Ifhesawtwotruthsthatseemedtocontradicteachother，hewouldtakethetwotruthsandthecontradictionalongwiththem。
　　Hisspiritualsightisstereoscopic，likehisphysicalsight：
　　heseestwodifferentpicturesatonceandyetseesallthebetterforthat。Thushehasalwaysbelievedthattherewassuchathingasfate，butsuchathingasfreewillalso。Thushebelievedthatchildrenwereindeedthekingdomofheaven，butneverthelessoughttobeobedienttothekingdomofearth。Headmiredyouthbecauseitwasyoungandagebecauseitwasnot。Itisexactlythisbalanceofapparentcontradictionsthathasbeenthewholebuoyancyofthehealthyman。Thewholesecretofmysticismisthis：
　　thatmancanunderstandeverythingbythehelpofwhathedoesnotunderstand。Themorbidlogicianseekstomakeeverythinglucid，andsucceedsinmakingeverythingmysterious。Themysticallowsonethingtobemysterious，andeverythingelsebecomeslucid。
　　Thedeterministmakesthetheoryofcausationquiteclear，andthenfindsthathecannotsay"ifyouplease"tothehousemaid。
　　TheChristianpermitsfreewilltoremainasacredmystery；butbecauseofthishisrelationswiththehousemaidbecomeofasparklingandcrystalclearness。Heputstheseedofdogmainacentraldarkness；
　　butitbranchesforthinalldirectionswithaboundingnaturalhealth。
　　Aswehavetakenthecircleasthesymbolofreasonandmadness，wemayverywelltakethecrossasthesymbolatonceofmysteryandofhealth。Buddhismiscentripetal，butChristianityiscentrifugal：
　　itbreaksout。Forthecircleisperfectandinfiniteinitsnature；
　　butitisfixedforeverinitssize；itcanneverbelargerorsmaller。Butthecross，thoughithasatitsheartacollisionandacontradiction，canextenditsfourarmsforeverwithoutalteringitsshape。Becauseithasaparadoxinitscentreitcangrowwithoutchanging。Thecirclereturnsuponitselfandisbound。
　　Thecrossopensitsarmstothefourwinds；itisasignpostforfreetravellers。
　　Symbolsaloneareofevenacloudyvalueinspeakingofthisdeepmatter；andanothersymbolfromphysicalnaturewillexpresssufficientlywelltherealplaceofmysticismbeforemankind。
　　Theonecreatedthingwhichwecannotlookatistheonethinginthelightofwhichwelookateverything。Likethesunatnoonday，mysticismexplainseverythingelsebytheblazeofitsownvictoriousinvisibility。Detachedintellectualismis（intheexactsenseofapopularphrase）allmoonshine；foritislightwithoutheat，anditissecondarylight，reflectedfromadeadworld。
　　ButtheGreekswererightwhentheymadeApollothegodbothofimaginationandofsanity；forhewasboththepatronofpoetryandthepatronofhealing。OfnecessarydogmasandaspecialcreedIshallspeaklater。Butthattranscendentalismbywhichallmenlivehasprimarilymuchthepositionofthesuninthesky。
　　Weareconsciousofitasofakindofsplendidconfusion；
　　itissomethingbothshiningandshapeless，atonceablazeandablur。Butthecircleofthemoonisasclearandunmistakable，asrecurrentandinevitable，asthecircleofEuclidonablackboard。
　　Forthemoonisutterlyreasonable；andthemoonisthemotheroflunaticsandhasgiventothemallhername。
　　IIITHESUICIDEOFTHOUGHT
　　Thephrasesofthestreetarenotonlyforciblebutsubtle：
　　forafigureofspeechcanoftengetintoacracktoosmallforadefinition。Phraseslike"putout"or"offcolour"mighthavebeencoinedbyMr。HenryJamesinanagonyofverbalprecision。
　　Andthereisnomoresubtletruththanthatoftheeverydayphraseaboutamanhaving"hisheartintherightplace。"Itinvolvestheideaofnormalproportion；notonlydoesacertainfunctionexist，butitisrightlyrelatedtootherfunctions。Indeed，thenegationofthisphrasewoulddescribewithpeculiaraccuracythesomewhatmorbidmercyandperversetendernessofthemostrepresentativemoderns。
　　If，forinstance，IhadtodescribewithfairnessthecharacterofMr。BernardShaw，Icouldnotexpressmyselfmoreexactlythanbysayingthathehasaheroicallylargeandgenerousheart；
　　butnotaheartintherightplace。Andthisissoofthetypicalsocietyofourtime。
　　Themodernworldisnotevil；insomewaysthemodernworldisfartoogood。Itisfullofwildandwastedvirtues。
　　Whenareligiousschemeisshattered（asChristianitywasshatteredattheReformation），itisnotmerelythevicesthatareletloose。
　　Thevicesare，indeed，letloose，andtheywanderanddodamage。
　　Butthevirtuesareletloosealso；andthevirtueswandermorewildly，andthevirtuesdomoreterribledamage。ThemodernworldisfulloftheoldChristianvirtuesgonemad。Thevirtueshavegonemadbecausetheyhavebeenisolatedfromeachotherandarewanderingalone。Thussomescientistscarefortruth；
　　andtheirtruthispitiless。Thussomehumanitariansonlycareforpity；andtheirpity（Iamsorrytosay）isoftenuntruthful。
　　Forexample，Mr。BlatchfordattacksChristianitybecauseheismadononeChristianvirtue：themerelymysticalandalmostirrationalvirtueofcharity。Hehasastrangeideathathewillmakeiteasiertoforgivesinsbysayingthattherearenosinstoforgive。
　　Mr。BlatchfordisnotonlyanearlyChristian，heistheonlyearlyChristianwhooughtreallytohavebeeneatenbylions。
