Wehad，inthiscopse，averylongcontestaboutmyransom，whichtheysetsohigh，thatitwasmanifestthatIwasnotknowntothem。Theywere，moreover，inaverygreatdebateaboutmylife;and，intruth，therewerevariouscircumstancesthatclearlyshowedthedangerIwasin:
\"Tuncanimisopus，AEnea，tuncpectorefirmo。\"
[Then，AEneas，thereisneedofcourage，ofafirmheart。\"
——AEneid，vi。261。]
Istillinsisteduponthetruce，toowillingtheyshouldhavethegainofwhattheyhadalreadytakenfromme，whichwasnottobedespised，withoutpromiseofanyotherransom。Aftertwoorthreehoursthatwehadbeeninthisplace，andthattheyhadmountedmeuponahorsethatwasnotlikelytorunfromthem，andcommittedmetotheguardoffifteenortwentyharquebusiers，anddispersedmyservantstoothers，havinggivenorderthattheyshouldcarryusawayprisonersseveralways，andI
beingalreadygotsometwoorthreemusket—shotsfromtheplace，\"JamprecePollucis，jamCastoris，implorata，\"
[\"ByaprayeraddressednowtoPollux，nowtoCastor。\"
——Catullus，lxvi。65。]
beholdasuddenandunexpectedalteration;Isawthechiefreturntomewithgentlerlanguage，makingsearchamongstthetroopersformyscatteredproperty，andcausingasmuchascouldberecoveredtoberestoredtome，eventomymoney—box;butthebestpresenttheymadewasmyliberty，fortherestdidnotmuchconcernmeatthattime。Thetruecauseofsosuddenachange，andofthisreconsideration，withoutanyapparentimpulse，andofsomiraculousarepentance，insuchatime，inaplannedanddeliberateenterprise，andbecomejustbyusage（for，atthefirstdash，IplainlyconfessedtothemofwhatpartyIwas，andwhitherIwasgoing），truly，Idonotyetrightlyunderstand。Themostprominentamongstthem，whopulledoffhisvizorandtoldmehisname，repeatedlytoldmeatthetime，overandoveragain，thatIowedmydeliverancetomycountenance，andthelibertyandboldnessofmyspeech，thatrenderedmeunworthyofsuchamisadventure，andshouldsecuremefromitsrepetition。’TispossiblethattheDivinegoodnesswilledtomakeuseofthisvaininstrumentformypreservation;andit，moreover，defendedmethenextdayfromotherandworseambushes，ofwhichthesemyassailantshadgivenmewarning。Thelastofthesetwogentlemenisyetlivinghimselftotellthestory;thefirstwaskillednotlongago。
Ifmyfacedidnotanswerforme，ifmendidnotreadinmyeyesandinmyvoicetheinnocenceofintention，Ihadnotlivedsolongwithoutquarrelsandwithoutgivingoffence，seeingtheindiscreetwhatevercomesintomyhead，andtojudgesorashlyofthings。Thiswaymay，withreason，appearuncivil，andilladaptedtoourwayofconversation;butIhavenevermetwithanywhojudgeditoutrageousormalicious，orthattookoffenceatmyliberty，ifhehaditfrommyownmouth;wordsrepeatedhaveanotherkindofsoundandsense。NordoIhateanyperson;
andIamsoslowtooffend，thatIcannotdoit，evenupontheaccountofreasonitself;andwhenoccasionhasrequiredmetosentencecriminals，Ihaveratherchosentofailinpointofjusticethantodoit:
\"Utmagispeccarinolim，quamsatisanimiadvindicandapeccatahabeam。\"
[\"SothatIhadrathermenshouldnotcommitfaultsthanthatI
shouldhavesufficientcouragetocondemnthem。\"———Livy，xxxix。21。]
Aristotle，’tissaid，wasreproachedforhavingbeentoomercifultoawickedman:\"Iwasindeed，\"saidhe，\"mercifultotheman，butnottohiswickedness。\"Ordinaryjudgmentsexasperatethemselvestopunishmentbythehorrorofthefact:butitcoolsmine;thehorrorofthefirstmurdermakesmefearasecond;andthedeformityofthefirstcrueltymakesmeabhorallimitationofit。’Thatmaybeappliedtome，whoambutaSquireofClubs，whichwassaidofCharillus，kingofSparta:\"Hecannotbegood，seeingheisnotevileventothewicked。\"Orthus——forPlutarchdeliversitboththeseways，ashedoesathousandotherthings，variouslyandcontradictorily——\"Hemustneedsbegood，becauseheissoeventothewicked。\"EvenasinlawfulactionsIdisliketoemploymyselfwhenforsuchasaredispleasedatit;so，tosaythetruth，inunlawfulthingsIdonotmakeconscienceenoughofemployingmyselfwhenitisforsuchasarewilling。
EndTheEssaysofMontaigne，V19
byMicheldeMontaigneTranslatedbyCharlesCottonEditedbyWilliamCarewHazilitt1877
CONTENTSOFVOLUME19。
XIII。OfExperience。
CHAPTERXIII
OFEXPERIENCE
Thereisnodesiremorenaturalthanthatofknowledge。Wetryallwaysthatcanleadustoit;wherereasoniswanting，wethereinemployexperience，\"Pervariosususartemexperientiafecit，Exemplomonstranteviam，\"
[\"Byvarioustrialsexperiencecreatedart，exampleshewingtheway。\"——Manilius，i。59。]
