance," said Socrates, "rob us of our reason, that chief excellence of man; and drive us on to commit the very greatest disorders? Can he, who is immersed in pleasure, find time to turn his thoughts on things that are useful? But, if he could, his judgment is so far overborne by his appetites, that, seeing the right path, he deliberately rejects it. Neither should we expect modesty in such a character; it being most certain that nothing can well stand at a greater distance from this than the whole life of the voluptuary." DCCCLXXIII. Persuasion, a better Argument than Force.-Whoever applies himself to the study of wisdom, in hopes of becoming one day capable of directing his fellow-citizens, will not indulge, but rather take pains to subdue, whatever he finds in his temper turbulent and impetuous; knowing that enmity and danger are the attendants on force; while the path of persuasion is all security and good will; for they who are compelled, hate whoever compels them, supposing they have been injured; whereas, we conciliate the affection of those we gain by persuasion; while they consider it as a kindness to be applied to in such a manner. Therefore, it is only for those to employ force who possess strength without judgment: but the well-advised will have recourse to other means. Besides, he who pretends to carry his point by force, hath need of many associates; but the man who can persuade, knows that he is of himself sufficient for the purpose: neither can such a one be supposed forward to shed blood; for who is there would choose to destroy a fellow-citizen rather than make a friend of him by mildness and persuasion? DCCCLXXIV. Memory. Without memory, the judgment must be unemployed, and ignorance must be the consequence. Pliny says it is one of the greatest gifts of nature.-Montaigne. DCCCLXXV. Analysis on the Word "Character."-In a moral sense it signifies habitual disposition of the soul, that inclines to do one thing in preference to another of a contrary nature. Thus a man who seldom or never pardons an injury, is of a revengeful character. Let it be remarked, we say seldom or never, because a character results not from a disposition being rigorously constant at all times, but from its being generally habitual, and that by which the soul is most frequently swayed. Mr. Du Clos, in his reflexions upon manners, very judiciously remarks, that the greatest part of the errors and follies in the conduct of mankind, happened because they have not their minds in an equilibrium, as it were, with their characters. Thus Cicero was a great genius, but a weak soul, which is the reason of his being elevated to the highest pinnacle of fame as an orator, although he could never rise above mediocrity as a man. Similar observations might be made on many other celebrated personages. There is no member of society more dangerous than a man without a character; that is, a person whose soul has not any one disposition more habitual to it than another. We readily confide in a virtuous man, but are distrustful of a villain. The man without a character is alternately the one and the other, nor are we able to determine which; therefore, we can look upon him neither as a friend nor an enemy. He is a sort of amphibious being, if we may be allowed the expression, that is, not specifically adapted to live in any one element. This calls to our remembrance that admirable law of Solon, that declared all those persons infamous, who were of no party in times of sedition: because he knew full well, that there are no objects more to be feared in society than men undetermined from a want of character.—Historical and Literary Anecdotes. DCCCLXXVI. Love of Fame. The love of praise, howe'er concealed by art, O'er globes and sceptres, now on thrones it swells, DCCCLXXVII. Young. Action. To do an ill action is base; to do a good one, which involves you in no danger, is nothing more than common; but it is the property of a truly good man, to do great and good things, though he risk every thing by it. -Marius. DCCCLXXVIII, Social Anomaly.-In proportion as nations have become great and powerful, and have made advances in wealth |