"In Cicero, Master, I read of a True Word by Protagoras. He had said that 'he was not able to say whether gods existed or not', (Cicero, Nature of the gods). Is this not the True scientific Way?"
"Indeed it is. It explains too why Cicero himself could believe in sperrits, in spite of his admiration for Lucretius. It is fundamental that: 'either gods are, or, gods are not', the natural pair. So one can believe or not. But until this question is 'proven' satisfactorily, which means, not by repetitious hearsay from hearsay from hearsay, all statements of how gods do or not do, are or not are, like or not like, is mere criminal lying. It purports to have knowledge that is in reality not possessed. It purports to 'know' of sperrits or mermaids, while this 'knowing' must be pre-ceded by the proven knowlegde that they exist. Certainly, no such fundamental knowledge is yet known to the world, therefore, with Protagoras, the development of further 'knowing' is stopped.
No more True Words about it being known.
No more True Words about it being writ.
No more bastardly barter with the hopes and fears of poor people." [16]