whichisameansmuchmoreweakandcheap;buttruthissogreatathingthatweoughtnottodisdainanymediationthatwillguideustoit。
Reasonhassomanyformsthatweknownottowhichtotake;experiencehasnofewer;theconsequencewewoulddrawfromthecomparisonofeventsisunsure，byreasontheyarealwaysunlike。Thereisnoqualitysouniversalinthisimageofthingsasdiversityandvariety。BoththeGreeksandtheLatinsandwe，forthemostexpressexampleofsimilitude，employthatofeggs;andyettherehavebeenmen，particularlyoneatDelphos，whocoulddistinguishmarksofdifferenceamongsteggssowellthathenevermistookoneforanother，andhavingmanyhens，couldtellwhichhadlaidit。
Dissimilitudeintrudesitselfofitselfinourworks;noartcanarriveatperfectsimilitude:neitherPerrozetnoranyothercansocarefullypolishandblanchthebacksofhiscardsthatsomegamesterswillnotdistinguishthembyseeingthemonlyshuffledbyanother。Resemblancedoesnotsomuchmakeoneasdifferencemakesanother。Naturehasobligedherselftomakenothingotherthatwasnotunlike。
AndyetIamnotmuchpleasedwithhisopinion，whothoughtbythemultitudeoflawstocurbtheauthorityofjudgesincuttingoutforthemtheirseveralparcels;hewasnotawarethatthereisasmuchlibertyandlatitudeintheinterpretationoflawsasintheirform;andtheybutfoolthemselves，whothinktolessenandstopourdisputesbyrecallingustotheexpresswordsoftheBible:forasmuchasourminddoesnotfindthefieldlessspaciouswhereintocontrovertthesenseofanotherthantodeliverhisown;andasiftherewerelessanimosityandtartnessincommentarythanininvention。Weseehowmuchhewasmistaken，forwehavemorelawsinFrancethanalltherestoftheworldputtogether，andmorethanwouldbenecessaryforthegovernmentofalltheworldsofEpicurus:
\"Utolimflagitiis，sicnunclegibus，laboramus。\"
[\"Aswewereformerlybycrimes，sowearenowoverburdenedbylaws。\"——Tacitus，Annal。，iii。25。]
andyetwehaveleftsomuchtotheopinionsanddecisionsofourjudgesthatthereneverwassofullalibertyorsofullalicense。Whathaveourlegislatorsgainedbycullingoutahundredthousandparticularcases，andbyapplyingtotheseahundredthousandlaws？Thisnumberholdsnomannerofproportionwiththeinfinitediversityofhumanactions;themultiplicationofourinventionswillneverarriveatthevarietyofexamples;addtotheseahundredtimesasmanymore，itwillstillnothappenthat，ofeventstocome，thereshallonebefoundthat，inthisvastnumberofmillionsofeventssochosenandrecorded，shallsotallywithanyotherone，andbesoexactlycoupledandmatchedwithitthattherewillnotremainsomecircumstanceanddiversitywhichwillrequireadiversejudgment。Thereislittlerelationbetwixtouractions，whichareinperpetualmutation，andfixedandimmutablelaws;
themosttobedesiredarethosethatarethemostrare，themostsimpleandgeneral;andIamevenofopinionthatwehadbetterhavenoneatallthantohavetheminsoprodigiousanumberaswehave。
Naturealwaysgivesthembetterandhappierthanthosewemakeourselves;
witnessthepictureoftheGoldenAgeofthePoetsandthestatewhereinweseenationslivewhohavenoother。Somethereare，whofortheironlyjudgetakethefirstpasser—bythattravelsalongtheirmountains，todeterminetheircause;andotherswho，ontheirmarketday，chooseoutsomeoneamongstthemuponthespottodecidetheircontroversies。Whatdangerwouldtherebethatthewisestamongstusshouldsodetermineours，accordingtooccurrencesandatsight，withoutobligationofexampleandconsequence？Foreveryfootitsownshoe。KingFerdinand，sendingcoloniestotheIndies，wiselyprovidedthattheyshouldnotcarryalongwiththemanystudentsofjurisprudence，forfearlestsuitsshouldgetfootinginthatnewworld，asbeingascienceinitsownnature，breederofaltercationanddivision;judgingwithPlato，\"thatlawyersandphysiciansarebadinstitutionsofacountry。\"
Whencedoesitcometopassthatourcommonlanguage，soeasyforallotheruses，becomesobscureandunintelligibleinwillsandcontracts？
andthathewhosoclearlyexpresseshimselfinwhateverelsehespeaksorwrites，cannotfindintheseanywayofdeclaringhimselfthatdoesnotfallintodoubtandcontradiction？ifitbenotthattheprincesofthatart，applyingthemselveswithapeculiarattentiontoculloutportentouswordsandtocontriveartificialsentences，havesoweighedeverysyllable，andsothoroughlysiftedeverysortofquirkingconnectionthattheyarenowconfoundedandentangledintheinfinityoffiguresandminutedivisions，andcannomorefallwithinanyruleorprescription，noranycertainintelligence:
