"You would imply the dangerous tendency of a certain sort of
philosophical speculation; and so far we doubtless agree. Yet I ought to
say, that, in cases where personal investigation is possible, I would
take neither popular clamor nor learned dogmatism as conclusive evidence
against any writer's honesty and usefulness. With the vulgar, genius has
always seemed a sort of madness; and should a man rise preeminent above
the teachers of his generation, his wisdom would appear to them as
foolishness."
A change came over the face of Clifton as I said these words. It was as
if a mask had fallen. Perchance he had wished to appear to me in that
character of instructor which he desired some competent person to assume
to him. Now, the relaxed muscles and averted eye only asked the sympathy
of an equal. He spoke with forced, and almost grating, utterance.
"Then you have used experience well enough to know that some minds may
bear into the world a light, a knowledge too fine for general
perception, too pure for even exceptional recognition.
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