The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [7]
Chapter 15
1. There was but one course left, at the dawn of true science:
2. To try the whole anew on a better plan, and to commence a reconstruction of human knowledge on proper foundations.
3. And this, though in the project and undertaking it may seem a thing infinite and beyond the powers of man,
4. Yet when it came to be dealt with was found sound and sober, vastly more so than what had been done before.
5. For from this there have been great advances; whereas earlier speculations, unscientific and fanciful,
6. Produced only a whirling and perpetual agitation, ending where it began.
7. And although the first encouragers of enquiry were aware how solitary an enterprise it would at first be,
8. To encourage science where there had been only ignorance drawn from the dreams of mankind’s infancy,
9. And how hard a thing to win credit for, nevertheless they were resolved not to abandon the attempt,
10. Nor to be deterred from trying and entering upon the great path of truth open to human inquiry.
11. For it is better to make a beginning in that which may lead to something,
12. Than to engage in perpetual struggle and pursuit in courses which have no exit.
13. And certainly the two ways of contemplation are much like those two ways of action, so much celebrated, in this:
14. That the one, arduous and difficult in the beginning, leads out at last into open country;
15. While the other, seeming at first sight easy and free from obstruction, leads to pathless and precipitous places.
16. Moreover, because people did not know how long it might be before these things would occur to others,
17. Judging especially from this, that they had found no one who had hitherto applied thought to the like,
18. They resolved at once to say as much as they were able. The cause of which was not ambition for themselves, but solicitude for true knowledge;
19. That there might remain some outline and project of what could be achieved for the benefit of humanity.
20. Many other ambitions of the human breast seem poor compared with such work,
21. Seeing that the task is a thing so great that it can be content with its own merit, requiring no further reward:
22. For it is nothing less than seeking to understand the world, and mankind within it:
23. It is nothing less than science, mankind’s greatest endeavour, greatest achievement, and greatest promise:
24. If only humanity will be wise in its use.
Wisdom
Chapter 1
1. Give your ears to hear what is said, and your heart to understand what is meant.
2. Let what is wise rest in the casket of your mind, to be a key to your heart.
3. He whose works exceed his wisdom, his wisdom will endure.
4. But he whose wisdom exceeds his works, his wisdom will not endure.
5. The mighty man is he who conquers himself;
6. The rich man is he who is satisfied with what he has;
7. The honourable man is he who honours others;
8. But the wise man is he who learns from all men.
9. The wise do not speak before the face of one who is wiser.
10. The wise do not interrupt, but open the gates of their eyes and ears to learn.
11. The wise do not hasten into speech, nor to reply.
12. The wise ask what is relevant, and speak to the point.
13. The wise speak of first things first, and last things last.
14. The wise say of things they have not heard, ‘I have not heard’,
15. And of things they have not seen, ‘I have not seen’.
16. The wise acknowledge truth.
17. The wise are hard to anger and easy to appease.
18. The wise study to practise, not only to teach.
19. The wise know that according to the painstaking is the reward.
20. The wise know to say little, do much, and face the world with cheerful countenance.
21. The question to be asked at the end of each day is, ‘How long will you delay to be wise?’
Chapter 2
1. Let your house be a meeting-place for sages. Sit at their feet, and drink in their words thirstily.
2. Silence is a safeguard around wisdom, and attentiveness is its gateway.
3. Those who say they know everything and do not wish to learn more,