PRIMARY FACULTIES: 483 
will, for it is a commandment over the reason, belief, and understanding of man, which is 
the highest part of the mind, and giveth law to the will itself.”* 
95. “ As the fancy is the apprehension or seizing of an object, the reason a combination 
or distinction, so the understanding is the faculty which penetrates, and in its highest 
degree, clearly sees through its object. We understand a phenomenon, a sensation, an 
object, when we have discovered its inmost meaning, its peculiar character and proper 
significance. And the same is the case, even when this object be a speech and communi- 
cation addressed to us,—a word or discourse given us to extract its meaning. If we have 
discerned the design which is involved in such a communication, its real meaning and 
purpose, then may we be said to have understood it, even though some minutiz in the 
expression may still remain unintelligible, which, as not belonging essentially to the whole, 
we put aside and leave unconsidered.” + 
96. “‘ But there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them 
understanding.”{ 
97. In Understanding, as in Propensity, the objective element largely predominates ; 
the former being almost exclusively objective in its tendency,—the latter in its origin. 
Accordingly the mind is more nearly passive in the exercise of this faculty, than in either 
Perception or Judgment, for our activity proceeds so far, and so far only as the subjective 
is involved.§ 
98. As Motivity and Spontaneity are both developed before Rationality,—the animal 
and physical operating as conditions for intellectual growth,—so this sovereign faculty of 
Rationality matures more slowly, and attains its highest development at a later period of 
life than any of the other primary faculties. Indeed, in the mass of mankind, the Under- 
standing always remains feeble, and, as it were infantile,—a power prophetic in its latent 
capabilities, of a higher state of existence, in which it will be called into full and proper 
exercise. 
99. The powers of Perception and Judgment, are to some extent employed at almost 
every instant of our lives,—so frequently, that our familiarity with their objects is often 
mistaken for a complete understanding. How serious this mistake, let the meagreness 
of science, and the vast field of tempting speculation that continually allures baffled 
speculators, testify. Of how many men may it be said at all times, and how often may it 
* Bacon, Vol. I, p. 182. + Schlegel, p. 54. 
£ Job, ec. 32, v. 8. 
§ Mahan (pp. 214-18), adopting the views of Coleridge, says : ‘The Understanding is the faculty of believing. 
The Reason is the faculty of knowing.” This definition would not justify the use of the symbol RR, but it shows 
the need of some system for precisely indicating the meaning of the terms that we employ. 
