Our own
Principle
of action often hid from
ourselves, v.
ourselves, v.
Pope - Essay on Man
TO SIR RICHARD TEMPLE, LORD COBHAM.
ARGUMENT.
Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men.
I. That it is not sufficient for this knowledge to consider Man in the
Abstract: Books will not serve the purpose, nor yet our own Experience
singly, v. 1. General maxims, unless they be formed upon both, will be
but notional, v. 10. Some Peculiarity in every man, characteristic to
himself, yet varying from himself, v. 15. Difficulties arising from our
own Passions, Fancies, Faculties, etc. , v. 31. The shortness of Life, to
observe in, and the uncertainty of the Principles of action in men, to
observe by, v. 37, etc.
Our own Principle of action often hid from
ourselves, v. 41. Some few Characters plain, but in general confounded,
dissembled, or inconsistent, v. 51. The same man utterly different in
different places and seasons, v. 71. Unimaginable weaknesses in the
greatest, v. 70, etc. Nothing constant and certain but God and Nature,
v. 95. No judging of the Motives from the actions; the same actions
proceeding from contrary Motives, and the same Motives influencing
contrary actions v. 100. II. Yet to form Characters, we can only take the
strongest actions of a man's life, and try to make them agree: The utter
uncertainty of this, from Nature itself, and from Policy, v. 120.
Characters given according to the rank of men of the world, v.
ARGUMENT.
Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men.
I. That it is not sufficient for this knowledge to consider Man in the
Abstract: Books will not serve the purpose, nor yet our own Experience
singly, v. 1. General maxims, unless they be formed upon both, will be
but notional, v. 10. Some Peculiarity in every man, characteristic to
himself, yet varying from himself, v. 15. Difficulties arising from our
own Passions, Fancies, Faculties, etc. , v. 31. The shortness of Life, to
observe in, and the uncertainty of the Principles of action in men, to
observe by, v. 37, etc.
Our own Principle of action often hid from
ourselves, v. 41. Some few Characters plain, but in general confounded,
dissembled, or inconsistent, v. 51. The same man utterly different in
different places and seasons, v. 71. Unimaginable weaknesses in the
greatest, v. 70, etc. Nothing constant and certain but God and Nature,
v. 95. No judging of the Motives from the actions; the same actions
proceeding from contrary Motives, and the same Motives influencing
contrary actions v. 100. II. Yet to form Characters, we can only take the
strongest actions of a man's life, and try to make them agree: The utter
uncertainty of this, from Nature itself, and from Policy, v. 120.
Characters given according to the rank of men of the world, v.
