Fewtril #80

On the question of external realities, whether a man will profess to find more persuasion in an argument for universal scepticism than in a falling rock depends to some extent upon the cogency of the argument, to some extent upon how much of his reputation he has already invested in support of that argument, but mostly upon where he stands in relation to the rock, whereto in proximity he will profess more strongly with the feet than the mouth.