Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.

Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not read more

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as read more

As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as the subject's investment in a proposition, the act of saying it and considering it as true.

Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.

Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.

The minister's brain is often the "poor-box" of the church.

The minister's brain is often the "poor-box" of the church.

Sermons remain one of the last forms of public discourse where it is culturally forbidden to talk back.

Sermons remain one of the last forms of public discourse where it is culturally forbidden to talk back.

The best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds.

The best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds.

None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.

None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.

The wolf was sick, he vowed a monk to be: But when he got well, a wolf once more was read more

The wolf was sick, he vowed a monk to be: But when he got well, a wolf once more was he.