ConclusionofthisBook。
ButbeforeIlaunchoutintothoseimmensedepthsofphilosophy，whichliebeforeme，Ifindmyselfinclin’dtostopamomentinmypresentstation，andtoponderthatvoyage，whichIhaveundertaken，andwhichundoubtedlyrequirestheutmostartandindustrytobebroughttoahappyconclusion。MethinksIamlikeaman，whohavingstruckonmanyshoals，andhavingnarrowlyescap’dshipwreckinpassingasmallfrith，hasyetthetemeritytoputouttoseainthesameleakyweather-beatenvessel，andevencarrieshisambitionsofarastothinkofcompassingtheglobeunderthesedisadvantageouscircumstances。Mymemoryofpasterrorsandperplexities，makesmediffidentforthefuture。Thewretchedcondition，weakness，anddisorderofthefaculties，Imustemployinmyenquiries，encreasemyapprehensions。Andtheimpossibilityofamendingorcorrectingthesefaculties，reducesmealmosttodespair，andmakesmeresolvetoperishonthebarrenrock，onwhichIamatpresent，ratherthanventuremyselfuponthatboundlessocean，whichrunsoutintoimmensity。Thissuddenviewofmydangerstrikesmewithmelancholy；andas’tisusualforthatpassion，aboveallothers，toindulgeitself；Icannotforbearfeedingmydespair，withallthosedespondingreflections，whichthepresentsubjectfurnishesmewithinsuchabundance。
Iamfirstaffrightedandconfoundedwiththatforelornsolitude，inwhichIamplac’dinmyphilosophy，andfancymyselfsomestrangeuncouthmonster，whonotbeingabletomingleanduniteinsociety，hasbeenexpell’dallhumancommerce，andleftutterlyabandon’danddisconsolate。Fainwou’dIrunintothecrowdforshelterandwarmth；butcannotprevailwithmyselftomixwithsuchdeformity。Icalluponotherstojoinme，inordertomakeacompanyapart；butnoonewillhearkentome。Everyonekeepsatadistance，anddreadsthatstorm，whichbeatsuponmefromeveryside。Ihaveexpos’dmyselftotheenmityofallmetaphysicians，logicians，mathematicians，andeventheologians；andcanIwonderattheinsultsImustsuffer？Ihavedeclar’dmydisapprobationoftheirsystems；andcanIbesurpriz’d，iftheyshou’dexpressahatredofmineandofmyperson？WhenIlookabroad，Iforeseeoneveryside，dispute，contradiction，anger，calumnyanddetraction。WhenIturnmyeyeinward，Ifindnothingbutdoubtandignorance。Alltheworldconspirestoopposeandcontradictme；tho’suchismyweakness，thatIfeelallmyopinionsloosenandfallofthemselves，whenunsupportedbytheapprobationofothers。EverystepItakeiswithhesitation，andeverynewreflectionmakesmedreadanerrorandabsurdityinmyreasoning。
ForwithwhatconfidencecanIventureuponsuchboldenterprises，whenbesidethosenumberlessinfirmitiespeculiartomyself，Ifindsomanywhicharecommontohumannature？CanIbesure，thatinleavingallestablishedopinionsIamfollowingtruth；andbywhatcriterionshallIdistinguishher，eveniffortuneshou’datlastguidemeonherfoot-steps？Afterthemostaccurateandexactofmyreasonings，IcangivenoreasonwhyIshou’dassenttoit；andfeelnothingbutastrongpropensitytoconsiderobjectsstronglyinthatview，underwhichtheyappeartome。Experienceisaprinciple，whichinstructsmeintheseveralconjunctionsofobjectsforthepast。Habitisanotherprinciple，whichdeterminesmetoexpectthesameforthefuture；andbothofthemconspiringtooperateupontheimagination，makemeformcertainideasinamoreintenseandlivelymanner，thanothers，whicharenotattendedwiththesameadvantages。Withoutthisquality，bywhichthemindenlivenssomeideasbeyondotherswhichseeminglyissotrivial，andsolittlefoundedonreasonwecou’dneverassenttoanyargument，norcarryourviewbeyondthosefewobjects，whicharepresenttooursenses。Nay，eventotheseobjectswecou’dneverattributeanyexistence，butwhatwasdependentonthesenses；andmustcomprehendthementirelyinthatsuccessionofperceptions，whichconstitutesourselforperson。Nayfarther，evenwithrelationtothatsuccession，wecou’donlyadmitofthoseperceptions，whichareimmediatelypresenttoourconsciousness，norcou’dthoselivelyimages，withwhichthememorypresentsus，beeverreceiv’dastruepicturesofpastperceptions。Thememory，senses，andunderstandingare，therefore，allofthemfoundedontheimagination，orthevivacityofourideas。
Nowonderaprinciplesoinconstantandfallaciousshou’dleadusintoerrors，whenimplicitlyfollow’dasitmustbeinallitsvariations。’Tisthisprinciple，whichmakesusreasonfromcausesandeffects；and’tisthesameprinciple，whichconvincesusofthecontinu’dexistenceofexternalobjects，whenabsentfromthesenses。Buttho’thesetwooperationsbeequallynaturalandnecessaryinthehumanmind，yetinsomecircumstancestheyare47directlycontrary，norisitpossibleforustoreasonjustlyandregularlyfromcausesandeffects，andatthesametimebelievethecontinu’dexistenceofmatter。Howthenshallweadjustthoseprinciplestogether？Whichofthemshallweprefer？Orincasewepreferneitherofthem，butsuccessivelyassenttoboth，asisusualamongphilosophers，withwhatconfidencecanweafterwardsusurpthatglorioustitle，whenwethusknowinglyembraceamanifestcontradiction？