Therewassomethingpersonalintheworld，asinaworkofart；
　　whateveritmeantitmeantviolently。Third，Ithoughtthispurposebeautifulinitsolddesign，inspiteofitsdefects，suchasdragons。Fourth，thattheproperformofthankstoitissomeformofhumilityandrestraint：weshouldthankGodforbeerandBurgundybynotdrinkingtoomuchofthem。Weowed，also，anobediencetowhatevermadeus。Andlast，andstrangest，therehadcomeintomymindavagueandvastimpressionthatinsomewayallgoodwasaremnanttobestoredandheldsacredoutofsomeprimordialruin。ManhadsavedhisgoodasCrusoesavedhisgoods：
　　hehadsavedthemfromawreck。AllthisIfeltandtheagegavemenoencouragementtofeelit。AndallthistimeIhadnoteventhoughtofChristiantheology。
　　VTHEFLAGOFTHEWORLD
　　WhenIwasaboythereweretwocuriousmenrunningaboutwhowerecalledtheoptimistandthepessimist。Iconstantlyusedthewordsmyself，butIcheerfullyconfessthatIneverhadanyveryspecialideaofwhattheymeant。Theonlythingwhichmightbeconsideredevidentwasthattheycouldnotmeanwhattheysaid；
　　fortheordinaryverbalexplanationwasthattheoptimistthoughtthisworldasgoodasitcouldbe，whilethepessimistthoughtitasbadasitcouldbe。Boththesestatementsbeingobviouslyravingnonsense，onehadtocastaboutforotherexplanations。
　　Anoptimistcouldnotmeanamanwhothoughteverythingrightandnothingwrong。Forthatismeaningless；itislikecallingeverythingrightandnothingleft。Uponthewhole，Icametotheconclusionthattheoptimistthoughteverythinggoodexceptthepessimist，andthatthepessimistthoughteverythingbad，excepthimself。
　　Itwouldbeunfairtoomitaltogetherfromthelistthemysteriousbutsuggestivedefinitionsaidtohavebeengivenbyalittlegirl，"Anoptimistisamanwholooksafteryoureyes，andapessimistisamanwholooksafteryourfeet。"Iamnotsurethatthisisnotthebestdefinitionofall。Thereisevenasortofallegoricaltruthinit。Fortheremight，perhaps，beaprofitabledistinctiondrawnbetweenthatmoredrearythinkerwhothinksmerelyofourcontactwiththeearthfrommomenttomoment，andthathappierthinkerwhoconsidersratherourprimarypowerofvisionandofchoiceofroad。
　　Butthisisadeepmistakeinthisalternativeoftheoptimistandthepessimist。Theassumptionofitisthatamancriticisesthisworldasifhewerehouse-hunting，asifhewerebeingshownoveranewsuiteofapartments。Ifamancametothisworldfromsomeotherworldinfullpossessionofhispowershemightdiscusswhethertheadvantageofmidsummerwoodsmadeupforthedisadvantageofmaddogs，justasamanlookingforlodgingsmightbalancethepresenceofatelephoneagainsttheabsenceofaseaview。
　　Butnomanisinthatposition。Amanbelongstothisworldbeforehebeginstoaskifitisnicetobelongtoit。Hehasfoughtfortheflag，andoftenwonheroicvictoriesfortheflaglongbeforehehaseverenlisted。Toputshortlywhatseemstheessentialmatter，hehasaloyaltylongbeforehehasanyadmiration。
　　Inthelastchapterithasbeensaidthattheprimaryfeelingthatthisworldisstrangeandyetattractiveisbestexpressedinfairytales。Thereadermay，ifhelikes，putdownthenextstagetothatbellicoseandevenjingoliteraturewhichcommonlycomesnextinthehistoryofaboy。Weallowemuchsoundmoralitytothepennydreadfuls。Whateverthereason，itseemedandstillseemstomethatourattitudetowardslifecanbebetterexpressedintermsofakindofmilitaryloyaltythanintermsofcriticismandapproval。Myacceptanceoftheuniverseisnotoptimism，itismorelikepatriotism。Itisamatterofprimaryloyalty。
　　Theworldisnotalodging-houseatBrighton，whichwearetoleavebecauseitismiserable。Itisthefortressofourfamily，withtheflagflyingontheturret，andthemoremiserableitisthelessweshouldleaveit。Thepointisnotthatthisworldistoosadtoloveortoogladnottolove；thepointisthatwhenyoudoloveathing，itsgladnessisareasonforlovingit，anditssadnessareasonforlovingitmore。AlloptimisticthoughtsaboutEnglandandallpessimisticthoughtsaboutherarealikereasonsfortheEnglishpatriot。Similarly，optimismandpessimismarealikeargumentsforthecosmicpatriot。
　　Letussupposeweareconfrontedwithadesperatething——
　　sayPimlico。IfwethinkwhatisreallybestforPimlicoweshallfindthethreadofthoughtleadstothethroneorthemysticandthearbitrary。ItisnotenoughforamantodisapproveofPimlico：
　　inthatcasehewillmerelycuthisthroatormovetoChelsea。
　　Nor，certainly，isitenoughforamantoapproveofPimlico：
　　forthenitwillremainPimlico，whichwouldbeawful。
　　TheonlywayoutofitseemstobeforsomebodytolovePimlico：
　　toloveitwithatranscendentaltieandwithoutanyearthlyreason。
　　IftherearoseamanwholovedPimlico，thenPimlicowouldriseintoivorytowersandgoldenpinnacles；Pimlicowouldattireherselfasawomandoeswhensheisloved。Fordecorationisnotgiventohidehorriblethings：buttodecoratethingsalreadyadorable。
　　Amotherdoesnotgiveherchildabluebowbecauseheissouglywithoutit。Aloverdoesnotgiveagirlanecklacetohideherneck。
　　IfmenlovedPimlicoasmotherslovechildren，arbitrarily，becauseitisTHEIRS，PimlicoinayearortwomightbefairerthanFlorence。
