Amongst the Gentiles, Pliny spoke the fullest and plainest on this subject, thus: "After the interment of our bodies, there is a great diversity of opinions concerning the future state of our souls, or ghosts; but the most general is this, that they return to the same state in which they were before they were born. However, such is the folly and vanity of men, that they extend this existence even to future ages; and some crown it with immortality; others pretend a transfiguration, and others render unto the soul of the departed honor and worship, making a God of him that was not so much as a man; as if the manner of men's breathing differed from that of other living creatures; or as if there were not to be found in the world many animals that live much longer than man. Now these are surely but fantastical, foolish, and childish toys, devised by men who would fain live always; the like foolery is there in preserving the bodies. But what a folly of follies is it to think that Death should be the way to a second life! Certainly this foolish credulity, and easiness of belief, destroy the benefit of the best gift of Nature--death;" (which is as necessary, nay, even as natural to every animal as life itself.) "How much more easy, and greater security, were it, for each man to ground his reasons and resolutions upon an assurance, that he should be in no worse a condition than he was before he was born."--Nat. Hist. * The fear of death, which Christian dogmas create, has effects the most baleful and pernicious imaginable; and has contributed more to stock the Bedlam of Christendom, than any other cause whatever. All animals avoid and fear bodily pain, as the greatest evil--man alone fears death. Why? Because he alone has priests and a hell. Epicurus says: "Death, which some suppose to be the most terrible of evils, is nothing to us; seeing that while we are in being, death is not present; and when it is present, then we are not" Hesiod, in alluding to those who, in the golden age (when it may be presumed, there were neither priests, hells, nor supernaturals) died without superstitions fears, sung thus:-- "They sunk to death, as opiate slumber stole Soft o'er the sense, and whelm'd the willing soul." _The Works and Days._