word, to which, men affix ideas or qualities, which are either
contradicted by facts, or inconsistent.

Notions of this being, or rather, _the word_ by which he is designated,
would be a matter of indifference, if it did not cause innumerable
ravages in the world. But men, prepossessed with the opinion that
this phantom is a reality of the greatest interest, instead of
concluding wisely from its incomprehensibility, that they are not
bound to regard it, infer on the contrary, that they must contemplate
it, without ceasing, and never lose sight of it. Their invincible
ignorance, upon this subject, irritates their curiosity; instead of
putting them upon guard against their imagination, this ignorance
renders them decisive, dogmatic, imperious, and even exasperates
them against all, who oppose doubts to the reveries which they have
begotten.

What perplexity arises, when it is required to solve an insolvable
problem; unceasing meditation upon an object, impossible to understand,
but in which however he thinks himself much concerned, cannot but
excite man, and produce a fever in his brain. Let interest, vanity,
and ambition, co-operate ever so little with this unfortunate turn
of mind, and society must necessarily be disturbed. This is the reason
that so many nations have often been the scene of extravagances of
senseless visionaries, who, believing their empty speculations to
be eternal truths, and publishing them as such, have kindled the zeal
of princes and their subjects, and made them take up arms for opinions,
represented to them as essential to the glory of the Deity. In all
parts of our globe, fanatics have cut each other's throats, publicly
burnt each other, committed without a scruple and even as a duty, the
greatest crimes, and shed torrents of blood. For what? To strengthen,