Volume Ii Part 20 (1/2)

231.

HUMANITY OF FRIENDs.h.i.+P AND COMRADEs.h.i.+P.-”If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right,”(16) that feeling is the hall-mark of humanity in intimate intercourse, and without that feeling every friends.h.i.+p, every band of apostles or disciples, sooner or later becomes a fraud.

232.

THE PROFOUND.-Men of profound thought appear to themselves in intercourse with others like comedians, for in order to be understood they must always simulate superficiality.

233.

FOR THE SCORNERS OF ”HERD-HUMANITY.”-He who regards human beings as a herd, and flies from them as fast as he can, will certainly be caught up by them and gored upon their horns.

234.

THE MAIN TRANSGRESSION AGAINST THE VAIN.-In society, he who gives another an opportunity of favourably setting forth his knowledge, sentiments, and experience sets himself above him. Unless he is felt by the other to be a superior being without limitation, he is guilty of an attack upon his vanity, while what he aimed at was the gratification of the other man's vanity.

235.

DISAPPOINTMENT.-When a long life of action distinguished by speeches and writings gives publicity to a man's personality, personal intercourse with him is generally disappointing on two grounds. Firstly, one expects too much from a brief period of intercourse (namely, all that the thousand and one opportunities of life can alone bring out). Secondly, no recognised person gives himself the trouble to woo recognition in individual cases.

He is too careless, and we are at too high a tension.

236.

TWO SOURCES OF KINDNESS.-To treat all men with equal good-humour, and to be kind without distinction of persons, may arise as much from a profound contempt for mankind as from an ingrained love of humanity.

237.