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The want of energy is one of the main reasons why so few persons

continue to improve in later years. They have not the will, and

do not know the way. They 'never try an experiment,' or look up a

point of interest for themselves; they make no sacrifices for the

sake of knowledge; their minds, like their bodies, at a certain

age become fixed. Genius has been defined as 'the power of taking

pains'; but hardly any one keeps up his interest in knowledge

throughout a whole life. The troubles of a family, the business

of making money, the demands of a profession destroy the

elasticity of the mind. The waxen tablet of the memory which was

once capable of receiving 'true thoughts and clear impressions'

becomes hard and crowded; there is not room for the accumulations

of a long life (Theaet.). The student, as years advance, rather

makes an exchange of knowledge than adds to his stores.