A metaphysical system and a religious dogma are both attempts to explain the incomprehensible secret to human reason.

The negro solves the riddle of the musical-box, believing that a spirit is inside it, which gives forth musical sounds at the white man's command; and that is precisely what priests and philosophers do when they explain the great workings of the universe by a God, or a principle, or whatever they call their fetich.

Human nature always wants to know the why and wherefore of things.

When we are not sure of our ground, we help ourselves by conjectures, or even by imagination.

These conjectures are senseless or reasonable, according to whether our knowledge is insufficient or comprehensive.