Ifhesawtwotruthsthatseemedtocontradicteachother，hewouldtakethetwotruthsandthecontradictionalongwiththem。
Hisspiritualsightisstereoscopic，likehisphysicalsight：
heseestwodifferentpicturesatonceandyetseesallthebetterforthat。Thushehasalwaysbelievedthattherewassuchathingasfate，butsuchathingasfreewillalso。Thushebelievedthatchildrenwereindeedthekingdomofheaven，butneverthelessoughttobeobedienttothekingdomofearth。Headmiredyouthbecauseitwasyoungandagebecauseitwasnot。Itisexactlythisbalanceofapparentcontradictionsthathasbeenthewholebuoyancyofthehealthyman。Thewholesecretofmysticismisthis：
thatmancanunderstandeverythingbythehelpofwhathedoesnotunderstand。Themorbidlogicianseekstomakeeverythinglucid，andsucceedsinmakingeverythingmysterious。Themysticallowsonethingtobemysterious，andeverythingelsebecomeslucid。
Thedeterministmakesthetheoryofcausationquiteclear，andthenfindsthathecannotsay\"ifyouplease\"tothehousemaid。
TheChristianpermitsfreewilltoremainasacredmystery；butbecauseofthishisrelationswiththehousemaidbecomeofasparklingandcrystalclearness。Heputstheseedofdogmainacentraldarkness；
butitbranchesforthinalldirectionswithaboundingnaturalhealth。
Aswehavetakenthecircleasthesymbolofreasonandmadness，wemayverywelltakethecrossasthesymbolatonceofmysteryandofhealth。Buddhismiscentripetal，butChristianityiscentrifugal：
itbreaksout。Forthecircleisperfectandinfiniteinitsnature；
butitisfixedforeverinitssize；itcanneverbelargerorsmaller。Butthecross，thoughithasatitsheartacollisionandacontradiction，canextenditsfourarmsforeverwithoutalteringitsshape。Becauseithasaparadoxinitscentreitcangrowwithoutchanging。Thecirclereturnsuponitselfandisbound。
Thecrossopensitsarmstothefourwinds；itisasignpostforfreetravellers。
Symbolsaloneareofevenacloudyvalueinspeakingofthisdeepmatter；andanothersymbolfromphysicalnaturewillexpresssufficientlywelltherealplaceofmysticismbeforemankind。
Theonecreatedthingwhichwecannotlookatistheonethinginthelightofwhichwelookateverything。Likethesunatnoonday，mysticismexplainseverythingelsebytheblazeofitsownvictoriousinvisibility。Detachedintellectualismis（intheexactsenseofapopularphrase）allmoonshine；foritislightwithoutheat，anditissecondarylight，reflectedfromadeadworld。
ButtheGreekswererightwhentheymadeApollothegodbothofimaginationandofsanity；forhewasboththepatronofpoetryandthepatronofhealing。OfnecessarydogmasandaspecialcreedIshallspeaklater。Butthattranscendentalismbywhichallmenlivehasprimarilymuchthepositionofthesuninthesky。
Weareconsciousofitasofakindofsplendidconfusion；
itissomethingbothshiningandshapeless，atonceablazeandablur。Butthecircleofthemoonisasclearandunmistakable，asrecurrentandinevitable，asthecircleofEuclidonablackboard。
Forthemoonisutterlyreasonable；andthemoonisthemotheroflunaticsandhasgiventothemallhername。
IIITHESUICIDEOFTHOUGHT
Thephrasesofthestreetarenotonlyforciblebutsubtle：
forafigureofspeechcanoftengetintoacracktoosmallforadefinition。Phraseslike\"putout\"or\"offcolour\"mighthavebeencoinedbyMr。HenryJamesinanagonyofverbalprecision。
Andthereisnomoresubtletruththanthatoftheeverydayphraseaboutamanhaving\"hisheartintherightplace。\"Itinvolvestheideaofnormalproportion；notonlydoesacertainfunctionexist，butitisrightlyrelatedtootherfunctions。Indeed，thenegationofthisphrasewoulddescribewithpeculiaraccuracythesomewhatmorbidmercyandperversetendernessofthemostrepresentativemoderns。
If，forinstance，IhadtodescribewithfairnessthecharacterofMr。BernardShaw，Icouldnotexpressmyselfmoreexactlythanbysayingthathehasaheroicallylargeandgenerousheart；
butnotaheartintherightplace。Andthisissoofthetypicalsocietyofourtime。
Themodernworldisnotevil；insomewaysthemodernworldisfartoogood。Itisfullofwildandwastedvirtues。
Whenareligiousschemeisshattered（asChristianitywasshatteredattheReformation），itisnotmerelythevicesthatareletloose。
Thevicesare，indeed，letloose，andtheywanderanddodamage。
Butthevirtuesareletloosealso；andthevirtueswandermorewildly，andthevirtuesdomoreterribledamage。ThemodernworldisfulloftheoldChristianvirtuesgonemad。Thevirtueshavegonemadbecausetheyhavebeenisolatedfromeachotherandarewanderingalone。Thussomescientistscarefortruth；
andtheirtruthispitiless。Thussomehumanitariansonlycareforpity；andtheirpity（Iamsorrytosay）isoftenuntruthful。
Forexample，Mr。BlatchfordattacksChristianitybecauseheismadononeChristianvirtue：themerelymysticalandalmostirrationalvirtueofcharity。Hehasastrangeideathathewillmakeiteasiertoforgivesinsbysayingthattherearenosinstoforgive。
Mr。BlatchfordisnotonlyanearlyChristian，heistheonlyearlyChristianwhooughtreallytohavebeeneatenbylions。