\"Confusumest，quidquidusqueinpulveremsectumest。\"
[\"Whateverisbeatenintopowderisundistinguishable（confused）。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，89。]
Asyouseechildrentryingtobringamassofquicksilvertoacertainnumberofparts，themoretheypressandworkitandendeavourtoreduceittotheirownwill，themoretheyirritatethelibertyofthisgenerousmetal;itevadestheirendeavourandsprinklesitselfintosomanyseparatebodiesasfrustrateallreckoning;soisithere，forinsubdividingthesesubtiltiesweteachmentoincreasetheirdoubts;theyputusintoawayofextendinganddiversifyingdifficulties，andlengthenanddispersethem。Insowingandretailingquestionstheymaketheworldfructifyandincreaseinuncertaintiesanddisputes，astheearthismadefertilebybeingcrumbledanddugdeep。
\"Difficultatemfacitdoctrina。\"
[\"Learning（Doctrine）begetsdifficulty。\"
——Quintilian，Insat。Orat。，x。3。]
WedoubtedofUlpian，andarestillnowmoreperplexedwithBartolusandBaldus。Weshouldeffacethetraceofthisinnumerablediversityofopinions;notadornourselveswithit，andfillposteritywithcrotchets。
Iknownotwhattosaytoit;butexperiencemakesitmanifest，thatsomanyinterpretationsdissipatetruthandbreakit。Aristotlewrotetobeunderstood;ifhecouldnotdothis，muchlesswillanotherthatisnotsogoodatit;andathirdthanhe，whoexpressedhisownthoughts。Weopenthematter，andspillitinpouringout:ofonesubjectwemakeathousand，andinmultiplyingandsubdividingthem，fallagainintotheinfinityofatomsofEpicurus。Neverdidtwomenmakethesamejudgmentofthesamething;and’tisimpossibletofindtwoopinionsexactlyalike，notonlyinseveralmen，butinthesameman，atdiversehours。
Ioftenfindmatterofdoubtinthingsofwhichthecommentaryhasdisdainedtotakenotice;Iammostapttostumbleinanevencountry，likesomehorsesthatIhaveknown，thatmakemosttripsinthesmoothestway。
Whowillnotsaythatglossesaugmentdoubtsandignorance，sincethere’snobooktobefound，eitherhumanordivine，whichtheworldbusiesitselfabout，whereofthedifficultiesareclearedbyinterpretation。
Thehundredthcommentatorpassesitontothenext，stillmoreknottyandperplexedthanhefoundit。Whenwereweeveragreedamongstourselves:
\"Thisbookhasenough;thereisnownomoretobesaidaboutit\"？Thisismostapparentinthelaw;wegivetheauthorityoflawtoinfinitedoctors，infinitedecrees，andasmanyinterpretations;yetdowefindanyendoftheneedofinterpretating？isthere，forallthat，anyprogressoradvancementtowardspeace，ordowestandinneedofanyfeweradvocatesandjudgesthanwhenthisgreatmassoflawwasyetinitsfirstinfancy？Onthecontrary，wedarkenandburyintelligence;wecannolongerdiscoverit，butatthemercyofsomanyfencesandbarriers。Mendonotknowthenaturaldiseaseofthemind;itdoesnothingbutferretandinquire，andiseternallywheeling，juggling，andperplexingitselflikesilkworms，andthensuffocatesitselfinitswork;
\"Musinpice。\"——[\"Amouseinapitchbarrel。\"]——Itthinksitdiscoversatagreatdistance，Iknownotwhatglimpsesoflightandimaginarytruth:butwhilstrunningtoit，somanydifficulties，hindrances，andnewinquisitionscrossit，thatitlosesitsway，andismadedrunkwiththemotion:notmuchunlikeAEsop’sdogs，thatseeingsomethinglikeadeadbodyfloatinginthesea，andnotbeingabletoapproachit，settoworktodrinkthewaterandlaythepassagedry，andsochokedthemselves。TowhichwhatoneCrates’saidofthewritingsofHeraclitusfallspatenough，\"thattheyrequiredareaderwhocouldswimwell，\"sothatthedepthandweightofhislearningmightnotoverwhelmandstiflehim。’Tisnothingbutparticularweaknessthatmakesuscontentwithwhatothersorourselveshavefoundoutinthischaseafterknowledge:
oneofbetterunderstandingwillnotrestsocontent;thereisalwaysroomforonetofollow，nay，evenforourselves;andanotherroad;thereisnoendofourinquisitions;ourendisintheotherworld。’Tisasigneitherthatthemindhasgrownshortsightedwhenitissatisfied，orthatithasgotweary。Nogenerousmindcanstopinitself;itwillstilltendfurtherandbeyonditspower;ithassalliesbeyonditseffects;ifitdonotadvanceandpressforward，andretire，andrushandwheelabout，’tisbuthalfalive;itspursuitsarewithoutboundormethod;itsalimentisadmiration，thechase，ambiguity，whichApollosufficientlydeclaredinalwaysspeakingtousinadouble，obscure，andobliquesense:notfeeding，butamusingandpuzzlingus。’Tisanirregularandperpetualmotion，withoutmodelandwithoutaim;itsinventionsheat，pursue，andinterproduceoneanother:
