Volume Ii Part 56 (2/2)
258.
A KIND OF BRIGHT SHADOWS.-Close to the nocturnal type of man we almost regularly find, as if bound up with him, a bright soul. This is, as it were, the negative shadow cast by the former.
259.
NOT TO TAKE REVENGE.-There are so many subtle sorts of revenge that one who has occasion to take revenge can really do or omit to do what he likes. In any case, the whole world will agree, after a time, that he _has_ avenged himself. Hence the avoidance of revenge is hardly within man's power. He must not even so much as say that he does not _want_ to do so, since the contempt for revenge is interpreted and felt as a sublime and exquisite form of revenge.-It follows that we must do nothing superfluous.
260.
THE MISTAKE OF THOSE WHO PAY HOMAGE.-Every one thinks he is paying a most agreeable compliment to a thinker when he says that he himself hit upon exactly the same idea and even upon the same expression. The thinker, however, is seldom delighted at hearing such news, nay, rather, he often becomes distrustful of his own thoughts and expressions. He silently resolves to revise both some day. If we wish to pay homage to any one, we must beware of expressing our agreement, for this puts us on the same level.-Often it is a matter of social tact to listen to an opinion as if it were not ours or even travelled beyond the limits of our own horizon-as, for example, when an old man once in a while opens the storehouse of his acquired knowledge.
261.
LETTERS.-A letter is an unannounced visit, and the postman is the intermediary of impolite surprises. Every week we ought to have one hour for receiving letters, and then go and take a bath.
262.
PREJUDICED.-Some one said: I have been prejudiced against myself from childhood upwards, and hence I find some truth in every censure and some absurdity in every eulogy. Praise I generally value too low and blame too high.
263.
THE PATH TO EQUALITY.-A few hours of mountain-climbing make a blackguard and a saint two rather similar creatures. Weariness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity-and finally liberty is bestowed by sleep.
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