Forinhiscasethepaganaccusationisreallytrue：hismercywouldmeanmereanarchy。Hereallyistheenemyofthehumanrace——
becauseheissohuman。Astheotherextreme，wemaytaketheacridrealist，whohasdeliberatelykilledinhimselfallhumanpleasureinhappytalesorinthehealingoftheheart。
Torquemadatorturedpeoplephysicallyforthesakeofmoraltruth。
Zolatorturedpeoplemorallyforthesakeofphysicaltruth。
ButinTorquemada’stimetherewasatleastasystemthatcouldtosomeextentmakerighteousnessandpeacekisseachother。
Nowtheydonotevenbow。Butamuchstrongercasethanthesetwooftruthandpitycanbefoundintheremarkablecaseofthedislocationofhumility。
Itisonlywithoneaspectofhumilitythatwearehereconcerned。
Humilitywaslargelymeantasarestraintuponthearroganceandinfinityoftheappetiteofman。Hewasalwaysoutstrippinghismercieswithhisownnewlyinventedneeds。Hisverypowerofenjoymentdestroyedhalfhisjoys。Byaskingforpleasure，helostthechiefpleasure；forthechiefpleasureissurprise。
Henceitbecameevidentthatifamanwouldmakehisworldlarge，hemustbealwaysmakinghimselfsmall。Eventhehaughtyvisions，thetallcities，andthetopplingpinnaclesarethecreationsofhumility。Giantsthattreaddownforestslikegrassarethecreationsofhumility。Towersthatvanishupwardsabovethelonelieststararethecreationsofhumility。Fortowersarenottallunlesswelookupatthem；andgiantsarenotgiantsunlesstheyarelargerthanwe。Allthisgigantesqueimagination，whichis，perhaps，themightiestofthepleasuresofman，isatbottomentirelyhumble。Itisimpossiblewithouthumilitytoenjoyanything——
evenpride。
Butwhatwesufferfromto-dayishumilityinthewrongplace。
Modestyhasmovedfromtheorganofambition。Modestyhassettledupontheorganofconviction；whereitwasnevermeanttobe。
Amanwasmeanttobedoubtfulabouthimself，butundoubtingaboutthetruth；thishasbeenexactlyreversed。Nowadaysthepartofamanthatamandoesassertisexactlythepartheoughtnottoassert——himself。Theparthedoubtsisexactlythepartheoughtnottodoubt——theDivineReason。HuxleypreachedahumilitycontenttolearnfromNature。Butthenewscepticissohumblethathedoubtsifhecanevenlearn。Thusweshouldbewrongifwehadsaidhastilythatthereisnohumilitytypicalofourtime。
Thetruthisthatthereisarealhumilitytypicalofourtime；
butitsohappensthatitispracticallyamorepoisonoushumilitythanthewildestprostrationsoftheascetic。Theoldhumilitywasaspurthatpreventedamanfromstopping；notanailinhisbootthatpreventedhimfromgoingon。Fortheoldhumilitymadeamandoubtfulabouthisefforts，whichmightmakehimworkharder。
Butthenewhumilitymakesamandoubtfulabouthisaims，whichwillmakehimstopworkingaltogether。
Atanystreetcornerwemaymeetamanwhouttersthefranticandblasphemousstatementthathemaybewrong。Everydayonecomesacrosssomebodywhosaysthatofcoursehisviewmaynotbetherightone。Ofcoursehisviewmustbetherightone，oritisnothisview。Weareontheroadtoproducingaraceofmentoomentallymodesttobelieveinthemultiplicationtable。
Weareindangerofseeingphilosopherswhodoubtthelawofgravityasbeingamerefancyoftheirown。Scoffersofoldtimeweretooproudtobeconvinced；butthesearetoohumbletobeconvinced。
Themeekdoinherittheearth；butthemodernscepticsaretoomeekeventoclaimtheirinheritance。Itisexactlythisintellectualhelplessnesswhichisoursecondproblem。
Thelastchapterhasbeenconcernedonlywithafactofobservation：
thatwhatperilofmorbiditythereisformancomesratherfromhisreasonthanhisimagination。Itwasnotmeanttoattacktheauthorityofreason；ratheritistheultimatepurposetodefendit。
Foritneedsdefence。Thewholemodernworldisatwarwithreason；
andthetoweralreadyreels。
Thesages，itisoftensaid，canseenoanswertotheriddleofreligion。Butthetroublewithoursagesisnotthattheycannotseetheanswer；itisthattheycannotevenseetheriddle。
Theyarelikechildrensostupidastonoticenothingparadoxicalintheplayfulassertionthatadoorisnotadoor。Themodernlatitudinariansspeak，forinstance，aboutauthorityinreligionnotonlyasiftherewerenoreasoninit，butasiftherehadneverbeenanyreasonforit。Apartfromseeingitsphilosophicalbasis，theycannotevenseeitshistoricalcause。Religiousauthorityhasoften，doubtless，beenoppressiveorunreasonable；justaseverylegalsystem（andespeciallyourpresentone）hasbeencallousandfullofacruelapathy。Itisrationaltoattackthepolice；nay，itisglorious。Butthemoderncriticsofreligiousauthorityarelikemenwhoshouldattackthepolicewithouteverhavingheardofburglars。Forthereisagreatandpossibleperiltothehumanmind：aperilaspracticalasburglary。Againstitreligiousauthoritywasreared，rightlyorwrongly，asabarrier。
Andagainstitsomethingcertainlymustberearedasabarrier，ifourraceistoavoidruin。
Thatperilisthatthehumanintellectisfreetodestroyitself。
