Volume Ii Part 62 (2/2)

CONTINUAL ACCELERATION.-Those who begin slowly and find it hard to become familiar with a subject, sometimes acquire afterwards the quality of continual acceleration-so that in the end no one knows where the current will take them.

332.

THE THREE GOOD THINGS.-Greatness, calm, sunlight-these three embrace all that a thinker desires and also demands of himself: his hopes and duties, his claims in the intellectual and moral sphere, nay even in his daily manner of life and the scenic background of his residence. Corresponding to these three things are, firstly thoughts that exalt, secondly thoughts that soothe, and thirdly thoughts that illuminate-but, fourthly, thoughts that share in all these three qualities, in which all earthly things are transfigured. This is the kingdom of the great _trinity of joy_.

333.

DYING FOR ”TRUTH.”-We should not let ourselves be burnt for our opinions-we are not so certain of them as all that. But we might let ourselves be burnt for the right of possessing and changing our opinions.

334.

MARKET VALUE.-If we wish to pa.s.s exactly for what we are, we must be something that has its market value. As, however, only objects in common use have a market value, this desire is the consequence either of shrewd modesty or of stupid immodesty.

335.

MORAL FOR BUILDERS.-We must remove the scaffolding when the house has been built.

336.

SOPHOCLEANISM.-Who poured more water into wine than the Greeks? Sobriety and grace combined-that was the aristocratic privilege of the Athenian in the time of Sophocles and after. Imitate that whoever can! In life and in work!

337.

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