March 1866

Laws of the mind. I have first to keep the promise of the last lecture, by treating Common Sense, which, one would say, means the shortest line between two points, — how to come at a practical end, — and requires indispensably an act oi your mind and not a quotation. But things are rarely seen by direct light, but only by the reflex light of others' opinion and culture, and a new opinion drawn from the thing itself is almost as astonishing as if, in the dark, the faces of our friends should become luminous, and show by inward light.