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EMILE;
OR,
CONCERNING EDUCATION.
Extracts
CONTAINING T H E PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS O F PEDAGOGY F O U N D I N T H E FIRST
T H R E E BOOKS. W I T H AN I N T R O D U C T I O N .AND N O T E S B Y
TRANSLATED BY
ELEANOR WORTHINGTON,
FORMERLY OF THE COOK CO. NORMAL SCHOOL, I L L .
BOSTON:
D . C. H E A T H & COMPANY.
1889.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by
GINN, H E A T H , & CO.,
I» the Office of the Library of Congress, at Washington.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
over its first playthings. All these counsels bear the stamp of
good sense and of experience; or, rather, they result from a
power of divination singular enough in a man who was not
willing to take care of his own children. I n this way, day
by day, he follows up the physical and moral development of
the little being, all whose ideas and feelings he analyzes, whom
he guides with wisdom and with tact throughout the mazes of
a life made up of convention and artifice.
We have carefully avoided suppressing the fictions of the
gardener and of the mountebank; because they are characteristic
of his manner, and because, after all, these pre-arranged scenes
which, as they stand, are anything in the world rather than
real teaching, contain, nevertheless, right notions, and opinions
which may suggest to intelligent teachers processes in prudent
education. Such teachers will not copy the form; they will
not imitate the awkward clap-trap; but, yielding to the inspi
ration of the dominant idea, they will, in a way more in
accordance with nature, manage to thrill with life the teaching
of facts, and will aid the mind in giving birth to its ideas.
This is the old method of Socrates, the eternal method of
reason, the only method which really educates.
W e have brought this volume to an end with the third book
of "Emile." The fourth and fifth books which follow are not
within the domain of pedagogy. They contain admirable pages,
which ought to be r e a d ; which occupy one of the foremost
places in our literature; which deal with philosophy, with
ethics, with theology; but they concern themselves with the
manner of directing young men and women, and no longer
with childhood. The author conducts his Emile even as far as
to his betrothal; he devotes an entire book to the betrothed
herself, Sophie, and closes his volume only after he has united
them in marriage.
W e will not go so far. W e will leave Emile upon the con
fines of youth, at the time when he escapes from school, and
when he is about beginning to feel t h a t he is a man. At this
difiicult and critical period the teacher no longer suffices. Then,
above all things, is needed all the influence of the family; the
father's example, the mother's clear-sighted tenderness, worthy
friendships, an environment of meritorious people, of upright
minds animated by lofty ideas, who attract within their orbit
this ardent and inquisitive being, eager for novelty, for action,
and for independence.
Artifices and stratagems are then no longer good for any
thing; they are very soon laid open to the light. All t h a t
can be required of a teacher is that he shall have furnished
his pupils with a sound and strong education, drawn from the
sources of reason, experience, and n a t u r e ; that he shall have
prepared them to learn to form judgments, to make use of
their faculties, to enter valiantly upon study and upon life. It
seems to us that the pages of Rousseau here published may be
a useful guide in the pursuit of such a result.
JULES STEEG.
EMILE;
OR,
OONOEKNTETG E D U C A T I O N .
BOOK FIEST.
TPIE first book, after some general remarks upon education, treats
especially of early infancy; of the first years of life; of the care to
be bestowed upon very young children; of the nursing of t h e m ; of
the laws of health.
He makes education begin at birth; expresses himself on the sub
ject of the habits to be given or to be avoided; discusses the use and
meaning of tears, outcries, gestures, also the language that should
be used with young children, so that, from their tenderest years,
the inculcating of false ideas and the giving a wrong bent of mind
may be avoided.
G E N E R A L REMARKS.
C O M I N G from t h e h a n d of t h e A u t h o r of all t h i n g s ,
e v e r y t h i n g is g o o d ; in t h e h a n d s of m a n , e v e r y t h i n g
d e g e n e r a t e s . M a n obliges one soil t o n o u r i s h t h e p r o d u c t i o n s
of a n o t h e r , o n e t r e e t o ' b e a r t h e fruits of a n o t h e r ; he m i n g l e s
a n d c o n f o u n d s c l i m a t e s , e l e m e n t s , s e a s o n s ; h e m u t i l a t e s his
d o g , his h o r s e , his s l a v e . H e o v e r t u r n s e v e r y t h i n g , disfig
u r e s e v e r y t h i n g ; h e loves deformity, m o n s t e r s ; he desires
t h a t n o t h i n g s h o u l d be a s n a t u r e m a d e it, n o t even m a n h i m
self. T o p l e a s e h i m , m a n m u s t b e b r o k e n in like a h o r s e ;
m a n m u s t b e a d a p t e d t o m a n ' s own fashion, like a t r e e in
1
his g a r d e n .
1
It is useless to enlarge upon the absurdity of this theory, and upon the
flagrant contradiction into which Rousseau allows himself to fall. If he is
W e r e it n o t for all t h i s , m a t t e r s would b e still w o r s e . No
o n e wishes* t o b e a half-developed b e i n g ; a n d in t h e p r e s e n t
condition of t h i n g s , a m a n left to himself a m o n g o t h e r s from
his b i r t h would be t h e m o s t d e f o r m e d a m o n g t h e m all.
P r e j u d i c e s , a u t h o r i t y , necessities, e x a m p l e , all t h e social
i n s t i t u t i o n s in which we a r e s u b m e r g e d , w o u l d stifle n a t u r e
in him, a n d w o u l d p u t n o t h i n g in i t s p l a c e . I n such a m a n
n a t u r e w o u l d b e like a s h r u b s p r u n g u p b y c h a n c e in t h e
m i d s t of a h i g h w a y , a n d j o s t l e d from all s i d e s , b e n t in every
direction, b y t h e p a s s e r s - b y .
P l a n t s are improved by cultivation, and men by education.
I f m a n w e r e b o r n l a r g e a n d s t r o n g , his size a n d s t r e n g t h
would be useless t o h i m until h e h a d l e a r n e d t o u s e t h e m .
T h e y would b e prejudicial t o h i m , b y p r e v e n t i n g o t h e r s f r o m
t h i n k i n g of assisting him ; a n d left t o himself he w o u l d die of
w r e t c h e d n e s s before he h a d k n o w n his own n e c e s s i t i e s . We
p i t y t h e s t a t e of i n f a n c y ; we clo n o t p e r c e i v e t h a t t h e h u m a n
r a c e w o u l d h a v e p e r i s h e d if m a n h a d n o t b e g u n b y b e i n g a
child.
W e a r e b o r n w e a k , we n e e d s t r e n g t h ; w e a r e b o r n desti
t u t e of all t h i n g s , w e n e e d a s s i s t a n c e ; w e a r e b o r n s t u p i d ,
we n e e d j u d g m e n t . A l l t h a t we h a v e n o t a t o u r b i r t h , a n d
t h a t w e n e e d w h e n g r o w n u p , is given u s b y e d u c a t i o n .
T h i s e d u c a t i o n c o m e s t o u s from n a t u r e itself, or from
o t h e r m e n , o r from c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e i n t e r n a l d e v e l o p
m e n t of o u r faculties a n d of o u r o r g a n s is t h e education^
n a t u r e gives u s ; t h e u s e we a r e t a u g h t t o m a k e of t h i s devel
o p m e n t is t h e e d u c a t i o n we g e t from o t h e r m e n ; a n d w h a t
we l e a r n , b y o u r own e x p e r i e n c e , a b o u t t h i n g s t h a t i n t e r e s t
u s , is t h e e d u c a t i o n of c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
right, man ought to be left without education, and the earth without culti
vation. This would not be even the savage state. But want of space forbids
lis to pause at each like statement of-our author, who at once busies himself
in nullifying it.
E a c h of lis is therefore f o r m e d by t h r e e k i n d s of t e a c h e r s .
T h e pupil in w h o m t h e i r different l e s s o n s c o n t r a d i c t one
a n o t h e r is b a d l y e d u c a t e d , a n d will n e v e r be in h a r m o n y with
himself; t h e o n e in w h o m t h e y all t o u c h u p o n t h e samo
p o i n t s a n d t e n d t o w a r d t h e s a m e object a d v a n c e s t o w a r d
t h a t g o a l o n l y , a n d lives accordingly. H e alone is well edu
cated.
N o w of t h e s e t h r e e different e d u c a t i o n s , t h a t of n a t u r e d o e s
n o t d e p e n d u p o n us ; t h a t of c i r c u m s t a n c e s d e p e n d s u p o n u s
o n l y in c e r t a i n r e s p e c t s ; t h a t of m e n is t h e only o n e of
which we a r e really m a s t e r s , a n d t h a t solely b e c a u s e w e
t h i n k we a r e . F o r w h o can hope t o direct entirely t h e s p e e c h
a n d c o n d u c t of all who s u r r o u n d a child ?
A s soon, therefore, as education b e c o m e s a n a r t , its suc
cess is almost impossible, since t h e a g r e e m e n t of circum
s t a n c e s n e c e s s a r y t o this success is i n d e p e n d e n t of p e r s o n a l
effort. A l l t h a t t h e u t m o s t care c a n d o is t o a p p r o a c h
m o r e or less n e a r l y our o b j e c t ; b u t , for a t t a i n i n g it, special
g o o d f o r t u n e is n e e d e d .
W h a t is t h i s o b j e c t ? T h a t of n a t u r e itself, as h a s j u s t
b e e n p r o v e d . Since t h e a g r e e m e n t of t h e t h r e e e d u c a t i o n s
is n e c e s s a r y t o t h e i r p e r f e c t i o n , it is t o w a r d t h e one for which
we ourselves c a n d o n o t h i n g t h a t we m u s t direct b o t h , t h e
o t h e r s . B u t p e r h a p s t h i s word " n a t u r e " h a s t o o v a g u e a
m e a n i n g ; we m u s t h e r e t r y t o define it.
I n t h e n a t u r a l o r d e r of t h i n g s , all m e n b e i n g e q u a l , t h e
v o c a t i o n c o m m o n t o all is t h e s t a t e of m a n h o o d ; a n d who
ever is well t r a i n e d for t h a t , c a n n o t fulfil b a d l y a n y v o c a t i o n
which d e p e n d s u p o n it. W h e t h e r m y p u p i l b e d e s t i n e d
for the- a r m y , . t h e c h u r c h , or t h e b a r , m a t t e r s little t o rne.
B e f o r e h e c a n t h i n k of a d o p t i n g t h e v o c a t i o n of his p a r e n t s ,
n a t u r e calls u p o n h i m t o b e a m a n . H o w t o live is t h e
business* I wish t o t e a c h h i m . O n l e a v i n g m y h a n d s h e will
n o t , I a d m i t , b e a m a g i s t r a t e , a soldier, or a p r i e s t ; first of
all h e will b e a m a n . A l l t h a t a m a n o u g h t to b e h e c a n
b e , a t n e e d , a s well as a n y o n e else c a n . F o r t u n e will in
v a i n alter his position, for he will a l w a y s o c c u p y his o w n .
O u r r e a l s t u d y is t h a t of t h e s t a t e of m a n . H e a m o n g u s
w h o b e s t k n o w s how t o b e a r t h e g o o d a n d evil fortunes of
t h i s life is, in m y opinion, t h e b e s t e d u c a t e d ; w h e n c e it fol
lows t h a t t r u e e d u c a t i o n consists less in p r e c e p t t h a n in p r a c
tice. W e b e g i n t o i n s t r u c t ourselves w h e n we b e g i n t o live ;
o u r e d u c a t i o n c o m m e n c e s with t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of o u r
life ; o u r first t e a c h e r is o u r n u r s e . F o r t h i s r e a s o n t h e w o r d
" e d u c a t i o n " h a d a m o n g t h e a n c i e n t s a n o t h e r m e a n i n g which
we n o longer a t t a c h t o i t ; it signified n u t r i m e n t .
W e m u s t t h e n t a k e a b r o a d e r view of t h i n g s , a n d consider
in our pupil m a n in t h e a b s t r a c t , m a n e x p o s e d t o all t h e acci
d e n t s of h u m a n life. If m a n were b o r n a t t a c h e d t o t h e soil
of a c o u n t r y , if t h e s a m e season c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e
y e a r , if e v e r y one held his f o r t u n e b y s u c h a t e n u r e t h a t he
could n e v e r c h a n g e it, t h e established c u s t o m s of t o - d a y
would b e in c e r t a i n r e s p e c t s good. T h e child e d u c a t e d for
his p o s i t i o n , a n d n e v e r l e a v i n g it, could n o t b e e x p o s e d t o t h e
i n c o n v e n i e n c e s of a n o t h e r .
B u t seeing t h a t h u m a n affairs a r e c h a n g e a b l e , seeing t h e
r e s t l e s s a n d d i s t u r b i n g spirit of t h i s c e n t u r y , which over
t u r n s e v e r y t h i n g once in a g e n e r a t i o n , c a n a m o r e senseless
m e t h o d b e i m a g i n e d t h a n t o e d u c a t e a child a s if he were
n e v e r t o l e a v e his r o o m , a s if h e were obliged t o b e c o n s t a n t l y
s u r r o u n d e d b y his s e r v a n t s ? If t h e p o o r c r e a t u r e t a k e s b u t
o n e s t e p o n t h e e a r t h , if h e c o m e s d o w n so m u c h a s o n e s t a i r ,
h e is r u i n e d . T h i s is n o t t e a c h i n g h i m t o e n d u r e p a i n ; it is
t r a i n i n g him t o feel it m o r e k e e n l y .
W e t h i n k only of p r e s e r v i n g t h e child : t h i s is n o t enough.
W e o u g h t t o t e a c h h i m t o p r e s e r v e himself w h e n h e is a m a n ;
t o b e a r t h e b l o w s of fate ; t o b r a v e b o t h w e a l t h a n d w r e t c h e d
n e s s ; t o live, if n e e d b e , a m o n g t h e s n o w s of I c e l a n d or u p o n
t h e b u r n i n g r o c k of M a l t a . I n v a i n y o u t a k e p r e c a u t i o n s
a g a i n s t his d y i n g , — h e m u s t die after a l l ; a n d if his d e a t h b e
n o t i n d e e d t h e result of t h o s e very p r e c a u t i o n s , t h e y a r e n o n e
t h e .less m i s t a k e n . I t is less i m p o r t a n t t o k e e p him from
d y i n g t h a n it is t o t e a c h him how t o live. T o live is n o t
m e r e l y t o b r e a t h e , it is t o a c t . I t is t o m a k e use of o u r
o r g a n s , of our s e n s e s , of o u r faculties, of all t h e p o w e r s
which b e a r w i t n e s s t o u s of our o w n e x i s t e n c e . H e w h o h a s
lived m o s t is n o t he w h o h a s n u m b e r e d t h e m o s t y e a r s , b u t
h e who h a s b e e n m o s t t r u l y conscious of w h a t life is. A m a n
m a y h a v e himself b u r i e d a t t h e a g e of a h u n d r e d y e a r s , w h o
died from t h e h o u r of his b i r t h . H e w o u l d h a v e g a i n e d
s o m e t h i n g b y g o i n g t o his g r a v e in y o u t h , if u p t o t h a t t i m e
h e h a d only lived.
T H E n e w - b o r n child n e e d s t o s t r e t c h a n d t o m o v e his l i m b s
so a s t o d r a w t h e m o u t of t h e t o r p o r in which, rolled into a
ball, t h e y h a v e so long r e m a i n e d . W e d o s t r e t c h his l i m b s ,
it is t r u e , b u t we p r e v e n t h i m from m o v i n g t h e m . W c even
c o n s t r a i n h i s h e a d i n t o a b a b y ' s c a p . I t s e e m s a s if we w e r e
afraid he m i g h t a p p e a r t o b e alive. T h e i n a c t i o n , t h e con
s t r a i n t in which we k e e p his l i m b s , c a n n o t fail t o i n t e r f e r e
with t h e circulation of t h e blood a n d of t h e s e c r e t i o n s , t o
p r e v e n t t h e child from g r o w i n g s t r o n g a n d s t u r d y , a n d t o
c h a n g e his c o n s t i t u t i o n . I n r e g i o n s w h e r e t h e s e e x t r a v a g a n t
precautions are not taken, the men are all large, strong, and
well p r o p o r t i o n e d . C o u n t r i e s in which children a r e s w a d d l e d
s w a r m with h u n c h b a c k s , with c r i p p l e s , with p e r s o n s crook-
T
k n e e d , s t u n t e d , r i c k e t y , d e f o r m e d in all k i n d s of wa} s. F o r
fear t h a t t h e b o d i e s of children m a y be- deformed b y free
m o v e m e n t s , we h a s t e n t o deform t h e m b y p u t t i n g t h e m i n t o
a p r e s s . Of o u r o w n a c c o r d we cripple t h e m t o p r e v e n t
their l a m i n g t h e m s e l v e s .
M u s t n o t such a cruel c o n s t r a i n t h a v e a n influence u p o n
t h e i r t e m p e r a s well a s u p o n their c o n s t i t u t i o n ? T h e i r first
feeling is a feeling of c o n s t r a i n t a n d of suffering. To* all
their n e c e s s a r y m o v e m e n t s t h e y find only o b s t a c l e s . M o r e u n
f o r t u n a t e t h a n c h a i n e d criminals, they m a k e fruitless efforts,
t h e y fret t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y c r y . D o y o u tell me t h a t t h e first
s o u n d s t h e y m a k e are cries ? I can well* believe i t ; you
t h w a r t t h e m from t h e time t h e y are b o r n . T h e first gifts
t h e y receive from you are c h a i n s , t h e first t r e a t m e n t t h e y
u n d e r g o is t o r m e n t . H a v i n g n o t h i n g free b u t t h e voice, w h y
should t h e y n o t use it in c o m p l a i n t s ? T h e y cry o n a c c o u n t
of t h e suffering you cause t h e m ; if y o u w e r e p i n i o n e d in t h e
s a m e w a y , }^our own cries would b e l o u d e r .
W h e n c e arises this u n r e a s o n a b l e c u s t o m of s w a d d l i n g chil
dren? F r o m an unnatural custom. Since the time when
m o t h e r s , despising their first d u t y , n o l o n g e r wish t o n u r s e
t h e i r o w n children a t t h e b r e a s t , it h a s been n e c e s s a r y t o in
t r u s t t h e little o n e s t o h i r e d w o m e n . T h e s e , finding t h e m
selves in this w a y t h e m o t h e r s of s t r a n g e c h i l d r e n , c o n
c e r n i n g w h o m t h e voice of n a t u r e is silent to t h e m , seek
o n l y t o s p a r e t h e m s e l v e s a n n o y a n c e . A child a t l i b e r t y
w o u l d require i n c e s s a n t w a t c h i n g ; b u t after h e is well
swaddled, they throw him into a corner without troubling
t h e m s e l v e s a t all on a c c o u n t of his cries. P r o v i d e d t h e r e a r e
n o p r o o f s of t h e n u r s e ' s c a r e l e s s n e s s , p r o v i d e d t h a t - t h e
n u r s l i n g d o e s n o t b r e a k his legs or his a r m s , . w h a t does it
m a t t e r , a f t e r all.,, t h a t h e is p i n i n g , a way,Lor t h a t h e c o n t i n u e s
feeble for t h e r e s t of his life? H i s l i m b s a r e . p r e s e r v e d a t
t h e e x p e n s e of his life, a n d w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s , t h e n u r s e is
held free from b l a m e .
I t is p r e t e n d e d t h a t children, w h e n left free, m a y p u t t h e m
selves i n t o b a d p o s i t i o n s , a n d m a k e m o v e m e n t s liable t o
injure t h e p r o p e r c o n f o r m a t i o n of their l i m b s . T h i s is o n e
of t h e w e a k a r g u m e n t s of o u r false wisdom, which n o e x p e r i
ence h a s ever confirmed. Of t h a t m u l t i t u d e of children w h o ,
a m o n g n a t i o n s m o r e sensible t h a n o u r s e l v e s , a r e b r o u g h t u p
in t h e full freedom of their l i m b s , n o t o n e is seen t o w o u n d
or l a m e himself. T h e y c a n n o t give their m o v e m e n t s force
e n o u g h t o m a k e t h e m d a n g e r o u s ; a n d when t h e y a s s u m e a
hurtful p o s i t i o n , p a i n soon w a r n s t h e m t o c h a n g e it.
W e h a v e n o t y e t b r o u g h t ourselves t o t h e point of s w a d
d l i n g p u p p i e s or k i t t e n s ; d o we see t h a t a n y i n c o n v e n i e n c e
r e s u l t s t o t h e m from t h i s negligence ? Children are h e a v i e r ,
i n d e e d ; b u t in p r o p o r t i o n t h e y a r e w e a k e r . They can
scarcely m o v e t h e m s e l v e s a t a l l ; h o w can t h e y l a m e t h e m
selves? If laid u p o n t h e b a c k t h e y would die in t h a t
p o s i t i o n , like t h e t o r t o i s e , w i t h o u t b e i n g able ever t o t u r n
themselves again.
[ T h i s w a n t o f i n t e l l i g e n c e in the care b e s t o w e d u p o n y o u n g chil
dren is s e e n particularly in t h o s e m o t h e r s w h o g i v e t h e m s e l v e s n o
c o n c e r n a b o u t their o w n , do n o t t h e m s e l v e s nurse t h e m , intrust
t h e m t o h i r e l i n g nurses. T h i s c u s t o m is fatal t o all; first to the
children and finally t o f a m i l i e s , w h e r e barrenness b e c o m e s the rule,
w h e r e w o m a u sacrifices t o her o w n c o n v e n i e n c e t h e j o y s and the
duties o f m o t h e r h o o d . ]
we p u t t h i s artificial c r e a t u r e i n t o t h e h a n d s of a t u t o r who
finishes t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e artificial g e r m s he finds
a l r e a d y formed, a n d t e a c h e s h i m e v e r y t h i n g e x c e p t t o k n o w
himself, e v e r y t h i n g e x c e p t t o k n o w h o w t o live a n d how
t o m a k e himself h a p p y . F i n a l l y , w h e n this e n s l a v e d child, t h i s
little t y r a n t , full of l e a r n i n g a n d devoid of s e n s e , enfeebled
alike in m i n d a n d b o d y , is c a s t u p o n t h e w o r l d , he t h e r e b y
his unfitness, b y his p r i d e , a n d b y all his vices, m a k e s u s d e
plore h u m a n w r e t c h e d n e s s a n d p e r v e r s i t y . W e deceive our
selves ; t h i s is t h e m a n o u r w h i m s h a v e c r e a t e d . Nature
m a k e s m e n b y a different p r o c e s s .
D o y o u t h e n wish him t o p r e s e r v e his original f o r m ?
P r e s e r v e it from t h e m o m e n t he e n t e r s t h e world. A s soon a s
he is b o r n t a k e possession of him, a n d d o n o t leave him u n t i l
h e is a m a n . W i t h o u t t h i s you will n e v e r succeed. A s t h e
m o t h e r is t h e t r u e n u r s e , t h e father is t h e t r u e t e a c h e r .
L e t t h e m b e of o n e m i n d as t o t h e o r d e r in which their func
t i o n s a r e fulfilled, as well as in r e g a r d t o their p l a n ; let the
child p a s s from t h e h a n d s of t h e o n e i n t o t h e h a n d s of t h e
o t h e r . H e will b e b e t t e r e d u c a t e d b y a f a t h e r w h o is j u d i
cious, e v e n t h o u g h of m o d e r a t e a t t a i n m e n t s , t h a n b y t h e
m o s t skilful m a s t e r in t h e w o r l d . F o r zeal will s u p p l e
m e n t t a l e n t b e t t e r t h a n t a l e n t c a n s u p p l y w h a t only zeal
can give.
A father, w h e n he b r i n g s his children i n t o e x i s t e n c e a n d
s u p p o r t s t h e m , h a s , in so d o i n g , fulfilled only a t h i r d p a r t of
his t a s k . T o t h e h u m a n r a c e h e o w e s m e n ; t o society, m e n
fitted for s o c i e t y ; t o t h e S t a t e , citizens. Every man who
3an p a y t h i s triple d e b t , a n d d o e s n o t p a y it, is a guilty m a n ;
and if he p a y s it b y h a l v e s , he is p e r h a p s m o r e guilty still.
H e who c a n n o t fulfil t h e duties of a f a t h e r h a s n o r i g h t t o
b e a father. N o t p o v e r t y , n o r severe labor, n o r h u m a n r e
spect can release h i m from t h e d u t y of s u p p o r t i n g his chil
d r e n a n d of e d u c a t i n g t h e m himself. R e a d e r s , you m a y b e
lieve m y w o r d s . I prophesy to any one who has natural
feeling a n d neglects t h e s e s a c r e d d u t i e s , — t h a t he will l o n g
shed b i t t e r t e a r s o v e r this fault, a n d t h a t for t h o s e t e a r s h e
1
will find no c o n s o l a t i o n .
