The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy.

William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. His underlying conservatism led him to support politically and socially repressive legislation and resulted in criticism that he was ignoring injustices at home while campaigning for the enslaved abroad.