Page:Ferrier's Works Volume 3 "Philosophical Remains" (1883 ed.).djvu/196

186 without having first of all come round the reality without the assistance of the word, if we seek to educe the reality out of the word, the chances are a thousand to one that we shall end where we began, and never get beyond the region of mere words. It makes a mighty difference in all kinds of composition, whether the reality suggests the word, or whether the word suggests the reality. The former kind of suggestion alone possesses any value; it alone gives truth and life both to philosophy and to poetry. The latter kind is worthless altogether, either in philosopher or poet; and the probability is, that the reality which the word suggests to him, is not the true reality at all.