CONTENTS
PARTONE：THEHOMELESSNESSOFMAN
ITheMedicalMistakeIIWanted：AnUnpracticalManIIITheNewHypocriteIVTheFearofthePastVTheUnfinishedTempleVITheEnemiesofPropertyVIITheFreeFamilyXIIITheWildnessofDomesticityIXHistoryofHudgeandGudgeXOppressionbyOptimismXITheHomelessnessofJonesPARTTWO：IMPERIALISM，ORTHEMISTAKEABOUTMAN
ITheCharmofJingoismIIWisdomandtheWeatherIIITheCommonVisionIVTheInsaneNecessityPARTTHREE：FEMINISM，ORTHEMISTAKEABOUTWOMAN
ITheUnmilitarySuffragetteIITheUniversalStickIIITheEmancipationofDomesticityIVTheRomanceofThriftVTheColdnessofChloeVIThePedantandtheSavageVIITheModernSurrenderofWomanVIIITheBrandoftheFleur-de-LisIXSincerityandtheGallowsXTheHigherAnarchyXITheQueenandtheSuffragettesXIITheModernSlavePARTFOUR：EDUCATION，ORTHEMISTAKEABOUTTHECHILD
ITheCalvinismofTo-dayIITheTribalTerrorIIITheTricksofEnvironmentIVTheTruthAboutEducationVAnEvilCryVIAuthoritytheUnavoidableVIITheHumilityofMrs。GrundyVIIITheBrokenRainbowIXTheNeedforNarrownessXTheCaseforthePublicSchoolsXITheSchoolforHypocritesXIITheStalenessoftheNewSchoolsXIIITheOutlawedParentXIVFollyandFemaleEducationPARTFIVE：THEHOMEOFMAN
ITheEmpireoftheInsectIITheFallacyoftheUmbrellaStandIIITheDreadfulDutyofGudgeIVALastInstanceVConclusionTHREENOTES
IOnFemaleSuffrageIIOnCleanlinessinEducationIIIOnPeasantProprietorship***
DEDICATION
ToC。FG。Masterman，M。P。
MyDearCharles，Ioriginallycalledthisbook\"WhatisWrong，\"anditwouldhavesatisfiedyoursardonictempertonotethenumberofsocialmisunderstandingsthatarosefromtheuseofthetitle。
ManyamildladyvisitoropenedhereyeswhenIremarkedcasually，\"Ihavebeendoing\'WhatisWrong\'allthismorning。\"
AndoneministerofreligionmovedquitesharplyinhischairwhenItoldhim（asheunderstoodit）thatIhadtorunupstairsanddowhatwaswrong，butshouldbedownagaininaminute。
ExactlyofwhatoccultvicetheysilentlyaccusedmeI
cannotconjecture，butIknowofwhatIaccusemyself；andthatis，ofhavingwrittenaveryshapelessandinadequatebook，andonequiteunworthytobededicatedtoyou。Asfarasliteraturegoes，thisbookiswhatiswrongandnomistake。
ItmayseemarefinementofinsolencetopresentsowildacompositiontoonewhohasrecordedtwoorthreeofthereallyimpressivevisionsofthemovingmillionsofEngland。YouaretheonlymanalivewhocanmakethemapofEnglandcrawlwithlife；
amostcreepyandenviableaccomplishment。WhythenshouldI
troubleyouwithabookwhich，evenifitachievesitsobject（whichismonstrouslyunlikely）canonlybeathunderinggallopoftheory？
Well，IdoitpartlybecauseIthinkyoupoliticiansarenonetheworseforafewinconvenientideals；butmorebecauseyouwillrecognisethemanyargumentswehavehad，thoseargumentswhichthemostwonderfulladiesintheworldcanneverendureforverylong。And，perhaps，youwillagreewithmethatthethreadofcomradeshipandconversationmustbeprotectedbecauseitissofrivolous。Itmustbeheldsacred，itmustnotbesnapped，becauseitisnotworthtyingtogetheragain。
Itisexactlybecauseargumentisidlethatmen（Imeanmales）
musttakeitseriously；forwhen（wefeel），untilthecrackofdoom，shallwehavesodelightfuladifferenceagain？
ButmostofallIofferittoyoubecausethereexistsnotonlycomradeship，butaverydifferentthing，calledfriendship；
anagreementunderalltheargumentsandathreadwhich，pleaseGod，willneverbreak。
