Chapter XIX
TO WHAT END?
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Shakespeare.
“Truth’s fountains may be clear, her streams are muddy.” Lord Byron.
“Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same door wherein I went. ******* The Ball no question makes of Ayes and Noes But Here or There as strikes the Player goes; And He that tossed you down into the Field, He knows about it all—HE knows—HE knows!” Rubáiyát of Omar Kháyyám.
“A man finds he has been wrong at every preceding stage of his career, only to deduce the astonishing conclusion that he is at last entirely right. Mankind, after centuries of failure, are still upon the eve of a thoroughly constitutional millennium. Since we have explored the maze so long, without result, it follows, for poor human reason, that we cannot have to explore much longer; close by must be the centre.... How if there were no centre at all, but just one alley after another, and the whole world a labyrinth without end or issue?”—Robert Louis Stevenson.