　　Somereaderswillsaythatthisisamerefantasy。Ianswerthatthisistheactualhistoryofmankind。This，asafact，ishowcitiesdidgrowgreat。Gobacktothedarkestrootsofcivilizationandyouwillfindthemknottedroundsomesacredstoneorencirclingsomesacredwell。Peoplefirstpaidhonourtoaspotandafterwardsgainedgloryforit。MendidnotloveRomebecauseshewasgreat。
　　Shewasgreatbecausetheyhadlovedher。
　　Theeighteenth-centurytheoriesofthesocialcontracthavebeenexposedtomuchclumsycriticisminourtime；insofarastheymeantthatthereisatthebackofallhistoricgovernmentanideaofcontentandco-operation，theyweredemonstrablyright。
　　Buttheyreallywerewrong，insofarastheysuggestedthatmenhadeveraimedatorderorethicsdirectlybyaconsciousexchangeofinterests。Moralitydidnotbeginbyonemansayingtoanother，"Iwillnothityouifyoudonothitme"；thereisnotraceofsuchatransaction。ThereISatraceofbothmenhavingsaid，"Wemustnothiteachotherintheholyplace。"Theygainedtheirmoralitybyguardingtheirreligion。Theydidnotcultivatecourage。
　　Theyfoughtfortheshrine，andfoundtheyhadbecomecourageous。
　　Theydidnotcultivatecleanliness。Theypurifiedthemselvesforthealtar，andfoundthattheywereclean。ThehistoryoftheJewsistheonlyearlydocumentknowntomostEnglishmen，andthefactscanbejudgedsufficientlyfromthat。TheTenCommandmentswhichhavebeenfoundsubstantiallycommontomankindweremerelymilitarycommands；
　　acodeofregimentalorders，issuedtoprotectacertainarkacrossacertaindesert。Anarchywasevilbecauseitendangeredthesanctity。
　　AndonlywhentheymadeaholydayforGoddidtheyfindtheyhadmadeaholidayformen。
　　Ifitbegrantedthatthisprimarydevotiontoaplaceorthingisasourceofcreativeenergy，wecanpassontoaverypeculiarfact。
　　Letusreiterateforaninstantthattheonlyrightoptimismisasortofuniversalpatriotism。Whatisthematterwiththepessimist？
　　Ithinkitcanbestatedbysayingthatheisthecosmicanti-patriot。
　　Andwhatisthematterwiththeanti-patriot？Ithinkitcanbestated，withoutunduebitterness，bysayingthatheisthecandidfriend。
　　Andwhatisthematterwiththecandidfriend？Therewestriketherockofreallifeandimmutablehumannature。
　　Iventuretosaythatwhatisbadinthecandidfriendissimplythatheisnotcandid。Heiskeepingsomethingback——
　　hisowngloomypleasureinsayingunpleasantthings。Hehasasecretdesiretohurt，notmerelytohelp。Thisiscertainly，Ithink，whatmakesacertainsortofanti-patriotirritatingtohealthycitizens。Idonotspeak（ofcourse）oftheanti-patriotismwhichonlyirritatesfeverishstockbrokersandgushingactresses；
　　thatisonlypatriotismspeakingplainly。AmanwhosaysthatnopatriotshouldattacktheBoerWaruntilitisoverisnotworthansweringintelligently；heissayingthatnogoodsonshouldwarnhismotheroffacliffuntilshehasfallenoverit。
　　Butthereisananti-patriotwhohonestlyangershonestmen，andtheexplanationofhimis，Ithink，whatIhavesuggested：
　　heistheuncandidcandidfriend；themanwhosays，"Iamsorrytosayweareruined，"andisnotsorryatall。Andhemaybesaid，withoutrhetoric，tobeatraitor；forheisusingthatuglyknowledgewhichwasallowedhimtostrengthenthearmy，todiscouragepeoplefromjoiningit。Becauseheisallowedtobepessimisticasamilitaryadviserheisbeingpessimisticasarecruitingsergeant。
　　Justinthesamewaythepessimist（whoisthecosmicanti-patriot）
　　usesthefreedomthatlifeallowstohercounsellorstolureawaythepeoplefromherflag。Grantedthathestatesonlyfacts，itisstillessentialtoknowwhatarehisemotions，whatishismotive。
　　ItmaybethattwelvehundredmeninTottenhamaredownwithsmallpox；
　　butwewanttoknowwhetherthisisstatedbysomegreatphilosopherwhowantstocursethegods，oronlybysomecommonclergymanwhowantstohelpthemen。
　　Theevilofthepessimistis，then，notthathechastisesgodsandmen，butthathedoesnotlovewhathechastises——hehasnotthisprimaryandsupernaturalloyaltytothings。Whatistheevilofthemancommonlycalledanoptimist？Obviously，itisfeltthattheoptimist，wishingtodefendthehonourofthisworld，willdefendtheindefensible。Heisthejingooftheuniverse；
　　hewillsay，"Mycosmos，rightorwrong。"Hewillbelessinclinedtothereformofthings；moreinclinedtoasortoffront-benchofficialanswertoallattacks，soothingeveryonewithassurances。
　　Hewillnotwashtheworld，butwhitewashtheworld。Allthis（whichistrueofatypeofoptimist）leadsustotheonereallyinterestingpointofpsychology，whichcouldnotbeexplainedwithoutit。
　　Wesaytheremustbeaprimalloyaltytolife：theonlyquestionis，shallitbeanaturalorasupernaturalloyalty？
　　Ifyouliketoputitso，shallitbeareasonableoranunreasonableloyalty？Now，theextraordinarythingisthatthebadoptimism（thewhitewashing，theweakdefenceofeverything）
　　comesinwiththereasonableoptimism。Rationaloptimismleadstostagnation：itisirrationaloptimismthatleadstoreform。
　　Letmeexplainbyusingoncemoretheparallelofpatriotism。
