ThesearethecommonandmostgeneralmiscarriageswhichIthinkmenshouldavoidorrectifyinarightconductoftheirunderstandings，andshouldbeparticularlytakencareofineducation。Thebusinesswhereofinrespectofknowledgeisnot，asIthink，toperfectalearnerinalloranyoneofthesciences，buttogivehismindthatfreedom，thatdispositionandthosehabitsthatmayenablehimtoattainanypartofknowledgeheshallapplyhimselftoorstandinneedofinthefuturecourseofhislife。[040]Thisandthisonlyiswellprincipling，andnottheinstillingareverenceandvenerationforcertaindogmasunderthespecioustitleofprinciples，whichareoftensoremotefromthattruthandevidencewhichbelongstoprinciples，thattheyoughttoberejectedasfalseanderroneous；andisoftenthecausetomensoeducated，whentheycomeabroadintotheworldandfindtheycannotmaintaintheprinciplessotakenupandrestedin，tocastoffallprinciplesandturnperfectskeptics，regardlessofknowledgeandvirtue。
Thereareseveralweaknessesanddefectsintheunderstanding，eitherfromthenaturaltemperofthemindorillhabitstakenup，whichhinderitinitsprogresstoknowledge。Ofthesethereareasmanypossiblytobefound，ifthemindwerethoroughlystudied，astherearediseasesofthebody，eachwhereofclogsanddisablestheunderstandingtosomedegreeandthereforedeservestobelookedafterandcured。Ishallsetdownsomefewtoexcitemen，especiallythosewhomakeknowledgetheirbusiness，tolookintothemselvesandobservewhethertheydonotindulgesomeweakness，allowsomemiscarriagesinthemanagementoftheirintellectualfaculty，whichisprejudicialtotheminthesearchfortruth。
Section13。Observation。Particularmattersoffactaretheundoubtedfoundationsonwhichourcivilandnaturalknowledgeisbuilt；
thebenefittheunderstandingmakesofthemistodrawfromthemconclusionswhichmaybeasstandingrulesofknowledgeandconsequentlyofpractice。Themindoftenmakesnotthatbenefititshouldoftheinformationitreceivesfromtheaccountsofcivilornaturalhistorians，inbeingtooforwardortooslowinmakingobservationsontheparticularfactsrecordedinthem。Therearethosewhoareveryassiduousinreadingandyetdonotmuchadvancetheirknowledgebyit。Theyaredelightedwiththestoriesthataretoldandperhapscantellthemagain，fortheymakealltheyreadnothingbuthistory[04l]tothemselves；butnotreflectingonit，notmakingtothemselvesobservationsfromwhattheyread，theyareverylittleimprovedbyallthatcrowdofparticularsthateitherpassthroughorlodgethemselvesintheirunderstandings。Theydreamoninaconstantcourseofreadingandcrammingthemselves；but，notdigestinganything，itproducesnothingbutaheapofcrudities。
Iftheirmemoriesretainwell，onemaysaytheyhavethematerialsofknowledge，but，likethoseforbuilding，theyareofnoadvantageiftherebenootherusemadeofthembuttoletthemlieheapeduptogether。Oppositetothesethereareotherswholosetheimprovementtheyshouldmakeofmattersoffactbyaquitecontraryconduct。Theyareapttodrawgeneralconclusionsandraiseaxiomsfromeveryparticulartheymeetwith。Thesemakeaslittletruebenefitofhistoryastheother，nay，beingofforwardandactivespiritsreceivemoreharmbyit；itbeingofworseconsequencetosteerone’sthoughtsbyawrongrulethantohavenoneatall，errordoingtobusymenmuchmoreharmthanignorancetotheslowandsluggish。Betweenthese，thoseseemtodobestwho，takingmaterialandusefulhints，sometimesfromsinglemattersoffact，carrythemintheirmindstobejudgedofbywhattheyshallfindinhistorytoconfirmorreversetheseimperfectobservations；whichmaybeestablishedintorulesfittobereliedonwhentheyarejustifiedbyasufficientandwaryinductionofparticulars。[042]Hethatmakesnosuchreflectionsonwhathereadsonlyloadshismindwitharhapsodyoftalesfitinwinternightsfortheentertainmentofothers；andhethatwillimproveeverymatteroffactintoamaximwillaboundincontraryobservationsthatcanbeofnootherusebuttoperplexandpudder[043]himifhecomparesthem；orelsetomisguidehim，ifhegiveshimselfuptotheauthorityofthatwhich，foritsnoveltyorforsomeotherfancy，bestpleaseshim。
Section14。Bias。Nexttothesewemayplacethosewhosuffertheirownnaturaltempersandpassionstheyarepossessedwithtoinfluencetheirjudgments，especiallyofmenandthingsthatmayanywayrelatetotheirpresentcircumstancesandinterest。Truthisallsimple，allpure，willbearnomixtureofanythingelsewithit。Itisrigidandinflexibletoanyby—interests；andsoshouldtheunderstandingbe，whoseuseandexcellencyliesinconformingitselftoit。Tothinkofeverythingjustasitisinitselfistheproperbusinessoftheunderstanding，thoughitbenotthatwhichmenalwaysemployitto。Thisallmen，atfirsthearing，allowistherightuseeveryoneshouldmakeofhisunderstanding。Nobodywillbeatsuchanopendefiancewithcommonsenseastoprofessthatweshouldnotendeavortoknowandthinkofthingsastheyareinthemselves，andyetthereisnothingmorefrequentthantodothecontrary；
andmenareapttoexcusethemselves，andthinktheyhavereasontodoso，iftheyhavebutapretensethatitisforGodoragoodcause，thatis，ineffect，forthemselves，theirownpersuasionorparty；forthoseintheirturnstheseveralsectsofmen，especiallyinmattersofreligion，entitleGodandagoodcause。ButGodrequiresnotmentowrongormisusetheirfacultiesforhim，nortolietoothersorthemselvesforhissake；whichtheypurposelydowhowillnotsuffertheirunderstandingstohaverightconceptionsofthethingsproposedtothemanddesignedlyrestrainthemselvesfromhavingjustthoughtsofeverything，asfarastheyareconcernedtoenquire。Andasforagoodcause，thatneedsnotsuchillhelps；ifitbegood，truthwillsupportitandithasnoneedoffallacyorfalsehood。
Section15。Arguments。Verymuchofkintothisisthehuntingafterargumentstomakegoodonesideofaquestionandwhollytoneglectandrefusethosewhichfavortheotherside。Whatisthisbutwailfullytomisguidetheunderstanding（andissofarfromgivingtruthitsduevaluethatitwhollydebasesit），[to]espouseopinionsthatbestcomportwiththeirporter，profitorcreditandthenseekargumentstosupportthem？Truthlighteduponthiswayisofnomoreavailtousthanerror；forwhatissotakenupbyusmaybefalseaswellastrue，andhehasnotdonehisdutywhohasthusstumbledupontruthinhiswaytopreferment。
Thereisanotherbutmoreinnocentwayofcollectingarguments，veryfamiliaramongbookishmen，whichistofurnishthemselveswiththeargumentstheymeetwithproandconinthequestionstheystudy。Thishelpsthemnottojudgerightnorarguestrongly，butonlytotalkcopiouslyoneitherside，withoutbeingsteadyandsettledintheirownjudgments；forsuchargumentsgatheredfromothermen’sthoughts，floatingonlyinthememory，aretherereadyindeedtosupplycopioustalkwithsomeappearanceofreason，butarefarfromhelpingustojudgeright。Suchvarietyofargumentsonlydistracttheunderstandingthatreliesonthem，unlessithasgonefurtherthansuchasuperficialwayofexamining；thisistoquittruthforappearance，onlytoserveourvanity。Thesureandonlywaytogettrueknowledgeistoforminourmindsclearsettlednotionsofthings，withnamesannexedtothosedeterminedideas。
