54 



malevolence, ambition, or sensuality ; but 

 iy not this the result of repetition, and the 

 education of bad propensities ? Surely we 

 must admit that Nemo repente fuit tuv" 

 2msimus. 



Even facts and opinions may by repeti- 

 tion acquire a preponderance and value 

 that did not originally belong to them. 

 Questionable assertions may by degrees ob- 

 tain the authority and power of established 

 facts ; and opinions, which at first were 

 doubtful, may in like manner acquire a 

 delusive influence over the mind. In in- 

 sanity, a man may believe a part of his 

 body to be wasted ; nor is the evidence of 

 his sight and touch, which we cannot sup- 

 pose to be defective, sufficient to convince 

 him of his error. 



On the other hand, we may suppress 

 and bring into disuse, propensities and sen- 