　　Themanwhoismostlikelytoruintheplacehelovesisexactlythemanwholovesitwithareason。Themanwhowillimprovetheplaceisthemanwholovesitwithoutareason。IfamanlovessomefeatureofPimlico（whichseemsunlikely），hemayfindhimselfdefendingthatfeatureagainstPimlicoitself。ButifhesimplylovesPimlicoitself，hemaylayitwasteandturnitintotheNewJerusalem。
　　Idonotdenythatreformmaybeexcessive；Ionlysaythatitisthemysticpatriotwhoreforms。Merejingoself-contentmentiscommonestamongthosewhohavesomepedanticreasonfortheirpatriotism。
　　TheworstjingoesdonotloveEngland，butatheoryofEngland。
　　IfweloveEnglandforbeinganempire，wemayoverratethesuccesswithwhichweruletheHindoos。Butifweloveitonlyforbeinganation，wecanfaceallevents：foritwouldbeanationeveniftheHindoosruledus。Thusalsoonlythosewillpermittheirpatriotismtofalsifyhistorywhosepatriotismdependsonhistory。
　　AmanwholovesEnglandforbeingEnglishwillnotmindhowshearose。
　　ButamanwholovesEnglandforbeingAnglo-Saxonmaygoagainstallfactsforhisfancy。Hemayend（likeCarlyleandFreeman）
　　bymaintainingthattheNormanConquestwasaSaxonConquest。
　　Hemayendinutterunreason——becausehehasareason。AmanwholovesFranceforbeingmilitarywillpalliatethearmyof1870。
　　ButamanwholovesFranceforbeingFrancewillimprovethearmyof1870。ThisisexactlywhattheFrenchhavedone，andFranceisagoodinstanceoftheworkingparadox。Nowhereelseispatriotismmorepurelyabstractandarbitrary；andnowhereelseisreformmoredrasticandsweeping。Themoretranscendentalisyourpatriotism，themorepracticalareyourpolitics。
　　Perhapsthemosteverydayinstanceofthispointisinthecaseofwomen；andtheirstrangeandstrongloyalty。Somestupidpeoplestartedtheideathatbecausewomenobviouslybackuptheirownpeoplethrougheverything，thereforewomenareblindanddonotseeanything。Theycanhardlyhaveknownanywomen。Thesamewomenwhoarereadytodefendtheirmenthroughthickandthinare（intheirpersonalintercoursewiththeman）almostmorbidlylucidaboutthethinnessofhisexcusesorthethicknessofhishead。
　　Aman’sfriendlikeshimbutleaveshimasheis：hiswifeloveshimandisalwaystryingtoturnhimintosomebodyelse。Womenwhoareuttermysticsintheircreedareuttercynicsintheircriticism。
　　ThackerayexpressedthiswellwhenhemadePendennis’mother，whoworshippedhersonasagod，yetassumethathewouldgowrongasaman。Sheunderratedhisvirtue，thoughsheoverratedhisvalue。
　　Thedevoteeisentirelyfreetocriticise；thefanaticcansafelybeasceptic。Loveisnotblind；thatisthelastthingthatitis。
　　Loveisbound；andthemoreitisboundthelessitisblind。
　　Thisatleasthadcometobemypositionaboutallthatwascalledoptimism，pessimism，andimprovement。Beforeanycosmicactofreformwemusthaveacosmicoathofallegiance。
　　Amanmustbeinterestedinlife，thenhecouldbedisinterestedinhisviewsofit。"Mysongivemethyheart"；theheartmustbefixedontherightthing：themomentwehaveafixedheartwehaveafreehand。Imustpausetoanticipateanobviouscriticism。
　　Itwillbesaidthatarationalpersonacceptstheworldasmixedofgoodandevilwithadecentsatisfactionandadecentendurance。
　　ButthisisexactlytheattitudewhichImaintaintobedefective。
　　Itis，Iknow，verycommoninthisage；itwasperfectlyputinthosequietlinesofMatthewArnoldwhicharemorepiercinglyblasphemousthantheshrieksofSchopenhauer——
　　"Enoughwelive：——andifalife，Withlargeresultssolittlerife，Thoughbearable，seemhardlyworthThispompofworlds，thispainofbirth。"
　　Iknowthisfeelingfillsourepoch，andIthinkitfreezesourepoch。ForourTitanicpurposesoffaithandrevolution，whatweneedisnotthecoldacceptanceoftheworldasacompromise，butsomewayinwhichwecanheartilyhateandheartilyloveit。
　　Wedonotwantjoyandangertoneutralizeeachotherandproduceasurlycontentment；wewantafiercerdelightandafiercerdiscontent。
　　Wehavetofeeltheuniverseatonceasanogre’scastle，tobestormed，andyetasourowncottage，towhichwecanreturnatevening。
　　Noonedoubtsthatanordinarymancangetonwiththisworld：
　　butwedemandnotstrengthenoughtogetonwithit，butstrengthenoughtogetiton。Canhehateitenoughtochangeit，andyetloveitenoughtothinkitworthchanging？Canhelookupatitscolossalgoodwithoutoncefeelingacquiescence？
　　Canhelookupatitscolossalevilwithoutoncefeelingdespair？
　　Canhe，inshort，beatoncenotonlyapessimistandanoptimist，butafanaticalpessimistandafanaticaloptimist？Isheenoughofapagantodiefortheworld，andenoughofaChristiantodietoit？
　　Inthiscombination，Imaintain，itistherationaloptimistwhofails，theirrationaloptimistwhosucceeds。Heisreadytosmashthewholeuniverseforthesakeofitself。
　　Iputthesethingsnotintheirmaturelogicalsequence，butastheycame：andthisviewwasclearedandsharpenedbyanaccidentofthetime。UnderthelengtheningshadowofIbsen，anargumentarosewhetheritwasnotaverynicethingtomurderone’sself。
　　Gravemodernstoldusthatwemustnotevensay"poorfellow，"
　　ofamanwhohadblownhisbrainsout，sincehewasanenviableperson，andhadonlyblownthemoutbecauseoftheirexceptionalexcellence。
