And because
our reasonings are never so clear or so complete during sleep as when we
are awake, although sometimes the acts of our imagination are then as
lively and distinct, if not more so than in our waking moments, reason
further dictates that, since all our thoughts cannot be true because of
our partial imperfection, those possessing truth must infallibly be found
in the experience of our waking moments rather than in that of our dreams.
PART V
I would here willingly have proceeded to exhibit the whole chain of truths
which I deduced from these primary but as with a view to this it would
have been necessary now to treat of many questions in dispute among the
earned, with whom I do not wish to be embroiled, I believe that it will be
better for me to refrain from this exposition, and only mention in general
what these truths are, that the more judicious may be able to determine
whether a more special account of them would conduce to the public
advantage. I have ever remained firm in my original resolution to suppose
no other principle than that of which I have recently availed myself in
demonstrating the existence of God and of the soul, and to accept as true
nothing that did not appear to me more clear and certain than the
demonstrations of the geometers had formerly appeared; and yet I venture
to state that not only have I found means to satisfy myself in a short
time on all the principal difficulties which are usually treated of in
philosophy, but I have also observed certain laws established in nature by
God in such a manner, and of which he has impressed on our minds such
notions, that after we have reflected sufficiently upon these, we cannot
doubt that they are accurately observed in all that exists or takes place
in the world and farther, by considering the concatenation of these laws,
it appears to me that I have discovered many truths more useful and more
important than all I had before learned, or even had expected to learn.
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