Theschoolofexample，mylord，istheworld：andthemastersofthisschoolarehistoryandexperience。Iamfarfromcontendingthattheformerispreferabletothelatter。Ithinkuponthewholeotherwise：butthisI
say，thattheformerisabsolutelynecessarytoprepareusforthelatter，andtoaccompanyuswhilstweareunderthedisciplineofthelatter，thatis，throughthewholecourseofourlives。Nodoubtsomefewmenmaybequoted，towhomnaturegavewhatartandindustrycangivetonoman。Butsuchexampleswillprovenothingagainstme，becauseIadmitthatthestudyofhistory，withoutexperience，isinsufficient，butassert，thatexperienceitselfissowithoutgenius。Geniusispreferabletotheothertwo；butIwouldwishtofindthethreetogether：forhowgreatsoeverageniusmaybe，andhowmuchsoeverhemayacquirenewlightandheat，asheproceedsinhisrapidcourse，certainitisthathewillnevershinewiththefulllustre，norshedthefullinfluenceheiscapableof，unlesstohisownexperienceheaddstheexperienceofothermenandotherages。Genius，withouttheimprovement，atleastofexperience，iswhatcometsoncewerethoughttobe，ablazingmeteor，irregularinhiscourse，anddangerousinhisapproach；ofnousetoanysystem，andabletodestroyany。Meresonsofearth，iftheyhaveexperiencewithoutanyknowledgeofthehistoryoftheworld，arebuthalfscholarsinthescienceofmankind。Andiftheyareconversantinhistorywithoutexperience，theyareworsethanignorant；theyarepedants，alwaysincapable，sometimesmeddlingandpresuming。Theman，whohasallthree，isanhonortohiscountry，andapublicblessing：andsuch，Itrust，yourlordshipwillbeinthiscentury，asyourgreat-grandfather，wasinthelast。
Ihaveinsistedalittlelongeronthishead，andhavemadethesedistinctionstherather，becausethoughIattributeagreatdealmorethanmanywillbereadytoallow，tothestudyofhistory，yetIwouldnotwillinglyevenseemtofallintotheridiculeofascribingittosuchextravaganteffects，asseveralhavedonefromTullydowntoCasaubon，LaMotheleVayer，andothermodernpedants。WhenTullyinformsus，inthesecondbookofhisTusculandisputations，thatthefirstScipioAfricanushadalwaysinhishandstheworksofXenophon，headvancesnothingbutwhatisprobableandreasonable。
Tosaynothingoftheretreatofthetenthousand，norofotherpartsofXenophon’swritings；theimagesofvirtue，representedinthatadmirablepicturetheCyropaedia，werepropertoentertainasoulthatwasfraughtwithvirtue，andCyruswasworthytobeimitatedbyScipio。SoSelimemulatedCaesar，whosecommentariesweretranslatedforhisuseagainstthecustomsoftheTurks；soCaesaremulatedAlexander；andAlexander，Achilles。Thereisnothingridiculoushere，excepttheusethatismadeofthispassagebythosewhoquoteit。ButwhatthesameTullysays，inthefourthbookofhisacademicaldisputations，concerningLucullus，seemstomeveryextraordinary。
“InAsiamfactusimperatorvenit；cumessetRomaprofectusreimilitarisrudis；“[onewouldbereadytoascribesosuddenachange，andsovastanimprovement，tonothinglessthanknowledgeinfusedbyinspiration，ifwewerenotassuredinthesameplacethattheywereeffectedbyverynaturalmeans，bysuchasitisineveryman’spowertoemploy]“partimpercontandoaperitis，partiminrebusgestislegendis。“Lucullus，accordingtothisaccount，verifiedthereproachontheRomannobility，whichSallustputsintothemouthofMarius。ButasIdiscoverthepassionofMarius，andhisprejudicestothepatricians，inonecase；soIdiscover，methinks，thecunningofTully，andhispartialitytohimself，intheother。Lucullus，afterhehadbeenchosenconsul，obtainedbyintriguethegovernmentofCilicia，andsoputhimselfintoasituationofcommandingtheRomanarmyagainstMithridates：Tullyhadthesamegovernmentafterwards，andthoughhehadnoMithridates，noranyotherenemyofconsequence，opposedtohim；thoughallhismilitaryfeatsconsistedinsurprisingandpillagingaparcelofhighlandersandwildCilicians；yetheassumedtheairsofaconqueror，anddescribedhisactionsinsopompousastyle，thattheaccountbecomesburlesque。