The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 01 (of 12)Hazlitt, William
General
The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 01 (of 12)
Hazlitt, William
English essays -- 19th century
Hypocrisy, as it is connected with cowardice, seems to imply weakness of
body or want of spirit. The impudence and insensibility which belong to
it, ought to suppose robustness of constitution. There is certainly a
very successful and formidable class of sturdy, jolly, able-bodied
hypocrites, the Friar Johns of the profession. Raphael has represented
Elymas the Sorcerer, with a hard iron visage, and large uncouth figure,
made up of bones and muscles; as one not troubled with weak nerves or
idle scruples—as one who repelled all sympathy with others—who was not
to be jostled out of his course by their censures or suspicions—and who
could break with ease through the cobweb snares which he had laid for
the credulity of others, without being once entangled in his own
delusions. His outward form betrays the hard, unimaginative, self-willed
understanding of the sorcerer.
A.
NO. 33.] ON THE LITERARY CHARACTER [OCT. 28, 1813.
The following remarks are prefixed to the account of Baron Grimm’s
Correspondence in a late number of a celebrated Journal:-
‘There is nothing more exactly painted in these graphical volumes, than
the character of M. Grimm himself; and the beauty of it is, that, as
there is nothing either natural or peculiar about it, it may stand for
the character of all the wits and philosophers he frequented. He had
more wit, perhaps, and more sound sense and information, than the
greatest part of the society in which he lived; but the leading traits
belong to the whole class, and to all classes, indeed, in similar
situations, in every part of the world. Whenever there is a very large
assemblage of persons who have no other occupation but to amuse
themselves, there will infallibly be generated acuteness of intellect,
refinement of manners, and good taste in conversation; and, with the
same certainty, all profound thought, and all serious affection, will be
discarded from their society.
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