Mathematicians suffer in the same way--become mere machines, and
forfeit, in their concern for figures, all the social and most
of the human characteristics. The mind is always enfeebled by any
pursuit so single and absorbing in its aims as to leave out of
exercise any of the moral faculties. That course of study is the
only one to make a truly great man, which compels the mind to do
all things of which it is capable."

"But how do you reconcile this, sir, with the opinion, so generally
entertained, that no one man can serve two masters? Law, like the
muse, is a jealous mistress. She is said to suffer no lachesse to
escape with impunity."

"You mistake me. While I counsel one to go out of his profession
for relief and recreation, I still counsel but the one pursuit. Men
fail in their professions, not because they daily assign an hour
to amusement, but because they halt in a perpetual struggle between
some two leading objects. For example, nothing is more frequent in
our country than to combine law and politics. Nothing is more apt
to ruin the lawyer."

"Very true, sir. I now understand you. But I should think the great
difficulty would be, in resorting to such pleasant books as this
of Vertot for relief and recreation, that you could not cast him
off when you please. The intoxication would continue even after
the draught has been swallowed, and would thus interfere with the
hours devoted to other employments."

"There is reason in that, William, and that, indeed, is the grand
difficulty. But to show that a good scheme has its difficulties is