Justasonegenerationcouldpreventtheveryexistenceofthenextgeneration，byallenteringamonasteryorjumpingintothesea，soonesetofthinkerscaninsomedegreepreventfurtherthinkingbyteachingthenextgenerationthatthereisnovalidityinanyhumanthought。
Itisidletotalkalwaysofthealternativeofreasonandfaith。
Reasonisitselfamatteroffaith。Itisanactoffaithtoassertthatourthoughtshaveanyrelationtorealityatall。Ifyouaremerelyasceptic，youmustsoonerorlateraskyourselfthequestion，\"WhyshouldANYTHINGgoright；evenobservationanddeduction？
Whyshouldnotgoodlogicbeasmisleadingasbadlogic？
Theyarebothmovementsinthebrainofabewilderedape？\"
Theyoungscepticsays，\"Ihavearighttothinkformyself。\"
Buttheoldsceptic，thecompletesceptic，says，\"Ihavenorighttothinkformyself。Ihavenorighttothinkatall。\"
Thereisathoughtthatstopsthought。Thatistheonlythoughtthatoughttobestopped。Thatistheultimateevilagainstwhichallreligiousauthoritywasaimed。Itonlyappearsattheendofdecadentageslikeourown：andalreadyMr。H。G。Wellshasraiseditsruinousbanner；hehaswrittenadelicatepieceofscepticismcalled\"DoubtsoftheInstrument。\"Inthishequestionsthebrainitself，andendeavourstoremoveallrealityfromallhisownassertions，past，present，andtocome。Butitwasagainstthisremoteruinthatallthemilitarysystemsinreligionwereoriginallyrankedandruled。Thecreedsandthecrusades，thehierarchiesandthehorriblepersecutionswerenotorganized，asisignorantlysaid，forthesuppressionofreason。Theywereorganizedforthedifficultdefenceofreason。Man，byablindinstinct，knewthatifoncethingswerewildlyquestioned，reasoncouldbequestionedfirst。
Theauthorityofprieststoabsolve，theauthorityofpopestodefinetheauthority，evenofinquisitorstoterrify：thesewereallonlydarkdefenceserectedroundonecentralauthority，moreundemonstrable，moresupernaturalthanall——theauthorityofamantothink。
Weknownowthatthisisso；wehavenoexcusefornotknowingit。
Forwecanhearscepticismcrashingthroughtheoldringofauthorities，andatthesamemomentwecanseereasonswayinguponherthrone。
Insofarasreligionisgone，reasonisgoing。Fortheyarebothofthesameprimaryandauthoritativekind。Theyarebothmethodsofproofwhichcannotthemselvesbeproved。AndintheactofdestroyingtheideaofDivineauthoritywehavelargelydestroyedtheideaofthathumanauthoritybywhichwedoalong-divisionsum。
Withalongandsustainedtugwehaveattemptedtopullthemitreoffpontificalman；andhisheadhascomeoffwithit。
Lestthisshouldbecalledlooseassertion，itisperhapsdesirable，thoughdull，torunrapidlythroughthechiefmodernfashionsofthoughtwhichhavethiseffectofstoppingthoughtitself。
Materialismandtheviewofeverythingasapersonalillusionhavesomesucheffect；forifthemindismechanical，thoughtcannotbeveryexciting，andifthecosmosisunreal，thereisnothingtothinkabout。Butinthesecasestheeffectisindirectanddoubtful。Insomecasesitisdirectandclear；
notablyinthecaseofwhatisgenerallycalledevolution。
Evolutionisagoodexampleofthatmodernintelligencewhich，ifitdestroysanything，destroysitself。Evolutioniseitheraninnocentscientificdescriptionofhowcertainearthlythingscameabout；or，ifitisanythingmorethanthis，itisanattackuponthoughtitself。Ifevolutiondestroysanything，itdoesnotdestroyreligionbutrationalism。Ifevolutionsimplymeansthatapositivethingcalledanapeturnedveryslowlyintoapositivethingcalledaman，thenitisstinglessforthemostorthodox；
forapersonalGodmightjustaswelldothingsslowlyasquickly，especiallyif，liketheChristianGod，hewereoutsidetime。
Butifitmeansanythingmore，itmeansthatthereisnosuchthingasanapetochange，andnosuchthingasamanforhimtochangeinto。Itmeansthatthereisnosuchthingasathing。
Atbest，thereisonlyonething，andthatisafluxofeverythingandanything。Thisisanattacknotuponthefaith，butuponthemind；youcannotthinkiftherearenothingstothinkabout。
Youcannotthinkifyouarenotseparatefromthesubjectofthought。
Descartessaid，\"Ithink；thereforeIam。\"Thephilosophicevolutionistreversesandnegativestheepigram。Hesays，\"Iamnot；thereforeI
cannotthink。\"
Thenthereistheoppositeattackonthought：thaturgedbyMr。H。G。Wellswhenheinsiststhateveryseparatethingis\"unique，\"
andtherearenocategoriesatall。Thisalsoismerelydestructive。
Thinkingmeansconnectingthings，andstopsiftheycannotbeconnected。
Itneedhardlybesaidthatthisscepticismforbiddingthoughtnecessarilyforbidsspeech；amancannotopenhismouthwithoutcontradictingit。ThuswhenMr。Wellssays（ashedidsomewhere），\"Allchairsarequitedifferent，\"heuttersnotmerelyamisstatement，butacontradictioninterms。Ifallchairswerequitedifferent，youcouldnotcallthem\"allchairs。\"
Akintotheseisthefalsetheoryofprogress，whichmaintainsthatwealterthetestinsteadoftryingtopassthetest。
