A man's genius is always, in the beginning of life, as much unknown to himself as to others; and
it is only after frequent trials, attended with success, that he dares think himself equal to those
undertakings, in which those, who have succeeded, have fixed the admiration of mankind. If his
own nation be already possessed of many models of eloquence, he naturally compares his own
juvenile exercises with these; and being sensible of the great disproportion, is discouraged from
any farther attempts, and never aims at a rivalship with those authors, whom he so much
admires. A noble emulation is the source of every excellence. Admiration and modesty naturally
extinguish this emulation. And no one is so liable to an excess of admiration and modesty, as a
truly great genius.
I.
XIV.46
A man's genius is always, in the beginning of life, as much unknown to himself as to others; andit is only after frequent trials, attended with success, that he dares think himself equal to thoseundertakings, in which those, who have succeeded, have fixed the admiration of mankind. If hisown nation be already possessed of many models of eloquence, he naturally compares his ownjuvenile exercises with these; and being sensible of the great disproportion, is discouraged fromany farther attempts, and never aims at a rivalship with those authors, whom he so muchadmires. A noble emulation is the source of every excellence. Admiration and modesty naturallyextinguish this emulation. And no one is so liable to an excess of admiration and modesty, as atruly great genius.I.XIV.46
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