An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and educationNelson, James
History
An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and education
Nelson, James
Child rearing -- England -- History -- 18th century
paying Debts regularly; there are still many things to be considered,
some of which I will here endeavour to reason upon, as they visibly
produce some certain kind of Injustice in their Effects, tho’ their
Cause is often hid from common Eyes, or they are disguised by false or
palliative Names.
The first Spring of Injustice is Pride. Children, as I have just
observed, have their Minds impressed with a Love of Riches; whence
naturally follows an undue Degree of Self-esteem, accompany’d with a Love
of Power, Show, and Dignity: now to effect these, a thousand Stratagems
are used; every Obstacle which stands in the Way to Wealth or Preferment
must be overturned; every Difficulty must be removed. Hence it is easy
to see that unjust Means will often be used to gain the desired End; and
hence it is plain that those who ascend by indirect and violent Measures,
crush down many others as they pass. Parents therefore to obviate this,
must teach their Children that nothing can be lawful which injures
others; that they may indeed arrive at Honours and acquire Riches; but
that unless they are obtained without Guilt, and possessed without Pride,
they cannot be just: for even allowing that no undue Means are used to
support our Pride, there is Injustice riveted to the Vice itself; for the
Proud, to raise themselves, always attempt to depress or debase others.
Another Cause of Injustice is Sloth. Providence has created us to labour;
the Head, the Hands, the Feet, all are given to answer in some Degree
the same End; that is, the Preservation of ourselves, and the Benefit of
others. None are born to be idle, none who are so can with any Truth be
said to fill up Life as they ought. Those who have Talents are bound to
cultivate them as far as they have Opportunity, that they may counsel,
instruct, or assist others: those who have Fortune cannot without
Injustice neglect the Care, the Improvement, and the Distribution of it:
those who have no Fortune, but enjoy Health and Limbs, are Robbers of
Society if they refuse to work: and indeed among the various Objects of
Sloth, those who exercise neither Head, nor Hands, nor Feet, but lounge
and fawn and beg for a Subsistence, no Matter whether in Rags or Finery,
are of all others the most mean, at the same time that they are grossly
unjust. The Virtues opposite to this are, Industry, Application, and
Oeconomy; which Parents must raise in their Children betimes, and cherish
with Zeal and Pains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account