Mendidnotyetfeelthemselvestobe\'theenvyofsurroundingnations\';
andwereenviableonthatveryaccount。Societywaswhatwecancallwhole，inbothsensesoftheword。Theindividualmanwasinhimselfawhole，orcompleteunion;andcouldcombinewithhisfellowsasthelivingmemberofagreaterwhole。Forallmen，throughtheirlife，wereanimatedbyonegreatIdea;thusalleffortspointedoneway，evbrywheretherewaswholeness。
OpinionandActionhadnotyetbecomedisunited;buttheformercouldstillproducethelatter，orattempttoproduceit;asthestampdoesitsimpressionwhilethewaxisnothardened。Thoughtandthevoiceofthoughtwerealsoaunison;thus，insteadofSpeculation，wehadPoetry;Literature，initsrudeutterance，wasasyetaheroicSong，perhapstooadevotionalAnthem。
Religionwaseverywhere;Philosophylayhidunderit，peaceablyincludedinit。
Herein，asinthelife—centreofall，laythetruehealthandoneness。
OnlyatalatereramustReligionsplititselfintoPhilosophies;andthereby，thevitalunionofThoughtbeinglost，disunionandmutualcollisioninallprovincesofSpeechandActionmoreandmoreprevail。ForifthePoet，orPriest，orbywhatevertitletheinspiredthinkermaybenamed，isthesignofvigourandwell—being;solikewiseistheLogician，oruninspiredthinker，thesignofdisease，probablyofdecrepitudeanddecay。Thus，nottomentionotherinstances，oneofthemmuchnearerhand，—sosoonasProphecyamongtheHebrewshadceased，thendidthereignofArgumentationbegin;andtheancientTheocracy，initsSadduceeismsandPhariseeisms，andvainjanglingofsectsanddoctors，givetokenthatthesoulofithadfled，andthatthebodyitself，bynaturaldissolution，\'withtheoldforcesstillatwork，butworkinginreverseorder，\'
wasontheroadtofinaldisappearance。
Wemightpursuethisquestionintoinnumerableotherramifications;
andeverywhere，undernewshapes，findthesametruth，whichweheresoimperfectlyenunciate，disclosed;thatthroughoutthewholeworldofman，inallmanifestationsandperformancesofhisnature，outwardandinward，personalandsocial，thePerfect，theGreatisamysterytoitself，knowsnotitself;whatsoeverdoesknowitselfisalreadylittle，andmoreorlessimperfect。
Orotherwise，wemaysay，Unconsciousnessbelongstopureunmixedlife;
Consciousnesstoadiseasedmixtureandconflictoflifeanddeath:
Unconsciousnessisthesignofcreation;Consciousness，atbest，thatofmanufacture。Sodeep，inthisexistenceofours，isthesignificanceofMystery。
WellmighttheAncientsmakeSilenceagod;foritistheelementofallgodhood，infinitude，ortranscendentalgreatness;atoncethesourceandtheoceanwhereinallsuchbeginsandends。Inthesamesense，too，havePoetssung\'HymnstotheNight\';asifNightwerenoblerthanDay;asifDaywerebutasmallmotley—colouredveilspreadtransientlyovertheinfinitebosomofNight，anddidbutdeformandhidefromusitspurelytransparenteternaldeeps。SolikewisehavetheyspokenandsungasifSilencewerethegrandepitomeandcompletesum—totalofallHarmony;andDeath，whatmortalscallDeath，properlythebeginningofLife。Undersuchfigures，sinceexceptinfiguresthereisnospeakingoftheInvisible，havemenendeavouredtoexpressagreatTruth;—aTruth，inourTimes，asnearlyasisperhapspossible，forgottenbythemost;whichneverthelesscontinuesforevertrue，foreverall—important，andwilloneday，undernewfigures，beagainbroughthometothebosomsofall。
