Butnaturedoesnotsaythatcatsaremorevaluablethanmice；
　　naturemakesnoremarkonthesubject。Shedoesnotevensaythatthecatisenviableorthemousepitiable。Wethinkthecatsuperiorbecausewehave（ormostofushave）aparticularphilosophytotheeffectthatlifeisbetterthandeath。ButifthemousewereaGermanpessimistmouse，hemightnotthinkthatthecathadbeatenhimatall。Hemightthinkhehadbeatenthecatbygettingtothegravefirst。Orhemightfeelthathehadactuallyinflictedfrightfulpunishmentonthecatbykeepinghimalive。
　　Justasamicrobemightfeelproudofspreadingapestilence，sothepessimisticmousemightexulttothinkthathewasrenewinginthecatthetortureofconsciousexistence。Italldependsonthephilosophyofthemouse。Youcannotevensaythatthereisvictoryorsuperiorityinnatureunlessyouhavesomedoctrineaboutwhatthingsaresuperior。Youcannotevensaythatthecatscoresunlessthereisasystemofscoring。Youcannotevensaythatthecatgetsthebestofitunlessthereissomebesttobegot。
　　Wecannot，then，gettheidealitselffromnature，andaswefollowherethefirstandnaturalspeculation，wewillleaveout（forthepresent）theideaofgettingitfromGod。
　　Wemusthaveourownvision。Buttheattemptsofmostmodernstoexpressitarehighlyvague。
　　Somefallbacksimplyontheclock：theytalkasifmerepassagethroughtimebroughtsomesuperiority；sothatevenamanofthefirstmentalcalibrecarelesslyusesthephrasethathumanmoralityisneveruptodate。Howcananythingbeuptodate？——
　　adatehasnocharacter。HowcanonesaythatChristmascelebrationsarenotsuitabletothetwenty-fifthofamonth？
　　Whatthewritermeant，ofcourse，wasthatthemajorityisbehindhisfavouriteminority——orinfrontofit。Othervaguemodernpeopletakerefugeinmaterialmetaphors；infact，thisisthechiefmarkofvaguemodernpeople。Notdaringtodefinetheirdoctrineofwhatisgood，theyusephysicalfiguresofspeechwithoutstintorshame，and，whatisworstofall，seemtothinkthesecheapanalogiesareexquisitelyspiritualandsuperiortotheoldmorality。
　　Thustheythinkitintellectualtotalkaboutthingsbeing"high。"
　　Itisatleastthereverseofintellectual；itisamerephrasefromasteepleoraweathercock。"Tommywasagoodboy"isapurephilosophicalstatement，worthyofPlatoorAquinas。"Tommylivedthehigherlife"isagrossmetaphorfromaten-footrule。
　　This，incidentally，isalmostthewholeweaknessofNietzsche，whomsomearerepresentingasaboldandstrongthinker。
　　Noonewilldenythathewasapoeticalandsuggestivethinker；
　　buthewasquitethereverseofstrong。Hewasnotatallbold。
　　Heneverputhisownmeaningbeforehimselfinbaldabstractwords：
　　asdidAristotleandCalvin，andevenKarlMarx，thehard，fearlessmenofthought。Nietzschealwaysescapedaquestionbyaphysicalmetaphor，likeacheeryminorpoet。Hesaid，"beyondgoodandevil，"becausehehadnotthecouragetosay，"moregoodthangoodandevil，"or，"moreevilthangoodandevil。"
　　Hadhefacedhisthoughtwithoutmetaphors，hewouldhaveseenthatitwasnonsense。So，whenhedescribeshishero，hedoesnotdaretosay，"thepurerman，"or"thehappierman，"or"thesadderman，"foralltheseareideas；andideasarealarming。Hesays"theupperman，"
　　or"overman，"aphysicalmetaphorfromacrobatsoralpineclimbers。
　　Nietzscheistrulyaverytimidthinker。Hedoesnotreallyknowintheleastwhatsortofmanhewantsevolutiontoproduce。
　　Andifhedoesnotknow，certainlytheordinaryevolutionists，whotalkaboutthingsbeing"higher，"donotknoweither。
　　Thenagain，somepeoplefallbackonsheersubmissionandsittingstill。Natureisgoingtodosomethingsomeday；
　　nobodyknowswhat，andnobodyknowswhen。Wehavenoreasonforacting，andnoreasonfornotacting。Ifanythinghappensitisright：
　　ifanythingispreventeditwaswrong。Again，somepeopletrytoanticipatenaturebydoingsomething，bydoinganything。
　　Becausewemaypossiblygrowwingstheycutofftheirlegs。
　　Yetnaturemaybetryingtomakethemcentipedesforalltheyknow。
　　Lastly，thereisafourthclassofpeoplewhotakewhateveritisthattheyhappentowant，andsaythatthatistheultimateaimofevolution。Andthesearetheonlysensiblepeople。
　　Thisistheonlyreallyhealthywaywiththewordevolution，toworkforwhatyouwant，andtocallTHATevolution。Theonlyintelligiblesensethatprogressoradvancecanhaveamongmen，isthatwehaveadefinitevision，andthatwewishtomakethewholeworldlikethatvision。Ifyouliketoputitso，theessenceofthedoctrineisthatwhatwehavearoundusisthemeremethodandpreparationforsomethingthatwehavetocreate。
　　Thisisnotaworld，butratherthematerialforaworld。
　　Godhasgivenusnotsomuchthecoloursofapictureasthecoloursofapalette。Buthehasalsogivenusasubject，amodel，afixedvision。Wemustbeclearaboutwhatwewanttopaint。
　　Thisaddsafurtherprincipletoourpreviouslistofprinciples。
　　Wehavesaidwemustbefondofthisworld，eveninordertochangeit。
　　Wenowaddthatwemustbefondofanotherworld（realorimaginary）
　　inordertohavesomethingtochangeitto。
　　Weneednotdebateaboutthemerewordsevolutionorprogress：