　　Forinhiscasethepaganaccusationisreallytrue：hismercywouldmeanmereanarchy。Hereallyistheenemyofthehumanrace——
　　becauseheissohuman。Astheotherextreme，wemaytaketheacridrealist，whohasdeliberatelykilledinhimselfallhumanpleasureinhappytalesorinthehealingoftheheart。
　　Torquemadatorturedpeoplephysicallyforthesakeofmoraltruth。
　　Zolatorturedpeoplemorallyforthesakeofphysicaltruth。
　　ButinTorquemada’stimetherewasatleastasystemthatcouldtosomeextentmakerighteousnessandpeacekisseachother。
　　Nowtheydonotevenbow。Butamuchstrongercasethanthesetwooftruthandpitycanbefoundintheremarkablecaseofthedislocationofhumility。
　　Itisonlywithoneaspectofhumilitythatwearehereconcerned。
　　Humilitywaslargelymeantasarestraintuponthearroganceandinfinityoftheappetiteofman。Hewasalwaysoutstrippinghismercieswithhisownnewlyinventedneeds。Hisverypowerofenjoymentdestroyedhalfhisjoys。Byaskingforpleasure，helostthechiefpleasure；forthechiefpleasureissurprise。
　　Henceitbecameevidentthatifamanwouldmakehisworldlarge，hemustbealwaysmakinghimselfsmall。Eventhehaughtyvisions，thetallcities，andthetopplingpinnaclesarethecreationsofhumility。Giantsthattreaddownforestslikegrassarethecreationsofhumility。Towersthatvanishupwardsabovethelonelieststararethecreationsofhumility。Fortowersarenottallunlesswelookupatthem；andgiantsarenotgiantsunlesstheyarelargerthanwe。Allthisgigantesqueimagination，whichis，perhaps，themightiestofthepleasuresofman，isatbottomentirelyhumble。Itisimpossiblewithouthumilitytoenjoyanything——
　　evenpride。
　　Butwhatwesufferfromto-dayishumilityinthewrongplace。
　　Modestyhasmovedfromtheorganofambition。Modestyhassettledupontheorganofconviction；whereitwasnevermeanttobe。
　　Amanwasmeanttobedoubtfulabouthimself，butundoubtingaboutthetruth；thishasbeenexactlyreversed。Nowadaysthepartofamanthatamandoesassertisexactlythepartheoughtnottoassert——himself。Theparthedoubtsisexactlythepartheoughtnottodoubt——theDivineReason。HuxleypreachedahumilitycontenttolearnfromNature。Butthenewscepticissohumblethathedoubtsifhecanevenlearn。Thusweshouldbewrongifwehadsaidhastilythatthereisnohumilitytypicalofourtime。
　　Thetruthisthatthereisarealhumilitytypicalofourtime；
　　butitsohappensthatitispracticallyamorepoisonoushumilitythanthewildestprostrationsoftheascetic。Theoldhumilitywasaspurthatpreventedamanfromstopping；notanailinhisbootthatpreventedhimfromgoingon。Fortheoldhumilitymadeamandoubtfulabouthisefforts，whichmightmakehimworkharder。
　　Butthenewhumilitymakesamandoubtfulabouthisaims，whichwillmakehimstopworkingaltogether。
　　Atanystreetcornerwemaymeetamanwhouttersthefranticandblasphemousstatementthathemaybewrong。Everydayonecomesacrosssomebodywhosaysthatofcoursehisviewmaynotbetherightone。Ofcoursehisviewmustbetherightone，oritisnothisview。Weareontheroadtoproducingaraceofmentoomentallymodesttobelieveinthemultiplicationtable。
　　Weareindangerofseeingphilosopherswhodoubtthelawofgravityasbeingamerefancyoftheirown。Scoffersofoldtimeweretooproudtobeconvinced；butthesearetoohumbletobeconvinced。
　　Themeekdoinherittheearth；butthemodernscepticsaretoomeekeventoclaimtheirinheritance。Itisexactlythisintellectualhelplessnesswhichisoursecondproblem。
　　Thelastchapterhasbeenconcernedonlywithafactofobservation：
　　thatwhatperilofmorbiditythereisformancomesratherfromhisreasonthanhisimagination。Itwasnotmeanttoattacktheauthorityofreason；ratheritistheultimatepurposetodefendit。
　　Foritneedsdefence。Thewholemodernworldisatwarwithreason；
　　andthetoweralreadyreels。
　　Thesages，itisoftensaid，canseenoanswertotheriddleofreligion。Butthetroublewithoursagesisnotthattheycannotseetheanswer；itisthattheycannotevenseetheriddle。
　　Theyarelikechildrensostupidastonoticenothingparadoxicalintheplayfulassertionthatadoorisnotadoor。Themodernlatitudinariansspeak，forinstance，aboutauthorityinreligionnotonlyasiftherewerenoreasoninit，butasiftherehadneverbeenanyreasonforit。Apartfromseeingitsphilosophicalbasis，theycannotevenseeitshistoricalcause。Religiousauthorityhasoften，doubtless，beenoppressiveorunreasonable；justaseverylegalsystem（andespeciallyourpresentone）hasbeencallousandfullofacruelapathy。Itisrationaltoattackthepolice；nay，itisglorious。Butthemoderncriticsofreligiousauthorityarelikemenwhoshouldattackthepolicewithouteverhavingheardofburglars。Forthereisagreatandpossibleperiltothehumanmind：aperilaspracticalasburglary。Againstitreligiousauthoritywasreared，rightlyorwrongly，asabarrier。
　　Andagainstitsomethingcertainlymustberearedasabarrier，ifourraceistoavoidruin。
　　Thatperilisthatthehumanintellectisfreetodestroyitself。
