Itistrustingtoaconsensusofcommonhumanvoicesratherthantosomeisolatedorarbitraryrecord。ThemanwhoquotessomeGermanhistorianagainstthetraditionoftheCatholicChurch，forinstance，isstrictlyappealingtoaristocracy。Heisappealingtothesuperiorityofoneexpertagainsttheawfulauthorityofamob。
　　Itisquiteeasytoseewhyalegendistreated，andoughttobetreated，morerespectfullythanabookofhistory。Thelegendisgenerallymadebythemajorityofpeopleinthevillage，whoaresane。
　　Thebookisgenerallywrittenbytheonemaninthevillagewhoismad。
　　ThosewhourgeagainsttraditionthatmeninthepastwereignorantmaygoandurgeitattheCarltonClub，alongwiththestatementthatvotersintheslumsareignorant。Itwillnotdoforus。
　　Ifweattachgreatimportancetotheopinionofordinarymeningreatunanimitywhenwearedealingwithdailymatters，thereisnoreasonwhyweshoulddisregarditwhenwearedealingwithhistoryorfable。
　　Traditionmaybedefinedasanextensionofthefranchise。
　　Traditionmeansgivingvotestothemostobscureofallclasses，ourancestors。Itisthedemocracyofthedead。Traditionrefusestosubmittothesmallandarrogantoligarchyofthosewhomerelyhappentobewalkingabout。Alldemocratsobjecttomenbeingdisqualifiedbytheaccidentofbirth；traditionobjectstotheirbeingdisqualifiedbytheaccidentofdeath。Democracytellsusnottoneglectagoodman’sopinion，evenifheisourgroom；
　　traditionasksusnottoneglectagoodman’sopinion，evenifheisourfather。I，atanyrate，cannotseparatethetwoideasofdemocracyandtradition；itseemsevidenttomethattheyarethesameidea。
　　Wewillhavethedeadatourcouncils。TheancientGreeksvotedbystones；theseshallvotebytombstones。Itisallquiteregularandofficial，formosttombstones，likemostballotpapers，aremarkedwithacross。
　　Ihavefirsttosay，therefore，thatifIhavehadabias，itwasalwaysabiasinfavourofdemocracy，andthereforeoftradition。
　　BeforewecometoanytheoreticorlogicalbeginningsIamcontenttoallowforthatpersonalequation；Ihavealwaysbeenmoreinclinedtobelievetheruckofhard-workingpeoplethantobelievethatspecialandtroublesomeliteraryclasstowhichIbelong。
　　Iprefereventhefanciesandprejudicesofthepeoplewhoseelifefromtheinsidetotheclearestdemonstrationsofthepeoplewhoseelifefromtheoutside。Iwouldalwaystrusttheoldwives’
　　fablesagainsttheoldmaids’facts。Aslongaswitismotherwititcanbeaswildasitpleases。
　　Now，Ihavetoputtogetherageneralposition，andIpretendtonotraininginsuchthings。Iproposetodoit，therefore，bywritingdownoneafteranotherthethreeorfourfundamentalideaswhichIhavefoundformyself，prettymuchinthewaythatIfoundthem。ThenIshallroughlysynthesisethem，summingupmypersonalphilosophyornaturalreligion；thenI
　　shalldescribemystartlingdiscoverythatthewholethinghadbeendiscoveredbefore。IthadbeendiscoveredbyChristianity。
　　ButoftheseprofoundpersuasionswhichIhavetorecountinorder，theearliestwasconcernedwiththiselementofpopulartradition。
　　AndwithouttheforegoingexplanationtouchingtraditionanddemocracyIcouldhardlymakemymentalexperienceclear。Asitis，IdonotknowwhetherIcanmakeitclear，butInowproposetotry。
　　Myfirstandlastphilosophy，thatwhichIbelieveinwithunbrokencertainty，Ilearntinthenursery。Igenerallylearntitfromanurse；thatis，fromthesolemnandstar-appointedpriestessatonceofdemocracyandtradition。ThethingsIbelievedmostthen，thethingsIbelievemostnow，arethethingscalledfairytales。
　　Theyseemtometobetheentirelyreasonablethings。Theyarenotfantasies：comparedwiththemotherthingsarefantastic。
　　Comparedwiththemreligionandrationalismarebothabnormal，thoughreligionisabnormallyrightandrationalismabnormallywrong。
　　Fairylandisnothingbutthesunnycountryofcommonsense。
　　Itisnotearththatjudgesheaven，butheaventhatjudgesearth；
　　soformeatleastitwasnotearththatcriticisedelfland，butelflandthatcriticisedtheearth。IknewthemagicbeanstalkbeforeIhadtastedbeans；IwassureoftheManintheMoonbeforeI
　　wascertainofthemoon。Thiswasatonewithallpopulartradition。
　　Modernminorpoetsarenaturalists，andtalkaboutthebushorthebrook；
　　butthesingersoftheoldepicsandfablesweresupernaturalists，andtalkedaboutthegodsofbrookandbush。Thatiswhatthemodernsmeanwhentheysaythattheancientsdidnot"appreciateNature，"
　　becausetheysaidthatNaturewasdivine。Oldnursesdonottellchildrenaboutthegrass，butaboutthefairiesthatdanceonthegrass；andtheoldGreekscouldnotseethetreesforthedryads。
　　ButIdealherewithwhatethicandphilosophycomefrombeingfedonfairytales。IfIweredescribingthemindetailIcouldnotemanynobleandhealthyprinciplesthatarisefromthem。