Weoftenhearitsaid，forinstance，\"Whatisrightinoneageiswronginanother。\"Thisisquitereasonable，ifitmeansthatthereisafixedaim，andthatcertainmethodsattainatcertaintimesandnotatothertimes。Ifwomen，say，desiretobeelegant，itmaybethattheyareimprovedatonetimebygrowingfatterandatanothertimebygrowingthinner。Butyoucannotsaythattheyareimprovedbyceasingtowishtobeelegantandbeginningtowishtobeoblong。Ifthestandardchanges，howcantherebeimprovement，whichimpliesastandard？Nietzschestartedanonsensicalideathatmenhadoncesoughtasgoodwhatwenowcallevil；ifitwereso，wecouldnottalkofsurpassingorevenfallingshortofthem。
HowcanyouovertakeJonesifyouwalkintheotherdirection？
Youcannotdiscusswhetheronepeoplehassucceededmoreinbeingmiserablethananothersucceededinbeinghappy。ItwouldbelikediscussingwhetherMiltonwasmorepuritanicalthanapigisfat。
Itistruethataman（asillyman）mightmakechangeitselfhisobjectorideal。Butasanideal，changeitselfbecomesunchangeable。
Ifthechange-worshipperwishestoestimatehisownprogress，hemustbesternlyloyaltotheidealofchange；hemustnotbegintoflirtgailywiththeidealofmonotony。Progressitselfcannotprogress。
Itisworthremark，inpassing，thatwhenTennyson，inawildandratherweakmanner，welcomedtheideaofinfinitealterationinsociety，heinstinctivelytookametaphorwhichsuggestsanimprisonedtedium。
Hewrote——
\"Letthegreatworldspinforeverdowntheringinggroovesofchange。\"
Hethoughtofchangeitselfasanunchangeablegroove；andsoitis。
Changeisaboutthenarrowestandhardestgroovethatamancangetinto。
Themainpointhere，however，isthatthisideaofafundamentalalterationinthestandardisoneofthethingsthatmakethoughtaboutthepastorfuturesimplyimpossible。Thetheoryofacompletechangeofstandardsinhumanhistorydoesnotmerelydepriveusofthepleasureofhonouringourfathers；itdeprivesusevenofthemoremodernandaristocraticpleasureofdespisingthem。
Thisbaldsummaryofthethought-destroyingforcesofourtimewouldnotbecompletewithoutsomereferencetopragmatism；
forthoughIhavehereusedandshouldeverywheredefendthepragmatistmethodasapreliminaryguidetotruth，thereisanextremeapplicationofitwhichinvolvestheabsenceofalltruthwhatever。
Mymeaningcanbeputshortlythus。Iagreewiththepragmatiststhatapparentobjectivetruthisnotthewholematter；thatthereisanauthoritativeneedtobelievethethingsthatarenecessarytothehumanmind。ButIsaythatoneofthosenecessitiespreciselyisabeliefinobjectivetruth。ThepragmatisttellsamantothinkwhathemustthinkandnevermindtheAbsolute。
ButpreciselyoneofthethingsthathemustthinkistheAbsolute。
Thisphilosophy，indeed，isakindofverbalparadox。Pragmatismisamatterofhumanneeds；andoneofthefirstofhumanneedsistobesomethingmorethanapragmatist。Extremepragmatismisjustasinhumanasthedeterminismitsopowerfullyattacks。
Thedeterminist（who，todohimjustice，doesnotpretendtobeahumanbeing）makesnonsenseofthehumansenseofactualchoice。
Thepragmatist，whoprofessestobespeciallyhuman，makesnonsenseofthehumansenseofactualfact。
Tosumupourcontentionsofar，wemaysaythatthemostcharacteristiccurrentphilosophieshavenotonlyatouchofmania，butatouchofsuicidalmania。Themerequestionerhasknockedhisheadagainstthelimitsofhumanthought；andcrackedit。
Thisiswhatmakessofutilethewarningsoftheorthodoxandtheboastsoftheadvancedaboutthedangerousboyhoodoffreethought。
Whatwearelookingatisnottheboyhoodoffreethought；itistheoldageandultimatedissolutionoffreethought。Itisvainforbishopsandpiousbigwigstodiscusswhatdreadfulthingswillhappenifwildscepticismrunsitscourse。Ithasrunitscourse。
Itisvainforeloquentatheiststotalkofthegreattruthsthatwillberevealedifonceweseefreethoughtbegin。Wehaveseenitend。Ithasnomorequestionstoask；ithasquestioneditself。
Youcannotcallupanywildervisionthanacityinwhichmenaskthemselvesiftheyhaveanyselves。Youcannotfancyamorescepticalworldthanthatinwhichmendoubtifthereisaworld。
ItmightcertainlyhavereacheditsbankruptcymorequicklyandcleanlyifithadnotbeenfeeblyhamperedbytheapplicationofindefensiblelawsofblasphemyorbytheabsurdpretencethatmodernEnglandisChristian。Butitwouldhavereachedthebankruptcyanyhow。Militantatheistsarestillunjustlypersecuted；
butratherbecausetheyareanoldminoritythanbecausetheyareanewone。Freethoughthasexhausteditsownfreedom。
Itiswearyofitsownsuccess。Ifanyeagerfreethinkernowhailsphilosophicfreedomasthedawn，heisonlylikethemaninMarkTwainwhocameoutwrappedinblanketstoseethesunriseandwasjustintimetoseeitset。Ifanyfrightenedcuratestillsaysthatitwillbeawfulifthedarknessoffreethoughtshouldspread，wecanonlyanswerhiminthehighandpowerfulwordsofMr。Belloc，\"Donot，Ibeseechyou，betroubledabouttheincreaseofforcesalreadyindissolution。Youhavemistakenthehourofthenight：
itisalreadymorning。\"Wehavenomorequestionslefttoask。
