It is natural to man to indulge in the illusion of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against the painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.
Source: In The Speaker's Electronic Reference Collection, AApex Software, 1994.
-- Patrick Henry, (May 29 1736-1799), US statesman, orator; He was a brilliant orator of the Amer. Revolution (Give me liberty or give me death, 1755); first governor of VA.