　　Mr。WilliamArcherevensuggestedthatinthegoldenagetherewouldbepenny-in-the-slotmachines，bywhichamancouldkillhimselfforapenny。InallthisIfoundmyselfutterlyhostiletomanywhocalledthemselvesliberalandhumane。Notonlyissuicideasin，itisthesin。Itistheultimateandabsoluteevil，therefusaltotakeaninterestinexistence；therefusaltotaketheoathofloyaltytolife。Themanwhokillsaman，killsaman。
　　Themanwhokillshimself，killsallmen；asfarasheisconcernedhewipesouttheworld。Hisactisworse（symbolicallyconsidered）
　　thananyrapeordynamiteoutrage。Foritdestroysallbuildings：
　　itinsultsallwomen。Thethiefissatisfiedwithdiamonds；
　　butthesuicideisnot：thatishiscrime。Hecannotbebribed，evenbytheblazingstonesoftheCelestialCity。Thethiefcomplimentsthethingshesteals，ifnottheownerofthem。
　　Butthesuicideinsultseverythingonearthbynotstealingit。
　　Hedefileseveryflowerbyrefusingtoliveforitssake。
　　Thereisnotatinycreatureinthecosmosatwhomhisdeathisnotasneer。Whenamanhangshimselfonatree，theleavesmightfalloffinangerandthebirdsflyawayinfury：
　　foreachhasreceivedapersonalaffront。Ofcoursetheremaybepatheticemotionalexcusesfortheact。Thereoftenareforrape，andtherealmostalwaysarefordynamite。Butifitcomestoclearideasandtheintelligentmeaningofthings，thenthereismuchmorerationalandphilosophictruthintheburialatthecross-roadsandthestakedriventhroughthebody，thaninMr。Archer’ssuicidalautomaticmachines。Thereisameaninginburyingthesuicideapart。
　　Theman’scrimeisdifferentfromothercrimes——foritmakesevencrimesimpossible。
　　AboutthesametimeIreadasolemnflippancybysomefreethinker：
　　hesaidthatasuicidewasonlythesameasamartyr。Theopenfallacyofthishelpedtoclearthequestion。Obviouslyasuicideistheoppositeofamartyr。Amartyrisamanwhocaressomuchforsomethingoutsidehim，thatheforgetshisownpersonallife。
　　Asuicideisamanwhocaressolittleforanythingoutsidehim，thathewantstoseethelastofeverything。Onewantssomethingtobegin：theotherwantseverythingtoend。Inotherwords，themartyrisnoble，exactlybecause（howeverherenouncestheworldorexecratesallhumanity）heconfessesthisultimatelinkwithlife；
　　hesetshisheartoutsidehimself：hediesthatsomethingmaylive。
　　Thesuicideisignoblebecausehehasnotthislinkwithbeing：
　　heisameredestroyer；spiritually，hedestroystheuniverse。
　　AndthenIrememberedthestakeandthecross-roads，andthequeerfactthatChristianityhadshownthisweirdharshnesstothesuicide。
　　ForChristianityhadshownawildencouragementofthemartyr。
　　HistoricChristianitywasaccused，notentirelywithoutreason，ofcarryingmartyrdomandasceticismtoapoint，desolateandpessimistic。TheearlyChristianmartyrstalkedofdeathwithahorriblehappiness。Theyblasphemedthebeautifuldutiesofthebody：theysmeltthegraveafarofflikeafieldofflowers。
　　Allthishasseemedtomanytheverypoetryofpessimism。YetthereisthestakeatthecrossroadstoshowwhatChristianitythoughtofthepessimist。
　　ThiswasthefirstofthelongtrainofenigmaswithwhichChristianityenteredthediscussion。AndtherewentwithitapeculiarityofwhichIshallhavetospeakmoremarkedly，asanoteofallChristiannotions，butwhichdistinctlybeganinthisone。
　　TheChristianattitudetothemartyrandthesuicidewasnotwhatissooftenaffirmedinmodernmorals。Itwasnotamatterofdegree。
　　Itwasnotthatalinemustbedrawnsomewhere，andthattheself-slayerinexaltationfellwithintheline，theself-slayerinsadnessjustbeyondit。TheChristianfeelingevidentlywasnotmerelythatthesuicidewascarryingmartyrdomtoofar。
　　TheChristianfeelingwasfuriouslyforoneandfuriouslyagainsttheother：thesetwothingsthatlookedsomuchalikewereatoppositeendsofheavenandhell。Onemanflungawayhislife；
　　hewassogoodthathisdrybonescouldhealcitiesinpestilence。
　　Anothermanflungawaylife；hewassobadthathisboneswouldpollutehisbrethren’s。Iamnotsayingthisfiercenesswasright；
　　butwhywasitsofierce？
　　HereitwasthatIfirstfoundthatmywanderingfeetwereinsomebeatentrack。Christianityhadalsofeltthisoppositionofthemartyrtothesuicide：haditperhapsfeltitforthesamereason？HadChristianityfeltwhatIfelt，butcouldnot（andcannot）express——thisneedforafirstloyaltytothings，andthenforaruinousreformofthings？ThenIrememberedthatitwasactuallythechargeagainstChristianitythatitcombinedthesetwothingswhichIwaswildlytryingtocombine。
　　Christianitywasaccused，atoneandthesametime，ofbeingtoooptimisticabouttheuniverseandofbeingtoopessimisticabouttheworld。Thecoincidencemademesuddenlystandstill。
　　Animbecilehabithasariseninmoderncontroversyofsayingthatsuchandsuchacreedcanbeheldinoneagebutcannotbeheldinanother。Somedogma，wearetold，wascredibleinthetwelfthcentury，butisnotcredibleinthetwentieth。