　　Justasonegenerationcouldpreventtheveryexistenceofthenextgeneration，byallenteringamonasteryorjumpingintothesea，soonesetofthinkerscaninsomedegreepreventfurtherthinkingbyteachingthenextgenerationthatthereisnovalidityinanyhumanthought。
　　Itisidletotalkalwaysofthealternativeofreasonandfaith。
　　Reasonisitselfamatteroffaith。Itisanactoffaithtoassertthatourthoughtshaveanyrelationtorealityatall。Ifyouaremerelyasceptic，youmustsoonerorlateraskyourselfthequestion，"WhyshouldANYTHINGgoright；evenobservationanddeduction？
　　Whyshouldnotgoodlogicbeasmisleadingasbadlogic？
　　Theyarebothmovementsinthebrainofabewilderedape？"
　　Theyoungscepticsays，"Ihavearighttothinkformyself。"
　　Buttheoldsceptic，thecompletesceptic，says，"Ihavenorighttothinkformyself。Ihavenorighttothinkatall。"
　　Thereisathoughtthatstopsthought。Thatistheonlythoughtthatoughttobestopped。Thatistheultimateevilagainstwhichallreligiousauthoritywasaimed。Itonlyappearsattheendofdecadentageslikeourown：andalreadyMr。H。G。Wellshasraiseditsruinousbanner；hehaswrittenadelicatepieceofscepticismcalled"DoubtsoftheInstrument。"Inthishequestionsthebrainitself，andendeavourstoremoveallrealityfromallhisownassertions，past，present，andtocome。Butitwasagainstthisremoteruinthatallthemilitarysystemsinreligionwereoriginallyrankedandruled。Thecreedsandthecrusades，thehierarchiesandthehorriblepersecutionswerenotorganized，asisignorantlysaid，forthesuppressionofreason。Theywereorganizedforthedifficultdefenceofreason。Man，byablindinstinct，knewthatifoncethingswerewildlyquestioned，reasoncouldbequestionedfirst。
　　Theauthorityofprieststoabsolve，theauthorityofpopestodefinetheauthority，evenofinquisitorstoterrify：thesewereallonlydarkdefenceserectedroundonecentralauthority，moreundemonstrable，moresupernaturalthanall——theauthorityofamantothink。
　　Weknownowthatthisisso；wehavenoexcusefornotknowingit。
　　Forwecanhearscepticismcrashingthroughtheoldringofauthorities，andatthesamemomentwecanseereasonswayinguponherthrone。
　　Insofarasreligionisgone，reasonisgoing。Fortheyarebothofthesameprimaryandauthoritativekind。Theyarebothmethodsofproofwhichcannotthemselvesbeproved。AndintheactofdestroyingtheideaofDivineauthoritywehavelargelydestroyedtheideaofthathumanauthoritybywhichwedoalong-divisionsum。
　　Withalongandsustainedtugwehaveattemptedtopullthemitreoffpontificalman；andhisheadhascomeoffwithit。
　　Lestthisshouldbecalledlooseassertion，itisperhapsdesirable，thoughdull，torunrapidlythroughthechiefmodernfashionsofthoughtwhichhavethiseffectofstoppingthoughtitself。
　　Materialismandtheviewofeverythingasapersonalillusionhavesomesucheffect；forifthemindismechanical，thoughtcannotbeveryexciting，andifthecosmosisunreal，thereisnothingtothinkabout。Butinthesecasestheeffectisindirectanddoubtful。Insomecasesitisdirectandclear；
　　notablyinthecaseofwhatisgenerallycalledevolution。
　　Evolutionisagoodexampleofthatmodernintelligencewhich，ifitdestroysanything，destroysitself。Evolutioniseitheraninnocentscientificdescriptionofhowcertainearthlythingscameabout；or，ifitisanythingmorethanthis，itisanattackuponthoughtitself。Ifevolutiondestroysanything，itdoesnotdestroyreligionbutrationalism。Ifevolutionsimplymeansthatapositivethingcalledanapeturnedveryslowlyintoapositivethingcalledaman，thenitisstinglessforthemostorthodox；
　　forapersonalGodmightjustaswelldothingsslowlyasquickly，especiallyif，liketheChristianGod，hewereoutsidetime。
　　Butifitmeansanythingmore，itmeansthatthereisnosuchthingasanapetochange，andnosuchthingasamanforhimtochangeinto。Itmeansthatthereisnosuchthingasathing。
　　Atbest，thereisonlyonething，andthatisafluxofeverythingandanything。Thisisanattacknotuponthefaith，butuponthemind；youcannotthinkiftherearenothingstothinkabout。
　　Youcannotthinkifyouarenotseparatefromthesubjectofthought。
　　Descartessaid，"Ithink；thereforeIam。"Thephilosophicevolutionistreversesandnegativestheepigram。Hesays，"Iamnot；thereforeI
　　cannotthink。"
　　Thenthereistheoppositeattackonthought：thaturgedbyMr。H。G。Wellswhenheinsiststhateveryseparatethingis"unique，"
　　andtherearenocategoriesatall。Thisalsoismerelydestructive。
　　Thinkingmeansconnectingthings，andstopsiftheycannotbeconnected。
　　Itneedhardlybesaidthatthisscepticismforbiddingthoughtnecessarilyforbidsspeech；amancannotopenhismouthwithoutcontradictingit。ThuswhenMr。Wellssays（ashedidsomewhere），"Allchairsarequitedifferent，"heuttersnotmerelyamisstatement，butacontradictioninterms。Ifallchairswerequitedifferent，youcouldnotcallthem"allchairs。"
　　Akintotheseisthefalsetheoryofprogress，whichmaintainsthatwealterthetestinsteadoftryingtopassthetest。
