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Article NEW THOUGHTS ON CIVILITY. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New Thoughts On Civility.
friendship , esteem , and consideration . These outward tokens difier according to different degrees of civilization , but are allowecTto obtain among all nations : from the practice being universal , it may reasonably be presumed , it has its foundation in nature , and is consequently a duty enjoined by reason . It is with respect to men , what external homage is towards the Supreme Beinga public testimony of our internal feelings .
, _ The form is in itself indifferent : the mode of saluting persons of various ranks , the language in which they are to be addressed personally , and the style proper to be chosen in writing to them , have been originally arbitrary , and must have been regulated by custom . It is therefore evident that men , by conforming to one or other of the different customs of expressing civility , act conformably to sense and reason . —The best method ,
and the least liable to suspicion , of expressing our regard for each other , would be a reciprocity of kind offices ; but opportunities of doing such not occurring at all times ,, have given . rise to the civilities practised by all nations , which are supposed to imply a will to serve the person who is the object of them . Every people in doing so , act in a manner suitable to its inclinationsand peculiar to itself .
, Were men pure spirits , capable of communicating their thoughts without the intervention of signs , those ceremonies were superfluous—but until we can know each other ' s sentiments by intuition , they must be accounted necessary ; and to little purpose shall the clown or the cynic declaim against civility , branding it with the name of deception , and meant
but to disguise real sentiments . It is true , in our intercourse with the world , we meet vvifh more who are civil than observant of the duties of society ; but even their civility , though counterfeit , is a testimony they are forced to bear to the social virtues , since aifecting a virtuous exterior is acknowledg ing that their hearts ought to be stored with virtuous dispositions . Nor will they who are the readiest to turn civility into ridiculecall it a weakness to be susceptible of friendshiand benevolence ;
, p what an absurdity must it be then , to expect that a man would act as if he were ashamed of his entertaining sentiments so just and so indispensible ! Such , nevertheless , is the character of old Tremble . You mav live for ten years in the habit of seeing him , and , my life for it , during that period he does not honour you with a saluteor an obliing word . ^ et
, g mention an occasion in which he mi g ht do you a . service , and the generosity of the man will astonish you . The obligation conferred , he slides back to his former indifference ; your heart overflows with gratitudethe warmest professions of attachment cannot do justice to your feelings . A mere waste of words ! But you may pour forth vour soul in all the energy of language—not a syllabic from him shall interrupt the torrent
of your acknowledgements . Have you any thing else to do r do it if you are wise—this benefactor of yours neither sees , nor hears you— 'twere a miracle if he recollected you—Nature has dispensed to him a large portion of beneficence , else he were a downri ght misanthrope .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New Thoughts On Civility.
friendship , esteem , and consideration . These outward tokens difier according to different degrees of civilization , but are allowecTto obtain among all nations : from the practice being universal , it may reasonably be presumed , it has its foundation in nature , and is consequently a duty enjoined by reason . It is with respect to men , what external homage is towards the Supreme Beinga public testimony of our internal feelings .
, _ The form is in itself indifferent : the mode of saluting persons of various ranks , the language in which they are to be addressed personally , and the style proper to be chosen in writing to them , have been originally arbitrary , and must have been regulated by custom . It is therefore evident that men , by conforming to one or other of the different customs of expressing civility , act conformably to sense and reason . —The best method ,
and the least liable to suspicion , of expressing our regard for each other , would be a reciprocity of kind offices ; but opportunities of doing such not occurring at all times ,, have given . rise to the civilities practised by all nations , which are supposed to imply a will to serve the person who is the object of them . Every people in doing so , act in a manner suitable to its inclinationsand peculiar to itself .
, Were men pure spirits , capable of communicating their thoughts without the intervention of signs , those ceremonies were superfluous—but until we can know each other ' s sentiments by intuition , they must be accounted necessary ; and to little purpose shall the clown or the cynic declaim against civility , branding it with the name of deception , and meant
but to disguise real sentiments . It is true , in our intercourse with the world , we meet vvifh more who are civil than observant of the duties of society ; but even their civility , though counterfeit , is a testimony they are forced to bear to the social virtues , since aifecting a virtuous exterior is acknowledg ing that their hearts ought to be stored with virtuous dispositions . Nor will they who are the readiest to turn civility into ridiculecall it a weakness to be susceptible of friendshiand benevolence ;
, p what an absurdity must it be then , to expect that a man would act as if he were ashamed of his entertaining sentiments so just and so indispensible ! Such , nevertheless , is the character of old Tremble . You mav live for ten years in the habit of seeing him , and , my life for it , during that period he does not honour you with a saluteor an obliing word . ^ et
, g mention an occasion in which he mi g ht do you a . service , and the generosity of the man will astonish you . The obligation conferred , he slides back to his former indifference ; your heart overflows with gratitudethe warmest professions of attachment cannot do justice to your feelings . A mere waste of words ! But you may pour forth vour soul in all the energy of language—not a syllabic from him shall interrupt the torrent
of your acknowledgements . Have you any thing else to do r do it if you are wise—this benefactor of yours neither sees , nor hears you— 'twere a miracle if he recollected you—Nature has dispensed to him a large portion of beneficence , else he were a downri ght misanthrope .