work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
4891,"","Reading Peter Walmsley's The Rhetoric of Berkeley's Philosophy (Cambridge UP, 2006), 1.",2004-01-09 00:00:00 UTC,"[...] Dr Berkeley had formerly made his addresses to Mrs Donnellan, what were her reasons for refusing him I know not; friends were consenting, circumstances equal, her opinion captivated, but perhaps an aversion to the cares of married life, & apprehensions from some Particularities in his temper hinder'd the match; hoever their friendship always continued, & I have always heard her give him for virtues & talents the preference to all Mankind, still his admirers say he excelled every one in teh arts of conversation; as to his writings they are some of them too subtile to be even the object of most peoples consideration. He has had the hard fate of not convincing any one, tho he cannot be confuted; a judgment of his metaphysical works must be pass'd by superior intelligences, it falls not within the measure of 5 senses. I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind: he considered them as pernicious to the public which is partly true, yet so happily have things been Contrived by the allwise artificer that not a vanity is given in vain. Ambition, avarice, & many passions that hurt the wearer serve the public weal. I do not mean that such persons should not be discouraged, but that we should not always be as much in wrath as others appear in the wrong. Every honest & gratefull man would have hazarded even his life for such a Person as Dr Berkeley, & what can one say for Dr Frewin's behaviour? I suppose he must excuse himself on the accounts representing the Bishop as already dead. I think it was happy for that good man he could not be recall'd; so to end the heart ache & the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, is a consumation devoutly to be wish'd, but when one considers this to be the Eve to an Eternal day how happy!
(pp. 2-3)",2011-05-20,13180,"•INTEREST. USE IN ENTRY
•I've included thrice: Ore, Medals, Coin. Note the pun on ""commerce.""
•Previous review 2007-04-26","""I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind.""","Coinage, Impressions, and Metal",2012-04-12 19:04:46 UTC,Letter to Gilbert West of 28 January 1753
6955,"",Reading,2012-04-10 19:36:27 UTC,"[...] Is not a Man then also unhappy in the same manner? Not he, who cannot strangle Lions, or grasp Statues for he hath received no Faculties for this Purpose from Nature;) but who hath lost his Rectitude of Mind, his Fidelity. Such a one is the Person, who ought to be publicly lamented, for the Misfortunes into which he is fallen: not, by Heaven, either he who is born or dies; but he, whom it hath befallen while he lives to lose what is properly his own: not his paternal Possessions, his paultry Estate, or his House, his Lodging, or his Slaves, (for none of these are a Man's own; but all belonging to others, servile, dependent, and given at different Times, to different Persons, by the Disposers of them;) but his personal Qualifications as a Man, the Impressions which he brought into the World stampt upon his Mind: such as we seek in Money; and, if we find them, allow it to be good; if not, throw it away. ""What Impression hath this ""Piece of Money?""--""Trajan's."" ""Give it me."" -- ""Nero's"" Throw it away. It is false: it is good for nothing. So in the other Case. ""What Impression have his Principles?"" ""Gentleness, social Affection, Patience, Good-nature."" Bring them hither. I receive them. I make such a Man a Citizen; I receive him for a Neighbour,, a fellow Traveller. Only see that he hath not the Neronian Impression. Is he passionate? Is he resentful? Is he querulous? Would he, if he took the Fancy, break the Head of those who fall in his Way? Why then do you call him a Man? For is every thing distinguished by the mere outward Form? Then say, just as well, that a Piece of Wax is an Apple, or that it hath the Smell and Taste too. But the external Figure is not enough: nor, consequently, is it sufficient to make a Man, that he hath a Nose and Eyes, if he hath not the proper Principles of a Man. Such a one doth not understand Reason, or apprehend when he is confuted. He is an Ass. Another is dead to the Sense of Shame. He is a worthless Creature; any thing, rather than a Man. Another seeks whom he may kick or bite: so that he is neither Sheep nor Ass. But what then? He is a wild Beast.
(IV.v, pp. 382-4)",2012-04-10,19676,USE IN ENTRY,"""Such a one is the Person, who ought to be publicly lamented, for the Misfortunes into which he is fallen: not, by Heaven, either he who is born or dies; but he, whom it hath befallen while he lives to lose what is properly his own: not his paternal Possessions, his paultry Estate, or his House, his Lodging, or his Slaves, (for none of these are a Man's own; but all belonging to others, servile, dependent, and given at different Times, to different Persons, by the Disposers of them;) but his personal Qualifications as a Man, the Impressions which he brought into the World stampt upon his Mind: such as we seek in Money; and, if we find them, allow it to be good; if not, throw it away.""",Coinage and Impressions,2012-04-10 19:36:40 UTC,"Book IV, Chapter v"