than the sight of grown men, talking on political or moral or
religious subjects, in that offhand, idle way, which we signify by the
word _unreal_? "That they simply do not know what they are talking about"
is the spontaneous silent remark of any man of sense who hears them. Hence
such persons have no difficulty in contradicting themselves in successive
sentences, without being conscious of it. Hence others, whose defect in
intellectual training is more latent, have their most unfortunate
crotchets, as they are called, or hobbies, which deprive them of the
influence which their estimable qualities would otherwise secure. Hence
others can never look straight before them, never see the point, and have
no difficulties in the most difficult subjects. Others are hopelessly
obstinate and prejudiced, and, after they have been driven from their
opinions, return to them the next moment without even an attempt to
explain why. Others are so intemperate and intractable that there is no
greater calamity for a good cause than that they should get hold of it. It
is very plain from the very particulars I have mentioned that, in this
delineation of intellectual infirmities, I am drawing, not from Catholics,
but from the world at large; I am referring to an evil which is forced
upon us in every railway carriage, in every coffee-room or _table-d'haete_,
in every mixed company, an evil, however, to which Catholics are not less
exposed than the rest of mankind.

When the intellect has once been properly trained and formed to have a
connected view or grasp of things, it will display its powers with more or
less effect according to its particular quality and capacity in the
individual. In the case of most men it makes itself felt in the good
sense, sobriety of thought, reasonableness, candour, self-command, and
steadiness of view, which characterize it. In some it will have developed
habits of business, power of influencing others, and sagacity. In others
it will elicit the talent of philosophical speculation, and lead the mind
forward to eminence in this or that intellectual department. In all it
will be a faculty of entering with comparative ease into any subject of
thought, and of taking up with aptitude any science or profession. All
this it will be and will do in a measure, even when the mental formation
be made after a model but partially true; for, as far as effectiveness
goes, even false views of things have more influence and inspire