How indeed can an instructor remedy
this evil? for to teach them virtue on any solid principle is to teach
them to despise their parents. Children cannot, ought not, to be
taught to make allowance for the faults of their parents, because
every such allowance weakens the force of their parents, because every
such allowance weakens the force of reason in their minds, and makes
them still more indulgent to their own. It is one of the most
sublime virtues of maturity that leads us to be severe with respect to
ourselves, and forbearing to others; but children should only be
taught the simple virtues, for if they begin too early to make
allowance for human passions and manners, they wear off the fine
edge of the criterion by which they should regulate their own, and
become unjust in the same proportion as they grow indulgent.
The affections of children, and weak people, are always selfish;
they love their relatives, because they are beloved by them, and not
on account of their virtues. Yet, till esteem and love are blended
together in the first affection, and reason made the foundation of the
first duty, morality will stumble at the threshold. But, till
society is very differently constituted, parents, I fear, will still
insist on being obeyed, because they will be obeyed, and constantly
endeavour to settle that power on a Divine right which will not bear
the investigation of reason.
Chap. XII.
On National Education.
The good effects resulting from attention to private education
will ever be very confined, and the parent who really puts his own
hand to the plow, will always, in some degree, be disappointed, till
education becomes a grand national concern.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262