THE SUBCONSCIOUS 269 



other cortical patterns, can be incorporated into 

 truly conscious complexes. 



Many experiences of average normal persons sug- 

 gest that cortical associations of the most desirable 

 sort may arise quite independently of voluntary at- 

 tention or any other consious effort. I well remember 

 a certain mathematical problem of years long past 

 whose solution was of great importance to me. After 

 working on it unsuccessfully the greater part of sev- 

 eral successive nights, I went to bed thoroughly ex- 

 hausted and discouraged. Immediately upon awak- 

 ening the following morning I found myself in posses- 

 sion of the proper method (which was really very 

 simple). Certain associational linkages which could 

 not be voluntarily made in the fatigued state "came 

 of themselves'* either during light sleep or immediate- 

 ly upon awakening. 



Experiences of this sort are indeed so common that 

 cautious men when confronted with important prob- 

 lems frequently say, "I will sleep over it before an- 

 nouncing my decision." 



It is a familiar observation that our choicest 

 thoughts, our happiest literary conceits and fantasies, 

 and at times in the course of scientific investigation 

 our most fructifying hypotheses thus come of them- 

 selves without consciously directed effort. Not only 

 the inspirations of artistic genius, but also that insight 

 which envisages fundamental laws of nature, are, like 

 happiness, most often attained by indirection. In- 



