Page 117
The strength of Opinions. Essay 127.
SO strongly do men wedge or rivet Opinions with the Ham∣mer of a confident belief, that it is, in many, impossible to re∣move them fro thm, though they are most ridiculous & foolish, but especially when they are begot of their own Brains, and all those that do not adhere to them shall be accompted as their Ene∣mies; So much doth Opinion sway and rule in the mind of Man more than Truth doth; for though some Opinions jump upon Truth, yet it is a thousand to one when they meet; And when the Truth is found, it is no longer an Opinion, but Knowledge; yet it is less esteemed when it is found, which makes that Saying true, That Ignorance is the Mother of Admiration, which Admiration begets an Esteem, and sets a Value upon they know not what: Wherefore he is a very wise man, that can rule his Opinions with Reason, and not let his Opinion overbear his Reason, and to lead him from himself; Yet Opinions should not be sleighted nor contemned without Examination or Triall, though they be never so strange and unlikely, untill the Errour be found out; but not to rely upon them, or to be so bound that they will make no que∣stion against them; for an Opinion is but a guesse of what may be a Truth; but men should be as free to Opinions as Opinions to them, to let them come and go at pleasure.