The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may read more

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth.

Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth.

We are born believing. A man bears beliefs, as a tree bears apples.

We are born believing. A man bears beliefs, as a tree bears apples.

And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own read more

And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.

Non-violence is the article of faith.

Non-violence is the article of faith.

For men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

For men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

Find fault when you must find fault in private, and if possible sometime after the offense, rather than at the read more

Find fault when you must find fault in private, and if possible sometime after the offense, rather than at the time.

The devil personifies not the nature that is around us but the nature that is within us- the infinitely ferocious read more

The devil personifies not the nature that is around us but the nature that is within us- the infinitely ferocious and cunning prehuman creature that is still within us, sealed in the subconscious cellars of the psyche.

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." read more

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.