Wehavelookedforquestionsinthedarkestcornersandonthewildestpeaks。Wehavefoundallthequestionsthatcanbefound。
Itistimewegaveuplookingforquestionsandbeganlookingforanswers。
Butonemorewordmustbeadded。AtthebeginningofthispreliminarynegativesketchIsaidthatourmentalruinhasbeenwroughtbywildreason，notbywildimagination。Amandoesnotgomadbecausehemakesastatueamilehigh，buthemaygomadbythinkingitoutinsquareinches。Now，oneschoolofthinkershasseenthisandjumpedatitasawayofrenewingthepaganhealthoftheworld。Theyseethatreasondestroys；
butWill，theysay，creates。Theultimateauthority，theysay，isinwill，notinreason。Thesupremepointisnotwhyamandemandsathing，butthefactthathedoesdemandit。
IhavenospacetotraceorexpoundthisphilosophyofWill。
Itcame，Isuppose，throughNietzsche，whopreachedsomethingthatiscalledegoism。That，indeed，wassimplemindedenough；
forNietzschedeniedegoismsimplybypreachingit。Topreachanythingistogiveitaway。First，theegoistcallslifeawarwithoutmercy，andthenhetakesthegreatestpossibletroubletodrillhisenemiesinwar。Topreachegoismistopractisealtruism。
Buthoweveritbegan，theviewiscommonenoughincurrentliterature。
Themaindefenceofthesethinkersisthattheyarenotthinkers；
theyaremakers。Theysaythatchoiceisitselfthedivinething。
ThusMr。BernardShawhasattackedtheoldideathatmen’sactsaretobejudgedbythestandardofthedesireofhappiness。
Hesaysthatamandoesnotactforhishappiness，butfromhiswill。
Hedoesnotsay，\"Jamwillmakemehappy，\"but\"Iwantjam。\"
Andinallthisothersfollowhimwithyetgreaterenthusiasm。
Mr。JohnDavidson，aremarkablepoet，issopassionatelyexcitedaboutitthatheisobligedtowriteprose。Hepublishesashortplaywithseverallongprefaces。ThisisnaturalenoughinMr。Shaw，forallhisplaysareprefaces：Mr。Shawis（Isuspect）theonlymanonearthwhohasneverwrittenanypoetry。ButthatMr。Davidson（whocanwriteexcellentpoetry）shouldwriteinsteadlaboriousmetaphysicsindefenceofthisdoctrineofwill，doesshowthatthedoctrineofwillhastakenholdofmen。EvenMr。H。G。Wellshashalfspokeninitslanguage；sayingthatoneshouldtestactsnotlikeathinker，butlikeanartist，saying，\"IFEELthiscurveisright，\"or\"thatlineSHALLgothus。\"Theyareallexcited；andwelltheymaybe。
Forbythisdoctrineofthedivineauthorityofwill，theythinktheycanbreakoutofthedoomedfortressofrationalism。Theythinktheycanescape。
Buttheycannotescape。Thispurepraiseofvolitionendsinthesamebreakupandblankasthemerepursuitoflogic。
Exactlyascompletefreethoughtinvolvesthedoubtingofthoughtitself，sotheacceptationofmere\"willing\"reallyparalyzesthewill。
Mr。BernardShawhasnotperceivedtherealdifferencebetweentheoldutilitariantestofpleasure（clumsy，ofcourse，andeasilymisstated）
andthatwhichhepropounds。Therealdifferencebetweenthetestofhappinessandthetestofwillissimplythatthetestofhappinessisatestandtheotherisn’t。Youcandiscusswhetheraman’sactinjumpingoveracliffwasdirectedtowardshappiness；
youcannotdiscusswhetheritwasderivedfromwill。Ofcourseitwas。Youcanpraiseanactionbysayingthatitiscalculatedtobringpleasureorpaintodiscovertruthortosavethesoul。
Butyoucannotpraiseanactionbecauseitshowswill；fortosaythatismerelytosaythatitisanaction。Bythispraiseofwillyoucannotreallychooseonecourseasbetterthananother。Andyetchoosingonecourseasbetterthananotheristheverydefinitionofthewillyouarepraising。
Theworshipofwillisthenegationofwill。Toadmiremerechoiceistorefusetochoose。IfMr。BernardShawcomesuptomeandsays，\"Willsomething，\"thatistantamounttosaying，\"Idonotmindwhatyouwill，\"andthatistantamounttosaying，\"Ihavenowillinthematter。\"Youcannotadmirewillingeneral，becausetheessenceofwillisthatitisparticular。
AbrilliantanarchistlikeMr。JohnDavidsonfeelsanirritationagainstordinarymorality，andthereforeheinvokeswill——
willtoanything。Heonlywantshumanitytowantsomething。
Buthumanitydoeswantsomething。Itwantsordinarymorality。
Herebelsagainstthelawandtellsustowillsomethingoranything。
Butwehavewilledsomething。Wehavewilledthelawagainstwhichherebels。
Allthewill-worshippers，fromNietzschetoMr。Davidson，arereallyquiteemptyofvolition。Theycannotwill，theycanhardlywish。Andifanyonewantsaproofofthis，itcanbefoundquiteeasily。Itcanbefoundinthisfact：thattheyalwaystalkofwillassomethingthatexpandsandbreaksout。Butitisquitetheopposite。Everyactofwillisanactofself-limitation。Todesireactionistodesirelimitation。Inthatsenseeveryactisanactofself-sacrifice。Whenyouchooseanything，yourejecteverythingelse。Thatobjection，whichmenofthisschoolusedtomaketotheactofmarriage，isreallyanobjectiontoeveryact。
Everyactisanirrevocableselectionandexclusion。Justaswhenyoumarryonewomanyougiveupalltheothers，sowhenyoutakeonecourseofactionyougiveupalltheothercourses。IfyoubecomeKingofEngland，yougiveupthepostofBeadleinBrompton。
