I20
The ass hesitated
between
two thistles ; how
much
more that greater
ass,
that incomparably
greater
ass,
between two thousand
!
Fortunately
it
does
not
matter
very
much;
but
he
should
at least
choose
those branches
of knowledge
which
abut directly
upon universal
problems.
He should
choose
not one but several, and these should
be as diverse
as possible
in nature.
It is important
that he should
strive to excel in some
sport, and
that
that sport should
be the one best calculated
to keep his body
in health.
He should
have a thorough
grounding
in
classics, mathematics
and
science;
also enough
general
knowledge
of modern
languages
and of the
shifts of life to enable
him to travel in any part
of the world
with
ease
and security.
History
and
geography
he can pick up as he wants
them;
and what
should
interest
him
most
in
any subject
is
its links
with
some
other
subject,
so
that
his
Pantacle
may
not
lack
what
painters
call " com-
position."
He will find that, however
good
his
memory
may
be, ten
thousand
impressions
enter his mind for
every one
that it is able
to retain
even
for a day.
And
the
excellence
of a memory
lies
in
the wisdom
of its
selection.
The best memories
so select
and judge that practically