On the Marvelous Occurrences in the World

easily assent to those asserting these things. Faith is rare because many speak many things that are not to be believed. Indeed, I confess this is most difficult, but I do not see it as impossible. We see that from tallow, wax, oil, a lamp, or wood, a fire can be composed that will endure for a very long time; from the same, a fire can be made that will be consumed very quickly. We see some mixed things that endure for a very long time, such as gold and stones; others for very little time. We see some animals persist for a long time without food, others eat almost continuously. We see some persons, one of whom would eat as much in one day as another in one month. I saw a companion who, when he wished, would eat as much in one day as he was accustomed to in a week, says Oresme Nicole Oresme, 14th-century philosopher. Since, therefore, such a diversity of complexions is found in those who eat, even in the same species, and such diversity in the abstinence from or consumption of foods, it does not appear impossible that it could be extended to a long time. How long this is, God alone knows, nor is there anyone who could know how long, or up to what time, a man is able to fast. If, therefore, the limit of a fast is unknown, and yet a maximum difference is found in the faculty of abstaining, it should not be called impossible to fast for a long time, even for 20 years. For that the heat and digestive power, and other things required for this, cannot be proportioned with respect to the pre-assumed food and the humors existing in the body...