ipline under which they are placed。 The instructor draws； one way； and the pupil another。 The object of the latter is to find out how he may escape censure and punishment with the smallest expence of scholastic application。 He looks at the task that is set him； without the most distant desire of improvement； but with alienated and averted eye。 And； where this is the case； the wonder is not that he does not make a brilliant figure。 It is rather an evidence of the slavish and subservient spirit incident to the majority of human beings； that he learns any thing。 Certainly the schoolmaster； who judges of the powers of his pupil's mind by the progress he makes in what he would most gladly be excused from learning； must be expected perpetually to fall into the most egregious mistakes。
The true test of the capacity of the individual； is where the desire to succeed； and accomplish something effective； is already awakened in the youthful mind。 Whoever has found out what it is in which he is qualified to excel； from that moment becomes a new creature。 The general torpor and sleep of the soul； which is incident to the vast multitude of the human species； is departed from him。 We begin； from the hour in which our limbs are enabled to exert themselves freely； with a puerile love of sport。 Amusement is the order of the day。 But no one was ever so fond of play； that he had not also his serious moments。 Every human creature perhaps is sensible to the stimulus of ambition。 He is delighted with the thought that he also shall be somebody； and not a mere undistinguished pawn； destined to fill up a square in the chess…board of human society。 He wishes to be thought something of； and to be gazed upon。 Nor is it merely the wish to be admired that excites him： he acts； that he may be satisfied with himself。 Self…respect is a sentiment dear to every heart。 The emotion can with difficulty be done justice to； that a man feels； who is conscious that he is breathing his true element； that every stroke that he strikes will have the effect he designs； that he has an object before him； and every moment approaches nearer to that object。 Before； he was wrapped in an opake cloud； saw nothing distinctly； and struck this way and that at hazard like a blind man。 But now the sun of understanding has risen upon him； and every step that he takes； he advances with an assured and undoubting confidence。
It is an admirable remark； that the book which we read at the very time that we feel a desire to read it； affords us ten times the improvement； that we should have derived from it when it was taken up by us as a task。 It is just so with the man who chooses his occupation； and feels assured that that about which he is occupied is his true and native field。 Compare this person with the boy that studies the classics； or arithmetic； or any thing else； with a secret disinclination； and； as Shakespear expresses it； 〃creeps like snail； unwillingly； to school。〃 They do not seem as if they belonged to the same species。
The result of these observations certainly strongly tends to support the proposition laid down early in the present Essay； that； putting idiots and extraordinary cases out of the question； every human creature is endowed with talents； which； if rightly directed； would shew him to be apt； adroit； intelligent and acute； in the walk for which his organisation especially fitted him。
SECTION III。
ENCOURAGING VIEW OF OUR COMMON NATURE。POWER OF SOUND EXPOSITION AFFORDED TO ALL。DOCTRINE OF THIS ESSAY AND THE HYPOTHESIS OF HELVETIUS COMPARED。THE WILLING AND UNWILLING PUPIL CONTRASTED。MISCHIEVOUS TENDENCY OF THE USUAL MODES OF EDUCATION。
What a beautiful and encouraging view is thus afforded us of our common nature！ It is not true； as certain disdainful and fastidious censurers of their fellow…men would persuade us to believe； that a thousand seeds are sown in the wide field of humanity； for no other purpose than that half…a…dozen may grow up into something magnificent and splendid； and that the rest； though not absolutely extinguished in the outset； are merely suffered to live that they may furnish manure and nourishment to their betters。 On the contrary； each man； according to this hypothesis； has a sphere in which he may shine； and may contemplate the exercise of his own powers with a well…grounded satisfaction。 He produces something as perfect in its kind； as that which is effected under another form by the more brilliant and illustrious of his species。 He stands forward with a serene confidence in the ranks of his fellow…creatures； and says； 〃I also have my place in society； that I fill in a manner with which I have a right to be satisfied。〃 He vests a certain portion of ingenuity in the work he turns out。 He incorporates his mind with the labour of his hands； and a competent observer will find character and individuality in it。