[044]Thesewearetoconsider，andwiththeirseveralrelationsandhabitudes，[045]andnottoamuseourselveswithfloatingnamesandwordsofindeterminedsignification，whichwecanuseinseveralsensestoserveaturn。Itisintheperceptionofthehabitudesandrespectsourideashaveonetoanotherthatrealknowledgeconsists；andwhenamanonceperceiveshowfartheyagreeordisagreeonewithanother，hewillbeabletojudgeofwhatotherpeoplesayandwillnotneedtobeledbytheargumentsofothers，whicharemanyofthemnothingbutplausiblesophistry。Thiswillteachhimtostatethequestionrightandseewhereonitturns；andthushewillstanduponhisownlegsandknowbyhisownunderstanding。Whereasbycollectingandlearningargumentsbyhearthewillbebutaretainertoothers；andwhenanyonequestionsthefoundationstheyarebuiltupon，hewillbeatanonplusandbefaintogiveuphisimplicit[046]
knowledge。
Section16。Haste。Labourforlaboursakeisagainstnature。Theunderstanding，aswellasalltheotherfaculties，choosesalwaystheshortestwaytoitsend，wouldpresentlyobtaintheknowledgeitisaboutandthensetuponsomenewenquiry。Butthiswhetherlazinessorhasteoftenmisleadsitandmakesitcontentitselfwithimproperwaysofsearchandsuchaswillnotservetheturn。
Sometimesitrestsupontestimony，whentestimonyofrighthasnothingtodo，becauseitiseasiertobelievethantobescientificallyinstructed。
Sometimesitcontentsitselfwithoneargumentandrestssatisfiedwiththat，asitwereademonstration；whereasthethingunderproofisnotcapableofdemonstrationandthereforemustbesubmittedtothetrialofprobabilities，andallthematerialargumentsproandconbeexaminedandbroughttoabalance。Insomecasesthemindisdeterminedbyprobabletopicsinenquirieswheredemonstrationmaybehad。Alltheseandseveralothers，whichlaziness，impatience，customandwantofuseandattentionleadmeninto，aremisapplicationsoftheunderstandinginthesearchoftruth。Ineveryquestionthenatureandmanneroftheproofitiscapableofshouldfirstbeconsideredtomakeourenquirysuchasitshouldbe。[047]Thiswouldsaveagreatdealoffrequentlymisemployedpainsandleadussoonertothatdiscoveryandpossessionoftruthwearecapableof。Themultiplyingvarietyofarguments，especiallyfrivolousones，suchasareallthataremerelyverbal，isnotonlylostlabour，butNumbersthememorytonopurposeandservesonlytohinderitfromseizingandholdingofthetruthinallthosecaseswhicharecapableofdemonstration。
Insuchawayofproofthetruthandcertaintyisseenandthemindfullypossessesitselfofit；
whenintheotherwayofassentitonlyhoversaboutit，isamusedwithuncertainties。Inthissuperficialwayindeedthemindiscapableofmorevarietyofplausibletalk，butisnotenlargedasitshouldbeinitsknowledge。Itistothissamehasteandimpatienceofthemindalsothatanotduetracingoftheargumentstotheirtruefoundationisowing；menseealittle，presumeagreatdeal，andsojumptotheconclusion。Thisisashortwaytofancyandconceitand（iffirmlyembraced）toopiniatrety，[048]butiscertainlythefurthestwayabouttoknowledge。Forhethatwillknowmust，bytheconnectionoftheproofs，seethetruthandthegrounditstandson；andtherefore，ifhehasforhasteskippedoverwhatheshouldhaveexamined，hemustbeginandgooverallagain，orelsehewillnevercometoknowledge。
Section17。Desultory。Anotherfaultofasillconsequenceasthis，whichproceedsalsofromlazinesswithamixtureofvanity，istheskippingfromonesortofknowledgetoanother。Somemen’stempersarequicklywearyofanyonething。Constancyandassiduityiswhattheycannotbear；thesamestudylongcontinuedinisasintolerabletothemastheappearinglonginthesameclothesorfashionistoaCourtlady。
Section18。Smattering。Others，thattheymayseemuniversallyknowing，getalittlesmatteringineverything。Boththesemayfilltheirheadsfaithsuperficialnotionsofthings，butareverymuchoutofthewayofattainingtruthorknowledge。
Section19。Universality。Idonotherespeakagainstthetakingatasteofeverysortofknowledge；itiscertainlyveryusefulandnecessarytoformthemind，butthenitmustbedoneinadifferentwayandtoadifferentendÑ；notfortalkandvanitytofilltheheadwithshredsofallkinds，thathewhoispossessedofsuchafripperymaybeabletomatchthediscoursesofallheshallmeetwith，asifnothingcouldcomeamisstohimandhisheadwassowellastoredmagazinethatnothingcouldbeproposedwhichhewasnotmasterofandwasreadilyfurnishedtoentertainanyoneon。Thisisanexcellencyindeed，andagreatonetoo，tohavearealandtrueknowledgeinallormostoftheobjectsofcontemplation。Butitiswhatthemindofoneandthesamemancanhardlyattainunto；
andtheinstancesaresofewofthosewhohaveinanymeasureapproachedtowardsit，thatIknownotwhethertheyaretobeproposedasexamplesintheordinaryconductoftheunderstanding。Foramantounderstandfullythebusinessofhisparticularcallinginthecommonwealthandofreligion，whichishiscallingasheisamanintheworld，isusuallyenoughtotakeuphiswholetime；andtherearefewthatinformthemselvesinthese，whichiseveryman’sproperandpeculiarbusiness，sotothebottomastheyshoulddo。Butthoughthisbeso，andthereareveryfewmenthatextendtheirthoughtstowardsuniversalknowledge，yetIdonotdoubtbut，iftherightwayweretakenandthemethodsofenquirywereorderedastheyshouldbe，menoflittlebusinessandgreatleisuremightgoagreatdealfurtherinitthanisusuallydone。Toreturntothebusinessinhand，theendanduseofalittleinsightinthosepartsofknowledgeWhicharenotaman’sproperbusinessistoaccustomourmindstoallsortsofideasandtheproperwaysofexaminingtheirhabitudesandrelations。Thisgivesthemindafreedom，andtheexercisingtheunderstandingintheseveralwaysofenquiryandreasoningwhichthemostskillfulhavemadeuseofteachesthemindsagacityandwarinessandasupplenesstoapplyitselfmorecloselyanddexterouslytothebentsandturnsofthematterinallitsresearches。
Besides，thisuniversaltasteofallthescienceswithanindifferency，beforethemindispossessedwithanyoneinparticularandgrownintoloveandadmirationofwhatismadeitsdarling，stillpreventanotherevilverycommonlytobeobservedinthosewhohavefromthebeginningbeenseasonedonlybyonepartofknowledge。Letamanbegivenuptothecontemplationofonesortofknowledge，andthatwillbecomeeverything。Themindwilltakesuchatincturefromafamiliaritywiththatobject，thateverythingelse，holeremotehowever，willbebroughtunderthesameview。Ametaphysicianwillbringploughingandgardeningimmediatelytoabstractnotions；thehistoryofnatureshallsignifynothingtohim。Analchemist，onthecontrary，shallreducedivinitytothemaximsofhislaboratory，explainmoralitybysagsulfurandmercuryandallegorizetheScriptureitselfandthesacredmasteriesthereofintothephilosopher’sstone。
Section20。Reading。ThisisthatwhichIthinkgreatreadersareapttobemistakenin。
Thosewhohavereadofeverythingarethoughttounderstandeverythingtoo；butitisnotalwaysso。Readingfurnishesthemindonlywithmaterialsofknowledge；itisthinkingmakeswhatwereadours。Weareoftheruminatingkind，anditisnotenoughtocramourselveswithagreatloadofcollections；unlesswechewthemoveragain，theywillnotgiveusstrengthandnourishment。Thereareindeedinsomewritersrisibleinstancesofdeepthought，closeandacutereasoningandideaswellpursued。
Thelightthesewouldgivewouldbeofgreatuse，iftheirreaderswouldobserveandimitatethem；alltherestatbestarebutparticularsfittobeturnedintoknowledge；butthatcanbedoneonlybyourownmeditationandexaminingthereach，forceandcoherenceofwhatissaid；andthen，asfarasweapprehendandseetheconnectionofideas，sofaritisours；withoutthatitisbutsomuchloosematterfloatinginourbrain。Thememorymaybestored，butthejudgmentislittlebetterandthestockofknowledgenotincreasedbybeingabletorepeatwhatothershavesaidorproducetheargumentswehavefoundinthem。Suchaknowledgeasthisisbutknowledgebyhearsay，andtheostentationofitisatbestbuttalkingbyrote，andveryoftenuponweakandwrongprinciples。
