Good sense is the most equitably distributed thing in the
world, for each man considers himself so well provided with it that even those
who are most difficult to (47) in everything else do not
usually wish to have mom of it than they have already. It is not likely that
everyone is (48) in this. It shows, rather, that the ability
to judge rightly and separate the true from the false, which is essentially what
is called good sense or (49) , is by nature equal in all men;
end thus that our opinions differ not because some men are better (50)
with reason than others, but only because we direct our thoughts along
different paths, and do not consider the same things. For it is not enough to
have a good mind; what is most important is to (51) it
rightly. The greatest souls are capable of the greatest vices;
and those who walk very slowly can (52) much further, if they
always keep to the direct road, than those who run end go astray.
For my part, I have never (53) my mind to be more
perfect than average in any way; I have, in fact, often wished that my thoughts
were as quick, or my imagination as precise and distinct, or my (54)
as capacious or prompt, as those of seine other men. And I know of no
other qualities than these which make for the (55) of die
mind; for as to reason, or good sense, in as much as it alone makes ns men end
distinguishes us from the beasts, I am quite willing to believe that it is whole
and entire in each’ of ns, and to follow in the common (56)
of the philosophers who say that there are differences of more or less
only among the accidents, end not among the forms, or natures, of the
individuals of a single species. [A] misunderstood
[I]
presumed [B] satisfy
[J]
illusion [C] design
[K] reason [D]
opinion
[L] mistaken [E] advance
[M] perfect [F] brain
[N] memory [G] endowed
[O] apply [H] perfection