108 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE 



deal with conceptions which science shuns, and become 

 the illustrator and interpreter of that Power which, as 



44 Jehovah, Jove, or Lord," 



has hitherto filled and strengthened the human heart. 



Let me utter one practical word in conclusion take 

 care of your health. There have been men who by wise 

 attention to this point might have risen to any eminence 

 might have made great discoveries, written great poems, 

 commanded armies, or ruled states, but who by unwise 

 neglect of this point have come to nothing. Imagine Her- 

 cules as oarsman in a rotten boat; what can he do there 

 but by the very force of his stroke expedite the ruin of 

 his craft? Take care then of the timbers of your boat, 

 and avoid all practices likely to introduce either wet or 

 dry rot among them. And this is not to be accomplished 

 by desultory or intermittent efforts of the will, but by the 

 formation of habits. The will no doubt has sometimes to 

 put forth its strength in order to crush the special temp- 

 tation. But the formation of right habits is essential to 

 your permanent security. They diminish your chance 

 of falling when assailed, and they augment your chance of 

 recovery when overthrown. 



