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convinced me by several instances。 I saw the justice of his remark； and
thence grew more attentive to the manner in writing； and determined to
endeavor at improvement。
About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator。 It was the
third。 I had never before seen any of them。 I bought it； read it over and
over； and was much delighted with it。 I thought the writing excellent； and
wished； if possible； to imitate it。 With this view I took some of the papers；
and； making short hints of the sentiment in each sentence； laid them by a
few days； and then； without looking at the book； try'd to compleat the
papers again； by expressing each hinted sentiment at length； and as fully as
it had been expressed before； in any suitable words that should come to
hand。 Then I compared my Spectator with the original； discovered some of
my faults； and corrected them。 But I found I wanted a stock of words； or a
readiness in recollecting and using them； which I thought I should have
acquired before that time if I had gone on making verses； since the
continual occasion for words of the same import； but of different length； to
suit the measure； or of different sound for the rhyme； would have laid me
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under a constant necessity of searching for variety； and also have tended to
fix that variety in my mind； and make me master of it。 Therefore I took
some of the tales and turned them into verse； and； after a time； when I had
pretty well forgotten the prose； turned them back again。 I also sometimes
jumbled my collections of hints into confusion； and after some weeks
endeavored to reduce them into the best order； before I began to form the
full sentences and compleat the paper。 This was to teach me method in the
arrangement of thoughts。 By comparing my work afterwards with the
original； I discovered many faults and amended them； but I sometimes had
the pleasure of fancying that； in certain particulars of small import； I had
been lucky enough to improve the method or the language； and this
encouraged me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable
English writer； of which I was extremely ambitious。 My time for these
exercises and for reading was at night； after work or before it began in the
morning； or on Sundays； when I contrived to be in the printing…house
alone； evading as much as I could the common attendance on public
worship which my father used to exact on me when I was under his care；
and which indeed I still thought a duty； though I could not； as it seemed to
me； afford time to practise it。
When about 16 years of age I happened to meet with a book； written
by one Tryon； recommending a vegetable diet。 I determined to go into it。
My brother； being yet unmarried； did not keep house； but boarded himself
and his apprentices in another family。 My refusing to eat flesh occasioned
an inconveniency； and I was frequently chid for my singularity。 I made
myself acquainted with Tryon's manner of preparing some of his dishes；
such as boiling potatoes or rice； making hasty pudding； and a few others；
and then proposed to my brother； that if he would give me； weekly； half
the money he paid for my board； I would board myself。 He instantly
agreed to it； and I presently found that I could save half what he paid me。
This was an additional fund for buying books。 But I had another advantage
in it。 My brother and the rest going from the printing…house to their meals；
I remained there alone； and； despatching presently my light repast； which
often was no more than a bisket or a slice of bread； a handful of raisins or
a tart from the pastry…cook's； and a glass of water； had the rest of the time
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till their return for study； in which I made the greater progress； from that
greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension which usually attend
temperance in eating and drinking。
And now it was that； being on some occasion made asham'd of my
ignorance in figures； which I had twice failed in learning when at school； I
took Cocker's book of Arithmetick； and went through the whole by myself
with great ease。 I also read Seller's and Shermy's books of Navigation； and
became acquainted with the little geometry they contain； but never
proceeded far in that science。 And I read about this time Locke On Human
Understanding； and the Art of Thinking； by Messrs。 du Port Royal。
While I was intent on improving my language； I met with an English
grammar （I think it was Greenwood's）； at the end of which there were two
little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic； the latter finishing with a
specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method； and soon after I procur'd
Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates； wherein there are many
instances of the same method。 I was charm'd with it； adopted it； dropt my
abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation； and put on the humble
inquirer and doubter。 And being then； from reading Shaftesbury and
Collins； become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine； I
found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against
whom I used it； therefore I took a delight in it； practis'd it continually； and
grew very artful and expert in drawing people； even of superior knowledge；
into concessions； the consequences of which they did not foresee；
entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate
themselves； and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause
always deserved。 I continu'd this method some few years； but gradually
left it； retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest
diffidence； never using； when I advanced any thing that may possibly be
disputed； the words certainly； undoubtedly； or any others that give the air
of positiveness to an opinion； but rather say； I conceive or apprehend a
thing to be so and so； it appears to me； or I should think it so or so； for
such and such reasons； or I imagine it to be so； or it is so； if I am not
mistaken。 This habit； I believe； has been of great advantage to me when I
have had occasion to inculcate my opinions； and persuade men into
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measures that I have been from time to time engag'd in promoting； and； as
the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed； to please or
to persuade； I wish well…meaning； sensible men would not lessen their
power of doing good by a positive； assuming manner； that seldom fails to
disgust； tends to create opposition； and to defeat every one of those
purposes for which speech was given to us； to wit； giving or receiving
information or pleasure。 For； if you would inform； a positive and
dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke
contradiction and prevent a candid attention。 If you wish information and
improvement from the knowledge of others； and yet at the same time
express yourself as firmly fix'd in your present opinions； modest； sensible
men； who do not love disputation； will probably leave you undisturbed in
the possession of your error。 And by such a manner； you can seldom hope
to recommend yourself in pleasing your hearers； or to persuade those
whose concurrence you desire。 Pope says； judiciously：
〃Men should be taught as if you taught them not； And things
unknown propos'd as things forgot；〃
farther recommending to us
〃To speak； tho' sure； with seeming diffidence。〃
And he might have coupled with this line that which he has coupled
with another； I think； less properly；
〃For want of modesty is want of sense。〃
If you ask； Why less properly？ I must repeat the lines；
〃Immodest words admit of no defense； For want of mode