　　Thereisthechivalrouslessonof"JacktheGiantKiller"；thatgiantsshouldbekilledbecausetheyaregigantic。Itisamanlymutinyagainstprideassuch。Fortherebelisolderthanallthekingdoms，andtheJacobinhasmoretraditionthantheJacobite。Thereisthelessonof"Cinderella，"whichisthesameasthatoftheMagnificat——
　　EXALTAVITHUMILES。Thereisthegreatlessonof"BeautyandtheBeast"；
　　thatathingmustbelovedBEFOREitisloveable。Thereistheterribleallegoryofthe"SleepingBeauty，"whichtellshowthehumancreaturewasblessedwithallbirthdaygifts，yetcursedwithdeath；
　　andhowdeathalsomayperhapsbesoftenedtoasleep。ButIamnotconcernedwithanyoftheseparatestatutesofelfland，butwiththewholespiritofitslaw，whichIlearntbeforeIcouldspeak，andshallretainwhenIcannotwrite。Iamconcernedwithacertainwayoflookingatlife，whichwascreatedinmebythefairytales，buthassincebeenmeeklyratifiedbythemerefacts。
　　Itmightbestatedthisway。Therearecertainsequencesordevelopments（casesofonethingfollowinganother），whichare，inthetruesenseoftheword，reasonable。Theyare，inthetruesenseoftheword，necessary。Sucharemathematicalandmerelylogicalsequences。Weinfairyland（whoarethemostreasonableofallcreatures）admitthatreasonandthatnecessity。
　　Forinstance，iftheUglySistersareolderthanCinderella，itis（inanironandawfulsense）NECESSARYthatCinderellaisyoungerthantheUglySisters。Thereisnogettingoutofit。
　　Haeckelmaytalkasmuchfatalismaboutthatfactashepleases：
　　itreallymustbe。IfJackisthesonofamiller，amilleristhefatherofJack。Coldreasondecreesitfromherawfulthrone：
　　andweinfairylandsubmit。Ifthethreebrothersallridehorses，therearesixanimalsandeighteenlegsinvolved：thatistruerationalism，andfairylandisfullofit。ButasIputmyheadoverthehedgeoftheelvesandbegantotakenoticeofthenaturalworld，Iobservedanextraordinarything。Iobservedthatlearnedmeninspectaclesweretalkingoftheactualthingsthathappened——
　　dawnanddeathandsoon——asifTHEYwererationalandinevitable。
　　TheytalkedasifthefactthattreesbearfruitwerejustasNECESSARY
　　asthefactthattwoandonetreesmakethree。Butitisnot。
　　Thereisanenormousdifferencebythetestoffairyland；whichisthetestoftheimagination。YoucannotIMAGINEtwoandonenotmakingthree。Butyoucaneasilyimaginetreesnotgrowingfruit；
　　youcanimaginethemgrowinggoldencandlesticksortigershangingonbythetail。ThesemeninspectaclesspokemuchofamannamedNewton，whowashitbyanapple，andwhodiscoveredalaw。
　　Buttheycouldnotbegottoseethedistinctionbetweenatruelaw，alawofreason，andthemerefactofapplesfalling。IftheapplehitNewton’snose，Newton’snosehittheapple。Thatisatruenecessity：
　　becausewecannotconceivetheoneoccurringwithouttheother。
　　Butwecanquitewellconceivetheapplenotfallingonhisnose；
　　wecanfancyitflyingardentlythroughtheairtohitsomeothernose，ofwhichithadamoredefinitedislike。Wehavealwaysinourfairytaleskeptthissharpdistinctionbetweenthescienceofmentalrelations，inwhichtherereallyarelaws，andthescienceofphysicalfacts，inwhichtherearenolaws，butonlyweirdrepetitions。Webelieveinbodilymiracles，butnotinmentalimpossibilities。WebelievethataBean-stalkclimbeduptoHeaven；butthatdoesnotatallconfuseourconvictionsonthephilosophicalquestionofhowmanybeansmakefive。
　　Hereisthepeculiarperfectionoftoneandtruthinthenurserytales。Themanofsciencesays，"Cutthestalk，andtheapplewillfall"；buthesaysitcalmly，asiftheoneideareallyleduptotheother。Thewitchinthefairytalesays，"Blowthehorn，andtheogre’scastlewillfall"；butshedoesnotsayitasifitweresomethinginwhichtheeffectobviouslyaroseoutofthecause。
　　Doubtlessshehasgiventheadvicetomanychampions，andhasseenmanycastlesfall，butshedoesnotloseeitherherwonderorherreason。
　　Shedoesnotmuddleherheaduntilitimaginesanecessarymentalconnectionbetweenahornandafallingtower。Butthescientificmendomuddletheirheads，untiltheyimagineanecessarymentalconnectionbetweenanappleleavingthetreeandanapplereachingtheground。Theydoreallytalkasiftheyhadfoundnotonlyasetofmarvellousfacts，butatruthconnectingthosefacts。
　　Theydotalkasiftheconnectionoftwostrangethingsphysicallyconnectedthemphilosophically。Theyfeelthatbecauseoneincomprehensiblethingconstantlyfollowsanotherincomprehensiblethingthetwotogethersomehowmakeupacomprehensiblething。
　　Twoblackriddlesmakeawhiteanswer。
　　Infairylandweavoidtheword"law"；butinthelandofsciencetheyaresingularlyfondofit。Thustheywillcallsomeinterestingconjectureabouthowforgottenfolkspronouncedthealphabet，Grimm’sLaw。ButGrimm’sLawisfarlessintellectualthanGrimm’sFairyTales。Thetalesare，atanyrate，certainlytales；