Forallthatistobefoundinbooksisnotbuiltupontruefoundationsnoralwaysrightlydeducedfromtheprinciplesitispretendedtobebuilton。Suchanexamenasisrequisitetodiscoverthat，everyreader’smindisnotforwardtomake，especiallyinthosewhohavegiventhemselvesuptoapartyandonlyhuntforwhattheycanscrapetogetherthatmayfavorandsupportthetenetsofit。Suchmenwillfullyexcludethemselvesfromtruthandfromalltruebenefittobereceivedbyreading。Othersofmoreindifferenceoftenwantattentionandindustry。Themindisbackwardinitselftobeatthepainstotraceeveryargumenttoitsoriginalandtoseeuponwhatbasisitstandsandhowfirmly；butyetitisthisthatgivessomuchtheadvantagetoonemanmorethananotherinreading。Themindshouldbysevererulesbetieddowntothisatfirstuneasytask；useandexercisewillgiveitfacility，sothatthosewhoareaccustomedtoit，readily，asitwerewithonecastoftheeye，takeaviewoftheargumentandpresentlyinmostcasesseewhereitbottoms。Thosewhohavegotthisfaculty，onemaysay，havegotthetruekeyofbooksandthecluetoleadthemthroughthemazeofvarietyofopinionsandauthorstotruthandcertainty。
Thisyoungbeginnersshouldbeenteredinandshowedtheuseof，thattheymightprofitbytheirreading。Thosewhoarestrangerstoitstillbeapttothinkittoogreatacloginthewayofmen’sstudies，andtheywillsuspecttheyshallmakebutsmallprogressif，inthebookstheyread，theymuststandtoexamineandunraveleveryargumentandfollowitstepbystepuptoitsoriginal。
Ianswer，thisisagoodobjectionandoughttoweighwiththosewhosereadingisdesignedformuchtalkandlittleknowledge，andIhavenothingtosaytoit。
ButIamhereenquiringintotheconductoftheunderstandinginitsprogresstowardsknowledge；andtothosewhoaimatthatImaysaythathewhofairandsoftlygoessteadilyforwardinacoursethatpointsrightwillsoonerbeathisjourney’sendthanhethatrunsaftereveryonehemeets，thoughhegallopalldayfullspeed。
Towhichletmeaddthatthiswayofthinkingonandprofitingbywhatwereadwillbeaclogandrubtoanyoneonlyinthebeginning；whencustomandexercisehasmadeitfamiliar，itwillbedispatchedinmostoccasionswithoutrestingorinterruptioninthecourseofourreading。Themotionsandviewsofamindexercisedthatwayarewonderfullyquick；andamanusedtosuchsortofreflectionsseesasmuchatoneglimpseaswouldrequirealongdiscoursetolaybeforeanotherandmakeoutinanentireandgradualdeduction。
Besidesthat，whenthefirstdifficultiesareover，thedelightandsensibleadvantageitbringsmightilyencouragesandenlivensthemindinreading，whichwithoutthisisveryimproperlycalledstudy。
Section21。Intermediateprinciples。AsahelptothisIthinkitmaybeproposedthat，forthesavingthelongprogressionofthethoughtstoremoteandfirstprinciplesineverycase，themindshouldprovideitselfseveralstages，thatistosay，intermediateprinciples，whichitmighthaverecoursetointheexaminingthosepositionsthatcomeinitsway。
These，thoughtheyarenotself—evidentprinciples，yet，iftheyhavebeenmadeoutfromthembyawaryandunquestionablededuction，maybedependedonascertainandinfallibletruthsandserveasunquestionabletruthstoproveotherpointsdependingonthembyanearerandshorterviewsthanremoteandgeneralmaxims。
Thesemayserveaslandmarkstoshowwhatliesinthedirectwayoftruthorisquitebesidesit。Andthusmathematiciansdo，whodonotineverynewproblemrunitbacktothefirstaxiomsthroughallthewholetrainofintermediatepropositions。CertaintheoremsthattheyhavesettledtothemselvesuponsuredemonstrationservetoresolvetothemmultitudesofpropositionswhichdependonthemandareasfirmlymadeoutfromthenceasifthemindwentafreshovereverylinkoftheWholechainthattiesthemtofirstself—evidentprinciples。Onlyinothersciencesgreatcareistobetakenthattheyestablishthoseintermediateprincipleswithasmuchcaution，exactnessandindifferencyasmathematiciansuseinthesettlinganyoftheirgreattheorems。Whenthisisnotdone，butmentakeuptheprinciplesinthisorthatscienceuponcredit，inclination，interest，etc。，inhastewithoutdueexaminationandmostunquestionableproof，theylayatrapforthemselvesandasmuchasinthemliescaptivatetheirunderstandingstomistake，falsehoodanderror。
Section22。Partiality。Asthereisapartialitytoopinions，which，aswehavealreadyobserved，isapttomisleadtheunderstanding，sothereisoftenapartialitytostudies，whichisprejudicialalsotoknowledgeandimprovement。Thosescienceswhichmenareparticularlyversedintheyareapttovalueandextol，asifthatpartofknowledgewhicheveryonehasacquaintedhimselfwithwerethatalonewhichwasworththehaving，andalltherestwereidleandemptyamusements，comparativelyofnouseorimportance。Thisistheeffectofignoranceandnotknowledge，thebeingvainlypuffedupwithaflatulencyarisingfromaweakandnarrowcomprehension。Itisnotamissthateveryoneshouldrelishthesciencethathehasmadehispeculiarstudy；aviewofitsbeautiesandasenseofitsusefulnesscarriesamanonwiththemoredelightandwarmthinthepursuitandimprovementofit。Butthecontemptofallotherknowledge，asifitwerenothingincomparisonoflaworphysic，ofastronomyorchemistry，orperhapssomeyetmeanerpartofknowledgewhereinIhavegotsomesmatteringoramsomewhatadvanced，isnotonlythemarkofavainorlittlemind，butdoesthisprejudiceintheconductoftheunderstanding，thatitcoopsitupwithinnarrowboundsandhindersitfromlookingabroadintootherprovincesoftheintellectualworld，morebeautifulpossibleandmorefruitfulthanthatwhichithadtillthenlaboredin；whereinitmightfind，besidesnewknowledge，waysorhintswherebyitmightbeenabledthebettertocultivateitsown。
Section23。Theology。Thereisindeedonescience（astheyarenowdistinguished）incomparablyabovealltherest，whereitisnotbycorruptionnarrowedintoatradeorfactionformeanorillendsandsecularinterests；I
meantheology，which，containingtheknowledgeofGodandhiscreatures，ourdutytohimandourfellowcreaturesandaviewofourpresentandfuturestate，isthecomprehensionofallotherknowledgedirectedtoitstrueend，i。e。，thehonorandvenerationoftheCreatorandthehappinessofmankind。
Thisisthatnoblestudywhichiseveryman’sdutyandeveryonethatcanbecalledarationalcreatureiscapableof。Theworksofnatureandthewordsofrevelationdisplayittomankindincharacterssolargeandvisible，thatthosewhoarenotquiteblindmayinthemreadandseethefirstprinciplesandmostnecessarypartsofitandfromthence，astheyhavetimeandindustry，maybeenabledtogoontothemoreabstrusepartsofitandpenetrateintothoseinfinitedepthsfilledwiththetreasuresofwisdomandknowledge。Thisisthatsciencewhichwouldtrulyenlargemen’sminds，wereitstudiedorpermittedtobestudiedeverywherewiththatfreedom，loveoftruthandcharitywhichitteaches，andwerenotmade，contrarytoitsnature，theoccasionofstrife，faction，malignityandnarrowimpositions。Ishallsaynomorehereofthis，butthatitisundoubtedlyawronguseofmyunderstandingtomakeittheruleandmeasureofanotherman’s，ausewhichitisneitherfitfornorcapableof。
