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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 252, page id 778263916:0268
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Remedies of the Imperfection
distinct Ideas oF; hich is nOF to be expected by any one, WrHo hatli
not vanits enousti to imagine he can prevail rith Nlen, to be verrhnor
ins, or very silent. And he inust be licele stild in the Norid, irto
chinlsthat a voluble Tongue, Pall accompanx only a g00d Onderstan-
dins; or that Mens talkins much or licele, Mall hold proportion only 10
their Rnomlecee.
S. 3. Butthoush the Market and Fxcharige must be lese eo their ovrri
ars of Talkins, and Cossippines, noc robbd of cheir ancient Privilese;
though the Schools, and nen of Aroument would, perhaps, talie it amiss.
eo have anz thins oftered to abare the lenettu, or lessen etie number of
cheir Disputes; Vet, methinles chose who precend seriousty to scarch after.
or maintain Truth, Mould chink themselves obliged to study hor chey
mixhe deliver chemselves ithout Obscuritr, Doubrtuliess, or Equivo-
cation, to Wrhich Mens Words are naturally liable, it care De not
taten.
6. 4. For he That MalI vell consider the Prrours and Obscurity, the
Mictalres and Contulion, that is spread in the Worid by an illuse of Words,
Will find lome reason to doubt, irhecher Languase, 25 it has been em
Ployd has contributed more to the improvement or hindrance oFRnOW.
ledse amonest Pankind. INo manr are there, thac wnhen ther vould
chinkc on Things, fix their Thoughes onsy on Words, especially when
cher Wrould apply their Ninds to moral Matters: And Wrho then Can Woir.
der, if the resule of such Contemplations and Reasoninss, about litele
more than Sounds, Whilst the Ldeas ther annexed to them, are verr
contuled, or vers unsteadr; or pertraps none at all; erho can monder,
TCaY, that such Phouxhus and Reasonings, end in nochine but Obscurity
and Mistake, without any clear fudement or Rnomledoe:
6. 5. This Inconvenience, in an ill use oF Words, Men sufter in cheir
orn prirate Meditations: but much more manifest are the Disorderswhich
follon trom it, in Convertation, Dilcourse, and Arguines With OFHerS. FOr
Lanouase beins the sreat Conduit, Whereby Men convey their Dilcore-
ries, Realonines, and Rnowledse, trom one to anocher, he that males
an ill ule of it, though he does not corrupt the Fountains of Rnomledoe,
erhich are in Thinos themlelres; yet he does, as much as in him lics,
break or Rop the Pipes, Whereby it is distributed to the publick ule and
adrantase ot Mankind. ITe that ules Words, wichout any clear and Aca-
dy meanins. Whac does he but lead himselt and octers into Frrours:
And he that designedy doesir, ousht to be looked on as an Fremy to
Fruth and Rnomledoc. Ad ret, irhocan monder, thac all the Sciences
and Parts of Rnomledse, have been so over-charged rich obscure and
equivocal Terms, and insignitieant and doubrtul Expresions, capable to
matce the most actentire or quicle sighted, verr lirele, Or not at alI che
more linomins or Orthodox; lince Subtiley, in thole wrho makre protessi-
On to reack or desend Pruth hath passed (o much FOr a V CrtUC: A Vertire,
indeed, erhrich consisting, for the most part, in nothine but the Fallacious
and illusorr ule ot obscure or deceirful Terms, is only AE to make Menmore
conceited in their Ignorance, and obstinate in thCix FrrOUTS.
6. 6. Tet us loolc into the BoOls ol Controversies ot any kind,
ehiere ve Mall sec, that the etfect oF oblcure, unsteady, or equirocat
Terims, is nothine but noise and trranglins about sounes, ithout con
vincinq or beccerino a Nlan S Onderstanding. For it the Idea Be nOF a
greedon, betrrixt the Speaker and Ilcarer, For Which the Words Ctand,
etic Argument is not about Things, but Names. As olten as suctra Word,
whole sisniticarion is not alcertained betwixethem, comes in ule, their
Onder-
BOC