Lacon; Or, Many Things in Few Words - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ... MANY THINGS IN FEW WORDS. 'The proper study of mankind ia man.1 DIFFICULTY Of Unlearning Error.--It is almost as difficult to make a man unlearn his errors as his knowledge, Mal-information is more hopeless than non-information; for error is always more busy than ignorance. Ignorance is a blank sheet, on which we may write; but error is a scribbled one, on which we must first erase. Ignorance is contented to stand still with her back to the truth; but error is more presumptuous, and proceeds in the same direction. Ignorance has no light, but error follows a false one. The consequence is, that error, when she retraces her footsteps, has further to go, before she can arrive at the truth, than ignorance. Authority Of Great Names.--With respect to the authority of great names, it should be remembered that he alone deserves to have any weight or influence with posterity, who has shown himself superior to the particular and predominant error of his own times; who, like the peak of Teneriffe, has hailed the intellectual sun before its beams have reached the horizon of common minds; who standing, like Socrates, on the apex of wisdom, has removed from his eyes all film of earthly dross, and has foreseen a purer law, a nobler system, a brighter order of things, in short, a promised land, which, like Moses on the top of Pisgah, he is permitted to survey, and anticipate for others without being himself allowed either to enter or to enjoy. Discretion Necessary In Quoting History.--To cite tho examples of history in order to animate us to virtue or to arm us with fortitude, is to call up the illustrious dead to inspire and improve the living. But tho usage of those civilians who cite vicious authorities for worse purposes, and enforce the absurdest...