MATHEMATICAL DISCOVERY. 63 



the results of the inspiration are verified and the 

 consequences deduced. The rules of these calcula- 

 tions are strict and complicated ; they demand disci- 

 pline, attention, will, and consequently consciousness. 

 In the subliminal ego, on the contrary, there reigns 

 what I would call liberty, if one could give this 

 name to the mere absence of discipline and to dis- 

 order born of chance. Only, this very disorder permits 

 of unexpected couplings. 



I will make one last remark. When I related 

 above some personal observations, I spoke of a night 

 of excitement, on which I worked as though in spite 

 of myself. The cases of this are frequent, and it is 

 not necessary that the abnormal cerebral activity 

 should be caused by a physical stimulant, as in the 

 case quoted. Well, it appears that, in these cases, 

 we are ourselves assisting at our own unconscious 

 work, which becomes partly perceptible to the over- 

 excited consciousness, but does not on that account 

 change its nature. We then become vaguely aware 

 of what distinguishes the two mechanisms, or, if you 

 will, of the methods of working of the two egos. 

 The psychological observations I have thus suc- 

 ceeded in making appear to me, in their general 

 characteristics, to confirm the views I have been 

 enunciating. 



Truly there is great need of this, for in spite of 

 everything they are and remain largely hypothetical. 

 The interest of the question is so great that I do 

 not regret having submitted them to the reader. 



