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they are never to be convinced, because no reason can 
be equal, in their minds, to the word of their master or 
the sentence of their book. 
Several of the most learned men of Fez frequented 
much my little circle, and I have too often been witness 
of these tedious and endless disputes. Frequently I 
availed myself of my ascendency over them to put a stop 
to their debates; but wishing to produce a greater and 
better effect, I undertook to inspire them with doubts 
both on their master and their books. In fact, hav- 
ing gained this point, I opened a new career to the 
minds of these men, whose improveable talents had 
been paralized by a sort of spiritual stagnation. 
Having thus prepared my plan, I often entered into 
discussion with them, and when after some arguments 
which they could not refute, I had put them to si- 
lence, they had no way of answering me but by present- 
ing me with the book, and making me read the sentence 
which was in favour of their opinion. I asked them 
who wrote that? " Such and such a one." And what 
was he? " A man like other men." After this ac- 
knowledgment I shall not estimate him more than an- 
other, when he ceases to be reasonable; I shall leave 
him as soon as he abandons good sense to hunt after 
sophistry. 
This manner of speaking was so new to them, that 
in the beginning they were struck dumb with aston- 
ishment, and alternatively looked at each- other and at 
me. At last I accustomed them to reason; a thing which 
they had never thought of in the whole course of their 
studies. By degrees they left off their silly answers to 
which they had accustomed themselves. I observed, 
however, that these doctors fell into another inconve- 
nience not less troublesome, and that was, that thev be- 
