Lacon Volume 2 ; or, Many things in few words: addressed to those who think

by Charles Caleb Colton

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 ... attained, and it is remarkable that the same remedy that cures a Swiss, kills a Scot the slumbering sparks of genius, by means of such instruments, would be to stir up a languishing fire, with a poker of ice. There is a third class, forming a great majority, being a heavy compound of the two former, and possessing many of the properties peculiar to each; thus they have just ignorance enough to talk amongst fools, and just sense enough to be silent amongst wits. But they have no vivacity in themselves, nor relish for it in another, to attempt to keep up the ball of conversation with such partners, would be to play a game of fives against a bed of feathers. CLXIII. MAN grows up to teach his children as a father, and he looks back to the time when he himself was taught as a child. Hence he often becomes a pedagogue by circumstance, and a dogmatist by choice. He carries these principles beyond his own contracted sphere, into regions without bis jurisdiction, and assumes the dignity of the preceptor, in situations where the docility of the pupil would be more consonant to his powers, but less congenial to his pride. Neither are words, those tools he works with, less imperfect than his skill in applying them. Words "those Jickle daughters of the earth," are the creation of a being that is finite, and when applied to explain that which is infinite they fail; for that which is made surpasses not the maker; nor can that which is immeasurable by our thoughts, be measured by our tongues. Man is placed in a system where he sees benevolence acting through the instrumentality of wisdom; these proofs multiply upon him, in proportion to his powers of intellectual perception, and in those departments of this system which he understands the best, these marks of wi...

76 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2012