FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28  
29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   >>   >|  
s no period, but by gratification, Page 185. CHAP. IV. Contains a further definition of _revenge_, its force, effects, and the chasm it leaves on the mind when once it ceases. The tranquility of being entirely devoid of all passions; and the impossibility for the soul to remain in that state of inactivity is also shewn; with some remarks on human nature in general, when left to itself, Page 190. CHAP. V. Contains a remarkable proof, that tho' the passions may operate with greater velocity and vehemence in youth, yet they are infinitely more strong and permanent, when the person is arrived at maturity, and are then scarce ever eradicated. Love and friendship are then, and not till then, truly worthy of the names they bear; and that the _one_ between those of different sexes, is always the consequence of the _other_, Page 206. CHAP. VI. How the most powerful emotions of the _mind_ subside, and grow weaker in proportion as the strength of the _body_ decays, is here exemplified; and that such passions as remain after a certain age, are not properly the incentives of nature but of example, long habitude, or ill humour, Page 224. LIFE's PROGRESS THROUGH THE PASSIONS. INTRODUCTION. I have often heard it observed by the readers of biography, that the characters are generally too high painted; and that the _good_ or _bad_ qualities of the person pretended to be faithfully represented, are displayed in stronger colours than are to be found in nature. To this the lovers of hyperbole reply, that _virtue_ cannot be drawn too beautiful, nor _vice_ too deformed, in order to excite in us an ambition of imitating the _one_, and a horror at the thoughts of becoming any way like the _other_.--The argument at first, indeed, seems to have some weight, as there is nothing, not even precept itself, which so greatly contributes whether to rectify or improve the mind, as the prevalence of example: but then it ought to be considered, that if the pattern laid down before us, is so altogether angelic, as to render it impossible to be copied, emulation will be in danger of being swallowed up in an unprofitable admiration; and, on the other hand, if it appears so monstrously hideous as to take away all apprehensions of ever resembling it, we might be too apt to indulge ourselves in errors which would seem small in comparison with those presented to us.--There never yet was any one man, in whom all the _virtue
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28  
29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

nature

 

passions

 

virtue

 

person

 

Contains

 

remain

 

deformed

 

excite

 

beautiful

 
errors

thoughts
 

ambition

 

imitating

 
horror
 

hyperbole

 

pretended

 
presented
 

faithfully

 
qualities
 

painted


represented
 

displayed

 

comparison

 

lovers

 

stronger

 

colours

 

argument

 

altogether

 

pattern

 

hideous


considered

 

generally

 

angelic

 
render
 

danger

 

swallowed

 

impossible

 
copied
 

emulation

 
prevalence

precept
 
indulge
 

appears

 

weight

 

admiration

 

rectify

 

resembling

 

improve

 
apprehensions
 

monstrously