Common Courtesy in Eighteenth-century English LiteratureIn one of his Idlers, Johnson indicated the problems involved in such an achievement as follows: "As a question becomes more complicated and involved, and extends to a greater number of relations, disagreement of opinion will always be multiplied: not because we are irrational, but because we are finite beings, furnished with different kinds of knowledge, exerting different degrees of attention, one discovering consequences which escape another, none taking in the whole concatenation of causes and effects, and most comprehending but a very small part, each comparing what he observes with a different criterion and each referring it to a different purpose. "Where, then, is the wonder, that they who see only a small part should judge erroneously of the whole? |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 33
Page 42
... question at length in his next letter to Percival and took it up fully in Three Dialogues . Otherwise , if he really ... questions , all objections , and the full scope of social involvement . That the Three Dialogues constitutes such a ...
... question at length in his next letter to Percival and took it up fully in Three Dialogues . Otherwise , if he really ... questions , all objections , and the full scope of social involvement . That the Three Dialogues constitutes such a ...
Page 102
... question and , as the novel defines itself , a formally indetermin- able one . This question marks , indeed , the outer limit of Sterne's design , the ne plus ultra by which he frames and illuminates Tristram's discursive practices . As ...
... question and , as the novel defines itself , a formally indetermin- able one . This question marks , indeed , the outer limit of Sterne's design , the ne plus ultra by which he frames and illuminates Tristram's discursive practices . As ...
Page 139
... question of sound imagery . " From these lines laboured on with great attention , and celebrated by a rival wit , may be judged what can be expected from the most diligent endeavors after this imagery of sound . " When analysis of such ...
... question of sound imagery . " From these lines laboured on with great attention , and celebrated by a rival wit , may be judged what can be expected from the most diligent endeavors after this imagery of sound . " When analysis of such ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acknowledges actually agreement allows apparent argument asserts attention Author believe Berkeley Boswell common sense concern Consider continually conversation course courteous courtesy critics described discourse discussion doubt effect enforces epistle Essay established evident example existence experience explains expression figures finally further give hope human Hylas ideas imagine immediately indicated individual instance intellectual Johnson judgment kind knowledge learned least letter literary Lord matter meaning mind nature never notice objects observed occasion once opinion particular passage passive philosophers poem poet polite Pope Pope's position possible practice present Press question quotes Rambler readers reason recognizes reference remarkable represented respondent seems Shandy share social society sometimes Sterne style suggests things thought throughout tion Toby's topics train Treatise Tristram truth turn uncle understanding universal writing