VALUE OF STUDY. 303 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



VALUE OF STUDY. 



True talent will become original in the very act of engaging 

 itself with the ideas of others ; nay, it will often convert the 

 dross of previous authors into the golden ore that shines forth 

 to the world as its own peculiar creation. DR. CROMWELL. 



IN addition to reading and knowledge, study also is ex- 

 tremely important ; by its aid we raise hypotheses, and we 

 are not only enabled to deduce particular instances from 

 general laws and principles, but also to ascend by the pro- 

 cess of induction from particular instances to the great 

 truths of nature from which they flow. As by reading the 

 thoughts of others we learn how to think, so by knowing 

 and studying the discoveries of others we learn how to 

 discover. Newton's explanation of his great success in 

 research was, that he kept his mind continually fixed on 

 his subject. 



No man can carry on deep trains of thought, nor pro- 

 perly guide a sensitive imagination, except under the 

 most favourable conditions ; even Newton and Mozart 

 required to be free from disturbance whilst conceiving 

 their ideas. The excitement of discussion is not that of 

 genius ; the great truths of science have rarely had their 

 origin in the arena of debate, but nearly always in the 

 study and laboratory of the quiet philosopher. Most great 

 discoverers, including Newton, Harvey, Cavendish, and 

 others, have disliked controversy. It is always during the 