[ I t b e i n g s u p p o s e d that the father is unable or u n w i l l i n g t o c h a r g e
h i m s e l f p e r s o n a l l y w i t h the e d u c a t i o n o f his s o n , h e m u s t c h a r g e a
third p e r s o n w i t h i t ; m u s t s e e k out a master, a teacher f o r the
child.]
1
This is an allusion to one of the most unfortunate episodes in the life of
Rousseau,—his abandoning of the children whom Therese Levasseur bore
him, and whom he sent to a foundling hospital because he felt within him.
neither courage to labor for their support, nor capacity to educate them.
Sad practical defect in this teacher of theories of education!
2
For the particular example of education which he supposes, Rousseau
creates a tutor whom he consecrates absolutely, exclusively, to the work.
He desires one so perfect that he calls him a prodigy. Let us not blame
The Earliest Education.
C h i l d r e n ' s first i m p r e s s i o n s a r e p u r e l y t h o s e of f e e l i n g ;
t h e y perceive only pleasure a n d p a i n . U n a b l e either t o
m o v e a b o u t , or t o g r a s p a n y t h i n g w i t h t h e i r h a n d s , t h e y
need a g r e a t d e a l of t i m e t o form s e n s a t i o n s which r e p r e s e n t ,
a n d so m a k e t h e m a w a r e of objects o u t s i d e of t h e m s e l v e s .
B u t , d u r i n g all this t i m e , while t h e s e o b j e c t s a r e e x t e n d i n g ,
a n d , a s it w e r e , r e c e d i n g from their e y e s , a s s u m i n g , t o t h e m ,
form and dimension, the constantly recurring sensations
begin t o s u b j e c t t h e little c r e a t u r e s t o t h e s w a y of h a b i t . We
see their eyes i n c e s s a n t l y t u r n i n g t o w a r d t h e l i g h t ; a n d , if it
comes to t h e m from one side, u n w i t t i n g l y t a k i n g t h e direc
tion of t h a t s i d e ; so t h a t their faces o u g h t t o be carefully
t u r n e d t o w a r d t h e light, lest t h e y b e c o m e s q u i n t - e y e d , or
a c c u s t o m t h e m s e l v e s t o look a w r y . T h e y should, also, early
a c c u s t o m t h e m s e l v e s to d a r k n e s s , or else t h e y will cry a n d
s c r e a m a s soon as t h e y are left in t h e d a r k . F o o d a n d sleep,
if too e x a c t l y p r o p o r t i o n e d , b e c o m e n e c e s s a r y t o t h e m after
t h e l a p s e of the s a m e i n t e r v a l s ; a n d soon t h e desire arises
n o t from necessity* b u t from h a b i t . O r r a t h e r , h a b i t a d d s a
n e w w a n t t o t h o s e of n a t u r e , a n d t h i s m u s t b e p r e v e n t e d .
T h e only h a b i t a child should be allowed t o form is t o con
t r a c t n o h a b i t s w h a t e v e r . L e t h i m n o t b e carried u p o n o n e
a r m more t h a n u p o n a n o t h e r ; let him n o t b e a c c u s t o m e d to
him for this. The ideal of those who assume the noble and difficult office
of a teacher of childhood cannot be placed too high. As to the pupil,
Rousseau imagines a child of average ability, in easy circumstances, and of
robust health. He makes him an only son and an orphan, so that no fam
ily vicissitudes may disturb the logic of his plan.
All this m a y b e summed up by saying that he considers the child in him
self with regard to his individual development, and without regard to his
relations to ordinary life. This at the same time renders his task easy, and
deprives him of an important element of education.
p u t forth o n e h a n d r a t h e r t h a n the o t h e r , or t o u s e it oftener ;
nor t o desire t o e a t , t o sleep, t o a c t in a n y w a y , a t r e g u l a r
h o u r s ; n o r t o be u n a b l e to s t a y alone either b y n i g h t or b y
d a y . P r e p a r e long b e f o r e h a n d for t h e t i m e w h e n he shall
freely u s e all his s t r e n g t h . D o t h i s b y l e a v i n g his b o d y
u n d e r t h e control of its n a t u r a l b e n t , b y fitting him t o b e
a l w a y s m a s t e r of himself, a n d t o c a r r y o u t his own will in
e v e r y t h i n g a s soon a s he h a s a will of his o w n .
Since t h e only k i n d s of objects p r e s e n t e d t o him are likely
t o m a k e h i m either timid or c o u r a g e o u s , w h y should n o t his
education begin before he s p e a k s or u n d e r s t a n d s ? I would
h a b i t u a t e him t o seeing n e w objects, t h o u g h t h e y b e ugly,
r e p u l s i v e , or s i n g u l a r . B u t let this be b y d e g r e e s , a n d from
a d i s t a n c e , until he h a s b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e m , a n d ,
from seeing t h e m h a n d l e d b y o t h e r s , shall a t l a s t h a n d l e
t h e m himself. If d u r i n g his infancy h e h a s seen w i t h o u t
fear frogs, s e r p e n t s , crawfishes, he will, w h e n g r o w n u p , see
w i t h o u t s h r i n k i n g a n y a n i m a l t h a t m a y b e s h o w n him. For
one w h o daily sees frightful o b j e c t s , there are n o n e s u c h .
A l l children are afraid of m a s k s . I b e g i n b y s h o w i n g
E m i l e t h e m a s k of a p l e a s a n t face. B y a n d b y s o m e o n e
p u t s t h e m a s k u p o n his own face, so t h a t t h e child c a n see
it. I b e g i n t o l a u g h ; every one else l a u g h s , a n d t h e child
with t h e r e s t . B y d e g r e e s I familiarize him with less comely
m a s k s , a n d finally with really hideous o n e s . I f I h a v e m a n
aged t h e p r o c e s s well, he will, far from b e i n g frightened a t
t h e l a s t m a s k , l a u g h a t it as he l a u g h e d a t t h e first. A f t e r
t h a t , I shall n o t fear his b e i n g f r i g h t e n e d b y a n y o n e with a
mask.
W h e n , in t h e farewell scene b e t w e e n H e c t o r a n d A n d r o
m a c h e , t h e little A s t y a n a x , terrified a t t h e p l u m e floating
from a helmet, fails t o r e c o g n i z e his f a t h e r , t h r o w s himself,
crying, u p o n his n u r s e ' s b r e a s t , a n d w i n s from his m o t h e r a
smile b r i g h t with t e a r s , w h a t o u g h t to b e d o n e t o soothe his
f e a r ? Precisely w h a t H e c t o r d o e s . H e p l a c e s t h e h e l m e t
oh t h e g r o u n d , a n d t h e n c a r e s s e s his child. A t a m o r e t r a n
quil m o m e n t , t h i s should n o t h a v e b e e n all. T h e y should
h a v e d r a w n n e a r t h e h e l m e t , p l a y e d with its p l u m e s , c a u s e d
t h e child t o h a n d l e t h e m . A t l a s t t h e n u r s e s h o u l d h a v e
lifted t h e h e l m e t a n d l a u g h i n g l y set it on h e r own head —
if, i n d e e d , t h e h a n d of a w o m a n d a r e d t o u c h t h e a r m o r of
Hector.
If I wish t o familiarize E m i l e with t h e noise of fire-arms,
I first b u r n s o m e p o w d e r in a pistol. T h e quickly v a n i s h i n g
flame, t h e n e w k i n d of l i g h t n i n g , g r e a t l y p l e a s e s him. I
repeat the process, using more powder. By degrees I put
i n t o t h e pistol a small c h a r g e , w i t h o u t r a m m i n g it d o w n ;
t h e n a l a r g e r c h a r g e ; finally, I a c c u s t o m him t o t h e noise of
a g u n , t o b o m b s , to c a n n o n - s h o t s , t o t h e m o s t terrific n o i s e s .
I h a v e noticed t h a t children a r e r a r e l y afraid of t h u n d e r ,
u n l e s s , i n d e e d , t h e t h u n d e r - c l a p s are so frightful a s a c t u a l l y
t o w o u n d t h e o r g a n of h e a r i n g . O t h e r w i s e , t h e y fear it only
7
w h e n the} h a v e b e e n t a u g h t t h a t t h u n d e r s o m e t i m e s w o u n d s
o r kills. W h e n r e a s o n begins to affright t h e m , let h a b i t
r e a s s u r e t h e m . B y a slow a n d well c o n d u c t e d p r o c e s s t h e
m a n or t h e child is r e n d e r e d fearless of e v e r y t h i n g .
I n t h i s o u t s e t of life, while m e m o r y a n d i m a g i n a t i o n a r e
T
still i n a c t i v e , t h e child pa} s a t t e n t i o n only t o w h a t a c t u a l l y
affects his s e n s e s . T h e first m a t e r i a l s of his k n o w l e d g e a r e
his s e n s a t i o n s . If, t h e r e f o r e , t h e s e a r e p r e s e n t e d t o him in
s u i t a b l e o r d e r , his m e m o r y c a n h e r e a f t e r p r e s e n t t h e m t o his
u n d e r s t a n d i n g in t h e s a m e o r d e r . B u t a s he a t t e n d s t o his
s e n s a t i o n s o n l y , it will a t first suffice t o show h i m v e i y
clearly t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e s e n s a t i o n s , a n d t h e
objects which give rise t o t h e m . H e is e a g e r t o t o u c h e v e r y
thing, to handle everything. D o not thwart this restless
d e s i r e ; it s u g g e s t s to him a v e r y n e c e s s a r y a p p r e n t i c e s h i p .
I t is t h u s he l e a r n s to feel t h e h e a t a n d c o l d n e s s , h a r d n e s s
a n d softness, heaviness a n d l i g h t n e s s of bodies ; to j u d g e of
their size, their s h a p e , a n d all their sensible qualities, b y
looking, b y t o u c h i n g , b y l i s t e n i n g ; a b o v e all, b y c o m p a r i n g
the r e s u l t s of sight with t h o s e of t o u c h , e s t i m a t i n g with t h e
eye t h e s e n s a t i o n a t h i n g p r o d u c e s u p o n t h e fingers.
B y m o v e m e n t alone we l e a r n t h e e x i s t e n c e of t h i n g s which
a r e n o t o u r s e l v e s ; a n d it is b y o u r o w n m o v e m e n t s alone
t h a t we g a i n t h e i d e a of e x t e n s i o n .
B e c a u s e t h e child h a s n o t this i d e a , he s t r e t c h e s o u t his
h a n d indifferently t o seize an o b j e c t which t o u c h e s him, or
one which is a h u n d r e d p a c e s d i s t a n t from h i m . T h e effort
he m a k e s in d o i n g this a p p e a r s t o you a sign of d o m i n a t i o n ,
a n o r d e r he gives t h e object to come n e a r e r , or to y o u t o
b r i n g it t o him. I t is n o t h i n g of t h e k i n d . I t m e a n s only
t h a t t h e object seen first within t h e b r a i n , t h e n u p o n t h e eye,
is now seen a t a r m ' s l e n g t h , a n d t h a t he does n o t conceive
of a n y d i s t a n c e be yond his r e a c h . B e careful, t h e n , t o w a l k
i
M a x i m s to K e e p u s True to Nature.
Language.
F R O M t h e t i m e t h e y a r e b o r n , children h e a r people s p e a k .
7
T h e j a r e s p o k e n t o n o t only before t h e y u n d e r s t a n d w h a t
7
is said to t h e m , b u t b e f o r e the} c a n r e p e a t t h e s o u n d s t h e y
hear. T h e i r o r g a n s , still b e n u m b e d , a d a p t t h e m s e l v e s o n l y
b y degrees t o i m i t a t i n g t h e s o u n d s d i c t a t e d t o t h e m , a n d it
is not e v e n c e r t a i n t h a t t h e s e s o u n d s a r e b o r n e t o t h e i r e a r s
a t first as d i s t i n c t l y a s to o u r s .
I d o n o t d i s a p p r o v e of a n u r s e ' s a m u s i n g t h e child with
s o n g s , a n d with blithe a n d v a r i e d t o n e s . B u t T d o d i s a p
p r o v e of her p e r p e t u a l l y d e a f e n i n g him with a m u l t i t u d e of
useless w o r d s , of which h e u n d e r s t a n d s only t h e t o n e she
gives t h e m .
I would like t h e first a r t i c u l a t e s o u n d s he m u s t h e a r t o be
few in n u m b e r , e a s y , d i s t i n c t , often r e p e a t e d . T h e w o r d s
t h e y form should r e p r e s e n t only m a t e r i a l objects which c a n
b e shown h i m . O u r u n f o r t u n a t e r e a d i n e s s t o c o n t e n t our
selves with words t h a t h a v e no m e a n i n g to u s w h a t e v e r ,
b e g i n s earlier t h a n we s u p p o s e . E v e n as in his s w a d d l i n g -
clothes t h e child h e a r s his n u r s e ' s b a b b l e , he h e a r s in class
t h e v e r b i a g e of his t e a c h e r . I t s t r i k e s m e t h a t if h e were t o
be so b r o u g h t u p t h a t he could n o t u n d e r s t a n d it a t all, he
1
w o u l d - b e v e r y well i n s t r u c t e d .
Eeflections c r o w d u p o n us w h e n we s e t a b o u t discussing
t h e f o r m a t i o n of c h i l d r e n ' s l a n g u a g e , a n d their b a b y t a l k
itself. I n spite of u s , t h e y a l w a y s l e a r n t o s p e a k b y t h e
s a m e p r o c e s s , a n d all o u r philosophical s p e c u l a t i o n s a b o u t it
a r e entirely u s e l e s s .
They s e e m , a t first, t o h a v e a g r a m m a r a d a p t e d t o t h e i r
o w n a g e , a l t h o u g h its r u l e s of s y n t a x a r e m o r e g e n e r a l t h a n
o u r s . A n d if we w e r e t o p a y close a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m , we
should be a s t o n i s h e d a t t h e e x a c t n e s s with which t h e y follow
c e r t a i n a n a l o g i e s , v e r y faulty if you will, b u t v e r y r e g u l a r ,
t h a t a r e d i s p l e a s i n g only b e c a u s e h a r s h , or b e c a u s e u s a g e
does n o t recognize t h e m .
I t is u n b e a r a b l e p e d a n t r y , a n d a m o s t useless l a b o r , t o
1
No doubt this sarcasm is applicable to those teachers who talk so as to
say nothing. A teacher ought, on the contrary, to speak only so as to be
understood by the child. He ought to adapt himself to the child's ca
pacity; to employ no useless or conventional expressions; his language
ought to arouse curiosity and to impart light.
a t t e m p t correcting in children every little fault a g a i n s t u s a g e ;
t h e y n e v e r fail t h e m s e l v e s t o correct t h e s e f a u l t s in t i m e .
A l w a y s s p e a k correctly in t h e i r p r e s e n c e ; o r d e r it so t h a t
they are n e v e r so h a p p y with a n y one as with y o u ; a n d r e s t
a s s u r e d t h e i r l a n g u a g e will insensibly be purified b y y o u r
o w n , without y o u r h a v i n g ever r e p r o v e d t h e m . -
B u t a n o t h e r error, which h a s a n entirety different b e a r i n g
on t h e m a t t e r , a n d is n o less easy t o p r e v e n t , is our b e i n g
o v e r - a n x i o u s t o m a k e t h e m s p e a k , as if we f e a r e d t h e y
m i g h t n o t of their own accord l e a r n t o d o s o . O u r injudi
cious h a s t e h a s a n effect e x a c t l y c o n t r a r y t o w h a t we wish.
O n a c c o u n t of it t h e y l e a r n more slowly a n d s p e a k m o r e
indistinctly. T h e marked attention paid to everything they
u t t e r m a k e s it u n n e c e s s a r y for t h e m t o a r t i c u l a t e d i s t i n c t l y .
7
A s the} h a r d l y c o n d e s c e n d t o o p e n their l i p s , m a n y r e t a i n
t h r o u g h o u t life a n imperfect p r o n u n c i a t i o n a n d a confused
m a n n e r of s p e a k i n g , which m a k e s t h e m n e a r l y unintelligible.
Children w h o are t o o m u c h u r g e d t o s p e a k h a v e n o t t i m e
sufficient for l e a r n i n g either t o p r o n o u n c e carefully or to
u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y w h a t t h e y are m a d e t o s a y . If, in
7
s t e a d , the} a r e left to t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y a t first p r a c t i s e u s i n g
t h e syllables t h e y c a n m o s t readily u t t e r ; a n d g r a d u a l l y
a t t a c h i n g to t h e s e some m e a n i n g t h a t can be g a t h e r e d from
their g e s t u r e s , t h e y g i v e you their o w n w o r d s before acquir
i n g y o u r s . T h u s t h e y receive y o u r s o n l y after t h e y u n d e r
s t a n d t h e m . N o t b e i n g u r g e d to use t h e m , t h e y notice
carefully w h a t m e a n i n g you give t h e m ; a n d , w h e n t h e y are
sure of t h i s , t h e y a d o p t it as t h e i r o w n .
T h e g r e a t e s t evil arising from our h a s t e t o m a k e children
s p e a k before t h e y a r e old e n o u g h is n o t t h a t our first t a l k s
with t h e m , a n d t h e first w o r d s t h e y u s e , h a v e n o m e a n i n g
to t h e m , b u t t h a t t h e y h a v e a m e a n i n g different from o u r s ,
without our b e i n g able t o p e r c e i v e it. T h u s , while t h e y seem
to be a n s w e r i n g us v e r y c o r r e c t l y , t h e y a r e realty a d d r e s s i n g
u s w i t h o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g u s , a n d w i t h o u t our u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h e m . T o such a m b i g u o u s discourse is d u e t h e s u r p r i s e we
sometimes feel a t their s a y i n g s , to which we a t t a c h i d e a s t h e
children t h e m s e l v e s h a v e n o t d r e a m e d of. T h i s i n a t t e n t i o n
of ours t o t h e t r u e m e a n i n g w o r d s h a v e for children s e e m s t o
m e t h e c a u s e of their first m i s t a k e s , a n d these e r r o r s , even
after children a r e cured of t h e m , influence t h e i r t u r n of m i n d
for t h e r e m a i n d e r of their life.
T h e first d e v e l o p m e n t s of childhood occur a l m o s t all a t
o n c e . T h e child l e a r n s to s p e a k , to eat, t o walk, n e a r l y a t
t h e s a m e t i m e . T h i s i s , p r o p e r l y , t h e first epoch of his life.
B e f o r e t h e n he is n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n he w a s before he w a s
b o r n ; he h a s n o t a s e n t i m e n t , n o t an i d e a ; he scarcely h a s
s e n s a t i o n s ; he does n o t feel even his own e x i s t e n c e .
BOOK SECOND.
T .
H I S is t h e s e c o n d p e r i o d of life, a n d t h e o n e a t w h i c h ,
p r o p e r l y s p e a k i n g , i n f a n c y e n d s ; for t h e w o r d s
1
infans
a n d puer are not s y n o n y m o u s . T h e first is i n c l u d e d in t h e
s e c o n d , a n d m e a n s one who cannot speak: t h u s in V a l e r i u s
M a x i m u s we find t h e e x p r e s s i o n puerum infantem. But I
shall c o n t i n u e t o e m p l o y t h e w o r d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e u s a g e of
t h e F r e n c h l a n g u a g e , u n t i l I a m d e s c r i b i n g t h e a g e for w h i c h
there are other names.
1
Puer, child; infans, one who does not speak.
W h e n children b e g i n t o s p e a k , t h e y cry less often. This
s t e p in a d v a n c e is n a t u r a l ; one l a n g u a g e is s u b s t i t u t e d for
a n o t h e r . A s soon as the}* c a n u t t e r t h e i r c o m p l a i n t s in
w o r d s , w h y should t h e y cry, u n l e s s t h e suffering is t o o k e e n
t o b e e x p r e s s e d by w o r d s ? I f t h e y t h e n c o n t i n u e to cry, it
is t h e fault of t h o s e a r o u n d t h e m . A f t e r E m i l e h a s once
said, " I t h u r t s m e , " only a c u t e suffering can force him t o
cry.
If t h e child is physically so delicate a n d sensitive t h a t he
n a t u r a l l y cries a b o u t n o t h i n g , I will soon e x h a u s t t h e foun
t a i n of his t e a r s , b y m a k i n g t h e m ineffectual. So long a s
he cries, I will n o t g o t o him ; as soon a s he s t o p s , I will
r u n t o h i m . V e r y soon h i s m e t h o d of calling m e will b e t o
k e e p quiet, or a t t h e u t m o s t , t o u t t e r a single c r y . Children
j u d g e of t h e m e a n i n g of signs b y their p a l p a b l e effect; t h e y
h a v e n o o t h e r r u l e . W h a t e v e r h a r m a child m a y do himself,
he v e r y r a r e l y cries w h e n a l o n e , u n l e s s w i t h t h e h o p e of
being heard.
If he fall, if he bruise his h e a d , if his nose b l e e d , if he
cut his finger, I should, i n s t e a d of b u s t l i n g a b o u t him with
a look of a l a r m , r e m a i n quiet, a t l e a s t for a little while.
T h e mischief is d o n e ; he m u s t e n d u r e i t ; all my a n x i e t y
will o n l y serve t o frighten him m o r e , a n d t o i n c r e a s e his sen
s i t i v e n e s s . A f t e r all, when we h u r t o u r s e l v e s , it is less t h e
shock which p a i n s us t h a n the fright. I will s p a r e him a t
l e a s t t h i s l a s t p a n g ; for he will c e r t a i n l y e s t i m a t e his h u r t
a s he sees m e e s t i m a t e it. If he sees m e r u n a n x i o u s l y to
c o m f o r t a n d t o pity h i m , he will t h i n k himself seriously h u r t ;
b u t if he sees m e k e e p m y p r e s e n c e of m i n d , he will soon
r e c o v e r his o w n , a n d will t h i n k t h e p a i n cured when he no
l o n g e r feels it. A t his a g e we l e a r n o u r first lessons in cour
a g e ; a n d b y fearlessly e n d u r i n g l i g h t e r sufferings, we g r a d
ually learn t o b e a r t h e h e a v i e r o n e s .
AVOID TAKING TOO M A N Y P R E C A U T I O N S . 41
Childhood is to be Loved.
A L T H O U G H t h e l o n g e s t t e r m of h u m a n life, a n d t h e p r o b a
bility, a t a n y given a g e , of r e a c h i n g t h i s t e r m , h a v e b e e n
c o m p u t e d , n o t h i n g is m o r e u n c e r t a i n t h a n t h e c o n t i n u a n c e of
e a c h individual l i f e : v e r y few a t t a i n t h e m a x i m u m . The
g r e a t e s t r i s k s in life a r e a t its b e g i n n i n g ; t h e less one h a s
lived, t h e less p r o s p e c t h e h a s of living.
Of all children b o r n , only a b o u t half r e a c h y o u t h ; a n d it
is p r o b a b l e t h a t y o u r pupil m a y n e v e r a t t a i n t o m a n h o o d .
