BOOK I PART IV
But even suppose this curiosity and ambi-
tion should not transport me into speculations
without the sphere of common life, it would
necessarily happen, that from my very weak-
ness I must be led into such enquiries. It is cer-
tain, that superstition is much more bold in its
systems and hypotheses than philosophy; and
while the latter contents itself with assigning
new causes and principles to the phaenomena,
which appear in the visible world, the former
opens a world of its own, and presents us with
scenes, and beings, and objects, which are alto-
gether new. Since therefore it is almost impos-
sible for the mind of man to rest, like those of
beasts, in that narrow circle of objects, which
are the subject of daily conversation and ac-
tion, we ought only to deliberate concerning
the choice of our guide, and ought to prefer
that which is safest and most agreeable. And in