_ The latter, I acknowledge. And since Virtue is really the
true Interest of all Men; and some of those who talk well of it, do
not put it in Practice, I am now inclined to believe they speak only
by rote, retailing to us what they have pick'd out of the Books or
Conversation of wise and virtuous Men; but what having never enter'd
or made any Impression on their Hearts, has therefore no Influence on
the Conduct of their Lives.
_S._ Vicious Men, then, do not appear to have that Knowledge
which constitutes _the Man of Sense_.
_C._ No, I am convinced they do not deserve the Name. However,
I am afraid, that instead of _defining_ a Man of Sense we have now
entirely _annihilated_ him: For if the Knowlege of his true Interest
in all Parts of the Conduct of Life, and a constant Course of
Practice agreeable to it, are essential to his Character, I do not
know where we shall find him.
_S._ There seems no necessity that to be a Man of Sense, he
should never make a Slip in the Path of Virtue, or in Point of
Morality; provided he is sensible of his Failing and diligently
applys himself to rectify what is done amiss, and to prevent the like
for the future. The best Arithmetician may err in casting up a long
Account; but having found that Error, he _knows how_ to mend it, and
immediately does so; and is notwithstanding that Error, an
Arithmetician; But he who _always_ blunders, and cannot correct his
Faults in Accounting, is no Arithmetician; nor is the
habitually-vicious Man _a Man of Sense_.
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