Instanced in the
extraordinary character of Clodio, v.
extraordinary character of Clodio, v.
Pope - Essay on Man
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. 135. And
some reason for it, v. 140. Education alters the Nature, or at least
Character of many, v. 149. Actions, Passions, Opinions, Manners, Humours,
or Principles all subject to change. No judging by Nature, from v. 158 to
178. III. It only remains to find (if we can) his Ruling Passion: That
will certainly influence all the rest, and can reconcile the seeming or
real inconsistency of all his actions, v. 175.
Instanced in the
extraordinary character of Clodio, v. 179. A caution against mistaking
second qualities for first, which will destroy all possibility of the
knowledge of mankind, v. 210. Examples of the strength of the Ruling
Passion, and its continuation to the last breath, v. 222, etc.
Yes, you despise the man to books confined,
Who from his study rails at human kind;
Though what he learns he speaks, and may advance
Some general maxims, or be right by chance.
The coxcomb bird, so talkative and grave,
That from his cage cries c**d, w**e, and knave,
Though many a passenger he rightly call,
You hold him no philosopher at all.
And yet the fate of all extremes is such,
Men may be read as well as books, too much.
To observations which ourselves we make,
We grow more partial for the observer's sake;
To written wisdom, as another's, less:
Maxims are drawn from notions, those from guess.
There's some peculiar in each leaf and grain,
Some unmarked fibre, or some varying vein:
Shall only man be taken in the gross?
Grant but as many sorts of mind as moss.
That each from other differs, first confess;
Next, that he varies from himself no less:
Add Nature's, custom's reason's passion's strife,
And all opinion's colours cast on life.
Our depths who fathoms, or our shallows finds,
Quick whirls, and shifting eddies, of our minds?
On human actions reason though you can,
It may be reason, but it is not man:
His principle of action once explore,
That instant 'tis his principle no more.
Like following life through creatures you dissect,
You lose it in the moment you detect.
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. 135. And
some reason for it, v. 140. Education alters the Nature, or at least
Character of many, v. 149. Actions, Passions, Opinions, Manners, Humours,
or Principles all subject to change. No judging by Nature, from v. 158 to
178. III. It only remains to find (if we can) his Ruling Passion: That
will certainly influence all the rest, and can reconcile the seeming or
real inconsistency of all his actions, v. 175.
Instanced in the
extraordinary character of Clodio, v. 179. A caution against mistaking
second qualities for first, which will destroy all possibility of the
knowledge of mankind, v. 210. Examples of the strength of the Ruling
Passion, and its continuation to the last breath, v. 222, etc.
Yes, you despise the man to books confined,
Who from his study rails at human kind;
Though what he learns he speaks, and may advance
Some general maxims, or be right by chance.
The coxcomb bird, so talkative and grave,
That from his cage cries c**d, w**e, and knave,
Though many a passenger he rightly call,
You hold him no philosopher at all.
And yet the fate of all extremes is such,
Men may be read as well as books, too much.
To observations which ourselves we make,
We grow more partial for the observer's sake;
To written wisdom, as another's, less:
Maxims are drawn from notions, those from guess.
There's some peculiar in each leaf and grain,
Some unmarked fibre, or some varying vein:
Shall only man be taken in the gross?
Grant but as many sorts of mind as moss.
That each from other differs, first confess;
Next, that he varies from himself no less:
Add Nature's, custom's reason's passion's strife,
And all opinion's colours cast on life.
Our depths who fathoms, or our shallows finds,
Quick whirls, and shifting eddies, of our minds?
On human actions reason though you can,
It may be reason, but it is not man:
His principle of action once explore,
That instant 'tis his principle no more.
Like following life through creatures you dissect,
You lose it in the moment you detect.