IfyougotoRome，yousacrificearichsuggestivelifeinWimbledon。
Itistheexistenceofthisnegativeorlimitingsideofwillthatmakesmostofthetalkoftheanarchicwill-worshipperslittlebetterthannonsense。Forinstance，Mr。JohnDavidsontellsustohavenothingtodowith\"Thoushaltnot\"；butitissurelyobviousthat\"Thoushaltnot\"isonlyoneofthenecessarycorollariesof\"Iwill。\"\"IwillgototheLordMayor’sShow，andthoushaltnotstopme。\"Anarchismadjuresustobeboldcreativeartists，andcarefornolawsorlimits。Butitisimpossibletobeanartistandnotcareforlawsandlimits。Artislimitation；
theessenceofeverypictureistheframe。Ifyoudrawagiraffe，youmustdrawhimwithalongneck。If，inyourboldcreativeway，youholdyourselffreetodrawagiraffewithashortneck，youwillreallyfindthatyouarenotfreetodrawagiraffe。
Themomentyoustepintotheworldoffacts，youstepintoaworldoflimits。Youcanfreethingsfromalienoraccidentallaws，butnotfromthelawsoftheirownnature。Youmay，ifyoulike，freeatigerfromhisbars；butdonotfreehimfromhisstripes。
Donotfreeacameloftheburdenofhishump：youmaybefreeinghimfrombeingacamel。Donotgoaboutasademagogue，encouragingtrianglestobreakoutoftheprisonoftheirthreesides。Ifatrianglebreaksoutofitsthreesides，itslifecomestoalamentableend。
Somebodywroteaworkcalled\"TheLovesoftheTriangles\"；
Ineverreadit，butIamsurethatiftriangleseverwereloved，theywerelovedforbeingtriangular。Thisiscertainlythecasewithallartisticcreation，whichisinsomewaysthemostdecisiveexampleofpurewill。Theartistloveshislimitations：
theyconstitutetheTHINGheisdoing。Thepainterisgladthatthecanvasisflat。Thesculptorisgladthattheclayiscolourless。
Incasethepointisnotclear，anhistoricexamplemayillustrateit。TheFrenchRevolutionwasreallyanheroicanddecisivething，becausetheJacobinswilledsomethingdefiniteandlimited。
Theydesiredthefreedomsofdemocracy，butalsoallthevetoesofdemocracy。TheywishedtohavevotesandNOTtohavetitles。
RepublicanismhadanasceticsideinFranklinorRobespierreaswellasanexpansivesideinDantonorWilkes。Thereforetheyhavecreatedsomethingwithasolidsubstanceandshape，thesquaresocialequalityandpeasantwealthofFrance。ButsincethentherevolutionaryorspeculativemindofEuropehasbeenweakenedbyshrinkingfromanyproposalbecauseofthelimitsofthatproposal。
Liberalismhasbeendegradedintoliberality。Menhavetriedtoturn\"revolutionise\"fromatransitivetoanintransitiveverb。
TheJacobincouldtellyounotonlythesystemhewouldrebelagainst，but（whatwasmoreimportant）thesystemhewouldNOTrebelagainst，thesystemhewouldtrust。ButthenewrebelisaSceptic，andwillnotentirelytrustanything。Hehasnoloyalty；thereforehecanneverbereallyarevolutionist。Andthefactthathedoubtseverythingreallygetsinhiswaywhenhewantstodenounceanything。
Foralldenunciationimpliesamoraldoctrineofsomekind；andthemodernrevolutionistdoubtsnotonlytheinstitutionhedenounces，butthedoctrinebywhichhedenouncesit。Thushewritesonebookcomplainingthatimperialoppressioninsultsthepurityofwomen，andthenhewritesanotherbook（aboutthesexproblem）inwhichheinsultsithimself。HecursestheSultanbecauseChristiangirlslosetheirvirginity，andthencursesMrs。Grundybecausetheykeepit。
Asapolitician，hewillcryoutthatwarisawasteoflife，andthen，asaphilosopher，thatalllifeiswasteoftime。
ARussianpessimistwilldenounceapolicemanforkillingapeasant，andthenprovebythehighestphilosophicalprinciplesthatthepeasantoughttohavekilledhimself。Amandenouncesmarriageasalie，andthendenouncesaristocraticprofligatesfortreatingitasalie。Hecallsaflagabauble，andthenblamestheoppressorsofPolandorIrelandbecausetheytakeawaythatbauble。
Themanofthisschoolgoesfirsttoapoliticalmeeting，wherehecomplainsthatsavagesaretreatedasiftheywerebeasts；thenhetakeshishatandumbrellaandgoesontoascientificmeeting，whereheprovesthattheypracticallyarebeasts。Inshort，themodernrevolutionist，beinganinfinitesceptic，isalwaysengagedinundermininghisownmines。Inhisbookonpoliticsheattacksmenfortramplingonmorality；inhisbookonethicsheattacksmoralityfortramplingonmen。Thereforethemodernmaninrevolthasbecomepracticallyuselessforallpurposesofrevolt。
Byrebellingagainsteverythinghehaslosthisrighttorebelagainstanything。
Itmaybeaddedthatthesameblankandbankruptcycanbeobservedinallfierceandterribletypesofliterature，especiallyinsatire。
Satiremaybemadandanarchic，butitpresupposesanadmittedsuperiorityincertainthingsoverothers；itpresupposesastandard。
Whenlittleboysinthestreetlaughatthefatnessofsomedistinguishedjournalist，theyareunconsciouslyassumingastandardofGreeksculpture。TheyareappealingtothemarbleApollo。
