Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it might be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but w… - Blaise Pascal

If the greatest philosopher in the world found himself on a plank wider than actually necessary, but hanging over a precipice, his imagination would prevail, even though his reason convinced him of his safety.

When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true, and admit that truth to him, but reveal to him the side on which it is false. He is satisfied with that, for he sees that he was not mistaken, and that he only failed to see all sides. Now, no one is offended at not seeing everything; but one does not like to be mistaken, and that perhaps arises from the fact that man naturally cannot see everything, and that naturally he cannot err in the side he looks at, since the perceptions of our senses are always true.

Reason never wholly overcomes imagination, while the contrary is quite common.