EstiennedelaBoetie;thustranslatedbyCotton:
\"SoinarunningstreamonewaveweseeAfteranotherrollincessantly，Andastheyglide，eachdoessuccessivelyPursuetheother，eachtheotherflyBythisthat’severmorepushedon，andthisBythatcontinuallyprecededis:
Thewaterstilldoesintowaterswill，Stillthesamebrook，butdifferentwaterstill。\"
Thereismoreadotointerpretinterpretationsthantointerpretthings，andmorebooksuponbooksthanuponanyothersubject;wedonothingbutcommentupononeanother。Everyplaceswarmswithcommentaries;ofauthorsthereisgreatscarcity。Isitnottheprincipalandmostreputedknowledgeofourlateragestounderstandthelearned？Isitnotthecommonandfinalendofallstudies？Ouropinionsaregraftedupononeanother;thefirstservesasastocktothesecond，thesecondtothethird，andsoforth;thusstepbystepweclimbtheladder;whenceitcomestopassthathewhoismountedhighesthasoftenmorehonourthanmerit，forheisgotupbutaninchupontheshouldersofthelast，butone。
Howoften，and，peradventure，howfoolishly，haveIextendedmybooktomakeitspeakofitself;foolishly，iffornootherreasonbutthis，thatitshouldremindmeofwhatIsayofotherswhodothesame:thatthefrequentamorousglancestheycastupontheirworkwitnessthattheirheartspantwithself—love，andthateventhedisdainfulseveritywherewiththeyscourgethemarebutthedandlingsandcaressingsofmaternallove;asAristotle，whosevaluingandundervaluinghimselfoftenspringfromthesameairofarrogance。Myownexcuseis，thatIoughtinthistohavemorelibertythanothers，forasmuchasIwritespecificallyofmyselfandofmywritings，asIdoofmyotheractions;thatmythemeturnsuponitself;butIknownotwhetherotherswillacceptthisexcuse。
IobservedinGermanythatLutherhasleftasmanydivisionsanddisputesaboutthedoubtofhisopinions，andmore，thanhehimselfraisedupontheHolyScriptures。Ourcontestisverbal:Iaskwhatnatureis，whatpleasure，circle，andsubstitutionare？thequestionisaboutwords，andisansweredaccordingly。Astoneisabody;butifamanshouldfurtherurge:\"Andwhatisabody？\"——\"Substance\";\"Andwhatissubstance？\"andsoon，hewoulddrivetherespondenttotheendofhisCalepin。
[Calepin（AmbrogiodaCalepio），afamouslexicographerofthefifteenthcentury。HisPolyglotDictionarybecamesofamous，thatCalepinbecameacommonappellationforalexicon]
Weexchangeonewordforanother，andoftenforonelessunderstood。
IbetterknowwhatmanisthanIknowwhatAnimalis，orMortal，orRational。Tosatisfyonedoubt，theygivemethree;’tistheHydra’shead。SocratesaskedMenon，\"Whatvirtuewas。\"\"Thereis，\"saysMenon，\"thevirtueofamanandofawoman，ofamagistrateandofaprivateperson，ofanoldmanandofachild。\"Veryfine，\"criedSocrates，\"wewereinquestofonevirtue，andthouhastbroughtusawholeswarm。\"Weputonequestion，andtheyreturnusawholehive。Asnoevent，noface，entirelyresemblesanother，sodotheynotentirelydiffer:aningeniousmixtureofnature。Ifourfaceswerenotalike，wecouldnotdistinguishmanfrombeast;iftheywerenotunlike，wecouldnotdistinguishonemanfromanother;allthingsholdbysomesimilitude;
everyexamplehalts，andtherelationwhichisdrawnfromexperienceisalwaysfaultyandimperfect。Comparisonsareever—coupledatoneendorother:sodothelawsserve，andarefittedtoeveryoneofouraffairs，bysomewrested，biassed，andforcedinterpretation。
Sincetheethiclaws，thatconcerntheparticulardutyofeveryoneinhimself，aresohardtobeframed，asweseetheyare，’tisnowonderifthosewhichgovernsomanyparticularsaremuchmoreso。Dobutconsidertheformofthisjusticethatgovernsus;’tisatruetestimonyofhumanweakness，sofullisitoferrorandcontradiction。Whatwefindtobefavourandseverityinjustice——andwefindsomuchofthemboth，thatI
knownotwhetherthemediumisasoftenmetwitharesicklyandunjustmembersoftheverybodyandessenceofjustice。Somecountrypeoplehavejustbroughtmenewsingreathaste，thattheypresentlyleftinaforestofmineamanwithahundredwoundsuponhim，whowasyetbreathing，andbeggedofthemwaterforpity’ssake，andhelptocarryhimtosomeplaceofrelief;theytellmetheydurstnotgonearhim，buthaverunaway，lesttheofficersofjusticeshouldcatchthemthere;andashappenstothosewhoarefoundnearamurderedperson，theyshouldbecalledinquestionaboutthisaccident，totheirutterruin，havingneithermoneynorfriendstodefendtheirinnocence。WhatcouldIhavesaidtothesepeople？’Tiscertainthatthisofficeofhumanitywouldhavebroughtthemintotrouble。
