Whatifanexecutionerpassinghiswholelifeintorturingpeopleandcuttingofftheirheads，orahopelessdrunkard，oramadmansettledforlifeinadarkroomwhichhehasfouledandimaginesthathewouldperishifheleft——whatifheaskedhimself：\"Whatislife？\"Evidentlyhecouldnototherreplytothatquestionthanthatlifeisthegreatestevil，andthemadman’sanswerwouldbeperfectlycorrect，butonlyasappliedtohimself。
WhatifIamsuchamadman？Whatifallwerichandleisuredpeoplearesuchmadmen？andIunderstoodthatwereallyaresuchmadmen。Iatanyratewascertainlysuch。
Andindeedabirdissomadethatitmustfly，collectfood，andbuildanest，andwhenIseethatabirddoesthisIhavepleasureinitsjoy。Agoat，ahare，andawolfaresomadethattheymustfeedthemselves，andmustbreedandfeedtheirfamily，andwhentheydosoIfeelfirmlyassuredthattheyarehappyandthattheirlifeisareasonableone。thenwhatshouldamando？
Hetooshouldproducehislivingastheanimalsdo，butwiththisdifference，thathewillperishifhedoesitalone；hemustobtainitnotforhimselfbutforall。Andwhenhedoesthat，Ihaveafirmassurancethatheishappyandthathislifeisreasonable。
ButwhathadIdoneduringthewholethirtyyearsofmyresponsiblelife？Farfromproducingsustenanceforall，Ididnotevenproduceitformyself。Ilivedasaparasite，andonaskingmyself，whatistheuseofmylife？Igotthereply：\"Nouse。\"Ifthemeaningofhumanlifeliesinsupportingit，howcouldI——whoforthirtyyearshadbeenengagednotonsupportinglifebutondestroyingitinmyselfandinothers——howcouldIobtainanyotheranswerthanthatmylifewassenselessandanevil？……Itwasbothsenselessandevil。