　　whilethelawisnotalaw。Alawimpliesthatweknowthenatureofthegeneralisationandenactment；notmerelythatwehavenoticedsomeoftheeffects。Ifthereisalawthatpick-pocketsshallgotoprison，itimpliesthatthereisanimaginablementalconnectionbetweentheideaofprisonandtheideaofpickingpockets。
　　Andweknowwhattheideais。Wecansaywhywetakelibertyfromamanwhotakesliberties。Butwecannotsaywhyaneggcanturnintoachickenanymorethanwecansaywhyabearcouldturnintoafairyprince。AsIDEAS，theeggandthechickenarefurtherofffromeachotherthanthebearandtheprince；fornoegginitselfsuggestsachicken，whereassomeprincesdosuggestbears。
　　Granted，then，thatcertaintransformationsdohappen，itisessentialthatweshouldregardtheminthephilosophicmanneroffairytales，notintheunphilosophicmannerofscienceandthe"LawsofNature。"
　　Whenweareaskedwhyeggsturntobirdsorfruitsfallinautumn，wemustanswerexactlyasthefairygodmotherwouldanswerifCinderellaaskedherwhymiceturnedtohorsesorherclothesfellfromherattwelveo’clock。WemustanswerthatitisMAGIC。
　　Itisnota"law，"forwedonotunderstanditsgeneralformula。
　　Itisnotanecessity，forthoughwecancountonithappeningpractically，wehavenorighttosaythatitmustalwayshappen。
　　Itisnoargumentforunalterablelaw（asHuxleyfancied）thatwecountontheordinarycourseofthings。Wedonotcountonit；
　　webetonit。Werisktheremotepossibilityofamiracleaswedothatofapoisonedpancakeoraworld-destroyingcomet。
　　Weleaveitoutofaccount，notbecauseitisamiracle，andthereforeanimpossibility，butbecauseitisamiracle，andthereforeanexception。Allthetermsusedinthesciencebooks，"law，"
　　"necessity，""order，""tendency，"andsoon，arereallyunintellectual，becausetheyassumeaninnersynthesis，whichwedonotpossess。
　　TheonlywordsthateversatisfiedmeasdescribingNaturearethetermsusedinthefairybooks，"charm，""spell，""enchantment。"
　　Theyexpressthearbitrarinessofthefactanditsmystery。
　　AtreegrowsfruitbecauseitisaMAGICtree。Waterrunsdownhillbecauseitisbewitched。Thesunshinesbecauseitisbewitched。
　　Idenyaltogetherthatthisisfantasticorevenmystical。
　　Wemayhavesomemysticismlateron；butthisfairy-talelanguageaboutthingsissimplyrationalandagnostic。ItistheonlywayIcanexpressinwordsmyclearanddefiniteperceptionthatonethingisquitedistinctfromanother；thatthereisnologicalconnectionbetweenflyingandlayingeggs。Itisthemanwhotalksabout"alaw"thathehasneverseenwhoisthemystic。
　　Nay，theordinaryscientificmanisstrictlyasentimentalist。
　　Heisasentimentalistinthisessentialsense，thatheissoakedandsweptawaybymereassociations。Hehassooftenseenbirdsflyandlayeggsthathefeelsasiftheremustbesomedreamy，tenderconnectionbetweenthetwoideas，whereasthereisnone。
　　Aforlornlovermightbeunabletodissociatethemoonfromlostlove；
　　sothematerialistisunabletodissociatethemoonfromthetide。
　　Inbothcasesthereisnoconnection，exceptthatonehasseenthemtogether。Asentimentalistmightshedtearsatthesmellofapple-blossom，because，byadarkassociationofhisown，itremindedhimofhisboyhood。Sothematerialistprofessor（thoughheconcealshistears）isyetasentimentalist，because，byadarkassociationofhisown，apple-blossomsremindhimofapples。Butthecoolrationalistfromfairylanddoesnotseewhy，intheabstract，theappletreeshouldnotgrowcrimsontulips；itsometimesdoesinhiscountry。
　　Thiselementarywonder，however，isnotamerefancyderivedfromthefairytales；onthecontrary，allthefireofthefairytalesisderivedfromthis。Justaswealllikelovetalesbecausethereisaninstinctofsex，wealllikeastonishingtalesbecausetheytouchthenerveoftheancientinstinctofastonishment。
　　Thisisprovedbythefactthatwhenweareveryyoungchildrenwedonotneedfairytales：weonlyneedtales。Merelifeisinterestingenough。AchildofsevenisexcitedbybeingtoldthatTommyopenedadoorandsawadragon。ButachildofthreeisexcitedbybeingtoldthatTommyopenedadoor。Boyslikeromantictales；
　　butbabieslikerealistictales——becausetheyfindthemromantic。
　　Infact，ababyisabouttheonlyperson，Ishouldthink，towhomamodernrealisticnovelcouldbereadwithoutboringhim。
　　Thisprovesthatevennurserytalesonlyechoanalmostpre-natalleapofinterestandamazement。Thesetalessaythatapplesweregoldenonlytorefreshtheforgottenmomentwhenwefoundthattheyweregreen。Theymakeriversrunwithwineonlytomakeusremember，foronewildmoment，thattheyrunwithwater。Ihavesaidthatthisiswhollyreasonableandevenagnostic。And，indeed，onthispointIamallforthehigheragnosticism；itsbetternameisIgnorance。
　　Wehaveallreadinscientificbooks，and，indeed，inallromances，thestoryofthemanwhohasforgottenhisname。Thismanwalksaboutthestreetsandcanseeandappreciateeverything；onlyhecannotrememberwhoheis。Well，everymanisthatmaninthestory。
　　Everymanhasforgottenwhoheis。Onemayunderstandthecosmos，butnevertheego；theselfismoredistantthananystar。
　　ThoushaltlovetheLordthyGod；butthoushaltnotknowthyself。
　　Weareallunderthesamementalcalamity；wehaveallforgottenournames。Wehaveallforgottenwhatwereallyare。Allthatwecallcommonsenseandrationalityandpracticalityandpositivismonlymeansthatforcertaindeadlevelsofourlifeweforgetthatwehaveforgotten。Allthatwecallspiritandartandecstasyonlymeansthatforoneawfulinstantwerememberthatweforget。
　　Butthough（likethemanwithoutmemoryinthenovel）wewalkthestreetswithasortofhalf-wittedadmiration，stillitisadmiration。
　　ItisadmirationinEnglishandnotonlyadmirationinLatin。
　　Thewonderhasapositiveelementofpraise。Thisisthenextmilestonetobedefinitelymarkedonourroadthroughfairyland。
　　Ishallspeakinthenextchapteraboutoptimistsandpessimistsintheirintellectualaspect，sofarastheyhaveone。HereIamonlytryingtodescribetheenormousemotionswhichcannotbedescribed。
　　Andthestrongestemotionwasthatlifewasaspreciousasitwaspuzzling。Itwasanecstasybecauseitwasanadventure；
　　itwasanadventurebecauseitwasanopportunity。Thegoodnessofthefairytalewasnotaffectedbythefactthattheremightbemoredragonsthanprincesses；itwasgoodtobeinafairytale。
　　Thetestofallhappinessisgratitude；andIfeltgrateful，thoughIhardlyknewtowhom。ChildrenaregratefulwhenSantaClausputsintheirstockingsgiftsoftoysorsweets。CouldI
　　notbegratefultoSantaClauswhenheputinmystockingsthegiftoftwomiraculouslegs？Wethankpeopleforbirthdaypresentsofcigarsandslippers。CanIthanknooneforthebirthdaypresentofbirth？
　　Therewere，then，thesetwofirstfeelings，indefensibleandindisputable。Theworldwasashock，butitwasnotmerelyshocking；
　　existencewasasurprise，butitwasapleasantsurprise。Infact，allmyfirstviewswereexactlyutteredinariddlethatstuckinmybrainfromboyhood。Thequestionwas，"Whatdidthefirstfrogsay？"Andtheanswerwas，"Lord，howyoumademejump！"
　　ThatsayssuccinctlyallthatIamsaying。Godmadethefrogjump；
　　butthefrogprefersjumping。Butwhenthesethingsaresettledthereentersthesecondgreatprincipleofthefairyphilosophy。
　　Anyonecanseeitwhowillsimplyread"Grimm’sFairyTales"
　　orthefinecollectionsofMr。AndrewLang。ForthepleasureofpedantryIwillcallittheDoctrineofConditionalJoy。
　　Touchstonetalkedofmuchvirtueinan"if"；accordingtoelfinethicsallvirtueisinan"if。"Thenoteofthefairyutterancealwaysis，"Youmayliveinapalaceofgoldandsapphire，ifyoudonotsaytheword`cow’"；or"YoumaylivehappilywiththeKing’sdaughter，ifyoudonotshowheranonion。"Thevisionalwayshangsuponaveto。
　　Allthedizzyandcolossalthingsconcededdependupononesmallthingwithheld。Allthewildandwhirlingthingsthatareletloosedependupononethingthatisforbidden。Mr。W。B。Yeats，inhisexquisiteandpiercingelfinpoetry，describestheelvesaslawless；theyplungeininnocentanarchyontheunbridledhorsesoftheair——
　　"Rideonthecrestofthedishevelledtide，Anddanceuponthemountainslikeaflame。"
　　ItisadreadfulthingtosaythatMr。W。B。Yeatsdoesnotunderstandfairyland。ButIdosayit。HeisanironicalIrishman，fullofintellectualreactions。Heisnotstupidenoughtounderstandfairyland。Fairiespreferpeopleoftheyokeltypelikemyself；peoplewhogapeandgrinanddoastheyaretold。
　　Mr。Yeatsreadsintoelflandalltherighteousinsurrectionofhisownrace。ButthelawlessnessofIrelandisaChristianlawlessness，foundedonreasonandjustice。TheFenianisrebellingagainstsomethingheunderstandsonlytoowell；butthetruecitizenoffairylandisobeyingsomethingthathedoesnotunderstandatall。
　　Inthefairytaleanincomprehensiblehappinessrestsuponanincomprehensiblecondition。Aboxisopened，andallevilsflyout。
　　Awordisforgotten，andcitiesperish。Alampislit，andlovefliesaway。Aflowerisplucked，andhumanlivesareforfeited。
　　Anappleiseaten，andthehopeofGodisgone。
　　Thisisthetoneoffairytales，anditiscertainlynotlawlessnessorevenliberty，thoughmenunderameanmoderntyrannymaythinkitlibertybycomparison。PeopleoutofPortlandGaolmightthinkFleetStreetfree；butcloserstudywillprovethatbothfairiesandjournalistsaretheslavesofduty。
　　Fairygodmothersseematleastasstrictasothergodmothers。
　　CinderellareceivedacoachoutofWonderlandandacoachmanoutofnowhere，butshereceivedacommand——whichmighthavecomeoutofBrixton——thatsheshouldbebackbytwelve。Also，shehadaglassslipper；anditcannotbeacoincidencethatglassissocommonasubstanceinfolk-lore。Thisprincesslivesinaglasscastle，thatprincessonaglasshill；thisoneseesallthingsinamirror；
　　theymayallliveinglasshousesiftheywillnotthrowstones。
