To expect the world to receive a new truth, or even an old truth, without challenging it, is to look for one of those miracles which do not occur.

The foregoing considerations lead us to the very important conclusion, that matter is essentially force, and nothing but force; that matter, as popularly understood, does not exist, and is, in fact, philosophically inconceivable.

Nature seems to have taken every precaution that these, her choicest treasures, may not lose value by being too easily obtained.

I then walk off into the swamp along the path of logs and tree-trunks, picking my way cautiously, now glancing right and left on the foliage, and then surveying carefully the surface of the smooth round log I am walking on.

But I think that a little consideration will show you that belief is quite independent of our will, and our common expressions show it.