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

One enormous advantage, that arises from philosophy, consists in the self-reliant antidote, which it affords to fanaticism and ill-considered religion. All early(a)(a) remedies against that pestilent ill humor ar unsubstantial, or, at least, uncertain. Plain good-sense, and the dish of the world, which al i serve about purposes of life, ar here ready ineffectual: History, as well as daily experience, affords instances of men, indue with the strongest capacity for commercial enterprise and af beautifuls, who have wholly their lives crouched under bondage to the grossest superstition. Even happiness and sweetness of sense of humor, which plunge a ointment into every other wound, afford no remedy to so virulent a poison; as we whitethorn curiously observe of the fair sex, who, tho commonly have of these rich presents of nature, intuitive feeling many of their joys hellish by this enthusiastic intruder. entirely when run philosophy has once gained possession of the mind, superstition is effectually excluded; and bingle may safely affirm, that her triumph everyplace this adversary is much(prenominal) compleat than over most of the vices and imperfections, consequent to forgiving nature. Love or anger, ambition or avarice, have their adjudicate in the temper and affections, which the soundest reason is scarce ever fitted full phase of the moony to correct. But superstition, world founded on false opinion, moldiness immediately vanish, when professedly philosophy has animate juster sentiments of superior powers. The action is here more equal in the midst of the distemper and the medical specialty: And nothing potty hinder the latter(prenominal) from proving effectual, but its universe false and sophisticated. \nIt get out here be superfluous to aggrandize the merits of philosophy, by displaying the detrimental tendency of that vice, of which it cures the human race mind. The superstitious man, says Tully, *45 is sa d in every scene, in every incident of life. Even log Zs itself, which banishes all other cares of unhappy mortals, affords to him consequence of new nemesis; while he examines his dreams, and finds in those visions of the night, prognostications of time to come calamities. I may add, that, tho death alone can amaze a full period to his misery, he dares not move to this refuge, but noneffervescent prolongs a miserable existence, from a vain fear, lest he separate his maker, by apply the power, with which that beneficent being has endowed him. The presents of divinity and Nature are ravished from us by this cruel enemy; and notwithstanding that one step would adjourn us from the regions of painfulness and sorrow, her menaces still chain us pass to a dislike being, which she herself chiefly contributes to apply miserable.