　　Weoftenhearitsaid，forinstance，"Whatisrightinoneageiswronginanother。"Thisisquitereasonable，ifitmeansthatthereisafixedaim，andthatcertainmethodsattainatcertaintimesandnotatothertimes。Ifwomen，say，desiretobeelegant，itmaybethattheyareimprovedatonetimebygrowingfatterandatanothertimebygrowingthinner。Butyoucannotsaythattheyareimprovedbyceasingtowishtobeelegantandbeginningtowishtobeoblong。Ifthestandardchanges，howcantherebeimprovement，whichimpliesastandard？Nietzschestartedanonsensicalideathatmenhadoncesoughtasgoodwhatwenowcallevil；ifitwereso，wecouldnottalkofsurpassingorevenfallingshortofthem。
　　HowcanyouovertakeJonesifyouwalkintheotherdirection？
　　Youcannotdiscusswhetheronepeoplehassucceededmoreinbeingmiserablethananothersucceededinbeinghappy。ItwouldbelikediscussingwhetherMiltonwasmorepuritanicalthanapigisfat。
　　Itistruethataman（asillyman）mightmakechangeitselfhisobjectorideal。Butasanideal，changeitselfbecomesunchangeable。
　　Ifthechange-worshipperwishestoestimatehisownprogress，hemustbesternlyloyaltotheidealofchange；hemustnotbegintoflirtgailywiththeidealofmonotony。Progressitselfcannotprogress。
　　Itisworthremark，inpassing，thatwhenTennyson，inawildandratherweakmanner，welcomedtheideaofinfinitealterationinsociety，heinstinctivelytookametaphorwhichsuggestsanimprisonedtedium。
　　Hewrote——
　　"Letthegreatworldspinforeverdowntheringinggroovesofchange。"
　　Hethoughtofchangeitselfasanunchangeablegroove；andsoitis。
　　Changeisaboutthenarrowestandhardestgroovethatamancangetinto。
　　Themainpointhere，however，isthatthisideaofafundamentalalterationinthestandardisoneofthethingsthatmakethoughtaboutthepastorfuturesimplyimpossible。Thetheoryofacompletechangeofstandardsinhumanhistorydoesnotmerelydepriveusofthepleasureofhonouringourfathers；itdeprivesusevenofthemoremodernandaristocraticpleasureofdespisingthem。
　　Thisbaldsummaryofthethought-destroyingforcesofourtimewouldnotbecompletewithoutsomereferencetopragmatism；
　　forthoughIhavehereusedandshouldeverywheredefendthepragmatistmethodasapreliminaryguidetotruth，thereisanextremeapplicationofitwhichinvolvestheabsenceofalltruthwhatever。
　　Mymeaningcanbeputshortlythus。Iagreewiththepragmatiststhatapparentobjectivetruthisnotthewholematter；thatthereisanauthoritativeneedtobelievethethingsthatarenecessarytothehumanmind。ButIsaythatoneofthosenecessitiespreciselyisabeliefinobjectivetruth。ThepragmatisttellsamantothinkwhathemustthinkandnevermindtheAbsolute。
　　ButpreciselyoneofthethingsthathemustthinkistheAbsolute。
　　Thisphilosophy，indeed，isakindofverbalparadox。Pragmatismisamatterofhumanneeds；andoneofthefirstofhumanneedsistobesomethingmorethanapragmatist。Extremepragmatismisjustasinhumanasthedeterminismitsopowerfullyattacks。
　　Thedeterminist（who，todohimjustice，doesnotpretendtobeahumanbeing）makesnonsenseofthehumansenseofactualchoice。
　　Thepragmatist，whoprofessestobespeciallyhuman，makesnonsenseofthehumansenseofactualfact。
　　Tosumupourcontentionsofar，wemaysaythatthemostcharacteristiccurrentphilosophieshavenotonlyatouchofmania，butatouchofsuicidalmania。Themerequestionerhasknockedhisheadagainstthelimitsofhumanthought；andcrackedit。
　　Thisiswhatmakessofutilethewarningsoftheorthodoxandtheboastsoftheadvancedaboutthedangerousboyhoodoffreethought。
　　Whatwearelookingatisnottheboyhoodoffreethought；itistheoldageandultimatedissolutionoffreethought。Itisvainforbishopsandpiousbigwigstodiscusswhatdreadfulthingswillhappenifwildscepticismrunsitscourse。Ithasrunitscourse。
　　Itisvainforeloquentatheiststotalkofthegreattruthsthatwillberevealedifonceweseefreethoughtbegin。Wehaveseenitend。Ithasnomorequestionstoask；ithasquestioneditself。
　　Youcannotcallupanywildervisionthanacityinwhichmenaskthemselvesiftheyhaveanyselves。Youcannotfancyamorescepticalworldthanthatinwhichmendoubtifthereisaworld。
　　ItmightcertainlyhavereacheditsbankruptcymorequicklyandcleanlyifithadnotbeenfeeblyhamperedbytheapplicationofindefensiblelawsofblasphemyorbytheabsurdpretencethatmodernEnglandisChristian。Butitwouldhavereachedthebankruptcyanyhow。Militantatheistsarestillunjustlypersecuted；
　　butratherbecausetheyareanoldminoritythanbecausetheyareanewone。Freethoughthasexhausteditsownfreedom。
　　Itiswearyofitsownsuccess。Ifanyeagerfreethinkernowhailsphilosophicfreedomasthedawn，heisonlylikethemaninMarkTwainwhocameoutwrappedinblanketstoseethesunriseandwasjustintimetoseeitset。Ifanyfrightenedcuratestillsaysthatitwillbeawfulifthedarknessoffreethoughtshouldspread，wecanonlyanswerhiminthehighandpowerfulwordsofMr。Belloc，"Donot，Ibeseechyou，betroubledabouttheincreaseofforcesalreadyindissolution。Youhavemistakenthehourofthenight：
　　itisalreadymorning。"Wehavenomorequestionslefttoask。