W h a t , t h e n , m u s t b e t h o u g h t of t h a t b a r b a r o u s e d u c a t i o n
w h i c h sacrifices t h e p r e s e n t t o ail u n c e r t a i n future, l o a d s t h e
child w i t h e v e r y description of f e t t e r s , a n d b e g i n s , b y m a k
i n g h i m w r e t c h e d , t o p r e p a r e for him s o m e f a r - a w a y indefi
nite h a p p i n e s s he m a y n e v e r e n j o y ! E v e n s u p p o s i n g t h e
o b j e c t of s u c h a n e d u c a t i o n r e a s o n a b l e , how c a n we w i t h o u t
i n d i g n a t i o n see t h e u n f o r t u n a t e c r e a t u r e s b o w e d u n d e r an
i n s u p p o r t a b l e y o k e , d o o m e d to c o n s t a n t l a b o r like so m a n y
g a l l e y - s l a v e s , w i t h o u t a n y c e r t a i n t y t h a t all t h i s toil will ever
b e of u s e t o t h e m ! T h e y e a r s t h a t o u g h t t o b e b r i g h t a n d
cheerful a r e p a s s e d in t e a r s a m i d p u n i s h m e n t s , t h r e a t s , a n d
s l a v e r y . F o r his o w n g o o d , t h e u n h a p p y child is t o r t u r e d ;
C H I L D H O O D I S TO B E LOVED. 43
1
Reading these lines, we are reminded of the admirable works of Dick
ens, the celebrated English novelist, who so touchingly depicts the suffer
ings of children smade unhappy by the inhumanity of teachers, or neglected
as to their need of free air, of liberty, of affection: David Copperfield,
Hard Times, Nicholas Nickleby, Dombey and Son, Oliver Twist, Little Dor-
rit, and the like.
t h e m will h a v e t o b e e n c o u n t e r e d d u r i n g t h e a g e of r e a s o n . "
B u t who h a s told y o u t h a t it is y o u r p r o v i n c e to m a k e t h i s
a r r a n g e m e n t , a n d t h a t all t h e s e fine i n s t r u c t i o n s , with which
y o u b u r d e n t h e t e n d e r m i n d of a child, will n o t o n e d a y b e
m o r e pernicious t h a n useful t o him ? W h o a s s u r e s y o u t h a t
you s p a r e h i m a n y t h i n g w h e n y o u d e a l h i m afflictions w i t h
so lavish a h a n d ? W h y d o y o u c a u s e him m o r e u n h a p p i n e s s
t h a n he c a n b e a r , w h e n y o u a r e n o t sure t h a t the f u t u r e will
c o m p e n s a t e him for t h e s e p r e s e n t evils ? A n d h o w c a n you
p r o v e t h a t t h e evil t e n d e n c i e s of which you p r e t e n d t o cure
him will n o t arise from y o u r m i s t a k e n care r a t h e r t h a n from
n a t u r e itself ! U n h a p p y foresight, which r e n d e r s a c r e a t u r e
actually m i s e r a b l e , in t h e h o p e , well or ill f o u n d e d , of one
d a y m a k i n g him h a p p y !' I f t h e s e v u l g a r r e a s o n e r s confound
license w i t h l i b e r t y , a n d m i s t a k e a spoiled child for a child
w h o is m a d e h a p p y , let u s t e a c h t h e m t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e t w o .
T o avoid b e i n g m i s l e d , let u s r e m e m b e r w h a t r e a l l y a c
c o r d s with o u r p r e s e n t abilities. H u m a n i t y h a s its p l a c e in
t h e g e n e r a l o r d e r of t h i n g s ; childhood h a s its p l a c e in t h e
o r d e r of h u m a n life. M a n k i n d m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d in t h e
i n d i v i d u a l m a n , a n d childhood in t h e i n d i v i d u a l child. T o
a s s i g n e a c h his p l a c e , a n d t o establish him in it — t o direct
h u m a n p a s s i o n s a s h u m a n n a t u r e will p e r m i t — is all we c a n
do for his w e l f a r e . T h e r e s t d e p e n d s o n o u t s i d e influences
not under our control.
1
Here he means Xerxes, King of Persia, who had built an immense
bridge of boats over the Hellespont to transport his army from Asia into
Europe. A storm having destroyed this bridge, the all-powerful monarch,
furious at the insubordination of the elements, ordered chains to be cast
into the sea, and had the rebellious waves beaten with rods.
If t h e s e i d e a s of a u t h o r i t y a n d of t y r a n n y m a k e t h e m
u n h a p p y from t h e i r v e r y childhood, h o w will it b e with t h e m
w h e n t h e y a r e g r o w n , a n d w h e n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s with others
begin to be extended and multiplied?
A c c u s t o m e d t o seeing e v e r y t h i n g give way b e f o r e t h e m ,
how s u r p r i s e d t h e y will be on e n t e r i n g t h e world t o find
t h e m s e l v e s c r u s h e d b e n e a t h t h e w e i g h t of t h a t u n i v e r s e t h e y
h a v e e x p e c t e d to m o v e a t their own p l e a s u r e ! T h e i r i n s o l e n t
airs a n d childish v a n i t y will only b r i n g u p o n t h e m mortifica
tion, c o n t e m p t , a n d ridicule ; t h e y m u s t swallow affront after
affront; cruel trials will t e a c h t h e m t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d
n e i t h e r their own position n o r their o w n s t r e n g t h . U n a b l e t o
d o e v e r y t h i n g , t h e y will t h i n k t h e m s e l v e s u n a b l e t o d o a n y
t h i n g . So m a n y u n u s u a l o b s t a c l e s d i s h e a r t e n t h e m , so m u c h
contempt degrades them. They become base, cowardly,
c r i n g i n g , a n d sink a s far below t h e i r r e a l self as t h e y h a d
i m a g i n e d t h e m s e l v e s a b o v e it.
L e t u s r e t u r n t o t h e original o r d e r of t h i n g s . N a t u r e h a s
m a d e children t o b e loved a n d helped ; h a s she m a d e t h e m to
b e o b e y e d a n d feared ? H a s she given t h e m a n i m p o s i n g air,
a s t e r n e y e , a h a r s h a n d t h r e a t e n i n g voice, so t h a t t h e y m a y
inspire fear ? I can u n d e r s t a n d w h y t h e r o a r of a lion fills
o t h e r c r e a t u r e s with d r e a d , a n d why the}" t r e m b l e a t sight of
his t e r r i b l e c o u n t e n a n c e . B u t if ever t h e r e were an u n b e c o m
i n g , hateful, ridiculous s p e c t a c l e , it is t h a t of a b o d y of m a g
i s t r a t e s in their r o b e s of c e r e m o n y , a n d h e a d e d b y their chief,
p r o s t r a t e before a n infant in l o n g c l o t h e s , w h o t o t h e i r p o m p o u s
1
h a r a n g u e replies only b y s c r e a m s or b y childish d r i v e l !
1
The feeling of a republican, of the " citizen of Geneva," justly shocked
by monarchial superstitions. Louis XIV. and Louis XV. had had, in fact,
from the days of their first playthings, the degrading spectacle of a univer
sal servility prostrated before their cradle. The sentiment here uttered
was still uncommon and almost unknown when Rousseau wrote it. He did
much toward creating it and making it popular.
C o n s i d e r i n g infancy in itself, is t h e r e a c r e a t u r e o n e a r t h
more helpless, m o r e u n h a p p y , m o r e a t the m e r c y of every
t h i n g a r o u n d him, m o r e in n e e d of c o m p a s s i o n , of c a r e , of
protection, t h a n a c h i l d ? D o e s it n o t seem as if his sweet
face a n d t o u c h i n g a s p e c t w e r e i n t e n d e d to i n t e r e s t every one
who comes n e a r h i m , a n d t o u r g e t h e m to assist his w e a k n e s s ?
W h a t then is m o r e o u t r a g e o u s , m o r e c o n t r a r y t o t h e fitness of
t h i n g s , t h a n t o see a n imperious a n d h e a d s t r o n g child order
ing a b o u t t h o s e a r o u n d h i m , i m p u d e n t l y t a k i n g t h e t o n e of a
m a s t e r t o w a r d t h o s e w h o , t o d e s t r o y h i m , n e e d only l e a v e
h i m to himself!
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , w h o d o e s n o t see t h a t since t h e w e a k
n e s s of infanc}^ fetters children in so m a n y w a y s , we a r e
b a r b a r o u s if we a d d t o t h i s n a t u r a l subjection a b o n d a g e t o
T
our own caprices b} t a k i n g from t h e m t h e limited freedom
t h e y h a v e , a freedom t h e y are so little able to m i s u s e , a n d
from the loss of which we a n d t h e y h a v e so little to g a i n ?
A s n o t h i n g is m o r e ridiculous t h a n a h a u g h t y child, so noth -
i n g is more pitiable t h a n a c o w a r d l y child.
1
Since with y e a r s of r e a s o n civil b o n d a g e b e g i n s , w h y
a n t i c i p a t e it b y s l a v e r y a t h o m e ? L e t us leave o n e m o m e n t
of life e x e m p t f r o m a y o k e n a t u r e h a s n o t laid u p o n u s , a n d
allow childhood t h e exercise of t h a t n a t u r a l liberty which
k e e p s it safe, a t l e a s t for a t i m e , from t h e vices t a u g h t b y
slavery. L e t t h e over-strict t e a c h e r a n d t h e o v e r - i n d u l g e n t
p a r e n t b o t h come w i t h their e m p t y cavils, a n d before they
b o a s t of t h e i r o w n m e t h o d s let t h e m l e a r n t h e m e t h o d of
N a t u r e herself.
1
Civil bondage, as understood by Rousseau, consists in the laws and
obligations of civilized life itself. He extols the state of nature as the ideal
condition, the condition of perfect freedom, without seeing that, on the
contrary, true liberty cannot exist without the protection of laws, while the
state of nature is only the enslavement of the weak by the strong — the
triumph of brute force.
Reasoning should not begin too soon.
L O C K E ' S g r e a t m a x i m w a s t h a t we o u g h t t o r e a s o n with
children, a n d j u s t n o w this m a x i m is m u c h in fashion. I
t h i n k , h o w e v e r , t h a t its success d o e s n o t w a r r a n t its r e p u t a
tion, a n d I find n o t h i n g m o r e s t u p i d t h a n children w h o h a v e
b e e n so m u c h r e a s o n e d w i t h . R e a s o n , a p p a r e n t l y a com
p o u n d of all other faculties, t h e one l a t e s t d e v e l o p e d , a n d
with m o s t difficulty, is t h e o n e p r o p o s e d as a g e n t in u n f o l d i n g
t h e faculties earliest used ! T h e n o b l e s t work of e d u c a t i o n
is t o m a k e a r e a s o n i n g m a n , a n d we e x p e c t to t r a i n a y o u n g
child b y m a k i n g him r e a s o n ! T h i s is b e g i n n i n g a t t h e end ;
this is m a k i n g an i n s t r u m e n t of a r e s u l t . I f children u n d e r
s t o o d how t o r e a s o n t h e y would n o t need to be e d u c a t e d .
T
B u t b y a d d r e s s i n g t h e m from their t e n d e r e s t } ears in a
l a n g u a g e t h e y c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d , y o u a c c u s t o m t h e m to be
satisfied with w o r d s , t o find fault with w h a t e v e r is said to
t h e m , to t h i n k t h e m s e l v e s a s wise as their t e a c h e r s , to w r a n g l e
a n d rebel. A n d w h a t we m e a n t h e y shall d o from r e a s o n a b l e
m o t i v e s we are forced to o b t a i n from t h e m b y a d d i n g t h e
m o t i v e of a v a r i c e , or of fear, or of v a n i t y .
N a t u r e i n t e n d s t h a t children shall b e children before t h e y
a r e m e n . If we insist o n r e v e r s i n g this o r d e r we shall h a v e
fruit early i n d e e d , b u t u n r i p e a n d t a s t e l e s s , a n d liable t o
r
e a r l y d e c a y ; we shall h a v e 3 oung s a v a n t s a n d old children.
C h i l d h o o d h a s its own m e t h o d s of s e e i n g , t h i n k i n g , a n d
feeling. N o t h i n g shows less sense t h a n t o t r y t o s u b s t i t u t e
our o w n m e t h o d s for t h e s e . I would r a t h e r require a child
T
t e n } ears old to b e five feet tall t h a n t o b e j u d i c i o u s . I n d e e d ,
w h a t use would he h a v e a t t h a t a g e for t h e p o w e r t o r e a s o n ?
I t is a check u p o n p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h , a n d t h e child n e e d s
none.
REASONING SHOULD NOT B E G I N TOO SOON. 53
Proceed Slowly.
M A Y I v e n t u r e t o s t a t e here t h e g r e a t e s t , t h e m o s t impor
t a n t , t h e m o s t useful rule in all e d u c a t i o n ? I t i s , n o t to
g a i n t i m e , b u t to lose it. F o r g i v e t h e p a r a d o x , O m y ordi
n a r y r e a d e r ! I t m u s t b e u t t e r e d by a n y o n e w h o reflects,
a n d w h a t e v e r y o u m a y s a y , I prefer p a r a d o x e s t o p r e j u d i c e s .
T h e m o s t perilous i n t e r v a l of h u m a n life is t h a t b e t w e e n b i r t h
a n d t h e a g e of twelve y e a r s . A t t h a t time e r r o r s a n d vices
t a k e r o o t w i t h o u t our h a v i n g a n y m e a n s of d e s t r o y i n g t h e m ;
a n d when t h e i n s t r u m e n t is f o u n d , t h e t i m e for u p r o o t i n g t h e m
is p a s t . I f children could s p r i n g a t one b o u n d from t h e
m o t h e r ' s b r e a s t t o t h e a g e of r e a s o n , t h e e d u c a t i o n given
t h e m n o w - a - d a y s would b e s u i t a b l e ; b u t in t h e d u e o r d e r of
n a t u r e t h e y need one entirely different. T h e y should n o t
u s e t h e m i n d a t all, until it h a s all its faculties. F o r while
it is blind it c a n n o t see the t o r c h you p r e s e n t to i t ; n o r c a n
it follow on t h e i m m e n s e plain of ideas a p a t h which, even
for t h e k e e n e s t e y e s i g h t , r e a s o n t r a c e s so faintly.
T h e earliest e d u c a t i o n o u g h t , t h e n , to be purely n e g a t i v e .
I t consists n o t in t e a c h i n g t r u t h or v i r t u e , b u t in s h i e l d i n g
t h e h e a r t from vice a n d t h e m i n d from e r r o r . If you could
do n o t h i n g a t all, a n d allow n o t h i n g t o be d o n e ; if you
could b r i n g u p y o u r p u p i l s o u n d a n d r o b u s t t o t h e age of
twelve y e a r s , w i t h o u t his k n o w i n g how to d i s t i n g u i s h his
right h a n d from his left, t h e eyes of his u n d e r s t a n d i n g would
from the v e r y first o p e n t o r e a s o n . W i t h o u t a prejudice or
a habit, t h e r e w o u l d b e in him n o t h i n g t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e
effect of y o u r c a r e . Before long h e w o u l d b e c o m e in y o u r
h a n d s the wisest of m e n ; a n d b e g i n n i n g b y d o i n g n o t h i n g ,
you would h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d a m a r v e l in e d u c a t i o n .
R e v e r s e t h e c o m m o n p r a c t i c e , a n d you will n e a r l y always
d o well. P a r e n t s and t e a c h e r s desiring t o m a k e of a child
n o t a child, b u t a l e a r n e d m a n , h a v e n e v e r b e g u n e a r l y e n o u g h
t o chide, to correct, to r e p r i m a n d , t o flatter, to p r o m i s e , t o
i n s t r u c t , to discourse r e a s o n to him. D o b e t t e r t h a n t h i s :
b e r e a s o n a b l e yourself, a n d d o n o t a r g u e with y o u r pupil, l e a s t
of all, t o m a k e him a p p r o v e w h a t he dislikes. F o r if y o u
p e r s i s t in r e a s o n i n g a b o u t d i s a g r e e a b l e t h i n g s , y o u m a k e
r e a s o n i n g d i s a g r e e a b l e t o h i m , a n d w e a k e n its influence
b e f o r e h a n d in a m i n d as y e t unfitted t o u n d e r s t a n d it. Keep
his o r g a n s , his s e n s e s , his physical s t r e n g t h , busy; b u t , as
l o n g as possible, k e e p his m i n d i n a c t i v e . G u a r d a g a i n s t all
s e n s a t i o n s a r i s i n g in a d v a n c e of j u d g m e n t , which e s t i m a t e s
their t r u e v a l u e . K e e p b a c k a n d check u n f a m i l i a r i m p r e s
s i o n s , a n d b e in no h a s t e to d o good for t h e s a k e of p r e v e n t i n g
evil. F o r t h e good is n o t real unless e n l i g h t e n e d b y r e a s o n .
R e g a r d e v e r y d e l a y as an a d v a n t a g e ; for m u c h is g a i n e d if
t h e critical period b e a p p r o a c h e d w i t h o u t losing a n y t h i n g .
L e t childhood h a v e its full g r o w t h . If i n d e e d a l e s s o n m u s t
b e g i v e n , avoid it to-clay, if you c a n w i t h o u t d a n g e r d e l a y
it until t o - m o r r o w .
A n o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n which p r o v e s t h i s m e t h o d useful is
t h e peculiar b e n t of t h e child's m i n d . T h i s o u g h t to be well
u n d e r s t o o d if we would k n o w w h a t m o r a l g o v e r n m e n t is b e s t
a d a p t e d t o him. E a c h h a s his own c a s t of m i n d , in accord
a n c e with which he m u s t be d i r e c t e d ; a n d if we would suc
ceed, he m u s t be ruled a c c o r d i n g to t h i s n a t u r a l b e n t a n d n o
o t h e r . B e judicious : w a t c h n a t u r e l o n g , a n d observe y o u r
pupil carefully before y o u s a y a word t o h i m . A t first leave
t h e g e r m of his c h a r a c t e r free t o disclose itself. R e p r e s s it
a s little as p o s s i b l e , so t h a t you m a y t h e b e t t e r see all t h e r e
is of it.
D o 3^011 t h i n k this s e a s o n of free action will b e t i m e lost t o
him ? O n t h e c o n t r a r y , it will be e m p l o y e d in t h e b e s t way
possible. F o r b y this m e a n s y o u will l e a r n n o t t o lose a sin
gle m o m e n t w h e n t i m e is m o r e p r e c i o u s ; w h e r e a s , if y o u
begin t o a c t before you k n o w w h a t o u g h t t o b e d o n e , y o u
T
act a t r a n d o m . L i a b l e t o deceive 3 ourself, y o u will h a v e t o
r
r e t r a c e }-our s t e p s , a n d will b e f a r t h e r from } our object t h a n
if you h a d b e e n less in h a s t e t o r e a c h it. D o n o t t h e n act
like a miser, who, in o r d e r t o lose n o t h i n g , loses a g r e a t deal.
A t t h e earlier age sacrifice t i m e which 3^011 will r e c o v e r with
i n t e r e s t l a t e r o n . T h e wise physician does n o t give direc
tions a t first s i g h t of his p a t i e n t , b u t s t u d i e s t h e sick m a n ' s
t e m p e r a m e n t , before p r e s c r i b i n g . H e b e g i n s l a t e with his
T
t r e a t m e n t , b u t c u r e s t h e m a n : t h e ove«*-hast3 p h y s i c i a n kills
him.
R e m e m b e r t h a t , before y o u v e n t u r e u n d e r t a k i n g t o form a
m a n , you m u s t h a v e m a d e yourself a m a n ; y o u m u s t find in
yourself the e x a m p l e you o u g h t t o offer h i m . W h i l e t h e
child is yet w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e t h e r e is t i m e to p r e p a r e every
t h i n g a b o u t him so t h a t his first glance shall discover only
r
w h a t he o u g h t t o s e e . M a k e everybod3 r e s p e c t you ; b e g i n
7
b y m a k i n g yourself beloved, so t h a t eveiybod3 will t r y t o
please you. Y o u will n o t b e t h e child's m a s t e r unless y o u
are m a s t e r of e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d him, a n d this a u t h o r i t y will
not suffice u n l e s s founded o n esteem for v i r t u e .
T h e r e is n o u s e in e x h a u s t i n g y o u r p u r s e b y l a v i s h i n g
money : I h a v e n e v e r observed t h a t m o n e y m a d e a n y o n e
beloved. Y o u m u s t n o t be miserly or unfeeling, o r l a m e n t
the distress y o u c a n r e l i e v e ; b u t you will open 3-our coffers
in vain if you do n o t open y o u r heart"; t h e h e a r t s of o t h e r s
will be forever closed to you. Y o u m u s t give y o u r t i m e ,
r T
your care, } our affection, yourself. F o r w h a t e v e r 3 ou m a y
d o , 3'our m o n e y certainly is n o t yourself. T o k e n s of i n t e r e s t
a n d of k i n d n e s s go f a r t h e r a n d a r e of m o r e u s e t h a n any
gifts w h a t e v e r . H o w m a n y u n h a p p y p e r s o n s , h o w m a n y
sufferers, n e e d consolation f a r m o r e t h a n a l m s ! H o w m a n y
who are o p p r e s s e d a r e aided r a t h e r b y p r o t e c t i o n t h a n b y
money!
Reconcile t h o s e w h o a r e a t v a r i a n c e ; p r e v e n t l a w s u i t s ;
p e r s u a d e children t o filial d u t y a n d p a r e n t s t o g e n t l e n e s s .
E n c o u r a g e h a p p y m a r r i a g e s ; h i n d e r d i s t u r b a n c e s ; u s e freely
t h e i n t e r e s t of y o u r p u p i l ' s family on behalf of t h e w e a k who
a r e d e n i e d justice a n d o p p r e s s e d b y t h e powerful. Boldly
d e c l a r e yourself t h e c h a m p i o n of t h e u n f o r t u n a t e . B e j u s t ,
h u m a n e , beneficent. B e n o t c o n t e n t with giving a l m s ; b e
c h a r i t a b l e . K i n d n e s s relieves m o r e d i s t r e s s t h a n m o n e y c a n
r e a c h . L o v e o t h e r s , a n d t h e y will love y o u ; s e r v e t h e m ,
a n d t h e y will serve y o u ; be their b r o t h e r , a n d t h e y will b e
T
3 our c h i l d r e n .
B l a m e o t h e r s n o l o n g e r for t h e mischief y o u yourself a r e
d o i n g . C h i l d r e n a r e less c o r r u p t e d b y t h e h a r m t h e y s e e
than by that you teach them.
Alwaj^s p r e a c h i n g , a l w a y s m o r a l i z i n g , a l w a y s a c t i n g t h e
p e d a n t , y o u give t h e m t w e n t y w o r t h l e s s i d e a s w h e n you
t h i n k y o u a r e giving t h e m one g o o d o n e . F u l l of w h a t is
p a s s i n g in y o u r o w n m i n d , y o u d o n o t see t h e effect y o u are
producing upon theirs.
I n t h e p r o l o n g e d t o r r e n t of w o r d s with which you inces
s a n t l y w e a r y t h e m , d o }^ou t h i n k t h e r e a r e n o n e t h e y m a y
m i s u n d e r s t a n d ? D o you i m a g i n e t h a t t h e y will n o t c o m m e n t
in t h e i r o w n w a y u p o n y o u r w o r d y e x p l a n a t i o n s , a n d find in
t h e m a s y s t e m a d a p t e d to their o w n c a p a c i t y , which, if n e e d
be, they can use against you?
L i s t e n t o a little fellow w h o h a s j u s t b e e n u n d e r i n s t r u c
t i o n . L e t h i m p r a t t l e , q u e s t i o n , b l u n d e r , j u s t as he p l e a s e s ,
and you will b e s u r p r i s e d a t t h e t u r n y o u r r e a s o n i n g s h a v e
t a k e n in his m i n d . H e confounds one thing with another ;
he r e v e r s e s e v e r y t h i n g ; h e t i r e s y o u , s o m e t i m e s worries y o u ,
by unexpected objections. He forces you t o hold your
p e a c e , or t o m a k e him hold h i s . A n d w h a t m u s t h e t h i n k of
t h i s silence, in o n e so fond of t a l k i n g ? If ever h e wins t h i s
a d v a n t a g e a n d k n o w s t h e fact, farewell t o his e d u c a t i o n .
H e will n o l o n g e r t r y t o l e a r n , b u t t o refute w h a t y o u s a y .
t
Be p l a i n , d i s c r e e t , r e t i c e n t , 3 OU w h o a r e z e a l o u s t e a c h e r s .
Be in n o h a s t e t o a c t , e x c e p t t o p r e v e n t o t h e r s from a c t i n g .
A g a i n a n d a g a i n I s a y , p o s t p o n e even a g o o d lesson if
T
J OU c a n , for fear of c o n v e y i n g a b a d o n e . On this earth,
m e a n t by n a t u r e t o b e m a n ' s first p a r a d i s e , b e w a r e lest you
a c t t h e t e m p t e r b y g i v i n g t o i n n o c e n c e t h e k n o w l e d g e of
good a n d evil. Since you c a n n o t p r e v e n t t h e child's l e a r n i n g
from outside examples, restrict your care to the task of
i m p r e s s i n g t h e s e e x a m p l e s on h i s m i n d in s u i t a b l e f o r m s .
V i o l e n t p a s s i o n s m a k e a s t r i k i n g i m p r e s s i o n on t h e child
who notices t h e m , b e c a u s e t h e i r m a n i f e s t a t i o n s are well-de
fined, a n d forcibly a t t r a c t his a t t e n t i o n . A n g e r especially
h a s s u c h stornry i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t its a p p r o a c h is u n m i s t a k a b l e .
