deceptive that she is not always so; for she would be
an infallible rule of truth, if she were an infallible rule of falsehood.
But being most generally false, she gives no sign of her nature, impressing
the same character on the true and the false.

I do not speak of fools, I speak of the wisest men; and it is among them
that the imagination has the great gift of persuasion. Reason protests in
vain; it cannot set a true value on things.

This arrogant power, the enemy of reason, who likes to rule and dominate it,
has established in man a second nature to show how all-powerful she is. She
makes men happy and sad, healthy and sick, rich and poor; she compels reason
to believe, doubt, and deny; she blunts the senses, or quickens them; she
has her fools and sages; and nothing vexes us more than to see that she
fills her devotees with a satisfaction far more full and entire than does
reason. Those who have a lively imagination are a great deal more pleased
with themselves than the wise can reasonably be. They look down upon men
with haughtiness; they argue with boldness and confidence, others with fear
and diffidence; and this gaiety of countenance often gives them the
advantage in the opinion of th