　　personallyIprefertocallitreform。Forreformimpliesform。
　　Itimpliesthatwearetryingtoshapetheworldinaparticularimage；
　　tomakeitsomethingthatweseealreadyinourminds。Evolutionisametaphorfrommereautomaticunrolling。Progressisametaphorfrommerelywalkingalongaroad——verylikelythewrongroad。Butreformisametaphorforreasonableanddeterminedmen：itmeansthatweseeacertainthingoutofshapeandwemeantoputitintoshape。
　　Andweknowwhatshape。
　　Nowherecomesinthewholecollapseandhugeblunderofourage。
　　Wehavemixeduptwodifferentthings，twooppositethings。
　　Progressshouldmeanthatwearealwayschangingtheworldtosuitthevision。Progressdoesmean（justnow）thatwearealwayschangingthevision。Itshouldmeanthatweareslowbutsureinbringingjusticeandmercyamongmen：itdoesmeanthatweareveryswiftindoubtingthedesirabilityofjusticeandmercy：awildpagefromanyPrussiansophistmakesmendoubtit。ProgressshouldmeanthatwearealwayswalkingtowardstheNewJerusalem。ItdoesmeanthattheNewJerusalemisalwayswalkingawayfromus。Wearenotalteringtherealtosuittheideal。Wearealteringtheideal：
　　itiseasier。
　　Sillyexamplesarealwayssimpler；letussupposeamanwantedaparticularkindofworld；say，ablueworld。Hewouldhavenocausetocomplainoftheslightnessorswiftnessofhistask；
　　hemighttoilforalongtimeatthetransformation；hecouldworkaway（ineverysense）untilallwasblue。Hecouldhaveheroicadventures；theputtingofthelasttouchestoabluetiger。
　　Hecouldhavefairydreams；thedawnofabluemoon。Butifheworkedhard，thathigh-mindedreformerwouldcertainly（fromhisownpointofview）leavetheworldbetterandbluerthanhefoundit。
　　Ifhealteredabladeofgrasstohisfavouritecoloureveryday，hewouldgetonslowly。Butifhealteredhisfavouritecoloureveryday，hewouldnotgetonatall。If，afterreadingafreshphilosopher，hestartedtopainteverythingredoryellow，hisworkwouldbethrownaway：therewouldbenothingtoshowexceptafewbluetigerswalkingabout，specimensofhisearlybadmanner。
　　Thisisexactlythepositionoftheaveragemodernthinker。
　　Itwillbesaidthatthisisavowedlyapreposterousexample。
　　Butitisliterallythefactofrecenthistory。Thegreatandgravechangesinourpoliticalcivilizationallbelongedtotheearlynineteenthcentury，nottothelater。TheybelongedtotheblackandwhiteepochwhenmenbelievedfixedlyinToryism，inProtestantism，inCalvinism，inReform，andnotunfrequentlyinRevolution。
　　Andwhatevereachmanbelievedinhehammeredatsteadily，withoutscepticism：andtherewasatimewhentheEstablishedChurchmighthavefallen，andtheHouseofLordsnearlyfell。
　　ItwasbecauseRadicalswerewiseenoughtobeconstantandconsistent；
　　itwasbecauseRadicalswerewiseenoughtobeConservative。
　　ButintheexistingatmospherethereisnotenoughtimeandtraditioninRadicalismtopullanythingdown。ThereisagreatdealoftruthinLordHughCecil’ssuggestion（madeinafinespeech）thattheeraofchangeisover，andthatoursisaneraofconservationandrepose。
　　ButprobablyitwouldpainLordHughCecilifherealized（whatiscertainlythecase）thatoursisonlyanageofconservationbecauseitisanageofcompleteunbelief。Letbeliefsfadefastandfrequently，ifyouwishinstitutionstoremainthesame。
　　Themorethelifeofthemindisunhinged，themorethemachineryofmatterwillbelefttoitself。Thenetresultofallourpoliticalsuggestions，Collectivism，Tolstoyanism，Neo-Feudalism，Communism，Anarchy，ScientificBureaucracy——theplainfruitofallofthemisthattheMonarchyandtheHouseofLordswillremain。
　　ThenetresultofallthenewreligionswillbethattheChurchofEnglandwillnot（forheavenknowshowlong）bedisestablished。
　　ItwasKarlMarx，Nietzsche，Tolstoy，CunninghameGrahame，BernardShawandAuberonHerbert，whobetweenthem，withbowedgiganticbacks，boreupthethroneoftheArchbishopofCanterbury。
　　Wemaysaybroadlythatfreethoughtisthebestofallthesafeguardsagainstfreedom。Managedinamodernstyletheemancipationoftheslave’smindisthebestwayofpreventingtheemancipationoftheslave。Teachhimtoworryaboutwhetherhewantstobefree，andhewillnotfreehimself。Again，itmaybesaidthatthisinstanceisremoteorextreme。But，again，itisexactlytrueofthemeninthestreetsaroundus。Itistruethatthenegroslave，beingadebasedbarbarian，willprobablyhaveeitherahumanaffectionofloyalty，orahumanaffectionforliberty。Butthemanweseeeveryday——theworkerinMr。Gradgrind’sfactory，thelittleclerkinMr。Gradgrind’soffice——heistoomentallyworriedtobelieveinfreedom。Heiskeptquietwithrevolutionaryliterature。
　　Heiscalmedandkeptinhisplacebyaconstantsuccessionofwildphilosophies。HeisaMarxianoneday，aNietzscheitethenextday，aSuperman（probably）thenextday；andaslaveeveryday。
　　Theonlythingthatremainsafterallthephilosophiesisthefactory。
　　TheonlymanwhogainsbyallthephilosophiesisGradgrind。
　　Itwouldbeworthhiswhiletokeephiscommercialhelotrysuppliedwithscepticalliterature。AndnowIcometothinkofit，ofcourse，Gradgrindisfamousforgivinglibraries。Heshowshissense。
