He knew what's what, and that's as high As metaphysic wit can fly.

He knew whats'ever 's to be known, But much more than he knew would own.

Nor do I know what is become Of him, more than the Pope of Rome.

Deep sighted in intelligence, Ideas, atoms, influences.

So engrained in the human heart is the desire to believe that some people really do know what they say they know, and can thus save them from the trouble of thinking for themselves, that in a short time would-be philosophers and faddists became more powerful than ever, and gradually led their countrymen to accept all those absurd views of life, some account of which I have given in my earlier chapters. Indeed I can see no hope for the Erewhonians till they have got to understand that reason uncorrected by instinct is as bad as instinct uncorrected by reason.

Quoth Hudibras, I smell a rat; Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate.