A greater or less relish
for those obvious beauties, which strike the senses, depends
entirely upon the greater or less sensibility of the temper:
But with regard to the sciences and liberal arts, a fine taste
is, in some measure, the same with strong sense, or at least
depends so much upon it, that they are inseparable. In order
to judge aright of a composition of genius, there are so many
views to be taken in, so many circumstances to be compared,
and such a knowledge of human nature requisite, that no man,
who is not possessed of the soundest judgment, will ever make
a tolerable critic in such performances. And this is a new
reason for cultivating a relish in the liberal arts. Our
judgment will strengthen by this exercise: We shall form
juster notions of life: Many things, which please or afflict
others, will appear to us too frivolous to engage our
attention: And we shall lose by degrees that sensibility and
delicacy of passion, which is so incommodious.
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