Page:The reflections of Lichtenberg.djvu/29

 whole way of thinking at first sight. Whoever, therefore, wants to flatter and manage another’s propensities, must pay particular attention to the first meeting with him ; for it is here as a rule that the determining features of the way of thinking are brought together.

Some people evince a certain peculiarity even in the words and expressions which they usemost of them have at least some little idiosyncrasy or other — as by long usage ways of speaking become stereotyped. Such people are always worthy of attention: it requires a great deal of self-reliance and independence of soul to reach this point. Many a man has original sentiments, yet his way of trying to make them clear to others is commonplace. It is astonishing how seldom we put those things into practice that we consider not only advantageous but quite feasible. The craving to know a great deal all at once often prevents exact inquiry; yet even the man who recognizes this finds it very difficult to examine anything thoroughly, though he be convinced that without examination he will not attain his final purpose of gaining a great deal of knowledge. If you want to know what other people think of a matter which affects yourself personally, all you have to do is to imagine what you would in similar circumstances think of them. Let no one hold any body morally better in these matters than himself, or