Treatise on Self Knowledge; Intermixed with Various Reflections and Observations on Human Nature - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1812. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAP. IX. Self knowledge leads to a decorum and conjijlency of character. IX. A MAN that , knows himself, knows how to act with discretion and dignity in every station and character. Almost all the ridicule we see in the world takes its rife from self ignorance, and to this mankind by common assent ascribe it, when they say of a person that acts out of character, he does not know himself. Affectation is the spring of all ridicule, and self ignorance the true feurce of affectation. A man that does not know his proper character, nor what becomes it, cannot act suitably to it. He will often affect a character that does not belong to him; and will either act above or beneath himself, which will make him equally contemptible in the eyes of them that know him.^ A man of superiour rank and character, that knows himself, knows that he is but a man ; subject to the same sicknesses,frailties,disappointments, pains, passions, and sorrows as other men; that true honour lies in those things, in which it is possible for the meanest peasant to excel him ; and therefore he will not be vainly arrogant. He knows that they are only transitory and accidental things, that set him above the rest of mankind ; that he will soon be upon a level with them; and therefore learns to condescend. And there'is a dignity ia this condescension ; it does not sink, but exalts his reputation and character. A man of inseriour rank, that knows himself, knows how to' be content, quiet, and thankful in his lower sphere. As he hath not an extravagant veneration and esteem' for those external things which raise one man's circumstances so much above another's, so he does not look upon himself as the worse or less valuable man, purely because he has them not ; much less does he envy them that have them. As...

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