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<A FIELDING>
<T MCHARACTERS>
<P 153><L 1>
AN ESSAY ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHARACTERS OF MEN.
I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT IT A MELANCHOLY INSTANCE OF THE GREAT DEPRAVITY
OF HUMAN NATURE, THAT WHILST SO MANY MEN HAVE EMPLOYED
THEIR UTMOST ABILITIES TO INVENT SYSTEMS, BY WHICH THE ARTFUL AND
CUNNING PART OF MANKIND MAY BE ENABLED TO IMPOSE ON THE REST
OF THE WORLD; FEW OR NONE SHOULD HAVE STOOD UP THE CHAPIONS
OF THE INNOCENT AND UNDESIGNING, AND HAVE ENDEAVOURED TO ARM
THEM AGAINST IMPOSITION.
THOSE WHO PREDICATE OF MAN IN GENERAL, THAT HE IS AN ANIMAL
OF THIS OR THAT DISPOSITION, SEEM TO ME NOT SUFFICIENTLY TO HAVE
STUDIED HUMAN NATURE; FOR THAT IMMENSE VARIETY OF CHARACTERS
SO APPARENT IN MEN EVEN OF THE SAME CLIMATE, RELIGION, AND
EDUCATION, WHICH GIVES THE POET A SUFFICIENT LICENCE, AS I APPREHEND,
FOR SAYING, THAT
MAN DIFFERS MORE FROM MAN, THAN MAN FROM BEAST,
COULD HARDLY EXIST, UNLESS THE DISTINCTION HAD SOME ORIGINAL
FOUNDATION IN NATURE ITSELF. NOR IS IT PERHAPS A LESS PROP . . .