　　Wehavelookedforquestionsinthedarkestcornersandonthewildestpeaks。Wehavefoundallthequestionsthatcanbefound。
　　Itistimewegaveuplookingforquestionsandbeganlookingforanswers。
　　Butonemorewordmustbeadded。AtthebeginningofthispreliminarynegativesketchIsaidthatourmentalruinhasbeenwroughtbywildreason，notbywildimagination。Amandoesnotgomadbecausehemakesastatueamilehigh，buthemaygomadbythinkingitoutinsquareinches。Now，oneschoolofthinkershasseenthisandjumpedatitasawayofrenewingthepaganhealthoftheworld。Theyseethatreasondestroys；
　　butWill，theysay，creates。Theultimateauthority，theysay，isinwill，notinreason。Thesupremepointisnotwhyamandemandsathing，butthefactthathedoesdemandit。
　　IhavenospacetotraceorexpoundthisphilosophyofWill。
　　Itcame，Isuppose，throughNietzsche，whopreachedsomethingthatiscalledegoism。That，indeed，wassimplemindedenough；
　　forNietzschedeniedegoismsimplybypreachingit。Topreachanythingistogiveitaway。First，theegoistcallslifeawarwithoutmercy，andthenhetakesthegreatestpossibletroubletodrillhisenemiesinwar。Topreachegoismistopractisealtruism。
　　Buthoweveritbegan，theviewiscommonenoughincurrentliterature。
　　Themaindefenceofthesethinkersisthattheyarenotthinkers；
　　theyaremakers。Theysaythatchoiceisitselfthedivinething。
　　ThusMr。BernardShawhasattackedtheoldideathatmen’sactsaretobejudgedbythestandardofthedesireofhappiness。
　　Hesaysthatamandoesnotactforhishappiness，butfromhiswill。
　　Hedoesnotsay，"Jamwillmakemehappy，"but"Iwantjam。"
　　Andinallthisothersfollowhimwithyetgreaterenthusiasm。
　　Mr。JohnDavidson，aremarkablepoet，issopassionatelyexcitedaboutitthatheisobligedtowriteprose。Hepublishesashortplaywithseverallongprefaces。ThisisnaturalenoughinMr。Shaw，forallhisplaysareprefaces：Mr。Shawis（Isuspect）theonlymanonearthwhohasneverwrittenanypoetry。ButthatMr。Davidson（whocanwriteexcellentpoetry）shouldwriteinsteadlaboriousmetaphysicsindefenceofthisdoctrineofwill，doesshowthatthedoctrineofwillhastakenholdofmen。EvenMr。H。G。Wellshashalfspokeninitslanguage；sayingthatoneshouldtestactsnotlikeathinker，butlikeanartist，saying，"IFEELthiscurveisright，"or"thatlineSHALLgothus。"Theyareallexcited；andwelltheymaybe。
　　Forbythisdoctrineofthedivineauthorityofwill，theythinktheycanbreakoutofthedoomedfortressofrationalism。Theythinktheycanescape。
　　Buttheycannotescape。Thispurepraiseofvolitionendsinthesamebreakupandblankasthemerepursuitoflogic。
　　Exactlyascompletefreethoughtinvolvesthedoubtingofthoughtitself，sotheacceptationofmere"willing"reallyparalyzesthewill。
　　Mr。BernardShawhasnotperceivedtherealdifferencebetweentheoldutilitariantestofpleasure（clumsy，ofcourse，andeasilymisstated）
　　andthatwhichhepropounds。Therealdifferencebetweenthetestofhappinessandthetestofwillissimplythatthetestofhappinessisatestandtheotherisn’t。Youcandiscusswhetheraman’sactinjumpingoveracliffwasdirectedtowardshappiness；
　　youcannotdiscusswhetheritwasderivedfromwill。Ofcourseitwas。Youcanpraiseanactionbysayingthatitiscalculatedtobringpleasureorpaintodiscovertruthortosavethesoul。
　　Butyoucannotpraiseanactionbecauseitshowswill；fortosaythatismerelytosaythatitisanaction。Bythispraiseofwillyoucannotreallychooseonecourseasbetterthananother。Andyetchoosingonecourseasbetterthananotheristheverydefinitionofthewillyouarepraising。
　　Theworshipofwillisthenegationofwill。Toadmiremerechoiceistorefusetochoose。IfMr。BernardShawcomesuptomeandsays，"Willsomething，"thatistantamounttosaying，"Idonotmindwhatyouwill，"andthatistantamounttosaying，"Ihavenowillinthematter。"Youcannotadmirewillingeneral，becausetheessenceofwillisthatitisparticular。
　　AbrilliantanarchistlikeMr。JohnDavidsonfeelsanirritationagainstordinarymorality，andthereforeheinvokeswill——
　　willtoanything。Heonlywantshumanitytowantsomething。
　　Buthumanitydoeswantsomething。Itwantsordinarymorality。
　　Herebelsagainstthelawandtellsustowillsomethingoranything。
　　Butwehavewilledsomething。Wehavewilledthelawagainstwhichherebels。
　　Allthewill-worshippers，fromNietzschetoMr。Davidson，arereallyquiteemptyofvolition。Theycannotwill，theycanhardlywish。Andifanyonewantsaproofofthis，itcanbefoundquiteeasily。Itcanbefoundinthisfact：thattheyalwaystalkofwillassomethingthatexpandsandbreaksout。Butitisquitetheopposite。Everyactofwillisanactofself-limitation。Todesireactionistodesirelimitation。Inthatsenseeveryactisanactofself-sacrifice。Whenyouchooseanything，yourejecteverythingelse。Thatobjection，whichmenofthisschoolusedtomaketotheactofmarriage，isreallyanobjectiontoeveryact。
　　Everyactisanirrevocableselectionandexclusion。Justaswhenyoumarryonewomanyougiveupalltheothers，sowhenyoutakeonecourseofactionyougiveupalltheothercourses。IfyoubecomeKingofEngland，yougiveupthepostofBeadleinBrompton。