Butindeed，inafarlowersense，therudestmindhasstillsomeintimationofthegreatnessthereisinMystery。IfSilencewasmadeagodofbytheAncients，hestillcontinuesagovernment—clerkamongusModerns。Toallquacks，moreover，ofwhatsortsoever，theeffectofMysteryiswellknown:
hereandtheresomeCagliostro，eveninlatterdays，turnsittonotableaccount:theblockheadalso，whoisambitious，andhasnotalent，findssometimesin\'thetalentofsilence，\'akindofsuccedaneum。Oragain，lookingontheoppositesideofthematter，dowenotsee，inthecommonunderstandingofmankind，acertaindistrust，acertaincontemptofwhatisaltogetherselfconsciousandmechanical？Asnothingthatiswhollyseenthroughhasotherthanatrivialcharacter;soanythingprofessingtobegreat，andyetwhollytoseethroughitself，isalreadyknowntobefalse，andafailure。
Theevilreputeyour\'theoreticalmen\'standin，theacknowledgedinefficiencyof\'paperconstitutions，\'andallthatclassofobjects，areinstancesofthis。
Experienceoftenrepeated，andperhapsacertaininstinctofsomethingfardeeperthatliesundersuchexperiences，hastaughtmensomuch。Theyknowbeforehand，thattheloudisgenerallytheinsignificant，theempty。
Whatsoevercanproclaimitselffromthehouse—topsmaybefitforthehawker，andforthosemultitudesthatmustneedsbuyofhim;butforanydeeperuse，mightaswellcontinueunproclaimed。Observetoo，howtheconverseofthepropositionholds;howtheinsignificant，theempty，isusuallytheloud;and，afterthemannerofadrum，isloudevenbecauseofitsemptiness。
TheusesofsomePatentDinnerCalefactorcanbebruitedabroadoverthewholeworldinthecourseofthefirstwinter;thoseofthePrintingPressarenotsowellseenintoforthefirstthreecenturies:thepassingoftheSelect—VestriesBillraisesmorenoiseandhopefulexpectancyamongmankindthandidthepromulgationoftheChristianReligion。Again，andagain，wesay，thegreat，thecreativeandenduringiseverasecrettoitself;onlythesmall，thebarrenandtransientisotherwise。
PartII
Ifwenow，withapracticalmedicalview，examine，bythissametestofUnconsciousness，theConditionofourownEra，andofman\'sLifetherein，thediagnosiswearriveatisnowiseofaflatteringsort。ThestateofSocietyinourdaysis，ofallpossiblestates，theleastanunconsciousone:thisisspeciallytheErawhenallmannerofInquiriesintowhatwasoncetheunfelt，involuntarysphereofman\'sexistence，findtheirplace，and，asitwere，occupythewholedomainofthought。What，forexample，isallthisthatwehear，forthelastgenerationortwo，abouttheImprovementoftheAge，theSpiritoftheAge，DestructionofPrejudice，ProgressoftheSpecies，andtheMarchofIntellect，butanunhealthystateofself—sentence，self—survey;theprecursorandprognosticofstillworsehealth？ThatIntellectdomarch，ifpossibleatdouble—quicktime，isverydesirable;nevertheless，whyshouldsheturnroundateverystride，andcry:SeeyouwhatastrideIhavetaken！SuchamarchingofIntellectisdistinctlyofthespavinedkind;whattheJockeyscall\'allactionandnogo。\'Oratbest，ifweexaminewell，itisthemarchingofthatgoutyPatient，whomhisDoctorshadclaptonametalfloorartificiallyheatedtothesearingpoint，sothathewasobligedtomarch，anddidmarchwithavengeance—nowhither。Intellectdidnotawakenforthefirsttimeyesterday;
buthasbeenunderwayfromNoah\'sFlooddownwards:greatlyherbestprogress，moreover，wasintheoldtimes，whenshesaidnothingaboutit。Inthosesame\'darkages，\'Intellect（metaphoricallyaswellasliterally）
couldinventglass，whichnowshehasenoughadotogrindintospectacles。