　　YoumightaswellsaythatacertainphilosophycanbebelievedonMondays，butcannotbebelievedonTuesdays。Youmightaswellsayofaviewofthecosmosthatitwassuitabletohalf-pastthree，butnotsuitabletohalf-pastfour。Whatamancanbelievedependsuponhisphilosophy，notupontheclockorthecentury。
　　Ifamanbelievesinunalterablenaturallaw，hecannotbelieveinanymiracleinanyage。Ifamanbelievesinawillbehindlaw，hecanbelieveinanymiracleinanyage。Suppose，forthesakeofargument，weareconcernedwithacaseofthaumaturgichealing。
　　Amaterialistofthetwelfthcenturycouldnotbelieveitanymorethanamaterialistofthetwentiethcentury。ButaChristianScientistofthetwentiethcenturycanbelieveitasmuchasaChristianofthetwelfthcentury。Itissimplyamatterofaman’stheoryofthings。Thereforeindealingwithanyhistoricalanswer，thepointisnotwhetheritwasgiveninourtime，butwhetheritwasgiveninanswertoourquestion。AndthemoreIthoughtaboutwhenandhowChristianityhadcomeintotheworld，themoreIfeltthatithadactuallycometoanswerthisquestion。
　　ItiscommonlythelooseandlatitudinarianChristianswhopayquiteindefensiblecomplimentstoChristianity。TheytalkasiftherehadneverbeenanypietyorpityuntilChristianitycame，apointonwhichanymediaevalwouldhavebeeneagertocorrectthem。
　　TheyrepresentthattheremarkablethingaboutChristianitywasthatitwasthefirsttopreachsimplicityorself-restraint，orinwardnessandsincerity。Theywillthinkmeverynarrow（whateverthatmeans）
　　ifIsaythattheremarkablethingaboutChristianitywasthatitwasthefirsttopreachChristianity。Itspeculiaritywasthatitwaspeculiar，andsimplicityandsincerityarenotpeculiar，butobviousidealsforallmankind。Christianitywastheanswertoariddle，notthelasttruismutteredafteralongtalk。
　　OnlytheotherdayIsawinanexcellentweeklypaperofPuritantonethisremark，thatChristianitywhenstrippedofitsarmourofdogma（aswhoshouldspeakofamanstrippedofhisarmourofbones），turnedouttobenothingbuttheQuakerdoctrineoftheInnerLight。
　　Now，ifIweretosaythatChristianitycameintotheworldspeciallytodestroythedoctrineoftheInnerLight，thatwouldbeanexaggeration。Butitwouldbeverymuchnearertothetruth。
　　ThelastStoics，likeMarcusAurelius，wereexactlythepeoplewhodidbelieveintheInnerLight。Theirdignity，theirweariness，theirsadexternalcareforothers，theirincurableinternalcareforthemselves，wereallduetotheInnerLight，andexistedonlybythatdismalillumination。NoticethatMarcusAureliusinsists，assuchintrospectivemoralistsalwaysdo，uponsmallthingsdoneorundone；itisbecausehehasnothateorloveenoughtomakeamoralrevolution。Hegetsupearlyinthemorning，justasourownaristocratslivingtheSimpleLifegetupearlyinthemorning；
　　becausesuchaltruismismucheasierthanstoppingthegamesoftheamphitheatreorgivingtheEnglishpeoplebacktheirland。
　　MarcusAureliusisthemostintolerableofhumantypes。Heisanunselfishegoist。Anunselfishegoistisamanwhohaspridewithouttheexcuseofpassion。OfallconceivableformsofenlightenmenttheworstiswhatthesepeoplecalltheInnerLight。Ofallhorriblereligionsthemosthorribleistheworshipofthegodwithin。
　　Anyonewhoknowsanybodyknowshowitwouldwork；anyonewhoknowsanyonefromtheHigherThoughtCentreknowshowitdoeswork。
　　ThatJonesshallworshipthegodwithinhimturnsoutultimatelytomeanthatJonesshallworshipJones。LetJonesworshipthesunormoon，anythingratherthantheInnerLight；letJonesworshipcatsorcrocodiles，ifhecanfindanyinhisstreet，butnotthegodwithin。Christianitycameintotheworldfirstlyinordertoassertwithviolencethatamanhadnotonlytolookinwards，buttolookoutwards，tobeholdwithastonishmentandenthusiasmadivinecompanyandadivinecaptain。TheonlyfunofbeingaChristianwasthatamanwasnotleftalonewiththeInnerLight，butdefinitelyrecognizedanouterlight，fairasthesun，clearasthemoon，terribleasanarmywithbanners。
　　Allthesame，itwillbeaswellifJonesdoesnotworshipthesunandmoon。Ifhedoes，thereisatendencyforhimtoimitatethem；
　　tosay，thatbecausethesunburnsinsectsalive，hemayburninsectsalive。Hethinksthatbecausethesungivespeoplesun-stroke，hemaygivehisneighbourmeasles。Hethinksthatbecausethemoonissaidtodrivemenmad，hemaydrivehiswifemad。Thisuglysideofmereexternaloptimismhadalsoshownitselfintheancientworld。
　　AboutthetimewhentheStoicidealismhadbeguntoshowtheweaknessesofpessimism，theoldnatureworshipoftheancientshadbeguntoshowtheenormousweaknessesofoptimism。Natureworshipisnaturalenoughwhilethesocietyisyoung，or，inotherwords，PantheismisallrightaslongasitistheworshipofPan。
　　ButNaturehasanothersidewhichexperienceandsinarenotslowinfindingout，anditisnoflippancytosayofthegodPanthathesoonshowedtheclovenhoof。TheonlyobjectiontoNaturalReligionisthatsomehowitalwaysbecomesunnatural。AmanlovesNatureinthemorningforherinnocenceandamiability，andatnightfall，ifheislovingherstill，itisforherdarknessandhercruelty。
　　HewashesatdawninclearwaterasdidtheWiseManoftheStoics，yet，somehowatthedarkendoftheday，heisbathinginhotbull’sblood，asdidJuliantheApostate。Themerepursuitofhealthalwaysleadstosomethingunhealthy。Physicalnaturemustnotbemadethedirectobjectofobedience；itmustbeenjoyed，notworshipped。Starsandmountainsmustnotbetakenseriously。
　　Iftheyare，weendwherethepagannatureworshipended。
　　Becausetheearthiskind，wecanimitateallhercruelties。
　　Becausesexualityissane，wecanallgomadaboutsexuality。
　　Mereoptimismhadreacheditsinsaneandappropriatetermination。
　　Thetheorythateverythingwasgoodhadbecomeanorgyofeverythingthatwasbad。
　　OntheothersideouridealistpessimistswererepresentedbytheoldremnantoftheStoics。MarcusAureliusandhisfriendshadreallygivenuptheideaofanygodintheuniverseandlookedonlytothegodwithin。Theyhadnohopeofanyvirtueinnature，andhardlyanyhopeofanyvirtueinsociety。Theyhadnotenoughinterestintheouterworldreallytowreckorrevolutioniseit。
　　Theydidnotlovethecityenoughtosetfiretoit。Thustheancientworldwasexactlyinourowndesolatedilemma。Theonlypeoplewhoreallyenjoyedthisworldwerebusybreakingitup；
　　andthevirtuouspeopledidnotcareenoughaboutthemtoknockthemdown。Inthisdilemma（thesameasours）Christianitysuddenlysteppedinandofferedasingularanswer，whichtheworldeventuallyacceptedasTHEanswer。Itwastheanswerthen，andIthinkitistheanswernow。
　　Thisanswerwasliketheslashofasword；itsundered；
　　itdidnotinanysensesentimentallyunite。Briefly，itdividedGodfromthecosmos。ThattranscendenceanddistinctnessofthedeitywhichsomeChristiansnowwanttoremovefromChristianity，wasreallytheonlyreasonwhyanyonewantedtobeaChristian。
　　ItwasthewholepointoftheChristiananswertotheunhappypessimistandthestillmoreunhappyoptimist。AsIamhereonlyconcernedwiththeirparticularproblem，Ishallindicateonlybrieflythisgreatmetaphysicalsuggestion。Alldescriptionsofthecreatingorsustainingprincipleinthingsmustbemetaphorical，becausetheymustbeverbal。ThusthepantheistisforcedtospeakofGodinallthingsasifhewereinabox。Thustheevolutionisthas，inhisveryname，theideaofbeingunrolledlikeacarpet。
　　Allterms，religiousandirreligious，areopentothischarge。
　　Theonlyquestioniswhetheralltermsareuseless，orwhetheronecan，withsuchaphrase，coveradistinctIDEAabouttheoriginofthings。
　　Ithinkonecan，andsoevidentlydoestheevolutionist，orhewouldnottalkaboutevolution。AndtherootphraseforallChristiantheismwasthis，thatGodwasacreator，asanartistisacreator。
　　Apoetissoseparatefromhispoemthathehimselfspeaksofitasalittlethinghehas"thrownoff。"Eveningivingitforthhehasflungitaway。Thisprinciplethatallcreationandprocreationisabreakingoffisatleastasconsistentthroughthecosmosastheevolutionaryprinciplethatallgrowthisabranchingout。Awomanlosesachildeveninhavingachild。Allcreationisseparation。
　　Birthisassolemnapartingasdeath。
　　ItwastheprimephilosophicprincipleofChristianitythatthisdivorceinthedivineactofmaking（suchasseversthepoetfromthepoemorthemotherfromthenew-bornchild）wasthetruedescriptionoftheactwherebytheabsoluteenergymadetheworld。
　　Accordingtomostphilosophers，Godinmakingtheworldenslavedit。
　　AccordingtoChristianity，inmakingit，Hesetitfree。
　　Godhadwritten，notsomuchapoem，butratheraplay；aplayhehadplannedasperfect，butwhichhadnecessarilybeenlefttohumanactorsandstage-managers，whohadsincemadeagreatmessofit。
　　Iwilldiscussthetruthofthistheoremlater。HereIhaveonlytopointoutwithwhatastartlingsmoothnessitpassedthedilemmawehavediscussedinthischapter。Inthiswayatleastonecouldbebothhappyandindignantwithoutdegradingone’sselftobeeitherapessimistoranoptimist。Onthissystemonecouldfightalltheforcesofexistencewithoutdesertingtheflagofexistence。
　　Onecouldbeatpeacewiththeuniverseandyetbeatwarwiththeworld。St。Georgecouldstillfightthedragon，howeverbigthemonsterbulkedinthecosmos，thoughhewerebiggerthanthemightycitiesorbiggerthantheeverlastinghills。Ifhewereasbigastheworldhecouldyetbekilledinthenameoftheworld。
　　St。Georgehadnottoconsideranyobviousoddsorproportionsinthescaleofthings，butonlytheoriginalsecretoftheirdesign。
　　Hecanshakehisswordatthedragon，evenifitiseverything；
　　eveniftheemptyheavensoverhisheadareonlythehugearchofitsopenjaws。
　　Andthenfollowedanexperienceimpossibletodescribe。
　　ItwasasifIhadbeenblunderingaboutsincemybirthwithtwohugeandunmanageablemachines，ofdifferentshapesandwithoutapparentconnection——theworldandtheChristiantradition。
　　Ihadfoundthisholeintheworld：thefactthatonemustsomehowfindawayoflovingtheworldwithouttrustingit；
　　somehowonemustlovetheworldwithoutbeingworldly。IfoundthisprojectingfeatureofChristiantheology，likeasortofhardspike，thedogmaticinsistencethatGodwaspersonal，andhadmadeaworldseparatefromHimself。Thespikeofdogmafittedexactlyintotheholeintheworld——ithadevidentlybeenmeanttogothere——
