Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-05
l. ON


To 4 young man who wrote to him for
advice, concerning the books he should
read, Thomas Carlyle recently repliedi
CHELSEA. 18th March, 1oT3-Dear Sir:
Some time ago your letter was delivered to
me; / take literally the first half hour L
have had since TO write YOU a word of an
swer.
It would Cite NE true satisfaction could
any advice Of mine contribute TO forward
You in your honorable course of self-im-
provemeni, but a long experience has taught
NE that advice can profit little; that there
is a good reason why "advice is 80 seldom
tOll1-rCt=this reason. namely, that it $50
seldom, and can almost never be, rightly
given. No man knows the state Of another;
it is always TO some more or less imaginary
man that the wiSeSt and most honest adj
wiser is speaking.
As to TIE books which YOU, whOmI know
! so little of, should read, there is hardlyany-
thing definite that can be said. For n
thing, you may be s~tTenuOusly advised TO
keep reading. Any good book, any book
that is wiser than yourself. viii teach you
scmething-a great many things, directly
and indirectly, if your mind is open to
learn. The old counsel of JOhnson's is also
good and universally applicable. "Read the
book you 10 honestly feel a wish and Curl
osity to read. The very wish and curiosity
indicates that You then and there are the
person likely to get good Of it." "Our
wishes are presentimentS OF our capablll-
ties" That is a noble saying, of deep en-
couraCement TO all true men, applicable TO
our wishes and efferts in regard to reading
as to other things. Among all the objects
that look wonderful or beautiful to you,
follow with fresh hope the II that looks
wo~ndenuleSt. b~eautifulest. You will gradu-
ally by various trials (Which trials see that
you make honest, maIful ones, not silly,
short, ftful OneS.) discover what is for you
the wOuderfulest, beautifuleSt; what's your
true element and province, and be able to
abide by that. True desires, the mOnitions
of nature, is much to be attended to. But
here also, You are to discriminate between
true desires and false. The medical men
tell uSwe should eat what we truly have an
appetite for, but what we only falsely have
an appetite for we should r~esOlutely avoid.
1t is very true. And fimsy, "deSultory"
readers. who fy from foolish book TO foolish
book, and get good of none and mischief of
all, are not these as foolish, unhealthy eat
ers, who mistake their superficial, false de-
sire after spiceries and confectionelies for
the real appetite, Of which eten they are
not destitute, though it lies far deeper, Tar
quieter after solid nutritive food? With
these illustrations l will recommend John
sons advice to you.
Another thing, and only one other, l viii
say. All books are properly the record OF
the history Of past men. What thoughts
past men had in them, what actions past
men did, the summary Of all books what
soeyer lies there. 1t is on this ground that
the class of books specially named history
can be safely recommended as the basis of
all study of books; the preliminary of all
right and full understanding of anything we
can expect to find in books. Past history,
and especially the past history of our own
native eOuntry-everybOdy may be advised
10 begin with that. Let him study that
faithfully. innumerable inquiries, with due
indications, will branch out from it; he has
a broad, beaten highway from which all the
country is more or less visible-there trav-
cling. let him choose where he will dwell.
Neither let mistakes or wrong directions,
of which every man, in his studies and
elsewhere, falls into many, discourage you.
There is precious instruction to be got by
finding that we were wrong. Let a man
try faithfully, manfully, to be right; he will
crow daily more and more right. 1t is at
bottom the condition all men have to cul-
Yates themselves. Our very walking is an
incessant falling; a falling and a catching
of ourselves before we come actually TO the
pavement 1t is emblematic of all things a
man does.
In conclusion, / remind yOu it is not by
books alone. or by books chiefly, that aman
becomes in all points a man. Study TO do
faithfully whatsoever thing in your actual
Situation, there and now, you find either
expressly or tacitly laid to your charge
that is your post; stand in it like a true
soldier: silently devOur the many chagrins
of II. as all human situations have many;
and be your aim not TO quit it without do
inc all that it, at least, requires you. n
man DeTfects himself by work much more
than by reading. They are a growing kind
of men that can wisely combine the two
things: wisely, valiantly can do what is
laid to their hand in their present sphere,
and prepare themselves withal for doing
other wider things, if such lie before them.
With many good wishes and encourage
ments. | remain yours sincerely,
THOMAS CARLYLE.