Griffith, Elizabeth (1720-1793)

The Morality of Shakespeare's Drama Illustrated

London

Printed for T. Cadell

1775

"But, as I have said before, I do not think that ethic philosophy can ever be a gainer, by overstraining the sinews of the human mind."

I may possibly be reprehended, by some severe moralists, for noting the equipoise of such an argument as this. In this instance, indeed, I confess that I act contrary to the usual tenor of document, which always takes part on the wise side of a question. But, as I have said before †, I do not think that ethic philosophy can ever be a gainer, by overstraining the sinews of the human mind. We ought neither to be votaries to the Cynic nor the Stoic sects. We should not, with Diogenes, follow Nature in the mere animal sense of the expression, nor with Zeno fly beyond it, in the metaphysical one. True
virtue has no extremes. Its sphere extends not beyond the Temperate Zones. It sleeps in the Frozen, and but raves in the Torrid ones.
(p. 521)

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Text from The Morality of Shakespeare's Drama Illustrated: By Mrs. Griffith. (London: Printed for T. Cadell, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>

11/15/2013