"The man is talking
largely on matters of which he can know nothing; and in five minutes
(I bet you) he will come a cropper."
Mr. Badcock resumed--
"For the understanding speculative there are some general maxims
and notions in the mind of man, which are the rules of
discourse and the basis of all philosophy."
"As, for instance, never to beg the question," snapped my father, who
from this point let scarce a sentence pass without pishing and
pshawing.
"Now it was Adam's happiness in the state of innocence to have
these clear and unsullied. He came into the world a
philosopher--"
("Instead of which he went and ate an apple.")
"He could see consequents yet dormant in their principles, and
effects yet unborn and in the womb of their causes."
("'Tis a pity, then, he took not the trouble to warn Eve.")
"His understanding could almost pierce to future contingencies.
. . ."
("Ay, 'almost.' The fellow begins to scent mischief, and thinks to
set himself right with a saving clause. Why 'almost'?" )
"his conjectures improving even to prophecy, or to certainties
of prediction.
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