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Passage from Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
3 min read
True wisdom, then, notwithstanding all which Mr. Hogarth's poor poet may have writ against riches, and in spite of all which any rich well-fed divine may have preached against pleasure, consists not in the contempt of either of these. A man may have as much wisdom in the possession of an affluent fortune, as any beggar in the streets; or may enjoy a handsome wife, or a hearty friend, and still remain as wise as any popish recluse, who buries all his social faculties, and starves his belly, while he well lashes his back.
To say the truth, the wisest man is the likeliest to possess all worldly blessings in an eminent degree: for as that moderation which wisdom prescribes is the surest way to useful wealth, so can it alone qualify us to taste many pleasures. The wise man gratifies every appetite and every passion, while the fool sacrifices all the rest to pall and satiate one.
It may be objected, that very wise men have been notoriously avaricious. I answer, not wise in that instance. It may likewise be said, that the wisest men have been in their youth immoderately fond of pleasure. I answer, they were not wise then.
Wisdom, in short, whose lessons have been represented as so hard to learn by those who never were at her school, only teaches to extend a simple maxim, universally known and followed even in the lowest life, a little farther than life carries it. And this is, not to buy at too dear a price.
Now, whoever takes this maxim abroad with him into the grand market of the world, and constantly applies it to honours, to riches, to pleasures, and to every other commodity which that market affords, is, I will venture to affirm, a wise man, and must be so acknowledged in the worldly sense of the word: for he makes the best of bargains; since in reality he purchases everything at the price only of a little trouble, and carries home all the good things I have mentioned, while he keeps his health, his innocence, and his reputation, the common prices which are paid for them by others, entire and to himself.
Prom this moderation, likewise, he learns two other lessons, which complete his character. First, never to be intoxicated when he hath made the best bargain, nor dejected when the market is empty, or when its commodities are too dear for his purchase.
To say the truth, the wisest man is the likeliest to possess all worldly blessings in an eminent degree: for as that moderation which wisdom prescribes is the surest way to useful wealth, so can it alone qualify us to taste many pleasures. The wise man gratifies every appetite and every passion, while the fool sacrifices all the rest to pall and satiate one.
It may be objected, that very wise men have been notoriously avaricious. I answer, not wise in that instance. It may likewise be said, that the wisest men have been in their youth immoderately fond of pleasure. I answer, they were not wise then.
Wisdom, in short, whose lessons have been represented as so hard to learn by those who never were at her school, only teaches to extend a simple maxim, universally known and followed even in the lowest life, a little farther than life carries it. And this is, not to buy at too dear a price.
Now, whoever takes this maxim abroad with him into the grand market of the world, and constantly applies it to honours, to riches, to pleasures, and to every other commodity which that market affords, is, I will venture to affirm, a wise man, and must be so acknowledged in the worldly sense of the word: for he makes the best of bargains; since in reality he purchases everything at the price only of a little trouble, and carries home all the good things I have mentioned, while he keeps his health, his innocence, and his reputation, the common prices which are paid for them by others, entire and to himself.
Prom this moderation, likewise, he learns two other lessons, which complete his character. First, never to be intoxicated when he hath made the best bargain, nor dejected when the market is empty, or when its commodities are too dear for his purchase.
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Awesome
1 min read
Epic Combat Scene in Escaflowne...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=63AjKg…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=63AjKg…
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Devious Journal Entry
1 min read
just found this comment interesting on a debate forum... posting it here as a reminder.
Let me correct you one more time. Atheists have NO belief. We're defined by the absence of belief in any religion. If you ever use a sentence like "Atheists believe..." you are incorrectly representing atheists. On the question of gods, we're waiting for the proper evidence to attain belief. The onus is on those who make the claim. It's not up to Atheists to disprove a claim for which there is no evidence.
Let me correct you one more time. Atheists have NO belief. We're defined by the absence of belief in any religion. If you ever use a sentence like "Atheists believe..." you are incorrectly representing atheists. On the question of gods, we're waiting for the proper evidence to attain belief. The onus is on those who make the claim. It's not up to Atheists to disprove a claim for which there is no evidence.
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