　　Forthisthinglitterofglasseverywhereistheexpressionofthefactthatthehappinessisbrightbutbrittle，likethesubstancemosteasilysmashedbyahousemaidoracat。Andthisfairy-talesentimentalsosankintomeandbecamemysentimenttowardsthewholeworld。
　　Ifeltandfeelthatlifeitselfisasbrightasthediamond，butasbrittleasthewindow-pane；andwhentheheavenswerecomparedtotheterriblecrystalIcanrememberashudder。
　　IwasafraidthatGodwoulddropthecosmoswithacrash。
　　Remember，however，thattobebreakableisnotthesameastobeperishable。Strikeaglass，anditwillnotendureaninstant；
　　simplydonotstrikeit，anditwillendureathousandyears。
　　Such，itseemed，wasthejoyofman，eitherinelflandoronearth；
　　thehappinessdependedonNOTDOINGSOMETHINGwhichyoucouldatanymomentdoandwhich，veryoften，itwasnotobviouswhyyoushouldnotdo。Now，thepointhereisthattoMEthisdidnotseemunjust。
　　Ifthemiller’sthirdsonsaidtothefairy，"ExplainwhyI
　　mustnotstandonmyheadinthefairypalace，"theothermightfairlyreply，"Well，ifitcomestothat，explainthefairypalace。"
　　IfCinderellasays，"HowisitthatImustleavetheballattwelve？"
　　hergodmothermightanswer，"Howisitthatyouaregoingtheretilltwelve？"IfIleaveamaninmywilltentalkingelephantsandahundredwingedhorses，hecannotcomplainiftheconditionspartakeoftheslighteccentricityofthegift。Hemustnotlookawingedhorseinthemouth。AnditseemedtomethatexistencewasitselfsoveryeccentricalegacythatIcouldnotcomplainofnotunderstandingthelimitationsofthevisionwhenIdidnotunderstandthevisiontheylimited。Theframewasnostrangerthanthepicture。Thevetomightwellbeaswildasthevision；
　　itmightbeasstartlingasthesun，aselusiveasthewaters，asfantasticandterribleasthetoweringtrees。
　　Forthisreason（wemaycallitthefairygodmotherphilosophy）
　　InevercouldjointheyoungmenofmytimeinfeelingwhattheycalledthegeneralsentimentofREVOLT。Ishouldhaveresisted，letushope，anyrulesthatwereevil，andwiththeseandtheirdefinitionIshalldealinanotherchapter。ButIdidnotfeeldisposedtoresistanyrulemerelybecauseitwasmysterious。
　　Estatesaresometimesheldbyfoolishforms，thebreakingofastickorthepaymentofapeppercorn：Iwaswillingtoholdthehugeestateofearthandheavenbyanysuchfeudalfantasy。ItcouldnotwellbewilderthanthefactthatIwasallowedtoholditatall。
　　AtthisstageIgiveonlyoneethicalinstancetoshowmymeaning。
　　Icouldnevermixinthecommonmurmurofthatrisinggenerationagainstmonogamy，becausenorestrictiononsexseemedsooddandunexpectedassexitself。Tobeallowed，likeEndymion，tomakelovetothemoonandthentocomplainthatJupiterkepthisownmoonsinaharemseemedtome（bredonfairytaleslikeEndymion’s）
　　avulgaranti-climax。Keepingtoonewomanisasmallpriceforsomuchasseeingonewoman。TocomplainthatIcouldonlybemarriedoncewaslikecomplainingthatIhadonlybeenbornonce。
　　Itwasincommensuratewiththeterribleexcitementofwhichonewastalking。Itshowed，notanexaggeratedsensibilitytosex，butacuriousinsensibilitytoit。AmanisafoolwhocomplainsthathecannotenterEdenbyfivegatesatonce。Polygamyisalackoftherealizationofsex；itislikeamanpluckingfivepearsinmereabsenceofmind。Theaesthetestouchedthelastinsanelimitsoflanguageintheireulogyonlovelythings。Thethistledownmadethemweep；aburnishedbeetlebroughtthemtotheirknees。
　　Yettheiremotionneverimpressedmeforaninstant，forthisreason，thatitneveroccurredtothemtopayfortheirpleasureinanysortofsymbolicsacrifice。Men（Ifelt）mightfastfortydaysforthesakeofhearingablackbirdsing。Menmightgothroughfiretofindacowslip。Yettheseloversofbeautycouldnotevenkeepsoberfortheblackbird。TheywouldnotgothroughcommonChristianmarriagebywayofrecompensetothecowslip。Surelyonemightpayforextraordinaryjoyinordinarymorals。OscarWildesaidthatsunsetswerenotvaluedbecausewecouldnotpayforsunsets。
　　ButOscarWildewaswrong；wecanpayforsunsets。WecanpayforthembynotbeingOscarWilde。
　　Well，Ileftthefairytaleslyingonthefloorofthenursery，andIhavenotfoundanybookssosensiblesince。Ileftthenurseguardianoftraditionanddemocracy，andIhavenotfoundanymoderntypesosanelyradicalorsosanelyconservative。
　　Butthematterforimportantcommentwashere：thatwhenI
　　firstwentoutintothementalatmosphereofthemodernworld，Ifoundthatthemodernworldwaspositivelyopposedontwopointstomynurseandtothenurserytales。Ithastakenmealongtimetofindoutthatthemodernworldiswrongandmynursewasright。
　　Thereallycuriousthingwasthis：thatmodernthoughtcontradictedthisbasiccreedofmyboyhoodonitstwomostessentialdoctrines。
　　Ihaveexplainedthatthefairytalesfoundedinmetwoconvictions；
