The customs of the world are founded on adaptation to the psychophysical individual, and ordinarily we pay little regard to the fact that the moods of people vary with the condition of their stomachs. Assuming that we must first give both our friends and our enemies something attractive to eat before we try to accomplish our ends with them, we quietly do this, then proceed with the affairs at hand.

Now why should we not as easily apply this acquaintance with human nature all along the line even to the highest spiritual state that ever inspired a prophet? It is the foundation fact about us, and we may as well acknowledge it.

I do not say that a man's disposition is determined by the food he eats, or that the state of liver, brain, or nerves shows what kind of spiritual belief he will adopt. What I am saying is that mind and body move along together, that there is minute correspondence between them, whatever else must be said about the probable influence of the one over the other. There are bodily processes that lead to a state of depletion, and other processes that bring renewal of tissues. These and all other organic and allied processes go on relentlessly, whatever else takes place. If we would alter a physical condition with reference to which we are aware of hunger, we must do something physical. We might indeed inhibit the sensation of hunger