-
Articles/Ads
Article ON SUBDUING OUR PASSIONS. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Subduing Our Passions.
blood : But to arrive at this supreme power , the orator must conquer a thousand difficulties ; art must conspire friendly with nature in his speeches ; he must conceive bold thoughts , express them in nervous and elegant words , study the humours of the people , and learn the secret of restraining their licentiousness , and gaining their affections . This truth appears clearly in our present subjects , and all acknowled that nothing is more difficult nor more honourable
ge than to conquer our passions ; for besides : that we have no manner of assistance in this battle , that fortune , which is supposed to preside in all others , cannot favour us in this , that none can claim a share of the glory with us , and that we perform both together the duty of soldier and general ; there is this embarrassing difficulty , that we fight against a part of ourselves , that our forces are divided , and that
nothing animates us in this war but duty and integrity . In other wars honour and emulation are powerful incentives ; often indignation mingled with virtue , makes up the greater part of our bravery ; hope and courage assist us , and by their combined force it is almost impossible to be conquered : But when we attack our passions , our troops are weakened by their division ; we act onlby a part of ourselves ,
y and with whatever reasons virtue may animate our courage , the affection we bear to our enemies , makes us cowards , and we dread a victory that must deprive us of our pleasures : For , though our Passions are disorderty , and disturb our peace , they are notwithstanding a part of our soul ; though their insplence displeases us , we cannot
resolve upon tearing asunder our bowels ; if grace does not assist , self-love betrays us , and we spare and pardon rebels because they are our allies . But what adds to the difficulty , and makes the victory still more uncertain , is the fresh vigour of our enemies , and their reiterated and unrelenting attacks : Though they mig ht not have entered into any combination with the soul , though they had recourse to
no artifices to divide her forces , and though she herself should attack them with the whole weight of her power , yet their nature is such , that they may be weakened and not conquered , may-be beaten and not defeated : They are so intimately united with us that they cannot be separated , their life is connected with ours , and by a strange destiny , they cannot die unless we die with them ; so that this victory is
never intire , and these rebels are never so perfectly subdued , but that on the first opportunity they rally and form new parties , and offer us new battles : They are Hy dras , out of which sprout as many heads as are lopped off ; they are frailties , that receive strength from their weakness , and rise more vigorous after having been beaten down . All the benefit that can be expected from such savage subjects , is to
shackle their hands and feet , and to leave them only so much power as is necessary to them for the service of reason ; they must be treated as galley slaves , always chained down , and retaining only the use of their arms for rowing : Or , if we should chuse to treat them with more , lenity , we must be well assured of their fidelity ,-and remember a maxim , which may hold good and innocent in this case , that reconciled enemies are always to be suspected . . !
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Subduing Our Passions.
blood : But to arrive at this supreme power , the orator must conquer a thousand difficulties ; art must conspire friendly with nature in his speeches ; he must conceive bold thoughts , express them in nervous and elegant words , study the humours of the people , and learn the secret of restraining their licentiousness , and gaining their affections . This truth appears clearly in our present subjects , and all acknowled that nothing is more difficult nor more honourable
ge than to conquer our passions ; for besides : that we have no manner of assistance in this battle , that fortune , which is supposed to preside in all others , cannot favour us in this , that none can claim a share of the glory with us , and that we perform both together the duty of soldier and general ; there is this embarrassing difficulty , that we fight against a part of ourselves , that our forces are divided , and that
nothing animates us in this war but duty and integrity . In other wars honour and emulation are powerful incentives ; often indignation mingled with virtue , makes up the greater part of our bravery ; hope and courage assist us , and by their combined force it is almost impossible to be conquered : But when we attack our passions , our troops are weakened by their division ; we act onlby a part of ourselves ,
y and with whatever reasons virtue may animate our courage , the affection we bear to our enemies , makes us cowards , and we dread a victory that must deprive us of our pleasures : For , though our Passions are disorderty , and disturb our peace , they are notwithstanding a part of our soul ; though their insplence displeases us , we cannot
resolve upon tearing asunder our bowels ; if grace does not assist , self-love betrays us , and we spare and pardon rebels because they are our allies . But what adds to the difficulty , and makes the victory still more uncertain , is the fresh vigour of our enemies , and their reiterated and unrelenting attacks : Though they mig ht not have entered into any combination with the soul , though they had recourse to
no artifices to divide her forces , and though she herself should attack them with the whole weight of her power , yet their nature is such , that they may be weakened and not conquered , may-be beaten and not defeated : They are so intimately united with us that they cannot be separated , their life is connected with ours , and by a strange destiny , they cannot die unless we die with them ; so that this victory is
never intire , and these rebels are never so perfectly subdued , but that on the first opportunity they rally and form new parties , and offer us new battles : They are Hy dras , out of which sprout as many heads as are lopped off ; they are frailties , that receive strength from their weakness , and rise more vigorous after having been beaten down . All the benefit that can be expected from such savage subjects , is to
shackle their hands and feet , and to leave them only so much power as is necessary to them for the service of reason ; they must be treated as galley slaves , always chained down , and retaining only the use of their arms for rowing : Or , if we should chuse to treat them with more , lenity , we must be well assured of their fidelity ,-and remember a maxim , which may hold good and innocent in this case , that reconciled enemies are always to be suspected . . !