Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/516

 will perplex you. Envy, jealousy, pride and causeless antipathies will assail you. But it is hoped that the knowledge and virtue which have been imparted to you heretofore, and which you will strengthen hereafter by self-education, will conduct you safely and successfully through the world before you.

Gentlemen, your education is not finished. It would be a great error on your part to suppose that as you have got your degrees your education is finished. Your general education has come to an end; but self-education must now begin and go on through all life. Clearly understand what you have gained so far, and do not over-estimate the advantages you have acquired. You have been taught certain large facts; in other words, you have been put in possession of a certain amount of knowledge; you have been taught how to learn, so as to enable you to increase your knowledge. Your reasoning or judging powers have been developed to a certain extent. Your mind has been trained or disciplined so as to be a useful instrument in the future. You have been provided with moral principles, by observance of which your conduct in life may be useful and perfectly honourable. In a short time you will find out for yourselves that your gains heretofore are insufficient as to quantity and imperfect as to quality. If you do not realise this, you will come to a standstill. Your stock of knowledge must be greatly increased. The faculties of your mind must be further strengthened and improved by well-directed exercise. All this will require labour and application. But these should not be grudged if you are ambitious of successful and honourable careers. A great deal has to be done in life and life is short. The way in which time is spent makes a great difference in the merits and success of men. Exercise, rest and recreation are necessary to health of mind and body. You will be quite right to devote time for these purposes. You will be wrong not to do so. Do not waste your time in excessive sleep, in idleness, in frivolities, in aimless or useless conversation. Do not divert too much time to objects which are not relevant to the cardinal aims of your life. Consider well before you devote any considerable share of your time to the study of ancient or foreign languages of no great practical use to you. Your studies ought to have a useful bearing on your plan of life. At least they should not diverge far from the same. If you are to be a Tahsildar, do not divert too much of your time to Chemistry. If you are going to be a Vakil in Court, do not dissipate your time on Spherical