Volume Ii Part 24 (1/2)

A CRUEL FANCY OF LOVE.-Every great love involves the cruel thought of killing the object of love, so that it may be removed once for all from the mischievous play of change. For love is more afraid of change than of destruction.

281.

DOORS.-In everything that is learnt or experienced, the child, just like the man, sees doors; but for the former they are places to go _to_, for the latter to go _through_.

282.

SYMPATHETIC WOMEN.-The sympathy of women, which is talkative, takes the sick-bed to market.

283.

EARLY MERIT.-He who acquires merit early in life tends to forget all reverence for age and old people, and accordingly, greatly to his disadvantage, excludes himself from the society of the mature, those who confer maturity. Thus in spite of his early merit he remains green, importunate, and boyish longer than others.

284.

SOULS ALL OF A PIECE.-Women and artists think that where we do not contradict them we cannot. Reverence on ten counts and silent disapproval on ten others appears to them an impossible combination, because their souls are all of a piece.

285.

YOUNG TALENTS.-With respect to young talents we must strictly follow Goethe's maxim, that we should often avoid harming error in order to avoid harming truth. Their condition is like the diseases of pregnancy, and involves strange appet.i.tes. These appet.i.tes should be satisfied and humoured as far as possible, for the sake of the fruit they may be expected to produce. It is true that, as nurse of these remarkable invalids, one must learn the difficult art of voluntary self-abas.e.m.e.nt.

286.

DISGUST WITH TRUTH.-Women are so const.i.tuted that all truth (in relation to men, love, children, society, aim of life) disgusts them-and that they try to be revenged on every one who opens their eyes.