inds around him everything he needs; not governed by caprices, his
desires extend no farther than his own arms can reach. Not only is he
sufficient for himself, but, at this one time in all his life, he has
more strength than he really requires.

What then shall he do with this superabundance of mental and physical
strength, which he will hereafter need, but endeavor to employ it in
ways which will at some time be of use to him, and thus throw this
surplus vitality forward into the future? The robust child shall make
provision for his weaker manhood. But he will not garner it in barns,
or lay it up in coffers that can be plundered. To be real owner of
this treasure, he must store it up in his arms, in his brain, in
himself. The present, then, is the time to labor, to receive
instruction, and to study; nature so ordains, not I.

Human intelligence has its limits. We can neither know everything, nor
be thoroughly acquainted with the little that other men know. Since
the reverse of every false proposition is a truth, the number of
truths, like the number of errors, is inexhaustible. We have to select
what is to be taught as well as the time for learning it. Of the kinds
of knowledge within our power some are false, some useless, some serve
only to foster pride. Only the few that really conduce to our
well-being are worthy of study by a wise man, or by a youth intended to
be a wise man. The question is, not what may be known, but what will
be of the most use when it is known. From these few we must again
deduct such as require a ripeness of understanding and a knowledge of
human relations which a child cannot possibly acquire; such as, though
true in themselves, incline an inexperienced mind to judge wrongly of
other things.

This reduces us to a circle small indeed in relation to existing
things, but immense when we consider the capacity of the child's mind.
How daring was the hand that first ventured to lift the veil of
darkness from our human understanding! What abysses, due to our unwise
learning, yawn around the unfortunate youth! Tremble, you who are to
conduct him by these perilous ways, and to lift for him the sacred veil
of nature. Be sure of your own brain and of his, lest either, or
perhaps both, grow dizzy at the sight. Beware of the glamour of
falsehood and of the intoxicating fumes of pride. Always bear in mind
that ignorance has never been harmful, that error alone is fatal, and
that our e