Andthecuriousdisappearanceofsatirefromourliteratureisaninstanceofthefiercethingsfadingforwantofanyprincipletobefierceabout。Nietzschehadsomenaturaltalentforsarcasm：
hecouldsneer，thoughhecouldnotlaugh；butthereisalwayssomethingbodilessandwithoutweightinhissatire，simplybecauseithasnotanymassofcommonmoralitybehindit。Heishimselfmorepreposterousthananythinghedenounces。But，indeed，Nietzschewillstandverywellasthetypeofthewholeofthisfailureofabstractviolence。
Thesofteningofthebrainwhichultimatelyovertookhimwasnotaphysicalaccident。IfNietzschehadnotendedinimbecility，Nietzscheismwouldendinimbecility。Thinkinginisolationandwithprideendsinbeinganidiot。Everymanwhowillnothavesofteningoftheheartmustatlasthavesofteningofthebrain。
Thislastattempttoevadeintellectualismendsinintellectualism，andthereforeindeath。Thesortiehasfailed。Thewildworshipoflawlessnessandthematerialistworshipoflawendinthesamevoid。
Nietzschescalesstaggeringmountains，butheturnsupultimatelyinTibet。HesitsdownbesideTolstoyinthelandofnothingandNirvana。Theyarebothhelpless——onebecausehemustnotgraspanything，andtheotherbecausehemustnotletgoofanything。
TheTolstoyan’swillisfrozenbyaBuddhistinstinctthatallspecialactionsareevil。ButtheNietzscheite’swillisquiteequallyfrozenbyhisviewthatallspecialactionsaregood；
forifallspecialactionsaregood，noneofthemarespecial。
Theystandatthecrossroads，andonehatesalltheroadsandtheotherlikesalltheroads。Theresultis——well，somethingsarenothardtocalculate。Theystandatthecross-roads。
HereIend（thankGod）thefirstanddullestbusinessofthisbook——theroughreviewofrecentthought。AfterthisI
begintosketchaviewoflifewhichmaynotinterestmyreader，butwhich，atanyrate，interestsme。Infrontofme，asIclosethispage，isapileofmodernbooksthatIhavebeenturningoverforthepurpose——apileofingenuity，apileoffutility。
Bytheaccidentofmypresentdetachment，IcanseetheinevitablesmashofthephilosophiesofSchopenhauerandTolstoy，NietzscheandShaw，asclearlyasaninevitablerailwaysmashcouldbeseenfromaballoon。Theyareallontheroadtotheemptinessoftheasylum。
Formadnessmaybedefinedasusingmentalactivitysoastoreachmentalhelplessness；andtheyhavenearlyreachedit。Hewhothinksheismadeofglass，thinkstothedestructionofthought；
forglasscannotthink。Sohewhowillstorejectnothing，willsthedestructionofwill；forwillisnotonlythechoiceofsomething，buttherejectionofalmosteverything。AndasI
turnandtumbleovertheclever，wonderful，tiresome，anduselessmodernbooks，thetitleofoneofthemrivetsmyeye。Itiscalled\"Jeanned’Arc，\"byAnatoleFrance。Ihaveonlyglancedatit，butaglancewasenoughtoremindmeofRenan’s\"ViedeJesus。\"
Ithasthesamestrangemethodofthereverentsceptic。Itdiscreditssupernaturalstoriesthathavesomefoundation，simplybytellingnaturalstoriesthathavenofoundation。Becausewecannotbelieveinwhatasaintdid，wearetopretendthatweknowexactlywhathefelt。ButIdonotmentioneitherbookinordertocriticiseit，butbecausetheaccidentalcombinationofthenamescalleduptwostartlingimagesofSanitywhichblastedallthebooksbeforeme。
JoanofArcwasnotstuckatthecross-roads，eitherbyrejectingallthepathslikeTolstoy，orbyacceptingthemalllikeNietzsche。
Shechoseapath，andwentdownitlikeathunderbolt。YetJoan，whenIcametothinkofher，hadinherallthatwastrueeitherinTolstoyorNietzsche，allthatwaseventolerableineitherofthem。
IthoughtofallthatisnobleinTolstoy，thepleasureinplainthings，especiallyinplainpity，theactualitiesoftheearth，thereverenceforthepoor，thedignityofthebowedback。
JoanofArchadallthatandwiththisgreataddition，thatsheenduredpovertyaswellasadmiringit；whereasTolstoyisonlyatypicalaristocrattryingtofindoutitssecret。AndthenIthoughtofallthatwasbraveandproudandpatheticinpoorNietzsche，andhismutinyagainsttheemptinessandtimidityofourtime。
Ithoughtofhiscryfortheecstaticequilibriumofdanger，hishungerfortherushofgreathorses，hiscrytoarms。Well，JoanofArchadallthat，andagainwiththisdifference，thatshedidnotpraisefighting，butfought。WeKNOWthatshewasnotafraidofanarmy，whileNietzsche，forallweknow，wasafraidofacow。
Tolstoyonlypraisedthepeasant；shewasthepeasant。Nietzscheonlypraisedthewarrior；shewasthewarrior。Shebeatthembothattheirownantagonisticideals；shewasmoregentlethantheone，moreviolentthantheother。Yetshewasaperfectlypracticalpersonwhodidsomething，whiletheyarewildspeculatorswhodonothing。
Itwasimpossiblethatthethoughtshouldnotcrossmymindthatsheandherfaithhadperhapssomesecretofmoralunityandutilitythathasbeenlost。Andwiththatthoughtcamealargerone，andthecolossalfigureofherMasterhadalsocrossedthetheatreofmythoughts。Thesamemoderndifficultywhichdarkenedthesubject-matterofAnatoleFrancealsodarkenedthatofErnestRenan。
Renanalsodividedhishero’spityfromhishero’spugnacity。