Yoursalways，G。K。Chesterton。
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PARTONE
THEHOMELESSNESSOFMAN
***
THEMEDICALMISTAKE
Abookofmodernsocialinquiryhasashapethatissomewhatsharplydefined。Itbeginsasarulewithananalysis，withstatistics，tablesofpopulation，decreaseofcrimeamongCongregationalists，growthofhysteriaamongpolicemen，andsimilarascertainedfacts；
itendswithachapterthatisgenerallycalled\"TheRemedy。\"Itisalmostwhollyduetothiscareful，solid，andscientificmethodthat\"TheRemedy\"isneverfound。Forthisschemeofmedicalquestionandanswerisablunder；thefirstgreatblunderofsociology。
Itisalwayscalledstatingthediseasebeforewefindthecure。
Butitisthewholedefinitionanddignityofmanthatinsocialmatterswemustactuallyfindthecurebeforewefindthedisease。
Thefallacyisoneofthefiftyfallaciesthatcomefromthemodernmadnessforbiologicalorbodilymetaphors。ItisconvenienttospeakoftheSocialOrganism，justasitisconvenienttospeakoftheBritishLion。ButBritainisnomoreanorganismthanBritainisalion。Themomentwebegintogiveanationtheunityandsimplicityofananimal，webegintothinkwildly。
Becauseeverymanisabiped，fiftymenarenotacentipede。
Thishasproduced，forinstance，thegapingabsurdityofperpetuallytalkingabout\"youngnations\"and\"dyingnations，\"
asifanationhadafixedandphysicalspanoflife。
ThuspeoplewillsaythatSpainhasenteredafinalsenility；
theymightaswellsaythatSpainislosingallherteeth。
OrpeoplewillsaythatCanadashouldsoonproducealiterature；
whichislikesayingthatCanadamustsoongrowanewmoustache。
Nationsconsistofpeople；thefirstgenerationmaybedecrepit，orthetenthousandthmaybevigorous。
Similarapplicationsofthefallacyaremadebythosewhoseeintheincreasingsizeofnationalpossessions，asimpleincreaseinwisdomandstature，andinfavorwithGodandman。
Thesepeople，indeed，evenfallshortinsubtletyoftheparallelofahumanbody。Theydonotevenaskwhetheranempireisgrowingtallerinitsyouth，oronlygrowingfatterinitsoldage。
Butofalltheinstancesoferrorarisingfromthisphysicalfancy，theworstisthatwehavebeforeus：
thehabitofexhaustivelydescribingasocialsickness，andthenpropoundingasocialdrug。
Nowwedotalkfirstaboutthediseaseincasesofbodilybreakdown；
andthatforanexcellentreason。Because，thoughtheremaybedoubtaboutthewayinwhichthebodybrokedown，thereisnodoubtatallabouttheshapeinwhichitshouldbebuiltupagain。Nodoctorproposestoproduceanewkindofman，withanewarrangementofeyesorlimbs。
Thehospital，bynecessity，maysendamanhomewithonelegless：
butitwillnot（inacreativerapture）sendhimhomewithonelegextra。
Medicalscienceiscontentwiththenormalhumanbody，andonlyseekstorestoreit。
Butsocialscienceisbynomeansalwayscontentwiththenormalhumansoul；ithasallsortsoffancysoulsforsale。Manasasocialidealistwillsay\"IamtiredofbeingaPuritan；IwanttobeaPagan，\"or\"BeyondthisdarkprobationofIndividualismI
seetheshiningparadiseofCollectivism。\"Nowinbodilyillsthereisnoneofthisdifferenceabouttheultimateideal。
Thepatientmayormaynotwantquinine；buthecertainlywantshealthNoonesays\"Iamtiredofthisheadache；
Iwantsometoothache，\"or\"TheonlythingforthisRussianinfluenzaisafewGermanmeasles，\"or\"ThroughthisdarkprobationofcatarrhIseetheshiningparadiseofrheumatism。\"
