It may be that our eyes are only blinded to the beauty of the earth by having gazed so long and so vainly into an empty heaven, and that when we have learnt to use them a little more to the purpose, we shall see close at hand in this life what we had been looking for, all this while, in another.

But still, even if this revolution be possible, the fact remains that it is a revolution, and it cannot be accomplished without some effort.

Our positive thinkers have a case to be proved.

They must not beg the very point that is most open to contradiction, and which, when once duly apprehended, will be most sure to provoke it.

If this life be not incapable of satisfying us, let them show us conclusively that it is not.