Freedom of Will Empirically Considered. 15 



renovation of thought. A boy sits upon the bank of a stream 

 and gives his shght boat an impulse up the current; it soon 

 returns to him, because the water flows in the opposite di- 

 rection. The tidal movement of many minds is something 

 not often comprehended, difficult to be resisted, and hard to 

 be overcome. While the questions involved are questions of 

 reason, the questions are very many, and the reasons very 

 many, and are arrayed like armies. Single men or single 

 regiments of men, can no longer wage successful war. 



Another restraint which overtakes freedom in its unfold- 

 ing is that which arises from the accumulating force of feel- 

 ings and of social relations. It is thought that the minds of 

 women are less open to the force of reason than those of 

 men. So far as the assertion is true, it is largely due to the 

 emotional energy which characterizes them. This medium of 

 thought refracts and colors the light on all personal topics, 

 till a presentation is insensibly reached that suits the temper 

 of the inquirer. Light is full of all colors, and will yield 

 them all according to our analyzing prism. Wise men find 

 that in dealing with the foibles of others they must not ex- 

 pect to remove them, but rather to'accommodate themselves 

 to them. Friends that undertake thoroughly to correct each 

 other will soon reach aversion. Refractions that belong to 

 the very atmosphere of the mind itself must be patiently 

 borne. It is far easier for those who see these disturbances 

 of vision in others to endure them than for those who suffer 

 under them without recognition to remove them. 



Not only are the feelings themselves very persistent forces, 

 all our social relations become objective provocations to 

 them, renewing them constantly and with great energy. 

 As we interpret society to-day we interpret it to-morrow; 

 and it acts on us vigorously to perpetuate ruling impressions. 

 Hence it is not our own emotional atmosphere simply, but 

 the atmosphere of the world we live in, that is unbraiding 

 the light for us, and casting sombre or brilliant colors on 

 the objects about us. To these physical and intellectual 

 restrictions are to be added secondary ones which arise from 

 their interaction. Disease, fatigue, old age, success, failure, 

 predispose the mind to certain judgments which are not eas- 



