On Genius. 405 
But we must here take fully into considera- 
tion the wonderful effect of circumstances, 
in giving a particular bias to that enthusiastic 
temperament, which we conceive to be the 
basis of all Genius. If there be a strong 
‘original sensibility to pleasure and pain, it 
-will impart its strength and vivacity to all 
the subsequent associations, even though they 
should relate to subjects, the farthest removed 
from the ordinaty sympathies of human na- 
ture, the properties of lines and quantities, 
or the proportions of forces and gravities. 
Let there be.a deep interest felt for any sub- 
-ject—let the attention be turned to it with 
concentrated force—let a strong association 
of its importance and excellence be perma- 
nently established; and the mind will dis- 
cover a quickness and perspicacity and a fer- 
tility. of invention, which have all the ap- 
-pearance of intuition; and which minds of 
less: ardour, whose attention is distracted 
by a multiplicity of vulgar objects, never can 
exhibit. A proficiency in science depends, 
ina great degree, on the habits early formed; 
and it is rare to find an individual, distin- 
guished at once by his acquisitions and dis- 
-coveries in the sciences, and his skill in the 
polite arts. Not because the two kinds of 
Genius are not fundamentally the same ; (for, 