Butexactlythewholedifficultyinourpublicproblemsisthatsomemenareaimingatcureswhichothermenwouldregardasworsemaladies；areofferingultimateconditionsasstatesofhealthwhichotherswoulduncompromisinglycallstatesofdisease。Mr。Belloconcesaidthathewouldnomorepartwiththeideaofpropertythanwithhisteeth；
yettoMr。BernardShawpropertyisnotatooth，butatoothache。
LordMilnerhassincerelyattemptedtointroduceGermanefficiency；
andmanyofuswouldassoonwelcomeGermanmeasles。
Dr。SaleebywouldhonestlyliketohaveEugenics；butIwouldratherhaverheumatics。
Thisisthearrestinganddominantfactaboutmodernsocialdiscussion；thatthequarrelisnotmerelyaboutthedifficulties，butabouttheaim。Weagreeabouttheevil；
itisaboutthegoodthatweshouldteareachother\'seyescut。
Wealladmitthatalazyaristocracyisabadthing。
Weshouldnotbyanymeansalladmitthatanactivearistocracywouldbeagoodthing。Weallfeelangrywithanirreligiouspriesthood；
butsomeofuswouldgomadwithdisgustatareallyreligiousone。
Everyoneisindignantifourarmyisweak，includingthepeoplewhowouldbeevenmoreindignantifitwerestrong。
Thesocialcaseisexactlytheoppositeofthemedicalcase。
Wedonotdisagree，likedoctors，abouttheprecisenatureoftheillness，whileagreeingaboutthenatureofhealth。
Onthecontrary，weallagreethatEnglandisunhealthy，buthalfofuswouldnotlookatherinwhattheotherhalfwouldcallbloominghealth。Publicabusesaresoprominentandpestilentthattheysweepallgenerouspeopleintoasortoffictitiousunanimity。
Weforgetthat，whileweagreeabouttheabusesofthings，weshoulddifferverymuchabouttheusesofthem。
Mr。CadburyandIwouldagreeaboutthebadpublichouse。
Itwouldbepreciselyinfrontofthegoodpublic-housethatourpainfulpersonalfracaswouldoccur。
Imaintain，therefore，thatthecommonsociologicalmethodisquiteuseless：thatoffirstdissectingabjectpovertyorcataloguingprostitution。Wealldislikeabjectpoverty；
butitmightbeanotherbusinessifwebegantodiscussindependentanddignifiedpoverty。Wealldisapproveofprostitution；
butwedonotallapproveofpurity。Theonlywaytodiscussthesocialevilistogetatoncetothesocialideal。
Wecanallseethenationalmadness；butwhatisnationalsanity？
Ihavecalledthisbook\"WhatIsWrongwiththeWorld？\"
andtheupshotofthetitlecanbeeasilyandclearlystated。
Whatiswrongisthatwedonotaskwhatisright。
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II
WANTED，ANUNPRACTICALMAN
Thereisapopularphilosophicaljokeintendedtotypifytheendlessanduselessargumentsofphilosophers；Imeanthejokeaboutwhichcamefirst，thechickenortheegg？
Iamnotsurethatproperlyunderstood，itissofutileaninquiryafterall。Iamnotconcernedheretoenteronthosedeepmetaphysicalandtheologicaldifferencesofwhichthechickenandeggdebateisafrivolous，butaveryfelicitous，type。
Theevolutionarymaterialistsareappropriatelyenoughrepresentedinthevisionofallthingscomingfromanegg，adimandmonstrousovalgermthathadlaiditselfbyaccident。
Thatothersupernaturalschoolofthought（towhichI
personallyadhere）wouldbenotunworthilytypifiedinthefancythatthisroundworldofoursisbutaneggbroodeduponbyasacredunbegottenbird；themysticdoveoftheprophets。