　　Allmodernbooksareonhisside。Aslongasthevisionofheavenisalwayschanging，thevisionofearthwillbeexactlythesame。
　　Noidealwillremainlongenoughtoberealized，orevenpartlyrealized。
　　Themodernyoungmanwillneverchangehisenvironment；forhewillalwayschangehismind。
　　This，therefore，isourfirstrequirementabouttheidealtowardswhichprogressisdirected；itmustbefixed。Whistlerusedtomakemanyrapidstudiesofasitter；itdidnotmatterifhetoreuptwentyportraits。Butitwouldmatterifhelookeduptwentytimes，andeachtimesawanewpersonsittingplacidlyforhisportrait。
　　Soitdoesnotmatter（comparativelyspeaking）howoftenhumanityfailstoimitateitsideal；forthenallitsoldfailuresarefruitful。
　　Butitdoesfrightfullymatterhowoftenhumanitychangesitsideal；
　　forthenallitsoldfailuresarefruitless。Thequestionthereforebecomesthis：Howcanwekeeptheartistdiscontentedwithhispictureswhilepreventinghimfrombeingvitallydiscontentedwithhisart？
　　Howcanwemakeamanalwaysdissatisfiedwithhiswork，yetalwayssatisfiedwithworking？Howcanwemakesurethattheportraitpainterwillthrowtheportraitoutofwindowinsteadoftakingthenaturalandmorehumancourseofthrowingthesitteroutofwindow？
　　Astrictruleisnotonlynecessaryforruling；itisalsonecessaryforrebelling。Thisfixedandfamiliaridealisnecessarytoanysortofrevolution。Manwillsometimesactslowlyuponnewideas；
　　buthewillonlyactswiftlyuponoldideas。IfIammerelytofloatorfadeorevolve，itmaybetowardssomethinganarchic；
　　butifIamtoriot，itmustbeforsomethingrespectable。Thisisthewholeweaknessofcertainschoolsofprogressandmoralevolution。
　　Theysuggestthattherehasbeenaslowmovementtowardsmorality，withanimperceptibleethicalchangeineveryyearorateveryinstant。
　　Thereisonlyonegreatdisadvantageinthistheory。Ittalksofaslowmovementtowardsjustice；butitdoesnotpermitaswiftmovement。
　　Amanisnotallowedtoleapupanddeclareacertainstateofthingstobeintrinsicallyintolerable。Tomakethematterclear，itisbettertotakeaspecificexample。Certainoftheidealisticvegetarians，suchasMr。Salt，saythatthetimehasnowcomeforeatingnomeat；
　　byimplicationtheyassumethatatonetimeitwasrighttoeatmeat，andtheysuggest（inwordsthatcouldbequoted）thatsomedayitmaybewrongtoeatmilkandeggs。Idonotdiscussherethequestionofwhatisjusticetoanimals。Ionlysaythatwhateverisjusticeought，undergivenconditions，tobepromptjustice。
　　Ifananimaliswronged，weoughttobeabletorushtohisrescue。
　　Buthowcanwerushifweare，perhaps，inadvanceofourtime？Howcanwerushtocatchatrainwhichmaynotarriveforafewcenturies？
　　HowcanIdenounceamanforskinningcats，ifheisonlynowwhatI
　　maypossiblybecomeindrinkingaglassofmilk？AsplendidandinsaneRussiansectranabouttakingallthecattleoutofallthecarts。
　　HowcanIpluckupcouragetotakethehorseoutofmyhansom-cab，whenIdonotknowwhethermyevolutionarywatchisonlyalittlefastorthecabman’salittleslow？SupposeIsaytoasweater，"Slaverysuitedonestageofevolution。"Andsupposeheanswers，"Andsweatingsuitsthisstageofevolution。"HowcanIanswerifthereisnoeternaltest？Ifsweaterscanbebehindthecurrentmorality，whyshouldnotphilanthropistsbeinfrontofit？Whatonearthisthecurrentmorality，exceptinitsliteralsense——themoralitythatisalwaysrunningaway？
　　Thuswemaysaythatapermanentidealisasnecessarytotheinnovatorastotheconservative；itisnecessarywhetherwewishtheking’sorderstobepromptlyexecutedorwhetherweonlywishthekingtobepromptlyexecuted。Theguillotinehasmanysins，buttodoitjusticethereisnothingevolutionaryaboutit。
　　Thefavouriteevolutionaryargumentfindsitsbestanswerintheaxe。TheEvolutionistsays，"Wheredoyoudrawtheline？"
　　theRevolutionistanswers，"IdrawitHERE：exactlybetweenyourheadandbody。"Theremustatanygivenmomentbeanabstractrightandwrongifanyblowistobestruck；theremustbesomethingeternalifthereistobeanythingsudden。Thereforeforallintelligiblehumanpurposes，foralteringthingsorforkeepingthingsastheyare，forfoundingasystemforever，asinChina，orforalteringiteverymonthasintheearlyFrenchRevolution，itisequallynecessarythatthevisionshouldbeafixedvision。
　　Thisisourfirstrequirement。
　　WhenIhadwrittenthisdown，Ifeltonceagainthepresenceofsomethingelseinthediscussion：asamanhearsachurchbellabovethesoundofthestreet。Somethingseemedtobesaying，"Myidealatleastisfixed；foritwasfixedbeforethefoundationsoftheworld。Myvisionofperfectionassuredlycannotbealtered；
　　foritiscalledEden。Youmayaltertheplacetowhichyouaregoing；butyoucannotaltertheplacefromwhichyouhavecome。
　　Totheorthodoxtheremustalwaysbeacaseforrevolution；
　　forintheheartsofmenGodhasbeenputunderthefeetofSatan。
　　Intheupperworldhelloncerebelledagainstheaven。Butinthisworldheavenisrebellingagainsthell。Fortheorthodoxtherecanalwaysbearevolution；forarevolutionisarestoration。
