Hayy Despairs of Being Able to Reform the Vulgar Crowd
Hayy Ibn Yokdhan, however, continued day and night to deal gently with them and manifest the truth both in private and public, which only increased their hatred towards him and made them avoid his company; though otherwise they were lovers of that which is good, and desirous of the truth. But from that defect in their nature, they did not search for it in the right manner nor apprehend it as they should do: but sought the knowledge of it after the common way, like the rest of the world, after the vulgar fashion: so in the end he despaired of reforming them, and lost all hope of bringing them unto a better condition which was less acceptable unto them, because he perceived they were not willing to accept what he taught them.