Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
judging of the future by the past, do not believe that man has reached his apogee, or that
nature has turned over for him the last leaf of her hook.
VIII
Let us add that the study of such a theory as that of Spiritism. which introduces us at once to
an order of ideas so novel and so grand, can only be fruitfully pursued by persons of a serious
turn of mind, persevering, free from prejudice, and animated by a firm and sincere
determination to arrive at the truth. We could not give this qualification to those who decide,
in regard to such a subject, à priori, lightly, and without thorough examination; who bring to
the work of study neither the method, the regularity, nor the sustained attention necessary to
success: still less could we give it to those who, not to lose their reputation for wit and
sharpness, seek to turn into ridicule matters of the most serious import, or that are judged to
be such by persons whose knowledge, character, and convictions should command respect.
Let those who consider the facts in question as unworthy of their attention abstain from
studying them; no one would attempt to interfere with their belief; but let them, on their part,
respect the belief of those who are of a contrary opinion.
The characteristics of serious study are the method and the perseverance with which it is
carried on. Is it strange that sensible answers are not always obtained from spirits in reply to
questions which, however serious in themselves, are propounded at random, and in the midst
of a host of others, unconnected, frivolous, or foolish? Besides, a question is often complex,
and the answer to it, in order to be clear, needs to be preceded, or completed, by various
considerations. Whoever would acquire any science must make it the object of methodical
study, must begin at the beginning, and follow out the sequence and development of the ideas
involved in it. If one who is ignorant of the most elementary facts of a science should ask a
question in regard to it of the most learned of its professors, could the professor, however
excellent his goodwill, give him any satisfactory answer? For any isolated answer, give under
such conditions, must necessarily be incomplete, and would, therefore, in many cases, appear
unintelligible, or even absurd. It is exactly the same in regard to the relations which we
establish with spirits. If we