　　AtanyinstantyoumaystrikeablowfortheperfectionwhichnomanhasseensinceAdam。Nounchangingcustom，nochangingevolutioncanmaketheoriginalgoodanythingbutgood。
　　Manmayhavehadconcubinesaslongascowshavehadhorns：
　　stilltheyarenotapartofhimiftheyaresinful。Menmayhavebeenunderoppressioneversincefishwereunderwater；
　　stilltheyoughtnottobe，ifoppressionissinful。Thechainmayseemasnaturaltotheslave，orthepainttotheharlot，asdoestheplumetothebirdortheburrowtothefox；stilltheyarenot，iftheyaresinful。Iliftmyprehistoriclegendtodefyallyourhistory。Yourvisionisnotmerelyafixture：itisafact。"
　　IpausedtonotethenewcoincidenceofChristianity：butI
　　passedon。
　　Ipassedontothenextnecessityofanyidealofprogress。
　　Somepeople（aswehavesaid）seemtobelieveinanautomaticandimpersonalprogressinthenatureofthings。Butitisclearthatnopoliticalactivitycanbeencouragedbysayingthatprogressisnaturalandinevitable；thatisnotareasonforbeingactive，butratherareasonforbeinglazy。Ifweareboundtoimprove，weneednottroubletoimprove。Thepuredoctrineofprogressisthebestofallreasonsfornotbeingaprogressive。ButitistononeoftheseobviouscommentsthatIwishprimarilytocallattention。
　　Theonlyarrestingpointisthis：thatifwesupposeimprovementtobenatural，itmustbefairlysimple。Theworldmightconceivablybeworkingtowardsoneconsummation，buthardlytowardsanyparticulararrangementofmanyqualities。Totakeouroriginalsimile：Naturebyherselfmaybegrowingmoreblue；
　　thatis，aprocesssosimplethatitmightbeimpersonal。ButNaturecannotbemakingacarefulpicturemadeofmanypickedcolours，unlessNatureispersonal。Iftheendoftheworldweremeredarknessormerelightitmightcomeasslowlyandinevitablyasduskordawn。Butiftheendoftheworldistobeapieceofelaborateandartisticchiaroscuro，thentheremustbedesigninit，eitherhumanordivine。Theworld，throughmeretime，mightgrowblacklikeanoldpicture，orwhitelikeanoldcoat；
　　butifitisturnedintoaparticularpieceofblackandwhiteart——
　　thenthereisanartist。
　　Ifthedistinctionbenotevident，Igiveanordinaryinstance。Weconstantlyhearaparticularlycosmiccreedfromthemodernhumanitarians；
　　Iusethewordhumanitarianintheordinarysense，asmeaningonewhoupholdstheclaimsofallcreaturesagainstthoseofhumanity。
　　Theysuggestthatthroughtheageswehavebeengrowingmoreandmorehumane，thatistosay，thatoneafteranother，groupsorsectionsofbeings，slaves，children，women，cows，orwhatnot，havebeengraduallyadmittedtomercyortojustice。Theysaythatweoncethoughtitrighttoeatmen（wedidn’t）；butIamnothereconcernedwiththeirhistory，whichishighlyunhistorical。
　　Asafact，anthropophagyiscertainlyadecadentthing，notaprimitiveone。Itismuchmorelikelythatmodernmenwilleathumanfleshoutofaffectationthanthatprimitivemaneverateitoutofignorance。Iamhereonlyfollowingtheoutlinesoftheirargument，whichconsistsinmaintainingthatmanhasbeenprogressivelymorelenient，firsttocitizens，thentoslaves，thentoanimals，andthen（presumably）toplants。Ithinkitwrongtositonaman。Soon，Ishallthinkitwrongtositonahorse。
　　Eventually（Isuppose）Ishallthinkitwrongtositonachair。
　　Thatisthedriveoftheargument。Andforthisargumentitcanbesaidthatitispossibletotalkofitintermsofevolutionorinevitableprogress。Aperpetualtendencytotouchfewerandfewerthingsmight——onefeels，beamerebruteunconscioustendency，likethatofaspeciestoproducefewerandfewerchildren。
　　Thisdriftmaybereallyevolutionary，becauseitisstupid。
　　Darwinismcanbeusedtobackuptwomadmoralities，butitcannotbeusedtobackupasinglesaneone。Thekinshipandcompetitionofalllivingcreaturescanbeusedasareasonforbeinginsanelycruelorinsanelysentimental；butnotforahealthyloveofanimals。Ontheevolutionarybasisyoumaybeinhumane，oryoumaybeabsurdlyhumane；butyoucannotbehuman。Thatyouandatigerareonemaybeareasonforbeingtendertoatiger。
　　Oritmaybeareasonforbeingascruelasthetiger。Itisonewaytotrainthetigertoimitateyou，itisashorterwaytoimitatethetiger。Butinneithercasedoesevolutiontellyouhowtotreatatigerreasonably，thatis，toadmirehisstripeswhileavoidinghisclaws。
　　Ifyouwanttotreatatigerreasonably，youmustgobacktothegardenofEden。Fortheobstinateremindercontinuedtorecur：
　　onlythesupernaturalhastakenasaneviewofNature。Theessenceofallpantheism，evolutionism，andmoderncosmicreligionisreallyinthisproposition：thatNatureisourmother。Unfortunately，ifyouregardNatureasamother，youdiscoverthatsheisastep-mother。ThemainpointofChristianitywasthis：thatNatureisnotourmother：
　　Natureisoursister。Wecanbeproudofherbeauty，sincewehavethesamefather；butshehasnoauthorityoverus；wehavetoadmire，butnottoimitate。ThisgivestothetypicallyChristianpleasureinthisearthastrangetouchoflightnessthatisalmostfrivolity。
　　NaturewasasolemnmothertotheworshippersofIsisandCybele。