Section24。Partiality。Thispartiality，whereitisnotpermittedanauthoritytorenderallotherstudiesinsignificantorcontemptible，isoftenindulgedsofarastoberelieduponandmadeuseofinotherpartsofknowledgetowhichitdoesnotatallbelongandwherewithithasnomannerofaffinity。
Somemenhavesousedtheirheadstomathematicalfiguresthat，givingapreferencetothemethodsofthatscience，theyintroducelinesanddiagramsintotheirstudiesofdivinityorpolitic[al]enquiries，asifnothingcouldbeknownwithoutthem；andothers，accustomedtoretiredspeculations，runnaturalphilosophyintometaphysicalnotionsandtheabstractgeneralitiesoflogic；
andhowoftenmayonemeetwithreligionandmoralitytreatedofinthetermsofthelaboratoryandthoughttobeimprovedbythemethodsandnotationsofchemistry。
Buthethatwilltakecareoftheconductofhisunderstandingtodirectitrighttotheknowledgeofthingsmustavoidthoseunduemixturesandnot，byafondnessforChathehasfoundusefulandnecessaryinone，transferittoanothersciencewhereitservesonlytoperplexandconfoundtheunderstanding。
Itisacertaintruththatresnoluntmaleadministration；[052]itisnolesscertainresnoluntmaleintelligence。[053]Thingsthemselvesaretobeconsideredastheyareinthemselves，andthentheystillshowusinwhatwaytheyaretobeunderstood。
Fortohaverightconceptionsaboutthemwemustbringourunderstandingstotheinflexiblenaturesandunalterablerelationsofthings，andnotendeavortobringthingstoanypreconceivednotionsofourown。[054]
Thereisanotherpartialityverycommonlyobservableinmenofstudy，nolessprejudicialnorridiculousthantheformer，andthatisafantasticalandwildattributingallknowledgetotheancientsaloneortothemoderns。
ThisravinguponantiquityinmatterofpoetryHoracehaswittilydescribedandexposedinoneofhissatires。[055]Thesamesortofmadnessmaybefoundinreferencetoalltheothersciences。Somewillnotadmitanopinionnotauthorizedbymenofold，whowerethenallgiantsinknowledge；nothingistobeputintothetreasuryoftruthorknowledgewhichhasnotthestampofGreeceorRomeuponit；andsincetheirdayswillscarceallowthatmenhavebeenabletosee，thinkorwrite。Others，withalikeextravagancy，contemnallthattheancientshaveleftusand，beingtakenwiththemoderninventionsanddiscoveries，laybyallthatwentbefore，asifwhateveriscalledoldmusthavethedecayoftimeuponitandtruthtoowereliabletomoldandrottenness。Men，Ithink，havebeenmuchthesamefornaturalendowmentsinalltimes。Fashion，disciplineandeducationhaveputeminentdifferencesintheagesofseveralcountriesandmadeonegenerationmuchdifferfromanotherinartsandsciences；
buttruthisalwaysthesame；timealtersitnot，norisitthebetterorworseforbeingofancientormoderntradition。Manywereeminentinformeragesoftheworldfortheirdiscoveryanddeliveryofit；butthoughtheknowledgetheyhaveleftusbeworthourstudy，yettheyexhaustednotallitstreasure；theyleftagreatdealfortheindustryandsagacityofafterages，andsoshallwe。
Thatwasoncenewtothemwhichanyonenowreceiveswithvenerationforitsantiquity；
norwasittheworseforappearingasanovelty，andthatWhichisnowembracedforitsnewnesswill，toposterity，beoldbutnottherebybelesstrueorlessgenuine。
Thereisnooccasiononthisaccounttoopposetheancientsandthemodernstooneanotherortobesqueamishoneitherside。Hethatwiselyconductshismindinthepursuitofknowledgewillgatherwhatlightsandgetwhathelpshecanfromeitherofthem，fromwhomtheyarebesttobehad，withoutadoringtheerrorsorrejectingthetruthswhichhemayfindmingledinthem。
Anotherpartialitymaybeobserved，insometovulgar，inotherstoheterodoxtenets。Someareapttoconcludethatwhatisthecommonopinioncannotbutbetrue；somanymen’seyes，theythink，cannotbutseeright；
somanymen’sunderstandingsofallsortscannotbedeceived；andtherefore[they]willnotventuretolookbeyondthereceivednotionsoftheplaceandagenorhavesopresumptuousathoughtastobewiserthantheirneighbors。Theyarecontenttogowiththecrowd，andsogoeasily，whichtheythinkisgoingrightoratleastservesthemaswell。ButhoweverFoxpopuliloxDei[056]
hasprevailedasamaxim，yetIdonotrememberwhereverGoddeliveredhisoraclesbythemultitudeornaturetruthsbytheherd。Ontheotherside，someflyallcommonopinionsaseitherfalseorfrivolous。Thetitleofmany—headedbeast[057]isasufficientreasontothemtoconcludethatnotruthsofweightorconsequencecanbelodgedthere。vulgaropinionsaresuitedtovulgarcapacitiesandadaptedtotheendsofthosethatgovern。Hethatisillknowthetruthofthingsmustleavethecommonandbeatentract，whichnonebutweakandservilemindsaresatisfiedtotrudgealongcontinuallyin。Suchnice[058]palatesrelishnothingbutstrangenotionsquiteoutoftheflay；whateveriscommonlyreceivedhasthemarl；ofthebeast[059]onit，andtheythinkitalesseningtothemtohearkentoitorreceiveit；theirmindrunsonlyafterparadoxes；
thesetheyseek，thesetheyembrace，thesealonetheyvent，andso，astheythink，distinguishthemselvesfromthevulgar。Butcommonoruncommonarenotthemarkstodistinguishtruthorfalsehoodandthereforeshouldnotbeanybiastousinourenquiries。Weshouldnotjudgeofthingsbymen’sopinions，butofopinionsbythings。Themultitudereasonbutill，andthereforemaybewellsuspectedandcannotbereliedonnorshouldbefollowedasasureguide；butphilosopherswhohavequittedtheorthodoxyofthecommunityandthepopulardoctrinesoftheircountrieshavefallenintoasextravagantandasabsurdopinionsasevercommonreceptioncountenanced。Itwouldbemadnesstorefusetobreathethecommonairorquenchone’sthirstwithwaterbecausetherabbleusethemtothesepurposes；andifthereareconveniencesoflifewhichcommonusereachesnot。itisnotreasontorejectthembecausetheyarenotgrownintotheordinaryfashionofthecountryandeveryvillagerdoesnotknowthem。
Truth，whetherinoroutoffashion，isthemeasureofknowledgeandthebusinessoftheunderstanding；whatsoeverisbesidesthat，howeverauthorizedbyconsentorrecommendedbyrarity，isnothingbutignoranceorsomethingworse。
Anothersortofpartialitythereiswherebymenimposeuponthemselvesandbyitmadetheirreadinglittleusefultothemselves；Imeanthemakinguseoftheopinionsofwritersandlayingstressupontheirauthoritieswherevertheyfindthemtofavortheirownopinions。
Thereisnothingalmosthasdonemoreharmtomendedicatedtolettersthangivingthenameofstudytoreadingandmakingamanofgreatreadingtobethesamewithamanofgreatknowledge。oratleasttobeatitleofhonor。Allthatcanberecordedinwritingareonlyfactsorreasonings。Factsareofthreesorts：
1。Merelyofnaturalagents。observableintheordinaryoperationsofbodiesoneuponanother，whetherinthevisiblecourseofthingslefttothemselves，orinexperimentsmadebymenapplyingagentsandpatients[060]tooneanotherafterapeculiarandartificialmanner。2。Ofvoluntaryagents，moreespeciallytheactionsofmeninsociety，whichmakescivilandmoralhistory。
3。Ofopinions[06l]
Inthesethreeconsists。asitseemstome，thatwhichcommonlyhasthenameoflearning；towhichperhapssomemayaddadistinctheadofcriticalwritings，whichindeedatbottomisnothingbutmatteroffactandresolvesitselfintothis，thatsuchamanorsetofmenusedsuchawordorphraseinsuchasense，i。e。thatthismadesuchsoundsthemarksofsuchideas。[062]
