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? |
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Page 37
... reason be expected , that those who have spent most time and pains in it should enjoy a greater calm and serenity of mind , a greater clearness and evidence of knowledge , and be less disturbed with doubts and diffi- culties than other ...
... reason be expected , that those who have spent most time and pains in it should enjoy a greater calm and serenity of mind , a greater clearness and evidence of knowledge , and be less disturbed with doubts and diffi- culties than other ...
Page 38
... reason we are insen- sibly drawn into uncouth paradoxes , difficulties , and inconsistencies , which multiply and grow upon us as we advance in speculation ; till at length , having wander'd through many intricate mazes , we find our ...
... reason we are insen- sibly drawn into uncouth paradoxes , difficulties , and inconsistencies , which multiply and grow upon us as we advance in speculation ; till at length , having wander'd through many intricate mazes , we find our ...
Page 63
... reason , Man is not a Fly . 3. Say what the use , were finer optics given , 4. T'inspect a mite , not comprehend the heaven ? Or touch , if tremblingly alive all o'er , 5 . 6 . To smart and agonize at every pore ? 7 . 8 . b . 1 . 2 . Or ...
... reason , Man is not a Fly . 3. Say what the use , were finer optics given , 4. T'inspect a mite , not comprehend the heaven ? Or touch , if tremblingly alive all o'er , 5 . 6 . To smart and agonize at every pore ? 7 . 8 . b . 1 . 2 . Or ...
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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