　　NaturewasasolemnmothertoWordsworthortoEmerson。
　　ButNatureisnotsolemntoFrancisofAssisiortoGeorgeHerbert。
　　ToSt。Francis，Natureisasister，andevenayoungersister：
　　alittle，dancingsister，tobelaughedataswellasloved。
　　This，however，ishardlyourmainpointatpresent；Ihaveadmitteditonlyinordertoshowhowconstantly，andasitwereaccidentally，thekeywouldfitthesmallestdoors。Ourmainpointishere，thatiftherebeameretrendofimpersonalimprovementinNature，itmustpresumablybeasimpletrendtowardssomesimpletriumph。
　　Onecanimaginethatsomeautomatictendencyinbiologymightworkforgivinguslongerandlongernoses。Butthequestionis，dowewanttohavelongerandlongernoses？Ifancynot；
　　Ibelievethatwemostofuswanttosaytoournoses，"thusfar，andnofarther；andhereshallthyproudpointbestayed："
　　werequireanoseofsuchlengthasmayensureaninterestingface。
　　Butwecannotimagineamerebiologicaltrendtowardsproducinginterestingfaces；becauseaninterestingfaceisoneparticulararrangementofeyes，nose，andmouth，inamostcomplexrelationtoeachother。Proportioncannotbeadrift：itiseitheranaccidentoradesign。Sowiththeidealofhumanmoralityanditsrelationtothehumanitariansandtheanti-humanitarians。
　　Itisconceivablethatwearegoingmoreandmoretokeepourhandsoffthings：nottodrivehorses；nottopickflowers。Wemayeventuallybeboundnottodisturbaman’smindevenbyargument；
　　nottodisturbthesleepofbirdsevenbycoughing。Theultimateapotheosiswouldappeartobethatofamansittingquitestill，nordaringtostirforfearofdisturbingafly，nortoeatforfearofincommodingamicrobe。Tosocrudeaconsummationasthatwemightperhapsunconsciouslydrift。Butdowewantsocrudeaconsummation？Similarly，wemightunconsciouslyevolvealongtheoppositeorNietzschianlineofdevelopment——supermancrushingsupermaninonetoweroftyrantsuntiltheuniverseissmashedupforfun。Butdowewanttheuniversesmashedupforfun？
　　Isitnotquiteclearthatwhatwereallyhopeforisoneparticularmanagementandpropositionofthesetwothings；acertainamountofrestraintandrespect，acertainamountofenergyandmastery？
　　Ifourlifeiseverreallyasbeautifulasafairy-tale，weshallhavetorememberthatallthebeautyofafairy-taleliesinthis：
　　thattheprincehasawonderwhichjuststopsshortofbeingfear。
　　Ifheisafraidofthegiant，thereisanendofhim；butalsoifheisnotastonishedatthegiant，thereisanendofthefairy-tale。Thewholepointdependsuponhisbeingatoncehumbleenoughtowonder，andhaughtyenoughtodefy。Soourattitudetothegiantoftheworldmustnotmerelybeincreasingdelicacyorincreasingcontempt：
　　itmustbeoneparticularproportionofthetwo——whichisexactlyright。
　　Wemusthaveinusenoughreverenceforallthingsoutsideustomakeustreadfearfullyonthegrass。Wemustalsohaveenoughdisdainforallthingsoutsideus，tomakeus，ondueoccasion，spitatthestars。Yetthesetwothings（ifwearetobegoodorhappy）mustbecombined，notinanycombination，butinoneparticularcombination。Theperfecthappinessofmenontheearth（ifitevercomes）willnotbeaflatandsolidthing，likethesatisfactionofanimals。Itwillbeanexactandperilousbalance；
　　likethatofadesperateromance。Manmusthavejustenoughfaithinhimselftohaveadventures，andjustenoughdoubtofhimselftoenjoythem。
　　This，then，isoursecondrequirementfortheidealofprogress。
　　First，itmustbefixed；second，itmustbecomposite。Itmustnot（ifitistosatisfyoursouls）bethemerevictoryofsomeonethingswallowingupeverythingelse，loveorprideorpeaceoradventure；
　　itmustbeadefinitepicturecomposedoftheseelementsintheirbestproportionandrelation。Iamnotconcernedatthismomenttodenythatsomesuchgoodculminationmaybe，bytheconstitutionofthings，reservedforthehumanrace。Ionlypointoutthatifthiscompositehappinessisfixedforusitmustbefixedbysomemind；foronlyamindcanplacetheexactproportionsofacompositehappiness。
　　Ifthebeatificationoftheworldisamereworkofnature，thenitmustbeassimpleasthefreezingoftheworld，ortheburningupoftheworld。Butifthebeatificationoftheworldisnotaworkofnaturebutaworkofart，thenitinvolvesanartist。
　　Andhereagainmycontemplationwasclovenbytheancientvoicewhichsaid，"Icouldhavetoldyouallthisalongtimeago。
　　Ifthereisanycertainprogressitcanonlybemykindofprogress，theprogresstowardsacompletecityofvirtuesanddominationswhererighteousnessandpeacecontrivetokisseachother。
　　Animpersonalforcemightbeleadingyoutoawildernessofperfectflatnessorapeakofperfectheight。ButonlyapersonalGodcanpossiblybeleadingyou（if，indeed，youarebeingled）toacitywithjuststreetsandarchitecturalproportions，acityinwhicheachofyoucancontributeexactlytherightamountofyourowncolourtothemanycolouredcoatofJoseph。"
　　Twiceagain，therefore，ChristianityhadcomeinwiththeexactanswerthatIrequired。Ihadsaid，"Theidealmustbefixed，"
　　andtheChurchhadanswered，"Mineisliterallyfixed，foritexistedbeforeanythingelse。"Isaidsecondly，"Itmustbeartisticallycombined，likeapicture"；andtheChurchanswered，"Mineisquiteliterallyapicture，forIknowwhopaintedit。"
