Been proofreading most of the day. I hate proofreading about as much as I hate the death of innocent babies. Time for some uplift:
A student, who is animated by a just zeal to attain the summits of professional learning and renown, is not to be surprised, or discouraged by the prospects of a thousand nights devoted to research, and a thousand days employed in the practical application of its results.—No eminence that is having is attainable per saltum; nature has included in steady application the seeds both of mental sanity and pleasure; and while, to the pursuit of amusement, she has destined a sickly appetite, inevitably and speedily cloyed, business and study, on the contrary, not only reap a reward in themselves, but quicken the relish of unaccustomed relaxation. Science, if not like the well which My Lord Coke quaintly describes is perhaps like the grotto, or the mine,--to which the access is uninviting and fatiguing, but which often reward him who is content to grope awhile with pains and patience with the view of unexpected beauties, wealth and wonder.
--David Hoffman,
Lecture, Introductory to a Course of Lectures (1823)
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