Headlong Hall by Thomas Love Peacock
page 75 of 122 (61%)
page 75 of 122 (61%)
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"I am inclined to think, on the contrary," said Mr Escot, "that the deterioration of man is accelerated by his blindness--in many respects wilful blindness--to the truth of the fact itself, and to the causes which produce it; that there is no hope whatever of ameliorating his condition but in a total and radical change of the whole scheme of human life, and that the advocates of his indefinite perfectibility are in reality the greatest enemies to the practical possibility of their own system, by so strenuously labouring to impress on his attention that he is going on in a good way, while he is really in a deplorably bad one." "I admit," said Mr Foster, "there are many things that may, and therefore will, be changed for the better." "Not on the present system," said Mr Escot, "in which every change is for the worse." "In matters of taste I am sure it is," said Mr Gall: "there is, in fact, no such thing as good taste left in the world." "Oh, Mr Gall!" said Miss Philomela Poppyseed, "I thought my novel----" "My paintings," said Sir Patrick O'Prism---- "My ode," said Mr Mac Laurel---- "My ballad," said Mr Nightshade---- "My plan for Lord Littlebrain's park," said Marmaduke Milestone, |
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