ButitistomuchhumblerfunctionsthatIherecalltheawfulpowerofsuchadistinction。Whetherornothelivingbirdisatthebeginningofourmentalchain，itisabsolutelynecessarythatitshouldbeattheendofourmentalchain。
Thebirdisthethingtobeaimedat——notwithagun，butalife-bestowingwand。Whatisessentialtoourrightthinkingisthis：
thattheeggandthebirdmustnotbethoughtofasequalcosmicoccurrencesrecurringalternativelyforever。Theymustnotbecomeamereeggandbirdpattern，liketheegganddartpattern。Oneisameansandtheotheranend；theyareindifferentmentalworlds。
Leavingthecomplicationsofthehumanbreakfast-tableoutofaccount，inanelementalsense，theeggonlyexiststoproducethechicken。Butthechickendoesnotexistonlyinordertoproduceanotheregg。Hemayalsoexisttoamusehimself，topraiseGod，andeventosuggestideastoaFrenchdramatist。
Beingaconsciouslife，heis，ormaybe，valuableinhimself。
Nowourmodernpoliticsarefullofanoisyforgetfulness；
forgetfulnessthattheproductionofthishappyandconsciouslifeisafteralltheaimofallcomplexitiesandcompromises。
Wetalkofnothingbutusefulmenandworkinginstitutions；thatis，weonlythinkofthechickensasthingsthatwilllaymoreeggs。
Insteadofseekingtobreedouridealbird，theeagleofZeusortheSwanofAvon，orwhateverwehappentowant，wetalkentirelyintermsoftheprocessandtheembryo。
Theprocessitself，divorcedfromitsdivineobject，becomesdoubtfulandevenmorbid；poisonenterstheembryoofeverything；
andourpoliticsarerotteneggs。
Idealismisonlyconsideringeverythinginitspracticalessence。
Idealismonlymeansthatweshouldconsiderapokerinreferencetopokingbeforewediscussitssuitabilityforwife-beating；
thatweshouldaskifaneggisgoodenoughforpracticalpoultry-rearingbeforewedecidethattheeggisbadenoughforpracticalpolitics。ButIknowthatthisprimarypursuitofthetheory（whichisbutpursuitoftheaim）exposesonetothecheapchargeoffiddlingwhileRomeisburning。
Aschool，ofwhichLordRoseberyisrepresentative，hasendeavoredtosubstituteforthemoralorsocialidealswhichhavehithertobeenthemotiveofpoliticsageneralcoherencyorcompletenessinthesocialsystemwhichhasgainedthenick-nameof\"efficiency。\"
Iamnotverycertainofthesecretdoctrineofthissectinthematter。
But，asfarasIcanmakeout，\"efficiency\"meansthatweoughttodiscovereverythingaboutamachineexceptwhatitisfor。
Therehasariseninourtimeamostsingularfancy：
thefancythatwhenthingsgoverywrongweneedapracticalman。
Itwouldbefartruertosay，thatwhenthingsgoverywrongweneedanunpracticalman。Certainly，atleast，weneedatheorist。
Apracticalmanmeansamanaccustomedtomeredailypractice，tothewaythingscommonlywork。Whenthingswillnotwork，youmusthavethethinker，themanwhohassomedoctrineaboutwhytheyworkatall。ItiswrongtofiddlewhileRomeisburning；
butitisquiterighttostudythetheoryofhydraulicswhileRomeisburning。
Itisthennecessarytodropone\'sdailyagnosticismandattemptrerumcognoscerecausas。Ifyouraeroplanehasaslightindisposition，ahandymanmaymendit。
But，ifitisseriouslyill，itisallthemorelikelythatsomeabsent-mindedoldprofessorwithwildwhitehairwillhavetobedraggedoutofacollegeorlaboratorytoanalyzetheevil。
Themorecomplicatedthesmash，thewhiter-hairedandmoreabsent-mindedwillbethetheoristwhoisneededtodealwithit；
andinsomeextremecases，noonebuttheman（probablyinsane）
