Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/74

 If it should be objected, that it is impossible for any society in the world to live in a perfect state of unanimity, without some animosities, jealousies and dissentions; and that it is therefore ridiculous to rail at the universities for what all other societies are liable to; I answer, very true; nay, I will go farther, and own, that I do not think such a strict unanimity at all commendable amongst students and philosophers, who ought to pursue truth and knowledge, without any regard to the opinions of others: I do not think that it is one of the duties of brethren. But ought not any men to be laugh'd at, for giving themselves such strange airs about a thing which is not in its own nature commendable, and which they are so entirely destitute of, if it were?

The only unanimity, which would be really praise-worthy in an university, is an unanimity to grant all men freedom and toleration in their principles and opinions, which would be the greatest help and encouragement to knowledge; and which, for that reason, I despair of ever seeing established.