178 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. VI. 



To THE SAME. 



8 King's Parade, 7th March 1852. 



I have now nobody that I see too much of, though 

 I have got several new acquaintances, and improved several 

 old ones. I find nothing gives one greater inertia than 

 knowing a good many men at a time, who do not know 

 each other intimately. N.B. Inertia, not = laziness, but 

 mass ; i.e. if one knows a man, he forms an idea of your 

 character, and treats you accordingly. If one knows a 

 company of men, they are strong in union, and overawe 

 the individual. If one man only, we become mutual 

 tyrants. If several independently, every one plays the part 

 of Dr. Watt's celebrated " Busy Bee," and by mixing 

 according to every possible combination hit out the best 

 results. Now you see I am theorising again and preach- 

 ing as of old ; but the fact is, I am always laying plans and 

 preaching to myself till I seek for some one to whom I 

 may disgorge without fear of an immediate reply. Now, my 

 great plan, which was conceived of old, and quickens and 

 kicks periodically, and is continually making itself more 

 obtrusive, is a plan of Search and Recovery, or Eevision and 

 Correction, or Inquisition and Execution, etc. The Eule of 

 the Plan is to let nothing be wilfully left unexamined. 

 Nothing is to be holy ground consecrated to Stationary Faith, 

 whether positive or negative. All fallow land is to be 

 ploughed up, and a regular system of rotation followed. 

 All creatures as agents or as patients are to be pressed into 

 the service, which is never to be willingly suspended till 

 nothing more remains to be done; i.e. till A.D.+ OC . The 

 part of the rule which respects self-improvement by means 

 of others is : Never hide anything, be it weed or no, nor 

 seem to .wish it hidden. So shall all men passing by pluck 

 up the weeds and brandish them in your face, or at least 

 display them for your inspection (especially if you make no 

 secret of your intention to do likewise). (I speak not here 

 literally of the case of those who revise each other's faults 

 every night, and quarrel before the month is out, but you 

 did not so misunderstand me.) Again I assert the Eight of 



