The idea about the want of time is a mere phantom. Franklin found time, in the midst of all his labors, to dive into the hidden recesses of philosophy, and to explore an untrodden path of science. The great Frederic, with an empire at his direction, in the midst of war, on the eve of battles which were to decide the fate of his kingdom, found time to revel in all the charms of philosophy and intellectual pleasures. Bonaparte, with all Europe at his disposal; with kings in his antechamber begging for vacant thrones; with thousands of men whose destinies were suspended on the brittle thread of his arbitrary pleasure, had time to converse with books. Cesar, when he had curbed the spirit of the Roman people, and was thronged with visitors from the remotest kingdom, found time for intellectual cultivation. Every man has time, if he be careful to improve it; and if he does improve it as well as he might, he can reap a, threefold reward. Let mechanics then make use of the hours at their disposal, if they want to obtain a proper influence in society. They are the life-blood of the community; they can, if they please, hold in their hands the destinies of our republic; they are numerous, respectable, and powerful; and they have only to be educated half as well as other professions, to make laws to the nation.

[PRESBYTERIAN.]      
Vol. 1835, page 131.      

Source:

Unsigned. "I Have No Time Left for Study" (from Presbyterian), The Millennial Harbinger 6 (March 1835): 131.

[MHA2 546]