MORAL ESSAYS. EPISTLE I.* OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND CHARACTERS OF MEN. TO SIR R. TEMPLE, LORD VISCOUNT COBHAM. ARGUMENT. L. That it is not sufficient for this knowledge to consider man in the abstract: books will not serve the purpose, nor yet our own experience singly, ver. 1. General maxims, unless they be formed on both, will be but notional, v. 10. Some peculiarity in every man characteristic to himself, yet varying from himself, v. 15. Difficulties arising from our own passions, fancies, faculties, &c. v. 31. The shortness of life, to observe in, and the uncertainty of the principles of action in men, to observe by, v. 37, &c. Our own principle of action often hid from ourselves, v. 41. Some few characters plain, but in general confounded, dissembled, or inconsistent, v. 51. The same man utterly different in different places and seasons, v. 71. Unimaginable weaknesses in the greatest, v. 77, &c. Nothing constant and certain but God and nature, v. 95. No judging of the motives from the actions; the same actions proceeding from contrary motives, and the same motives influencing contrary actions, v. 100.-II. Yet to form characters, we can only take the strongest actions of a man's life, and try to make them agree. The utter uncertainty of this, from nature itself, and from policy, v. 120. Characters given according to the rank of men of the world, v. 135. And some reason for it, v. 141. Education alters the nature, or at least the character, of many, v. 149. Actions, passions, opinions, manners, humours, or principles, all subject to change. No judging by nature, *The 4th Epistle was the first one published, in 1731, as an essay "On Taste," a title afterwards altered to "On False Taste," and finally to that of "The Use of Riches." The 1st Epistle appeared in 1734, the 2d in 1735, and the 8d in 1738. from v. 158 to 174.-III. It only remains to find, if we can, his ruling passion. That will certainly influence all the rest, and can reconcile the seeming or real inconsistency of all his actions, v. 175. Instanced in the extraordinary character of Clodio, v. 179. A caution against mistaking second qualities for first, which will destroy all possibility of the knowledge of mankind, v. 210. Examples of the strength of the ruling passion, and its continuation to the last breath, v. 222, &c. I. YES, you despise the man to books confined, Though what he learns he speaks, and may ad vance Some general maxims, or be right by chance. And yet the fate of all extremes is such, Maxims are drawn from notions, those from guess. 20 Our depths who fathoms, or our shallows finds, Quick whirls and shifting eddies of our minds? On human actions reason though you can, It may be reason, but it is not man: His principle of action once explore, That instant 'tis his principle no more; Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. 30 ! Yet more; the difference is as great between All manners take a tincture from our own; Contracts, inverts, and gives ten thousand dyes. It hurries all too fast to mark their way: 40 Oft, in the passions' wide rotation toss'd, 50 True, some are open, and to all men known; mind: James Brydges, first Duke of Chandos. The principal character in Wycherley's 'Plain Dealer. The famous Dr. Swift. 60 |