Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-05-04
From WalGie's Port Folio.
A GLIMPSE ATlANCIENT
ETHICS. - ~ ~

There is something which appeals
at once to our sympathies and venera.
ton, in the aspirations for truth and
moral dignity which characterized the
good and the great men OF antiquity.
The prayer Of Socrates, "that the gods
would give TO him those things which
were good"-the conversation which
he held with Aristodemus on the evil
dences Of an intelligent First Cause,
his admirable remarks concerning
friendship, and his observation to Eu-
thedemus on the care manifested by
the gods to men--these among other
instances, afford US beautiful proofs
Of the power of the light Of ma
ture and human introspection in
revealing the primitive truths OF rell-
gion to an elevated and philosophical
mind. Bat Socrates gave still nobier
indications of truely great character.
Samuel Chandler, in his History OF
Persecution, cites the death Of Socra-
ties as one of the earliest instances of
martyrdom for religious opinions;
since he was condemned upon the
charge Of having "introduced neao de-
ities," i. e. lin factJ Of having gone be-
yond his age in his conceptions Of the
nature and government of God. The
same author deems his reply before his
Judges, as Justly compatible with that
Of the Christian apostles, when upon
their proposing to dismiss him upon
condition Of not teaching his phlloso-
ply any more, he answered-I will
obey God rather than man, and teach
my philosophy as long as live
The following literal Transitions
from the discourse which Socrates adj
dressed to Demonicus are not less wor-
thy Of remembrance. Our readers
should bear in mind, that the author
died about 33s years before Christ.
"Be towards your parents as you
would that your childred should be to.
wards YOU" A form of the christian
precept-"do as you would be done
by"
"Practice as bodily exercise, not on.
ly those things which promote strength
but such as are favorable to health
You would succeed in this if you
would rest from your labors, still being
able to labor" How consonant this
advice W 18th the dictates Of prudence
and common sense-how accordant
with the views of those who are labor
ing, through their works, to gain for
the natural laws of regard due them,
and yet how appropriate to this is the
common practice of many cfthe learn.
ed Of our day!
"Like not senseless laugh, nor re.
gard complacently bold speech,-the
one is foolish, the other manical."
Among the Inconsistencies Of our
nature, perhaps there is none more
striking than the debasement Of the
best means to the ,oorst ends. What
paradox like moral perversion? A
laugh is the sweet SYMBOL ofinnocence,
or Of greatful joy, and the tongue is
the noblest instrument Of mind; vel
tho one, as our author exemplifics.
may rival the folly, and the other ex-
coed the madness of brutes.
"Accustom yourself to not be mo-
rose, but sedate; for by the former,
you appear self-suficient; by the latter,
WISE"
Misanthropy, in all its degrees, is,
after all, genuine species OF conceit;
the wrapping up ones self in ones
own tho'ts perpetually, the condemn
ing Of all that is common, and gen.
eral bir,h-right, quality of custom, Of
humanity-this is truly pride, and its
possessor doth indeed wear the SEM
blance of self-complaeency.
"Never having done base act, hope
to conceal it; forif you hide it from
others you are concious oft yourself"
And what is the cold heartless gaze
of the world compared with the never
dimed or dropping eye of the inner
man? Jeremy Taylor has doubtless
augmented the power of his picture of
the day Of judgment, by representing
an innumerable assembly as gazing up
on the spirit when it confronts its
Judge, denied of every veil; but this
assembly is pure, and every eye tina,
CLEANS from amid the throng is, indeed,
frought with piercing reproach. But
men contemplate with horror, perhaps,
the dareks. deeds, yet, in a little
while fkeu and their nernefratnrs are