Page:The reflections of Lichtenberg.djvu/125

 much depend on the moment, but in reading or meditating always makes notes for future use. Even the most decrepit has times when spurred by circumstance as by a glass of wine, he perceives what no one else has perceived. All this must be duly garnered; for what the moment of composition is capable of producing he produces. All great writers have undoubtedly proceeded on this plan. There is no greater hindrance to progress in the various branches of knowledge than the desire to get results too soon. This is especially characteristic of the sanguine; hence they seldom accomplish much, for they no sooner perceive that they are making no progress than they slacken their efforts and become discouraged. Yet they would have advanced had they been less impetuous and taken longer time. With certain studies there is no harm in first of all doing one’s thinking and writing when slightly drunk, and then completing one’s work in cold blood and with quiet deliberation. The stimulus of wine is favourable to the play of invention and to fluency of expression; but for order and system calm reason is all that is wanted. It is with study, I believe, as with gardening: neither he who plants nor he who waters does very much, but God who gives the increase. Let me explain myself. We undoubtedly do many things of which we believe that we do them knowingly, and which we nevertheless do unawares. There is