Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE

SPECTATOR.

N° 62. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1711.

Scribendi rectè sapere est et principium, et fons.

HOR. Ars Poet, ver. 309.

Sound judgment is the ground of writing well.
ROSCOMMON.

MR. LOCKE has an admirable reflection upon the difference of wit and judgment, whereby he endeavours to shew the reason why they are not always the talents of the same person. His words are as follow: And hence, perhaps, may be given some reason of that common observation, "That men who have a great deal of wit, and prompt memories, have not always the clearest judgment, or deepest reason." For wit lying most in the assemblage of ideas, and putting those together with quickness and variety, wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures, and agreeable visions in the fancy; judgment, on the contrary, lies quite on the other side, in separating carefully one from another, ideas wherein can be found the least difference, thereby to avoid being misled by similitude, and by affinity

[blocks in formation]
« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »