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But,ratherthanpursuethissubject,letusbejustandadmitthatthereisperhapsnowayoutofthemazeandthatourreproachesareasincomprehensibleastheconductofthespirits。
Indeed,whatwouldyouhavethemdointhecircleinwhichourlogicimprisonsthem?Eithertheyforetellusacalamitywhichtheirpredictionscannotavert,inwhichcasethereisnouseinforetellingit,or,iftheyannounceittousandatthesametimegiveusthemeanstopreventit,theydonotreallyseethefutureandareforetellingnothing,sincethecalamityisnottotakeplace,withtheresultthattheiractionseemsequallyabsurdinbothcases。
Itisobvious:towhicheversideweturn,wefindnothingbuttheincomprehensible。Ontheonehand,thepreestablished,unshakable,unalterablefuturewhichwehavecalleddestiny,fatalityorwhatyouwill,whichsuppressesman’sentireindependenceandlibertyofactionandwhichisthemostinconceivableandthedreariestofmysteries;ontheother,intelligencesapparentlysuperiortoourown,sincetheyknowwhatwedonot,which,whileawarethattheirinterventionisalwaysuselessandveryoftencruel,neverthelesscomeharassinguswiththeirsinisterandridiculouspredictions。Mustweresignourselvesoncemoretolivingwithoureyesshutandourreasondrownedintheboundlessoceanofdarkness;andistherenooutlet?
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