one might say, that he fears nothing so much, as to have nothing to fear.

Men are imaginary invalids, whose weakness empirics are interested to
encourage, in order to have sale for their drugs. They listen rather
to the physician, who prescribes a variety of remedies, than to him,
who recommends good regimen, and leaves nature to herself.


12. If religion were more clear, it would have less charms for the
ignorant, who are pleased only with obscurity, terrors, fables, prodigies,
and things incredible. Romances, silly stories, and the tales of ghosts
and wizards, are more pleasing to vulgar minds than true histories.


13. In point of religion, men are only great children. The more a
religion is absurd and filled with wonders, the greater ascendancy
it acquires over them. The devout man thinks himself obliged to
place no bounds to his credulity; the more things are inconceivable,
they appear to him divine; the more they are incredible, the greater
merit, he imagines, there is in believing them.


14. The origin of religious opinions is generally dated from the time,
when savage nations were yet in infancy. It was to gross, ignorant,
and stupid people, that the founders of religion have in all ages
addressed themselves, when they wished to give them their Gods, their
mode of worship, their mythology, their marvellous and frightful fables.
These chimeras, adopted without examination by parents, are transmitted,
with more or less alteration, to their children, who seldom reason any
more than their parents.