D o not a s k , " I s n o t t h i s a fine o p p o r t u n i t y for t h e p e d a g o g u e ' s
moral discourse ? " S p a r e t h e discourse : s a y n o t a w o r d : let
t h e child a l o n e . A m a z e d a t w h a t he sees, he will not fail t o
question y o u . I t will n o t b e h a r d t o a n s w e r h i m , on a c c o u n t
of t h e v e i y t h i n g s t h a t s t r i k e his s e n s e s . H e sees a n in
flamed c o u n t e n a n c e , flashing e y e s , t h r e a t e n i n g g e s t u r e s , h e
h e a r s u n u s u a l l y e x c i t e d t o n e s of voice ; all sure signs t h a t t h e
b o d y is n o t in its u s u a l condition. S a y t o him c a l m l y , u n
affectedly, w i t h o u t a n y nvystery, " T h i s p o o r m a n is s i c k ; h e
h a s a high f e v e r . " Y o u m a y t a k e this occasion t o give h i m ,
in few w o r d s , a n idea of m a l a d i e s a n d of t h e i r effects ; for
t h e s e , b e i n g n a t u r a l , a r e t r a m m e l s of t h a t n e c e s s i t y t o which
he h a s t o feel himself s u b j e c t .
F r o m t h i s , t h e t r u e i d e a , will h e n o t early feel r e p u g n a n c e
a t giving w a y t o excessive p a s s i o n , which he r e g a r d s as a
disease ? A n d d o you n o t t h i n k t h a t s u c h an idea, given a t
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e , will h a v e as g o o d an effect as t h e m o s t
tiresome s e r m o n on m o r a l s ? N o t e also t h e f u t u r e conse
q u e n c e s of this i d e a ; it will a u t h o r i z e y o u , if ever necessity
arises, to t r e a t a rebellious child a s a sick child, t o confine
him to his r o o m , a n d e v e n to his b e d , to m a k e him u n d e r g o
a course of m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t ; to m a k e his g r o w i n g vices
a l a r m i n g a n d hateful to himself. H e c a n n o t consider a s a
p u n i s h m e n t t h e s e v e r i t y you a r e forced t o u s e in c u r i n g h i m .
S o t h a t if you yourself, in some h a s t y m o m e n t , a r e p e r h a p s
stirred o u t of t h e coolness a n d m o d e r a t i o n it should b e y o u r
r
s t u d y t o p r e s e r v e , d o n o t t r y t o disguise y o u r fault, b u t s a j
u
to him frankly, in t e n d e r r e p r o a c h , M y b o y , you h a v e h u r t
me."
I d o n o t i n t e n d t o e n t e r fully into d e t a i l s , b u t t o lay d o w n
s o m e g e n e r a l m a x i m s a n d to illustrate difficult c a s e s . I be
lieve it i m p o s s i b l e , in t h e v e r y h e a r t of social s u r r o u n d i n g s ,
t o e d u c a t e a child u p t o t h e a g e of twelve y e a r s , without giv
ing him some ideas of the r e l a t i o n s of m a n to m a n , a n d of
m o r a l i t y in h u m a n a c t i o n s . I t will suffice if we p u t off a s
l o n g a s possible t h e n e c e s s i t y for t h e s e i d e a s , a n d when t h e y
m u s t b e g i v e n , limit t h e m t o such as a r e immediately appli
c a b l e . W e m u s t d o this only lest he consider himself m a s t e r
of every t h i n g , a n d so injure o t h e r s without s c r u p l e , because
u n k n o w i n g l y . T h e r e a r e g e n t l e , quiet c h a r a c t e r s who, in
their early i n n o c e n c e , m a y be led a l o n g way w i t h o u t d a n g e r
of this k i n d . B u t o t h e r s , n a t u r a l l y violent, whose wildness
is p r e c o c i o u s , m u s t be t r a i n e d into m e n a s early as m a y b e ,
t h a t you m a y n o t be obliged t o fetter t h e m o u t r i g h t .
The I d e a of Property.
W E a r e n o w within t h e d o m a i n of m o r a l s , a n d t h e d o o r is
o p e n t o vice. Side b y side with c o n v e n t i o n a l i t i e s a n d duties
s p r i n g u p deceit a n d falsehood. A s soon a s t h e r e a r e t h i n g s
we o u g h t n o t to d o , we desire t o hide w h a t we o u g h t n o t to
h a v e d o n e . A s soon as one i n t e r e s t leads us to p r o m i s e , a
s t r o n g e r one m a y u r g e us to b r e a k the p r o m i s e . O u r chief
c o n c e r n is h o w to b r e a k it a n d still go u n s c a t h e d . I t is n a t u
ral t o find e x p e d i e n t s ; we d i s s e m b l e a n d we u t t e r falsehood.
U n a b l e to p r e v e n t this evil, we m u s t n e v e r t h e l e s s p u n i s h it.
T h u s t h e miseries of our life arise from o u r m i s t a k e s .
I h a v e said e n o u g h to show t h a t p u n i s h m e n t , a s s u c h ,
should n o t be inflicted u p o n c h i l d r e n , b u t should a l w a y s h a p
p e n t o t h e m a s the n a t u r a l r e s u l t of their o w n w r o n g - d o i n g .
D o n o t , t h e n , p r e a c h t o t h e m a g a i n s t falsehood, or p u n i s h t h e m
confessedly on a c c o u n t of a falsehood. B u t if t h e y a r e guilty
of o n e , let all its c o n s e q u e n c e s fall heavily on their h e a d s .
L e t t h e m k n o w w h a t it is t o b e disbelieved even when t h e y
s p e a k t h e t r u t h , a n d to be a c c u s e d of faults in s p i t e of their
e a r n e s t d e n i a l . B u t let us inquire w h a t falsehood is, in
children.
T h e r e are t w o k i n d s of falsehood ; t h a t of fact, which
refers t o t h i n g s a l r e a d y p a s t , a n d t h a t of r i g h t , which h a s t o
d o with t h e future. T h e first o c c u r s when we d e n y d o i n g
w h a t we h a v e d o n e , a n d in g e n e r a l , when we k n o w i n g l y u t t e r
w h a t is n o t t r u e . T h e o t h e r occurs when we p r o m i s e w h a t
we d o n o t m e a n to p e r f o r m , a n d , in g e n e r a l , w h e n we
e x p r e s s a n i n t e n t i o n c o n t r a r y t o the one we really h a v e .
T h e s e t w o s o r t s of u n t r u t h m a y s o m e t i m e s m e e t in t h e s a m e
case ; b u t let u s here discuss their points of difference.
O n e who realizes his need of help from o t h e r s , a n d con-
stantly receives k i n d n e s s from t h e m , h a s n o t h i n g t o g a i n b y
deceiving t h e m . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , it is evidently his i n t e r e s t
t h a t t h e y s h o u l d see t h i n g s a s t h e y a r e , l e s t t h e y m a k e m i s
t a k e s t o his d i s a d v a n t a g e . I t is clear, t h e n , t h a t t h e false
h o o d of fact is n o t n a t u r a l t o children. B u t t h e l a w of obe
dience m a k e s falsehood n e c e s s a r y ; b e c a u s e , o b e d i e n c e b e i n g
i r k s o m e , we secretly avoid it w h e n e v e r w e c a n , a n d j u s t in
p r o p o r t i o n as t h e i m m e d i a t e a d v a n t a g e of e s c a p i n g r e p r o o f or
punishment outweighs the remoter advantage to be gained by
revealing the truth.
W h y should a child e d u c a t e d n a t u r a l l y a n d in perfect free
d o m , tell a f a l s e h o o d ? W h a t h a s he t o hide from y o u ? Y o u
a r e n o t g o i n g t o r e p r o v e or p u n i s h h i m , or e x a c t a n y t h i n g
from him. W h y s h o u l d he n o t tell y o u e v e ^ t h i n g a s frankly
as t o his little p l a y m a t e ? H e sees n o m o r e d a n g e r in t h e
o n e case t h a n in t h e o t h e r .
T h e falsehood of r i g h t is still less n a t u r a l t o children,
b e c a u s e p r o m i s e s t o d o or n o t t o d o a r e c o n v e n t i o n a l a c t s ,
foreign to. our n a t u r e a n d i n f r i n g e m e n t s of o u r l i b e r t y .
B e s i d e s , all the e n g a g e m e n t s of children are in t h e m s e l v e s
void, b e c a u s e , a s their limited vision does n o t s t r e t c h b e y o n d
t h e p r e s e n t , t h e y k n o w n o t w h a t t h e y d o when t h e y b i n d
themselves. I t is h a r d l y possible for a child t o tell a lie in
m a k i n g a p r o m i s e . F o r , c o n s i d e r i n g only h o w t o o v e r c o m e
a p r e s e n t difficulty, all devices t h a t h a v e n o i m m e d i a t e effect
become alike t o h i m . I n p r o m i s i n g for a t i m e t o come h e
actually does n o t p r o m i s e a t all, as his still d o r m a n t i m a g i
nation c a n n o t e x t e n d itself over t w o different p e r i o d s of
t i m e . If he could e s c a p e a w h i p p i n g or e a r n some s u g a r
p l u m s b y p r o m i s i n g t o t h r o w himself o u t of t h e w i n d o w t o
m o r r o w , h e would a t o n c e p r o m i s e it. T h e r e f o r e t h e l a w s
pay no regard to engagements made by children; and when
some f a t h e r s a n d t e a c h e r s , more s t r i c t t h a n t h i s , r e q u i r e t h e
fulfilling of s u c h e n g a g e m e n t s , it is only in t h i n g s t h e child
o u g h t t o do w i t h o u t p r o m i s i n g .
A s t h e child in m a k i n g a p r o m i s e is n o t a w a r e w h a t he is
d o i n g , he c a n n o t b e g u i l t y of falsehood in so d o i n g : b u t t h i s
is n o t t h e case w h e n h e b r e a k s a p r o m i s e . F o r h e well
r e m e m b e r s h a v i n g m a d e t h e p r o m i s e ; w h a t he c a n n o t u n d e r
s t a n d i s , t h e i m p o r t a n c e of k e e p i n g it. U n a b l e t o r e a d t h e
f u t u r e , he does n o t foresee t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s of his a c t i o n s ;
a n d w h e n he violates e n g a g e m e n t s he d o e s n o t h i n g con
t r a r y t o w h a t m i g h t be e x p e c t e d of his y e a r s .
I t follows from this t h a t all t h e u n t r u t h s s p o k e n b y chil
d r e n a r e t h e fault of t h o s e w h o i n s t r u c t t h e m ; a n d t h a t
e n d e a v o r i n g t o t e a c h t h e m how to b e truthful is only t e a c h
i n g t h e m how to tell falsehoods. W e a r e so e a g e r t o regu
l a t e , t o g o v e r n , to i n s t r u c t t h e m , t h a t we n e v e r find m e a n s
e n o u g h t o r e a c h o u r object. W e w a n t t o win n e w victories
over their m i n d s b y m a x i m s n o t b a s e d u p o n fact, b y u n r e a
s o n a b l e p r e c e p t s ; we would r a t h e r they should k n o w their
l e s s o n s a n d tell lies t h a n t o r e m a i n i g n o r a n t a n d s p e a k t h e
truth.
A s for u s , w h o give our pupils n o n e b u t p r a c t i c a l t e a c h i n g ,
a n d would r a t h e r h a v e t h e m good t h a n k n o w i n g , we shall
n o t e x a c t t h e t r u t h from t h e m a t all, lest t h e y disguise i t ;
w e will require of t h e m no p r o m i s e s the}^ m a y b e t e m p t e d to
b r e a k . ; If in m y a b s e n c e some a n o n y m o u s mischief h a s b e e n
d o n e , I will b e w a r e of a c c u s i n g E m i l e , or of a s k i n g " W a s
1
it y o u ? " F o r w h a t would t h a t b e b u t t e a c h i n g him t o d e n y
i t ? I f his n a t u r a l l y t r o u b l e s o m e disposition obliges m e t o
1
Nothing is more injudicious than such a question, especially when the
child is in fault. In that case, if he thinks you know what he has done, he
will see that you are laying a snare for him, and this opinion cannot fail to
set him against you. If he thinks you do not know he will say to himself,
" Why should I disclose my fault? " And thus the first temptation to false
hood is the result of your imprudent question. — [Note by J . J . ROUSSEAU.]
m a k e some a g r e e m e n t w i t h h i m , I will p l a n so well t h a t a n y
such p r o p o s a l shall come from h i m a n d n e v e r from m e . T h u s ,
w h e n e v e r he is b o u n d b y a n e n g a g e m e n t he shall h a v e a n
i m m e d i a t e a n d t a n g i b l e i n t e r e s t in fulfilling it. A n d if he
ever fails in t h i s , t h e falsehood shall b r i n g u p o n him evil r e
sults which he sees m u s t arise from t h e very n a t u r e of t h i n g s ,
a n d n e v e r from t h e v e n g e a n c e of his t u t o r . F a r from need
i n g r e c o u r s e to such severe m e a s u r e s , h o w e v e r , I am a l m o s t
s u r e t h a t iDmile will be l o n g in l e a r n i n g w h a t a lie is, a n d
u p o n finding it o u t will b e g r e a t l y a m a z e d , n o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g
w h a t is t o b e g a i n e d b y it. I t is v e r y plain t h a t t h e m o r e
I m a k e his welfare i n d e p e n d e n t of either t h e will o r t h e
j u d g m e n t of o t h e r s , t h e m o r e I u p r o o t within h i m all i n t e r e s t
in telling f a l s e h o o d s .
W h e n we a r e less e a g e r t o i n s t r u c t we a r e also less e a g e r
to e x a c t r e q u i r e m e n t s from o u r pupil, a n d can t a k e t i m e t o
require only w h a t is t o t h e p u r p o s e . I n t h a t c a s e , t h e child
will b e developed, j u s t b e c a u s e h e is n o t spoiled. B u t w h e n
some b l o c k h e a d t e a c h e r , n o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h a t h e is a b o u t ,
continually forces t h e child t o p r o m i s e t h i n g s , m a k i n g n o
d i s t i n c t i o n s , allowing n o choice, k n o w i n g n o limit, t h e l i t t l e
fellow, worried a n d weighed d o w n with all t h e s e o b l i g a t i o n s ,
neglects t h e m , forgets t h e m , a t l a s t d e s p i s e s t h e m ; a n d con
sidering t h e m m e r e e m p t y formulas, t u r n s t h e giving a n d t h e
b r e a k i n g of t h e m i n t o ridicule. I f t h e n y o u w a n t t o m a k e
him faithful t o his w o r d , b e discreet in r e q u i r i n g h i m to give
it.
T h e d e t a i l s j u s t e n t e r e d upon in r e g a r d t o falsehood m a y
apply in m a n y r e s p e c t s t o all duties which, when enjoined
u p o n children, b e c o m e t o t h e m n o t only hateful b u t i m p r a c
ticable. I n o r d e r t o s e e m t o preach v i r t u e we m a k e vices
a t t r a c t i v e , a n d a c t u a l l y i m p a r t t h e m b y forbidding t h e m . If
we would h a v e t h e children religious, we tire t h e m o u t t a k i n g
t h e m t o c h u r c h . By m a k i n g t h e m m u m b l e p r a y e r s inces
s a n t l y we m a k e t h e m sigh for t h e h a p p i n e s s of n e v e r p r a y i n g
a t all. T o inspire c h a r i t y in t h e m , we m a k e t h e m give a l m s ,
a s if we d i s d a i n e d d o i n g it o u r s e l v e s . I t is n o t t h e child,
b u t his t e a c h e r , who o u g h t t o d o t h e g i v i n g . H o w e v e r m u c h
you love y o u r p u p i l , t h i s is an h o n o r y o u o u g h t t o d i s p u t e
w i t h h i m , l e a d i n g him t o feel t h a t he is n o t }^et old e n o u g h
t o d e s e r v e it.
G i v i n g a l m s is t h e a c t of o n e w h o k n o w s t h e w o r t h of his
gift, a n d his fellow-creature's need of t h e gift. A child w h o
k n o w s n o t h i n g -of either can h a v e n o merit in b e s t o w i n g .
H e gives w i t h o u t c h a r i t y or b e n e v o l e n c e : he is a l m o s t
a s h a m e d t o give a t all, a s , j u d g i n g from y o u r e x a m p l e a n d
his o w n , o n l y children give a l m s , a n d leave it off when g r o w n
u p . O b s e r v e , t h a t we m a k e t h e child b e s t o w only t h i n g s
whose v a l u e h e d o e s n o t k n o w : pieces of m e t a l , which he
carries in his p o c k e t , a n d which are g o o d for n o t h i n g else.
A child w o u l d r a t h e r give a w a y a h u n d r e d gold pieces t h a n
a single c a k e . B u t s u g g e s t t o this f r e e - h a n d e d giver t h e
idea of p a r t i n g with w h a t he really p r i z e s — his p l a y t h i n g s ,
his s u g a r - p l u m s , or his l u n c h e o n ; you will soon find o u t
w h e t h e r 3^011 h a v e m a d e him really g e n e r o u s .
T o a c c o m p l i s h t h e s a m e e n d , r e s o r t is h a d t o a n o t h e r e x p e
d i e n t , t h a t of i n s t a n t l y r e t u r n i n g t o t h e child w h a t he h a s
given a w a y , so t h a t he h a b i t u a l l y gives w h a t e v e r h e k n o w s
will b e r e s t o r e d t o h i m . I h a v e r a r e l y m e t w i t h other t h a n
t h e s e t w o k i n d s of g e n e r o s i t y in c h i l d r e n , n a m e l y , t h e giving
e i t h e r of w h a t is n o use to t h e m s e l v e s , o r else of w h a t t h e y
a r e c e r t a i n will come b a c k to t h e m .
u
" D o t h i s , " s a y s L o c k e , t h a t t h e y m a y b e convinced b y
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t he who gives m o s t generously h a s a l w a y s t h e
b e t t e r p o r t i o n . " T h i s is m a k i n g h i m liberal in a p p e a r a n c e
5
a n d miserly in r e a l i t y . H e a d d s , t h a t children-will t h u s a c
q u i r e t h e h a b i t of generosity.
Y e s ; a miser's g e n e r o s i t y , g i v i n g a n e g g to g a i n an o x .
B u t when called u p o n to be g e n e r o u s in e a r n e s t , g o o d - b y e
to t h e h a b i t ; t h e y soon cease g i v i n g when t h e gift n o l o n g e r
comes b a c k t o t h e m . W e o u g h t to k e e p in view the h a b i t of
m i n d r a t h e r t h a n t h a t of t h e h a n d s . L i k e t h i s v i r t u e are all
o t h e r s t a u g h t t o children ; a n d their early y e a r s a r e s p e n t in
sadness, that we may preach these sterling virtues to them !
Excellent training this !
L a y aside all affectation, you t e a c h e r s ; b e yourselves
good a n d v i r t u o u s , so t h a t y o u r e x a m p l e m a y b e deeply
g r a v e n on y o u r p u p i l s ' m e m o r y until such t i m e a s it finds
l o d g m e n t in t h e i r h e a r t . I n s t e a d of earl}' r e q u i r i n g a c t s of
c h a r i t y from m y p u p i l I would r a t h e r d o t h e m in his p r e s
ence, t a k i n g from him all m e a n s of i m i t a t i n g m e , a s if I con
sidered it a n h o n o r n o t d u e t o his a g e . F o r he should b y n o
m e a n s be in t h e h a b i t of t h i n k i n g a m a n ' s d u t i e s t h e s a m e a s
a child's. S e e i n g m e assist t h e p o o r , h e q u e s t i o n s m e a b o u t
it a n d , if occasion s e r v e , I a n s w e r , " M y b o y , it is b e c a u s e ,
since p o o r people are willing t h e r e should b e rich p e o p l e , t h e
rich h a v e p r o m i s e d t o t a k e care of t h o s e w h o h a v e n o m o n e y
or c a n n o t e a r n a living b y their l a b o r . "
u
A n d h a v e y o u p r o m i s e d it t o o ? " i n q u i r e s h e .
u
Of c o u r s e ; t h e m o n e y t h a t comes i n t o m y h a n d s is m i n e
to use only u p o n t h i s condition, which its o w n e r h a s t o
carry o u t . "
A f t e r t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n , a n d w e h a v e seen how a child m a y
be p r e p a r e d t o u n d e r s t a n d it, o t h e r children besides E m i l e
would b e t e m p t e d t o i m i t a t e me b y a c t i n g like a rich m a n . In
this case I would a t l e a s t see t h a t it should n o t b e d o n e o s t e n
tatiously. I would r a t h e r h a v e him r o b m e of m y r i g h t , a n d
conceal t h e fact of his g e n e r o s i t y . I t would b e a s t r a t a g e m
n a t u r a l a t hiS" a g e , a n d t h e only one I would p a r d o n in h i m .
T h e only m o r a l lesson suited t o childhood a n d t h e m o s t
7
i m p o r t a n t a t a n y a g e is, n e v e r t o injure an} o n e . E v e n t h e
principle of d o i n g g o o d , if n o t s u b o r d i n a t e d t o t h i s , is d a n g e r
o u s , false, a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r y . F o r w h o does n o t do g o o d ?
E v e r y b o d y d o e s , even a wicked m a n w h o m a k e s one h a p p y
a t t h e e x p e n s e of m a k i n g a h u n d r e d m i s e r a b l e : a n d t h e n c e
arise all our calamities. T h e most exalted virtues are nega
tive : t h e y a r e h a r d e s t t o a t t a i n , too, b e c a u s e t h e y a r e u n o s
t e n t a t i o u s , a n d rise above even t h a t gratification d e a r t o t h e
h e a r t of m a n , — s e n d i n g a n o t h e r p e r s o n a w a y p l e a s e d with
u s . I f t h e r e b e a m a n who n e v e r injures one of his fellow-
c r e a t u r e s , w h a t g o o d m u s t he achieve for t h e m ! W h a t fear
l e s s n e s s , w h a t vigor of m i n d he r e q u i r e s for i t ! N o t b y
r e a s o n i n g a b o u t this principle, b u t b y a t t e m p t i n g to c a r r y it
into p r a c t i c e , d o we find o u t how g r e a t it i s , h o w h a r d to
fulfil.
T h e foregoing c o n v e y s s o m e f a i n t i d e a of t h e p r e c a u t i o n s
I would h a v e }~ou e m p l o y in g i v i n g children t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s
w e s o m e t i m e s c a n n o t w i t h h o l d w i t h o u t risk of their i n j u r i n g
themselves-or o t h e r s , and especially of c o n t r a c t i n g b a d h a b i t s
of which it will b y a n d b y b e difficult t o b r e a k t h e m . But
we m a y r e s t a s s u r e d t h a t in children rightly e d u c a t e d the
necessity will s e l d o m arise ; for it is impossible t h a t t h e y
should b e c o m e i n t r a c t a b l e , vicious, deceitful, g r e e d y , u n l e s s
t h e vices which m a k e t h e m so are sowed in their h e a r t s . For
t h i s r e a s o n w h a t h a s b e e n said o n this p o i n t applies r a t h e r t o
e x c e p t i o n a l t h a n t o o r d i n a r y c a s e s . B u t such e x c e p t i o n a l
c a s e s b e c o m e c o m m o n in p r o p o r t i o n a s children h a v e m o r e
f r e q u e n t o p p o r t u n i t y to d e p a r t from their n a t u r a l s t a t e a n d
to acquire t h e vices of their seniors. T h o s e b r o u g h t up a m o n g
m e n of t h e world absolutely require earlier t e a c h i n g in t h e s e
m a t t e r s t h a n t h o s e e d u c a t e d a p a r t from such s u r r o u n d i n g s .
H e n c e t h i s p r i v a t e e d u c a t i o n is t o b e preferred, even if it d o
n o m o r e t h a n allow childhood leisure t o g r o w t o perfection.
NEGATIVE OR T E M P O R I Z I N G EDUCATION. 75
N e g a t i v e or Temporizing E d u c a t i o n ,
Concerning' the M e m o r y .
E E S P E C T children, a n d b e in n o h a s t e t o j u d g e t h e i r a c t i o n s ,
good or evil. L e t t h e e x c e p t i o n a l cases show t h e m s e l v e s
such for some t i m e before y o u a d o p t special m e t h o d s of deal
i n g with t h e m . L e t n a t u r e b e l o n g a t w o r k b e f o r e y o u
a t t e m p t to s u p p l a n t h e r , l e s t you t h w a r t h e r w o r k . Y o u s a y
you k n o w how precious time i s , a n d d o n o t wish t o lose it.