　　ThenIwentontothethirdthing，which，asitseemedtome，wasneededforanUtopiaorgoalofprogress。Andofallthethreeitisinfinitelythehardesttoexpress。Perhapsitmightbeputthus：
　　thatweneedwatchfulnesseveninUtopia，lestwefallfromUtopiaaswefellfromEden。
　　Wehaveremarkedthatonereasonofferedforbeingaprogressiveisthatthingsnaturallytendtogrowbetter。Buttheonlyrealreasonforbeingaprogressiveisthatthingsnaturallytendtogrowworse。Thecorruptioninthingsisnotonlythebestargumentforbeingprogressive；itisalsotheonlyargumentagainstbeingconservative。Theconservativetheorywouldreallybequitesweepingandunanswerableifitwerenotforthisonefact。
　　Butallconservatismisbasedupontheideathatifyouleavethingsaloneyouleavethemastheyare。Butyoudonot。
　　Ifyouleaveathingaloneyouleaveittoatorrentofchange。
　　Ifyouleaveawhitepostaloneitwillsoonbeablackpost。Ifyouparticularlywantittobewhiteyoumustbealwayspaintingitagain；
　　thatis，youmustbealwayshavingarevolution。Briefly，ifyouwanttheoldwhitepostyoumusthaveanewwhitepost。Butthiswhichistrueevenofinanimatethingsisinaquitespecialandterriblesensetrueofallhumanthings。Analmostunnaturalvigilanceisreallyrequiredofthecitizenbecauseofthehorriblerapiditywithwhichhumaninstitutionsgrowold。Itisthecustominpassingromanceandjournalismtotalkofmensufferingunderoldtyrannies。
　　But，asafact，menhavealmostalwayssufferedundernewtyrannies；
　　undertyranniesthathadbeenpubliclibertieshardlytwentyyearsbefore。ThusEnglandwentmadwithjoyoverthepatrioticmonarchyofElizabeth；andthen（almostimmediatelyafterwards）
　　wentmadwithrageinthetrapofthetyrannyofCharlestheFirst。
　　So，again，inFrancethemonarchybecameintolerable，notjustafterithadbeentolerated，butjustafterithadbeenadored。
　　ThesonofLouisthewell-belovedwasLouistheguillotined。
　　SointhesamewayinEnglandinthenineteenthcenturytheRadicalmanufacturerwasentirelytrustedasameretribuneofthepeople，untilsuddenlyweheardthecryoftheSocialistthathewasatyranteatingthepeoplelikebread。Soagain，wehavealmostuptothelastinstanttrustedthenewspapersasorgansofpublicopinion。
　　Justrecentlysomeofushaveseen（notslowly，butwithastart）
　　thattheyareobviouslynothingofthekind。Theyare，bythenatureofthecase，thehobbiesofafewrichmen。Wehavenotanyneedtorebelagainstantiquity；wehavetorebelagainstnovelty。
　　Itisthenewrulers，thecapitalistortheeditor，whoreallyholdupthemodernworld。Thereisnofearthatamodernkingwillattempttooverridetheconstitution；itismorelikelythathewillignoretheconstitutionandworkbehinditsback；hewilltakenoadvantageofhiskinglypower；itismorelikelythathewilltakeadvantageofhiskinglypowerlessness，ofthefactthatheisfreefromcriticismandpublicity。Forthekingisthemostprivatepersonofourtime。Itwillnotbenecessaryforanyonetofightagainagainsttheproposalofacensorshipofthepress。
　　Wedonotneedacensorshipofthepress。Wehaveacensorshipbythepress。
　　Thisstartlingswiftnesswithwhichpopularsystemsturnoppressiveisthethirdfactforwhichweshallaskourperfecttheoryofprogresstoallow。Itmustalwaysbeonthelookoutforeveryprivilegebeingabused，foreveryworkingrightbecomingawrong。
　　InthismatterIamentirelyonthesideoftherevolutionists。
　　Theyarereallyrighttobealwayssuspectinghumaninstitutions；
　　theyarerightnottoputtheirtrustinprincesnorinanychildofman。Thechieftainchosentobethefriendofthepeoplebecomestheenemyofthepeople；thenewspaperstartedtotellthetruthnowexiststopreventthetruthbeingtold。Here，Isay，IfeltthatIwasreallyatlastonthesideoftherevolutionary。
　　AndthenIcaughtmybreathagain：forIrememberedthatIwasonceagainonthesideoftheorthodox。
　　Christianityspokeagainandsaid："Ihavealwaysmaintainedthatmenwerenaturallybacksliders；thathumanvirtuetendedofitsownnaturetorustortorot；Ihavealwayssaidthathumanbeingsassuchgowrong，especiallyhappyhumanbeings，especiallyproudandprosperoushumanbeings。Thiseternalrevolution，thissuspicionsustainedthroughcenturies，you（beingavaguemodern）callthedoctrineofprogress。Ifyouwereaphilosopheryouwouldcallit，asIdo，thedoctrineoforiginalsin。Youmaycallitthecosmicadvanceasmuchasyoulike；Icallitwhatitis——theFall。"
　　Ihavespokenoforthodoxycominginlikeasword；hereI
　　confessitcameinlikeabattle-axe。Forreally（whenIcametothinkofit）Christianityistheonlythingleftthathasanyrealrighttoquestionthepowerofthewell-nurturedorthewell-bred。
　　IhavelistenedoftenenoughtoSocialists，oreventodemocrats，sayingthatthephysicalconditionsofthepoormustofnecessitymakethemmentallyandmorallydegraded。Ihavelistenedtoscientificmen（andtherearestillscientificmennotopposedtodemocracy）
　　sayingthatifwegivethepoorhealthierconditionsviceandwrongwilldisappear。Ihavelistenedtothemwithahorribleattention，withahideousfascination。Foritwaslikewatchingamanenergeticallysawingfromthetreethebranchheissittingon。
　　Ifthesehappydemocratscouldprovetheircase，theywouldstrikedemocracydead。Ifthepoorarethusutterlydemoralized，itmayormaynotbepracticaltoraisethem。Butitiscertainlyquitepracticaltodisfranchisethem。Ifthemanwithabadbedroomcannotgiveagoodvote，thenthefirstandswiftestdeductionisthatheshallgivenovote。Thegoverningclassmaynotunreasonablysay：
　　"Itmaytakeussometimetoreformhisbedroom。Butifheisthebruteyousay，itwilltakehimverylittletimetoruinourcountry。
　　Thereforewewilltakeyourhintandnotgivehimthechance。"
　　ItfillsmewithhorribleamusementtoobservethewayinwhichtheearnestSocialistindustriouslylaysthefoundationofallaristocracy，expatiatingblandlyupontheevidentunfitnessofthepoortorule。
　　Itislikelisteningtosomebodyataneveningpartyapologisingforenteringwithouteveningdress，andexplainingthathehadrecentlybeenintoxicated，hadapersonalhabitoftakingoffhisclothesinthestreet，andhad，moreover，onlyjustchangedfromprisonuniform。Atanymoment，onefeels，thehostmightsaythatreally，ifitwasasbadasthat，heneednotcomeinatall。
　　SoitiswhentheordinarySocialist，withabeamingface，provesthatthepoor，aftertheirsmashingexperiences，cannotbereallytrustworthy。Atanymomenttherichmaysay，"Verywell，then，wewon’ttrustthem，"andbangthedoorinhisface。
　　OnthebasisofMr。Blatchford’sviewofheredityandenvironment，thecaseforthearistocracyisquiteoverwhelming。Ifcleanhomesandcleanairmakecleansouls，whynotgivethepower（forthepresentatanyrate）tothosewhoundoubtedlyhavethecleanair？
　　Ifbetterconditionswillmakethepoormorefittogovernthemselves，whyshouldnotbetterconditionsalreadymaketherichmorefittogovernthem？Ontheordinaryenvironmentargumentthematterisfairlymanifest。ThecomfortableclassmustbemerelyourvanguardinUtopia。
　　Isthereanyanswertothepropositionthatthosewhohavehadthebestopportunitieswillprobablybeourbestguides？
　　Isthereanyanswertotheargumentthatthosewhohavebreathedcleanairhadbetterdecideforthosewhohavebreathedfoul？
　　AsfarasIknow，thereisonlyoneanswer，andthatanswerisChristianity。OnlytheChristianChurchcanofferanyrationalobjectiontoacompleteconfidenceintherich。Forshehasmaintainedfromthebeginningthatthedangerwasnotinman’senvironment，butinman。Further，shehasmaintainedthatifwecometotalkofadangerousenvironment，themostdangerousenvironmentofallisthecommodiousenvironment。Iknowthatthemostmodernmanufacturehasbeenreallyoccupiedintryingtoproduceanabnormallylargeneedle。
　　Iknowthatthemostrecentbiologistshavebeenchieflyanxioustodiscoveraverysmallcamel。Butifwediminishthecameltohissmallest，oropentheeyeoftheneedletoitslargest——if，inshort，weassumethewordsofChristtohavemeanttheveryleastthattheycouldmean，Hiswordsmustattheveryleastmeanthis——
　　thatrichmenarenotverylikelytobemorallytrustworthy。
　　Christianityevenwhenwatereddownishotenoughtoboilallmodernsocietytorags。ThemereminimumoftheChurchwouldbeadeadlyultimatumtotheworld。Forthewholemodernworldisabsolutelybasedontheassumption，notthatthericharenecessary（whichistenable），butthatthericharetrustworthy，which（foraChristian）
　　isnottenable。Youwillheareverlastingly，inalldiscussionsaboutnewspapers，companies，aristocracies，orpartypolitics，thisargumentthattherichmancannotbebribed。Thefactis，ofcourse，thattherichmanisbribed；hehasbeenbribedalready。
　　Thatiswhyheisarichman。ThewholecaseforChristianityisthatamanwhoisdependentupontheluxuriesofthislifeisacorruptman，spirituallycorrupt，politicallycorrupt，financiallycorrupt。
　　ThereisonethingthatChristandalltheChristiansaintshavesaidwithasortofsavagemonotony。Theyhavesaidsimplythattoberichistobeinpeculiardangerofmoralwreck。
　　Itisnotdemonstrablyun-Christiantokilltherichasviolatorsofdefinablejustice。Itisnotdemonstrablyun-Christiantocrowntherichasconvenientrulersofsociety。Itisnotcertainlyun-Christiantorebelagainsttherichortosubmittotherich。
　　Butitisquitecertainlyun-Christiantotrusttherich，toregardtherichasmoremorallysafethanthepoor。AChristianmayconsistentlysay，"Irespectthatman’srank，althoughhetakesbribes。"
　　ButaChristiancannotsay，asallmodernmenaresayingatlunchandbreakfast，"amanofthatrankwouldnottakebribes。"
　　ForitisapartofChristiandogmathatanymaninanyrankmaytakebribes。ItisapartofChristiandogma；italsohappensbyacuriouscoincidencethatitisapartofobvioushumanhistory。
　　Whenpeoplesaythataman"inthatposition"wouldbeincorruptible，thereisnoneedtobringChristianityintothediscussion。WasLordBaconabootblack？WastheDukeofMarlboroughacrossingsweeper？
　　InthebestUtopia，Imustbepreparedforthemoralfallofanymaninanypositionatanymoment；especiallyformyfallfrommypositionatthismoment。
