Thoughts on the conduct of the understanding

Fiction assists the mind in indulging its love of the invisible and obscure.

(6 G)

CXLI.

Fiction heightens the delight of our best passions, and principally of our affections,-love, friendship, gratitude, benevolence.

CXLII.

(6 H)

The pleasures of reality are greater than the pleasures of imagination.

CXLIII.

(6 I)

It seems that the utility of reality is greater

than of fiction.

(6 K)

By words we are enabled to generalize. (6N)

CXLVII.

By words we communicate our thoughts. (6 0)

Defects of Words.

CXLVIII.

Being the name of a non-existence, is a defect

of words.

CXLIX.

(6 P)

Being the confused name of an existence, as beauty, virtue, &c., is a defect of words. (6 Q)

CL.

Names of non-existences are remedied by experience, by a constant rejection and repeal of theories and fantastical notions.

(6 R)

Fiction is,-1st. When the conceived existence is supposed to be a real existence; 2nd. When it is not supposed to be a real existence.

(5 V)

CXXIX.

Fictions supposed to be real are very powerful.

CXXX.

(5 W)

The acting upon fictions supposed to be real as if they were real, is attended with great danger.

CXXXI.

(5 X)

Belief in the reality of fictions, when controulable by reason, is evidence of ignorance; when uncontroulable, of insanity.

(5 Y)

CXXXII.

Fictions, when not supposed real, are:-1st. When the conceived existence is not supposed to be a possible existence, as the Genii of the Ring and of the Lamp; 2nd. When it is supposed to be possible, as the heroes of novels, of the drama, &c. (5 Y)

CXXXIII.

Fictions, when not supposed real, are generally evidence of mental power; as the conceptions of Milton, of Shakspeare, of Raphael, of Michael Angelo, &c.

(5 Z)

The pleasures of fiction are exquisite, and with

out caution may absorb the mind.

CXXXVI.

(6 B)

Pleasure from fiction consists in the general indulgence of our creative powers; as the pleasures of Shakspeare, of Milton, of Spenser, and of all poets and eminent artists,-Raphael, Michael Angelo, Handel, Mozart, &c.

(6 C)