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CAP. 26.
Of the impediments which have been in the nature of
society and the policies of state. That there is no composition of estate
or society, nor order or quality of persons, which have not some point of
contrariety towards true knowledge. That monarchies incline wits to profit
and pleasure, and commonwealths to glory and vanity. That universities
incline wits to sophistry and affectation, cloisters to fables and
unprofitable subtilty, study at large to variety; and that it is hard to
say, whether mixture of contemplations with an active life, or retiring
wholly to contemplations, do disable and hinder the mind more.
[@ Works III, 252]
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