or relieve the student of the
necessity of exerting himself.

(_f_) LEARN TO GENERALIZE.--Draw the most general conclusion possible
from the premises. Try to see if a general principle can be laid down.
This is a most important faculty to acquire. At the same time, avoid
the prevalent fault of hasty generalization, based on insufficient data.

(_g_) GO BEYOND THE BOOK.--Regard the book as suggestive and not final,
as the assistant to your own powers that you are for the moment
employing. Pursue the subject as much farther {53} as you have time
for. In this way you may develop a faculty for independent thinking.

(_h_) VISUALIZE YOUR RESULTS SO FAR AS POSSIBLE.--Train the imagination
by perceiving results in your mind, in concrete form, and in imagining
applications of facts and principles. Remember that use is the object
of study, and try to see the use that may be made of what you have
acquired.

We have seen that there are four main requisites for proper study,
viz.: (1) Mental courage; (2) Understanding; (3) System; (4)
Initiative. In addition to these may be mentioned (5) Proper habits
and methods of work, under which head a number of minor but important
suggestions may be made.

[1] "The greatest piece of good fortune is that which corrects our
deficiencies and redeems our mistakes."--_Goethe_.

{54}

V

PROPER HABITS AND METHODS OF WORK

(_a_) SELECT THE BEST BOOK FOR YOUR PURPOSES AND STUDY IT
THOROUGHLY.--The best book for your purposes will depend upon
circumstances. If you are beginning a subject, do not start with the
most complete book, but take a more elementary one. Remember that
elementary knowledge is not the same thing as superficial knowledge,
but may be quite the reverse. A knowledge of fundamental elementary
principles is essential for the understanding of any subject. These
should be obtained first from some elementary book, and made to form a
skeleton or framework, upon which the more elaborate portions of the
subject may be hung in their proper places. In large books there will
be found too great detail for the beginner, and he will be discouraged
by having too many things thrust upon his attention at once.

Elementary knowledge, thoroughly assimilated, is essential. Begin,
therefore, with the best elementary book there is, one which will make
you {55} think, weigh, understand, test and discriminate; and get from
it the kernel of the subject; and gain, if