　　IfyougotoRome，yousacrificearichsuggestivelifeinWimbledon。
　　Itistheexistenceofthisnegativeorlimitingsideofwillthatmakesmostofthetalkoftheanarchicwill-worshipperslittlebetterthannonsense。Forinstance，Mr。JohnDavidsontellsustohavenothingtodowith"Thoushaltnot"；butitissurelyobviousthat"Thoushaltnot"isonlyoneofthenecessarycorollariesof"Iwill。""IwillgototheLordMayor’sShow，andthoushaltnotstopme。"Anarchismadjuresustobeboldcreativeartists，andcarefornolawsorlimits。Butitisimpossibletobeanartistandnotcareforlawsandlimits。Artislimitation；
　　theessenceofeverypictureistheframe。Ifyoudrawagiraffe，youmustdrawhimwithalongneck。If，inyourboldcreativeway，youholdyourselffreetodrawagiraffewithashortneck，youwillreallyfindthatyouarenotfreetodrawagiraffe。
　　Themomentyoustepintotheworldoffacts，youstepintoaworldoflimits。Youcanfreethingsfromalienoraccidentallaws，butnotfromthelawsoftheirownnature。Youmay，ifyoulike，freeatigerfromhisbars；butdonotfreehimfromhisstripes。
　　Donotfreeacameloftheburdenofhishump：youmaybefreeinghimfrombeingacamel。Donotgoaboutasademagogue，encouragingtrianglestobreakoutoftheprisonoftheirthreesides。Ifatrianglebreaksoutofitsthreesides，itslifecomestoalamentableend。
　　Somebodywroteaworkcalled"TheLovesoftheTriangles"；
　　Ineverreadit，butIamsurethatiftriangleseverwereloved，theywerelovedforbeingtriangular。Thisiscertainlythecasewithallartisticcreation，whichisinsomewaysthemostdecisiveexampleofpurewill。Theartistloveshislimitations：
　　theyconstitutetheTHINGheisdoing。Thepainterisgladthatthecanvasisflat。Thesculptorisgladthattheclayiscolourless。
　　Incasethepointisnotclear，anhistoricexamplemayillustrateit。TheFrenchRevolutionwasreallyanheroicanddecisivething，becausetheJacobinswilledsomethingdefiniteandlimited。
　　Theydesiredthefreedomsofdemocracy，butalsoallthevetoesofdemocracy。TheywishedtohavevotesandNOTtohavetitles。
　　RepublicanismhadanasceticsideinFranklinorRobespierreaswellasanexpansivesideinDantonorWilkes。Thereforetheyhavecreatedsomethingwithasolidsubstanceandshape，thesquaresocialequalityandpeasantwealthofFrance。ButsincethentherevolutionaryorspeculativemindofEuropehasbeenweakenedbyshrinkingfromanyproposalbecauseofthelimitsofthatproposal。
　　Liberalismhasbeendegradedintoliberality。Menhavetriedtoturn"revolutionise"fromatransitivetoanintransitiveverb。
　　TheJacobincouldtellyounotonlythesystemhewouldrebelagainst，but（whatwasmoreimportant）thesystemhewouldNOTrebelagainst，thesystemhewouldtrust。ButthenewrebelisaSceptic，andwillnotentirelytrustanything。Hehasnoloyalty；thereforehecanneverbereallyarevolutionist。Andthefactthathedoubtseverythingreallygetsinhiswaywhenhewantstodenounceanything。
　　Foralldenunciationimpliesamoraldoctrineofsomekind；andthemodernrevolutionistdoubtsnotonlytheinstitutionhedenounces，butthedoctrinebywhichhedenouncesit。Thushewritesonebookcomplainingthatimperialoppressioninsultsthepurityofwomen，andthenhewritesanotherbook（aboutthesexproblem）inwhichheinsultsithimself。HecursestheSultanbecauseChristiangirlslosetheirvirginity，andthencursesMrs。Grundybecausetheykeepit。
　　Asapolitician，hewillcryoutthatwarisawasteoflife，andthen，asaphilosopher，thatalllifeiswasteoftime。
　　ARussianpessimistwilldenounceapolicemanforkillingapeasant，andthenprovebythehighestphilosophicalprinciplesthatthepeasantoughttohavekilledhimself。Amandenouncesmarriageasalie，andthendenouncesaristocraticprofligatesfortreatingitasalie。Hecallsaflagabauble，andthenblamestheoppressorsofPolandorIrelandbecausetheytakeawaythatbauble。
　　Themanofthisschoolgoesfirsttoapoliticalmeeting，wherehecomplainsthatsavagesaretreatedasiftheywerebeasts；thenhetakeshishatandumbrellaandgoesontoascientificmeeting，whereheprovesthattheypracticallyarebeasts。Inshort，themodernrevolutionist，beinganinfinitesceptic，isalwaysengagedinundermininghisownmines。Inhisbookonpoliticsheattacksmenfortramplingonmorality；inhisbookonethicsheattacksmoralityfortramplingonmen。Thereforethemodernmaninrevolthasbecomepracticallyuselessforallpurposesofrevolt。
　　Byrebellingagainsteverythinghehaslosthisrighttorebelagainstanything。
　　Itmaybeaddedthatthesameblankandbankruptcycanbeobservedinallfierceandterribletypesofliterature，especiallyinsatire。
　　Satiremaybemadandanarchic，butitpresupposesanadmittedsuperiorityincertainthingsoverothers；itpresupposesastandard。
　　Whenlittleboysinthestreetlaughatthefatnessofsomedistinguishedjournalist，theyareunconsciouslyassumingastandardofGreeksculpture。TheyareappealingtothemarbleApollo。