IntellectbuiltnotonlyChurches，butaChurch，theChurch，basedonthisfirmEarth，yetreachingup，andleadingup，ashighasHeaven;andnowitisallshecandotokeepitsdoorsbolted，thattherebenotearingoftheSurplices，norobberyoftheAlms—box。ShebuiltaSenate—houselikewise，gloriousinitskind;andnowitcostsherawell—nighmortalefforttosweepitclearofvermin，andgettheroofmaderain—tight。
Butthetruthis，withIntellect，aswithmostotherthings，wearenowpassingfromthatfirstorboastfulstageofSelf—sentienceintothesecondorpainfulone:outoftheseoften—asseverateddeclarationsthat\'oursystemisinhighorder，\'wecomenow，bynaturalsequence，tothemelancholyconvictionthatitisaltogetherthereverse。Thus，forinstance，inthematterofGovernment，theperiodofthe\'InvaluableConstitution\'hastobefollowedbyaReformBill;
tolaudatoryDeLolmessucceedobjurgatoryBenthams。Atanyrate，whatTreatisesontheSocialContract，ontheElectiveFranchise，theRightsofMan，theRightsofProperty，Codifications，Institutions，Constitutions，havewenot，forlongyears，groanedunder！Oragain，withawidersurvey，considerthoseEssaysonMan，ThoughtsonMan，InquiriesconcerningMan;
nottomentionEvidencesoftheChristianFaith，TheoriesofPoetry，ConsiderationsontheOriginofEvil，whichduringthelastcenturyhaveaccumulatedonustoafrightfulextent。NeversincethebeginningofTimewasthere，thatwehearorreadof，sointenselyself—consciousaSociety。
OurwholerelationstotheUniverseandtoourfellow—manhavebecomeanInquiry，aDoubt;nothingwillgoonofitsownaccord，anddoitsfunctionquietly;butallthingsmustbeprobedinto，thewholeworkingofman\'sworldbeanatomicallystudied。Alas，anatomicallystudied，thatitmaybemedicallystudied，thatitmaybemedicallyaided！Tillatlengthindeed，wehavecometosuchapass，thatexceptinthissamemedicine，withitsartificesandappliances，fewcansomuchasimagineanystrengthorhopetoremainforus。
ThewholeLifeofSocietymustnowbecarriedonbydrugs:doctorafterdoctorappearswithhisnostrum，ofCooperativeSocieties，UniversalSuffrage，Cottage—and—Cowsystems，RepressionofPopulation，Votebyballot。TosuchheighthasthedyspepsiaofSocietyreached:asindeedtheconstantgrindinginternalpain，orfromtimetotimethemadspasmodicthroes，ofallSocietydootherwisetoomournfullyindicate。
Farbeitfromustoattribute，assomeunwisepersonsdo，thediseaseitselftothisunhappysensationthatthereisadisease！TheEncyclopedistsdidnotproducethetroublesofFrance;butthetroublesofFranceproducedtheEncyclopedists，andmuchelse。TheSelf—consciousnessisthesymptommerely;nay，itisalsotheattempttowardscure。Werecordthefact，withoutspecialcensure;notwonderingthatSocietyshouldfeelitself，andinallwayscomplainofachesandtwinges，forithassufferedenough。NapoleonwasbutaJob\'s—comforter，whenhetoldhiswoundedstaff—officer，twiceunhorsedbycannon—balls，andwithhalfhislimbsblowntopieces:\"Vousvousecouteztrop！\"
Ontheoutward，asitwerePhysicaldiseasesofSociety，itwerebesideourpurposetoinsisthere。Thesearediseaseswhichhewhorunsmayread;
andsorrowover，withorwithouthope。Wealthhasaccumulateditselfintomasses;
andPoverty，alsoidaccumulationenough，liesimpassablyseparatedfromit;
opposed，uncommunicating，likeforcesinpositiveandnegativepoles。
