I. That it is not sufficient for this knowledge to consider Man in the
Abstract: Books will not serve the purpose, nor yet our own Experience
singly, v.1. General maxims, unless they be formed upon both, will be but
notional, v.10. Some Peculiarity in every man, characteristic to himself,
yet varying from himself, v.15. Difficulties arising from our own
Passions, Fancies, Faculties, etc., v.31. The shortness of Life, to
observe in, and the uncertainty of the Principles of action in men, to
observe by, v.37, etc. Our own Principle of action often hid from
ourselves, v.41. Some few Characters plain, but in general confounded,
dissembled, or inconsistent, v.51. The same man utterly different in
different places and seasons, v.71. Unimaginable weaknesses in the
greatest, v.70, etc. Nothing constant and certain but God and Nature,
v.95. No judging of the Motives from the actions; the same actions
proceeding from contrary Motives, and the same Motives influencing contrary
actions v.100.

II. Yet to form Characters, we can only take the strongest actions of a
man's life, and try to make them agree: The utter uncertainty of this,
from Nature itself, and from Policy, v.120. Characters given according to
the rank of men of the world, v.135. And some reason for it, v.140.
Education alters the Nature, or at least Character of many, v.149.
Actions, Passions, Opinions, Manners, Humours, or Principles all subject to
change. No judging by Nature, from v.158 to 178.

III. It only remains to find (if we can) his Ruling Passion: That will
certainly influence all the rest, and can reconcile the seeming or real
inconsistency of all his actions, v.175. Instanced in the extraordinary
character of Clodio, v.179. A caution against mistaking second qualities
for first, which will destroy all possibility of the knowledge of mankind,