In it he proves that all things are true and states how the truths of all contradictions may be reconciled physically, such as for... example that white is black and black is white; that one can be and not be at the same time; that there can be hills without valleys; that nothingness is something and that everything, which is, is not. But take note that he proves all these unheard-of paradoxes without any fallacious or sophistical reasoning.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I know not whether it would be too bold an assertion to say that candor makes capacity.... But in order to try the truth of any ob...servation relating to the mind, the easiest method is to illustrate it by outward objects. If, for instance, a man was to sweat and labor all the days of his life to fill a chest which was already full, the absurdity of his vain endeavor would be glaring. In the same manner, when the human mind is filled and stuffed with notions brought thither by fallacious inclinations, there is no room for truth to enter: candor being banished, passions alone bear the sway.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I prize the purity of his character as highly as I do that of hers. As a moral being, whatever it is morally wrong for her to do, ...it is morally wrong for him to do. The fallacious doctrine of male and female virtues has well nigh ruined all that is morally great and lovely in his character: he has been quite as deep a sufferer by it as woman, though mostly in different respects and by other processes.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
There is a species of scepticism antecedent to all study and philosophy, which is much inculcated by Descartes and others, as a so...vereign preservative against error and precipitate judgment. It recommends an universal doubt, not only of all our former opinions and principles, but also of our very faculties; of whose veracity, say they, we must assure ourselves, by a chain of reasoning, deduced from some original principle, which cannot be fallacious or deceitful.... The Cartesian doubt, therefore, were it ever possible to be attained by any human creature (as it plainly is not) would be entirely incurable; and no reasoning could ever bring us to a state of assurance and conviction upon any subject.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Human memory is a marvelous but fallacious instrument.... The memories which lie within us are not carved in stone; not only do th...ey tend to become erased as the years go by, but often they change, or even increase by incorporating extraneous features.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The common consolation which some good christian or other, is hourly administering to himself,--that he thanks God his mind does n...ot misgive him; and that, consequently, he has a good conscience, because he has a quiet one,--is fallacious.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »