It is a singular blessing, that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardness and renitency against conviction, which is observed in old dogs-- "of not learning new tricks."
What a shuttlecock of a fellow would the greatest philosopher that ever existed be whisk'd into at once, did he read such books, and observe such facts, and think such thoughts, as would eternally be making him change sides!
Now, my father, as I told you last year, detested all this --He pick'd up an opinion, Sir, as a man in a state of nature picks up an apple. --It becomes his own--and if he is a man of spirit, he would lose his life rather than give it up.

It is a blessing that nature has formed the mind of man with the same happy backwardness which is observed in old dogs - 'of not learning new tricks.'
What a shuttlecock of a fellow would the greatest philosopher be, if he was eternally changing sides!
Now, my father, as I told you, Sir, picked up an opinion as a man picks up an apple. - It becomes his own - and if he is a man of spirit, he would lose his life rather than give it up.
