To the students of your industrial classes generally I have had it in my mind, first, to commend the short motto, in two words, "Courage - Persevere." This is the motto of a friend and worker.
Not because the eyes of Europe are upon them, for I don't in the least believe it; nor because the eyes of even England are upon them, for I don't in the least believe it; not because their doings will be proclaimed with blast of trumpet at street corners, for no such musical performances will take place; not because self-improvement is at all certain to lead to worldly success, but simply because it is good and right of itself, and because, being so, it does assuredly bring with it its own resources and its own rewards.I would further commend to them a very wise and witty piece of advice on the conduct of the understanding which was given more than half a century ago by the Rev.Sydney Smith - wisest and wittiest of the friends I have lost.He says - and he is speaking, you will please understand, as I speak, to a school of volunteer students - he says: "There is a piece of foppery which is to be cautiously guarded against, the foppery of universality, of knowing all sciences and excelling in all arts - chymistry, mathematics, algebra, dancing, history, reasoning, riding, fencing, Low Dutch, High Dutch, and natural philosophy.In short, the modern precept of education very often is, 'Take the Admirable Crichton for your model, I would have you ignorant of nothing.' Now," says he, "my advice, on the contrary, is to have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order that you may avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything."To this I would superadd a little truth, which holds equally good of my own life and the life of every eminent man I have ever known.
The one serviceable, safe, certain, remunerative, attainable quality in every study and in every pursuit is the quality of attention.My own invention or imagination, such as it is, I can most truthfully assure you, would never have served me as it has, but for the habit of commonplace, humble, patient, daily, toiling, drudging attention.Genius, vivacity, quickness of penetration, brilliancy in association of ideas - such mental qualities, like the qualities of the apparition of the externally armed head in MACBETH, will not be commanded; but attention, after due term of submissive service, always will.Like certain plants which the poorest peasant may grow in the poorest soil, it can be cultivated by any one, and it is certain in its own good season to bring forth flowers and fruit.I can most truthfully assure you by-the-by, that this eulogium on attention is so far quite disinterested on my part as that it has not the least reference whatever to the attention with which you have honoured me.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have done.I cannot but reflect how often you have probably heard within these walls one of the foremost men, and certainly one of the very best speakers, if not the very best, in England.I could not say to myself, when I began just now, in Shakespeare's line -"I will be BRIGHT and shining gold,"
but I could say to myself, and I did say to myself, "I will be as natural and easy as I possibly can," because my heart has all been in my subject, and I bear an old love towards Birmingham and Birmingham men.I have said that I bear an old love towards Birmingham and Birmingham men; let me amend a small omission, and add "and Birmingham women." This ring I wear on my finger now is an old Birmingham gift, and if by rubbing it I could raise the spirit that was obedient to Aladdin's ring, I heartily assure you that my first instruction to that genius on the spot should be to place himself at Birmingham's disposal in the best of causes.
[In acknowledging the vote of thanks, Mr.Dickens said:-]
Ladies and gentlemen, as I hope it is more than possible that Ishall have the pleasure of meeting you again before Christmas is out, and shall have the great interest of seeing the faces and touching the bands of the successful competitors in your lists, Iwill not cast upon that anticipated meeting the terrible foreshadowing of dread which must inevitably result from a second speech.I thank you most heartily, and I most sincerely and fervently say to you, "Good night, and God bless you." In reference to the appropriate and excellent remarks of Mr.Dixon, Iwill now discharge my conscience of my political creed, which is contained in two articles, and has no reference to any party or persons.My faith in the people governing is, on the whole, infinitesimal; my faith in the People governed is, on the whole, illimitable.