To avoid that circumlocution which must
otherwise take place, our best speakers and writers, however, frequently
compare adjectives which do not literally admit of comparison: "The
_most established_ practice;" "The _most uncertain_ method;" "Irving, as
a writer, _is far more accurate_ than Addison;" "The metaphysical
investigations of our philosophical grammars, are _still more
incomprehensible_ to the learner." Comparisons like these, should
generally be avoided; but sometimes they are so convenient in practice,
as to render them admissible. Such expressions can be reconciled with
the principles of grammar, only by considering them as figurative.
Comparative members of sentences, should be set in _direct opposition_
to each other; as, "Pope was _rich_, but Goldsmith was _poor_." The
following sentences are inaccurate: "Solomon was _wiser_ than Cicero was
_eloquent_." "The principles of the reformation were _deeper_ in the
prince's mind than to be _easily eradicated_." This latter sentence
contains _no comparison_ at all; neither does it literally convey _any
meaning_. Again, if the Psalmist had said, "I am the wisest of my
teachers," he would have spoken absurdly, because the phrase would
imply, that he was one of his teachers.
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