True humanity consists not in a squeamish ear; it consists not
in starting or shrinking at tales of misery, but in a
disposition of heart to relieve it. True humanity appertains
rather to the mind than to the nerves, and prompts men to use
real and active endeavours to execute the actions which it
suggests. Only one observation further, and I have done; and
that is, that my theory about words simple rather than complex,
and appealing to the senses rather than to the understanding, if
it is true, helps to explain why they are better poets generally
in the earlier than in the more refined periods of each
language, and why many good poets are fond of adopting the style
of the age preceding that in which they write. Charles James
Fox: Letter to Lord Holland, Feb. 19, 1799. He [Mr. Fox]
declared that he did not affect a democracy: that he always
thought any of the simple, unbalanced governments bad; simple
monarchy, simple aristocracy, simple democracy,he held them all
imperfect or vicious; all were bad by themsel