　　first，thatthisworldisawildandstartlingplace，whichmighthavebeenquitedifferent，butwhichisquitedelightful；second，thatbeforethiswildnessanddelightonemaywellbemodestandsubmittothequeerestlimitationsofsoqueerakindness。ButI
　　foundthewholemodernworldrunninglikeahightideagainstbothmytendernesses；andtheshockofthatcollisioncreatedtwosuddenandspontaneoussentiments，whichIhavehadeversinceandwhich，crudeastheywere，havesincehardenedintoconvictions。
　　First，Ifoundthewholemodernworldtalkingscientificfatalism；
　　sayingthateverythingisasitmustalwayshavebeen，beingunfoldedwithoutfaultfromthebeginning。Theleafonthetreeisgreenbecauseitcouldneverhavebeenanythingelse。Now，thefairy-talephilosopherisgladthattheleafisgreenpreciselybecauseitmighthavebeenscarlet。Hefeelsasifithadturnedgreenaninstantbeforehelookedatit。Heispleasedthatsnowiswhiteonthestrictlyreasonablegroundthatitmighthavebeenblack。
　　Everycolourhasinitaboldqualityasofchoice；theredofgardenrosesisnotonlydecisivebutdramatic，likesuddenlyspiltblood。
　　HefeelsthatsomethinghasbeenDONE。Butthegreatdeterministsofthenineteenthcenturywerestronglyagainstthisnativefeelingthatsomethinghadhappenedaninstantbefore。Infact，accordingtothem，nothingeverreallyhadhappenedsincethebeginningoftheworld。Nothingeverhadhappenedsinceexistencehadhappened；
　　andevenaboutthedateofthattheywerenotverysure。
　　ThemodernworldasIfounditwassolidformodernCalvinism，forthenecessityofthingsbeingastheyare。ButwhenIcametoaskthemIfoundtheyhadreallynoproofofthisunavoidablerepetitioninthingsexceptthefactthatthethingswererepeated。
　　Now，themererepetitionmadethethingstomerathermoreweirdthanmorerational。Itwasasif，havingseenacuriouslyshapednoseinthestreetanddismisseditasanaccident，Ihadthenseensixothernosesofthesameastonishingshape。Ishouldhavefanciedforamomentthatitmustbesomelocalsecretsociety。
　　Sooneelephanthavingatrunkwasodd；butallelephantshavingtrunkslookedlikeaplot。Ispeakhereonlyofanemotion，andofanemotionatoncestubbornandsubtle。ButtherepetitioninNatureseemedsometimestobeanexcitedrepetition，likethatofanangryschoolmastersayingthesamethingoverandoveragain。
　　Thegrassseemedsignallingtomewithallitsfingersatonce；
　　thecrowdedstarsseemedbentuponbeingunderstood。Thesunwouldmakemeseehimifheroseathousandtimes。Therecurrencesoftheuniverserosetothemaddeningrhythmofanincantation，andIbegantoseeanidea。
　　Allthetoweringmaterialismwhichdominatesthemodernmindrestsultimatelyupononeassumption；afalseassumption。Itissupposedthatifathinggoesonrepeatingitselfitisprobablydead；
　　apieceofclockwork。Peoplefeelthatiftheuniversewaspersonalitwouldvary；ifthesunwerealiveitwoulddance。Thisisafallacyeveninrelationtoknownfact。Forthevariationinhumanaffairsisgenerallybroughtintothem，notbylife，butbydeath；
　　bythedyingdownorbreakingoffoftheirstrengthordesire。
　　Amanvarieshismovementsbecauseofsomeslightelementoffailureorfatigue。Hegetsintoanomnibusbecauseheistiredofwalking；
　　orhewalksbecauseheistiredofsittingstill。ButifhislifeandjoyweresogiganticthathenevertiredofgoingtoIslington，hemightgotoIslingtonasregularlyastheThamesgoestoSheerness。
　　Theveryspeedandecstasyofhislifewouldhavethestillnessofdeath。Thesunriseseverymorning。Idonotriseeverymorning；
　　butthevariationisduenottomyactivity，buttomyinaction。
　　Now，toputthematterinapopularphrase，itmightbetruethatthesunrisesregularlybecausehenevergetstiredofrising。
　　Hisroutinemightbedue，nottoalifelessness，buttoarushoflife。ThethingImeancanbeseen，forinstance，inchildren，whentheyfindsomegameorjokethattheyspeciallyenjoy。Achildkickshislegsrhythmicallythroughexcess，notabsence，oflife。
　　Becausechildrenhaveaboundingvitality，becausetheyareinspiritfierceandfree，thereforetheywantthingsrepeatedandunchanged。
　　Theyalwayssay，"Doitagain"；andthegrown-uppersondoesitagainuntilheisnearlydead。Forgrown-uppeoplearenotstrongenoughtoexultinmonotony。ButperhapsGodisstrongenoughtoexultinmonotony。ItispossiblethatGodsayseverymorning，"Doitagain"tothesun；andeveryevening，"Doitagain"tothemoon。
　　Itmaynotbeautomaticnecessitythatmakesalldaisiesalike；
　　itmaybethatGodmakeseverydaisyseparately，buthasnevergottiredofmakingthem。ItmaybethatHehastheeternalappetiteofinfancy；
　　forwehavesinnedandgrownold，andourFatherisyoungerthanwe。
　　TherepetitioninNaturemaynotbeamererecurrence；itmaybeatheatricalENCORE。HeavenmayENCOREthebirdwholaidanegg。
　　Ifthehumanbeingconceivesandbringsforthahumanchildinsteadofbringingforthafish，orabat，oragriffin，thereasonmaynotbethatwearefixedinananimalfatewithoutlifeorpurpose。
