JB/058/228/001

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21 May 1805
Evidence

§. Self-deceit

Si vis me flere, dolendum est primum ipsi tibi.

The rule of the is founded is founded in an enlightened observation made
in human nature. It extends of all sorts of holds good in of noting. Would
you persuade others, persuade yourself in the first instance: in the
most flaming enthusiast may be found is the most necessful . The
influence of reason though all at the long all prevailing is always
slow: that of passion is instantaneous. When Persuade
yourself thoroughly, every man may be made to see or rather
to feel that you are persuaded: even without being persuaded,
how many are there who succeed in making others that they
are? By example, by prejudice, all men alike are
capable of being influenced; by reasoning, none but a favoured view:
and of those few again scarce any, except where interest i.e.
the passion of the moment is either or on that same side.

Would you then persuade others? begin in the first place
upon yourself. Here at least, you may make sure of one apt
scholar, and you have the most effectual means of instruction at
your command. The first and main instrument, is attention:
this you have is always at your command most perfectly. But with this,
every thing is easy: every it is all knot you make is plain-sailing. Name Imagine
the absurdity, the most outrageous you could think of, if life depended
upon it, name the absurdity greater if you can, than any of the
thousands of absurdities of which men have succeeded in persuading themselves
by this means.

The mode of managing your attention for this purpose is
as simple as it is sure. To whatever considerations tend to strengthen
the wished for persuasion, fasten your attention, glue it, rivet it: from to
whatever considerations tend to weaken that same persuasion, drag draw off
your attention drag it off without mercy. If in spite of all your end exertion any
such troublesome considerations should come across your mind, should present
itself uncalled for, turn aside from it, suffer not your attention
to fix against for a single moment: if it you fly
from it as you would from a hobgoblin, or as an
would from a source of impure desire. Take this course,
and you not only need not despair of success, but it is impossible
you should miss of it. Let not any false modesty
diminish the strength of your assurance. In this line No man who really
wished for success too weak, too dull, too stupid to obtain it.
If there be any sort of man to the enterprize any sort of difficulty, its psychological view
the superior sort of man, the man who is distinguished from the herd by a superior degree of strength, moral or intellectual, or both in one.

Identifier: | JB/058/228/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 58.
Date_1	1805-05-21	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	058	Main Headings	evidence
Folio number	228	Info in main headings field	evidence
Image	001	Titles	self-deceit
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e1
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	1800
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1800
Notes public		ID Number	18897
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