CHAPTER IX. 63 but their own : they canton out to themselves a little province in the intellectual world, where they fancy the light shines, and all the rest is darkness. They never venture into theocean of know- ledge, nor survey the riches of other minds, which are as solid and as useful, and perhaps are finer gold than what they ever possessed. Let not men imagine there is no certain truth but in the sciences which they study? and amongst that party in which they were horn and educated. VII. Believe that it is possible to learn something from per- sons much below ,yourself. We are all short- sightedcreatures; our views are also narrow and limited ; we often see but one side of a matter, and do not, extend our sight far and wide enough to reach every thing that has a connection with the thing w s talk of; We see but inpart, and know but inpart, therefore it is no wonder we form not right conclusions, because we do not,. survey the whole of any subject or argument. Even the proudest admirer of his own parts might find it useful to consult with. ethers, though of inferior capacity and penetration. We have a different prospect of the same thing (if I may so speak) ac- cording to the different position of our understandings towards; it:. a weaker man may sometimes light on notions which have escaped a wiser, and which the wiser man might make a happy use of, if he would condescend to take notice of them. VIII. It is of considerable advantage when we are pur- suing any difficult point of knowledge, to have a society of f in- genious correspondentsat hand, to whomwe may propose it ; for every man has something of a different genius and a various turn of mind, whereby the subject proposed will be shown in all its lights, it will be represented in all its forms, and every side of it be turned to view, that a jester judgment may be, framed. IX. To make conversation more valuable and useful, whe- ther it be in a designed or accidental visit, among persons of the same or of different sexes, after the necessary salutations are finished, and the stream of common talk begins to hesitate, or runs flat and low, let some one person take a book which may be agreeable to the whole company, and by common consent let him read in it ten lines, or a paragraph or two, or a few pages, till some word or sentence gives an occasion for any of the com- pany to offer a thought or two relating to that subject. Interrup- tion of the reader should be no blame, for conversation is the business ; whether it be to confirm what the author says, or to improve it, to enlarge upon or to correct it, to object against it,; or to ask any question that is a-kin to it; and let every one that . please add their opinion and promote the conversation. When the discourse sinks again, or diverts to trifles, let him that reads pursue the page, and read on further paragraphs or pages, till.
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