“I hope better of the goodness of God. Perhaps we are approaching the predicted time when science, having completed its cycle of analysis and synthesis, of belief and negation, will be able to purify itself and raise up the marvelous city of the future out of the confused ruins . . . We must not hold human reason so cheap as to believe it gains by complete self-humiliation, for that would be to impeach its divine origin . . . God will no doubt appreciate purity of intention; and what father would like to see his son give up all reason and pride in front of him? The apostle who had to touch to believe was not cursed for his doubt!”

(Gérard de Nerval, “Aurélia,” trans. Geoffrey Wagner, p. 36 in the Exact Change Aurélia & Other Writings.)