B.A. ALL SUBJECT MATERIAL

  ON NATIONAL PREJUDICES                              OLIVER GOLDSMITH As I am one of that sauntering tribe of mortals, who spend the greatest part of their time in taverns, coffee - houses, and other places of public resort, I have thus an opportunity of observing an infinite variety of characters, which, to a  person of a contemplative turn is a much higher entertainment than a view of all the curiosities of art or nature.  In one of these, my late rambles, I accidentally fell into the company of half a dozen gentlemen, who were engaged in a warm dispute about some political affair;  the decision of which, as they were equally divided in their sentiments, they thought proper to refer to me, which naturally drew me in for a share of the conversation. Amongst a multiplicity of other topics, we took occasion to talk of the different characters of the several nations of Europe;  ...

SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY                        JOSEPH ADDISON I am always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the seventh day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could have been thought of for the polishing and civilizing of mankind.  It is certain the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians, were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet together with their best faces.  and in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent subjects, hear their duties explained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme being.  Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week, not only as it refreshes in their minds the notions of religion, butas itputs both the sexes upon appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exerting all such qualities as are apt to ...

                      OF STUDIES                                              FRANCIS BACON STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament,  is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgement and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one. But the general counsels and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them  to much for ornament, is affection; to make judgement wholly by their rules is the humour of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proning  by study: and studies themselves, do give ...