按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Do the same thing afterward with regard to the Electorate of Saxony： you
will find a short history of it in Puffendorf's Introduction； which will
give you a general idea of it； and point out to you the proper objects of
a more minute inquiry。 In short； be curious； attentive； inquisitive； as
to everything； listlessness and indolence are always blameable； but； at
your age； they are unpardonable。 Consider how precious； and how
important for all the rest of your life； are your moments for these next
three or four years； and do not lose one of them。 Do not think I mean
that you should study all day long； I am far from advising or desiring
it： but I desire that you would be doing something or other all day long；
and not neglect half hours and quarters of hours； which； at the； year's
end； amount to a great sum。 For instance； there are many short intervals
during the day； between studies and pleasures： instead of sitting idle
and yawning； in those intervals； take up any book； though ever so
trifling a one； even down to a jest…book； it is still better than doing
nothing。
Nor do I call pleasures idleness； or time lost； provided they are the
pleasures of a rational being； on the contrary； a certain portion of your
time； employed in those pleasures； is very usefully employed。 Such are
public spectacles； assemblies of good company； cheerful suppers； and even
balls； but then； these require attention； or else your time is quite
lost。
There are a great many people； who think themselves employed all day；
and who； if they were to cast up their accounts at night； would find
that they had done just nothing。 They have read two or three hours
mechanically； without attending to what they read； and consequently
without either retaining it； or reasoning upon it。 From thence they
saunter into company； without taking any part in it； and without
observing the characters of the persons； or the subjects of the
conversation； but are either thinking of some trifle； foreign to the
present purpose； or often not thinking at all； which silly and idle
suspension of thought they would dignify with the name of ABSENCE and
DISTRACTION。 They go afterward； it may be； to the play； where they gape
at the company and the lights； but without minding the very thing they
went to； the play。
Pray do you be as attentive to your pleasures as to your studies。 In
the latter； observe and reflect upon all you read； and； in the former；
be watchful and attentive to all that you see and。 hear； and never have
it to say； as a thousand fools do； of things that were said and done
before their faces； that； truly； they did not mind them； because they
were thinking of something else。 Why were they thinking of something
else？ and if they were； why did they come there？ The truth is； that the
fools were thinking of nothing。 Remember the 'hoc age；' do what you are
about； be what it will； it is either worth doing well； or not at all。
Wherever you are； have （as the low vulgar expression is） your ears and
your eyes about you。 Listen to everything that is said； and see
everything that is done。 Observe the looks and countenances of those who
speak； which is often a surer way of discovering the truth than from what
they say。 But then keep all those observations to yourself； for your own
private use； and rarely communicate them to others。 Observe； without
being thought an observer； for otherwise people will be upon their guard
before you。
Consider seriously； and follow carefully； I beseech you； my dear child；
the advice which from time to time I have given； and shall continue to
give you； it is at once the result of my long experience； and the effect
of my tenderness for you。 I can have no interest in it but yours。
You are not yet capable of wishing yourself half so well as I wish you；
follow therefore； for a time at least； implicitly； advice which you
cannot suspect； though possibly you may not yet see the particular
advantages of it； but you will one day feel them。 Adieu。
LETTER XIX
LONDON； November 6； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： Three mails are now due from Holland； so that I have no letter
from you to acknowledge； I write to you； therefore； now； as usual； by way
of flapper； to put you in mind of yourself。 Doctor Swift； in his account
of the island of Laputa； describes some philosophers there who were so
wrapped up and absorbed in their abstruse speculations； that they would
have forgotten all the common and necessary duties of life； if they had
not been reminded of them by persons who flapped them； whenever they
observed them continue too long in any of those learned trances。 I do
not indeed suspect you of being absorbed in abstruse speculations； but；
with great submission to you； may I not suspect that levity； inattention；
and too little thinking； require a flapper； as well as too deep thinking？
If my letters should happen to get to you when you are sitting by the
fire and doing nothing； or when you are gaping at the window； may they
not be very proper flaps； to put you in mind that you might employ your
time much better？ I knew once a very covetous； sordid fellow； who used
frequently to say； 〃Take care of the pence； for the pounds will take care
of themselves。〃 This was a just and sensible reflection in a miser。
I recommend to you to take care of the minutes； for hours will take care
of themselves。 I am very sure； that many people lose two or three hours
every day； by not taking care of the minutes。 Never think any portion of
time whatsoever too short to be employed； something or other may always
be done in it。
While you are in Germany； let all your historical studies be relative to
Germany； not only the general history of the empire as a collective body；
but the respective electorates； principalities； and towns； and also the
genealogy of the most considerable families。 A genealogy is no trifle in
Germany； and they would rather prove their two…and…thirty quarters； than
two…and…thirty cardinal virtues； if there were so many。 They are not of
Ulysses' opinion； who says very truly；
Genus et proavos； et qua non fecimus ipsi；
Vix ea nostra voco。
Good night。
LETTER XX
LONDON； November 24； O。 S。 1747
DEAR BOY： As often as I write to you （and that you know is pretty often）；
so often I am in doubt whether it is to any purpose； and whether it is
not labor and paper lost。 This entirely depends upon the degree of
reason and reflection which you are master of； or think proper to exert。
If you give yourself time to think； and have sense enough to think right；
two reflections must necessarily occur to you； the one is； that I have a
great deal of experience； and that you have none： the other is； that I am
the only man living who cannot have； directly or indirectly； any interest
concerning you； but your own。 From which two undeniable principles； the
obvious and necessary conclusion is； that you ought； for your own sake；
to attend to and follow my advice。
If； by the application which I recommend to you； you acquire great
knowledge； you alone are the gainer； I pay for it