Volume Ii Part 51 (2/2)

201.

FALSE RENOWN.-I hate those so-called natural beauties which really have significance only through science, especially geographical science, but are insignificant in an aesthetic sense: for example, the view of Mont Blanc from Geneva. This is an insignificant thing without the auxiliary mental joy of science: the nearer mountains are all more beautiful and fuller of expression, but ”not nearly so high,” adds that absurd depreciatory science. The eye here contradicts science: how can it truly rejoice in the contradiction?

202.

THOSE THAT TRAVEL FOR PLEASURE.-Like animals, stupid and perspiring, they climb mountains: people forgot to tell them that there were fine views on the way.

203.

TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE.-Men nowadays live too much and think too little.

They have hunger and dyspepsia together, and become thinner and thinner, however much they eat. He who now says ”Nothing has happened to me” is a blockhead.

204.

END AND GOAL.-Not every end is the goal. The end of a melody is not its goal, and yet if a melody has not reached its end, it has also not reached its goal. A parable.

205.

NEUTRALITY OF NATURE ON A GRAND SCALE.-The neutrality of Nature on a grand scale (in mountain, sea, forest, and desert) is pleasing, but only for a brief s.p.a.ce. Afterwards we become impatient. ”Have they all nothing to say to _us_? Do _we_ not exist so far as they are concerned?” There arises a feeling that a _lese-majeste_ is committed against humanity.

206.

FORGETTING OUR PURPOSE.-In a journey we commonly forget its goal. Almost every vocation is chosen and entered upon as means to an end, but is continued as the ultimate end. Forgetting our purpose is the most frequent form of folly.

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