Human character / by Hugh Elliot.

  • Elliot, Hugh, 1881-1930.
Date:
1922
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Human character / by Hugh Elliot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    first or amiable type. It is natural to man as a social animal to rejoice in the society of his fellows. A child, unless perverted by education or surroundings is fond of other children and likes to be with them. Their bad qualities are unnoticed, not condoned or approved of, but literally unnoticed; or, if noticed, they make little impression. An evil environment, or misguided education, soon removes this innocent anaesthesia to evil: the social feeling becomes cor¬ rupted, and gradually transmutes from the first type to the second. And the higher the original endow¬ ment of social feeling, the greater the heights to which it may rise, and the greater the depths to which it may fall. We reach again that principle of corruptio optimi pessima, which we found to hold good both of egoism and of love. As in the cases of the other emotions, the social feeling is strengthened by obstacles in the way of its expression. Solitude constitutes such an obstacle, and habitual loneliness has a marked effect on human character. The recluse is more strongly affected by society than one who always lives among others. His social instinct is more clamorous for expression, unless, indeed, it has become deadened by the gradual decay wrought by time. But before this slow paralysis occurs the social instinct is fortified by compulsory removal from society. It may express itself either in the normal or in the corrupted manner One who is thrown out of social life by misfortune— as in the story of Robinson Crusoe—pines for society as a starving man pines for food. His social instinct is enormously enhanced ; above all things he wants to be among other men, it matters little whom. Such