Essays, moral, political, and literaryT. Cadell in the Strand ; and A. Kincaid, and A. Donaldson, at Edinburgh, 1817 |
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Page 4
... objects chiefly as depend upon himself ; and that is not to be attained so much by any other means as by this delicacy of sentiment . When a man is possessed of that talent , he is more happy by what pleases his ESSAY 1 .
... objects chiefly as depend upon himself ; and that is not to be attained so much by any other means as by this delicacy of sentiment . When a man is possessed of that talent , he is more happy by what pleases his ESSAY 1 .
Page 5
... objects , which are so fondly pursued by the rest of mankind . On farther re- flection , I find , that it rather improves our sensibility for all the tender and agreeable passions ; at the same time that it renders the mind incapable of ...
... objects , which are so fondly pursued by the rest of mankind . On farther re- flection , I find , that it rather improves our sensibility for all the tender and agreeable passions ; at the same time that it renders the mind incapable of ...
Page 32
... object or purpose but the dis- tribution of justice , or , in other words , the support of the twelve judges . Kings and parliaments , fleets and armies , officers of the court and revenue , ambassadors , ministers , and privy ...
... object or purpose but the dis- tribution of justice , or , in other words , the support of the twelve judges . Kings and parliaments , fleets and armies , officers of the court and revenue , ambassadors , ministers , and privy ...
Page 67
... objects of terror are wanting , the soul , active to its own prejudice , and fostering its predo- minant inclination , finds imaginary ones , to whose power and malevolence it sets no limits . As these enemies are entirely invisible and ...
... objects of terror are wanting , the soul , active to its own prejudice , and fostering its predo- minant inclination , finds imaginary ones , to whose power and malevolence it sets no limits . As these enemies are entirely invisible and ...
Page 68
... object of devotion . In a little time , the inspired person comes to regard himself as a distinguished favourite of the Divinity ; and when this frenzy once takes place , which is the summit of enthusiasm , every whimsy is consecrated ...
... object of devotion . In a little time , the inspired person comes to regard himself as a distinguished favourite of the Divinity ; and when this frenzy once takes place , which is the summit of enthusiasm , every whimsy is consecrated ...
Common terms and phrases
absolute monarchy advantages affection agreeable ancient appear Appian arise arts Athenians Athens authority beauty beget Cæsar causes cerning character Cicero civil commerce common commonly constitution Demosthenes Diodorus Siculus eloquence ESSAY esteemed factions favourable foreign former free government Gaul genius give greater Greece Greeks happiness honour human nature inclination increase industry influence interest Italy jealousy Julius Cæsar kind labour laws learning liberty Lysias magistrates mankind manners marriage maxim ment mind mixed government modern monarchy nation neighbouring never object observe opinion orators Ovid particular parties passion perfection perhaps person philosophers pleasure Plutarch political Polybius polygamy possessed present prince principles produce reason refined regard render republic riches Roman Rome says scarcely sciences seems senate sense sensible sentiments slaves society sovereign species Strabo supposed Tacitus taste temper thing Thucydides tion violence virtue whole Xenophon
Popular passages
Page 521 - I am apt to suspect the negroes, and in general all the other species of men (for there are four or five different kinds) to be naturally inferior to the whites. There never was a civilized nation of any other complexion than white, nor even any individual eminent either in action or speculation. No ingenious manufactures amongst them, no arts, no sciences...
Page 310 - What nation could then dispute with us in any foreign market, or pretend to navigate or to sell manufactures at the same price, which to us would afford sufficient profit? In how little time, therefore, must this bring back the money which we had lost, and raise us to the level of all the neighbouring nations?
Page 171 - Who knows but He, whose hand the lightning forms, Who heaves old ocean, and who wings the storms, Pours fierce ambition in a Caesar's mind...
Page 238 - ... strong sense, united to delicate sentiment, improved by practice, perfected by comparison, and cleared of all prejudice, can alone entitle critics to this valuable character ; and the joint verdict of such, wherever they are to be found, is the true standard of taste and beauty.
Page 27 - NOTHING appears more surprising, to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few, and the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.
Page 32 - Man, born in a family, is compelled to maintain society from necessity, from natural inclination, and from habit. The same creature, in his further progress, is engaged to establish political society, in order to administer justice, without which there can be no peace among them, nor safety, nor mutual intercourse. We are therefore to look upon all the vast apparatus of our government, as having ultimately no other object or purpose but...
Page 326 - In opposition to this narrow and malignant opinion, I will venture to assert, that the increase of riches and commerce in any one nation, instead of hurting, commonly promotes the riches and commerce of all its neighbours...
Page 211 - The whole art of the poet is employed in rousing and supporting the compassion and indignation, the anxiety and resentment, of his audience. They are pleased in proportion as they are afflicted, and never are so happy as when they employ tears, sobs, and cries, to give vent to their sorrow, and relieve their heart, swoln with the tenderest sympathy and compassion.
Page 226 - It is evident that none of the rules of composition are fixed by reasonings a priori, or can be esteemed abstract conclusions of the understanding, from comparing those habitudes and relations of ideas, which are eternal and immutable. Their foundation is the same with that of all the practical sciences, experience ; nor are they any thing but general observations, concerning what has been universally found to please in all countries and in all ages.
Page 155 - There is one mistake, to which they seem liable, almost without exception; they confine too much their principles, and make.no account of that vast variety .which nature has so much ' affected in all her operations. When a philosopher 'has, once, laid hold of a favourite principle, which perhaps, accounts for many natural effects, he extends the same principle over , the whole creation, and reduces to it every phenomenon, though by the most violent and absurd reasoning.