Page:Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases (1894).djvu/23

Rh tion ; an artful watchword, thrown among combustible materials, has kindled the flame of deadly warfare, and changed the destiny of an empire.

In constructing the following system of classification of the ideas which are expressible by language, my chief aim has been to obtain the greatest amount of practical utility. I have accordingly adopted such principles of arrangement as appeared to me to be the simplest and most natural, and which would not require, either for their comprehension or application, any disciplined acumen, or depth of metaphysical or antiquarian lore. Eschewing all needless refinements and subtleties, I have taken as my guide the more obvious characters of the ideas for which expressions were to be tabulated, arranging them under such classes and categories as reflection and experience had taught me would conduct the inquirer most readily and quickly to the object of his search. Commencing with the ideas expressing abstract relations, I proceed to those which relate to space and to the phenomena of the material world, and lastly to those iu which the mind is concerned, and which compre- hend intellect, volition, and feeling; thus establishing six primary Classes of Categories.

1. The first of these classes comprehends ideas derived from the more general and Abstract Eelations among things, such as Existence, Besemhlance, Quantity, Order, Number, Time, Power.

2. The second class refers to Space and its various relations, including Motion, or change of place.

3. The third class includes all ideas that relate to the Material World ; namely, the Properties of Matter, such as Solidity, Fluidity, Heat, Sound, Light, and the Phenomena they present, as well as the simple Perceptions to which they give rise.

4. The fourth class embraces all ideas of phenomena relating to the Intellect and its operations ; comprising the Acquisition, the Metention, and the Communication of Ideas.

5. The fifth class includes the ideas derived from the exercise of Volition ; embracing the phenomena and results of our Voluntary and Active Poivers ; such as Choice, Intention, Utility, Action, Antagonism, Authority, Compact, Property, <fec.

6. The sixth and last class comprehends all ideas derived from the operation of our ; including our Feelings, Emotions, Passions, and Moral and Religious Sentiments,