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awake to asense of dignity of character , bwt , above all . impressed by && . « &-M 8 ^ fe ^ Mc Wm * a # c | U ^ 4 tt oT'teeyrfdvrho have ri # t » M ^^ : : 'He loeks SvSh m $ iWimM 4 eMi 6 r r ^ jtaa'irrfiSi estimation ' splendour and dignity are nearly the same thing . He xriay be
, a # air 6 tfiat , external circumstances Being the same , one man is raised aioove another ^ indral superiority ; but this difference is to him almost ini ^ erceptibTe , in comparison with that which is caused by inequality of ratik afcid fortune . Of the dignity of human nature he knows little , and cares les ^ J "A
more enlightened and better man is aware how little greatness canbe coriferred by accident of birth or splendour of fortune ; but being only partially enlightened as to the moral constitution and destination of man , dwells little on the majesty of his nature , and exalts to an undue degree the greatness of human character . He has a lively perception of the •* difference between man and man , " but he makes too great a distinction of ranks ; despising too
much those who forfeit his esteem , and overrating the very slender attainments which the best can make in this world . He who has received a larger portion of light from heaven , and who approximates more nearly to the view which the Divine Being may be supposed to take of the concerns of mankind , sees no longer a shado > y of g reatness arising from the institutions of society ; aM being aware of the infirrnities which impair the purest arid Ui sucieiy , < an \ x ucui" await ; % ji uic mm mines wiiiuii nuyan me puicoi anu the small which
best of huB ^^ rfdr ^ Ctfe ^ he ^ gat ^ s space as separates , trie greatestfromthis ; least * he moiWn ^ his own frailties too deeply and hurnbljf to dare to speat of the moral greatness of man , and loves to turn fronifrie humiliating picture which hk ex ^ riynde has draw n , to contemplate tlte eterfial majesty and evef-growing beauty of human nature . In this gl priou ^ contempiatioti fats powers are invigorated and his desires expanded f ttU ; thouerri hot iiiserisible to the etadatioh ^ s of character which will ever' irifliVi-% fUl \ J \ Jf m , m X 4 \/ v * M AIM v A 1 UA Iv A w w >^ yi ^\ y fcL * VtV # V ^ ^ - * V ^ 4 ^ " % ^ X ^ nyj | * y * K ^** V ^* Vvwm * x ^ ti fr UM .+ ^^ t ^* m * fc »^^ t » t * to
^^ dualize his fellow-men , all huriian excellence that is dimini ^ esj driest nothing in comparison with that wliich shall be . Of these tbre ^ , " trie , fir ^ t | b ^ is no t beyond the flowers which deck the paths of the valley ; ; t ^ fer n ^ tt bbunds his desires to the mountain top , ; nor dreams of aught Wtair ^ able liesyond ; but he who has already planted his foot on the summit , ^ eS al ^ e ever-burning stars , and is fired with the earnest and fully aiithprri ^ d 3 i | es 1 t to behold the glories they contain , and to follow their qourse fr ^ tMfW regions of heaven for ever . ^ ui >^ o 5 ni But few are those who belong to the third class ; few are triofe WWi ^^ 0
not estimate too highly the dignity of human character , and in 1 a ^ 6 Vfi ^ mselves to possess no inconsiderable share of this greatness . .,-Vtt tlreit ' ' 5 ( iptions of this quality are almost as various as their persons . One rWo ^ nizek its presence where another sees only the littleness of a worldly tnmd ^ iiirie regards as poverty of spirit that temper which commands' the * i ^^ ect ^ tif others . Grie imagines dignity to be established by the predbr ^ iriiariterbfibne qualify ; another pronounces it to consist in the exercise of a diffe ^ em ^ rttie ; and it all agree in calling a particular character dignified , eacrv wllf ^^ eit'tiaps , ^ scribe the presence of its dignity to a different cause . Not till clealtet ^ views and a more diligent practice of duty prevail in society , will meri ' agree ih their ideas of this quality , or will it be attained in any eminent aeg ^ jie ^ bV l
more than a few . : '; r TV : ' The commonest kind of dignity is that which arises from pr | d £ : but It Is a spurious and evanescent greatness . The proud man , by assun ^ ing the ^ v J > bs ^ - session of great merit , and expecting as his due the respect ari 4 submission df his inferior ^ and t \^ e deference of his equals , le ^ ds men to tak ^ for {^ tited that tfe tbefrit lie tacitly asserts really exists ; that the tribute he demaiiife is
Untitled Article
786 On Dignity of Character .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1827, page 786, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1802/page/2/
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