D o y o u n o t k n o w t h a t t o e m p l o y it b a d l y is t o w a s t e it still
m o r e , a n d t h a t a child b a d l y t a u g h t is f a r t h e r from b e i n g
wise t h a n one n o t t a u g h t a t all ? Y o u a r e t r o u b l e d a t seeing
him s p e n d his early y e a r s in d o i n g n o t h i n g . W h a t ! is it
n o t h i n g t o b e h a p p y ? I s it n o t h i n g to s k i p , t o p l a y , t o r u n
1
He refers to Cato, surnamed of Utiea, from the African city in which
he ended his own life. When a child, he was often invited by his brother
to the house of the all-powerful Sulla. The cruelties of the tyrant roused
the boy to indignation, and it was necessary to watch him lest he should
attempt to kill Sulla. It was in the latter's antechamber that the scene
described by Plutarch occurred;
a b o u t all d a y l o n g ? N e v e r in all bis life will b e b e so b u s y
a s n o w . P l a t o , in t h a t w o r k of his c o n s i d e r e d so s e v e r e , t h e
" R e p u b l i c , " would h a v e children a c c u s t o m e d t o festivals,
g a m e s , s o n g s , a n d p a s t i m e s ; one would t h i n k he w a s satisfied
with h a v i n g carefully t a u g h t t h e m h o w t o enjoy t h e m s e l v e s .
A n d S e n e c a , s p e a k i n g of t h e R o m a n y o u t h of old, s a y s ,
46
T h e y were a l w a y s s t a n d i n g ; n o t h i n g w a s t a u g h t t h e m t h a t
t h e y h a d t o l e a r n w h e n s e a t e d . " W e r e t h e y of less a c c o u n t
w h e n t h e y r e a c h e d m a n h o o d ? H a v e no fear, t h e n , of this
s u p p o s e d i d l e n e s s . W h a t would you t h i n k of a m a n w h o , in
o r d e r to use his whole life to t h e b e s t a d v a n t a g e , would n o t
s l e e p ? Y o u would s a y , " T h e m a n h a s n o s e n s e ; he does
n o t enjoy life, b u t r o b s himself of it. T o avoid sleep, h e
r u s h e s o n his d e a t h . " T h e t w o cases a r e parallel, for child
h o o d is t h e s l u m b e r of r e a s o n .
A p p a r e n t q u i c k n e s s in l e a r n i n g is t h e r u i n of children. W e
d o n o t consider t h a t this very q u i c k n e s s p r o v e s t h a t t h e y are
l e a r n i n g n o t h i n g . T h e i r s m o o t h a n d polished b r a i n reflects
like a m i r r o r the objects p r e s e n t e d to it, b u t n o t h i n g abides
t h e r e , n o t h i n g p e n e t r a t e s it. T h e child r e t a i n s t h e w o r d s ;
t h e ideas are reflected ; t h e y who h e a r u n d e r s t a n d t h e m , b u t
he himself does n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a t all.
A l t h o u g h m e m o r y a n d r e a s o n are two essentially different
faculties, t h e one is* n e v e r really d e v e l o p e d w i t h o u t t h e o t h e r .
B e f o r e t h e a g e of r e a s o n , t h e child r e c e i v e s n o t i d e a s , b u t
i m a g e s . T h e r e is this difference b e t w e e n t h e t w o , t h a t i m a g e s
a r e only a b s o l u t e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s of objects of s e n s e , a n d
i d e a s a r e n o t i o n s of objects d e t e r m i n e d b y their r e l a t i o n s .
A n i m a g e m a y e x i s t alone in t h e m i n d t h a t r e p r e s e n t s it, b u t
e v e r y i d e a s u p p o s e s o t h e r i d e a s . W h e n we i m a g i n e , we only-
see ; w h e n we conceive of t h i n g s , we c o m p a r e t h e m . Our
s e n s a t i o n s a r e entirely p a s s i v e , w h e r e a s all our p e r c e p t i o n s
or i d e a s s p r i n g from a n active principle which j u d g e s .
I say t h e n t h a t c h i l d r e n , i n c a p a b l e of j u d g i n g , really h a v e
no memory. T h e y retain sounds, shapes, sensations ; b u t
rarely i d e a s , a n d still m o r e r a r e l y t h e r e l a t i o n s of i d e a s t o
one a n o t h e r . If this s t a t e m e n t is a p p a r e n t l y r e f u t e d b y t h e
objection t h a t t h e y l e a r n some e l e m e n t s of g e o m e t r y , it is n o t
really t r u e ; t h a t v e r y fact confirms m y s t a t e m e n t . I t shows
t h a t , far from k n o w i n g how t o r e a s o n t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y c a n n o t
even k e e p in m i n d t h e r e a s o n i n g s of o t h e r s . F o r if you
i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m e t h o d of t h e s e little g e o m e t r i c i a n s , y o u dis
cover a t once t h a t t h e y h a v e r e t a i n e d only t h e e x a c t i m p r e s
sion of t h e d i a g r a m a n d t h e w o r d s of t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n .
U p o n t h e l e a s t n e w objection t h e y are p u z z l e d . Their
k n o w l e d g e is only of t h e s e n s a t i o n ; n o t h i n g h a s b e c o m e t h e
p r o p e r t y of t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g . E v e n their m e m o r y is
r a r e l y m o r e p e r f e c t t h a n their other f a c u l t i e s : for w h e n
g r o w n t h e y h a v e n e a r l y always to l e a r n a g a i n as realities
t h i n g s whose n a m e s t h e y l e a r n e d in childhood.
H o w e v e r , I a m far from t h i n k i n g t h a t children h a v e n o
1
power of r e a s o n i n g w h a t e v e r . I o b s e r v e , on t h e c o n t r a r y ,
t h a t in t h i n g s t h e y u n d e r s t a n d , t h i n g s r e l a t i n g t o t h e i r p r e s e n t
a n d m a n i f e s t i n t e r e s t s , t h e y r e a s o n e x t r e m e l y well. W e a r e ,
1
While writing this I have reflected a hundred times that in an extended
work it is impossible always to use the same words in the same sense.
No language is rich enough to furnish terms and expressions to keep pace
with the possible modifications of our ideas. The method which defines
all the terms, and substitutes the definition for the term, is fine, but im
practicable ; for how shall we then avoid travelling in a circle ? If defi
nitions could be given without using words, they might be useful. Never
theless, I am convinced that, poor as our language is, we can make our
selves understood, not by always attaching the same meaning to the same
words, but by so using each word that its meaning shall be sufficiently
determined by the ideas nearly related to it, and so that each sentence in
which a word is used shall serve to define the word. Sometimes I say
that children are incapable of reasoning, and sometimes I make them
reason extremely w e l l ; I think that my ideas do not contradict each other,
though I cannot escape the inconvenient contradictions of my mode of
expression.
h o w e v e r , liable to be*misled a s t o their k n o w l e d g e , a t t r i b u t
ing to them what they do not have, and making them reason
a b o u t w h a t t h e y d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d . A g a i n , we m a k e t h e
m i s t a k e of calling t h e i r a t t e n t i o n to c o n s i d e r a t i o n s b y which
t h e y are in n o wise affected, such a s their f u t u r e i n t e r e s t s ,
t h e h a p p i n e s s of t h e i r c o m i n g m a n h o o d , t h e opinion p e o p l e
will h a v e of t h e m w h e n t h e y are g r o w n u p . S u c h s p e e c h e s ,
a d d r e s s e d to m i n d s entirely w i t h o u t foresight, are a b s o l u t e l y
u n m e a n i n g . N o w all t h e studies forced u p o n t h e s e p o o r
u n f o r t u n a t e s d e a l with t h i n g s like t h i s , u t t e r l y foreign t o
their m i n d s . Y o u m a y j u d g e w h a t a t t e n t i o n such s u b j e c t s
a r e likely t o r e c e i v e .
On t h e S t u d y of W o r d s .
PEDAGOGUES, w h o m a k e s u c h an i m p o s i n g d i s p l a y of w h a t
t h e y t e a c h , a r e p a i d t o t a l k in a n o t h e r s t r a i n t h a n m i n e ,
b u t their c o n d u c t shows t h a t t h e y t h i n k as I d o . F o r after
all, w h a t d o t h e y t e a c h their p u p i l s ? W o r d s , w o r d s , w o r d s .
A m o n g all t h e i r b o a s t e d s u b j e c t s , n o n e a r e selected b e c a u s e
t h e y a r e u s e f u l ; s u c h would be the sciences of t h i n g s , in
which t h e s e p r o f e s s o r s are unskilful. B u t t h e y prefer
sciences we s e e m t o k n o w w h e n we k n o w their n o m e n c l a
t u r e , such a s h e r a l d r y , g e o g r a p h y , c h r o n o l o g y , l a n g u a g e s ;
studies so far r e m o v e d from h u m a n i n t e r e s t s , a n d p a r t i c u
larly from t h e child, t h a t it would b e wonderful if a n y of
t h e m could b e of t h e l e a s t u s e a t a n y t i m e in life.
I t m a y cause s u r p r i s e t h a t I a c c o u n t t h e s t u d y of l a n
g u a g e s one of t h e u s e l e s s t h i n g s in e d u c a t i o n . B u t r e m e m b e r
I a m s p e a k i n g of t h e s t u d i e s of earlier y e a r s , a n d w h a t e v e r
m a y b e s a i d , I d o n o t believe t h a t a n y child e x c e p t a p r o d i g y ,
will ever l e a r n two l a n g u a g e s b y t h e time h e is twelve or
3
fifteen.
1
Another exaggeration : the idea is not to teach children to speak
another language as perfectly as their own. There are three different
I a d m i t t h a t if t h e s t u d y of l a n g u a g e s w e r e only t h a t
of w o r d s , t h a t i s , of f o r m s , a n d of t h e s o u n d s which e x p r e s s
t h e m , it m i g h t b e suitable for children. B u t l a n g u a g e s , b y
c h a n g i n g their s i g n s , modify also t h e ideas t h e y r e p r e s e n t .
M i n d s a r e formed u p o n l a n g u a g e s ; t h o u g h t s t a k e coloring
from i d i o m s . R e a s o n alone is c o m m o n t o all. I n each
l a n g u a g e t h e m i n d h a s its peculiar c o n f o r m a t i o n , a n d this
m a y b e in p a r t t h e cause or t h e effect of n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r .
T h e fact t h a t every n a t i o n ' s l a n g u a g e follows t h e vicissi
t u d e s of t h a t n a t i o n ' s m o r a l s , a n d is p r e s e r v e d or a l t e r e d
with t h e m , seems t o confirm t h i s t h e o r y .
Of t h e s e different f o r m s , c u s t o m gives one to t h e child,
a n d it is t h e only one he r e t a i n s u n t i l t h e a g e of r e a s o n . In
o r d e r to h a v e t w o , he m u s t b e able to c o m p a r e ideas ; a n d
h o w c a n he do this when h e is scarcely able to g r a s p
t h e m ? E a c h object m a y for h i m h a v e a t h o u s a n d different
s i g n s , b u t each idea c a n h a v e b u t one f o r m ; h e can t h e r e
fore l e a r n to s p e a k only o n e l a n g u a g e . I t is n e v e r t h e l e s s
m a i n t a i n e d t h a t he l e a r n s s e v e r a l ; this I d e n y . I h a v e
seen little prodigies w h o t h o u g h t t h e y could s p e a k six or
s e v e n : I h a v e h e a r d t h e m s p e a k G e r m a n in L a t i n , F r e n c h ,
a n d I t a l i a n idioms successively. T h e y did i n d e e d use five
or six v o c a b u l a r i e s , b u t t h e y n e v e r s p o k e a n y t h i n g b u t G e r
m a n . I n s h o r t , y o u m a y give children as m a n y s y n o n y m s
as you p l e a s e , a n d you will c h a n g e only their w o r d s , a n d n o t
their l a n g u a g e ; t h e y will n e v e r k n o w m o r e t h a n o n e .
1
There is indeed a faulty method of teaching history, by giving children
a dry list of facts, names, and dates. On the other hand, to offer them
theories upon the philosophy of history is quite as unprofitable. Yet it is
not an absurd error, but a duty, to teach them the broad outlines of history,
to tell them of deeds of renown, of mighty works accomplished, of men
celebrated for the good or the evil they have done; to interest them in the
past of humanity, be it melancholy or glorious. By abuse of logic Rous
seau, in protesting against one excess, falls into another.
t h e signs ? "Why d o you give t h e m t h e useless t r o u b l e of
l e a r n i n g t h e m t w i c e ? B e s i d e s , y o u c r e a t e d a n g e r o u s preju
dices b y m a k i n g t h e m s u p p o s e t h a t science c o n s i s t s of w o r d s
m e a n i n g l e s s to t h e m . T h e first m e r e w o r d w i t h which t h e
child satisfies himself, t h e first t h i n g he l e a r n s o n t h e
a u t h o r i t y of a n o t h e r p e r s o n , r u i n s his j u d g m e n t . L o n g m u s t
he shine in t h e eyes of u n t h i n k i n g p e r s o n s before he can
r e p a i r s u c h a n injury to himself.
N o ; n a t u r e m a k e s the child's b r a i n so yielding t h a t it r e
ceives all k i n d s of i m p r e s s i o n s ; n o t t h a t we m a y m a k e his child
h o o d a d i s t r e s s i n g b u r d e n t o h i m by e n g r a v i n g o n t h a t b r a i n
d a t e s , n a m e s of k i n g s , t e c h n i c a l t e r m s in h e r a l d r y , m a t h e
m a t i c s , g e o g r a p h y , a n d all such w o r d s , u n m e a n i n g to h i m
a n d u n n e c e s s a r y t o p e r s o n s a t a n y a g e in life. B u t all ideas
t h a t h e c a n u n d e r s t a n d , a n d t h a t a r e of u s e t o h i m , all t h a t
c o n d u c e t o his h a p p i n e s s a n d t h a t will one d a y m a k e his
d u t i e s p l a i n , should early write t h e m s e l v e s t h e r e indelibly, to
g u i d e h i m t h r o u g h life as his condition a n d his intellect
require.
T h e m e m o r y of which a child is c a p a b l e is far from inac
t i v e , e v e n w i t h o u t t h e use of b o o k s . A l l h e sees a n d h e a r s
i m p r e s s e s h i m , a n d h e r e m e m b e r s it. H e k e e p s a m e n t a l
r e g i s t e r of p e o p l e ' s s a y i n g s a n d d o i n g s . E v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d
h i m is t h e b o o k from which h e is continually b u t u n c o n
sciously enriching his m e m o r y a g a i n s t t h e t i m e his j u d g m e n t
c a n benefit b y it. If we i n t e n d rightly t o cultivate this chief
faculty of t h e m i n d , we m u s t choose t h e s e objects carefully,
c o n s t a n t l y a c q u a i n t i n g h i m with s u c h a s h e o u g h t to u n d e r
s t a n d , a n d k e e p i n g b a c k t h o s e h e o u g h t n o t to k n o w . In
t h i s way we s h o u l d e n d e a v o r t o m a k e his m i n d a s t o r e h o u s e
of k n o w l e d g e , t o aid in his e d u c a t i o n in y o u t h , a n d to direct
h i m a t all t i m e s . T h i s m e t h o d d o e s n o t , it is t r u e , p r o d u c e
p h e n o m e n a l children, n o r does it m a k e t h e r e p u t a t i o n of their
teachers ; b u t it p r o d u c e s j u d i c i o u s , r o b u s t m e n , s o u n d in
body a n d in m i n d , w h o , a l t h o u g h n o t a d m i r e d in y o u t h , will
m a k e t h e m s e l v e s r e s p e c t e d in m a n h o o d .
E m i l e shall n e v e r l e a r n a n y t h i n g b y h e a r t , n o t e v e n fables
such as t h o s e of L a F o n t a i n e , simple a n d c h a r m i n g as t h e y
a r e . F o r t h e w o r d s of fables a r e aio m o r e the fables t h e m
selves t h a n t h e w o r d s of history a r e history itself. H o w c a n
we be so blind as to call fables m o r a l lessons for children ?
W e do n o t reflect t h a t while t h e s e stories a m u s e t h e y also
mislead children, who, c a r r i e d a w a y b y t h e fiction, m i s s t h e
t r u t h c o n v e y e d ; so t h a t w h a t m a k e s t h e lesson a g r e e a b l e also
m a k e s it less profitable. M e n m a y l e a r n from f a b l e s , b u t
children m u s t b e told t h e b a r e t r u t h ; if it b e veiled, t h e y d o
1
n o t trouble t h e m s e l v e s to lift t h e v e i l .
Since n o t h i n g o u g h t to be r e q u i r e d of children m e r e l y in
proof of their obedience, it follows t h a t t h e y c a n l e a r n n o t h
ing of which t h e y c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e a c t u a l a n d i m m e d i a t e
a d v a n t a g e , w h e t h e r it b e p l e a s a n t or useful. O t h e r w i s e , w h a t
motive will induce t h e m to learn i t ? T h e a r t of c o n v e r s i n g
with a b s e n t p e r s o n s , a n d of h e a r i n g from t h e m , of c o m m u n i
eating to t h e m a t a d i s t a n c e , w i t h o u t t h e aid of a n o t h e r , our
feelings, i n t e n t i o n s , a n d wishes, is a n a r t whose v a l u e m a y
be explained t o ^children of a l m o s t a n y a g e w h a t e v e r . By
1
Rousseau here analyzes several of La Fontaine's fables, to show the
immorality and the danger of their " ethics." He dwells particularly upon
the fable of the Fox and the Crow. In this he is right; the morality of the
greater part of these fables leaves much to be desired. But there is noth
ing to prevent the teacher from making the application. The memory of a
child is pliable and vigorous; not to cultivate it would be doing him great
injustice. We need not say that a true teacher not only chooses, but by his
instructions explains and rectifies everything he requires his pupil to read
or to learn by heart. Witli this reservation one cannot but admire this
aversion of Rousseau's for parrot-learning, word-worship, and exclusive
cultivation of the memory. In a few pages may here be found a complete
philosophy of teaching, adapted to the regeneration of a people.
w h a t a s t o n i s h i n g p r o c e s s h a s this useful a n d a g r e e a b l e a r t
b e c o m e so i r k s o m e to t h e m ? T h e y h a v e b e e n forced to l e a r n
it in spite of t h e m s e l v e s , a n d to use it in w a y s t h e y c a n n o t
u n d e r s t a n d . A child is n o t a n x i o u s to p e r f e c t t h e i n s t r u m e n t
u s e d in t o r m e n t i n g h i m ; b u t m a k e t h e s a m e t h i n g m i n i s t e r
to his p l e a s u r e s , a n d y o u c a n n o t p r e v e n t him from u s i n g it.
M u c h a t t e n t i o n is p a i d to finding o u t t h e b e s t m e t h o d s of
t e a c h i n g children t o r e a d . W e i n v e n t printing-offices a n d
c h a r t s ; we t u r n a child's r o o m into a p r i n t e r ' s establish
1
ment. L o c k e p r o p o s e s t e a c h i n g children to r e a d b}" m e a n s
of dice ; a brilliant c o n t r i v a n c e i n d e e d , b u t a m i s t a k e as well.
A b e t t e r t h i n g t h a n all t h e s e , a t h i n g n o one t h i n k s of, is t h e
desire to l e a r n . G i v e a child this d e s i r e , a n d y o u will n o t
need dice or r e a d i n g lotteries ; a n y device will serve as well.
If, on t h e p l a n 1 h a v e b e g u n to lay d o w n , y o u follow rules
e x a c t l y c o n t r a r y t o t h o s e m o s t in fashion, y o u will n o t a t t r a c t
a n d b e w i l d e r y o u r pupil's a t t e n t i o n b y d i s t a n t places, c l i m a t e s ,
a n d a g e s of t h e world, g o i n g to the e n d s of t h e e a r t h a n d
i n t o t h e v e r y h e a v e n s t h e m s e l v e s , b u t will m a k e a p o i n t of
k e e p i n g it fixed u p o n himself a n d w h a t immediately c o n c e r n s
h i m ; a n d b y this p l a n you will find him c a p a b l e of p e r c e p
tion, m e m o r y , a n d even r e a s o n i n g ; this is t h e o r d e r of
2
nature. I n p r o p o r t i o n a s a c r e a t u r e e n d o w e d with s e n s a -
1
Rousseau here alludes to the typographical lottery invented by Louis
Dumas, a French author of the eighteenth century. It was an imitation of
a printing-office, and was intended to teach, in an agreeable way, not only
reading, but even grammar and spelling. There may be good features in
all these systems, but we certainly cannot save the child all trouble; we
ought to let him understand that work must be in earnest. Besides, as
moralists and teachers, we ought not to neglect giving' children some kinds
of work demanding application. They will be in better spirits for recrea
tion hours after study.
2
It is well to combine the two methods; to keep the child occupied with
what immediately concerns him, and to interest him also in what is more
remote, whether in space or in time. He ought not to become too positive,
tion becomes active, it a c q u i r e s d i s c e r n m e n t suited t o its
p o w e r s , a n d t h e s u r p l u s of . s t r e n g t h n e e d e d to p r e s e r v e it
is absolutely n e c e s s a r y in d e v e l o p i n g t h a t speculative faculty
which uses t h e s a m e s u r p l u s for other e n d s . If, t h e n , yon
m e a n t o cultivate y o u r p u p i l ' s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , cultivate t h e
s t r e n g t h it is i n t e n d e d to g o v e r n . G i v e h i m c o n s t a n t p h y s i
cal exercise ; m a k e his b o d y s o u n d a n d r o b u s t , t h a t you m a y
m a k e h i m wise a n d r e a s o n a b l e . L e t h i m b e a t w o r k d o i n g
s o m e t h i n g ; let him r u n , s h o u t , b e a l w a y s in m o t i o n ; let him
b e a m a n in vigor, a n d h e will t h e sooner b e c o m e one in
reason.
Y o u would indeed m a k e a m e r e a n i m a l of h i m b y this
m e t h o d if you are continually directing him, a n d s a y i n g ,
" G o ; c o m e ; s t a y ; do this ; s t o p d o i n g t h a t . " If y o u r
h e a d is a l w a y s to g u i d e his a r m , his own h e a d will be of n o
use to h i m . B u t recollect our a g r e e m e n t ; if y o u are a m e r e
p e d a n t , t h e r e is n o use in y o u r r e a d i n g w h a t I w r i t e .
T o imagine t h a t p h y s i c a l exercise injures m e n t a l o p e r a
tions is a w r e t c h e d m i s t a k e ; t h e t w o should m o v e in u n i s o n ,
a n d one o u g h t to r e g u l a t e t h e o t h e r .
M y pupil, or r a t h e r n a t u r e ' s pupil, t r a i n e d from t h e first
to d e p e n d a s m u c h a s possible on himself, is n o t continually
r u n n i n g to o t h e r s for a d v i c e . Still less does h e m a k e a d i s
play of his k n o w l e d g e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e j u d g e s , he
foresees, he r e a s o n s , u p o n e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i m m e d i a t e l y con
cerns h i m ; h e d o e s n o t p r a t e , b u t a c t s . H e is little i n f o r m e d
as to w h a t is g o i n g o n in t h e world, b u t k n o w s v e r y well w h a t
he o u g h t to d o , a n d how to d o it. I n c e s s a n t l y in m o t i o n ,
he c a n n o t avoid o b s e r v i n g m a n y t h i n g s , a n d k n o w i n g m a n y
effects. H e early g a i n s a wide e x p e r i e n c e , a n d t a k e s his l e s -
nor yet should he he chimerical. The "order of nature" itself has pro
vided for this, by making the child inquisitive about things around him,
and at the same time about things far away.
sons from n a t u r e , n o t from m e n . H e i n s t r u c t s himself all
t h e b e t t e r for discovering n o w h e r e a n y i n t e n t i o n of i n s t r u c t
ing h i m . T h u s , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , b o d y a n d m i n d are e x e r
cised. A l w a y s c a r r y i n g o u t his o w n i d e a s , a n d n o t a n o t h e r
p e r s o n ' s , two p r o c e s s e s are s i m u l t a n e o u s l y g o i n g on within
him. A s he g r o w s r o b u s t a n d s t r o n g , he becomes intelligent
and judicious.
I n this w a y h e will one d a y h a v e t h o s e t w o excellences, —
t h o u g h t i n c o m p a t i b l e i n d e e d , b u t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of n e a r l y all
g r e a t m e n , — s t r e n g t h of b o d y a n d s t r e n g t h of m i n d , t h e
r e a s o n of a s a g e a n d t h e vigor of a n a t h l e t e .
I a m r e c o m m e n d i n g a difficult a r t to y o u , y o u n g t e a c h e r , —
t h e a r t of g o v e r n i n g w i t h o u t r u l e s , a n d of d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g
b y d o i n g n o t h i n g a t all. I g r a n t , t h a t a t y o u r age, this a r t
is n o t to b e e x p e c t e d of y o u . I t will n o t enable y o u , a t t h e
o u t s e t , to e x h i b i t y o u r shining t a l e n t s , or t o m a k e yourself
p r i z e d b y p a r e n t s ; b u t it is t h e only one t h a t will succeed.
