Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

The Monitor.....No. XL.

"Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised."

This text exhibits a humiliating picture—
"Wisdom giveth life to those that have it,"
saith Solomon in another place, and yet He here declares that the poor man's wisdom is despised. This is a proof that men receive all things, yea even truth itself, with a prejudice for or against it according to the medium through which it is received. There cannot a man be found so totally lost to a sense of rectitude as to say unblushingly that vice is more commendable than virtue, yet few there are who would not rather be noticed by a wealthy and distinguished man, while they know him to be secretly a knave, than to seek an acquaintance with a man of strict virtue, if his lot happen to be cast in the midst of poverty and wretchedness. This propensity, with some little variation, may be traced into most of the ordinary concerns of life. Why is it that a man will not believe a tale told by one man, when one much more incredible is received without any doubt when reported by another man? The reason is obvious— He had a prejudice against the first man, and believed him to be a liar. Let a man of no devout feelings hear a preacher set forth the danger of sin, or hold up the leading doctrines of the Gospel in a clear and decided manner, and it is ten to one but the man will come away and find fault with the manner in which it was delivered. Thus men judge of things according to their own particular feelings. Prejudice turns them according to its own freaks, and reason is not consulted, nor conscience heeded, until the determination to be pleased or displeased is made. This accounts for that stubbornness with which they defend their own opinions. Rather than retract a prior statement, they will fabricate arguments for their support, and seem resolved on being victorious let truth go where it will.