Thegodsofthislowerworldsitaloftonglitteringthrones，lesshappythanEpicurus\'gods，butasindolent，asimpotent;whiletheboundlesslivingchaosofIgnoranceandHungerweltersterrific，initsdarkfury，undertheirfeet。
Howmuchamongusmightbelikenedtoawhitedsepulchre;outwardlyallpompandstrength;butinwardlyfullofhorroranddespairanddead—men\'sbones！Ironhighways，withtheirwainsfire—winged，areunitingallendsofthefirmLand;quaysandmoles，withtheirinnumerablestatelyfleets，tametheOceanintoourpliantbearerofburdens;Labour\'sthousandarmsofsinewandofmetal，all—conqueringeverywhere，fromthetopsofthemountaindowntothedepthsofthemineandthecavernsofthesea，plyunweariedlyfortheserviceofman:yetmanremainsunserved。HehassubduedthisPlanet，hishabitationandinheritance;yetreapsnoprofitfromthevictory。
Sadtolookupon:inthehigheststageofcivilisation，nine—tenthsofmankindhavetostruggleinthelowestbattleofsavageorevenanimalman，thebattleagainstFamine。Countriesarerich，prosperousinallmannerofincrease，beyondexample:buttheMenofthosecountriesarepoor，needierthaneverofallsustenanceoutwardandinward;ofBelief，ofKnowledge，ofMoney，ofFood。Therule，Sicvosnonvobis，neveraltogethertobegotridofinmen\'sIndustry，nowpresseswithsuchincubusweight，thatIndustrymustshakeitoff，orutterlybestrangledunderit;and，alas，canasyetbutgaspandrave，andaimlesslystruggle，likeoneinthefinaldeliration。ThusChange，ortheinevitableapproachofChange，ismanifesteverywhere。InoneCountrywehaveseenlava—torrentsoffever—frenzyenvelopallthings;GovernmentsucceedGovernment，likethephantasmsofadyingbrain。InanotherCountry，wecanevennowsee，inmaddestalternation，thePeasantgovernedbysuchguidanceasthis:Tolabourearnestlyonemonthinraisingwheat，andthenextmonthlabourearnestlyinburningit。SothatSociety，wereitnotbynatureimmortal，anditsdeatheveranewbirth，mightappear，asitdoesintheeyesofsome，tobesicktodissolution，andevennowwrithinginitslastagony。Sickenoughwemustadmitittobe，withdiseaseenough，awholenosologyofdiseases;whereinheperhapsishappiestthatisnotcalledtoprescribeasphysician;—wherein，however，onesmallpieceofpolicy，thatofsummoningtheWisestintheCommonwealth，bythesolemethodyetknownorthoughtof，tocometogetherandwiththeirwholesoulconsultforit，might，butforlatetediousexperiences，haveseemedunquestionableenough。
Butleavingthis，letusratherlookwithin，intotheSpiritualconditionofSociety，andseewhataspectsandprospectsofferthemselvesthere。
Forafterall，itisthereproperlythatthesecretandoriginofthewholeistobesought:
thePhysicalderangementsofSocietyarebuttheimageandimpressofitsSpiritual;whiletheheartcontinuessound，allothersicknessissuperficial，andtemporary。FalseActionisthefruitoffalseSpeculation;letthespiritofSocietybefreeandstrong，thatistosay，lettruePrinciplesinspirethemembersofSociety，thenneithercandisordersaccumulateinitsPractice;
eachdisorderwillbepromptly，faithfullyinquiredinto，andremediedasitarises。Butalas，withustheSpiritualconditionofSocietyisnolesssicklythanthePhysical。Examineman\'sinternalworld，inanyofitssocialrelationsandperformances，heretooallseemsdiseasedself—consciousness，collisionandmutually—destructivestruggle。Nothingactsfromwithinoutwardsinundividedhealthyforce;everythingliesimpotent，lamed，itsforceturnedinwards，andpainfully\'listenstoitself。\'
