Page:Life and Writings of Homer.pdf/24

12 son is born and bred; in which I include the common Manners of the Inhabitants, their Constitution civil and religious, with its Causes and Consequences: Their Manners are seen in the Ordinary way of living, as it happens to be polite or barbarous, luxurious or simple. Next, the Manners of the Times, or the prevalent Humours and Professions in vogue: These two are publick, and have a common effect on the whole Generation. Of a more confined Nature is, first, Private Education; and after that, choose and pursue, with our Fortunes in it.

these Accidents, My Lord, Men in every Country may be justly said to draw their Character, and derive their Manners. They make us what we are, in so far as they reach our Sentiments, and give us a peculiar Turn and Appearance: A Change in any one of them makes an Alteration upon Us; and taken together, we must confider them as the Moulds that form us into those Habits and Dispositions, which sway our Conduct and distinguish our Actions.



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