T o b e a sensible m a n , y o u r pupil m u s t first h a v e b e e n a
little s c a p e g r a c e . T h e S p a r t a n s were e d u c a t e d in this w a y ;
1
n o t tied d o w n to b o o k s , b u t obliged t o s t e a l their d i n n e r s ;
a n d did this p r o d u c e m e n inferior in u n d e r s t a n d i n g ? W h o
d o e s n o t r e m e m b e r their forcible, p i t h y s a y i n g s ? Trained
to c o n q u e r , t h e y w o r s t e d their enemies in every k i n d of en
c o u n t e r ; a n d t h e b a b b l i n g A t h e n i a n s d r e a d e d their s h a r p
speeches quite as m u c h as their v a l o r .
I n stricter s y s t e m s of e d u c a t i o n , t h e t e a c h e r c o m m a n d s
a n d t h i n k s he is g o v e r n i n g t h e child, w h o is, after all, t h e
r e a l m a s t e r . W h a t you e x a c t from h i m he e m p l o y s as m e a n s
to g e t from you w h a t he w a n t s . B y one h o u r of diligence he
1
This expresses rather too vehemently a true idea. Do not try to impart
a rigid education whose apparent correctness hides grave defects. Allow
free course to the child's instinctive activity and turbulence; let nature
speak; do not crave reserve and fastidiousness at the expense of frankness
and vigor of mind. This is what the writer really means.
can b u y a w e e k ' s i n d u l g e n c e . A t every m o m e n t y o u h a v e
to m a k e t e r m s with h i m . T h e s e b a r g a i n s , which y o u p r o
pose in y o u r w a y , a n d which h e fulfils in his o w n w a y ,
always t u r n o u t t o t h e a d v a n t a g e of his w h i m s , especially
w h e n you a r e so careless as t o m a k e s t i p u l a t i o n s which will
be to his a d v a n t a g e w h e t h e r h e carries o u t his s h a r e of t h e
b a r g a i n or n o t . U s u a l l y , t h e child r e a d s t h e t e a c h e r ' s m i n d
b e t t e r t h a n t h e t e a c h e r r e a d s h i s . T h i s is n a t u r a l ; for all
t h e s a g a c i t y t h e child a t liberty would use in s e l f - p r e s e r v a
tion he n o w uses to p r o t e c t himself from a t y r a n t ' s c h a i n s ;
while t h e l a t t e r , h a v i n g n o i m m e d i a t e i n t e r e s t in k n o w i n g t h e
child's m i n d , follows his o w n a d v a n t a g e b y l e a v i n g v a n i t y
a n d indolence u n r e s t r a i n e d .
D o otherwise with y o u r p u p i l . L e t h i m a l w a y s s u p p o s e
himself m a s t e r , while you really are m a s t e r . N o subjection
is so perfect a s t h a t which r e t a i n s t h e a p p e a r a n c e of l i b e r t y ;
for t h u s t h e will itself is m a d e c a p t i v e . I s n o t t h e h e l p l e s s ,
u n k n o w i n g child a t y o u r m e r c y ? D o you n o t , so far a s h e
is c o n c e r n e d , control e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d h i m ? H a v e you n o t
power to influence h i m a s y o u p l e a s e ? A r e n o t his w o r k , his
p l a y , his p l e a s u r e , h i s p a i n , in y o u r h a n d s , w h e t h e r h e k n o w s
it or n o t ?
D o u b t l e s s h e o u g h t to d o only w h a t h e p l e a s e s ; b u t y o u r
choice o u g h t to control his w i s h e s . H e o u g h t to t a k e n o
s t e p t h a t y o u h a v e n o t d i r e c t e d ; h e o u g h t n o t t o o p e n his
lips w i t h o u t y o u r k n o w i n g w h a t h e is a b o u t to s a y .
I n this case h e m a y , w i t h o u t fear of d e b a s i n g his m i n d ,
d e v o t e himself t o exercises of t h e b o d y . I n s t e a d of s h a r p
ening his wits to e s c a p e a n i r k s o m e subjection, you will o b
serve him wholly occupied in finding o u t in e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d
him t h a t p a r t b e s t a d a p t e d to* his p r e s e n t well-being. You
will b e a m a z e d a t t h e subtilty of his c o n t r i v a n c e s for a p p r o
p r i a t i n g t o himself all t h # o b j e c t s within t h e r e a c h of his
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d for enjoying e v e r y t h i n g w i t h o u t regard
to other people's o p i n i o n s .
B y t h u s l e a v i n g h i m free, y o u will n o t foster h i s c a p r i c e s .
If he n e v e r does a n y t h i n g t h a t does n o t suit h i m , h e will
soon d o only w h a t h e o u g h t t o d o . A n d , a l t h o u g h his b o d y
b e n e v e r a t r e s t , still, if h e is c a r i n g for h i s p r e s e n t a n d p e r
ceptible i n t e r e s t s , all t h e r e a s o n of which h e is c a p a b l e will
develop f a r b e t t e r a n d m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y t h a n in s t u d i e s
purely s p e c u l a t i v e .
A s h e d o e s n o t "find y o u b e n t o n t h w a r t i n g h i m , does n o t
d i s t r u s t y o u , h a s n o t h i n g t o hide from y o u , h e will n o t
deceive y o u or tell y o u lies. H e will fearlessly show h i m
self t o y o u j u s t a s h e i s . Y o u m a y s t u d y h i m entirely a t
y o u r e a s e , a n d p l a n l e s s o n s for h i m which h e will all u n c o n
sciously r e c e i v e .
H e will n o t p r y w i t h suspicious curiosity i n t o y o u r affairs,
a n d feel p l e a s u r e w h e n h e finds you in fault. T h i s is o n e
of o u r m o s t serious d i s a d v a n t a g e s . A s I h a v e said, o n e of
a child's first o b j e c t s is t o discover t h e w e a k n e s s e s of those
w h o h a v e c o n t r o l of h i m . T h i s disposition m a y p r o d u c e ill-
n a t u r e , b u t d o e s n o t arise from it, b u t from their desire t o
e s c a p e a n i r k s o m e b o n d a g e . O p p r e s s e d b y t h e y o k e laid
u p o n t h e m , children e n d e a v o r t o s h a k e it off; a n d t h e faults
t h e y find in their t e a c h e r s yield t h e m excellent m e a n s for
d o i n g t h i s . B u t t h e y acquire t h e h a b i t of o b s e r v i n g faults
in o t h e r s , a n d of e n j o y i n g such discoveries. T h i s source of
evil e v i d e n t l y d o e s n o t e x i s t in iSmile. H a v i n g n o i n t e r e s t
t o s e r v e b y d i s c o v e r i n g m y f a u l t s , h e will n o t lpok for t h e m
in m e , and will h a v e little t e m p t a t i o n t o s e e k t h e m in other
people.
T h i s course of c o n d u c t seems difficult because we do n o t
reflect u p o n i t ; but t a k i n g it a l t o g e t h e r , it o u g h t n o t to be s o .
I am justified in s u p p o s i n g that you know enough to under-
PHYSICAL TRAINING. 91
s t a n d t h e b u s i n e s s y o u h a v e u n d e r t a k e n ; t h a t you k n o w the
n a t u r a l p r o g r e s s of t h e h u m a n m i n d ; t h a t you u n d e r s t a n d
s t u d y i n g m a n k i n d in g e n e r a l a n d in i n d i v i d u a l cases ; t h a t
a m o n g all t h e objects i n t e r e s t i n g t o his a g e t h a t you m e a n to
show y o u r p u p i l , y o u k n o w b e f o r e h a n d which of t h e m will
influence his will.
, N o w if y o u h a v e t h e a p p l i a n c e s , a n d k n o w j u s t h o w t o use
t h e m , a r e y o u n o t m a s t e r of t h e o p e r a t i o n ?
Y o u object t h a t children h a v e c a p r i c e s , b u t in this you a r e
m i s t a k e n . T h e s e caprices r e s u l t from faulty discipline, a n d
are n o t n a t u r a l . T h e children h a v e b e e n a c c u s t o m e d either
to obey or t o c o m m a n d , a n d I h a v e said a h u n d r e d t i m e s t h a t
neither of t h e s e two t h i n g s is n e c e s s a r y . Y o u r pupil will
therefore h a v e only such caprices a s you give h i m , a n d it is
j u s t you should b e p u n i s h e d for y o u r o w n f a u l t s . B u t do
y o u a s k h o w t h e s e are to be r e m e d i e d ? I t can still b e d o n e
b y m e a n s of b e t t e r m a n a g e m e n t a n d m u c h p a t i e n c e .
Physical Training.
Clothing.
A s t o clothing, t h e limbs of a g r o w i n g b o d y s h o u l d b e
entirely free. N o t h i n g should c r a m p their m o v e m e n t s or
their g r o w t h ; n o t h i n g should fit t o o closely or b i n d t h e b o d y ;
t h e r e should be n o l i g a t u r e s w h a t e v e r . T h e p r e s e n t F r e n c h
d r e s s c r a m p s a n d disables even a m a n , a n d is especially
injurious to children. I t a r r e s t s t h e circulation of t h e h u m o r s ;
t h e y s t a g n a t e from a n inaction m a d e w o r s e b y a s e d e n t a r y
life. T h i s c o r r u p t i o n of t h e h u m o r s b r i n g s o n t h e s c u r v y ,
a disease b e c o m i n g every d a y m o r e c o m m o n a m o n g u s , b u t
u n k n o w n t o t h e a n c i e n t s , p r o t e c t e d from it b y their d r e s s a n d
their m o d e of life. T h e h u s s a r d r e s s d o e s n o t r e m e d y this
1
An English philosopher, who died in 1704. He wrote a very celebrated
" Treatise on the Education of Children.*'
2
A celebrated professor, Rector of the University of Paris, who died in
1741, He left a number of works on education.
3
An abbe of the seventeenth century who wrote a much valued " His
tory of the Church," and a " Treatise on the Method and Choice of
Studies." He was tutor to Count Vermandois, natural son to Louis XIV.
4
A professor of mathematics, born at Lausanne, tutor to Prince Fred
erick of Hesse Cassel.
i n c o n v e n i e n c e , b u t increases it, since, t o s a v e the child a few
l i g a t u r e s , it c o m p r e s s e s t h e entire b o d y . I t w o u l d b e b e t t e r
to k e e p children in frocks a s l o n g as possible, a n d t h e n p u t
t h e m into loosely fitting clothes, w i t h o u t t r y i n g t o s h a p e their
figures a n d t h e r e b y spoil t h e m . T h e i r defects of b o d y a n d
of m i n d nearly all s p r i n g from t h e s a m e c a u s e : w e a r e t r y i n g
to m a k e m e n of t h e m before their t i m e .
Of b r i g h t a n d dull colors, t h e former b e s t p l e a s e a child's
t a s t e ; s u c h colors a r e also m o s t b e c o m i n g to t h e m ; a n d I
see n o r e a s o n w h y we should n o t in such m a t t e r s c o n s u l t
t h e s e n a t u r a l coincidences. B u t t h e m o m e n t a m a t e r i a l is
p r e f e r r e d b e c a u s e it is richer, t h e child's m i n d is c o r r u p t e d
b y l u x u r y , a n d b y all s o r t s of w h i m s . P r e f e r e n c e s like this
d o n o t s p r i n g u p of their own a c c o r d . I t is impossible
t o s a y h o w m u c h choice of d r e s s a n d t h e m o t i v e s of this
choice i n n u e n c e e d u c a t i o n . N o t only d o t h o u g h t l e s s m o t h e r s
p r o m i s e ciiiidreh fine clothes b y w a y of r e w a r d , b u t foolish
t u t o r s t h r e a t e n t h e m w i t h c o a r s e r a n d simpler d r e s s a s p u n
i s h m e n t . " I f you d o n o t s t u d y y o u r l e s s o n s , if y o u d o
n o t t a k e b e t t e r care of y o u r clothes, y o u shall b e d r e s s e d
like t h a t little r u s t i c . " T h i s is s a y i n g t o h i m , " R e s t a s s u r e d
that, a m a n is n o t h i n g b u t w h a t his clothes m a k e him ; your,
o w n w o r t h d e p e n d s on w h a t you w e a r . " I s it s u r p r i s i n g
t h a t s a g e l e s s o n s like t h i s so influence y o u n g m e n t h a t t h e y
c a r e for n o t h i n g b u t o r n a m e n t , a n d j u d g e of m e r i t b y o u t w a r d
appearance only?
G e n e r a l l y , children a r e too w a r m l y clothed, especially in
their earlier y e a r s . T h e y should b e i n u r e d to cold r a t h e r
t h a n h e a t ; s e v e r e cold n e v e r i n c o m m o d e s t h e m when t h e y
e n c o u n t e r i t e a r l y . B u t t h e tissue of their skin, as y e t
yielding a n d t e n d e r , allows too free p a s s a g e to p e r s p i r a t i o n ,
and exposure to great heat invariably weakens them. I t has
been o b s e r v e d t h a t m o r e children die in A u g u s t t h a n in a n y
SLEEP. 95
other m o n t h . B e s i d e s , if we c o m p a r e n o r t h e r n a n d s o u t h e r n
r a c e s , we find t h a t excessive cold, r a t h e r t h a n e x c e s s i v e
h e a t , m a k e s m a n r o b u s t . I n p r o p o r t i o n as t h e child g r o w s
a n d his fibres a r e s t r e n g t h e n e d , a c c u s t o m him g r a d u a l l y to
w i t h s t a n d h e a t ; a n d b y d e g r e e s you will w i t h o u t risk t r a i n
h i m t o e n d u r e t h e glowing t e m p e r a t u r e of t h e t o r r i d z o n e .
Sleep.
CHILDREN n e e d a g r e a t d e a l of sleep b e c a u s e t h e y t a k e a
g r e a t deal of e x e r c i s e . T h e one a c t s as corrective to t h e
o t h e r , so t h a t b o t h a r e n e c e s s a r y . A s n a t u r e t e a c h e s u s ,
n i g h t is t h e t i m e for r e s t . C o n s t a n t o b s e r v a t i o n shows t h a t
sleep is softer a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d while t h e s u n is below t h e
horizon. T h e h e a t e d air does n o t so perfectly tranquillize
our tired s e n s e s . F o r this r e a s o n t h e m o s t s a l u t a r y h a b i t is
to rise a n d t o g o t o r e s t with t h e s u n . I n our climate m a n ,
a n d a n i m a l s g e n e r a l l y , r e q u i r e m o r e sleep in w i n t e r t h a n in
s u m m e r . B u t our m o d e of life is n o t so simple, n a t u r a l , a n d
u n i f o r m t h a t we can m a k e this r e g u l a r h a b i t a n e c e s s i t y .
W e m u s t w i t h o u t d o u b t s u b m i t t o r e g u l a t i o n s ; b u t it is m o s t
i m p o r t a n t t h a t we should b e able t o b r e a k t h e m w i t h o u t risk
when occasion r e q u i r e s . D o n o t t h e n i m p r u d e n t l y soften
y o u r pupil by l e t t i n g h i m lie peacefully asleep w i t h o u t e v e r
being d i s t u r b e d . A t first let h i m yield w i t h o u t r e s t r a i n t t o
the law of n a t u r e , b u t d o n o t forget t h a t in our d a y we m u s t
be superior t o this l a w ; we m u s t b e able to g o late to r e s t
a n d rise early, to b e a w a k e n e d s u d d e n l y , to be u p all n i g h t ,
without d i s c o m f o r t . B y b e g i n n i n g early, a n d b y always
proceeding slowly, we f o r m t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n b y t h e v e r y
practices which w o u l d r u i n it if it were a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d .
I t is i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u r pupil should from t h e first be
accustomed to a h a r d b e d , so t h a t h e m a y find n o n e u n c o m
fortable.
G e n e r a l l y , a life of h a r d s h i p , w h e n we a r e u s e d to it, gives
u s a far g r e a t e r n u m b e r of a g r e e a b l e s e n s a t i o n s t h a n does a
life of e a s e , which c r e a t e s a n infinite n u m b e r of unpleasaift
o n e s . O n e too delicately r e a r e d c a n find sleep only u p o n a
b e d of d o w n ; o n e a c c u s t o m e d t o b a r e b o a r d s can find it a n y
w h e r e . N o b e d is h a r d to h i m w h o falls asleep as soon as
his h e a d t o u c h e s t h e pillow. T h e b e s t b e d is the one which
b r i n g s t h e b e s t sleep. T h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y n o slaves from
P e r s i a , b u t E m i l e a n d I , will p r e p a r e our b e d s . W h e n we
a r e tilling t h e g r o u n d we shall b e m a k i n g t h e m soft for our
slumber.
E x e r c i s e of the S e n s e s .
A CHILD h a s n o t a m a n ' s s t a t u r e , s t r e n g t h , or r e a s o n ; b u t
he sees a n d h e a r s a l m o s t or quite as well. H i s sense of t a s t e
is a s k e e n , t h o u g h he does n o t enjoy it as a p l e a s u r e .
O u r s e n s e s are t h e first p o w e r s p e r f e c t e d in u s . T h e y arc
t h e first t h a t should b e c u l t i v a t e d a n d t h e only o n e s f o r g o t t e n ,
or a t l e a s t , t h e m o s t neglected.
T o exercise t h e senses is n o t merely to use t h e m , b u t to
l e a r n how t o j u d g e correctly b y m e a n s of t h e m ; We m a y s a y ,
to l e a r n h o w t o feel. F o r we c a n n o t feel, or h e a r , or see,
otherwise t h a n as we h a v e b e e n t a u g h t .
T h e r e is a k i n d of e x e r c i s e , purely n a t u r a l a n d m e c h a n i c a l ,
t h a t r e n d e r s t h e b o d y r o b u s t w i t h o u t i n j u r i n g t h e m i n d . Of
this description are s w i m m i n g , r u n n i n g , l e a p i n g , s p i n n i n g
t o p s , . a n d t h r o w i n g s t o n e s . A l l t h e s e are well e n o u g h ; b u t
h a v e we n o t h i n g b u t a r m s a n d legs ? H a v e we n o t eyes a n d
e a r s a s well ? a n d are t h e y of no u s e while t h e o t h e r s are em
p l o y e d ? U s e , t h e n , n o t only y o u r bodily s t r e n g t h , b u t all
the s e n s e s which direct it. M a k e a s m u c h of each as possi
ble, a n d verify t h e i m p r e s s i o n s of one b y t h o s e of a n o t h e r .
M e a s u r e , c o u n t , weigh, a n d c o m p a r e . U s e n o s t r e n g t h till
after you h a v e calculated t h e r e s i s t a n c e it will m e e t . Be
careful t o e s t i m a t e t h e effect before you use t h e m e a n s . In
t e r e s t t h e child in n e v e r m a k i n g a n y useless or i n a d e q u a t e
trials of s t r e n g t h . If you a c c u s t o m h i m to forecast t h e
effect of e v e r y m o v e m e n t , a n d to correct his e r r o r s b y e x p e
r i e n c e , is it n o t c e r t a i n t h a t t h e m o r e h e does t h e b e t t e r his
j u d g m e n t will b e ?
If t h e lever he u s e s in m o v i n g a h e a v y w e i g h t b e too l o n g ,
h e will e x p e n d too m u c h m o t i o n ; if too s h o r t , h e will n o t
h a v e p o w e r e n o u g h . E x p e r i e n c e will t e a c h h i m to choose
one exactly s u i t a b l e . S u c h p r a c t i c a l k n o w l e d g e , t h e n , is n o t
b e y o n d his y e a r s . If he wishes to carry a b u r d e n e x a c t l y as
h e a v y as his s t r e n g t h will b e a r , w i t h o u t t h e t e s t of first lift
ing it, m u s t h e n o t e s t i m a t e its w e i g h t b y t h e eye ? If he
u n d e r s t a n d s c o m p a r i n g m a s s e s of t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l b u t of
different size, let him choose b e t w e e n m a s s e s of t h e s a m e
size b u t of different m a t e r i a l . T h i s w i l l oblige h i m t o com
p a r e t h e m as to specific g r a v i t y . I h a v e seen a well-educated
y o u n g m a n w h o , u n t i l h e h a d tried t h e e x p e r i m e n t , would
n o t believe t h a t a pail full of l a r g e chips weighs less t h a n it
does w h e n full of w a t e r .
The S e n s e of Touch.
W E h a v e n o t equal control of a l b our s e n s e s . O n e of
t h e m , the sense of t o u c h , is in c o n t i n u a l action so l o n g a s
we are a w a k e . Diffused over t h e ' e n t i r e surface of t h e b o d y ,
it serves as a p e r p e t u a l sentinel to w a r n us of w h a t is likely
to h a r m u s . B y t h e c o n s t a n t use of this s e n s e , v o l u n t a r y
or otherwise, we g a i n o u r earliest e x p e r i e n c e . I t therefore
s t a n d s less in n e e d of special cultivation. W e o b s e r v e how
ever, t h a t t h e b l i n d h a v e a m o r e delicate a n d a c c u r a t e t o u c h
t h a n we, b e c a u s e , n o t h a v i n g sight t o g u i d e t h e m , t h e y
d e p e n d u p o n t o u c h for t h e j u d g m e n t s we f o r m with t h e aid
of sight. W h y t h e n d o we n o t t r a i n ourselves t o walk, like
t h e m , in t h e d a r k , t o r e c o g n i z e b y t h e t o u c h all bodies we
c a n r e a c h , to j u d g e of objects a r o u n d u s , in s h o r t , to do by
n i g h t a n d in the d a r k all t h e y d o in d a y t i m e w i t h o u t eye
s i g h t ? So long as t h e s u n s h i n e s , we h a v e t h e a d v a n t a g e of
t h e m ; b u t t h e y c a n g u i d e us in d a r k n e s s . W e a r e blind
d u r i n g half our life-time, with this difference, t h a t t h e realty
b l i n d c a n always guide t h e m s e l v e s , w h e r e a s we d a r e n o t
t a k e a s t e p in t h e d e a d of n i g h t . You may remind me
t h a t we h a v e artificial light. W h a t ! m u s t we always use
m a c h i n e s ? Who c a n i n s u r e their b e i n g always a t h a n d w h e n
we n e e d t h e m ? F o r m y p a r t , I prefer t h a t E m i l e , i n s t e a d
of k e e p i n g his eyes in a c h a n d l e r ' s s h o p , should h a v e t h e m
a t t h e e n d s of his fingers.
A s m u c h a s possible, let him b e a c c u s t o m e d to play a b o u t
a t n i g h t . T h i s advice is m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n it would s e e m .
F o r m e n , a n d s o m e t i m e s for a n i m a l s , n i g h t h a s n a t u r a l l y its
t e r r o r s . R a r e l y clo w i s d o m , or wit, or c o u r a g e , free us from
p a y i n g t r i b u t e to t h e s e t e r r o r s . I h a v e seen r e a s o n e r s , free
t h i n k e r s , p h i l o s o p h e r s , soldiers, w h o w e r e u t t e r l y fearless in
b r o a d d a y l i g h t , t r e m b l e like w o m e n a t t h e r u s t l e of leaves
b y night. S u c h t e r r o r s a r e s u p p o s e d t o b e t h e r e s u l t of
n u r s e r y t a l e s . T h e r e a l c a u s e is t h e s a m e t h i n g which m a k e s
t h e deaf d i s t r u s t f u l , a n d t h e lower classes s u p e r s t i t i o u s ; a n d
t h a t is, i g n o r a n c e of objects a n d e v e n t s a r o u n d u s .
T h e c a u s e of t h e evil, once found, s u g g e s t s t h e r e m e d y .
I n e v e r y t h i n g , h a b i t b e n u m b s t h e i m a g i n a t i o n ; n e w objects
alone q u i c k e n it a g a i n . E v e r y - d a y o b j e c t s k e e p active n o t
u
t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , b u t t h e m e m o r y ; whence t h e s a y i n g Ab
1
a s s u e t i s n o n fit p a s s i o . " F o r only t h e i m a g i n a t i o n c a n set
o n fire o u r p a s s i o n s . If, t h e r e f o r e , you wish t o cure a n y one
of t h e fear of d a r k n e s s , do n o t r e a s o n w i t h h i m . T a l t e him
1
'' Passion is not born of familiar things."
into the d a r k often, a n d y o u m a y be sure t h a t will d o h i m
m o r e g o o d t h a n philosophical a r g u m e n t s . W h e n a t w o r k o n
the roofs of h o u s e s , slaters do n o t feel their h e a d s s w i m ;
a n d t h o s e a c c u s t o m e d to d a r k n e s s do n o t fear it a t all.
T h e r e will b e one a d v a n t a g e of our plays in t h e d a r k .