He has therefore nothing of the sheepishness of the ordinary schoolboy； the tasks imposed upon whom by his instructor are foreign to the true bent of his mind； and who stands cowed before his seniors； shrinking under the judgment they may pass upon him； and the oppression they may exercise towards him。 He is probably competent to talk in a manner that may afford instruction to men in other respects wise and accomplished； and is no less clear and well…digested in his discourse respecting the subjects to which his study and labour have been applied； than they are on the questions that have exercised the powers of analysis with which they are endowed。 Like Elihu in the Book of Job； he says； 〃I am young； and you are old； I said therefore； Days shall speak； and multitude of years shall teach wisdom。 But there is a spirit in man； and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding。 Great men are not always wise； neither do the aged understand judgment。 Hearken therefore to me； and I also will shew my opinion。〃
What however in the last instance is affirmed； is not always realised in the experiment。 The humblest mechanic； who works con amore； and feels that he discharges his office creditably； has a sober satisfaction in the retrospect； and is able to express himself perspicuously and well on the subject that has occupied his industry。 He has a just confidence in himself。 If the occasion arises； on which he should speak on the subject of what he does； and the methods he adopts for effecting it； he will undoubtedly acquit himself to the satisfaction of those who hear him。 He knows that the explanations he can afford will be sound and masculine； and will stand the test of a rigid examination。
But； in proportion as he feels the ground on which he stands； and his own power to make it good； he will not fail to retire from an audience that is not willing to be informed by him。 He will often appear in the presence of those； whom the established arrangements of society call his superiors； who are more copiously endowed with the treasures of language； and who； confident perhaps in the advantage of opulence； and what is called； however they may have received it； a liberal education； regard with disdain his artless and unornamented explanations。 He did not； it may be； expect this。 And； having experienced several times such unmerited treatment； he is not willing again to encounter it。 He knew the worth of what he had to offer。 And； finding others indisposed to listen to his suggestions； he contentedly confines them within the circle of his own thoughts。
To this it must be added that； though he is able to explain himself perspicuously； yet he is not master of the graces of speech； nor even perhaps of the niceties of grammar。 His voice is not tuned to those winning inflections by which men； accustomed to the higher ranks of society； are enabled so to express themselves；
That aged ears play truant at their tales； And younger hearings are quite ravished； So sweet and voluble is their discourse。
On the contrary there is a ruggedness in his manner that jars upon the sense。 It is easy for the light and supercilious to turn him into ridicule。 And those who will not be satisfied with the soundness of his matter； expounded； as he is able to expound it； in clear and appropriate terms； will yield him small credit； and listen to him with little delight。
These considerations therefore bring us back again to the reasons of the prevalent opinion； that the majority of mankind are dull； and of apprehension narrow and confused。 The mass of boys in the process of their education appear so； because little of what is addressed to them by their instructors； awakens their curiosity； and inspires them with the desire to excel。 The concealed spark of ambition is not yet cleared from the crust that enveloped it as it first came from the hand of nature。 And in like manner the elder persons； who have not experienced the advantages of a liberal education； or by whom small profit was made by those advantages； being defective in exterior graces； are generally listened to with impatience； and therefore want the confidence and the inclination to tell what they know。
But these latter； if they are not attended to upon the subjects to which their attention and ingenuity have been applied； do not the less possess a knowledge and skill which are intrinsically worthy of applause。 They therefore contentedly shut up the sum of their acquisitions in their own bosoms； and are satisfied with the consciousness that they have not been deficient in performing an adequate part in the generation of men among whom they live。
Those persons who favour the opinion of the incessant improveableness of the human species； have felt strongly prompted to embrace the creed of Helvetius； who affirms that the minds of men； as they are born into the world； are in a state of equality； alike prepared for any kind of discipline and instruction that may be afforded them； and that it depends upon education only； in the largest sense of that word； including every impression that may be made upon the mind； intentional or accidental； from the hour of our birth； whether we shall be poets or philosophers； dancers or singers； chemists or mathematicians； astronomers or dissectors of the faculties of our common nature。
But this is n