And the examples of many men of
the highest genius, who had, in former times, engaged in this inquiry,
but, as appeared to me, without success, led me to imagine it to be a work
of so much difficulty, that I would not perhaps have ventured on it so
soon had I not heard it currently rumored that I had already completed
the inquiry. I know not what were the grounds of this opinion; and, if my
conversation contributed in any measure to its rise, this must have
happened rather from my having confessed my Ignorance with greater freedom
than those are accustomed to do who have studied a little, and expounded
perhaps, the reasons that led me to doubt of many of those things that by
others are esteemed certain, than from my having boasted of any system of
philosophy. But, as I am of a disposition that makes me unwilling to be
esteemed different from what I really am, I thought it necessary to
endeavor by all means to render myself worthy of the reputation accorded
to me; and it is now exactly eight years since this desire constrained me
to remove from all those places where interruption from any of my
acquaintances was possible, and betake myself to this country, in which
the long duration of the war has led to the establishment of such
discipline, that the armies maintained seem to be of use only in enabling
the inhabitants to enjoy more securely the blessings of peace and where,
in the midst of a great crowd actively engaged in business, and more
careful of their own affairs than curious about those of others, I have
been enabled to live without being deprived of any of the conveniences to
be had in the most populous cities, and yet as solitary and as retired as
in the midst of the most remote deserts.
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