'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation by Aaron Hill
page 27 of 67 (40%)
page 27 of 67 (40%)
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unsuitable Marriages, on the single View of worldly Advantage.
From this Cause proceed fatal Effects, and many young Men of great Hopes, and good Capacities, miscarry in the after Conduct of Life, and prove useless or mischievous to the World. They turn off from a disagreeable Employment, and run into Idleness and Extravagance. If People better consider'd the peculiar _Genius_ or proper Talents of their Children, and took their Measures of Treatment and Disposal thence, we should certainly find answerable Improvements and lasting good Effects. The several Kinds of Learning and Business would come to be more advanced, and the Lives of Men become more useful and significant to the World. I have known a large Family of Children, with so remarkable a Diversity of _Genius_, as to be a little Epitome of Mankind. Some studious and thoughtful, and naturally inclin'd to _Books_ and _Learning_; Others diligent and ambitious, and disposed to _Business_ and rising in the World. Some bold and enterprizing, and loved nothing so well as the _Camp_ and the _Field_; or so daring and unconfined, that nothing would satisfy but _going_ to _Sea_ and visiting Foreign Parts. Some have been gay and airy, Others solid and retired. Some curious and Observers of other Men; Others open and careless. In short, their Capacities have been as various as their Natural Tempers or Moral Dispositions. Now what a Blunder would be committed in the Education of such a Family, if, with this different Turn of Mind in the Children, there should be no difference made in the Management of them, or their Disposal in the World. If all should be put into one Way of Life, or brought up to one Business. Or if in the Choice of |
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