UnderreasoningsIcomprehendallthediscoveriesofgeneraltruthsmadebehumanreason，whetherfoundbyintuition，demonstrationorprobabledeductions。[063]Andthisisthatwhichis，ifnotaloneknowledge（becausethetruthorprobabilityofparticularpropositionsmaybeknowntoo），suetis，asmaybesupposed，mostproperlythebusinessofthosewhopretendtoimprovetheirunderstandingsandmakethemselvesknottingbyreading。
Booksandreadingarelookedupontobethegreathelpsoftheunderstandingandinstrumentsofknowledge，asitmustbeallottedthattheyare；andyetI
begleavetoquestionwhetherthesedonotproveahindrancetomanyandkeepseveralbookishmenfromattainingtosolidandtrueknowledge。
This，I
think，Imaybepermittedtosay，thatthereisnopartwhereintheunderstandingneedsamorecarefulandwaryconductthanintheuseofbooks；
withoutwhichtheywillproveratherinnocentamusementsthanprofitableemploymentsofourtime，andbringbutsmalladditionstoourknowledge。
Thereisnotseldomtobefound，evenamongstthosewhoaimatknowledge，[those]Echowithanunweariedindustryemploytheirwholetimeinbooks，whoscarceallowthemselvestimetoeatorsleep，butreadandreadandreadon，butyetmakenogreatadvancesinrealknowledge，thoughtherebenodefectintheirintellectualfaculties，towhichtheirlittleprogresscanbeimputed。Themistakehereis，thatitisusuallysupposedthat，byreading，theauthor’sknowledgeistransfusedintothereader’sunderstanding；andsoitis，butnotbybarereading，butbyreadingandunderstandingwhathewrit。
TherebyImean，notbarelscomprehendingwhatisaffirmedordeniedineachproposition（thoughthatgreatreadersdonotalwaysthinkthemselvesconcernedpreciselytodo），buttoseeandfollowsthetrainofhisreasonings，observethestrengthandclearnessoftheirconnectionandexamineuponWhattheybottom。
Withoutthisamanmayreadthediscoursesofaveryrationalauthor，writinalanguageandinpropositionsthatheverywellunderstands，andyetacquirenotonejotofhisknowledge；whichconsistingonlyintheperceived，certainorprobableconnectionoftheideasmadeuseofinhisreasonings，thereader’sknowledgeisnofurtherincreasedthanheperceivesthat，somuchasheseesofthisconnection，somuchheknowsofthetruthorprobabilityofthatauthor’sopinions。
Allthathereliesonwithoutthisperceptionhetakesupontrustupontheauthor’screditwithoutanyknowledgeofitatall。Thismakesmenotatallwondertoseesomemensoaboundincitationsandbuildsomuchuponauthorities，itbeingthesolefoundationonwhichtheybottommostoftheirowntenets：sothatineffecttheyhavebutasecondhandorimplicitknowledge，[064]i。e。areintherightifsuchanonefromwhomtheyborroweditwereintherightinthatopinionwhichtheytookfromhim，Whichindeedisnoknowledgeatall。Writersofthisorformerartsmaybegoodwitnessesofmattersoffactwhichtheydeliver，whichwemaydowelltotakeupontheirauthority；
buttheircreditcangonofurtherthanthis；itcannotatallaffectthetruthandfalsehoodofopinions，whichhaveanothersortoftrialbyreasonandproof，whichtheythemselvesmadeuseoftomakethemselvesknowing，andsomustotherstoothatwillpartakeintheirknowledge。Indeeditisanadvantagethattheyhavebeenatthepainstofindouttheproofsandlaytheminthatorderthatmayshowthetruthorprobabilityoftheirconclusions；andforthisweowethemgreatacknowledgmentsforsavingusthepainsinsearchingoutthoseproofswhichtheyhavecollectedforusandwhichpossibly，afterallourpains，wemightnothavefoundnorbeenabletosettheminsogoodalightasthatwhichtheyleftthemusin。Uponthisaccountwearemightilybeholdingtojudiciouswritersofallagesforthosediscoveriesanddiscoursestheyhaveleftbehindthemforourinstruction，ifweknowhowtomakearightuseofthem；whichisnottorunthemoverinahastyperusalandperhapslodgetheiropinionsorsomeremarkablepassagesinourmemories，buttoenterintotheirreasonings，examinetheirproofs，andthenjudgeofthetruthorfalsehood，probabilityorimprobabilityofwhattheyadvance，notbyanyopinionwehaveentertainedoftheauthor，butbytheevidenceheproducesandtheconvictionheaffordsusdrawnfromthingsthemselves。Knowingisseeing，and，ifitbeso，itismadnesstopersuadeourselvesthatwedosobeanotherman’seyes，lethimuseneversomanywordstotellusthatwhatheassertsisveryvisible。Tillweourselvesseeitwithourowneyesandperceiveitbyourownunderstandings，weareasmuchinthedarkandasvoidofknowledgeasbefore，letusbelieveanylearnedauthorasmuchaswewill。
EuclidandArchimedesareallowedtobeknowingandtohavedemonstratedwhattheysay；andyetwhosoevershallreadovertheirwritingswithoutperceivingtheconnectionoftheirproofsandseeingwhattheyknew，thoughhemayunderstandalltheirwords，yetheisnotthemoreknowing；
hemaybelieveindeedbutdoesnotknowwhattheysay，andsoisnotadvancedonejotinmathematicalknowledgebyallhisreadingofthoseapprovedmathematicians。
Section25。Haste。Theeagernessandstrongbentofthemindafterknowledge，ifnotwarilyregulated，isoftenahindrancetoit。Itstillpressesintofurtherdiscoveriesandnewobjectsandcatchesatthevarietyofknowledge，andthereforeoftenstaysnotlongenoughonwhatisbeforeittolookintoitasitshould，forhastetopursuewhatisyetoutofsight。Hethatridespostthroughacountrymaybeablefromthetransientviewtotellhowingeneralthepartslie，andmaybeabletogivesomeloosedescriptionofhereamountainandthereaplain，hereamorassandthereariver，woodlandinonepartandsavannasinanother。Suchsuperficialideasandobservationsasthesehemaycollectingallopingorerit。Butthemoreusefulobservationsofthesoil，plants，animalsandinhabitantswiththeirseveralsortsandpropertiesmustnecessarilyescapehim；anditisseldommeneverdiscovertherichmineswithoutsomedigging。
Naturecommonlylodgeshertreasureandjewelsinrockyground。
Ifthematterbeknottyandthesenseliesdeep，themindmuststopandbuckletoitandstickuponitwithlabourandthoughtandclosecontemplation，andnotleaveittillithasmasteredthedifficultyandgotpossessionoftruth。Butherecaremustbetakentoavoidtheotherextreme：amanmustnotstickateveryuselessnicetyandexpectmysteriesofscienceineverytrivialquestionorscruplethathemayraise。HethatMillstandtopickupandexamineeverypebblethatcomesinhiswayisasunlikelytoreturnenrichedandloadedwithjewelsastheotherthattraveledfullspeed。TruthsarenotthebetternortheWorsefortheirobviousnessordifficulty，buttheirvalueistobemeasuredbytheirusefulnessandtendency。[065]Insignificant[066]observationsshouldnottakeupanyofourminutes，andthosethatenlargeourviewandgivelighttowardsfurtherandusefuldiscoveriesshouldnotbeneglected，thoughtheystopourcourseandspendsomeofourtimeinafixedattention。
Thereisanotherhastethatdoesoftenandwillmisleadthemind，ifitbelefttoitselfanditsownconduct。Theunderstandingisnaturallyforward，notonlytolearnitsknowledgebyvariety（whichmakesitskipoveronetogetspeedilytoanotherpartofknowledge），butalsoeagertoenlargeitsviewsbyrunningtoofastintogeneralobservationsandconclusionswithoutadueexaminationofparticularsenoughwhereontofoundthosegeneralaxioms。Thisseemstoenlargetheirstock，butitisoffanciesnotrealities；suchtheoriesbuiltuponnarrowfoundationsstandbutweakly，and，iftheyfallnotofthemselves，areatleastveryhardlytobesupportedagainsttheassaultsofopposition。
