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excuse my pedants； for to see the low and necessitous fortune wherewith
they are content； we have rather reason to pronounce that they are
neither wise nor prudent。
But letting this first reason alone； I think it better to say； that this
evil proceeds from their applying themselves the wrong way to the study
of the sciences； and that； after the manner we are instructed； it is no
wonder if neither the scholars nor the masters become； though more
learned； ever the wiser； or more able。 In plain truth； the cares and
expense our parents are at in our education； point at nothing； but to
furnish our heads with knowledge； but not a word of judgment and virtue。
Cry out； of one that passes by； to the people： 〃O； what a learned man！〃
and of another； 〃O； what a good man！〃 ＇Translated from Seneca； Ep。；
88。＇ they will not fail to turn their eyes； and address their respect
to the former。 There should then be a third crier； 〃O； the blockheads！〃
Men are apt presently to inquire； does such a one understand Greek or
Latin？ Is he a poet？ or does he write in prose？ But whether he be
grown better or more discreet； which are qualities of principal concern；
these are never thought of。 We should rather examine； who is better
learned； than who is more learned。
We only labour to stuff the memory； and leave the conscience and the
understanding unfurnished and void。 Like birds who fly abroad to forage
for grain； and bring it home in the beak； without tasting it themselves；
to feed their young； so our pedants go picking knowledge here and there；
out of books； and hold it at the tongue's end； only to spit it out and
distribute it abroad。 And here I cannot but smile to think how I have
paid myself in showing the foppery of this kind of learning； who myself
am so manifest an example； for； do I not the same thing throughout almost
this whole composition？ I go here and there； culling out of several
books the sentences that best please me； not to keep them （for I have no
memory to retain them in）； but to transplant them into this； where； to
say the truth； they are no more mine than in their first places。 We are；
I conceive； knowing only in present knowledge； and not at all in what is
past； or more than is that which is to come。 But the worst on't is；
their scholars and pupils are no better nourished by this kind of
inspiration； and it makes no deeper impression upon them； but passes from
hand to hand； only to make a show to be tolerable company； and to tell
pretty stories； like a counterfeit coin in counters； of no other use or
value； but to reckon with； or to set up at cards：
〃Apud alios loqui didicerunt non ipsi secum。〃
＇〃They have learned to speak from others； not from themselves。〃
Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes； v。 36。＇
〃Non est loquendum； sed gubernandum。〃
＇〃Speaking is not so necessary as governing。〃 Seneca； Ep。； 108。＇
Nature； to shew that there is nothing barbarous where she has the sole
conduct； oftentimes； in nations where art has the least to do； causes
productions of wit； such as may rival the greatest effect of art
whatever。 In relation to what I am now speaking of； the Gascon proverb；
derived from a cornpipe； is very quaint and subtle：
〃Bouha prou bouha； mas a remuda lous dits quem。〃
＇〃You may blow till your eyes start out； but if once you offer to
stir your fingers； it is all over。〃＇
We can say； Cicero says thus； these were the manners of Plato； these are
the very words of Aristotle： but what do we say ourselves？ What do we
judge？ A parrot would say as much as that。
And this puts me in mind of that rich gentleman of Rome；＇Calvisius
Sabinus。 Seneca； Ep。； 27。＇ who had been solicitous； with very great
expense； to procure men that were excellent in all sorts of science； whom
he had always attending his person； to the end； that when amongst his
friends any occasion fell out of speaking of any subject whatsoever； they
might supply his place； and be ready to prompt him； one with a sentence
of Seneca； another with a verse of Homer； and so forth； every one
according to his talent； and he fancied this knowledge to be his own；
because it was in the heads of those who lived upon his bounty； as they
also do； whose learning consists in having noble libraries。 I know one；
who； when I question him what he knows； he presently calls for a book to
shew me； and dares not venture to tell me so much； as that he has piles
in his posteriors； till first he has consulted his dictionary； what piles
and what posteriors are。
We take other men's knowledge and opinions upon trust； which is an idle
and superficial learning。 We must make it our own。 We are in this very
like him； who having need of fire； went to a neighbour's house to fetch
it； and finding a very good one there； sat down to warm himself without
remembering to carry any with him home。＇Plutarch； How a Man should
Listen。＇ What good does it do us to have the stomach full of meat； if
it do not digest； if it be not incorporated with us； if it does not
nourish and support us？ Can we imagine that Lucullus； whom letters；
without any manner of experience； made so great a captain； learned to be
so after this perfunctory manner？ ＇Cicero； Acad。； ii。 I。＇ We suffer
ourselves to lean and rely so strongly upon the arm of another； that we
destroy our own strength and vigour。 Would I fortify myself against the
fear of death； it must be at the expense of Seneca： would I extract
consolation for myself or my friend； I borrow it from Cicero。 I might
have found it in myself； had I been trained to make use of my own reason。
I do not like this relative and mendicant understanding； for though we
could become learned by other men's learning； a man can never be wise but
by his own wisdom：
＇〃I hate the wise man； who in his own concern is not wise。〃
Euripides； ap。 Cicero； Ep。 Fam。； xiii。 15。＇
Whence Ennius：
〃Nequidquam sapere sapientem； qui ipse sibi prodesse non quiret。〃
＇〃That wise man knows nothing； who cannot profit himself by his
wisdom。〃Cicero； De Offic。； iii。 15。＇
〃Si cupidus； si
Vanus； et Euganea quantumvis mollior agna。〃
＇〃If he be grasping； or a boaster； and something softer than an
Euganean lamb。〃Juvenal； Sat。； viii。 14。＇
〃Non enim paranda nobis solum； sed fruenda sapientia est。〃
＇〃 For wisdom is not only to be acquired； but to be utilised。〃
Cicero； De Finib。； i。 I。＇
Dionysius ＇It was not Dionysius； but Diogenes the cynic。 Diogenes
Laertius； vi。 27。＇ laughed at the grammarians； who set themselves to
inquire into the miseries of Ulysses； and were ignorant of their own；
at musicians； who were so exact in tuning their instruments； and never
tuned their manners； at orators； who made it a study to declare what is
justice； but never took care to do it。 If the mind be not better
disposed； if the judgment be no better settled； I had much rather my
scholar had spent his time at tennis； for； at least； his body would by
that means be in better exercise and breath。 Do but observe him when he
comes back from school； after fifteen or sixtee