Acquire a government over your ideas, that they may come down when they are called, and depart when they are bidden.
Isaac WattsRead
Though reading and conversation may furnish us with many ideas of men and things, yet it is our own meditation must form our judgment.
Interpretation
Judgment is formed through personal reflection rather than just external information.
This quote by Isaac Watts highlights the importance of personal introspection in forming one's judgments about the world. While reading and engaging in conversation provide numerous ideas and perspectives about people and situations, true understanding and evaluation come from our inner contemplation and meditation on these ideas. It's a reminder that information alone is not sufficient for making informed decisions; it requires personal insight and reflection.
In practice
In a book club discussing the themes of self-awareness and insight.
Acquire a government over your ideas, that they may come down when they are called, and depart when they are bidden.
Instructors should not only be skilful in those sciences which they teach, but have skill in the method of teaching, and patience in the practice.
Acquaint yourself with your own ignorance.
To prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.
Kind words toward those you daily meet, Kind words and actions right, Will make this life of ours most sweet, Turn darkness into night.
Two sentiments alone suffice for man, were he to live the age of the rocks - love, and the contemplation of the Deity.
We all know our duty better than we discharge it.
He that in ye mine of knowledge deepest diggeth, hath, like every other miner, ye least breathing time, and must sometimes at least come to terr. alt. for air.
Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
Reading makes me feel I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. ... Reading is bliss.
If a person studies too much and exhausts his reflective powers, he will be confused, and will not be able to apprehend even that which had been within the power of his apprehension. For the powers of the body are all alike in this respect.
Our desires always increase with our possessions. The knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.
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