one who pants when eating. Fancy
has great weight. Shall we profit by it? Shall we yield to this weight
because it is natural? No, but by resisting it...
87. Nae iste magno conatu magnas nugas dixerit.[14]
583.[15] Quasi quidquam infelicius sit homini cui sua figmenta
dominantur.[16]
88. Children who are frightened at the face they have blackened are but
children. But how shall one who is so weak in his childhood become really
strong when he grows older? We only change our fancies. All that is made
perfect by progress perishes also by progress. All that has been weak can
never become absolutely strong. We say in vain, "He has grown, he has
changed"; he is also the same.
89. Custom is our nature. He who is accustomed to the faith believes in it,
can no longer fear hell, and believes in nothing else. He who is accustomed
to believe that the king is terrible... etc. Who doubts, then, that our
soul, being accustomed to see number, space, motion, believes that and
nothing else?
90. Quod crebro videt non miratur, etiamsi cur fiat nescit; quod ante non
viderit, id si evenerit, ostentum esse censet.17
91. Spongia solis.--When we see the same effect always recur, we infer a
natural necessity in it, as that there will be a tomorrow, etc. But Nature
often deceives us, and does not subject herself to her own rules.
92. What are our natural principles but principles of custom? In children
they are those which they have received from the habits of their fathers, as
hunting in animals. A different custo