Man is essentially imitative; his instincts impel him to amalgamate with the mass.From the first moment of his existence, his faculties are on the stretch, drinking greedily in surrounding gestures, feelings, principles and modes of action, which he again communicates; he seems by turns a recipient of existing impressions, and a transmitter of them to others.Nor, unless he look far beyond himself, is there any evident motive for his endeavoring to extricate himself from the ever-whirling circle of which he forms a part.Hundreds of millions have preceded him; to learn and practise, what they have left, is the direct road to his goods, pleasure and honor; why then should the individual waste the sweets of a momentary existence, in rashly and needlessly tasking his feeble powers, to form a new path, when one already exists, along which so many have trodden, and which their footsteps have beaten smooth? One of the Jesuits having been asked, why the Chinese had made no progress in astronomy, beyond the rude elements of the science that they had possessed from a very remote antiquity, answers, flora the indolence, and want of application to these pursuits, of the men of succeeding ages, and from their preferring, like those of the present day, what they have esteemed their immediate and substantial interests, to the vain and barren reputation of having discovered something new.The reason, which the father Parennin assigns for the stationary state of their astronomy, may be transferred to all their other sciences, arts, and pursuits, which fifty generations have contented themselves with learning, practising, and teaching, as they received them from men of times more distant.A well weighed attention to what is for their present, and as they say substantial interests, has led them to do this, and forbid them to do more.
In that Empire, the door to wealth and honor is not absolutely barred to any one, and in this it would seem superior to other lands, that there, whoever possesses learning has a key that will infallibly open it.Let him who would raise himself superior to his fellows, give his youth to study, let him carefully make his own a due portion of the knowledge, the wit, the eloquence, or what passes for them, stored ill the volumes his masters put in his hands.These acquirements will be the passports to the places round which riches and distinctions cluster.Making use of them industriously, prudently, perseveringly, he may certainly attain the rank of a skilful physician, a learned jurist, a practised and ready speaker, or, perhaps, a man versed in the constitution and policy of the empire, fit to take on him the office of a statesman, and share its rewards and honors.He may be attended by obsequious crowds ready to flatter his vanity, minister to his pleasures, conceal his weaknesses; alive he may be honored, dead lamented, -- why then abandon these sure and substantial advantages, to pursue what there is but a chance of gaining, and which, even if at length attained, is but empty fame, -- a breath, -- the filling at the best, A certain portion of uncertain paper."The practical wisdom of the Chinese, answers at once it were folly.
Is that, which is sound practical wisdom among those Asiatics, the reverse of it among us Europeans? The reader may determine, by casting his eyes about him, to discover who are the men, who have been most successful in attaining wealth, comfort, respectability; in avoiding dependence, misfortune, calumny.Whoever, or, wherever, he may be, certainly he will not find it is they who have sought to be, or have really been men of genius.
We in vain search for any sufficient motive exciting to this course of action, unless the good arising front communicating good, and the consequent desire to be a benefactor in the most extended possible manner.(62) This desire is the proper aliment of genius."Leave me not," the lay it, -- In its loneliness, Its own still world, amid th' o'er peopled world, Hath ever breathed to love."When very strongly felt, it irresistibly impels those who are conscious of capacities equal to the attempt, spite of every obstacle to be overcome, or pain to be endured, to task themselves to the performance of works of permanent and diffusive utility.To reflective minds, and large and generous natures, the creations of genius must present themselves, as of all works, those most extensively conferring enjoyment and power; (63) and their successful execution, as of every enterprise the noblest; nor need we wonder that to such it should have a voice of magical, and almost resistless attraction.
When the peasant poet of Scotland seeks to recall an image of his earliest self, he finds there uppermost this master passion; this "boundless love"of his fellows, and his native land, urging him to make it appear by something worthy of it, and marking its strength.This was the wish, Ev'n then a wish (I mind its power.")A wish that, to my latest hour, Shall strongly heave my breast,"that led him to the realms of song.This was in truth the genius, "Sua cuique deus fit dira cupido,".
who threw her inspiring mantle over him," and awakening powers else torpid, enabled him to draw from out the vulgarity before hiding them, images not idly failing, and to fall, on many a heart, patriotism ardent and self-devoting; passion manly yet tender; love without the coarseness of the one class of society, or the affectation or epicurism, of the other.
