ABSTRACT
One of the most puzzling affinities in human thought is the free play of the imagination in harmony with the concepts of understanding. It is a commonplace that scientists as well as poets happen upon the clues to their discoveries in their day dreams. It is also to be noted that one of the most significant differences between minds is in the uses made of such imaginings. It seems that every great discoverer in the history of thought has had some private and persistent muse luring his sober reflexions into more daring speculations than the ordinary run of mankind find safe and familiar, and genius has consisted in yielding to the temptation of metaphor and mythology. In this Aristotle is justified for having said that the command of metaphor is a sign of genius.
