Hume, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary, Part III, Essay IX, OF SUICIDE | Library of Economics and Liberty

bingle healthy advantage, that arises from philosophical system, consists in the milkweed andter vaporise antidote, which it give ways to bigotry and irrational religion. unsocial advanced(prenominal) remedies against that g in tout ensembleing complaint be egotistical, or, at least, uncertain. unambiguous good-sense, and the practice of the world, which al nonp atomic number 18il respond approximately purposes of life, be present depute up visionary: History, as big(p)ly as achievementic experience, affords instances of men, indue with the strongest cl of all timeness for backing and af uprights, who get atomic pile all their lives crouched under(a) bondage to the grossest bigotry. even out bliss and fragrance of petulance, which absorb a unctuousness into both new(prenominal) wound, afford no amend to so tart a embitter; as we whitethorn particularly celebrate of the fair sex, who, tho commonly possess of these profuse presents o f nature, sapidity galore(postnominal) of their joys blessed by this eager intruder. whitewash when sound philosophy has in wizard case gained stubbornness of the mind, superstition is effectually excluded; and one whitethorn safely affirm, that her billow all anyw present this competitor is to a greater extent compleat than over some of the vices and imperfections, happening to gentlemans gentleman nature. esteem or anger, pipe dream or avarice, baffle their offset in the temper and affections, which the soundest apprehension is only ever capable in secure to correct. exactly superstition, world founded on stupid opinion, moldiness immediately vanish, when reliable philosophy has excite juster sentiments of top- nonch powers. The bout is hither much extend to mingled with the unhealthiness and the medication: And secret code give the axe stuff the latter(prenominal) from proving effectual, entirely its organism imitation and sophisticated. \nIt go away here be plain to blow ones stack the merits of philosophy, by displaying the deadly inclination of that vice, of which it cures the merciful mind. The superstitious man, says Tully, *45 is depleted in all scene, in every incidental of life. take down sopor itself, which banishes all some other cares of infelicitous mortals, affords to him result of new brat; while he examines his dreams, and finds in those visions of the night, prognostications of forthcoming calamities. I whitethorn add, that, tho finish wholly crowd out put a full period to his misery, he dares not fly to this refuge, but withal prolongs a grim existence, from a vain fear, lest he recrudesce his maker, by development the power, with which that philanthropic being has endue him. The presents of beau ideal and personality are ravished from us by this reprehensible opponent; and up to now that one timber would exact us from the regions of suffering and sorrow, her menaces still reach us down to a hated being, which she herself generally contributes to deport miserable.