Howmanyinnocentpeoplehaveweknownthathavebeenpunished，andthiswithoutthejudge’sfault;andhowmanythathavenotarrivedatourknowledge？Thishappenedinmytime:certainmenwerecondemnedtodieforamurdercommitted;theirsentence，ifnotpronounced，atleastdeterminedandconcludedon。Thejudges，justinthenick，areinformedbytheofficersofaninferiorcourthardby，thattheyhavesomemenincustody，whohavedirectlyconfessedthemurder，andmadeanindubitablediscoveryofalltheparticularsofthefact。Yetitwasgravelydeliberatedwhetherornottheyoughttosuspendtheexecutionofthesentencealreadypasseduponthefirstaccused:theyconsideredthenoveltyoftheexamplejudicially，andtheconsequenceofreversingjudgments;thatthesentencewaspassed，andthejudgesdeprivedofrepentance;andintheresult，thesepoordevilsweresacrificedbytheformsofjustice。Philip，orsomeother，providedagainstalikeinconvenienceafterthismanner。Hehadcondemnedamaninagreatfinetowardsanotherbyanabsolutejudgment。Thetruthsometimeafterbeingdiscovered，hefoundthathehadpassedanunjustsentence。Ononesidewasthereasonofthecause;ontheotherside，thereasonofthejudicialforms:heinsomesortsatisfiedboth，leavingthesentenceinthestateitwas，andoutofhisownpurserecompensingthecondemnedparty。Buthehadtodowithareparableaffair;mymenwereirreparablyhanged。HowmanycondemnationshaveIseenmorecriminalthanthecrimesthemselves？
Allwhichmakesmeremembertheancientopinions，\"That’tisofnecessityamanmustdowrongbyretailwhowilldorightingross;andinjusticeinlittlethings，whowouldcometodojusticeingreat:thathumanjusticeisformedafterthemodelofphysic，accordingtowhich，allthatisusefulisalsojustandhonest:andofwhatisheldbytheStoics，thatNatureherselfproceedscontrarytojusticeinmostofherworks:
andofwhatisreceivedbytheCyrenaics，thatthereisnothingjustofitself，butthatcustomsandlawsmakejustice:andwhattheTheodoriansheldthattheft，sacrilege，andallsortsofuncleanness，arejustinasage，ifheknowsthemtobeprofitabletohim。\"Thereisnoremedy:I
aminthesamecasethatAlcibiadeswas，thatIwillnever，ifIcanhelpit，putmyselfintothehandsofamanwhomaydetermineastomyhead，wheremylifeandhonourshallmoredependupontheskillanddiligenceofmyattorneythanonmyowninnocence。Iwouldventuremyselfwithsuchjusticeaswouldtakenoticeofmygooddeeds，aswellasmyill;
whereIhadasmuchtohopeastofear:indemnityisnotsufficientpaytoamanwhodoesbetterthannottodoamiss。Ourjusticepresentstousbutonehand，andthatthelefthand，too;lethimbewhohemay，heshallbesuretocomeoffwithloss。
InChina，ofwhichkingdomthegovernmentandarts，withoutcommercewithorknowledgeofours，surpassourexamplesinseveralexcellentfeatures，andofwhichthehistoryteachesmehowmuchgreaterandmorevarioustheworldisthaneithertheancientsorwehavebeenabletopenetrate，theofficersdeputedbytheprincetovisitthestateofhisprovinces，astheypunishthosewhobehavethemselvesillintheircharge，sodotheyliberallyrewardthosewhohaveconductedthemselvesbetterthanthecommonsort，andbeyondthenecessityoftheirduty;thesetherepresentthemselves，notonlytobeapprovedbuttoget;notsimplytobepaid，buttohaveapresentmadetothem。
Nojudge，thankGod，haseveryetspokentomeinthequalityofajudge，uponanyaccountwhatever，whethermyownorthatofathirdparty，whethercriminalorcivil;nornoprisonhaseverreceivedme，noteventowalkthere。Imaginationrenderstheveryoutsideofajaildispleasingtome;Iamsoenamouredofliberty，thatshouldIbeinterdictedtheaccesstosomecorneroftheIndies，Ishouldlivealittlelessatmyease;andwhilstIcanfindearthorairopenelsewhere，IshallneverlurkinanyplacewhereImusthidemyself。
MyGod！howillshouldIenduretheconditionwhereinIseesomanypeople，nailedtoacornerofthekingdom，deprivedoftherighttoentertheprincipalcitiesandcourts，andthelibertyofthepublicroads，forhavingquarrelledwithourlaws。IfthoseunderwhichIliveshouldshakeafingeratmebywayofmenace，Iwouldimmediatelygoseekoutothers，letthembewheretheywould。Allmylittleprudenceinthecivilwarswhereinwearenowengagedisemployedthattheymaynothindermylibertyofgoingandcoming。