Andthusmen，beingtoohastytoerecttothemselvesgeneralnotionsandillgroundedtheories，findthemselvesdeceivedintheirstockofknowledgewhentheycometoexaminetheirhastilyassumedmaximsthemselvesortohavethemattackedbyothers。Generalobservationsdrawnfromparticularsarethejewelsofknowledge，comprehendinggreatstoreinalittleroom；buttheyarethereforetobemadewiththegreatercareandcaution，lest，ifwetakecounterfeitfortrue，ourlossandshamebethegreaterwhenourstockcomestoaseverescrutiny。
Oneortwoparticularsmaysuggesthintsofenquiry，andtheydowellwhotakethosehints；butiftheyturnthemintoconclusionsandmakethempresentlygeneralrules，theyareforwardindeed，butitisonlytoimposeonthemselvesbypropositionsassumedfortruthswithoutsufficientwarrant。Tomakesuchobservationsis，ashasbeenalreadyremarked，[067]tomaketheheadamagazineofmaterialswhichcanhardlybecalledknowledge，oratleastitisbutlikeacollectionoflumbernotreducedtouseororder；andhethatmakeseverythinganobservationhasthesameuselessplentyandmuchmorefalsehoodmixedwithit。Theextremesonbothsidesaretobeavoided，andhewillbeabletogivethebestaccountofhisstudieswhokeepshisunderstandingintherightmeanbetweenthem。
Section26。Anticipation。Whetheritbealoveofthatwhichbringsthefirstlightandinformationtotheirmindsandwantofvigorandindustrytoenquire，orelsethatmencontentthemselveswithanyappearanceofknowledge，rightorwrong，whichwhentheyhaveoncegottheywillholdfast，thisisvisible，thatmanymengivethemselvesuptothefirstanticipationsoftheirmindsandareverytenaciousoftheopinionsthatfirstpossessthem。Theyareoftenasfondoftheirfirstconceptionsasoftheirfirstborn，andwillbynomeansrecedefromthejudgmenttheyhaveoncemadeoranyconjectureorconceitwhichtheyhaveonceentertained。Thisisafaultintheconductoftheunderstanding，sincethisfirmnessorratherstiffnessofthemindisnotfromanadherencetotruthbutasubmissiontoprejudice。Itisanunreasonablehomagepaidtoprepossession，wherebyweshowareverencenotto（whatwepretendtoseek）
truth，butwhatbyhaphazardwechancetolightonebeitwhatitwill。Thisisvisiblyapreposteroususeofourfacultiesandisadownrightprostitutingofthemindtoresignitthusandputitunderthepowerofthefirstcomer。Thiscanneverbeallowedoroughttobefollowedasarightwaytoknowledge，tilltheunderstanding（whosebusinessitistoconformitselftowhatitfindsontheobjectswithout）canbyitsownopiniatretychangethatandmaketheunalterablenatureofthingscomplywithitsownhastydeterminations，whichwillneverbe。Whateverwefancy，thingskeeptheircourse，andtheirhabitudes，correspondencesandrelationskeepthesametooneanother。
Section27。Resignation。Contrarytothese，butbyalikedangerousexcessontheotherside，arethosewhoalwaysresigntheirjudgmenttothelastmantheyheardorread。Truthneversinksintothesemen’smindsnorgivesanytincturetothem，but，chameleon—like，theytakethecolourofwhatislaidbeforethemandassoonloseandresignittothenextthathappenstocomeintheirway。Theorderwhereinopinionsareproposedorreceivedbyusisnoruleoftheirrectitudenoroughttobeacauseoftheirpreference。Firstorlastinthiscaseistheeffectofchanceandnotthemeasureoftruthorfalsehood。
Thiseveryonemustconfessandthereforeshouldinthepursuitoftruthkeephismindfreefromtheinfluenceofanysuchaccidents。Amanmayasreasonablydrawcutsforhistenets，regulatehispersuasionbythecastofadie，astakeitupforitsnoveltyorretainitbecauseithadhisfirstassentandhewasneverofanothermind。
Wellweighedreasonsaretodeterminethejudgment；thosethemindshouldbealwaysreadytohearkenandsubmittoandbytheirtestimonyandsuffrageentertainorrejectanytenetindifferently，whetheritbeaperfectstrangeroranoldacquaintance。
Section28。Practice。Thoughthefacultiesofthemindareimprovedbyexercise，yettheymustnotbeputtoastressbeyondtheirstrength。
Quidvaleanthumeri，quidferrerecusent[068]mustbemadethemeasureofeveryone’sunderstandingwhohasadesirenotonlytoperformwellbuttokeepupthevigorofhisfacultiesandnottobalkhisunderstandingbywhatistoohardforit。Themind，bybeingengagedinataskbeyonditsstrength，likethebodystrainedbyliftingataweighttooheavy，hasoftenitsforcebrokenandtherebygetsanineptnessoranaversiontoanyvigorousattempteverafter。A
sinewcrackedseldomrecoversitsformerstrength，oratleastthetendernessofthesprainremainsagoodwhileafterandthememoryofitlonger，andleavesalastingcautioninthemannottoputthepartquicklyagaintoanyrobustemployment。Soitfaresinthemindoncejadedbyanattemptaboveitspower；
iteitherisdisabledforthefutureorelsechecksatanyvigorousundertakingeverafter，atleastisveryhardlybroughttoexertitsforceagainonanysubjectthatrequiresthoughtandmeditation。Theunderstandingshouldbebroughttothedifficultandknottypartsofknowledge，thattrythestrengthofthought，andafullbentofthemindbyinsensibledegrees；[069]andinsuchagradualproceedingnothingistoohardforit。Norletitbeobjectedthatsuchaslowprogresswillneverreachtheextentofsomesciences。Itisnottobeimaginedhowfarconstancywillcarryaman；however，itisbetterwalkingslowlyinaruggedwaythantobreakalegandbeacripple。Hethatbeginswiththecalfmaycarrytheox；buthethatwillatfirstgototakeupanoxmaysodisablehimselfasnotbeabletoliftacalfafterthat。Whenthemindbyinsensibledegreeshasbroughtitselftoattentionandclosethinking，itwillbeabletocopewithdifficultiesandmasterthemwithoutanyprejudicetoitself，andthenitmaygoonroundly。Everyabstruseproblem，everyintricatequestionwillnotbaffle，discourageorbreakit。Butthoughputtingthemindunprepareduponanunusualstressthatmaydiscourageordampitforthefutureoughttobeavoided，yetthismustnotrunit，byanovergreatshynessofdifficulties，intoalazysaunteringaboutordinaryandobviousthingsthatdemandnothoughtorapplication。Thisdebasesandenervatestheunderstanding，makesitweakandunfitforlabour。Thisisasortofhoveringaboutthesurfaceofthingswithoutanyinsightintothemorpenetration；andwhenthemindhasbeenoncehabituatedtothislazyrecumbencyandsatisfactionontheobvioussurfaceofthings，itisindangertorestsatisfiedthereandgonodeeper，sinceitcannotdoitwithoutpainsanddigging。Hethathasforsometimeaccustomedhimselftotakeupwithwhateasilyoffersitselfatfirstview，hasreasontofearheshallneverreconcilehimselftothefatigueofturningandtumblingthingsinhismindtodiscovertheirmoreretiredandmorevaluablesecrets。
Itisnotstrangethatmethodsoflearningwhichscholarshavebeenaccustomedtointheirbeginningandentranceuponthesciencesshouldinfluencethemalltheirlivesandbesettledintheirmindsbyanover—rulingreverence，especiallyiftheybesuchasuniversalusehasestablished。Learnersmustatfirstbebelievers，and，theirmaster’sruleshavingoncebeenmadeaxiomstothem，itisnowondertheyshouldkeepthatdignity[070]andbytheauthoritytheyhaveoncegotmisleadthosewhothinkitsufficienttoexcusethemiftheygooutoftheirwayinawellbeatentract。
Section29。Words。Ihavecopiouslyenoughspokenoftheabuseofwordsinanotherplace[071]andthereforeshalluponthisreflection，thatthesciencesarefullofthem，warnthosethatwouldconducttheirunderstandingsrightnottotakeanyterm，howsoeverauthorizedbythelanguageoftheschools，tostandforanythingtilltheyhaveanideaofit。Awordmaybeoffrequentuseandgreatcreditwithseveralauthorsandbebythemmadeuseofasifitstoodforsomerealbeing；butMet，ifhethatreadscannotframeanydistinctideaofthatbeing，itiscertain[ly]tohimamereemptysoundwithoutameaning，andhelearnsnomorebyallthatissaidofitorattributedtoitthanifitwereaffirmedonlyofthatbareemptysound。Theywhowouldadvanceinknowledgeandnotdeceiveandswellthemselveswithalittlearticulatedairshouldlaydolorthisasafundamentalrule，nottotakewordsforthingsnorsupposethatnamesinboozessignifyrealentitiesinnaturetilltheycanframeclearanddistinctideasofthoseentities。ItwillnotperhapsbeallowedifI
