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Article Untitled ← Page 2 of 2 Article PHILIP OF MACEDON. Page 1 of 1
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Ar07100
setting forth the great danger of innovation and novelty . Bat let us not be terrified by evanescent shadows . If to be the author of new things be a crime , how will the first civili / . ers . of . mankind , enactors of laws , and founders of" government , escape this censure c * Whatever now- affords delight in the works of nature , which excels the rudeness of past agesis certainly new . Whatever n-e behold
, in cities and houses above the first wild exuberancy of fields , and meanness of cottages , had its time when this imputation of novelty mig ht as well have besn laic ? to its charge . The introduction , therefore , of novelty is no offence , unless that which is introduced prove pernicious or destructive , or cannot be introduced
without the extirpation of others that are better . If novelty should always have been rejected , never would arts have arrived at that exquisite , perfection wherein we now enjoy them ; nor could we ever have hoped for any future reformation . Notwithstanding truth be in itself eternal , yet with relation to the opinions of men , there is scarce any so antient ,, but had its beginningand was once reckoned a novelty ; and if for this reason it
, had been condemned as erroneous , what an universal darkness and Ignorance would have been in the world , in comparison to-that lig ht which now diffuses its lustre so far and wide . The admiration of former ages was a vanity that was prevalent at all times as well as ours ; and the golden age was never the present . Our predecessors have not prevented us , but have opened a door
that we may enter into the recesses of truth . He who comes last , has certainly the superior advantage in the enquiry . Our ancestors have done well and wisely in their generations , but they have not done all-. Much still remains behind ; and he who lives a thousand years hence , will not have reason to complain , that there are nohidden truths for his investigation . There are more worlds to conquer . Every day brings new light , and by a wise aud careful labour we may improve upon our ancestors .
Philip Of Macedon.
PHILIP OF MACEDON .
PHILIP , king of Macedon , and the fatherofAlexandertiiie Great , was eminent !} ' - distinguished for his patience and moderation . At the close of an audience which he gave to the Athenian ambassadors , who came to complain of some act of hostility , he very politely asked them , whether he could do them service , ? " The greatest service j-ou can do us , " replied Demochares , who was one ofthe number" is to go and hang yourself . " Every one present was hihly
, g incensed at the brutal scurrility of the answer : —but with an incredible calmness of temper , which honors his memory , — " Go home , " said Philip , " and tell your masters , that those , who can treat- me with such insolent language , in my own court , are much more inclined to commence hostilities ; , thaivlie who can forgive it , "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar07100
setting forth the great danger of innovation and novelty . Bat let us not be terrified by evanescent shadows . If to be the author of new things be a crime , how will the first civili / . ers . of . mankind , enactors of laws , and founders of" government , escape this censure c * Whatever now- affords delight in the works of nature , which excels the rudeness of past agesis certainly new . Whatever n-e behold
, in cities and houses above the first wild exuberancy of fields , and meanness of cottages , had its time when this imputation of novelty mig ht as well have besn laic ? to its charge . The introduction , therefore , of novelty is no offence , unless that which is introduced prove pernicious or destructive , or cannot be introduced
without the extirpation of others that are better . If novelty should always have been rejected , never would arts have arrived at that exquisite , perfection wherein we now enjoy them ; nor could we ever have hoped for any future reformation . Notwithstanding truth be in itself eternal , yet with relation to the opinions of men , there is scarce any so antient ,, but had its beginningand was once reckoned a novelty ; and if for this reason it
, had been condemned as erroneous , what an universal darkness and Ignorance would have been in the world , in comparison to-that lig ht which now diffuses its lustre so far and wide . The admiration of former ages was a vanity that was prevalent at all times as well as ours ; and the golden age was never the present . Our predecessors have not prevented us , but have opened a door
that we may enter into the recesses of truth . He who comes last , has certainly the superior advantage in the enquiry . Our ancestors have done well and wisely in their generations , but they have not done all-. Much still remains behind ; and he who lives a thousand years hence , will not have reason to complain , that there are nohidden truths for his investigation . There are more worlds to conquer . Every day brings new light , and by a wise aud careful labour we may improve upon our ancestors .
Philip Of Macedon.
PHILIP OF MACEDON .
PHILIP , king of Macedon , and the fatherofAlexandertiiie Great , was eminent !} ' - distinguished for his patience and moderation . At the close of an audience which he gave to the Athenian ambassadors , who came to complain of some act of hostility , he very politely asked them , whether he could do them service , ? " The greatest service j-ou can do us , " replied Demochares , who was one ofthe number" is to go and hang yourself . " Every one present was hihly
, g incensed at the brutal scurrility of the answer : —but with an incredible calmness of temper , which honors his memory , — " Go home , " said Philip , " and tell your masters , that those , who can treat- me with such insolent language , in my own court , are much more inclined to commence hostilities ; , thaivlie who can forgive it , "