Now，thelawskeepuptheircredit，notforbeingjust，butbecausetheyarelaws;’tisthemysticfoundationoftheirauthority;theyhavenoother，anditwellanswerstheirpurpose。Theyareoftenmadebyfools，stilloftenerbymenwho，outofhatredtoequality，failinequity，butalwaysbymen，vainandirresoluteauthors。Thereisnothingsomuch，norsogrossly，norsoordinarilyfaulty，asthelaws。Whoeverobeysthembecausetheyarejust，doesnotjustlyobeythemasheought。OurFrenchlaws，bytheirirregularityanddeformity，lend，insomesort，ahelpinghandtothedisorderandcorruptionthatallmanifestintheirdispensationandexecution:thecommandissoperplexedandinconstant，thatitinsomesortexcusesalikedisobedienceanddefectintheinterpretation，theadministrationandtheobservationofit。Whatfruitthensoeverwemayextractfromexperience，thatwilllittleadvantageourinstitution，whichwedrawfromforeignexamples，ifwemakesolittleprofitofthatwehaveofourown，whichismorefamiliartous，and，doubtless，sufficienttoinstructusinthatwhereofwehaveneed。
Istudymyselfmorethananyothersubject;’tismymetaphysic，myphysic:
\"Quisdeushancmunditemperetartedomum:
Quavenitexoriens，quadeficit:undecoactisCornibusinplenummenstrualunareditUndesalosuperantventi，quidflaminecaptetEurus，etinnubesundeperennisaqua;
Sitventuradiesmundiquaesubruatarces……\"
[\"Whatgodmaygovernwithskillthisdwellingoftheworld？whencerisesthemonthlymoon，whitherwanesshe？howisitthatherhornsarecontractedandreopen？whencedowindsprevailonthemain？
whatdoestheeastwindcourtwithitsblasts？andwhencearethecloudsperpetuallysuppliedwithwater？isadaytocomewhichmayunderminetheworld？\"——Propertius，iii。5，26。]
\"Quaerite，quosagitatmundilabor。\"
[\"Askwhomthecaresoftheworldtrouble\"——Lucan，i。417。]
Inthisuniversality，Isuffermyselftobeignorantlyandnegligentlyledbythegenerallawoftheworld:IshallknowitwellenoughwhenI
feelit;mylearningcannotmakeitalteritscourse;itwillnotchangeitselfforme;’tisfollytohopeit，andagreaterfollytoconcernone’sselfaboutit，seeingitisnecessarilyalikepublicandcommon。
Thegoodnessandcapacityofthegovernoroughtabsolutelytodischargeusofallcareofthegovernment:philosophicalinquisitionsandcontemplationsservefornootherusebuttoincreaseourcuriosity。
Thephilosophers;withgreatreason，sendusbacktotherulesofnature;
buttheyhavenothingtodowithsosublimeaknowledge;theyfalsifythem，andpresentusherfacepaintedwithtoohighandtooadulterateacomplexion，whencespringsomanydifferentpicturesofsouniformasubject。Asshehasgivenusfeettowalkwith，sohasshegivenusprudencetoguideusinlife:notsoingenious，robust，andpompousaprudenceasthatoftheirinvention;butyetonethatiseasy，quiet，andsalutary，andthatverywellperformswhattheotherpromises，inhimwhohasthegoodlucktoknowhowtoemployitsincerelyandregularly，thatistosay，accordingtonature。Themostsimplytocommitone’sselftonatureistodoitmostwisely。Oh，whatasoft，easy，andwholesomepillowisignoranceandincuriosity，whereontoreposeawell—orderedhead！
Ihadratherunderstandmyselfwellinmyself，thaninCicero。OftheexperienceIhaveofmyself，Ifindenoughtomakemewise，ifIwerebutagoodscholar:whoeverwillcalltomindtheexcessofhispastanger，andtowhatadegreethatfevertransportedhim，willseethedeformityofthispassionbetterthaninAristotle，andconceiveamorejusthatredagainstit;whoeverwillremembertheillshehasundergone，thosethathavethreatenedhim，andthelightoccasionsthathaveremovedhimfromonestatetoanother，willbythatpreparehimselfforfuturechanges，andtheknowledgeofhiscondition。ThelifeofCaesarhasnogreaterexampleforusthanourown:thoughpopularandofcommand，’tisstillalifesubjecttoallhumanaccidents。Letusbutlistentoit;weapplytoourselvesallwhereofwehaveprincipalneed;whoevershallcalltomemoryhowmanyandmanytimeshehasbeenmistakeninhisownjudgment，ishenotagreatfoolifhedoesnoteveraftersuspectit？WhenIfindmyselfconvinced，bythereasonofanother，ofafalseopinion，Idonotsomuchlearnwhathehassaidtomethatisnewandtheparticularignorance——thatwouldbenogreatacquisition——as，ingeneral，Ilearnmyowndebilityandthetreacheryofmyunderstanding，whenceIextractthereformationofthewholemass。InallmyothererrorsIdothesame，andfindfromthisrulegreatutilitytolife;IregardnotthespeciesandindividualasastonethatIhavestumbledat;Ilearntosuspectmystepsthroughout，andamcarefultoplacethemright。