shouldsetdown\"substantialforms\"and\"intentionalspecies\"[072]assuchthatmayjustlybesuspectedtobeofthiskindofinsignificantterms。ButthisIamsure，toonethatcanformnodeterminedideasofChattheystandfortheysignifynothingatall；andallthathethinksheknowsaboutthemistohimsomuchknowledgeaboutnothingandamountsatmostbuttoalearnedignorance。
Itisnotwithoutallreasonsupposedthattherearemanysuchemptytermstobefoundinsomelearnedwriters，towhichtheyhadrecoursetoetch[073]outtheirsostemswheretheirunderstandingscouldnotfurnishthemwithconceptionsfromthings。
ButyetIbelievethesupposingofsomerealitiesinnatureansweringthoseandthelikewordshavemuchperplexedsomeandquitemisledothersinthestudyofnature。Thatwhichinanydiscoursesignifies\"Iknownotwhat\"
[074]shouldbeconsidered\"Iknownotwhen。\"Wheremenhaveanyconceptions，theycan，iftheyareneversoabstruseorabstracted，explainthemandthetermstheyuseforthem。Forourconceptionsbeingnothingbutideas，whichareallmadeupofsimpleones，[075]iftheycannotgiveustheideastheirwordsstandfor，itisplaintheyhavenone。Towhatpurposecanitbetohuntafterhisconceptionswhohasnoneornonedistinct？Hethatknewnotwhathehimselfmeantbyalearnedtermcannotmakeusknowanythingbyhisuseofit，letusbeatourheadsaboutitneversolong。Whetherweareabletocomprehendalltheoperationsofnatureandthemannersofthem，itmattersnottoenquire；butthisiscertain，thatwecancomprehendnomoreofthemthanwecandistinctlyconceive；andthereforetoobtrudetermswhereMehavenodistinctconceptions，asiftheydidcontainorratherconcealsomething，isbutanartificeoflearnedvanitytocoveradefectinahypothesisorourunderstandings。Wordsarenotmadetoconceal，buttodeclareandshowsomething；wheretheyare，bythosewhopretendtoinstruct，otherwiseused，theyconcealindeedsomething；butthattheyconcealisnothingbuttheignorance，errororsophistryofthetalker，forthereis，intruth，nothingelseunderthem。
Section30。Wandering。ThatthereisconstantsuccessionandfluxofideasinourmindsIhaveobservedintheformerpartofthisessay[076]
andeveryonemaytakenoticeofitinhimself。ThisIsupposemaydeservesomepartofourcareintheconductofourunderstandings；andIthinkitmaybeofgreatadvantageifatecanbyusegetthatpoweroverourmindsastobeabletodirectthattrainofideas，thatso，sincethereMillnewonesperpetuallycomeintoourthoughtsbyaconstantsuccession，wemaybeablebychoicesotodirectthem，thatnonemaycomeintoviewbutsuchasarepertinenttoourpresentenquiry，andinsuchorderasmaybemostusefultothediscoveryweareupon；oratleast，ifsomeforeignandunsoughtideaswillofferthemselves，thatyetwemightbeabletorejectthemandkeepthemfromtakingoffourmindsfromitspresentpursuitandhinderthemfromrunningawaywithourthoughtsquitefromthesubjectinhand。Thisisnot，Isuspect，soeasytobedoneasperhapsmaybeimagined；andyet，foroughtIknow，thismaybe，ifnotthechief，yetoneofthegreatdifferencesthatcarrysomemenintheirreasoningsofarbeyondothers，wheretheyseemtobenaturallyofequalparts。
AproperandeffectualremedyforthiswanderingofthoughtsIwouldbegladtofind。Hethatshallproposesuchaonewoulddogreatservicetothestudiousandcontemplativepartofmankindandperhapshelpunthinkingmentobecomethinking。ImustacknowledgethathithertoIhavediscoverednootherwaytokeepourthoughtsclosetotheirbusinessbuttheendeavoringasmuchaswecanandbyfrequentattentionandapplicationgettingthehabitofattentionandapplication。Hethatwillobservechildrenwillfindthat，evenwhentheyendeavortheiruttermost，theycannotkeeptheirmindsfromstraggling。
Thewaytocureit，Iamsatisfied，isnotangrychidingorbeating[077]forthatpresentlyfillstheirheadswithalltheideasthatfear，dread，orconfusioncanoffertothem。
Tobringbackgentlytheirwanderingthoughtsbyleadingthemintothepathandgoingbeforetheminthetraintheyshouldpursue，withoutanyrebukeorsomuchastakingnotice（whereitcanbeavoided）oftheirroving，Isupposewouldsoonerreconcileandinurethemtoattentionthanallthoseroughermethodswhichmoredistracttheirthoughtand，hinderingtheapplicationtheywouldpromote，introduceacontraryhabit。
Section31。Distinction。Distinctionanddivision[078]are（ifImistakenottheimportofthewords）verydifferentthings，theonebeingtheperceptionofadifferencethatnaturehasplacedinthings，theotherourmakingadivisionwherethereisyetnone。Atleast，ifImaybepermittedtoconsidertheminthissense，IthinkImaysayofthemthatoneofthemisthemostnecessaryandconducivetotrueknowledgethatcanbe，theother，whentoomuchmadeuseof，servesonlytopuzzleandconfoundtheunderstanding。Toobserveeverytheleastdifferencethatisinthingsarguesaquickandclearsight，andthiskeepstheunderstandingsteadyandrightinitswaytoknowledge。Butthoughitbeusefultodiscerneveryvariety[that]istobefoundinnature，yetitisnotconvenient[079]toconsidereverydifferencethatisinthingsanddividethemintodistinctclassesundereverysuchdifference。Thiswillrunus，iffollowed，intoparticulars（foreveryindividualhassomethingthatdifferencesitfromanother），andweshallbeabletoestablishnogeneraltruths，orelseatleastshallbeapttoperplexthemindaboutthem。ThecollectionofseveralthingsintoseveralclassesgivesthemindmoregeneralandlargerViennesebutwemusttakecaretounitethemonlyinthatandsofarastheydoagree，forsofartheymaybeunitedundertheconsideration。Forentity[080]itselfthatcomprehendrationalconceptions。Ifwewouldwellsleighandkeepinourmindswhatitisweareconsidering，thatwouldbestinstructusAshenweshouldorshouldnotbranchintofurtherdistinctions，whicharetobetakenonlyfromaduecontemplationofthings；towhichthereisnothingmoreoppositethantheartofverbaldistinctions，madeatpleasureinlearnedandarbitrarilyinventedterms，tobeappliedataventurewithoutcomprehendingorconceivinganydistinctnotions，andsoaltogetherfittedtoartificialtalkoremptynoiseindisputewithoutanyclearingofdifficultiesoradvanceinknowledge。
WhatsoeversubjectweexamineandShouldgetknowledgeinlieshould，Ithink，makeasgeneralandaslargeasittrillbear；norcantherebeanydangerofthisiftheideaofitbesettledanddetermined；[081]forifthatbeso，weshalleasilydistinguishitfromanyotheridea，thoughcomprehendedunderthesamename。Foritistofenceagainsttheentanglementsofequivocalwordsandthegreatartofsophistrywhichliesinthemthatdistinctionshavebeenmultipliedandtheirusethoughtsonecessary。Buthadeverydistinctabstractideaadistinctknownname，therewouldbelittleneedofthesemultipliedscholasticdistinctions，thoughtherewouldbeneverthelessasmuchneedstillofthemind’sobservingthedifferencesthatareinthingsanddiscriminatingthemtherebyonefromanother。
