reverence for the Great First Cause of all things, with the
testimony of your reason; and to save you from ever allowing
knowledge of how the sap rises in its stalk to lessen your wonder at
and admiration of the loveliness of a flower.

I am now going to write to you about the literature of England and
show you, if I can, the immense gulf that divides distinguished writing
and speech from vulgar writing and speech.

There is nothing so vulgar as an ignorant use of your own language.
Every Englishman should show that he respects and honours the
glorious language of his country, and will not willingly degrade it with
his own pen or tongue.

"We have long preserved our constitution," said Dr. Johnson; "let us
make some struggles for our language."

There is no need to be priggish or fantastic in our choice of words or
phrases.

Simple old words are just as good as any that can be selected, if you
use them in their proper sense and place.

By reading good prose constantly your ear will come to know the
harmony of language, and you will find that your taste will unerringly
tell you what is good and what is bad in style, without your being able
to explain even to yourself the precise quality that distinguishes the
good from the bad.

Any Englishman with a love of his country and a reverence for its