　　andthenthestrangethingbegantohappen。Whenoncethesetwopartsofthetwomachineshadcometogether，oneafteranother，alltheotherpartsfittedandfellinwithaneerieexactitude。
　　Icouldhearboltafterboltoverallthemachineryfallingintoitsplacewithakindofclickofrelief。Havinggotonepartright，alltheotherpartswererepeatingthatrectitude，asclockafterclockstrikesnoon。Instinctafterinstinctwasansweredbydoctrineafterdoctrine。Or，tovarythemetaphor，Iwaslikeonewhohadadvancedintoahostilecountrytotakeonehighfortress。Andwhenthatforthadfallenthewholecountrysurrenderedandturnedsolidbehindme。Thewholelandwaslitup，asitwere，backtothefirstfieldsofmychildhood。AllthoseblindfanciesofboyhoodwhichinthefourthchapterIhavetriedinvaintotraceonthedarkness，becamesuddenlytransparentandsane。
　　IwasrightwhenIfeltthatroseswereredbysomesortofchoice：
　　itwasthedivinechoice。IwasrightwhenIfeltthatIwouldalmostrathersaythatgrasswasthewrongcolourthansayitmustbynecessityhavebeenthatcolour：itmightverilyhavebeenanyother。Mysensethathappinesshungonthecrazythreadofaconditiondidmeansomethingwhenallwassaid：itmeantthewholedoctrineoftheFall。EventhosedimandshapelessmonstersofnotionswhichIhavenotbeenabletodescribe，muchlessdefend，steppedquietlyintotheirplaceslikecolossalcaryatidesofthecreed。Thefancythatthecosmoswasnotvastandvoid，butsmallandcosy，hadafulfilledsignificancenow，foranythingthatisaworkofartmustbesmallinthesightoftheartist；
　　toGodthestarsmightbeonlysmallanddear，likediamonds。
　　Andmyhauntinginstinctthatsomehowgoodwasnotmerelyatooltobeused，butarelictobeguarded，likethegoodsfromCrusoe’sship——
　　eventhathadbeenthewildwhisperofsomethingoriginallywise，for，accordingtoChristianity，wewereindeedthesurvivorsofawreck，thecrewofagoldenshipthathadgonedownbeforethebeginningoftheworld。
　　Buttheimportantmatterwasthis，thatitentirelyreversedthereasonforoptimism。Andtheinstantthereversalwasmadeitfeltliketheabrupteasewhenaboneisputbackinthesocket。
　　Ihadoftencalledmyselfanoptimist，toavoidthetooevidentblasphemyofpessimism。Butalltheoptimismoftheagehadbeenfalseanddishearteningforthisreason，thatithadalwaysbeentryingtoprovethatwefitintotheworld。TheChristianoptimismisbasedonthefactthatwedoNOTfitintotheworld。
　　Ihadtriedtobehappybytellingmyselfthatmanisananimal，likeanyotherwhichsoughtitsmeatfromGod。ButnowIreallywashappy，forIhadlearntthatmanisamonstrosity。Ihadbeenrightinfeelingallthingsasodd，forImyselfwasatonceworseandbetterthanallthings。Theoptimist’spleasurewasprosaic，foritdweltonthenaturalnessofeverything；theChristianpleasurewaspoetic，foritdweltontheunnaturalnessofeverythinginthelightofthesupernatural。ThemodernphilosopherhadtoldmeagainandagainthatIwasintherightplace，andIhadstillfeltdepressedeveninacquiescence。ButIhadheardthatIwasintheWRONGplace，andmysoulsangforjoy，likeabirdinspring。
　　Theknowledgefoundoutandilluminatedforgottenchambersinthedarkhouseofinfancy。Iknewnowwhygrasshadalwaysseemedtomeasqueerasthegreenbeardofagiant，andwhyIcouldfeelhomesickathome。
　　VITHEPARADOXESOFCHRISTIANITY
　　Therealtroublewiththisworldofoursisnotthatitisanunreasonableworld，noreventhatitisareasonableone。Thecommonestkindoftroubleisthatitisnearlyreasonable，butnotquite。
　　Lifeisnotanillogicality；yetitisatrapforlogicians。
　　Itlooksjustalittlemoremathematicalandregularthanitis；
　　itsexactitudeisobvious，butitsinexactitudeishidden；
　　itswildnessliesinwait。IgiveonecoarseinstanceofwhatImean。
　　Supposesomemathematicalcreaturefromthemoonweretoreckonupthehumanbody；hewouldatonceseethattheessentialthingaboutitwasthatitwasduplicate。Amanistwomen，heontherightexactlyresemblinghimontheleft。Havingnotedthattherewasanarmontherightandoneontheleft，alegontherightandoneontheleft，hemightgofurtherandstillfindoneachsidethesamenumberoffingers，thesamenumberoftoes，twineyes，twinears，twinnostrils，andeventwinlobesofthebrain。
　　Atlasthewouldtakeitasalaw；andthen，wherehefoundaheartononeside，woulddeducethattherewasanotherheartontheother。
　　Andjustthen，wherehemostfelthewasright，hewouldbewrong。
　　Itisthissilentswervingfromaccuracybyaninchthatistheuncannyelementineverything。Itseemsasortofsecrettreasonintheuniverse。Anappleoranorangeisroundenoughtogetitselfcalledround，andyetisnotroundafterall。
　　Theearthitselfisshapedlikeanorangeinordertoluresomesimpleastronomerintocallingitaglobe。Abladeofgrassiscalledafterthebladeofasword，becauseitcomestoapoint；
　　butitdoesn’t。Everywhereinthingsthereisthiselementofthequietandincalculable。Itescapestherationalists，butitneverescapestillthelastmoment。Fromthegrandcurveofourearthitcouldeasilybeinferredthateveryinchofitwasthuscurved。
