=1628.= Arithmetic and geometry are much more certain than the other sciences, because the objects of them are in themselves so simple and so clear that they need not suppose anything which experience can call in question, and both proceed by a chain of consequences which reason deduces one from another. They are also the easiest and clearest of all the sciences, and their object is such as we desire; for, except for want of attention, it is hardly supposable that a man should go astray in them. We must not be surprised, however, that many minds apply themselves by preference to other studies, or to philosophy. Indeed everyone allows himself more freely the right to make his guess if the matter be dark than if it be clear, and it is much easier to have on any question some vague ideas than to arrive at the truth itself on the simplest of all.--DESCARTES. _Rules for the Direction of the Mind; Torrey’s Philosophy of Descartes (New York, 1892), p. 63._ =1629.= Why are _wise_ few, _fools_ numerous in the excesse? ’Cause, wanting _number_, they are _numberlesse_. --LOVELACE. _Noah Bridges: Vulgar Arithmetike (London, 1659), p. 127._ =1630.= The clearness and distinctness of each mode of number from all others, even those that approach nearest, makes me apt to think that demonstrations in numbers, if they are not more evident and exact than in extension, yet they are more general in their use, and more determinate in their application. Because the ideas of numbers are more precise and distinguishable than in extension; where every equality and excess are not so easy to be observed or measured; because our thoughts cannot in space arrive at any determined smallness beyond which it cannot go, as an unit; and therefore the quantity or proportion of any the least excess cannot be discovered.--LOCKE, JOHN. _An Essay concerning Human Understanding, Bk. 2, chap. 16, sect. 4._ =1631.= Battalions of figures are like battalions of men, not always as strong as is supposed.--SAGE, M. _Mrs. Piper and the Society for Psychical Research [Robertson] (New York, 1909), p. 151._ =1632.= Number was born in superstition and reared in mystery,... numbers were once made the foundation of religion and philosophy, and the tricks of figures have had a marvellous effect on a credulous people.--PARKER, F. W. _Talks on Pedagogics (New York, 1894), P. 64._ =1633.= A rule to trick th’ arithmetic.--KIPLING, R. _To the True Romance._ =1634.= God made integers, all else is the work of man.