And Socrates himself appears to be conscious of their weakness; for he adds immediately afterwards, 'I have said some things of which I am not altogether confident.' (Compare Phaedo.) It may be observed, however, that the fanciful notion of pre-existence is combined with a true but partial view of the origin and unity of knowledge, and of the
association of ideas. Knowledge is prior to any particular knowledge, and exists not in the previous state of the individual, but of the race.
And from a queer
association of ideas, because in his imagination the idea of Sviazhsky's sister-in-law was connected with marriage, it occurred to him that there was no one to whom he could more suitably speak of his happiness, and he was very glad to go and see them.
The truth is, that we may as well speak of many designs as of one; nor need anything be excluded from the plan of a great work to which the mind is naturally led by the
association of ideas, and which does not interfere with the general purpose.
All these thoughts, of the kind that arise in hours of discouragement, succeeded each other and multiplied in his mind, and, by an irresistible
association of ideas, the doctor allowed himself to be carried beyond the bounds of logic and of reason.
By
association of ideas, Pierre was at once carried back to the day when, trying to comfort her, he had said that if he were not himself but the best man in the world and free, he would ask on his knees for her hand; and the same feeling of pity, tenderness, and love took possession of him and the same words rose to his lips.
By an
association of ideas, of which she was not herself aware, she now passed from thinking of her aunt to thinking of Miss Jethro.
That strange functioning of the mind which sometimes is called
association of ideas snapped Teeka and Gazan before the ape-man's mental vision.
The major characteristics discoverable by the stranger in Mr F.'s Aunt, were extreme severity and grim taciturnity; sometimes interrupted by a propensity to offer remarks in a deep warning voice, which, being totally uncalled for by anything said by anybody, and traceable to no
association of ideas, confounded and terrified the Mind.
By a curious
association of ideas, the young man always appeared as the murderer of whom Lebedeff had spoken when introducing him to Muishkin.
Snow Hill--Snow Hill too, coupled with a Saracen's Head: picturing to us by a double
association of ideas, something stern and rugged!
At this point, by a simple
association of ideas, Mr Verloc was brought face to face with the necessity of going to bed some time or other that evening.