　　Itwouldseemrationalthatasamanhasabrainonbothsides，heshouldhaveaheartonbothsides。YetscientificmenarestillorganizingexpeditionstofindtheNorthPole，becausetheyaresofondofflatcountry。Scientificmenarealsostillorganizingexpeditionstofindaman’sheart；andwhentheytrytofindit，theygenerallygetonthewrongsideofhim。
　　Now，actualinsightorinspirationisbesttestedbywhetheritguessesthesehiddenmalformationsorsurprises。Ifourmathematicianfromthemoonsawthetwoarmsandthetwoears，hemightdeducethetwoshoulder-bladesandthetwohalvesofthebrain。Butifheguessedthattheman’sheartwasintherightplace，thenIshouldcallhimsomethingmorethanamathematician。Now，thisisexactlytheclaimwhichIhavesincecometopropoundforChristianity。
　　Notmerelythatitdeduceslogicaltruths，butthatwhenitsuddenlybecomesillogical，ithasfound，sotospeak，anillogicaltruth。
　　Itnotonlygoesrightaboutthings，butitgoeswrong（ifonemaysayso）exactlywherethethingsgowrong。Itsplansuitsthesecretirregularities，andexpectstheunexpected。Itissimpleaboutthesimpletruth；butitisstubbornaboutthesubtletruth。
　　Itwilladmitthatamanhastwohands，itwillnotadmit（thoughalltheModernistswailtoit）theobviousdeductionthathehastwohearts。
　　Itismyonlypurposeinthischaptertopointthisout；toshowthatwheneverwefeelthereissomethingoddinChristiantheology，weshallgenerallyfindthatthereissomethingoddinthetruth。
　　Ihavealludedtoanunmeaningphrasetotheeffectthatsuchandsuchacreedcannotbebelievedinourage。Ofcourse，anythingcanbebelievedinanyage。But，oddlyenough，therereallyisasenseinwhichacreed，ifitisbelievedatall，canbebelievedmorefixedlyinacomplexsocietythaninasimpleone。
　　IfamanfindsChristianitytrueinBirmingham，hehasactuallyclearerreasonsforfaiththanifhehadfoundittrueinMercia。Forthemorecomplicatedseemsthecoincidence，thelessitcanbeacoincidence。
　　Ifsnowflakesfellintheshape，say，oftheheartofMidlothian，itmightbeanaccident。ButifsnowflakesfellintheexactshapeofthemazeatHamptonCourt，Ithinkonemightcallitamiracle。
　　ItisexactlyasofsuchamiraclethatIhavesincecometofeelofthephilosophyofChristianity。Thecomplicationofourmodernworldprovesthetruthofthecreedmoreperfectlythananyoftheplainproblemsoftheagesoffaith。ItwasinNottingHillandBatterseathatIbegantoseethatChristianitywastrue。
　　ThisiswhythefaithhasthatelaborationofdoctrinesanddetailswhichsomuchdistressesthosewhoadmireChristianitywithoutbelievinginit。Whenonceonebelievesinacreed，oneisproudofitscomplexity，asscientistsareproudofthecomplexityofscience。Itshowshowrichitisindiscoveries。Ifitisrightatall，itisacomplimenttosaythatit’selaboratelyright。
　　Astickmightfitaholeorastoneahollowbyaccident。
　　Butakeyandalockarebothcomplex。Andifakeyfitsalock，youknowitistherightkey。
　　ButthisinvolvedaccuracyofthethingmakesitverydifficulttodowhatInowhavetodo，todescribethisaccumulationoftruth。
　　Itisveryhardforamantodefendanythingofwhichheisentirelyconvinced。Itiscomparativelyeasywhenheisonlypartiallyconvinced。Heispartiallyconvincedbecausehehasfoundthisorthatproofofthething，andhecanexpoundit。
　　Butamanisnotreallyconvincedofaphilosophictheorywhenhefindsthatsomethingprovesit。Heisonlyreallyconvincedwhenhefindsthateverythingprovesit。Andthemoreconvergingreasonshefindspointingtothisconviction，themorebewilderedheisifaskedsuddenlytosumthemup。Thus，ifoneaskedanordinaryintelligentman，onthespurofthemoment，"Whydoyouprefercivilizationtosavagery？"
　　hewouldlookwildlyroundatobjectafterobject，andwouldonlybeabletoanswervaguely，"Why，thereisthatbookcase……andthecoalsinthecoal-scuttle……andpianos……andpolicemen。"
　　Thewholecaseforcivilizationisthatthecaseforitiscomplex。
　　Ithasdonesomanythings。Butthatverymultiplicityofproofwhichoughttomakereplyoverwhelmingmakesreplyimpossible。
　　Thereis，therefore，aboutallcompleteconvictionakindofhugehelplessness。Thebeliefissobigthatittakesalongtimetogetitintoaction。Andthishesitationchieflyarises，oddlyenough，fromanindifferenceaboutwhereoneshouldbegin。
　　AllroadsleadtoRome；whichisonereasonwhymanypeoplenevergetthere。InthecaseofthisdefenceoftheChristianconvictionIconfessthatIwouldassoonbegintheargumentwithonethingasanother；Iwouldbeginitwithaturniporataximetercab。
　　ButifIamtobeatallcarefulaboutmakingmymeaningclear，itwill，Ithink，bewisertocontinuethecurrentargumentsofthelastchapter，whichwasconcernedtourgethefirstofthesemysticalcoincidences，orratherratifications。AllIhadhithertoheardofChristiantheologyhadalienatedmefromit。
　　Iwasapaganattheageoftwelve，andacompleteagnosticbytheageofsixteen；andIcannotunderstandanyonepassingtheageofseventeenwithouthavingaskedhimselfsosimpleaquestion。
　　Idid，indeed，retainacloudyreverenceforacosmicdeityandagreathistoricalinterestintheFounderofChristianity。
　　ButIcertainlyregardedHimasaman；thoughperhapsIthoughtthat，eveninthatpoint，HehadanadvantageoversomeofHismoderncritics。