"In spite of the glitter in which it parades itself, sentimentality will never be anything but the dross of true sentiment." LESSON VI THE UTILITY OF COMMON SENSE IN DAILY LIFE As our philosopher explains, the influence of common sense is above all appreciation of daily events. "We have," he continues, "very rarely in life the opportunity of making grave decisions, but we are called upon daily to resolve unimportant problems, and we can only do it in a judicious way, if we are allowed to devote ourselves to certain kinds of investigation. "This is what may be called to judge with discrimination, otherwise, with common sense. "Without this faculty, it is in vain that our memory amasses the materials, which must serve us in the comparative examination of facts. "And this examination can only be spoiled by decrepitude, if common sense did not succeed in dictating its conclusions to us. "Thanks to this faculty, we possess this accuracy of mind which permits us to discern truth from falsehood. "It is this power which aids us in distinguishing what we should consider as a duty, as a right, or as a thing conforming to equity, established by the laws of intelligence. "Without common sense we should be like an inexperienced gardener, who, for want of knowledge, would allow the tares to grow and would neglect the plants whose function is to nourish man. "In order to conform to the habit of judging with common sense, one ought first to lay down the following principle: "No fact can exist, unless there is a sufficient motive to determine its nature. "It is when operating on the elements furnished us by common sense that we are able to discern the quality of the object of our attention. "One day, a sage, whom people gladly consulted, was asked by what means he had learned to know so well the exact proportion of things, so that he never failed to attribute to them their real value. "'Why' they added, 'can you foresee so exactly the evil and direct us to that which is right and just?' "And the superstitious people added: "'Are you not in communication with the spirits, which float in space, which come from the other world? "Would you not be counseled by voices which we have not the power to hear, and do you not see things which are visible to you alone?' "'You are right,' replied the saintly man, smiling: "'I have indeed the power to hear and to see that which you do not perceive; but sorcery has no relation to the power which is attributed to me. "If you wish, you will be able to possess it in your turn, for my means are not a secret. "'I keep my eyes and ears open.' "And as every one burst out laughing, believing it a joke, the sage began again: "'But this is not all; after having seen and heard, I call to my aid all the qualities which constitute common sense and, thanks to this faculty, I draw my conclusions from my experience, from which enthusiasm, fancy, as well as personal interest are totally excluded.