Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times - Volume 1

Sect. 2.

decorative flourish scroll

* Horace, Satires 1.10.

original: "Ridiculum acri / Fortius & melius magnas plerumque / secat res."

This, my Lord, I may safely declare original: "aver", is so true in itself, and so well known as truth by the cunning formalists People who strictly adhere to outward forms, rituals, or appearances to hide a lack of substance. of the age, that they can better tolerate having their deceptions original: "Impostures" railed against with all the bitterness and intensity imaginable, than to have them touched ever so gently in this other way (ridicule). They know very well that, just like fashions and trends, opinions—even if they are completely ridiculous—are kept alive by solemnity. They know that those formal notions which likely grew up in a bad mood, and were conceived in serious gloom, can never be removed except by a serious kind of cheerfulness and by a more easy and pleasant way of thinking. There is a melancholy In the 1700s, "melancholy" was considered a physical and mental condition of gloominess or depression that was thought to lead to religious delusions. which accompanies all enthusiasm. Whether it be love or religion (for there are enthusiasms in both), nothing can stop the growing harm of either until that melancholy is removed, and the mind is at liberty to hear what can be said against the ridiculousness of an extreme in either direction.

In the past, it was the wisdom of some wise nations to let people be fools as much as they pleased, and never to punish...