whoinventedyourflying-shipcouldpossiblysaywhatwasthematterwithit。
\"Efficiency，\"ofcourse，isfutileforthesamereasonthatstrongmen，will-powerandthesupermanarefutile。
Thatis，itisfutilebecauseitonlydealswithactionsaftertheyhavebeenperformed。Ithasnophilosophyforincidentsbeforetheyhappen；thereforeithasnopowerofchoice。
Anactcanonlybesuccessfulorunsuccessfulwhenitisover；
ifitistobegin，itmustbe，intheabstract，rightorwrong。
Thereisnosuchthingasbackingawinner；forhecannotbeawinnerwhenheisbacked。Thereisnosuchthingasfightingonthewinningside；onefightstofindoutwhichisthewinningside。
Ifanyoperationhasoccurred，thatoperationwasefficient。
Ifamanismurdered，themurderwasefficient。AtropicalsunisasefficientinmakingpeoplelazyasaLancashireforemanbullyinmakingthemenergetic。MaeterlinckisasefficientinfillingamanwithstrangespiritualtremorsasMessrs。CrosseandBlackwellareinfillingamanwithjam。
Butitalldependsonwhatyouwanttobefilledwith。
LordRosebery，beingamodernskeptic，probablyprefersthespiritualtremors。I，beinganorthodoxChristian，preferthejam。
Butbothareefficientwhentheyhavebeeneffected；andinefficientuntiltheyareeffected。Amanwhothinksmuchaboutsuccessmustbethedrowsiestsentimentalist；forhemustbealwayslookingback。
Ifheonlylikesvictoryhemustalwayscomelateforthebattle。
Forthemanofactionthereisnothingbutidealism。
ThisdefiniteidealisafarmoreurgentandpracticalmatterinourexistingEnglishtroublethananyimmediateplansorproposals。
Forthepresentchaosisduetoasortofgeneraloblivionofallthatmenwereoriginallyaimingat。Nomandemandswhathedesires；eachmandemandswhathefancieshecanget。
Soonpeopleforgetwhatthemanreallywantedfirst；andafterasuccessfulandvigorouspoliticallife，heforgetsithimself。
Thewholeisanextravagantriotofsecondbests，apandemoniumofpis-aller。Nowthissortofpliabilitydoesnotmerelypreventanyheroicconsistency，italsopreventsanyreallypracticalcompromise。
Onecanonlyfindthemiddledistancebetweentwopointsifthetwopointswillstandstill。Wemaymakeanarrangementbetweentwolitigantswhocannotbothgetwhattheywant；
butnotiftheywillnoteventelluswhattheywant。
Thekeeperofarestaurantwouldmuchpreferthateachcustomershouldgivehisordersmartly，thoughitwereforstewedibisorboiledelephant，ratherthanthateachcustomershouldsitholdinghisheadinhishands，plungedinarithmeticalcalculationsabouthowmuchfoodtherecanbeonthepremises。
Mostofushavesufferedfromacertainsortofladieswho，bytheirperverseunselfishness，givemoretroublethantheselfish；whoalmostclamorfortheunpopulardishandscramblefortheworstseat。
Mostofushaveknownpartiesorexpeditionsfullofthisseethingfussofself-effacement。Frommuchmeanermotivesthanthoseofsuchadmirablewomen，ourpracticalpoliticianskeepthingsinthesameconfusionthroughthesamedoubtabouttheirrealdemands。
Thereisnothingthatsomuchpreventsasettlementasatangleofsmallsurrenders。Wearebewilderedoneverysidebypoliticianswhoareinfavorofseculareducation，butthinkithopelesstoworkforit；whodesiretotalprohibition，butarecertaintheyshouldnotdemandit；whoregretcompulsoryeducation，butresignedlycontinueit；orwhowantpeasantproprietorshipandthereforevoteforsomethingelse。Itisthisdazedandflounderingopportunismthatgetsinthewayofeverything。
