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Article For the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. ← Page 3 of 3 Article ON RETIREMENT. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
For The Freemasons' Magazine.
nobility , then p laced himself by her side , stroked her lap-dog , and ordered the footman to drive to Grosvenor-Square . When such interested sycophants preside over their -temples , it is a matter of surprize that among the great , there are yet to be found so many who derive less honour from their elevated station , than from their private . worth and praise-worthy munificence .
I remain , Mr , Editor , a well wisher to yourimportant undertaking , A PLAIN MAN ,
On Retirement.
ON RETIREMENT .
FR O M an insatiable love of liberty , Rosseau felt a violent disgust for society , and solitude became the never-failing source of all his pleasures . His letters to Mr . de Malherbe , areas remarkable for the information they afford of the true genius of the Writer , as are his confessions ; which have not been better understood than his character . In one of them he expresses himself in the following terms" I mistookfor a length of timethe cause of
, , , that invincible disgust which I have always felt in the commerce of the world . I attributed it to the mortification of not possessing that quick and ready talent necessary to discover in conversation the little knowledge I possessed ; and this beat back an idea , that I i did not occupy that station in the opinion of the world which I conceived ' I merited . But after haying scribbled a great
quantity of paper , I was perfectly convinced that even in saying ridiculous things , I was in no danger of being taken for a fool . When I perceived myself sought after by all the world , and honored with much more consideration than even my own ridiculous vanity would have ventured to expect ; and that notwithstanding this , I
felt the same disgust rather augmented than diminished ; I concluded it must arise from some other cause , and that these were not the kind of enjoyments for which my mind was calculated . What then in fact is the cause of it ? it is no other thas that invincible spirit of liberty , which nothing can overcome ,-and in comparison with which honor , fortune , and even fame itself , are nothing : it is certain that this spirit of
liberty is engendered less by pride than indolence ; but this indolence is incredible , it is alarmed at every thing , it renders the most trifling duties of civil life insupportable : to be obliged to speak a word , to write a letter , or to pay a visit , are to me , from the moment the obligation arises , the severest punishment . Tinsis the reason why , although the ordinary commerce of men is odious to me , the pleasures of priva e friendship are so dear to my heart ; for in the indulgence of privatefriendships , thereareno duties to perform , we have only to follow the feelings of the heart and all
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
For The Freemasons' Magazine.
nobility , then p laced himself by her side , stroked her lap-dog , and ordered the footman to drive to Grosvenor-Square . When such interested sycophants preside over their -temples , it is a matter of surprize that among the great , there are yet to be found so many who derive less honour from their elevated station , than from their private . worth and praise-worthy munificence .
I remain , Mr , Editor , a well wisher to yourimportant undertaking , A PLAIN MAN ,
On Retirement.
ON RETIREMENT .
FR O M an insatiable love of liberty , Rosseau felt a violent disgust for society , and solitude became the never-failing source of all his pleasures . His letters to Mr . de Malherbe , areas remarkable for the information they afford of the true genius of the Writer , as are his confessions ; which have not been better understood than his character . In one of them he expresses himself in the following terms" I mistookfor a length of timethe cause of
, , , that invincible disgust which I have always felt in the commerce of the world . I attributed it to the mortification of not possessing that quick and ready talent necessary to discover in conversation the little knowledge I possessed ; and this beat back an idea , that I i did not occupy that station in the opinion of the world which I conceived ' I merited . But after haying scribbled a great
quantity of paper , I was perfectly convinced that even in saying ridiculous things , I was in no danger of being taken for a fool . When I perceived myself sought after by all the world , and honored with much more consideration than even my own ridiculous vanity would have ventured to expect ; and that notwithstanding this , I
felt the same disgust rather augmented than diminished ; I concluded it must arise from some other cause , and that these were not the kind of enjoyments for which my mind was calculated . What then in fact is the cause of it ? it is no other thas that invincible spirit of liberty , which nothing can overcome ,-and in comparison with which honor , fortune , and even fame itself , are nothing : it is certain that this spirit of
liberty is engendered less by pride than indolence ; but this indolence is incredible , it is alarmed at every thing , it renders the most trifling duties of civil life insupportable : to be obliged to speak a word , to write a letter , or to pay a visit , are to me , from the moment the obligation arises , the severest punishment . Tinsis the reason why , although the ordinary commerce of men is odious to me , the pleasures of priva e friendship are so dear to my heart ; for in the indulgence of privatefriendships , thereareno duties to perform , we have only to follow the feelings of the heart and all