UNIVERSALITY OF BLIND BELIEF. 95 



really have not, and have their minds thus filled with 

 uncertain ideas instead of proved truths. 



'Although everybody is aware that numbers are not 

 a test of truth, yet many persons, while they recognise 

 this maxim in theory, violate it in practice, and accept 

 opinions simply because they are entertained by the 

 people at large. It may be added that a state of doubt 

 or suspense as to opinions, particularly on important 

 subjects, is painful to most minds, and men are impatient 

 of the delay, or unwilling to make the exertion needful 

 for the independent examination of the evidence and 

 arguments on both sides of a disputed question. Hence 

 they are prone to cut the knot by accepting without 

 verification, or with a very partial examination of its 

 grounds, the opinion of some person whom, for any 

 reason, they look to with respect, and whom they consider 

 a competent j udge in the matter.' ] 



Our beliefs, even in some scientific matters, are liable 

 to be greatly influenced by our feelings, prejudices, mental 

 bias, and desires ; and unless the love of truth is very 

 strong in us, and paramount to all other considerations, 

 and our judgment is suspended in all cases where adequate 

 evidence is absent, those influences are certain to affect our 

 beliefs. Such a love of truth ought to exist in all persons, 

 but it rarely does exist even in those who most profess 

 to seek the truth ; as is shown by the public profession 

 and diffusion of contradictory beliefs. 



With many persons the absence of possession of truth 

 is made a reason, or rather pretext, for its profession. 

 Many also are so fond of gratifying their feelings without 

 consulting reason that nothing would induce them to 

 forego indulging themselves in the pleasure of an attrac- 

 tive belief ; and they can often be stimulated to righteous 



1 G. (J. Lewis, Influence of Authority in Matters of Opinion, p. 15. 