　　Itmaybethatourlittletragedyhastouchedthegods，thattheyadmireitfromtheirstarrygalleries，andthatattheendofeveryhumandramamaniscalledagainandagainbeforethecurtain。
　　Repetitionmaygoonformillionsofyears，bymerechoice，andatanyinstantitmaystop。Manmaystandontheearthgenerationaftergeneration，andyeteachbirthbehispositivelylastappearance。
　　Thiswasmyfirstconviction；madebytheshockofmychildishemotionsmeetingthemoderncreedinmid-career。Ihadalwaysvaguelyfeltfactstobemiraclesinthesensethattheyarewonderful：
　　nowIbegantothinkthemmiraclesinthestrictersensethattheywereWILFUL。Imeanthattheywere，ormightbe，repeatedexercisesofsomewill。Inshort，Ihadalwaysbelievedthattheworldinvolvedmagic：nowIthoughtthatperhapsitinvolvedamagician。
　　Andthispointedaprofoundemotionalwayspresentandsub-conscious；
　　thatthisworldofourshassomepurpose；andifthereisapurpose，thereisaperson。Ihadalwaysfeltlifefirstasastory：
　　andifthereisastorythereisastory-teller。
　　Butmodernthoughtalsohitmysecondhumantradition。
　　Itwentagainstthefairyfeelingaboutstrictlimitsandconditions。
　　Theonethingitlovedtotalkaboutwasexpansionandlargeness。
　　HerbertSpencerwouldhavebeengreatlyannoyedifanyonehadcalledhimanimperialist，andthereforeitishighlyregrettablethatnobodydid。Buthewasanimperialistofthelowesttype。
　　Hepopularizedthiscontemptiblenotionthatthesizeofthesolarsystemoughttoover-awethespiritualdogmaofman。Whyshouldamansurrenderhisdignitytothesolarsystemanymorethantoawhale？IfmeresizeprovesthatmanisnottheimageofGod，thenawhalemaybetheimageofGod；asomewhatformlessimage；
　　whatonemightcallanimpressionistportrait。Itisquitefutiletoarguethatmanissmallcomparedtothecosmos；formanwasalwayssmallcomparedtothenearesttree。ButHerbertSpencer，inhisheadlongimperialism，wouldinsistthatwehadinsomewaybeenconqueredandannexedbytheastronomicaluniverse。
　　HespokeaboutmenandtheiridealsexactlyasthemostinsolentUnionisttalksabouttheIrishandtheirideals。Heturnedmankindintoasmallnationality。Andhisevilinfluencecanbeseeneveninthemostspiritedandhonourableoflaterscientificauthors；
　　notablyintheearlyromancesofMr。H。G。Wells。Manymoralistshaveinanexaggeratedwayrepresentedtheearthaswicked。
　　ButMr。Wellsandhisschoolmadetheheavenswicked。
　　Weshouldliftupoureyestothestarsfromwhencewouldcomeourruin。
　　ButtheexpansionofwhichIspeakwasmuchmoreevilthanallthis。
　　Ihaveremarkedthatthematerialist，likethemadman，isinprison；
　　intheprisonofonethought。Thesepeopleseemedtothinkitsingularlyinspiringtokeeponsayingthattheprisonwasverylarge。
　　Thesizeofthisscientificuniversegaveonenonovelty，norelief。
　　Thecosmoswentonforever，butnotinitswildestconstellationcouldtherebeanythingreallyinteresting；anything，forinstance，suchasforgivenessorfreewill。Thegrandeurorinfinityofthesecretofitscosmosaddednothingtoit。ItwasliketellingaprisonerinReadinggaolthathewouldbegladtohearthatthegaolnowcoveredhalfthecounty。Thewarderwouldhavenothingtoshowthemanexceptmoreandmorelongcorridorsofstonelitbyghastlylightsandemptyofallthatishuman。
　　Sotheseexpandersoftheuniversehadnothingtoshowusexceptmoreandmoreinfinitecorridorsofspacelitbyghastlysunsandemptyofallthatisdivine。
　　Infairylandtherehadbeenareallaw；alawthatcouldbebroken，forthedefinitionofalawissomethingthatcanbebroken。
　　Butthemachineryofthiscosmicprisonwassomethingthatcouldnotbebroken；forweourselveswereonlyapartofitsmachinery。
　　Wewereeitherunabletodothingsorweweredestinedtodothem。
　　Theideaofthemysticalconditionquitedisappeared；onecanneitherhavethefirmnessofkeepinglawsnorthefunofbreakingthem。
　　Thelargenessofthisuniversehadnothingofthatfreshnessandairyoutbreakwhichwehavepraisedintheuniverseofthepoet。
　　Thismodernuniverseisliterallyanempire；thatis，itwasvast，butitisnotfree。Onewentintolargerandlargerwindowlessrooms，roomsbigwithBabylonianperspective；butoneneverfoundthesmallestwindoworawhisperofouterair。
　　Theirinfernalparallelsseemedtoexpandwithdistance；
　　butformeallgoodthingscometoapoint，swordsforinstance。
　　SofindingtheboastofthebigcosmossounsatisfactorytomyemotionsIbegantoargueaboutitalittle；andIsoonfoundthatthewholeattitudewasevenshallowerthancouldhavebeenexpected。
　　Accordingtothesepeoplethecosmoswasonethingsinceithadoneunbrokenrule。Only（theywouldsay）whileitisonething，itisalsotheonlythingthereis。Why，then，shouldoneworryparticularlytocallitlarge？Thereisnothingtocompareitwith。
