Improvement of the Mind
by Stephen Norris Fellows, Isaac Watts
Chapter 1 of 21 Introduction
- Running time
- 6 h 56 min
- Language
- English
- Readers
- InTheDesert, Isen7, KHand, Kassandra, Kerry Adams and 5 others
Chapters
About this recording
"No man is obliged to learn and know everything; this can neither be sought nor required, for it is utterly impossible; yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding; otherwise it will be a barren desert, or a forest overgrown with weeds and brambles. Universal ignorance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is utterly neglected and lies without any cultivation.
The common duties and benefits of society, which belong to every man living, as we are social creatures, and even our native and necessary relations to a family, a neighborhood, or government, oblige all persons, whatsoever, to use their reasoning powers upon a thousand occasions; every hour of life calls for some regular exercise of our judgment, as to time and things, persons and actions: without a prudent and discreet determination in matters before us, we shall be plunged into perpetual errors in our conduct. Now, that which should always be practiced must at some time be learned."
This version has been abridged from Watt's original by Stephen Norris Fellows as follows:
"In endeavoring to adapt it to the needs of the present, the following changes have been made: First —…