　　Andthecuriousdisappearanceofsatirefromourliteratureisaninstanceofthefiercethingsfadingforwantofanyprincipletobefierceabout。Nietzschehadsomenaturaltalentforsarcasm：
　　hecouldsneer，thoughhecouldnotlaugh；butthereisalwayssomethingbodilessandwithoutweightinhissatire，simplybecauseithasnotanymassofcommonmoralitybehindit。Heishimselfmorepreposterousthananythinghedenounces。But，indeed，Nietzschewillstandverywellasthetypeofthewholeofthisfailureofabstractviolence。
　　Thesofteningofthebrainwhichultimatelyovertookhimwasnotaphysicalaccident。IfNietzschehadnotendedinimbecility，Nietzscheismwouldendinimbecility。Thinkinginisolationandwithprideendsinbeinganidiot。Everymanwhowillnothavesofteningoftheheartmustatlasthavesofteningofthebrain。
　　Thislastattempttoevadeintellectualismendsinintellectualism，andthereforeindeath。Thesortiehasfailed。Thewildworshipoflawlessnessandthematerialistworshipoflawendinthesamevoid。
　　Nietzschescalesstaggeringmountains，butheturnsupultimatelyinTibet。HesitsdownbesideTolstoyinthelandofnothingandNirvana。Theyarebothhelpless——onebecausehemustnotgraspanything，andtheotherbecausehemustnotletgoofanything。
　　TheTolstoyan’swillisfrozenbyaBuddhistinstinctthatallspecialactionsareevil。ButtheNietzscheite’swillisquiteequallyfrozenbyhisviewthatallspecialactionsaregood；
　　forifallspecialactionsaregood，noneofthemarespecial。
　　Theystandatthecrossroads，andonehatesalltheroadsandtheotherlikesalltheroads。Theresultis——well，somethingsarenothardtocalculate。Theystandatthecross-roads。
　　HereIend（thankGod）thefirstanddullestbusinessofthisbook——theroughreviewofrecentthought。AfterthisI
　　begintosketchaviewoflifewhichmaynotinterestmyreader，butwhich，atanyrate，interestsme。Infrontofme，asIclosethispage，isapileofmodernbooksthatIhavebeenturningoverforthepurpose——apileofingenuity，apileoffutility。
　　Bytheaccidentofmypresentdetachment，IcanseetheinevitablesmashofthephilosophiesofSchopenhauerandTolstoy，NietzscheandShaw，asclearlyasaninevitablerailwaysmashcouldbeseenfromaballoon。Theyareallontheroadtotheemptinessoftheasylum。
　　Formadnessmaybedefinedasusingmentalactivitysoastoreachmentalhelplessness；andtheyhavenearlyreachedit。Hewhothinksheismadeofglass，thinkstothedestructionofthought；
　　forglasscannotthink。Sohewhowillstorejectnothing，willsthedestructionofwill；forwillisnotonlythechoiceofsomething，buttherejectionofalmosteverything。AndasI
　　turnandtumbleovertheclever，wonderful，tiresome，anduselessmodernbooks，thetitleofoneofthemrivetsmyeye。Itiscalled"Jeanned’Arc，"byAnatoleFrance。Ihaveonlyglancedatit，butaglancewasenoughtoremindmeofRenan’s"ViedeJesus。"
　　Ithasthesamestrangemethodofthereverentsceptic。Itdiscreditssupernaturalstoriesthathavesomefoundation，simplybytellingnaturalstoriesthathavenofoundation。Becausewecannotbelieveinwhatasaintdid，wearetopretendthatweknowexactlywhathefelt。ButIdonotmentioneitherbookinordertocriticiseit，butbecausetheaccidentalcombinationofthenamescalleduptwostartlingimagesofSanitywhichblastedallthebooksbeforeme。
　　JoanofArcwasnotstuckatthecross-roads，eitherbyrejectingallthepathslikeTolstoy，orbyacceptingthemalllikeNietzsche。
　　Shechoseapath，andwentdownitlikeathunderbolt。YetJoan，whenIcametothinkofher，hadinherallthatwastrueeitherinTolstoyorNietzsche，allthatwaseventolerableineitherofthem。
　　IthoughtofallthatisnobleinTolstoy，thepleasureinplainthings，especiallyinplainpity，theactualitiesoftheearth，thereverenceforthepoor，thedignityofthebowedback。
　　JoanofArchadallthatandwiththisgreataddition，thatsheenduredpovertyaswellasadmiringit；whereasTolstoyisonlyatypicalaristocrattryingtofindoutitssecret。AndthenIthoughtofallthatwasbraveandproudandpatheticinpoorNietzsche，andhismutinyagainsttheemptinessandtimidityofourtime。
　　Ithoughtofhiscryfortheecstaticequilibriumofdanger，hishungerfortherushofgreathorses，hiscrytoarms。Well，JoanofArchadallthat，andagainwiththisdifference，thatshedidnotpraisefighting，butfought。WeKNOWthatshewasnotafraidofanarmy，whileNietzsche，forallweknow，wasafraidofacow。
　　Tolstoyonlypraisedthepeasant；shewasthepeasant。Nietzscheonlypraisedthewarrior；shewasthewarrior。Shebeatthembothattheirownantagonisticideals；shewasmoregentlethantheone，moreviolentthantheother。Yetshewasaperfectlypracticalpersonwhodidsomething，whiletheyarewildspeculatorswhodonothing。
　　Itwasimpossiblethatthethoughtshouldnotcrossmymindthatsheandherfaithhadperhapssomesecretofmoralunityandutilitythathasbeenlost。Andwiththatthoughtcamealargerone，andthecolossalfigureofherMasterhadalsocrossedthetheatreofmythoughts。Thesamemoderndifficultywhichdarkenedthesubject-matterofAnatoleFrancealsodarkenedthatofErnestRenan。
　　Renanalsodividedhishero’spityfromhishero’spugnacity。