B u t if y o u m e a n t h e m to be successful, you m u s t m a k e t h e m
as g a y a s possible. D a r k n e s s is of all t h i n g s t h e m o s t
g l o o m y ; so d o n o t s h u t y o u r child up in a d u n g e o n . When
he goes i n t o t h e d a r k m a k e him l a u g h ; w h e n he leaves it
m a k e him l a u g h a g a i n ; a n d all t h e time he is t h e r e , let t h e
t h o u g h t of w h a t h e is enjoying, a n d w h a t he will find t h e r e
w h e n he r e t u r n s , p r o t e c t him from t h e s h a d o w y t e r r o r s which
m i g h t otherwise i n h a b i t it.
I h a v e h e a r d some p r o p o s e t o t e a c h children n o t t o b e
afraid a t n i g h t , b y s u r p r i s i n g t h e m . T h i s is a b a d p l a n , a n d
its effect is c o n t r a r y t o t h e one s o u g h t : it only m a k e s t h e m
m o r e timid t h a n b e f o r e . Neither reason nor habit can
a c c u s t o m us to a p r e s e n t d a n g e r , t h e n a t u r e a n d e x t e n t of
which we d o n o t k n o w , n o r can t h e y lessen our d r e a d of
u n e x p e c t e d t h i n g s h o w e v e r often we m e e t with t h e m . But
how c a n we g u a r d our pupil a g a i n s t s u c h a c c i d e n t s ? I t h i n k
the following is the b e s t p l a n . 1 will tell m y iSmile, " I f
a n y one a t t a c k s y o u a t night, y o u a r e justified in d e f e n d i n g
yourself ; for y o u r a s s a i l a n t gives you n o notice w h e t h e r h e
m e a n s to h u r t y o u or only to frighten y o u . A s he h a s
t a k e n you a t a d i s a d v a n t a g e , seize him boldly, n o m a t t e r
w h a t he m a y s e e m to b e . H o l d him fast, a n d if h e offers
a n y r e s i s t a n c e , hit him h a r d a n d often. W h a t e v e r h e m a y
say or d o , n e v e r let g o until you k n o w e x a c t l y w h o h e i s .
T h e e x p l a n a t i o n will p r o b a b l y show y o u t h a t t h e r e is n o t h i n g
t o be afraid of; a n d if you t r e a t a p r a c t i c a l j o k e r in this
w a y , he will n o t b e likely-to t r y the s a m e t h i n g a g a i n . "
A l t h o u g h , of all our s e n s e s , t o u c h is t h e one m o s t con-
s t a n t l y used, still, a s I h a v e s a i d , its conclusions a r e t h e
m o s t r u d e a n d imperfect. T h i s is b e c a u s e it is always u s e d
a t t h e s a m e time with s i g h t ; a n d b e c a u s e t h e eye a t t a i n s its
object sooner t h a n t h e h a n d ; the m i n d n e a r l y a l w a y s decides
w i t h o u t a p p e a l i n g to t o u c h . O n t h e other h a n d , t h e decis
ions of t o u c h , j u s t b e c a u s e t h e y are so limited in their r a n g e ,
a r e the m o s t a c c u r a t e . F o r a s t h e y e x t e n d n o f a r t h e r t h a n
our a r m ' s l e n g t h , t h e y c o r r e c t t h e e r r o r s of o t h e r s e n s e s ,
which deal w i t h d i s t a n t o b j e c t s , a n d scarcely g r a s p t h e s e
objects a t all, w h e r e a s all t h a t t h e t o u c h perceives it p e r
ceives t h o r o u g h l y . B e s i d e s , if to nerve-force we a d d m u s c u
l a r a c t i o n , we form a s i m u l t a n e o u s i m p r e s s i o n , a n d j u d g e of
weight a n d solidity as well as of t e m p e r a t u r e , size, a n d s h a p e .
T h u s t o u c h , which of all our senses b e s t i n f o r m s u s c o n c e r n
ing i m p r e s s i o n s m a d e u p o n us b y e x t e r n a l t h i n g s , is t h e one
oftenest u s e d , a n d gives us m o s t directly t h e k n o w l e d g e
n e c e s s a r y t o our p r e s e r v a t i o n .
The S e n s e of Sight.
Drawing.
A L L children, b e i n g n a t u r a l i m i t a t o r s , t r y to d r a w . I
would h a v e m y pupil cultivate this a r t , n o t e x a c t l y for the
s a k e of t h e a r t itself, b u t to r e n d e r t h e eye true a n d t h e
h a n d flexible. I n g e n e r a l , it m a t t e r s little w h e t h e r he u n d e r
s t a n d s this or t h a t exercise, p r o v i d e d he a c q u i r e s t h e m e n t a l
insight, a n d the m a n u a l skill furnished b y t h e e x e r c i s e . I
should t a k e c a r e , t h e r e f o r e , n o t to give h i m a d r a w i n g -
m a s t e r , w h o would give him only copies t o i m i t a t e , a n d
would m a k e h i m d r a w from d r a w i n g s only. H e shall h a v e
n o t e a c h e r b u t n a t u r e , n o m o d e l s b u t r e a l t h i n g s . H e shall
h a v e before his eyes t h e originals, a n d n o t t h e p a p e r which
r e p r e s e n t s t h e m . H e shall d r a w a h o u s e from a r e a l h o u s e ,
a tree from a tree, a h u m a n figure from t h e m a n himself. In
this way h e will a c c u s t o m himself to o b s e r v e b o d i e s a n d their
a p p e a r a n c e s , a n d n o t m i s t a k e for a c c u r a t e i m i t a t i o n s t h o s e
t h a t a r e false a n d c o n v e n t i o n a l . I should e v e n object t o his
d r a w i n g a n y t h i n g from m e m o r y , until b y f r e q u e n t o b s e r v a
tions t h e e x a c t forms of t h e objects h a d clearly i m p r i n t e d
t h e m s e l v e s on his i m a g i n a t i o n , lest, s u b s t i t u t i n g o d d and
f a n t a s t i c s h a p e s for t h e r e a l t h i n g s , he m i g h t loose the
k n o w l e d g e of p r o p o r t i o n a n d a t a s t e for t h e b e a u t i e s oi
n a t u r e . I k n o w v e r y well t h a t he will g o o n d a u b i n g for a
long time w i t h o u t m a k i n g a n y t h i n g w o r t h n o t i c i n g , a n d will
b e l o n g in m a s t e r i n g elegance of outline, a n d in a c q u i r i n g
t h e deft s t r o k e of a skilled d r a u g h t s m a n . H e m a y never
l e a r n to discern p i c t u r e s q u e effects, or d r a w with superior
skill. O n t h e other h a n d , he will h a v e a m o r e correct eye, a
t r u e r h a n d , a k n o w l e d g e of the r e a l r e l a t i o n s of size a n d
s h a p e in a n i m a l s , p l a n t s , a n d n a t u r a l b o d i e s , a n d p r a c t i c a l
e x p e r i e n c e of t h e illusions of p e r s p e c t i v e . T h i s is precisely
w h a t I i n t e n d ; n o t so m u c h t h a t h e shall imitate objects as
t h a t he shall k n o w t h e m . I would r a t h e r h a v e h i m show me
a n a c a n t h u s t h a n a finished d r a w i n g of the foliation of a
capital.
Y e t I would n o t allow m y pupil to h a v e t h e e n j o y m e n t of
this or a n y other exercise all to himself. B y s h a r i n g it w i t h
h i m I will m a k e h i m enjoy it still m o r e . H e shall h a v e n o
c o m p e t i t o r b u t m y s e l f ; b u t I will b e t h a t c o m p e t i t o r con
tinually, a n d w i t h o u t r i s k of j e a l o u s y b e t w e e n u s . I t will
only i n t e r e s t h i m m o r e deeply in his s t u d i e s . L i k e him I
will t a k e u p t h e pencil, a n d a t first I will b e as a w k w a r d as
h e . If I were a n A p e l l e s , even, I will m a k e myself a m e r e
dauber.
I will b e g i n b y s k e t c h i n g a m a n j u s t a s a b o y would s k e t c h
one on a wall, with a d a s h for e a c h a r m , a n d with fingers
larger than the arms. B y a n d b y one or t h e o t h e r of us
will discover this d i s p r o p o r t i o n . W e shall o b s e r v e t h a t a
leg h a s t h i c k n e s s , a n d t h a t this t h i c k n e s s is n o t the s a m e
DRAWING. 105
everywhere ; t h a t t h e l e n g t h of t h e a r m is d e t e r m i n e d b y its
p r o p o r t i o n to t h e b o d y ; a n d so on. A s we g o on I will d o
n o m o r e t h a n k e e p even s t e p with h i m , or will excel h i m by
so little t h a t he c a n always easily o v e r t a k e a n d e v e n s u r p a s s
m e . W e will g e t colors a n d b r u s h e s ; we will t r y to i m i t a t e
n o t only the outline b u t the coloring a n d all t h e other details
of o b j e c t s . W e will c o l o r ; we will p a i n t ; we will d a u b ;
b u t in all our d a u b i n g we shall b e continually p e e r i n g i n t o
n a t u r e , a n d all we d o shall be d o n e u n d e r t h e eye of t h a t
great teacher.
If we h a d difficulty in finding d e c o r a t i o n s for our r o o m ,
we h a v e now all we could d e s i r e . I will h a v e our d r a w i n g s
f r a m e d , so t h a t we c a n give t h e m n o finishing t o u c h e s ; a n d
this will m a k e us b o t h careful to do n o n e g l i g e n t w o r k . I
will a r r a n g e t h e m in o r d e r a r o u n d o u r r o o m , e a c h d r a w i n g
r e p e a t e d t w e n t y or t h i r t y t i m e s , a n d each r e p e t i t i o n s h o w i n g
t h e a u t h o r ' s p r o g r e s s , from t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a h o u s e by
a n a l m o s t shapeless a t t e m p t a t a s q u a r e , to t h e a c c u r a t e
copy of its front elevation, profile, p r o p o r t i o n s , a n d s h a d i n g .
T h e d r a w i n g s t h u s g r a d e d m u s t b e i n t e r e s t i n g to o u r s e l v e s ,
curious t o o t h e r s , a n d likely to s t i m u l a t e further effort. I
will inclose t h e first a n d r u d e s t of t h e s e in s h o w y gilded
f r a m e s , to set t h e m off w e l l ; b u t a s t h e i m i t a t i o n i m p r o v e s ,
a n d when t h e d r a w i n g is really g o o d , I will a d d only a v e r y
simple b l a c k f r a m e . T h e picture n e e d s n o o r n a m e n t b u t
itself, a n d it would b e a pity t h a t t h e b o r d e r i n g should
receive half t h e a t t e n t i o n .
B o t h of us will a s p i r e to the h o n o r of a plain f r a m e , a n d
if either wishes t o c o n d e m n t h e o t h e r ' s d r a w i n g , h e will say
it o u g h t to h a v e a gilt f r a m e . P e r h a p s some day these
gilded frames will p a s s into a p r o v e r b w i t h u s , a n d we shall
be i n t e r e s t e d to o b s e r v e h o w m a n y m e n d o justice to them*
selves b y framing t h e m s e l v e s in t h e v e r y s a m e Way. .•
Geometry.
Hearing.
The Voice.
M A N h a s t h r e e k i n d s of v o i c e : t h e s p e a k i n g or a r t i c u l a t e
voice, t h e singing or melodious voice, a n d t h e p a t h e t i c or
a c c e n t e d voice, which gives l a n g u a g e to p a s s i o n a n d a n i m a t e s
song a n d speech. A child h a s t h e s e t h r e e k i n d s of voice a s
well a s a m a n , b u t he does n o t k n o w how to b l e n d t h e m in
t h e same w a y . L i k e his elders he can l a u g h , c r y , c o m p l a i n ,
exclaim, a n d g r o a n . B u t he does n o t k n o w how t o b l e n d
t h e s e inflections with t h e two other v o i c e s . P e r f e c t m u s i c
b e s t accomplishes this b l e n d i n g ; b u t children a r e i n c a p a b l e of
such music, a n d t h e r e is never m u c h feeling in their s i n g i n g .
I n s p e a k i n g , their voice h a s little e n e r g y , a n d little or n o a c c e n t .
Our pupil will h a v e even a simpler a n d m o r e u n i f o r m m o d e
of s p e a k i n g , b e c a u s e his p a s s i o n s , n o t y e t a r o u s e d , will n o t
mingle their l a n g u a g e with his. D o n o t , t h e r e f o r e , give him
d r a m a t i c p a r t s to recite, nor t e a c h h i m t o declaim. H e will
h a v e too m u c h sense to e m p h a s i z e w o r d s h e c a n n o t u n d e r
s t a n d , a n d to e x p r e s s feelings he h a s n e v e r k n o w n .
T e a c h h i m to s p e a k evenly, clearly, a r t i c u l a t e l y , to p r o
n o u n c e correctly a n d w i t h o u t affectation, to u n d e r s t a n d a n d
use t h e a c c e n t d e m a n d e d b y g r a m m a r a n d p r o s o d y . Train
him to avoid a c o m m o n fault a c q u i r e d in colleges, of s p e a k
ing louder t h a n is n e c e s s a r y ; h a v e him s p e a k loud e n o u g h
to b e u n d e r s t o o d ; let t h e r e b e n o e x a g g e r a t i o n in a n y t h i n g .
A i m , also, to r e n d e r his voice in s i n g i n g , e v e n , flexible, a n d
s o n o r o u s . L e t his ear be sensitive to time a n d h a r m o n y , b u t
to n o t h i n g m o r e . D o n o t e x p e c t of him, a t his a g e , i m i t a t i v e
a n d t h e a t r i c a l m u s i c . I t would be b e t t e r if he did n o t even
sing w o r d s . If he wished to sing t h e m , I should t r y to
i n v e n t s o n g s especially for him, such as would i n t e r e s t h i m ,
as simple as his own i d e a s .
The S e n s e of Taste.
Result. T h e P u p i l a t the A g e of T e n or T w e l v e .
SUPPOSING t h a t my m e t h o d is i n d e e d t h a t of n a t u r e itself,
a n d t h a t I h a v e m a d e n o m i s t a k e s in a p p l y i n g it, I h a v e n o w
c o n d u c t e d m y pupil t h r o u g h t h e r e g i o n of s e n s a t i o n s to t h e
b o u n d a r i e s of childish r e a s o n . T h e first s t e p b e y o n d should
b e t h a t of a m a n . B u t before b e g i n n i n g this n e w c a r e e r , let
us for a m o m e n t c a s t o u r eyes over w h a t we h a v e j u s t t r a v
ersed. E v e r y a g e a n d s t a t i o n in life h a s a perfection, a
m a t u r i t y , all its o w n . W e often h e a r of a full-grown m a n ;
in c o n t e m p l a t i n g a full-grown child we shall find m o r e n o v
elty, a n d p e r h a p s no less p l e a s u r e .
T h e e x i s t e n c e of finite b e i n g s is so b a r r e n a n d so limited
t h a t when we se£ only- w h a t is, it n e v e r stirs u s t o e m o t i o n .
R e a l objects are a d o r n e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n s of f a n c y , a n d
without t h i s c h a r m yield u s b u t a b a r r e n s a t i s f a c t i o n , e x -
t e n d i n g n o f a r t h e r t h a n to t h e o r g a n t h a t perceives t h e m ,
a n d t h e h e a r t is left cold. T h e e a r t h , clad in t h e glories of
a u t u m n , displays a w e a l t h which t h e w o n d e r i n g eye e n j o y s ,
b u t which a r o u s e s n o feeling within us ; it s p r i n g s less from
s e n t i m e n t t h a n from reflection. I n s p r i n g t h e l a n d s c a p e is
still a l m o s t b a r e ; t h e forests yield n o s h a d e ; t h e v e r d u r e is
only b e g i n n i n g to b u d ; a n d y e t t h e h e a r t is deeply m o v e d
a t t h e sight. W e feel within us a n e w life, w h e n we see
n a t u r e t h u s r e v i v e ; delightful i m a g e s s u r r o u n d u s ; the
c o m p a n i o n s of p l e a s u r e , g e n t l e t e a r s , ever r e a d y to 'spring a t
t h e t o u c h of t e n d e r feelings, b r i m o u r e y e s . B u t u p o n the
p a n o r a m a of t h e v i n t a g e s e a s o n , a n i m a t e d a n d p l e a s a n t
t h o u g h it b e , we h a v e n o t e a r s to b e s t o w . W h y is t h e r e this
difference ? I t is b e c a u s e i m a g i n a t i o n joins to t h e s i g h t of
s p r i n g - t i m e t h a t of following s e a s o n s . T o t h e t e n d e r b u d s
t h e eye a d d s t h e flowers, t h e fruit, t h e s h a d e , s o m e t i m e s
also t h e m y s t e r i e s t h a t m a y lie hid in t h e m . I n t o a single
p o i n t of t i m e our f a n c y g a t h e r s all t h e y e a r ' s s e a s o n s y e t to
b e , a n d sees t h i n g s less as t h e y really will b e t h a n as it
would choose to h a v e t h e m . I n a u t u m n , o n t h e c o n t r a r y ,
t h e r e is n o t h i n g b u t b a r e r e a l i t y . If we t h i n k of s p r i n g
t h e n , t h e t h o u g h t of w i n t e r checks u s , a n d b e n e a t h s n o w
a n d h o a r - f r o s t t h e chilled i m a g i n a t i o n d i e s .
T h e c h a r m we feel in looking u p o n a lovely childhood
r a t h e r t h a n u p o n t h e perfection of m a t u r e a g e , arises from
t h e s a m e s o u r c e . If t h e sight of a m a n in his p r i m e gives
u s like p l e a s u r e , it is w h e n t h e m e m o r y of w h a t he h a s d o n e
l e a d s u s t o review his p a s t life a n d b r i n g u p his y o u n g e r
7
da} s. If we t h i n k of h i m as h e i s , or as h e will be in old
a g e , t h e i d e a of declining n a t u r e d e s t r o y s all o u r p l e a s u r e .
T h e r e c a n b e n o n e in seeing a m a n r a p i d l y d r a w i n g n e a r
t h e g r a v e ; the iniage of d e a t h is a b l i g h t u p o n e v e r y t h i n g .
B u t w h e n I i m a g i n e a child of t e n or t w e l v e , s o u n d ,
BESULT. 115
T H E third b o o k h a s t o d o w i t h t h e y o u t h as h e is b e t w e e n the
a g e s o f t w e l v e a n d fifteen. A t this t i m e h i s s t r e n g t h is proportion
ately g r e a t e s t , a n d this i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p e r i o d i n h i s life. I t
is t h e time f o r labor and s t u d y ; n o t indeed f o r studies, of all kinds,
but for t h o s e w h o s e n e c e s s i t y t h e s t u d e n t h i m s e l f f e e l s . T h e prin
ciple that o u g h t t o g u i d e h i m n o w i s t h a t of utility. All t h e master's
talent c o n s i s t s i n l e a d i n g h i m t o d i s c o v e r what i s really u s e f u l t o
him. L a n g u a g e and h i s t o r y offer h i m little that is i n t e r e s t i n g . H e
applies h i m s e l f t o s t u d y i n g natural p h e n o m e n a , b e c a u s e t h e y arouse
h i s c u r i o s i t y a n d afford h i m m e a n s o f o v e r c o m i n g h i s difficulties.
H e m a k e s his o w n i n s t r u m e n t s , and i n v e n t s w h a t apparatus h e
needs.
H e d o e s n o t d e p e n d u p o n another t o direct h i m , b u t f o l l o w s
w h e r e h i s o w n g o o d s e n s e p o i n t s t h e w a y . R o b i n s o n Crusoe on
h i s island i s h i s ideal, a u d t h i s b o o k f u r n i s h e s t h e reading best
suited t o h i s a g e . H e should h a v e s o m e manual o c c u p a t i o n , as
m u c h o n a c c o u n t o f t h e uncertain future as f o r t h e sake o f satisfy
i n g h i s o w n c o n s t a n t activity.
Side b y side w i t h t h e b o d y t h e mind i s d e v e l o p e d b y a t a s t e f o r
reflection, and i s finally prepared f o r s t u d i e s o f a h i g h e r order.
W i t h this period c h i l d h o o d ends and y o u t h b e g i n s .
T h e A g e of S t u d y .
A L T H O U G H u p t o t h e b e g i n n i n g of y o u t h life i s , o n t h e
w h o l e , a p e r i o d of w e a k n e s s , t h e r e is a t i m e d u r i n g t h i s
earlier a g e w h e n o u r s t r e n g t h i n c r e a s e s b e y o n d w h a t o u r w a n t s
r e q u i r e , a n d t h e g r o w i n g a n i m a l , still a b s o l u t e l y w e a k , b e c o m e s
relatively strong. His wants being as yet partly undeveloped,
h i s p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h is m o r e t h a n sufficient t o p r o v i d e for t h o s e
of t h e p r e s e n t . A s a m a n , he would b e v e r y w e a k ; as a
child, he is yery s t r o n g .
W h e n c e arises this w e a k n e s s of ours b u t from the i n e q u a l
ity b e t w e e n our desires a n d t h e s t r e n g t h we h a v e for fulfill
ing t h e m ? O u r p a s s i o n s w e a k e n u s , b e c a u s e t h e gratification
of t h e m r e q u i r e s m o r e t h a n our n a t u r a l s t r e n g t h .
If we h a v e fewer d e s i r e s , we are so m u c h t h e s t r o n g e r .
W h o e v e r c a n d o m o r e t h a n his wishes d e m a n d h a s s t r e n g t h
to s p a r e ; h e is s t r o n g indeed. Of t h i s , t h e t h i r d s t a g e of
childhood, I h a v e n o w t o s p e a k . I still call it childhood for
w a n t of a b e t t e r t e r m to e x p r e s s t h e i d e a ; for this a g e , n o t
T
3~et t h a t of pubert} , a p p r o a c h e s y o u t h .
A t t h e a g e of twelve or t h i r t e e n the child's p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h
develops m u c h faster t h a n his w a n t s . H e b r a v e s w i t h o u t
i n c o n v e n i e n c e t h e inclemency of climate a n d s e a s o n s , scarcely
feeling it a t , a l l . N a t u r a l h e a t s e r v e s h i m i n s t e a d of clothing,
a p p e t i t e i n s t e a d of s a u c e . W h e n h e is d r o w s y , h e lies d o w n
o n t h e g r o u n d a n d falls a s l e e p . T h u s he finds a r o u n d h i m
e v e r y t h i n g he n e e d s ; n o t g o v e r n e d b y c a p r i c e s , his desires
e x t e n d n o f a r t h e r t h a n his o w n a r m s c a n r e a c h . N o t only is
h e sufficient for himself, b u t , a t this one t i m e in all his life,
h e h a s m o r e s t r e n g t h t h a n he realty r e q u i r e s .
W h a t t h e n shall h e d o w i t h this s u p e r a b u n d a n c e of m e n t a l
a n d p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h , which h e will h e r e a f t e r need, b u t
e n d e a v o r to employ it in w a y s which will a t some time b e of
u s e t o h i m , a n d t h u s t h r o w this s u r p l u s v i t a l i t y f o r w a r d into
t h e future ? T h e r o b u s t child shall m a k e provision for his
w e a k e r m a n h o o d . B u t h e will n o t g a r n e r it in b a r n s , or lay
it u p in coffers t h a t can be p l u n d e r e d . T o b e r e a l owner of
this t r e a s u r e , he m u s t store it u p in his a r m s , in his b r a i n , in
himself. T h e p r e s e n t , t h e n , is t h e time to l a b o r , t o receive
i n s t r u c t i o n , a n d to s t u d y ; n a t u r e so o r d a i n s , n o t I .
H u m a n intelligence h a s its limits. W e c a n neither k n o w
everything, n o r b e t h o r o u g h l y a c q u a i n t e d with t h e little t h a t
other m e n k n o w . Since t h e r e v e r s e of every false p r o p o s i
tion is a t r u t h , t h e n u m b e r of t r u t h s , like t h e n u m b e r of
e r r o r s , is i n e x h a u s t i b l e . W e h a v e to select w h a t is t o be
t a u g h t as well as t h e t i m e for l e a r n i n g it. Of t h e k i n d s of
k n o w l e d g e within our p o w e r s o m e a r e false, s o m e u s e l e s s ,
some serve only to foster p r i d e . O n l y the few t h a t really
conduce t o our well-being a r e w o r t h y of s t u d y b y a wise m a n ,
or b y a y o u t h i n t e n d e d to be a wise m a n . T h e q u e s t i o n is,
n o t w h a t m a y b e k n o w n , b u t w h a t will b e of t h e m o s t u s e
w h e n it is k n o w n . F r o m t h e s e few we m u s t a g a i n d e d u c t
such as require a r i p e n e s s of u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d a k n o w l e d g e
of h u m a n r e l a t i o n s which a child c a n n o t possibly a c q u i r e ;
such a s , t h o u g h t r u e in t h e m s e l v e s , incline a n i n e x p e r i e n c e d
m i n d to j u d g e w r o n g l y of other t h i n g s .
