22 INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 



schools, colleges, and such conventual bodies, all is found 

 to be adverse to the further progress of the sciences. For 

 much the greater part are professors, and in the receipt of 

 emoluments. And the lectures and exercises are so arranged 

 that nothing out of the common routine can easily arise in 

 any one s mind. But if a man chance to use the liberty of 

 inquiry and judgment, he will soon find himself left in a great 

 solitude. And if ever He can bear this, he will yet find 

 that, in achieving his fortune, this industry and magnani 

 mity will be much hindrance to him. For in places of this 

 kind men s studies are almost confined to the writings of 

 certain authors ; from which, if any one disagrees, or pro 

 pounds matter of argument, he is immediately set down as 

 a turbulent person and an innovator. Though, if one judge 

 fairly, there is a great difference between the govern 

 ment of civil affairs and the arts; for the danger is not 

 alike of new light, and of new notion. It is true that in 

 civil affairs change, though for the better, is suspected from 

 fear of disorder ; since governments rest on authority, con 

 sent, credit, opinion, not on demonstration and truth in ab 

 stract. But in the arts and sciences, as in mines, all sides 

 should resound with new works and further progress. And 

 it is so in right reason. But in real life, he saw that the 

 government and administration of the knowledge, which 

 is in use, presses cruelly, and checks the increase and growth 

 of science. 



He thought also, that, even in the opinion and common 

 feeling of men, much appears on all sides that denies a fail- 

 opening to the increase of knowledge. For most men, un 

 just to the present times, hang upon antiquity, and believe 

 that if we, who now live had had the office of first attempt 

 ing what was sought for and discovered by the ancients, 

 we should not have come up to their works by a great 

 space. And in like manner they believe that if a man even 

 now, relying upon his own powers, attempt to begin anew 

 an inquisition, the end will be, that he will either come to 

 the very conclusion that was approved of by antiquity ; 

 or else to some one, which, having been long ago decided 

 upon and rejected by antiquity, deservedly fell into oblivion. 

 Others, altogether slighting the powers of human nature 

 at both periods, ancient and modern, fall into a fanciful and 

 superstitious belief that the elements of the sciences ema 

 nated from spiritual beings, and that new inventions in the 

 same manner may receive assistance from their authority 

 and concurrence. Others of more sober and chastened 





