Note 473 — CONCLUSION
George Herbert Ely translation
Cf. the following well-known passage from the Apology of Raymond de Sebonde (Essays, ii. cap. xii.): “The soul, by reason of her trouble and imbecility, as unable to subsist of herself, is ever and in all places questing and searching comforts, hopes, foundations, and foreign circumstances on which she may take hold and settle herself. And how light and fantastical soever his invention doth frame them unto him, he notwithstanding relieth more surely upon them, and more willingly, than upon himself.... It is for the punishment of our temerity, and instruction of our misery and incapacity, that God caused the trouble, downfall, and confusion of Babel’s tower. Whatsoever we attempt without his assistance, whatever we see without the lamp of his grace, is but vanity and folly. With our weakness we corrupt and adulterate the very essence of truth (which is uniform and constant) when fortune giveth us the possession of it.” [Florio.]