Itisnotthereforetherightwaytoknotsledgetohuntafterandfilltheheadwithabundanceofartificialandscholasticdistinctions，wherewithlearnedmen’swritingsareoftenfilled；andwesometimesfindThattheytreatofsodividedandsubdividedthatthemindofthemostattentivereaderlosesthesightofit，asitismorethanprobablethewriterhimselfdid；forinthingscrumbledintodustitisinvaintoaffectorpretendorderorexpectclearness。
Toavoidconfusionbytoofewortoomanydivisionsisagreatskillinthinkingaswellaswriting，whichisbutthecopyingourthoughts；butwhataretheboundariesofthemeanbetweenthetwoviciousexcessesonbothhands，Ithinkishardtosetdowninwords；clearanddistinctideas[082]isallthatIyetknowabletoregulateit。
Butastoverbaldistinctionsreceivedandappliedtocommonterms，i。e。
equivocalwords，theyaremoreproperly，Ithink，thebusinessofcriticismsanddictionariesthanofrealknowledgeandphilosophy，sincetheyforthemostpartexplainthemeaningofwordsandgiveustheirseveralsignifications。
Thedexterousmanagementoftermsandbeingableto\"fend\"and\"prove\"
[083]withthemIknowhasanddoespassintheworldforagreatpartoflearning；butitislearningdistinctfromknowledge，forknowledgeconsistsonlyinperceivingthehabitudesandrelationsofideasonetoanother，whichisdonewithoutwords；
theinterventionofasoundhelpsnothingtoit。Andhenceweseethatthereisleastuseofdistinctionswherethereismostknowledge；Imeaninmathematics，wheremenhavedeterminedideaswithknownnamestothem；andso，therebeingnoroomforequivocations，thereisnoneedofdistinctions。
Inarguing，theopponentusesascomprehensiveandequivocaltermsashecan，toinvolvehisadversaryinthedoubtfulnessofhisexpressions；thisisexpected，andthereforetheanswereronhissidemakesithisplaytodistinguishasmuchashecanandthinkshecanneverdoittoomuch；norcanheindeedinthatwaywhereinvictorymaybehadwithouttruthandwithoutknowledge。Thisseemstometobetheartofdisputing。Useyourwordsascautiouslyasyoucaninyourarguingononeside，andapplydistinctionsasmuchasyoucanontheothersidetoeverytermtononplusyouropponent；sothatinthissortofscholarship，therebeingnoboundssettodistinguishing，somemenhavethoughtallacutenesstohavelaininit；andthereforeinalltheyhalereadorthoughton，theirgreatbusinesshasbeentoamusethemselveswithdistinctionsandmultiplytothemselvesdivisions，atleast，morethanthenatureofthethingrequired。Thereseemstome，asIsaid，tobenootherruleforthisbutadueandrightconsiderationofthingsastheyareinthemselves。Hethathassettledinhisminddeterminedideaswithnamesaffixedtothemwillbeablebothtodiscerntheirdifferencesonefromanother（whichisreallydistinguishing）
and，wherethepenuryofwordsaffordsnottermsansweringeverydistinctidea，willbeabletoapplyproperdistinguishingtermstothecomprehensiveandequivocalnamesheisforcedtomakeuseof。ThisisalltheneedIknowofdistinguishingterms；andinsuchverbaldistinctionseachtermofthedistinction，joinedtothatwhosesignificationitdistinguishes，isbutanewdistinctnameforadistinctidea。
Wheretheyaresoandmenhaveclearanddistinctconceptionsthatanswertheirverbaldistinctions，theyareright，andarepertinentasfarastheyservetoclearanythinginthesubjectunderconsideration。Andthisisthatwhichseemstometheproperandonlymeasureofdistinctionsanddivisions；
whichhethatwillconducthisunderstandingrightmustnotlookforintheacutenessofinventionnortheauthorityofwriters，butwillfindonlyintheconsiderationofthingsthemselves，whethertheyareledintoitbytheirownmeditationsortheinformationofbooks。
Anaptnesstojumblethingstogetherwhereincanbefoundanylikenessisafaultintheunderstandingontheothersidewhichwillnotfailtomisleaditand，bythuslumpingofthings，hinderthemindfromdistinctandaccurateconceptionsofthem。
Section32。Similes。Towhichletmehereaddanothernearofkintothis，atleastinname，andthatislettingtheminduponthesuggestionofanynewnotionrunimmediatelyaftersimilestomakeittheclearertoitself；which，thoughitmanbeagoodwayandusefulintheexplainingourthoughtstoothers，yetitisbynomeansarightmethodtosettletruenotionsofanythinginourselves，becausesimilesalwaysfailinsomepartandcomeshortofthatexactnesswhichourconceptionsshouldhavetothings，ifwewouldthinkaright。
[084]Thisindeedmakesmenplausibletalkers；forthosearealwaysmostacceptableindiscoursewhohavethewastoletintheirthoughtsintoothermen’smindswiththegreatesteaseandfacilitywhetherthosethoughtsarewellformedandcorrespondwiththingsmattersnot；fewmencaretobeinstructedbutataneasyrate。Theywhointheirdiscoursestrikethefancyandtakethehearers’conceptionsalongwiththemasfastastheirwordsflow，aretheapplaudedtalkersandgofortheonlymenofclearthoughts。
Nothingcontributessomuchtothisassimiles，wherebymenthinkthisthemselvesunderstandbetterbecausetheyarethebetterunderstood。Butitisonethingtothinkrightandanotherthingtoknowtherightwaytolayourthoughtsbeforeotherswithadvantageandclearness，betheyrightorwrong。Wellchosensimiles，metaphorsandallegories，withmethodandorder，dothisthebestofanything，because，beingtakenfromobjectsalreadyknownandfamiliartotheunderstanding，theyareconceivedasfastasspoken；andthecorrespondencebeingconcluded，thethingtheyarebroughttoexplainandelucidateisthoughttobeunderstoodtoo。
Thusfancypassesforknowledge，andwhatisprettilysaidismistakenforsolid。
Isaynotthistodecrymetaphor，orwithdesigntotakeawaythatornamentofspeech；mybusinesshereisnotwithrhetoriciansandorators，butwithphilosophersandloversoftruth；towhomIwouldbegleavetogivethisonerulewherebytotrywhether，intheapplicationoftheirthoughtstoanythingfortheimprovementoftheirknowledge，theydointruthcomprehendthematterbeforethemreallysuchasitisinitself。Thewaytodiscoverthisistoobservewhether，inthelayingitbeforethemselvesorothers，theymakeuseonlyofborrowedrepresentationsandideasforeigntothething，whichareappliedtoitbywayofaccommodation，asbearingsomeproportionorimaginedlikenesstothesubjectunderconsideration。Figuredandmetaphoricalexpressionsdowelltoillustratemoreabstruseandunfamiliarideaswhichthemindisnotyetthoroughlyaccustomedto；butthentheymustbemadeuseoftoillustrateideasthatwealreadyhave，nottopainttousthosewhichweyethavenot。
Suchborrowedandallusiveideasmayfollowrealandsolidtruth，tosetitoffwhenfound，butmustbynomeansbesetinitsplaceandtakenforit。Ifalloursearchhasyetreachednofurtherthansimileandmetaphor，wemayassureourselvesweratherfancythanknowandarenotyetpenetratedintotheinsideandrealityofthething，beitwhatitwill，butcontentourselveswithwhatourimaginations，notthingsthemselves，furnishuswith。
Section33。Assent。[085]Inthewholeconductoftheunderstandingthereisnothingofmoremomentthantoknowwhenandwhereandhowfartogiveassent，andpossiblythereisnothingharder。Itisveryeasilysaid，andnobodyquestionsit，thatgivingandwithholdingourassent，andthedegreesofit，shouldberegulatedbytheevidencewhichthingscarrywiththem；
andyetweseemenarenotthebetterforthisrule；somefirmlyembracedoctrinesuponslightgrounds，someuponnogrounds，andsomecontrarytoappearance。
Someadmitofcertaintyandarenottobemovedinwhattheyhold；
otherswaverineverything，andtherewantnotthosethatrejectallasuncertain。
Whatthenshallanovice，anenquirer，astrangerdointhecase？Ianswer，usehiseyes。