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Article ESSAY ON POLITENESS. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Essay On Politeness.
of the earth , and the existence of antipodes . He was acquainted with the obliquity of the ecliptic , and first shewed how the moon borrowed her li ght from the sun . Antonio de Dominis , in explaining the phenomena of the rainbow , has done nothing , as we may say , but repeat what Pythagoras had advanced before him . To this philosopher we are indebted also for the knowledge of several stars . For the time in which he livedhe was a very great geometrician
, . It was he who discovered that beautiful proposition , respecting the square of the hypothenuse . Every person in the least acquainted with the mathematics , knows what is meant by the hypothenuse , the largest side of a ri ght-angled triangle , or that which is opposite to the ri ght angle . Pythagoras found that a square constructed upon this sidewas equal to the squares constructed upon the other two ;
, an important discovery , the full utility of which he readily comprehended , since , as is said , he immediately offered up a hecatomb through gratitude . His reputation procured him a multitude of disci ples , but he was remarkably severe in his choice . He first examined their gestures , their manner of laughing , their gait , and , above all , the features of
the young candidates ; an excellent method , for the worthless , notwithstanding all their art , almost always betray their inclinations by their looks . He afterwards put them upon a state of probation for several years , and silence was one of the first restraints which he imposed on them . His disciples never ate flesh or fish , but vegetables and- herbs , the only food which , according to Pythagoras , did not render the genius dull . The authority of their chiefin this respect
, , was considered as a sovereign law ; and for this reason , when they disputed , or were in a state of uncertainty respecting any point , it was sufficient to repeat these words , the master has said so . They then reasoned no farther , and submitted without any appeal . The Pythagoreans had all their wealth iu common , and entertained for each other the- tenderest friendship . It is related that a Pythagorean
being about to die , and having nothing to pay for the expeiices of his sickness , ordered his host to fix up a paper which he gave him . This paper contained the history of his latter days , and a symbol of Pythogaras . Some time after , another Pythagorean , having read this bill , paid the host for every thing he had advanced . There are associations among us , the members of which are no strangers to circumstances of the same kind .
The learned have liar ! many , but fruitless disputes , on abstinence from beans ; a point of doctrine which Pythagoras , as is said , borrowed from the Egyptians . The most ingenious opinion that has been advanced on this subject , is , that under this emblem he interdicted his disciples from seeking after dignities and great places ; for at elections and trials , sentence was past , and suffrages were iven by beans . This was one of the great secrets of the
Pythagog reans . We . are even assured that two women , attached to this sect , having been interrogated , and closely pressed on this- subject , one of them suffered herself to be killed rather than speak , ancl the pther cut her tongue , lest she might have the weakness to yield to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essay On Politeness.
of the earth , and the existence of antipodes . He was acquainted with the obliquity of the ecliptic , and first shewed how the moon borrowed her li ght from the sun . Antonio de Dominis , in explaining the phenomena of the rainbow , has done nothing , as we may say , but repeat what Pythagoras had advanced before him . To this philosopher we are indebted also for the knowledge of several stars . For the time in which he livedhe was a very great geometrician
, . It was he who discovered that beautiful proposition , respecting the square of the hypothenuse . Every person in the least acquainted with the mathematics , knows what is meant by the hypothenuse , the largest side of a ri ght-angled triangle , or that which is opposite to the ri ght angle . Pythagoras found that a square constructed upon this sidewas equal to the squares constructed upon the other two ;
, an important discovery , the full utility of which he readily comprehended , since , as is said , he immediately offered up a hecatomb through gratitude . His reputation procured him a multitude of disci ples , but he was remarkably severe in his choice . He first examined their gestures , their manner of laughing , their gait , and , above all , the features of
the young candidates ; an excellent method , for the worthless , notwithstanding all their art , almost always betray their inclinations by their looks . He afterwards put them upon a state of probation for several years , and silence was one of the first restraints which he imposed on them . His disciples never ate flesh or fish , but vegetables and- herbs , the only food which , according to Pythagoras , did not render the genius dull . The authority of their chiefin this respect
, , was considered as a sovereign law ; and for this reason , when they disputed , or were in a state of uncertainty respecting any point , it was sufficient to repeat these words , the master has said so . They then reasoned no farther , and submitted without any appeal . The Pythagoreans had all their wealth iu common , and entertained for each other the- tenderest friendship . It is related that a Pythagorean
being about to die , and having nothing to pay for the expeiices of his sickness , ordered his host to fix up a paper which he gave him . This paper contained the history of his latter days , and a symbol of Pythogaras . Some time after , another Pythagorean , having read this bill , paid the host for every thing he had advanced . There are associations among us , the members of which are no strangers to circumstances of the same kind .
The learned have liar ! many , but fruitless disputes , on abstinence from beans ; a point of doctrine which Pythagoras , as is said , borrowed from the Egyptians . The most ingenious opinion that has been advanced on this subject , is , that under this emblem he interdicted his disciples from seeking after dignities and great places ; for at elections and trials , sentence was past , and suffrages were iven by beans . This was one of the great secrets of the
Pythagog reans . We . are even assured that two women , attached to this sect , having been interrogated , and closely pressed on this- subject , one of them suffered herself to be killed rather than speak , ancl the pther cut her tongue , lest she might have the weakness to yield to