"Of course it cannot," said the Professor, "and therefore we object to
progress."
After which there was no more to be said. Later on, however, a young
Professor took me aside and said he did not think I quite understood
their views about progress.
"We like progress," he said, "but it must commend itself to the common
sense of the people. If a man gets to know more than his neighbours he
should keep his knowledge to himself till he has sounded them, and seen
whether they agree, or are likely to agree with him. He said it was as
immoral to be too far in front of one's own age, as to lag too far behind
it. If a man can carry his neighbours with him, he may say what he
likes; but if not, what insult can be more gratuitous than the telling
them what they do not want to know? A man should remember that
intellectual over-indulgence is one of the most insidious and disgraceful
forms that excess can take. Granted that every one should exceed more or
less, inasmuch as absolutely perfect sanity would drive any man mad the
moment he reached it, but . . . "
He was now warming to his subject and I was beginning to wonder how I
should get rid of him, when the party broke up, and though I promised to
call on him before I left, I was unfortunately prevented from doing so.
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