RenanevenrepresentedtherighteousangeratJerusalemasamerenervousbreakdownaftertheidyllicexpectationsofGalilee。
Asiftherewereanyinconsistencybetweenhavingaloveforhumanityandhavingahatredforinhumanity！Altruists，withthin，weakvoices，denounceChristasanegoist。Egoists（witheventhinnerandweakervoices）denounceHimasanaltruist。
Inourpresentatmospheresuchcavilsarecomprehensibleenough。
Theloveofaheroismoreterriblethanthehatredofatyrant。
Thehatredofaheroismoregenerousthantheloveofaphilanthropist。
Thereisahugeandheroicsanityofwhichmodernscanonlycollectthefragments。Thereisagiantofwhomweseeonlytheloppedarmsandlegswalkingabout。TheyhavetornthesoulofChristintosillystrips，labelledegoismandaltruism，andtheyareequallypuzzledbyHisinsanemagnificenceandHisinsanemeekness。
TheyhavepartedHisgarmentsamongthem，andforHisvesturetheyhavecastlots；thoughthecoatwaswithoutseamwovenfromthetopthroughout。
IVTHEETHICSOFELFLAND
Whenthebusinessmanrebukestheidealismofhisoffice-boy，itiscommonlyinsomesuchspeechasthis：\"Ah，yes，whenoneisyoung，onehastheseidealsintheabstractandthesecastlesintheair；
butinmiddleagetheyallbreakuplikeclouds，andonecomesdowntoabeliefinpracticalpolitics，tousingthemachineryonehasandgettingonwiththeworldasitis。\"Thus，atleast，venerableandphilanthropicoldmennowintheirhonouredgravesusedtotalktomewhenIwasaboy。ButsincethenIhavegrownupandhavediscoveredthatthesephilanthropicoldmenweretellinglies。Whathasreallyhappenedisexactlytheoppositeofwhattheysaidwouldhappen。
TheysaidthatIshouldlosemyidealsandbegintobelieveinthemethodsofpracticalpoliticians。Now，Ihavenotlostmyidealsintheleast；myfaithinfundamentalsisexactlywhatitalwayswas。
WhatIhavelostismyoldchildlikefaithinpracticalpolitics。
IamstillasmuchconcernedaseverabouttheBattleofArmageddon；
butIamnotsomuchconcernedabouttheGeneralElection。
AsababeIleaptuponmymother’skneeatthemerementionofit。No；thevisionisalwayssolidandreliable。Thevisionisalwaysafact。Itistherealitythatisoftenafraud。
AsmuchasIeverdid，morethanIeverdid，IbelieveinLiberalism。
ButtherewasarosytimeofinnocencewhenIbelievedinLiberals。
Itakethisinstanceofoneoftheenduringfaithsbecause，havingnowtotracetherootsofmypersonalspeculation，thismaybecounted，Ithink，astheonlypositivebias。
IwasbroughtupaLiberal，andhavealwaysbelievedindemocracy，intheelementaryliberaldoctrineofaself-governinghumanity。
Ifanyonefindsthephrasevagueorthreadbare，Icanonlypauseforamomenttoexplainthattheprincipleofdemocracy，asI
meanit，canbestatedintwopropositions。Thefirstisthis：
thatthethingscommontoallmenaremoreimportantthanthethingspeculiartoanymen。Ordinarythingsaremorevaluablethanextraordinarythings；nay，theyaremoreextraordinary。
Manissomethingmoreawfulthanmen；somethingmorestrange。
Thesenseofthemiracleofhumanityitselfshouldbealwaysmorevividtousthananymarvelsofpower，intellect，art，orcivilization。
Themeremanontwolegs，assuch，shouldbefeltassomethingmoreheartbreakingthananymusicandmorestartlingthananycaricature。
Deathismoretragiceventhandeathbystarvation。HavinganoseismorecomiceventhanhavingaNormannose。
Thisisthefirstprincipleofdemocracy：thattheessentialthingsinmenarethethingstheyholdincommon，notthethingstheyholdseparately。Andthesecondprincipleismerelythis：
thatthepoliticalinstinctordesireisoneofthesethingswhichtheyholdincommon。Fallinginloveismorepoeticalthandroppingintopoetry。Thedemocraticcontentionisthatgovernment（helpingtorulethetribe）isathinglikefallinginlove，andnotathinglikedroppingintopoetry。Itisnotsomethinganalogoustoplayingthechurchorgan，paintingonvellum，discoveringtheNorthPole（thatinsidioushabit），loopingtheloop，beingAstronomerRoyal，andsoon。Forthesethingswedonotwishamantodoatallunlesshedoesthemwell。Itis，onthecontrary，athinganalogoustowritingone’sownlove-lettersorblowingone’sownnose。Thesethingswewantamantodoforhimself，evenifhedoesthembadly。Iamnotherearguingthetruthofanyoftheseconceptions；Iknowthatsomemodernsareaskingtohavetheirwiveschosenbyscientists，andtheymaysoonbeasking，forallIknow，tohavetheirnosesblownbynurses。Imerelysaythatmankinddoesrecognizetheseuniversalhumanfunctions，andthatdemocracyclassesgovernmentamongthem。Inshort，thedemocraticfaithisthis：thatthemostterriblyimportantthingsmustbelefttoordinarymenthemselves——thematingofthesexes，therearingoftheyoung，thelawsofthestate。Thisisdemocracy；
andinthisIhavealwaysbelieved。
ButthereisonethingthatIhaveneverfrommyyouthupbeenabletounderstand。Ihaveneverbeenabletounderstandwherepeoplegottheideathatdemocracywasinsomewayopposedtotradition。
Itisobviousthattraditionisonlydemocracyextendedthroughtime。