Thoughts on Man, His Nature, Productions and DiscoveriesTHOUGHTS ON MANReading editionChapter navigation32 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…THOUGHTS ON MANPREFACEESSAY I. OF BODY AND MIND.ESSAY II. OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF TALENTS.SECTION I.SECTION II.SECTION III.SECTION IV.ESSAY III. OF INTELLECTUAL ABORTION.ESSAY IV. OF THE DURABILITY OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIONS.ESSAY V. OF THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF MAN.ESSAY VI. OF HUMAN INNOCENCE.ESSAY VII. OF THE DURATION OF HUMAN LIFE.ESSAY VIII. OF HUMAN VEGETATION.ESSAY IX. OF LEISURE.ESSAY X. OF IMITATION AND INVENTION.ESSAY XI. OF SELF-LOVE AND BENEVOLENCE.ESSAY XII. OF THE LIBERTY OF HUMAN ACTIONS.ESSAY XIII. OF BELIEF.ESSAY XIV. OF YOUTH AND AGE.ESSAY XV. OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.ESSAY XVI. OF FRANKNESS AND RESERVE.ESSAY XVII. OF BALLOT.ESSAY XVIII. OF DIFFIDENCE.ESSAY XIX. OF SELF-COMPLACENCY.ESSAY XX. OF PHRENOLOGY.SECTION I.SECTION II.SECTION III.SECTION IV. It is also no more than just, that we should bear in mindESSAY XXII. OF THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE.ESSAY XXIII. OF HUMAN VIRTUE. THE EPILOGUE.Beginning of this editionNext chapter →PREFACEAll chapters and sections (32)THOUGHTS ON MANPREFACEESSAY I. OF BODY AND MIND.ESSAY II. OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF TALENTS.SECTION I.SECTION II.SECTION III.SECTION IV.ESSAY III. OF INTELLECTUAL ABORTION.ESSAY IV. OF THE DURABILITY OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS AND PRODUCTIONS.ESSAY V. OF THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF MAN.ESSAY VI. OF HUMAN INNOCENCE.ESSAY VII. OF THE DURATION OF HUMAN LIFE.ESSAY VIII. OF HUMAN VEGETATION.ESSAY IX. OF LEISURE.ESSAY X. OF IMITATION AND INVENTION.ESSAY XI. OF SELF-LOVE AND BENEVOLENCE.ESSAY XII. OF THE LIBERTY OF HUMAN ACTIONS.ESSAY XIII. OF BELIEF.ESSAY XIV. OF YOUTH AND AGE.ESSAY XV. OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.ESSAY XVI. OF FRANKNESS AND RESERVE.ESSAY XVII. OF BALLOT.ESSAY XVIII. OF DIFFIDENCE.ESSAY XIX. OF SELF-COMPLACENCY.ESSAY XX. OF PHRENOLOGY.SECTION I.SECTION II.SECTION III.SECTION IV. It is also no more than just, that we should bear in mindESSAY XXII. OF THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE.ESSAY XXIII. OF HUMAN VIRTUE. THE EPILOGUE.HIS NATURE, PRODUCTIONS AND DISCOVERIES INTERSPERSED WITH SOME PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE AUTHORBy William GodwinOh, the blood more stirs To rouse a lion, than to start a hare! SHAKESPEARELONDON: EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE. 1831.PREFACE →