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persons, who have more zeal than knowledge,
despise them, in spite of that consideration which makes them honoured by
the learned, because they judge them by a new light which piety gives them.
But perfect Christians honour them by another and higher light. So arise a
succession of opinions for and against, according to the light one has.
338. True Christians, nevertheless, comply with folly, not because they
respect folly, but the command of God, who for the punishment of men has
made them subject to these follies. Omnis creatura subjecta est vanitati.45
Liberabitur.46 Thus Saint Thomas explains the passage in Saint James on
giving place to the rich, that, if they do it not in the sight of God, they
depart from the command of religion.
SECTION VI: THE PHILOSOPHERS
339. I can well conceive a man without hands, feet, head (for it is only
experience which teaches us that the head is more necessary than feet). But
I cannot conceive man without thought; he would be a stone or a brute.
340. The arithmetical machine produces effects which approach nearer to
thought than all the actions of animals. But it does nothing which would
enable us to attribute will to it, as to the animals.
341. The account of the pike and frog of Liancourt. They do it always, and
never otherwise, nor any other thing showing mind.
342. If an animal did by mind what it does by instinct, and if it spoke by
mind what it speaks by instinct, in hunting and in warning its mates that
the prey is found or lost, it would indeed also speak in regard to those
things which affect it closer, as example, "Gnaw me this cord which is
wounding me, and which I cannot reach."
343. The beak of the parrot, which it wipes, although it is clean.
344. Instinct and reason, marks of two natures.
345. Reason com
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