178 HUME vm 



nounce some sentence, even on those subjects which lie 

 beyond her sphere, neither can she perceive any material 

 difference in this particular, between these two kinds of 

 worlds ; but finds them to be governed by similar princi- 

 ples, and to depend upon an equal variety of causes in their 

 operations. We have specimens in miniature of both of 

 them. Our own mind resembles the one; a vegetable or 

 animal body the other. Let experience, therefore, judge 

 from these examples. Nothing seems more delicate, with 

 regard to its causes, than thought : and as these causes 

 never operate in two persons after the same manner, so we 

 never find two persons who think exactly alike. Nor indeed 

 does the same person think exactly alike at any two differ- 

 ent periods of time. A difference of age, of the disposition 

 of his body, of weather, of food, of company, of books, of 

 passions ; any of these particulars, or others more minute, 

 are sufficient to alter the curious machinery of thought, 

 and communicate to it very different movements and oper- 

 ations. As far as we can judge, vegetables and animal 

 bodies are not more delicate in their motions, nor depend 

 upon a greater variety or more curious adjustment of 

 springs and principles. 



" How, therefore, shall we satisfy ourselves concerning 

 the cause of that Being whom you suppose the Author of 

 Nature, or, according to your system of anthropomorphism, 

 the ideal world in which you trace the material ? Have we 

 not the same reason to trace the ideal world into another 

 ideal world, or new intelligent principle ? But if we stop 

 and go no farther ; why go so far ? Why not stop at the 

 material world? How can we satisfy ourselves without 

 going on in infinitum ? And after all, what satisfaction is 

 there in that infinite progression? Let us remember the 

 story of the Indian philosopher and his elephant. It was 

 never more applicable than to the present subject. If the 

 material world rests upon a similar ideal world, this ideal 

 world must rest upon some other ; and so on without end. 

 It were better, therefore, never to look beyond the present 



