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They suppose themselves to be searching after truth when they are

playing the game of 'follow my leader.' They fall in love 'at

first sight' with paradoxes respecting morality, some fancy about

art, some novelty or eccentricity in religion, and like lovers

they are so absorbed for a time in their new notion that they can

think of nothing else. The resolution of some philosophical or

theological question seems to them more interesting and important

than any substantial knowledge of literature or science or even

than a good life. Like the youth in the Philebus, they are ready

to discourse to any one about a new philosophy. They are

generally the disciples of some eminent professor or sophist,

whom they rather imitate than understand. They may be counted

happy if in later years they retain some of the simple truths

which they acquired in early education, and which they may,

perhaps, find to be worth all the rest.