Man trusts to his reason, and then often confounds the impressions produced by his passions with the results gained by semi-conscious deduction.

His love, his hate, his anger create fears, and these supply him with presentiments which he is inclined to accept as so many well-reasoned grounds of action.

If he is often deceived, he becomes aware of his mistake, and, going to the other extreme, considers a presentiment as a sort of warning that the contrary of what he expects will take place; if he chances to be often right he grows superstitious.
The lonely man who was pacing the icy pavement of the deserted street on that bitter winter's day felt the difficulty very keenly.

He would not yield and he could not advance.

His heart was filled with forebodings which his wisdom bade him treat with indifference, while his passion gave them new weight and new horror with every minute that passed.
He had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears.