The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 07 (of 12)

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Gutenberg ID

58408

Title

The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 07 (of 12)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

William Hazlitt's *The Plain Speaker* offers incisive essays on human nature, art, and society. With characteristic wit and moral vigor, he critiques egotism, pedantry, and the hypocrisy of 'respectability,' advocating for genuine sentiment over artificial convention.

Summary up to 500 words

In Volume Seven of *The Collected Works of William Hazlitt*, readers encounter a collection of sharp, philosophical essays that dissect the human condition and critique societal pretensions. The text opens with a vigorous attack on artistic egotism, using the painter Salvator Rosa as a primary example. Hazlitt argues that Rosa mistook violent self-will for genius and insensibility to superior masters like Raphael or Homer for equality. True excellence, Hazlitt contends, requires humility and an appreciation for others' merits; those who dismiss established greatness based on ignorance are coarse and repulsive. This critique extends to political economists and other specialists who disdain all pursuits outside their own 'master-science.' Hazlitt condemns this narrowness as a form of stupidity disguised by affectation, noting that such individuals often deny the value of arts they do not understand simply to inflate their own importance. A central theme is the distinction between hollow 'respectability' and genuine merit. Hazlitt exposes respectability as a venal commodity purchased with wealth rather than character. He contrasts the celebrated status of rich oppressors with the tragic fate of impoverished geniuses like Otway, Spenser, and Burns, who were starved or neglected despite their contributions to art and literature. To society, virtue in rags is often scorned while vice in purple is honored. The volume also explores the prose styles of poets, arguing that their training in verse often hinders their ability to write natural prose. Hazlitt suggests that poets lack the rhythmic flow of conversation because they are accustomed to metrical rules, resulting in disjointed or mechanical writing. Philosophical inquiries delve into consciousness and association, challenging materialist theories that reduce the mind to passive sensation. Citing Rousseau, Hazlitt asserts the active, intelligent nature of the human spirit, distinguishing between mere feeling and the power of judgment. Throughout, the tone is one of vigorous intellectual independence, urging readers to value passion and sentiment alongside reason and to recognize the inherent worth in diverse human pursuits rather than narrowing their view to a single discipline.

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Categories

• Essays