advantage of it is not visible in my own work, I can nevertheless commend. Nor do I give it because I have often found it useful from experience, but because I see very clearly now that I ought to have followed it—a point of view from which all precepts should be regarded.
If reading is to be intelligent, two ends must be continually kept in view: first, to remember what is said and to incorporate it with one’s own system of thought, and then, above all, to master the way in which the author looked at things. This is the reason why everyone should be warned against reading books by bunglers, particularly where they have introduced demonstrations of their own. They may indeed teach us a fact or two, but they will never teach us what is quite as important to a philosopher, if not more so, namely how to mould our manner of thinking.
Take care that you do not by chance get into a position for which you are unqualified. Nothing is so dangerous as this, or more easily destroys peace of mind. Nay, it has the worst influence on a man’s honesty, and generally ends in complete discredit.
Exercise your abilities. What at present costs trouble will at last come to you mechanically.
Whatever we see, do, or read about, we should always seek to reduce to such a degree of clearness
