Thelyingthought，youalreadyeitherhaveit，orwillsoongetitbythatmethod。Hewholieswithhisverytongue，_he_
　　clearlyenoughhaslongceasedtothinktrulyinhismind。Doeshe，inanysense，“think“？Allhisthoughtsandimaginations，iftheyextendbeyondmerebeaverisms，astucitiesandsensualisms，arefalse，incomplete，perverse，untrueeventohimself。HehasbecomeafalsemirrorofthisUniverse；notasmallmirroronly，butacrooked，bedimmedandutterlyderangedone。Butallloosetonguestooareakintolyingones；areinsincereatthebest，andgorattlingwithlittlemeaning；thethoughtlyinglanguidatagreatdistancebehindthem，ifthoughttherebebehindthematall。Graduallytherewillbenoneorlittle！Howcanthethoughtofsuchaman，whathecallsthought，beotherthanfalse？
　　Alas，thepalpableliarwithhistonguedoesatleastknowthatheislying，andhasormighthavesomefaintvestigeofremorseandchanceofamendment；buttheimpalpableliar，whosetonguearticulatesmereacceptedcommonplaces，cantsandbabblement，whichmeansonly，“Admireme，callmeanexcellentstump-orator！“——ofhimwhathopeisthere？Histhought，whatthoughthehad，liesdormant，inspiredonlytoinventvocablesandplausibilities；whilethetonguegoessoglib，thethoughtisabsent，goneawool-gathering；gettingitselfdruggedwiththeapplausive“Hear，hear！“——whatwillbecomeofsuchaman？Hisidlethoughthasrunalltoseed，andgrownfalseandthegiveroffalsities；theinnerlightofhismindisgoneout；allhislightismereputridityandphosphorescencehenceforth。
　　Whosoeverisinquestofruin，lethimwithassurancefollowthatman；heornooneisontherightroadtoit。
　　GoodHeavens，fromthewisestThoughtofamantotheactualtruthofaThingasitliesinNature，thereis，onewouldsuppose，asufficientinterval！Considerit，——andwhatotherintervalsweintroduce！Thefaithfulest，mostglowingwordofamanisbutanimperfectimageofthethought，suchasitis，thatdwellswithinhim；hisbestwordwillneverbutwitherrorconveyhisthoughttootherminds：andthenbetweenhispoorthoughtandNature’sFact，whichistheThoughtoftheEternal，theremaybesupposedtoliesomediscrepancies，someshortcomings！Speakyoursincerest，thinkyourwisest，thereisstillagreatgulfbetweenyouandthefact。Andnow，donotspeakyoursincerest，andwhatwillinevitablyfollowoutofthat，donotthinkyourwisest，butthinkonlyyourplausiblest，yourshowiestforparliamentarypurposes，wherewillyoulandwiththatguidance？——IinvitetheBritishParliament，andalltheParliamentaryandotherElectorsofGreatBritain，toreflectonthistilltheyhavewellunderstoodit；andthentoask，eachofhimself，WhatprobablythehoroscopesoftheBritishParliament，atthisepochofWorld-History，maybe？——
　　Fail，byanysinoranymisfortune，todiscoverwhatthetruthofthefactis，youarelostsofarasthatfactgoes！Ifyourthoughtdonotimagetrulybutdoimagefalselythefact，youwillvainlytrytoworkuponthefact。Thefactwillnotobeyyou，thefactwillsilentlyresistyou；andever，withsilentinvincibility，willgoonresistingyou，tillyoudogettoimageittrulyinsteadoffalsely。Nohelpforyouwhatever，exceptinattainingtoatrueimageofthefact。Needlesstovoteafalseimagetrue；voteit，revoteitbyoverwhelmingmajorities，byjubilantunanimitiesanduniversalities；readitthriceorthreehundredtimes，passactsofparliamentuponittilltheStatute-bookcanholdnomore，——ithelpsnotawhit：thethingisnotso，thethingisotherwisethanso；andAdam’swholePosterity，votingdailyonittilltheworldfinish，willnotalteritajot。Canthesublimestsanhedrim，constitutionalparliament，orotherCollectiveWisdomoftheworld，persuadefirenottoburn，sulphuricacidtobesweetmilk，ortheMoontobecomegreencheese？Thefactismuchthereverse：——andeventheConstitutionalBritishParliamentabstainsfromsucharduousattemptsastheselatterinthevotingline；andleavesthemultiplication-table，thechemical，mechanicalandotherqualitiesofmaterialsubstancestotaketheirowncourse；beingawarethatvotingandperorating，andreportinginHansard，willnotintheleastalteranyofthese。WhichisindisputablywiseoftheBritishParliament。
