Volume Ii Part 52 (1/2)

207.

SOLAR ORBIT OF AN IDEA.-When an idea is just rising on the horizon, the soul's temperature is usually very low. Gradually the idea develops in warmth, and is hottest (that is to say, exerts its greatest influence) when belief in the idea is already on the wane.

208.

HOW TO HAVE EVERY MAN AGAINST YOU.-If some one now dared to say, ”He that is not for me is against me,” he would at once have all against him.-This sentiment does credit to our era.

209.

BEING ASHAMED OF WEALTH.-Our age endures only a single species of rich men-those who are ashamed of their wealth. If we hear it said of any one that he is very rich, we at once feel a similar sentiment to that experienced at the sight of a repulsively swollen invalid, one suffering from diabetes or dropsy. We must with an effort remember our humanity, in order to go about with this rich man in such a way that he does not notice our feeling of disgust. But as soon as he prides himself at all on his wealth, our feelings are mingled with an almost compa.s.sionate surprise at such a high degree of human unreason. We would fain raise our hands to heaven and cry, ”Poor deformed and overburdened creature, fettered a hundredfold, to whom every hour brings or may bring something unpleasant, in whose frame twitches every event that occurs in scores of countries, how can you make us believe that you feel at ease in your position? If you appear anywhere in public, we know that it is a sort of running the gauntlet amid countless glances that have for you only cold hate or importunity or silent scorn. You may earn more easily than others, but it is only a superfluous earning, which brings little joy, and the guarding of what you have earned is now, at any rate, a more troublesome business than any toilsome process of earning. You are continually suffering, because you are continually losing. What avails it you that they are always injecting you with fresh artificial blood? That does not relieve the pain of those cupping-gla.s.ses that are fixed, for ever fixed, on your neck!-But, to be quite fair to you, it is difficult or perhaps impossible for you _not_ to be rich. You _must_ guard, you _must_ earn more; the inherited bent of your character is the yoke fastened upon you. But do not on that account deceive us-be honestly and visibly ashamed of the yoke you wear, as in your soul you are weary and unwilling to wear it. This shame is no disgrace.”

210.

EXTRAVAGANT PRESUMPTIONS.-There are men so presumptuous that they can only praise a greatness which they publicly admire by representing it as steps and bridges that lead to themselves.

211.

ON THE SOIL OF INSULT.-He who wishes to deprive men of a conception is generally not satisfied with refuting it and drawing out of it the illogical worm that resides within. Rather, when the worm has been killed, does he throw the whole fruit as well into the mire, in order to make it ign.o.ble in men's sight and to inspire disgust. Thus he thinks that he has found a means of making the usual ”third-day resurrection” of conceptions an impossibility.-He is wrong, for on the very soil of insult, in the midst of the filth, the kernel of the conception soon produces new seeds.-The right thing then, is not to scorn and bespatter what one wishes finally to remove, but to lay it tenderly on ice again and again, having regard to the fact that conceptions are very tenacious of life. Here we must act according to the maxim: ”One refutation is no refutation.”

212.

THE LOT OF MORALITY.-Since spiritual bondage is being relaxed, morality (the inherited, traditional, instinctive mode of action in accordance with moral sentiments) is surely also on the decline. This, however, is not the case with the individual virtues, moderation, justice, repose; for the greatest freedom of the conscious intellect leads at some time, even unconsciously, back to these virtues, and then enjoins their practice as expedient.

213.

THE FANATIC OF DISTRUST AND HIS SURETY.-_The Elder_: You wish to make the tremendous venture and instruct mankind in the great things? What is your surety?

_Pyrrho_: It is this: I intend to warn men against myself; I intend to confess all the defects of my character quite openly, and reveal to the world my hasty conclusions, my contradictions, and my foolish blunders.

”Do not listen to me,” I will say to them, ”until I have become equal to the meanest among you, nay am even less than he. Struggle against truth as long as you can, from your disgust with her advocate. I shall be your seducer and betrayer if you find in me the slightest glimmering of respectability and dignity.”

_The Elder_: You promise too much; you cannot bear this burden.

_Pyrrho_: Then I will tell men even that, and say that I am too weak, and cannot keep my promise. The greater my unworthiness, the more will they mistrust the truth, when it pa.s.ses through my lips.