Book: The purloined letter

inertia is the same in physics and in metaphysics. If for the first it is true that a large body is more difficult to set in motion than a small one, and that the moment of inertia obtained by it is directly proportional to this difficulty, then it is no less true for the second that the more powerful intellects, although they are stronger, more constant and more fruitful in their movement than small intellects, nevertheless, they begin this movement with less ease and are more confused and hesitant at the first steps.