TobeginwithourhighestSpiritualfunction，withReligion，wemightask，WhitherhasReligionnowfled？OfChurchesandtheirestablishmentsweheresaynothing;noroftheunhappydomainsofUnbelief，andhowinnumerablemen，blindedintheirminds，havegrownto\'livewithoutGodintheworld\';
but，takingthefairestsideofthematter，weask，WhatisthenatureofthatsameReligion，whichstilllingersintheheartsofthefewwhoarecalled，andcallthemselves，speciallytheReligious？Isitahealthyreligion，vital，unconsciousofitself;thatshinesforthspontaneouslyindoingoftheWork，oreveninpreachingoftheWord？Unhappily，no。InsteadofheroicmartyrConduct，andinspiredandsoul—inspiringEloquence，wherebyReligionitselfwerebroughthometoourlivingbosoms，toliveandreignthere，wehave\'DiscoursesontheEvidences，\'endeavouring，withsmallestresult，tomakeitprobablethatsuchathingasReligionexists。ThemostenthusiasticEvangelicalsdonotpreachaGospel，butkeepdescribinghowitshouldandmightbepreached:toawakenthesacredfireoffaith，asbyasacredcontagion，isnottheirendeavour;but，atmost，todescribehowFaithshowsandacts，andscientificallydistinguishtrueFaithfromfalse。Religion，likeallelse，isconsciousofitself，listenstoitself;itbecomeslessandlesscreative，vital;moreandmoremechanical。Consideredasawhole，theChristianReligionoflateageshasbeencontinuallydissipatingitselfintoMetaphysics;
andthreatensnowtodisappear，assomeriversdo，indesertsofbarrensand。
OfLiterature，anditsdeep—seated，wide—spreadmaladies，whyspeak？
LiteratureisbutabranchofReligion，andalwaysparticipatesinitscharacter:
however，inourtime，itistheonlybranchthatstillshowsanygreenness;
and，assomethink，mustonedaybecomethemainstem。Now，apartfromthesubterraneanandtartareanregionsofLiterature;—leavingoutofviewthefrightful，scandalousstatisticsofPuffing，themysteryofSlander，Falsehood，Hatredandotherconvulsion—workofrabidImbecility，andallthathasrenderedLiteratureonthatsideaperfect\'BabylonthemotherofAbominations，\'inverydeedmakingtheworld\'drunk\'withthewineofheriniquity;—forgettingallthis，letuslookonlytotheregionsoftheupperair;tosuchLiteratureascanbesaidtohavesomeattempttowardstruthinit，sometoneofmusic，andifitbenotpoetical，toholdofthepoetical。
Amongothercharacteristics，isnotthismanifestenough:thatitknowsitself？
Spontaneousdevotednesstotheobject，beingwhollypossessedbytheobject，whatwecancallInspiration，haswell—nighceasedtoappearinLiterature。
WhichmelodiousSingerforgetsthatheissingingmelodiously？
Wehavenottheloveofgreatness，buttheloveoftheloveofgreatness。
HenceinfiniteAffectations，Distractions;ineverycaseinevitableError。
Consider，foroneexample，thispeculiarityofModernLiterature，thesinthathasbeennamedView—hunting。Inourelderwriters，therearenopaintingsofsceneryforitsownsake;noeuphuisticgallantrieswithNature，butaconstantheartloveforher，aconstantdwellingincommunionwithher。View—hunting，withsomuchelsethatisofkintoit，firstcamedecisivelyintoactionthroughtheSorrowsofWerter;whichwonderfulPerformance，indeed，mayinmanysensesberegardedastheprogenitorofallthathassincebecomepopularinLiterature;whereof，insofarasconcernsspiritandtendency，itstilloffersthemostinstructiveimage;fornowhere，exceptinitsowncountry，aboveallinthemindofitsillustriousAuthor，hasityetfallenwhollyobsolete。