　　RenanevenrepresentedtherighteousangeratJerusalemasamerenervousbreakdownaftertheidyllicexpectationsofGalilee。
　　Asiftherewereanyinconsistencybetweenhavingaloveforhumanityandhavingahatredforinhumanity！Altruists，withthin，weakvoices，denounceChristasanegoist。Egoists（witheventhinnerandweakervoices）denounceHimasanaltruist。
　　Inourpresentatmospheresuchcavilsarecomprehensibleenough。
　　Theloveofaheroismoreterriblethanthehatredofatyrant。
　　Thehatredofaheroismoregenerousthantheloveofaphilanthropist。
　　Thereisahugeandheroicsanityofwhichmodernscanonlycollectthefragments。Thereisagiantofwhomweseeonlytheloppedarmsandlegswalkingabout。TheyhavetornthesoulofChristintosillystrips，labelledegoismandaltruism，andtheyareequallypuzzledbyHisinsanemagnificenceandHisinsanemeekness。
　　TheyhavepartedHisgarmentsamongthem，andforHisvesturetheyhavecastlots；thoughthecoatwaswithoutseamwovenfromthetopthroughout。
　　IVTHEETHICSOFELFLAND
　　Whenthebusinessmanrebukestheidealismofhisoffice-boy，itiscommonlyinsomesuchspeechasthis："Ah，yes，whenoneisyoung，onehastheseidealsintheabstractandthesecastlesintheair；
　　butinmiddleagetheyallbreakuplikeclouds，andonecomesdowntoabeliefinpracticalpolitics，tousingthemachineryonehasandgettingonwiththeworldasitis。"Thus，atleast，venerableandphilanthropicoldmennowintheirhonouredgravesusedtotalktomewhenIwasaboy。ButsincethenIhavegrownupandhavediscoveredthatthesephilanthropicoldmenweretellinglies。Whathasreallyhappenedisexactlytheoppositeofwhattheysaidwouldhappen。
　　TheysaidthatIshouldlosemyidealsandbegintobelieveinthemethodsofpracticalpoliticians。Now，Ihavenotlostmyidealsintheleast；myfaithinfundamentalsisexactlywhatitalwayswas。
　　WhatIhavelostismyoldchildlikefaithinpracticalpolitics。
　　IamstillasmuchconcernedaseverabouttheBattleofArmageddon；
　　butIamnotsomuchconcernedabouttheGeneralElection。
　　AsababeIleaptuponmymother’skneeatthemerementionofit。No；thevisionisalwayssolidandreliable。Thevisionisalwaysafact。Itistherealitythatisoftenafraud。
　　AsmuchasIeverdid，morethanIeverdid，IbelieveinLiberalism。
　　ButtherewasarosytimeofinnocencewhenIbelievedinLiberals。
　　Itakethisinstanceofoneoftheenduringfaithsbecause，havingnowtotracetherootsofmypersonalspeculation，thismaybecounted，Ithink，astheonlypositivebias。
　　IwasbroughtupaLiberal，andhavealwaysbelievedindemocracy，intheelementaryliberaldoctrineofaself-governinghumanity。
　　Ifanyonefindsthephrasevagueorthreadbare，Icanonlypauseforamomenttoexplainthattheprincipleofdemocracy，asI
　　meanit，canbestatedintwopropositions。Thefirstisthis：
　　thatthethingscommontoallmenaremoreimportantthanthethingspeculiartoanymen。Ordinarythingsaremorevaluablethanextraordinarythings；nay，theyaremoreextraordinary。
　　Manissomethingmoreawfulthanmen；somethingmorestrange。
　　Thesenseofthemiracleofhumanityitselfshouldbealwaysmorevividtousthananymarvelsofpower，intellect，art，orcivilization。
　　Themeremanontwolegs，assuch，shouldbefeltassomethingmoreheartbreakingthananymusicandmorestartlingthananycaricature。
　　Deathismoretragiceventhandeathbystarvation。HavinganoseismorecomiceventhanhavingaNormannose。
　　Thisisthefirstprincipleofdemocracy：thattheessentialthingsinmenarethethingstheyholdincommon，notthethingstheyholdseparately。Andthesecondprincipleismerelythis：
　　thatthepoliticalinstinctordesireisoneofthesethingswhichtheyholdincommon。Fallinginloveismorepoeticalthandroppingintopoetry。Thedemocraticcontentionisthatgovernment（helpingtorulethetribe）isathinglikefallinginlove，andnotathinglikedroppingintopoetry。Itisnotsomethinganalogoustoplayingthechurchorgan，paintingonvellum，discoveringtheNorthPole（thatinsidioushabit），loopingtheloop，beingAstronomerRoyal，andsoon。Forthesethingswedonotwishamantodoatallunlesshedoesthemwell。Itis，onthecontrary，athinganalogoustowritingone’sownlove-lettersorblowingone’sownnose。Thesethingswewantamantodoforhimself，evenifhedoesthembadly。Iamnotherearguingthetruthofanyoftheseconceptions；Iknowthatsomemodernsareaskingtohavetheirwiveschosenbyscientists，andtheymaysoonbeasking，forallIknow，tohavetheirnosesblownbynurses。Imerelysaythatmankinddoesrecognizetheseuniversalhumanfunctions，andthatdemocracyclassesgovernmentamongthem。Inshort，thedemocraticfaithisthis：thatthemostterriblyimportantthingsmustbelefttoordinarymenthemselves——thematingofthesexes，therearingoftheyoung，thelawsofthestate。Thisisdemocracy；
　　andinthisIhavealwaysbelieved。
　　ButthereisonethingthatIhaveneverfrommyyouthupbeenabletounderstand。Ihaveneverbeenabletounderstandwherepeoplegottheideathatdemocracywasinsomewayopposedtotradition。
　　Itisobviousthattraditionisonlydemocracyextendedthroughtime。