IfIwishtoprovethatthesoulisarealbeing，someonestopsmebytellingmethatitisafaculty。IfIassertthatitisafaculty，andthatIhavethefacultyofthinking，IamtoldthatIammistaken。thatGod，theeternalmasterofallnature，doeseverythinginme，anddirectsallmyactionsandallmythoughts。thatifIproducedmythoughts，IshouldknowthethoughtIwillhaveinaminute。thatIneverknowit。thatI
amonlyanautomatonwithsensationsandideas，necessarilydependent，andinthehandsoftheSupremeBeing，infinitelymorecomplianttoHimthanclayistothepotter。
Iconfessmyignorance，therefore。Iavowthatfourthousandtomesofmetaphysicswillnotteachuswhatoursoulis。
Anorthodoxphilosophersaidtoaheterodoxphilosopher——Howhaveyoubeenabletocometothepointofimaginingthatthesoulismortalbynature，andeternalonlybythepurewishofGod？
Bymyownexperience，saidtheother。