Volume 2

The pursuit of knowledge under difficulties / [George L. Craik].

  • Craik, George L. (George Lillie), 1798-1866
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The pursuit of knowledge under difficulties / [George L. Craik]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    assiduous study is with that dissipation of time, of thought, and of faculty, which a life of vicious plea- sure implies. But knowledge is also happiness, as well as power and virtue; happiness both in the acquisition and in the possession. And were the pursuit of it nothing better than a mere amusement, it would de- serve the preference over all other amusements, on many accounts. Of these, indeed, the chief is, that it must almost of necessity become something better than an amusement,—must invigorate the mind as well as entertain it, and refine and elevate the character while it gives to listlessness and weariness their most agreeable excitement and relaxation. But, omitting this consideration, it is still of all amusements the best, for other reasons. So far from losing any part of its zest with time, the longer it is known the better is it loved. There is no other pastime that can be compared with it in variety. Even to him who has been longest conversant with it, it has still as much novelty to offer as at first. It may be resorted to by all, in all circumstances; by both sexes, by the young and the old, in town or in the country, by him who has only his stolen half hour to give to it, and by him who can allow it nearly his whole day, in com- pany with others, or in solitude, which it converts into the most delightful society. Above all, it is the cheapest of all amusements, and consequently the most universally accessible. Causes which will sug- gest themselves to the reflection of every reader, and which, therefore, we need not here stop to explain, have hitherto, in a great measure, excluded our labouring population from the enjoyments of science and literature; but this state of things i3 passing away, and the habit of reading is extending itself rapidly, even among the humblest ranks. Nothing can be more natural than this. A book is emphati-