Tolearnthatamanhassaidordoneafoolishthingisnothing:amanmustlearnthatheisnothingbutafool，amuchmoreample，andimportantinstruction。Thefalsestepsthatmymemoryhassooftenmade，eventhenwhenitwasmostsecureandconfidentofitself，arenotidlythrownaway;itvainlyswearsandassuresmeIshakemyears;thefirstoppositionthatismadetoitstestimonyputsmeintosuspense，andIdurstnotrelyuponitinanythingofmoment，norwarrantitinanotherperson’sconcerns:andwereitnotthatwhatIdoforwantofmemory，othersdomoreoftenforwantofgoodfaith，Ishouldalways，inmatteroffact，ratherchoosetotakethetruthfromanother’smouththanfrommyown。Ifeveryonewouldpryintotheeffectsandcircumstancesofthepassionsthatswayhim，asI
havedoneintothosewhichIammostsubjectto，hewouldseethemcoming，andwouldalittlebreaktheirimpetuosityandcareer;theydonotalwaysseizeusonasudden;thereisthreateninganddegrees\"Fluctusutiprimocoepitcumalbescerevento，Paulatimsesetollitmare，etaltiusundasErigit，indeimoconsurgitadaetherafundo。\"
[\"Aswiththefirstwindtheseabeginstofoam，andswells，thencehigherswells，andhigherraisesthewaves，tilltheoceanrisesfromitsdepthstothesky。\"——AEneid，vii。528。]
Judgmentholdsinmeamagisterialseat;atleastitcarefullyendeavourstomakeitso:itleavesmyappetitestotaketheirowncourse，hatredandfriendship，nay，eventhatIbeartomyself，withoutchangeorcorruption;ifitcannotreformtheotherpartsaccordingtoitsownmodel，atleastitsuffersnotitselftobecorruptedbythem，butplaysitsgameapart。
Theadvicetoeveryone，\"toknowthemselves，\"shouldbeofimportanteffect，sincethatgodofwisdomandlight’causedittobewrittenonthefrontofhistemple，——[AtDelphi]——ascomprehendingallhehadtoadviseus。Platosaysalso，thatprudenceisnootherthingthantheexecutionofthisordinance;andSocratesminutelyverifiesitinXenophon。Thedifficultiesandobscurityarenotdiscernedinanysciencebutbythosewhoaregotintoit;foracertaindegreeofintelligenceisrequiredtobeabletoknowthatamanknowsnot，andwemustpushagainstadoortoknowwhetheritbeboltedagainstusorno:
whencethisPlatonicsubtletysprings，that\"neithertheywhoknowaretoenquire，forasmuchastheyknow;northeywhodonotknow，forasmuchastoinquiretheymustknowwhattheyinquireof。Sointhis，\"ofknowingaman’sself，\"thateverymanisseensoresolvedandsatisfiedwithhimself，thateverymanthinkshimselfsufficientlyintelligent，signifiesthateveryoneknowsnothingaboutthematter;asSocratesgivesEuthydemustounderstand。I，whoprofessnothingelse，thereinfindsoinfiniteadepthandvariety，thatallthefruitIhavereapedfrommylearningservesonlytomakemesensiblehowmuchIhavetolearn。Tomyweakness，sooftenconfessed，IowethepropensionIhavetomodesty，totheobedienceofbeliefprescribedme，toaconstantcoldnessandmoderationofopinions，andahatredofthattroublesomeandwranglingarrogance，whollybelievingandtrustinginitself，thecapitalenemyofdisciplineandtruth。Dobuthearthemdomineer;thefirstfopperiestheyutter，’tisinthestylewherewithmenestablishreligionsandlaws:
\"Nihilestturpius，quamcognitionietperceptionsassertionemapprobationemquepraecurrere。\"
[\"Nothingisworsethanthatassertionanddecisionshouldprecedeknowledgeandperception。\"——Cicero，Acad。，i。13。]
Aristarchussaidthatancientlytherewerescarcesevensagestobefoundintheworld，andinhistimescarcesomanyfools:havenotwemorereasonthanhetosaysointhisageofours？Affirmationandobstinacyareexpresssignsofwantofwit。Thisfellowmayhaveknockedhisnoseagainstthegroundahundredtimesinaday，yethewillbeathisErgo’sasresoluteandsturdyasbefore。Youwouldsayhehadhadsomenewsoulandvigourofunderstandinginfusedintohimsince，andthatithappenedtohim，astothatancientsonoftheearth，whotookfreshcourageandvigourbyhisfall;
\"Cuicumtetigereparentem，jamdefectavigentrenovataroboremembra:\"
[\"Whosebrokenlimbs，whentheytouchedhismotherearth，immediatelynewforceacquired。\"——Lucan，iv。599。]
doesnotthisincorrigiblecoxcombthinkthatheassumesanewunderstandingbyundertakinganewdispute？’TisbymyownexperiencethatIaccusehumanignorance，whichis，inmyopinion，thesurestpartoftheworld’sschool。Suchaswillnotconcludeitinthemselves，bysovainanexampleasmine，ortheirown，letthembelieveitfromSocrates，themasterofmasters;forthephilosopherAntisthenessaidtohisdisciples，\"LetusgoandhearSocrates;thereIwillbeapupilwithyou\";
