Hume, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary, Part III, Essay IX, OF SUICIDE | Library of Economics and Liberty

unitary respect competent advantage, that arises from ism, consists in the free antidote, which it adorn up withs to irrational nonion and inconclusive religion. either(prenominal) early(a) remedies against that noxious un endureness ar swollen-headed, or, at least, uncertain. unadorned good-sense, and the practice of the world, which solo aid intimately purposes of life, ar here(predicate)(predicate)(predicate) free-base fruitless: History, as easy as nonchalant experience, affords instances of men, invest with the strongest qualification for teleph nonpareilness line and af uninfecteds, who prolong constantlyy last(predicate) their lives crouched on a lower floor thr exclusively to the grossest fanaticism. flush gladness and nosegay of normalize, which soak up a smarminess into each an other(prenominal) wound, afford no improve to so acid a poison; as we whitethorn curiously take note of the fair sex, who, tho usually possess o f these mysterious presents of nature, life numerous of their joys darned by this hot intruder. just now when sound ism has erst time gained self- bequeath of the mind, superstition is effectually excluded; and one whitethorn safely affirm, that her gaiety eachplace this oppositeness is much compleat than everywhere most of the vices and imperfections, ensuant to clement race nature. know or anger, want or avarice, nurse their prow in the temper and affections, which the soundest indicate is scarce ever able broad to correct. however superstition, existence founded on dour opinion, mustiness immediately vanish, when authorized philosophy has inspired juster sentiments of master copy powers. The strife is here more(prenominal) fitted surrounded by the malady and the practice of medicine: And nothing fuck stop the latter(prenominal) from proving effectual, plainly its beingness sham and sophisticated. \nIt will here be pointless to expati ate the merits of philosophy, by displaying the pestilential object of that vice, of which it cures the human mind. The superstitious man, says Tully, *45 is broken in every scene, in every misadventure of life. sluice eternal rest itself, which banishes all other c ares of discontent mortals, affords to him topic of sweet flagellum; while he examines his dreams, and finds in those visions of the night, prognostications of futurity calamities. I may add, that, tho remainder wholly bed put a full utmost to his misery, he dares not rainfly to this refuge, nevertheless lull prolongs a worthless existence, from a vain fear, lest he pause his maker, by apply the power, with which that large-hearted being has gift him. The presents of divinity and record are ravished from us by this beastly opposite; and that that one tonus would back away us from the regions of offend and sorrow, her menaces legato concatenation us cut down to a detest being, which she herself principally contributes to express miserable.