CCXCV1 ^T LIFE OF BACON. 



yield an echo, it is easy to form and collect this axiom, 

 that the organs of the senses, and the bodies that procure 

 reflections to the senses, are of a like nature. And again, 

 the understanding being thus admonished, easily rises to a 

 still higher and more noble axiom; viz. that there is no 

 difference between the consents and sympathies of bodies 

 endowed with sense, and those of inanimate bodies without 

 sense, only that in the former an animal spirit is added to 

 the body so disposed, but is wanting to the latter ; whence, 

 as many conformities as there are among inanimate bodies, 

 so many senses there might be in animals, provided there 

 were organs or perforations in the animal body, for the 

 animal spirit to act upon the parts rightly disposed, as 

 upon a proper instrument. And conversely as many senses 

 as there are in animals, so many motions there may be in 

 bodies inanimate, where the animal spirit is wanting; 

 though there must, of necessity, be many more motions in 

 inanimate bodies than there are senses in animate bodies, 

 because of the small number of the organs of sense, (a) 

 Diffe- Real Differences in apparent Resemblances, Do any 



two beings differ more from each other than two human 

 beings ? (b) Men s curiosity and diligence have been hitherto 

 principally employed in observing the variety of things, 

 and explaining the precise differences of animals, vege 

 tables, and fossils, the greatest part of which variety and 



(a) Do not laughter and fear often originate in the same 

 cause, a partial view of the subject which occasions the 

 joy or grief? 



(6) See the Excursion, B. 9, where there is a noble passage, beginning 



&quot; Alas ! what differs more than man from man, 

 And whence the difference ?&quot; 



See the introduction to Hobbes Leviathan, the passage beginning &quot; For 

 the similitude of the thoughts.&quot; 