　　Itwouldbejustassensibletocallitsmall。Amanmaysay，"Ilikethisvastcosmos，withitsthrongofstarsanditscrowdofvariedcreatures。"Butifitcomestothatwhyshouldnotamansay，"Ilikethiscosylittlecosmos，withitsdecentnumberofstarsandasneataprovisionoflivestockasIwishtosee"？
　　Oneisasgoodastheother；theyarebothmeresentiments。
　　Itismeresentimenttorejoicethatthesunislargerthantheearth；
　　itisquiteassaneasentimenttorejoicethatthesunisnolargerthanitis。Amanchoosestohaveanemotionaboutthelargenessoftheworld；whyshouldhenotchoosetohaveanemotionaboutitssmallness？
　　IthappenedthatIhadthatemotion。Whenoneisfondofanythingoneaddressesitbydiminutives，evenifitisanelephantoralife-guardsman。Thereasonis，thatanything，howeverhuge，thatcanbeconceivedofascomplete，canbeconceivedofassmall。
　　Ifmilitarymoustachesdidnotsuggestaswordortusksatail，thentheobjectwouldbevastbecauseitwouldbeimmeasurable。Butthemomentyoucanimagineaguardsmanyoucanimagineasmallguardsman。
　　Themomentyoureallyseeanelephantyoucancallit"Tiny。"
　　Ifyoucanmakeastatueofathingyoucanmakeastatuetteofit。
　　Thesepeopleprofessedthattheuniversewasonecoherentthing；
　　buttheywerenotfondoftheuniverse。ButIwasfrightfullyfondoftheuniverseandwantedtoaddressitbyadiminutive。Ioftendidso；anditneverseemedtomind。ActuallyandintruthIdidfeelthatthesedimdogmasofvitalitywerebetterexpressedbycallingtheworldsmallthanbycallingitlarge。ForaboutinfinitytherewasasortofcarelessnesswhichwasthereverseofthefierceandpiouscarewhichIfelttouchingthepricelessnessandtheperiloflife。
　　Theyshowedonlyadrearywaste；butIfeltasortofsacredthrift。
　　Foreconomyisfarmoreromanticthanextravagance。Tothemstarswereanunendingincomeofhalfpence；butIfeltaboutthegoldensunandthesilvermoonasaschoolboyfeelsifhehasonesovereignandoneshilling。
　　Thesesubconsciousconvictionsarebesthitoffbythecolourandtoneofcertaintales。ThusIhavesaidthatstoriesofmagicalonecanexpressmysensethatlifeisnotonlyapleasurebutakindofeccentricprivilege。Imayexpressthisotherfeelingofcosmiccosinessbyallusiontoanotherbookalwaysreadinboyhood，"RobinsonCrusoe，"whichIreadaboutthistime，andwhichowesitseternalvivacitytothefactthatitcelebratesthepoetryoflimits，nay，eventhewildromanceofprudence。Crusoeisamanonasmallrockwithafewcomfortsjustsnatchedfromthesea：
　　thebestthinginthebookissimplythelistofthingssavedfromthewreck。Thegreatestofpoemsisaninventory。EverykitchentoolbecomesidealbecauseCrusoemighthavedroppeditinthesea。
　　Itisagoodexercise，inemptyoruglyhoursoftheday，tolookatanything，thecoal-scuttleorthebook-case，andthinkhowhappyonecouldbetohavebroughtitoutofthesinkingshipontothesolitaryisland。Butitisabetterexercisestilltorememberhowallthingshavehadthishair-breadthescape：
　　everythinghasbeensavedfromawreck。Everymanhashadonehorribleadventure：asahiddenuntimelybirthhehadnotbeen，asinfantsthatneverseethelight。Menspokemuchinmyboyhoodofrestrictedorruinedmenofgenius：anditwascommontosaythatmanyamanwasaGreatMight-Have-Been。TomeitisamoresolidandstartlingfactthatanymaninthestreetisaGreatMight-Not-Have-Been。
　　ButIreallyfelt（thefancymayseemfoolish）asifalltheorderandnumberofthingsweretheromanticremnantofCrusoe’sship。
　　Thattherearetwosexesandonesun，waslikethefactthatthereweretwogunsandoneaxe。Itwaspoignantlyurgentthatnoneshouldbelost；butsomehow，itwasratherfunthatnonecouldbeadded。
　　Thetreesandtheplanetsseemedlikethingssavedfromthewreck：
　　andwhenIsawtheMatterhornIwasgladthatithadnotbeenoverlookedintheconfusion。Ifelteconomicalaboutthestarsasiftheyweresapphires（theyarecalledsoinMilton’sEden）：Ihoardedthehills。
　　Fortheuniverseisasinglejewel，andwhileitisanaturalcanttotalkofajewelaspeerlessandpriceless，ofthisjewelitisliterallytrue。Thiscosmosisindeedwithoutpeerandwithoutprice：
　　fortherecannotbeanotherone。
　　Thusends，inunavoidableinadequacy，theattempttouttertheunutterablethings。Thesearemyultimateattitudestowardslife；
　　thesoilsfortheseedsofdoctrine。TheseinsomedarkwayI
　　thoughtbeforeIcouldwrite，andfeltbeforeIcouldthink：
　　thatwemayproceedmoreeasilyafterwards，Iwillroughlyrecapitulatethemnow。Ifeltinmybones；first，thatthisworlddoesnotexplainitself。Itmaybeamiraclewithasupernaturalexplanation；
　　itmaybeaconjuringtrick，withanaturalexplanation。
　　Buttheexplanationoftheconjuringtrick，ifitistosatisfyme，willhavetobebetterthanthenaturalexplanationsIhaveheard。
　　Thethingismagic，trueorfalse。Second，Icametofeelasifmagicmusthaveameaning，andmeaningmusthavesomeonetomeanit。