　　UnfortunatelytheBritishParliamentdoesnot，atpresent，quiteknowthatallmannerofthingsandrelationsofthings，spiritualequallywithmaterial，allmannerofqualities，entities，existenceswhatsoever，inthisstrangevisibleandinvisibleUniverse，areequallyinflexibleofnature；that，theywill，oneandall，withpreciselythesameobstinacy，continuetoobeytheirownlaw，notourlaw；deafastheaddertoallcharmofparliamentaryeloquence，andofvotingneversooftenrepeated；
　　silently，butinflexiblyandforevermore，decliningtochangethemselves，evenassulphuricaciddeclinestobecomesweetmilk，thoughyouvotesototheendoftheworld。This，itsometimesseemstome，isnotquitesufficientlylaidholdofbytheBritishandotherParliamentsjustatpresent。WhichsurelyisagreatmisfortunetosaidParliaments！For，itwouldappear，thegrandpoint，afterallconstitutionalimprovements，andsuchwaggingofwigsinWestminsterastherehasbeen，ispreciselywhatitwasbeforeanyconstitutionwasyetheardof，orthefirstofficialwighadbuddedoutofnothing：namely，toascertainwhatthetruthofyourquestion，inNature，reallyis！
　　Verilyso。Inthistimeandplace，asinallpastandinallfuturetimesandplaces。To-dayinSt。Stephen’s，whereconstitutional，philanthropical，andothergreatthingslieinthemortar-kit；evenasonthePlainofShinarlongago，whereacertainTower，likewiseofaveryphilanthropicnature，indeedoneofthedesirablesttowersIeverheardof，wastobebuilt，——butcouldn’t！Myfriends，Idonotlaugh；trulyIammoreinclinedtoweep。
　　Get，bysixhundredandfifty-eightvotes，orbynovoteatall，bythesilentintimationofyourowneyesightandunderstandinggivenyoudirectoutofHeaven，andmoresacredtoyouthananythingearthly，andthanallthingsearthly，——acorrectimageofthefactinquestion，asGodandNaturehavemadeit：thatistheonethingneedful；withthatitshallbewellwithyouinwhatsoeveryouhavetodowithsaidfact。Get，bythesublimestconstitutionalmethods，belaudedbyalltheworld，anincorrectimageofthefact：soshallitbeotherthanwellwithyou；soshallyouhavelaudfromableeditorsandvociferousmassesofmistakenhumancreatures；andfromtheNature’sFact，continuingquitesilentlythesameasitwas，contradiction，andthatonly。
　　Whatelse？WillNaturechange，orsulphuricacidbecomesweetmilk，forthenoiseofvociferousblockheads？Surelynot。
　　Nature，Iassureyou，hasnotthesmallestintentionofdoingso。
　　Onthecontrary，NaturekeepssilentlyamostexactSavings-bank，andofficialregistercorrecttothemostevanescentitem，DebtorandCreditor，inrespecttooneandallofus；silentlymarksdown，Creditorbysuchandsuchanunseenactofveracityandheroism；Debtortosuchaloudblusteryblunder，twenty-sevenmillionstrongoroneunitstrong，andtoallactsandwordsandthoughtsexecutedinconsequenceofthat，——Debtor，Debtor，Debtor，dayafterday，rigorouslyasFateforthisisFatethatiswriting；andattheendoftheaccountyouwillhaveitalltopay，myfriend；thereistherub！Nottheinfinitesimalestfractionofafarthingbutwillbefoundmarkedthere，foryouandagainstyou；andwiththeduerateofinterestyouwillhavetopayit，neatly，completely，assureasyouarealive。Youwillhavetopayiteveninmoneyifyoulive：——and，poorslave，doyouthinkthereisnopaymentbutinmoney？ThereisapaymentwhichNaturerigorouslyexactsofmen，andalsoofNations，andthisIthinkwhenherwrathissternest，intheshapeofdoomingyoutopossessmoney。Topossessit；tohaveyourbloatedvanitiesfosteredintomonstrositybyit，yourfoulpassionsblownintoexplosionbyit，yourheartandperhapsyourverystomachruinedwithintoxicationbyit；yourpoorlifeandallitsmanfulactivitiesstunnedintofrenzyandcomatosesleepbyit，——inoneword，astheoldProphetssaid，yoursoulforeverlostbyit。Yoursoul；sothat，throughtheEternities，youshallhavenosoul，ormanfultraceofeverhavinghadasoul；butonly，forcertainfleetingmoments，shallhavehadamoney-bag，andhavegivensoulandheartandfrightfulerstill
　　stomachitselfinfatalexchangeforthesame。Youwretchedmortal，stumblingaboutinaGod’sTemple，andthinkingitabrutalCookery-shop！Nature，whenherscornofaslaveisdivinest，andblazesliketheblindinglightningagainsthisslavehood，oftenenoughflingshimabagofmoney，silentlysaying：“That！Away；thydoomisthat！“——
