Page:The reflections of Lichtenberg.djvu/31

 True, unaffected distrust of human power in general is the surest sign of mental ability. Leibnitz did, it is true, defend the Christian religion. But straightway to conclude from this, as theologians do, that Leibnitz was therefore a devout believer, shows very little knowledge of the world. Vanity and the desire to outsay those of the profession are, in the case of a man like Leibnitz, who was not very consistent, much more likely to have been the motive than religion. Let any man look into his own heart, and he will see how little can be asserted of others. Nay, I am satisfied that I could prove that at times we think we believe a thing and yet do not believe it. Nothing is more impenetrable than the motivation of our actions. To me a diffident man is much more intolerable than a conceited. For one thing, so few people understand diffidence, which is an art, while conceit comes by nature. Again, the conceited allow other people their deserts; whereas the modest obviously despise those to whom they defer. I have known people who understood how to attenuate their own humble merits so sanctimoniously that they seemed to be afraid of one melting utterly away if they were to show themselves in their full light. But I have accustomed myself not to take such people seriously, and since then I willingly meet and listen to them. In my opinion the greater part of human misery has its source in indolence and effeminacy. The