86 ON THE HUMAN FACULTIES, 



The passions at this period are strong, and 

 impatient of controul, giving a tone to propen- 

 sities, which, in some, lead to the most disastrous 

 consequences, in others, to highly beneficial 

 results to noble and disinterested actions, or to 

 gratifications the most base and selfish to bold 

 and successful enterprise, or to speculations 

 which carry upon the very face of them nothing 

 but ruin and desolation to dignified friendships 

 and attachments, or to connections that entail 

 disgrace and misery upon the parties for the 

 remainder of their lives. 



In his intellectual capacity, now fitted for any 

 undertaking, emulation urges on the youthful 

 man to excel in those arts and sciences, and in 

 those professions, in which fame is to be derived 

 or rank to be obtained, emolument to be pro- 

 cured, or his own immediate gratifications to be 

 indulged ; and the world being open to him, he 

 boldly enters into its concerns, too often regard- 

 less of its consequences, and regulates his pur- 

 suits according to the object in view, however 

 difficult that object may be, or dangerous in the 

 attainment ; and it is only when his judgment 

 begins to operate, that he discovers the necessity 

 of conforming to the circumstances of his situa- 

 tion. Thus at this early age, we see great capa- 

 bilities, with a weak application of the reasoning 

 powers ; bold conceptions and great inventive 

 resources, but a deficient judgment] to conduct 

 those qualifications to an useful end. 



