Genre:

Dialogue

Subjects:

Education, Morality, Scientific Practitioners

    Maria's mother informs her that a satirical disposition often derives from a superficial knowledge. The young are 'apt to overvalue the little knowledge they have, and to set down any one who happens to be deficient in these things as a fair mark of ridicule', though such a person 'may be distinguished for a knowledge of sciences, of which these profound young judges do not even know the names'. She also points out how ill a satirical disposition would 'assimilate with the other parts' of the 'great character' of Isaac Newton. (341)