T h i s r e d u c e s us to a circle small i n d e e d in r e l a t i o n to
e x i s t i n g t h i n g s , b u t i m m e n s e w h e n we consider the c a p a c i t y
of t h e child's m i n d . H o w d a r i n g w a s t h e h a n d t h a t first v e n
t u r e d to lift t h e veil of d a r k n e s s from our h u m a n u n d e r s t a n d
ing ! W h a t a b y s s e s , due t o our u n w i s e l e a r n i n g , y a w n a r o u n d
the u n f o r t u n a t e y o u t h ! T r e m b l e , y o u w h o a r e t o c o n d u c t
him by t h e s e perilous w a y s , a n d t o lift for h i m t h e s a c r e d
veil of n a t u r e . B e sure of y o u r o w n b r a i n a n d of h i s , lest
either, or p e r h a p s b o t h , g r o w d i z z y a t t h e sight. B e w a r e of
t h e g l a m o u r of falsehood a n d of t h e i n t o x i c a t i n g fumes of
p r i d e . A l w a y s b e a r in m i n d t h a t i g n o r a n c e h a s n e v e r b e e n
harmful, t h a t e r r o r alone is f a t a l , a n d t h a t our e r r o r s a r i s e ,
n o t from w h a t we d o n o t k n o w , b u t from w h a t w e t h i n k we
1
do k n o w .
1
This might be carried too far, and is to be admitted with some reser
vations, ignorance is never alone ; its companions are always error and
presumption. No one is so certain that he knows, as he who knows
nothing ;•' and prejudice of all kinds is the form in which our ignorance
is clothed. '.
The Incentive of Curiosity.
I N g e n e r a l , n e v e r show t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a t h i n g u n l e s s
it be impossible t o show t h e t h i n g i t s e l f ; for t h e sign a b
s o r b s t h e child's a t t e n t i o n , a n d m a k e s h i m lose s i g h t of t h e
t h i n g signified.
1
T h e a r m i l l a r y s p h e r e seems t o m e p o o r l y d e s i g n e d a n d in
b a d p r o p o r t i o n . I t s confused circles a n d o d d figures, giving
1
Imparting a T a s t e for S c i e n c e .
B E A R in m i n d a l w a y s t h a t t h e life a n d soul of m y s y s t e m
is, n o t t o t e a c h t h e child m a n y t h i n g s , b u t to allow only cor
r e c t and clear i d e a s t o e n t e r his m i n d . I clo n o t care if he
knows nothing, so long as h e is not m i s t a k e n . T o guard
him from e r r o r s h e m i g h t l e a r n , I furnish his m i n d with
t r u t h s only. R e a s o n a n d j u d g m e n t e n t e r slowly ; p r e j u d i c e s
crowd in ; a n d h e m u s t b e p r e s e r v e d from t h e s e last. Y e t it
y o u consider science in itself, y o u l a u n c h u p o n a n u n f a t h o m
able a n d b o u n d l e s s s e a , full of u n a v o i d a b l e d a n g e r s . When
I see a m a n carried away by his love for k n o w l e d g e , h a s t e n
ing from one alluring science t o a n o t h e r , w i t h o u t k n o w i n g
w h e r e to s t o p , I t h i n k I see a child g a t h e r i n g shells u p o n
the s e a s h o r e . A t first h e l o a d s himself with t h e m ; t h e n ,
tempted by others, he throws these away, and gathers more.
A t l a s t , w e i g h e d d o w n b y so m a n y , a n d n o longer k n o w i n g
which t o choose, h e e n d s b y t h r o w i n g all a w a y , a n d r e t u r n
ing e m p t y - h a n d e d .
I n our early y e a r s time p a s s e d s l o w l y ; we e n d e a v o r e d t o
lose it, for fear of m i s u s i n g it. T h e case is r e v e r s e d ; n o w
we h a v e n o t t i m e e n o u g h for doing all t h a t we find useful.
B e a r in m i n d t h a t t h e p a s s i o n s a r e d r a w i n g n e a r e r , a n d t h a t
as soon as t h e y k n o c k a t t h e door, y o u r p u p i l will h a v e eyes
a n d e a r s for t h e m a l o n e . T h e t r a n q u i l period of intelli
g e n c e is so brief, a n d h a s so m a n y o t h e r n e c e s s a r y u s e s , t h a t
only folly i m a g i n e s it long e n o u g h t o m a k e t h e child a
learned man. T h e thing is, not to teach him knowledge,
b u t t o give h i m a love for it, a n d a g o o d m e t h o d of a c q u i r i n g
it w h e n this love h a s g r o w n s t r o n g e r . C e r t a i n l y this is a
f u n d a m e n t a l principle in all g o o d e d u c a t i o n .
N o w , also, is t h e t i m e t o a c c u s t o m h i m g r a d u a l l y t o con
c e n t r a t e a t t e n t i o n on a single object. T h i s a t t e n t i o n , how
ever, should n e v e r r e s u l t from c o n s t r a i n t , b u t from desire
a n d p l e a s u r e . B e careful t h a t it shall' n o t g r o w i r k s o m e , or
a p p r o a c h t h e p o i n t of w e a r i n e s s . L e a v e a n y s u b j e c t j u s t
before h e g r o w s t i r e d of i t ; for t h e l e a r n i n g it m a t t e r s less
t o h i m t h a n t h e n e v e r b e i n g obliged t o l e a r n a n y t h i n g
a g a i n s t his will. If h e himself q u e s t i o n s y o u , a n s w e r so a s
to k e e p alive his curiosity, n o t t o satisfy it a l t o g e t h e r .
A b o v e all, w h e n you find t h a t he m a k e s i n q u i r i e s , n o t for the
s a k e of l e a r n i n g s o m e t h i n g , b u t to t a l k a t r a n d o n a n d a n n o y
you with silly q u e s t i o n s , p a u s e a t o n c e , a s s u r e d t h a t he cares
n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e m a t t e r , b u t only t o o c c u p y y o u r time with
himself. L e s s r e g a r d s h o u l d b e p a i d to w h a t h e s a y s t h a n
to t h e m o t i v e which l e a d s him t o s p e a k . T h i s caution, h e r e
tofore u n n e c e s s a r y , is of t h e u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e a s soon as
a child b e g i n s t o r e a s o n .
T h e r e is a chain of g e n e r a l t r u t h s b y which all sciences
are linked to c o m m o n p r i n c i p l e s a n d successively u n f o l d e d .
T h i s c h a i n is t h e m e t h o d of p h i l o s o p h e r s , with which, for
t h e p r e s e n t , we h a v e n o t h i n g to d o . T h e r e is a n o t h e r ,
a l t o g e t h e r different, which shows e a c h object a s t h e c a u s e of
a n o t h e r , a n d a l w a y s p o i n t s o u t t h e one following. This
o r d e r , which, b y a p e r p e t u a l c u r i o s i t y , k e e p s alive t h e a t t e n
tion d e m a n d e d b y all, is t h e one followed b y m o s t m e n , a n d
of all o t h e r s n e c e s s a r y with children. W h e n , in m a k i n g our
m a p s , we found o u t t h e p l a c e of t h e e a s t , we were obliged
to d r a w m e r i d i a n s . T h e t w o p o i n t s of intersection b e
t w e e n t h e e q u a l s h a d o w s of n i g h t a n d m o r n i n g furnish an
e x c e l l e n t m e r i d i a n for a n a s t r o n o m e r t h i r t e e n y e a r s old.
B u t t h e s e m e r i d i a n s d i s a p p e a r ; it t a k e s time to d r a w them ;
t h e y oblige u s t o work a l w a y s in t h e s a m e p l a c e : so m u c h
c a r e , so m u c h a n n o y a n c e , will tire him o u t a t l a s t . We
h a v e seen a n d p r o v i d e d for this b e f o r e h a n d .
I have again begun upon tedious and minute details.
R e a d e r s , I h e a r y o u r m u r m u r s , a n d d i s r e g a r d t h e m . I will
n o t sacrifice t o y o u r i m p a t i e n c e t h e m o s t useful p a r t of t h i s
b o o k . D o w h a t you please with m y t e d i o u s n e s s , as I h a v e
done as I p l e a s e d in r e g a r d to y o u r c o m p l a i n t s .
The Juggler.
F O R s o m e t i m e m y p u p i l a n d I h a d o b s e r v e d t h a t different
bodies, such as a m b e r , g l a s s , a n d w a x , when r u b b e d , a t t r a c t
s t r a w s , a n d t h a t o t h e r s d o n o t a t t r a c t t h e m . B y a c c i d e n t we
discovered one t h a t h a s a virtue m o r e e x t r a o r d i n a r y still, —
t h a t of a t t r a c t i n g a t a d i s t a n c e , a n d w i t h o u t b e i n g r u b b e d ,
iron filings a n d other b i t s of iron. T h i s p e c u l i a r i t y a m u s e d
us for some t i m e before we s a w a n y use in it. A t l a s t we
T
f o u n d o u t t h a t it ma} b e c o m m u n i c a t e d to iron itself, w h e n
m a g n e t i z e d t o a certain d e g r e e . O n e da}' we w e n t t o a fair,
w h e r e a j u g g l e r , with a piece of b r e a d , a t t r a c t e d a d u c k
m a d e of w a x , a n d floating on a bowl of w a t e r . M u c h sur
p r i s e d , we did n o t however s a y , " H e is a c o n j u r e r , " for we
k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t c o n j u r e r s . C o n t i n u a l l y s t r u c k b y effects
w h o s e causes we d o n o t k n o w , we were n o t in h a s t e to
decide the m a t t e r , a n d r e m a i n e d in i g n o r a n c e until we found
a w a y o u t of it.
W h e n we r e a c h e d h o m e we h a d t a l k e d so m u c h of t h e
d u c k a t t h e fair t h a t we t h o u g h t we would e n d e a v o r to copy
it. T a k i n g a p e r f e c t n e e d l e , well m a g n e t i z e d , we inclosed
it in white w a x , modelled as well as we could d o it into t h e
s h a p e of a d u c k , so t h a t t h e needle p a s s e d entirely t h r o u g h
t h e b o d y , a n d with its l a r g e r e n d f o r m e d t h e d u c k ' s bill.
W e p l a c e d t h e d u c k u p o n t h e w a t e r , applied t o t h e b e a k
t h e h a n d l e of a k e y , a n d s a w , with a d e l i g h t easy t o i m a g i n e ,
t h a t our d u c k would follow t h e k e y precisely a s t h e one at
t h e fair h a d followed t h e piece of b r e a d . W e saw t h a t
some t i m e or o t h e r we m i g h t o b s e r v e t h e direction in which t h e
d u c k t u r n e d w h e n left to itself u p o n t h e w a t e r . B u t a b s o r b e d
a t t h a t t i m e b y a n o t h e r object, we w a n t e d n o t h i n g m o r e .
T h a t e v e n i n g , h a v i n g in our p o c k e t s b r e a d p r e p a r e d for
t h e occasion, we r e t u r n e d t o t h e fair. A s s o o n a s t h e m o u n t e -
b a n k b a d p e r f o r m e d his f e a t m y little p h i l o s o p h e r , scarcely
3
Experimental Physics.
A s t h e child's u n d e r s t a n d i n g m a t u r e s , o t h e r i m p o r t a n t con
siderations d e m a n d t h a t we choose his o c c u p a t i o n s w i t h m o r e
care. A s soon as he u n d e r s t a n d s himself a n d all t h a t r e l a t e s
to him well e n o u g h a n d b r o a d l y e n o u g h t o d i s c e r n w h a t is t o
his a d v a n t a g e a n d w h a t is b e c o m i n g in h i m , h e c a n a p p r e c i a t e
the difference b e t w e e n work a n d p l a y , a n d t o r e g a r d t h e o n e
solely as r e l a x a t i o n , from t h e o t h e r , O b j e c t s really useful
m a y then b e . included a m o n g his s t u d i e s , a n d he will p a y
more attention t o t h e m t h a n if a m u s e m e n t alone w e r e con
cerned. T h e e v e r - p r e s e n t l a w of necessity early t e a c h e s u s
t o d o w h a t we dislike, t o e s c a p e evils we should dislike e v e n
m o r e . S u c h is t h e u s e of foresight from which, judicious or
injudicious, s p r i n g s all t h e w i s d o m or all t h e u n h a p p i n e s s of
mankind.
W e all l o n g for h a p p i n e s s , b u t t o acquire it we o u g h t first
t o k n o w w h a t it i s . T o t h e n a t u r a l m a n it is as simple as his
m o d e of life ; it m e a n s h e a l t h , liberty, a n d t h e n e c e s s a r i e s of
life, a n d freedom from suffering. T h e h a p p i n e s s of m a n a s a
m o r a l b e i n g is a n o t h e r t h i n g , foreign t o t h e p r e s e n t q u e s t i o n .
I c a n n o t t o o often r e p e a t t h a t only o b j e c t s p u r e l y p h y s i c a l
c a n i n t e r e s t children, especially t h o s e w h o h a v e n o t h a d their
v a n i t y a r o u s e d a n d their n a t u r e c o r r u p t e d b y t h e poison of
opinion.
W h e n t h e y p r o v i d e b e f o r e h a n d for t h e i r o w n w a n t s , their
u n d e r s t a n d i n g is s o m e w h a t developed, a n d t h e y a r e b e g i n n i n g
t o l e a r n t h e v a l u e of t i m e . W e o u g h t t h e n b y all m e a n s to
a c c u s t o m a n d t o direct t h e m t o its e m p l o y m e n t t o useful e n d s ,
t h e s e b e i n g such a s a r e useful a t their a g e a n d r e a d i l y u n d e r
s t o o d b y t h e m . T h e s u b j e c t of m o r a l o r d e r a n d t h e u s a g e s
of society s h o u l d n o t y e t b e p r e s e n t e d , b e c a u s e children are
n o t in a condition t o u n d e r s t a n d such t h i n g s . T o force their
a t t e n t i o n u p o n t h i n g s which, as we v a g u e l y tell t h e m , will b e
for their g o o d , w h e n t h e y d o n o t k n o w w h a t this g o o d m e a n s ,
is foolish. I t is n o less foolish t o a s s u r e t h e m t h a t such
t h i n g s will benefit t h e m when g r o w n ; for t h e y t a k e n o inter
e s t in t h i s s u p p o s e d benefit, which t h e y c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d .
L e t t h e child t a k e n o t h i n g for g r a n t e d b e c a u s e some one
s a y s it is so. N o t h i n g is g o o d to h i m b u t w h a t h e feels t o
b e g o o d . Y o u t h i n k it far s i g h t e d to p u s h h i m b e y o n d his
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h i n g s , b u t y o u a r e m i s t a k e n . F o r the
s a k e of a r m i n g h i m w i t h w e a p o n s h e d o e s n o t k n o w h o w t o
u s e , y o u t a k e from h i m o n e u n i v e r s a l a m o n g m e n . c o m m o n
s e n s e : y o u t e a c h h i m t o allow himself a l w a y s to be led,
never to b e m o r e t h a n a m a c h i n e in t h e h a n d s of o t h e r s . I f
you will h a v e h i m docile while h e is y o u n g , y o u will m a k e
him a credulous d u p e w h e n h e is a, m a n . Y o u a r e c o n t i n u
ally s a y i n g t o h i m , " A l l I r e q u i r e of y o u is for y o u r o w n
good, b u t you c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d it y e t . W h a t does it
m a t t e r to m e w h e t h e r you do w h a t I require or n o t ? Y o u
are doing it entirely for y o u r o w n s a k e . " W i t h such fine
speeches you are p a v i n g t h e w a y for some k i n d of t r i c k s t e r
or fool, — some v i s i o n a r y b a b b l e r or c h a r l a t a n , — w h o will
e n t r a p him or p e r s u a d e h i m t o a d o p t his own folly.
A m a n m a y b e well a c q u a i n t e d with t h i n g s whose utility a
child c a n n o t c o m p r e h e n d ; b u t is it r i g h t , or e v e n p o s s i b l e ,
for a child t o l e a r n w h a t a m a n o u g h t to k n o w ? T r y to
t e a c h t h e child all t h a t is useful to h i m n o w , a n d you will
k e e p h i m b u s y all the t i m e . W h y would you injure t h e
studies suitable to h i m a t his age b y g i v i n g h i m those of a n
a g e he m a y n e v e r a t t a i n ? " B u t , " you s a y , " will t h e r e b e
time for l e a r n i n g w h a t h e o u g h t t o k n o w w h e n t h e time t o
use it h a s a l r e a d y come ? " I do n o t k n o w ; b u t I a m sure
t h a t he c a n n o t l e a r n it sooner. F o r e x p e r i e n c e a n d feeling
a r e our r e a l t e a c h e r s , a n d we n e v e r u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y
w h a t is b e s t for us e x c e p t from the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of our
c a s e . A child k n o w s t h a t he will one d a y be a m a n . All
t h e ideas of m a n h o o d t h a t he can u n d e r s t a n d give us o p
p o r t u n i t i e s of t e a c h i n g h i m ; b u t of t h o s e h e c a n n o t u n d e r
s t a n d he should r e m a i n in absolute i g n o r a n c e . T h i s e n t i r e
b o o k is only a c o n t i n u e d d e m o n s t r a t i o n of this principle of
education.
Robinson Crusoe.
I N h i s l e g i t i m a t e preference f o r t e a c h i n g b y the eye and h a n d
and by real t h i n g s , and in h i s aversion to the barren and e r r o n e o u s
m e t h o d o f t e a c h i n g f r o m b o o k s alone, R o u s s e a u , c o n s t a n t l y carried
a w a y b y the p a s s i o n a t e ardor of h i s nature, r u s h e s .into an o p p o s i t e
extreme, and e x c l a i m s , " I hate b o o k s ; t h e y o n l y t e a c h us t o talk
about w h a t w e do n o t understand." Then, c h e c k e d in the full tide
o f this d e c l a m a t i o n by his o w n g o o d s e n s e , he adds : —
Since we m u s t h a v e b o o k s , t h e r e is o n e which, to m y m i n d ,
furnishes t h e finest of t r e a t i s e s o n e d u c a t i o n a c c o r d i n g to
n a t u r e . M y E m i l e shall r e a d this b o o k before a n y o t h e r ; it
shall for a long time b e his entire l i b r a r y , a n d shall a l w a y s
hold a n h o n o r a b l e p l a c e . I t shall be t h e t e x t on which all
our discussions of n a t u r a l science shall b e only c o m m e n t a r i e s .
I t shall b e a t e s t for all we m e e t d u r i n g our p r o g r e s s t o w a r d
a r i p e n e d j u d g m e n t , a n d so long as our t a s t e is u n s p o i l e d ,
we shall enjoy r e a d i n g it. W h a t wonderful b o o k is t h i s ?
u
A r i s t o t l e ? P l i n y ? Buffon? N o ; it is R o b i n s o n C r u s o e . "
T h e s t o r y of this m a n , alone o n his island, u n a i d e d b y his
fellow-men, w i t h o u t a n y a r t or its i m p l e m e n t s , a n d y e t p r o
viding for his o w n p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d s u b s i s t e n c e , e v e n con
triving t o live in w h a t m i g h t b e called c o m f o r t , is i n t e r e s t i n g
to-persons of all a g e s . I t m a y b e m a d e delightful to chil
d r e n in a t h o u s a n d w a y s . T h u s we m a k e t h e d e s e r t i s l a n d ,
which I u s e d a t t h e o u t s e t for a c o m p a r i s o n , a r e a l i t y .
T h i s condition is n o t , I g r a n t , t h a t of m a n in s o c i e t y ; a n d
t o all a p p e a r a n c e E m i l e will n e v e r occupy i t ; b u t from it he
o u g h t to j u d g e of all o t h e r s . T h e s u r e s t w a y t o rise a b o v e
prejudice, a n d to j u d g e of t h i n g s in their t r u e r e l a t i o n s , is to
p u t ourselves in t h e place of an isolated m a n , a n d decide as
he m u s t c o n c e r n i n g their r e a l utility.
D i s e n c u m b e r e d of its less profitable p o r t i o n s , this r o m a n c e
from its b e g i n n i n g , t h e shipwreck of C r u s o e on t h e island, t o
its e n d , t h e a r r i v a l of t h e vessel which t a k e s h i m a w a y , will
yield a m u s e m e n t a n d i n s t r u c t i o n to E m i l e d u r i n g the period
n o w in q u e s t i o n . I would h a v e him completely carried a w a y
b y it, continually t h i n k i n g of C r u s o e ' s fort, his g o a t o , . a n d
his p l a n t a t i o n s . I would h a v e him l e a r n , n o t from b o o k s ,
b u t from r e a l t h i n g s , all he would n e e d to k n o w u n d e r t h e
same circumstances. H e should b e e n c o u r a g e d to p l a y
R o b i n s o n C r u s o e ; to i m a g i n e himself clad in s k i n s , wearing
a g r e a t c a p a n d s w o r d , a n d all t h e a r r a y of t h a t g r o t e s q u e
figure, d o w n to t h e u m b r e l l a , of which he would h a v e n o
need If he h a p p e n s to be in w a n t of a n y t h i n g , I hope he
will contrive s o m e t h i n g to supply its p l a c e . L e t him look
carefully into all t h a t his h e r o did, a n d decide w h e t h e r a n y of
it w a s u n n e c e s s a r y , or m i g h t h a v e b e e n d o n e in a b e t t e r w a y .
L e t h i m notice C r u s o e ' s m i s t a k e s a n d avoid t h e m u n d e r like
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . H e will v e r y likely p l a n for himself sur
r o u n d i n g s like C r u s o e ' s , —- a r e a l castle in t h e air, n a t u r a l a t
7
his happ} age when we t h i n k o u r s e l v e s rich if we are free
a n d h a v e t h e n e c e s s a r i e s of life. H o w useful this h o b b y
m i g h t be m a d e if some m a n of sense would only s u g g e s t it
a n d t u r n it to g o o d a c c o u n t ! T h e child, e a g e r to build a
s t o r e h o u s e for his island, would b e m o r e d e s i r o u s to l e a r n
t h a n his m a s t e r would b e to t e a c h h i m . H e would be a n x
ious t o k n o w e v e r y t h i n g h e could m a k e use of, a n d n o t h i n g
b e s i d e s . Y o u would n o t n e e d t o g u i d e , b u t t o r e s t r a i n h i m .
Here R o u s s e a u i n s i s t s u p o n g i v i n g a child s o m e trade, n o m a t t e r
w h a t h i s s t a t i o n in l i f e may b e ; and i n 1762 he uttered t h e s e pro
phetic w o r d s , remarkable indeed, w h e n w e call t o m i n d the d i s o r d e r s
at t h e c l o s e o f t h a t century : —
Y o u t r u s t t o t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n of society, w i t h o u t r e
flecting t h a t it is subject t o u n a v o i d a b l e r e v o l u t i o n s , a n d t h a t
y o u c a n n e i t h e r foresee n o r p r e v e n t w h a t is t o affect t h e fate
of y o u r o w n children. T h e g r e a t are b r o u g h t low, t h e p o o r
a r e m a d e rich, t h e k i n g b e c o m e s a s u b j e c t . A r e t h e blows
of fate so u n c o m m o n t h a t you c a n e x p e c t t o e s c a p e t h e m ?
W e are a p p r o a c h i n g a crisis, t h e a g e of r e v o l u t i o n s . Who
c a n tell w h a t will b e c o m e of you t h e n ? A l l t h a t m a n h a s
done m a n m a y d e s t r o y . N o c h a r a c t e r s b u t t h o s e s t a m p e d
by n a t u r e a r e ineffaceable ; a n d n a t u r e did n o t m a k e p r i n c e s ,
or rich m e n , or n o b l e s .
T h i s advice w a s f o l l o w e d . In the h i g h e s t g r a d e s o f s o c i e t y it
became the f a s h i o n t o learn s o m e handicraft. I t is w e l l k n o w n that
L o u i s X V I . w a s proud of h i s skill as a l o c k s m i t h . A m o n g the e x i l e s
of a later period, m a n y o w e d their l i v i n g t o the trade t h e y h a d t h u s
learned.
T o return t o E m i l e : R o u s s e a u s e l e c t s f o r him t h e trade of a
joiner, and g o e s s o far as t o e m p l o y h i m and his tutor in that k i n d
of labor f o r one or more clays o f e v e r y w e e k under a m a s t e r w h o
pays t h e m actual w a g e s for their w o r k .