　　MuchvagueandsentimentaljournalismhasbeenpouredouttotheeffectthatChristianityisakintodemocracy，andmostofitisscarcelystrongorclearenoughtorefutethefactthatthetwothingshaveoftenquarrelled。TherealgrounduponwhichChristianityanddemocracyareoneisverymuchdeeper。Theonespeciallyandpeculiarlyun-ChristianideaistheideaofCarlyle——
　　theideathatthemanshouldrulewhofeelsthathecanrule。
　　WhateverelseisChristian，thisisheathen。Ifourfaithcommentsongovernmentatall，itscommentmustbethis——thatthemanshouldrulewhodoesNOTthinkthathecanrule。Carlyle’sheromaysay，"Iwillbeking"；buttheChristiansaintmustsay"Noloepiscopari。"
　　IfthegreatparadoxofChristianitymeansanything，itmeansthis——
　　thatwemusttakethecrowninourhands，andgohuntingindryplacesanddarkcornersoftheearthuntilwefindtheonemanwhofeelshimselfunfittowearit。Carlylewasquitewrong；
　　wehavenotgottocrowntheexceptionalmanwhoknowshecanrule。
　　Ratherwemustcrownthemuchmoreexceptionalmanwhoknowshecan’t。
　　Now，thisisoneofthetwoorthreevitaldefencesofworkingdemocracy。Themeremachineryofvotingisnotdemocracy，thoughatpresentitisnoteasytoeffectanysimplerdemocraticmethod。
　　ButeventhemachineryofvotingisprofoundlyChristianinthispracticalsense——thatitisanattempttogetattheopinionofthosewhowouldbetoomodesttoofferit。Itisamysticaladventure；
　　itisspeciallytrustingthosewhodonottrustthemselves。
　　ThatenigmaisstrictlypeculiartoChristendom。ThereisnothingreallyhumbleabouttheabnegationoftheBuddhist；themildHindooismild，butheisnotmeek。ButthereissomethingpsychologicallyChristianabouttheideaofseekingfortheopinionoftheobscureratherthantakingtheobviouscourseofacceptingtheopinionoftheprominent。TosaythatvotingisparticularlyChristianmayseemsomewhatcurious。TosaythatcanvassingisChristianmayseemquitecrazy。ButcanvassingisveryChristianinitsprimaryidea。
　　Itisencouragingthehumble；itissayingtothemodestman，"Friend，gouphigher。"Orifthereissomeslightdefectincanvassing，thatisinitsperfectandroundedpiety，itisonlybecauseitmaypossiblyneglecttoencouragethemodestyofthecanvasser。
　　Aristocracyisnotaninstitution：aristocracyisasin；
　　generallyaveryvenialone。Itismerelythedriftorslideofmenintoasortofnaturalpomposityandpraiseofthepowerful，whichisthemosteasyandobviousaffairintheworld。
　　Itisoneofthehundredanswerstothefugitiveperversionofmodern"force"thatthepromptestandboldestagenciesarealsothemostfragileorfullofsensibility。Theswiftestthingsarethesoftestthings。Abirdisactive，becauseabirdissoft。
　　Astoneishelpless，becauseastoneishard。Thestonemustbyitsownnaturegodownwards，becausehardnessisweakness。
　　Thebirdcanofitsnaturegoupwards，becausefragilityisforce。
　　Inperfectforcethereisakindoffrivolity，anairinessthatcanmaintainitselfintheair。Moderninvestigatorsofmiraculoushistoryhavesolemnlyadmittedthatacharacteristicofthegreatsaintsistheirpowerof"levitation。"Theymightgofurther；
　　acharacteristicofthegreatsaintsistheirpoweroflevity。
　　Angelscanflybecausetheycantakethemselveslightly。
　　ThishasbeenalwaystheinstinctofChristendom，andespeciallytheinstinctofChristianart。RememberhowFraAngelicorepresentedallhisangels，notonlyasbirds，butalmostasbutterflies。
　　Rememberhowthemostearnestmediaevalartwasfulloflightandflutteringdraperies，ofquickandcaperingfeet。ItwastheonethingthatthemodernPre-raphaelitescouldnotimitateintherealPre-raphaelites。Burne-JonescouldneverrecoverthedeeplevityoftheMiddleAges。IntheoldChristianpicturestheskyovereveryfigureislikeablueorgoldparachute。
　　Everyfigureseemsreadytoflyupandfloataboutintheheavens。
　　Thetatteredcloakofthebeggarwillbearhimupliketherayedplumesoftheangels。Butthekingsintheirheavygoldandtheproudintheirrobesofpurplewillalloftheirnaturesinkdownwards，forpridecannotrisetolevityorlevitation。Prideisthedownwarddragofallthingsintoaneasysolemnity。One"settlesdown"
　　intoasortofselfishseriousness；butonehastorisetoagayself-forgetfulness。Aman"falls"intoabrownstudy；hereachesupatabluesky。Seriousnessisnotavirtue。Itwouldbeaheresy，butamuchmoresensibleheresy，tosaythatseriousnessisavice。
　　Itisreallyanaturaltrendorlapseintotakingone’sselfgravely，becauseitistheeasiestthingtodo。ItismucheasiertowriteagoodTIMESleadingarticlethanagoodjokeinPUNCH。
　　Forsolemnityflowsoutofmennaturally；butlaughterisaleap。
　　Itiseasytobeheavy：hardtobelight。Satanfellbytheforceofgravity。
　　Now，itisthepeculiarhonourofEuropesinceithasbeenChristianthatwhileithashadaristocracyithasalwaysatthebackofitshearttreatedaristocracyasaweakness——generallyasaweaknessthatmustbeallowedfor。Ifanyonewishestoappreciatethispoint，lethimgooutsideChristianityintosomeotherphilosophicalatmosphere。