possible, a stimulation to
go beyond to a more elaborate treatise.

(_b_) DO NOT STUDY TOO MANY SUBJECTS AT ONCE.--You need not concentrate
on one thing to the exclusion of everything else, although when
studying any one subject you should, for the time being, concentrate
your entire attention upon it, as already explained; but the mind is
rested by _change of occupation_ which comes by passing from one study
to another of a different kind. The point is, that you should not
dissipate your powers by taking up too many subjects, looking into them
cursorily, then dropping them and passing on to something else. This
habit of beginning many things and completing nothing, is most
demoralizing and will result in your doing nothing well. Do not
attempt more than you can do properly. Select first the subjects that
will be directly useful to you, and study them thoroughly. Gain the
power of concentrating your attention on one subject with intentness
for several hours at a time. In the end your mind will become tired,
and you can then change to an entirely different subject, or even to
recreation, such as the study of good fiction. {56} The mind does not
need idleness, but it does need change of occupation. Probably from
three to five studies are as many as the student can profitably pursue
at once, but students differ greatly in this respect, as in others.

(_c_) DO NOT BE IN A HURRY.--Take time to think, so that you will not
take the statements in the book for granted, but will study them with a
sense of mastership. Remember that here, as elsewhere, "the more haste
the less speed." You may think that you have not time to think about
your studies. The fact is, that you have not time _not_ to think about
them, and that in the end you can do more in less time if you will
insist upon taking pains.

(_d_) DO NOT TAKE UP A STUDY LIGHTLY, BUT WHEN TAKEN UP DO NOT ABANDON
IT WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE.--At the beginning of your study try to get a
definite idea before your mind what you want to get out of your study,
and keep this point before your mind as you progress in the subject.

(_e_) CULTIVATE THE POWER OF JUDICIOUS SKIPPING.--You can do this if
you study with a sense of mastery and a clear idea of what you want to
get. It is not necessary to read every word in the book. Sometimes
paragraphs, pages {57} and perhaps chapters may be skipped. This,
however, should not lead you into the habit of careless or superfici