DISCOURSE ON METHOD. 1$ 



manner that highways which wind among moun- 

 tains, by being much frequented, become gradually 

 so smooth and commodious, that it is much better to 

 follow them than to seek a straighter path by climb- 

 ing over the tops of rocks and descending to the 

 bottoms of precipices. 



Hence it is that I cannot in any degree approve 

 of those restless and busy meddlers who, called 

 neither by birth nor fortune to take part in the 

 management of public affairs, are yet always pro- 

 jecting reforms; and if I thought that this Tract 

 contained aught which might justify the suspicion 

 that I was a victim of such folly, I would by no 

 means permit its publication. I have never con- 

 templated anything higher than the reformation of 

 my own opinions, and basing them on a foundation 

 whjjZUny- own. -iA r ' r f although my own satisfac- 

 tion with my work has led me to present here a 

 draft of it, I do not by any means therefore recom- 

 mend to every one else to make a similar attempt. 

 Those whom God has endowed with a larger meas- 

 ure of genius will entertain, perhaps, designs still 

 more exalted; but for the many I am much afraid 

 lest even the present undertaking be more than 

 they can safely venture to imitate. The single 

 design to strip one's self of all past beliefs is one 

 that ought not to be taken by every one. The 

 majority of men is composed of two classes, for 

 neither of which would this be at all a befitting 

 resolution: in the first place, of those who with 

 more than a due confidence in their own powers, are 

 precipitate in their judgments and want the patience 