　　Fornoman，andfornobodyorbiggestmultitudeofmen，hasNaturefavor，iftheypartcompanywithherfactsandher。
　　Excellentstump-orator；eloquentparliamentarydead-dog，makingmotions，passingbills；reportedintheMorningNewspapers，andreputedthe“bestspeakergoing“？FromtheUniverseofFacthehasturnedhimselfaway；heisgoneintopartnershipwiththeUniverseofPhantasm；findsitprofitablesttodealinforgednotes，whilethefoolishshopkeeperswillacceptthem。Natureforsuchaman，andforNationsthatfollowsuch，hasherpatibularyforks，andprisonsofdeatheverlasting：——dostthoudoubtit？Unhappymortal，NatureotherwisewereherselfaChaosandnoCosmos。NaturewasnotmadebyanImpostor；notshe，I
　　think，rifeastheyare！——Infact，bymoneyorotherwise，totheuttermostfractionofacalculableandincalculablevalue，wehave，eachoneofus，tosettletheexactbalanceintheabove-saidSavings-bank，orofficialregisterkeptbyNature：
　　Creditorbythequantityofveracitieswehavedone，Debtorbythequantityoffalsitiesanderrors；thereisnot，byanyconceivabledevice，thefaintesthopeofescapefromthatissueforoneofus，norforallofus。
　　Thisusedtobeawell-knownfact；anddailystill，incertainedifices，steeple-houses，joss-houses，templessacredorother，everywherespreadovertheworld，wehearsomedimmumblementofanassertionthatsuchisstill，whatitwasalwaysandwillforeverbe，thefact：butmeseemsithasterriblyfallenoutofmemorynevertheless；and，fromDantoBeersheba，oneinvainlooksoutforamanthatreallyinhisheartbelievesit。Inhishearthebelieves，asweperceive，thatscripwillyielddividends：butthatHeaventoohasanofficeofaccount，andunerringlymarksdown，againstusorforus，whatsoeverthingwedoorsayorthink，andtreasuresupthesameinregardtoeverycreature，——thisIdonotsowellperceivethathebelieves。
　　Poorblockhead，no：hereckonsthatallpaymentisinmoney，orapproximatelyrepresentablebymoney；findsmoneygoastrangecourse；disbelievestheparsonandhisDayofJudgment；discernsnotthatthereisanyjudgmentexceptinthesmallorbigdebtcourt；andlivesforthepresentonthatstrangefootinginthisUniverse。Theunhappymortal，whatistheuseofhis“civilizations“andhis“usefulknowledges，“ifhehaveforgottenthatbeginningofhumanknowledge；theearliestperceptionoftheawakenedhumansoulinthisworld；thefirstdictateofHeaven’sinspirationtoallmen？Icannotaccounthimamananymore；butonlyakindofhumanbeaver，whohasacquiredtheartofciphering。Heliveswithoutrushinghourlytowardssuicide，becausehissoul，withallitsnobleaspirationsandimaginations，issunkatthebottomofhisstomach，andliestorpidthere，unaspiring，unimagining，unconsidering，asifitwerethevitalprincipleofamere_four_-footedbeaver。Asoulofaman，appointedforspinningcottonandmakingmoney，or，alas，formerelyshootinggrouseandgatheringrent；towhomEternityandImmortality，andallhumanNoblenessesanddivineFactsthatdidnottelluponthestock-exchange，weremeaninglessfables，emptyastheinarticulatewind。Hewillrecoveroutofthatpersuasiononeday，orbegroundtopowder，I
　　believe！——
　　Tosuchapass，byourbeaverismsandourmammonisms；bycantingof“prevenientgrace“everywhere，andsoboardingandlodgingourpoorsoulsuponsupervenientmoonshineeverywhere，forcenturieslong；byoursordidstupiditiesandouridlebabblings；throughfaithinthedivineStump-orator，andConstitutionalPalaver，oraugustSanhedrimofOrators，——havemenandNationsbeenreduced，inthissadepoch！IcannotcallthemhappyNations；ImustcallthemNationsliketoperish；Nationsthatwilleitherbegintorecover，orelsesoondie。Recoveryistobehoped；——yes，sincethereisinNatureanAlmightyBeneficence，andHisvoice，divinelyterrible，canbeheardintheworld-whirlwindnow，evenasfromofoldandforevermore。Recovery，orelsedestructionandannihilation，isverycertain；andthecrisis，too，comesrapidlyon：butbyStump-OratorandConstitutionalPalaver，howeverperfected，myhopesof_recovery_havelongvanished。
　　Notbythem，Ishouldimagine，butbysomethingfarthereverseofthem，shallwereturntotruthandGod！