and，maintainingthisdoctrineoftheStoicsect，\"thatvirtuewassufficienttomakealifecompletelyhappy，havingnoneedofanyotherthingwhatever\";exceptoftheforceofSocrates，addedhe。
ThatlongattentionthatIemployinconsideringmyself，alsofitsriletojudgetolerablyenoughofothers;andtherearefewthingswhereofI
speakbetterandwithbetterexcuse。Ihappenveryoftenmoreexactlytoseeanddistinguishthequalitiesofmyfriendsthantheydothemselves:
Ihaveastonishedsomewiththepertinenceofmydescription，andhavegiventhemwarningofthemselves。Byhavingfrommyinfancybeenaccustomedtocontemplatemyownlifeinthoseofothers，Ihaveacquiredacomplexionstudiousinthatparticular;andwhenIamonceinterituponit，Iletfewthingsaboutme，whethercountenances，humours，ordiscourses，thatservetothatpurpose，escapeme。Istudyall，bothwhatIamtoavoidandwhatIamtofollow。Alsoinmyfriends，Idiscoverbytheirproductionstheirinwardinclinations;notbyarrangingthisinfinitevarietyofsodiverseandunconnectedactionsintocertainspeciesandchapters，anddistinctlydistributingmyparcelsanddivisionsunderknownheadsandclasses;
\"Sednequequammultaespecies，necnominaquaesint，Estnumerus。\"
[\"Butneithercanweenumeratehowmanykindstherewhataretheirnames。\"——Virgil，Georg。，ii。103。]
Thewisespeakanddelivertheirfanciesmorespecifically，andpiecebypiece;I，whoseenofurtherintothingsthanasuseinformsme，presentminegenerallywithoutruleandexperimentally:Ipronouncemyopinionbydisjointedarticles，asathingthatcannotbespokenatonceandingross;relationandconformityarenottobefoundinsuchlowandcommonsoulsasours。Wisdomisasolidandentirebuilding，ofwhicheverypiecekeepsitsplaceandbearsitsmark:
\"Solasapientiainsetotaconversaest。\"
[\"Wisdomonlyiswhollywithinitself\"——Cicero，DeFin。，iii。7。]
Ileaveittoartists，andIknownotwhetherornotheywillbeabletobringitabout，insoperplexed，minute，andfortuitousathing，tomarshalintodistinctbodiesthisinfinitediversityoffaces，tosettleourinconstancy，andsetitinorder。Idonotonlyfindithardtopieceouractionstooneanother，butImoreoverfindithardproperlytodesigneachbyitselfbyanyprincipalquality，soambiguousandvariformtheyarewithdiverselights。ThatwhichisremarkedforrareinPerseus，kingofMacedon，\"thathismind，fixingitselftonoonecondition，wanderedinallsortsofliving，andrepresentedmannerssowildanderraticthatitwasneitherknowntohimselforanyotherwhatkindofmanhewas，\"seemsalmosttofitalltheworld;and，especially，Ihaveseenanotherofhismake，towhomIthinkthisconclusionmightmoreproperlybeapplied;nomoderatesettledness，stillrunningheadlongfromoneextremetoanother，uponoccasionsnottobeguessedat;nolineofpathwithouttraverseandwonderfulcontrariety:noonequalitysimpleandunmixed;sothatthebestguessmencanonedaymakewillbe，thatheaffectedandstudiedtomakehimselfknownbybeingnottobeknown。A
manhadneedhavesoundearstohearhimselffranklycriticised;andastherearefewwhocanenduretohearitwithoutbeingnettled，thosewhohazardtheundertakingittousmanifestasingulareffectoffriendship;
for’tistolovesincerelyindeed，toventuretowoundandoffendus，forourowngood。Ithinkitharshtojudgeamanwhoseillqualitiesaremorethanhisgoodones:Platorequiresthreethingsinhimwhowillexaminethesoulofanother:knowledge，benevolence，boldness。
Iwassometimesasked，whatIshouldhavethoughtmyselffitfor，hadanyonedesignedtomakeuseofme，whileIwasofsuitableyears:
\"Dummeliorviressanguisdabat，aemulanecdumTemporibusgeminiscanebatsparsasenectus:\"
[\"Whilstbetterbloodgavemevigour，andbeforeenviousoldagewhitenedandthinnedmytemples。\"——AEneid，V。415。]
\"fornothing，\"saidI;andIwillinglyexcusemyselffromknowinganythingwhichenslavesmetoothers。ButIhadtoldthetruthtomymaster，——[WasthisHenriVI。？D。W。]——andhadregulatedhismanners，ifhehadsopleased，notingross，byscholasticlessons，whichI
understandnot，andfromwhichIseenotruereformationspringinthosethatdo;butbyobservingthembyleisure，atallopportunities，andsimplyandnaturallyjudgingthemasaneye—witness，distinctlyonebyone;givinghimtounderstanduponwhattermshewasinthecommonopinion，inoppositiontohisflatterers。Thereisnoneofuswhowouldnotbeworsethankings，ifsocontinuallycorruptedastheyarewiththatsortofcanaille。How，ifAlexander，thatgreatkingandphilosopher，cannotdefendhimselffromthem！