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。