Note 367 — QUARRELS OF AUTHORS; (continued 4)

In the MS. collection of the French contemporary, who personally knew him, we find a remarkable confession of Hobbes. He said of himself that “he sometimes made openings to let in light, but that he could not discover his thoughts but by half-views: like those who throw open the window for a short time, but soon closing it, from the dread of the storm.” “Il disoit qu’il faisoit quelquefois des ouvertures, mais qu’il ne pouvoit découvrir ses pensées qu’à-demi; qu’il imitoit ceux qui ouvrent la fenêtre pendant quelques momens, mais qui la referment promptement de peur de l’orage.”—Lantiniana MSS., quoted by Joly in his volume of “Remarques sur Bayle.”