A Reply to the Calumnies of the Edinburgh Review Against Oxford: Containing an Account of Studies Pursued in that University

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author, 1810 - Edinburgh review - 187 pages
 

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Page 161 - But here the main skill and groundwork will be to temper them such lectures and explanations upon every opportunity as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, inflamed with the study of learning and the admiration of virtue; stirred up with high hopes of living to be brave men and worthy patriots, dear to God and famous to all ages.
Page 126 - And that which casts our proficiency therein so much behind is our time lost partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to schools and universities — partly in a preposterous exaction, forcing the empty wits of children to compose themes, verses, and orations which are the acts of ripest judgment and the final work of a head filled by long reading and observing with elegant maxims and copious invention.
Page 112 - Without teaching him the peculiar business of any one office or calling, it enables him to act his part in each of them with better grace and more elevated carriage ; and, if happily planned and conducted, is a main ingredient in that complete and generous education which fits a man ' to perform justly, skilfully, and magnanimously, all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war.
Page 106 - ... or mathematics, or be a master in history or chronology? though something of each of these is to be taught him ; but it is only to open the door, that he may look in, and as it were begin an acquaintance, but not to dwell there...
Page 105 - The great work of a governor is to fashion the carriage, and form the mind; to settle in his pupil good habits, and the principles of virtue and wisdom; to give him, by little and little, a view of mankind; and work him into a love and imitation of what is excellent and praiseworthy; and, in the prosecution of it, to give him vigour, activity, and industry.
Page 164 - He would augur nothing from it but impiety to God and treason to kings. And yet who vilifies both more than the holy poltroon who carefully averts from them the searching eye of reason, and who knows no better method of teaching the highest duties than by extirpating the finest qualities and habits of the mind?
Page 121 - Englishman, addicted to the pursuit of knowledge, draws — his beau ideal of human nature — his top and consummation of man's powers — is a knowledge of the Greek language. His object is not to reason, to imagine, or to invent ; but to conjugate, decline, and derive.
Page 106 - It is the last indeed on which the world are most eager to inform themselves ; but the persons who instruct them, however they may deserve the thanks and esteem of those whom they benefit, do no service to mankind. There are but so many good places in the theatre of life ; and he who puts us in the way of procuring one of them, does to us indeed a great favour, but none to the whole assembly.
Page 111 - ... one interest, which supplies common topics, and kindles common feelings, unmixed with those narrow prejudices, with which all professions are more or less infected.
Page 150 - ... service of the state, or to watch over and manage the lesser circle of affairs, which the independent gentlemen of this country, and of this country only; conduct in their respective neighbourhoods ; I think we do a greater and more solid good to the nation, than if we sought to extend over Europe the fame of a few exalted individuals, or to acquire renown by exploring untrodden regions, and by holding up to the world, ever ready to admire what is new, the fruits of our discovery.

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