Ifourstatesmenwerevisionariessomethingpracticalmightbedone。
Ifweaskforsomethingintheabstractwemightgetsomethingintheconcrete。Asitis，itisnotonlyimpossibletogetwhatonewants，butitisimpossibletogetanypartofit，becausenobodycanmarkitoutplainlylikeamap。Thatclearandevenhardqualitythattherewasintheoldbargaininghaswhollyvanished。Weforgetthattheword\"compromise\"contains，amongotherthings，therigidandringingword\"promise。\"
Moderationisnotvague；itisasdefiniteasperfection。
Themiddlepointisasfixedastheextremepoint。
IfIammadetowalktheplankbyapirate，itisvainformetooffer，asacommon-sensecompromise，towalkalongtheplankforareasonabledistance。ItisexactlyaboutthereasonabledistancethatthepirateandIdiffer。
Thereisanexquisitemathematicalsplitsecondatwhichtheplanktipsup。Mycommon-senseendsjustbeforethatinstant；
thepirate\'scommon-sensebeginsjustbeyondit。
Butthepointitselfisashardasanygeometricaldiagram；
asabstractasanytheologicaldogma。
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III
THENEWHYPOCRITE
ButthisnewcloudypoliticalcowardicehasrendereduselesstheoldEnglishcompromise。Peoplehavebeguntobeterrifiedofanimprovementmerelybecauseitiscomplete。
Theycallitutopianandrevolutionarythatanyoneshouldreallyhavehisownway，oranythingbereallydone，anddonewith。
Compromiseusedtomeanthathalfaloafwasbetterthannobread。
Amongmodernstatesmenitreallyseemstomeanthathalfaloafisbetterthanawholeloaf。
Asaninstancetosharpentheargument，Itaketheonecaseofoureverlastingeducationbills。Wehaveactuallycontrivedtoinventanewkindofhypocrite。Theoldhypocrite，TartuffeorPecksniff，wasamanwhoseaimswerereallyworldlyandpractical，whilehepretendedthattheywerereligious。
Thenewhypocriteisonewhoseaimsarereallyreligious，whilehepretendsthattheyareworldlyandpractical。
TheRev。Brown，theWesleyanminister，sturdilydeclaresthathecaresnothingforcreeds，butonlyforeducation；
meanwhile，intruth，thewildestWesleyanismistearinghissoul。
TheRev。Smith，oftheChurchofEngland，explainsgracefully，withtheOxfordmanner，thattheonlyquestionforhimistheprosperityandefficiencyoftheschools；whileintruthalltheevilpassionsofacurateareroaringwithinhim。
Itisafightofcreedsmasqueradingaspolicies。
Ithinkthesereverendgentlemendothemselveswrong；Ithinktheyaremorepiousthantheywilladmit。Theologyisnot（assomesuppose）expungedasanerror。Itismerelyconcealed，likeasin。Dr。CliffordreallywantsatheologicalatmosphereasmuchasLordHalifax；onlyitisadifferentone。
IfDr。CliffordwouldaskplainlyforPuritanismandLordHalifaxaskplainlyforCatholicism，somethingmightbedoneforthem。
Weareall，onehopes，imaginativeenoughtorecognizethedignityanddistinctnessofanotherreligion，likeIslamorthecultofApollo。Iamquitereadytorespectanotherman\'sfaith；
butitistoomuchtoaskthatIshouldrespecthisdoubt，hisworldlyhesitationsandfictions，hispoliticalbargainandmake-believe。MostNonconformistswithaninstinctforEnglishhistorycouldseesomethingpoeticandnationalabouttheArchbishopofCanterburyasanArchbishopofCanterbury。ItiswhenhedoestherationalBritishstatesmanthattheyveryjustifiablygetannoyed。MostAnglicanswithaneyeforpluckandsimplicitycouldadmireDr。CliffordasaBaptistminister。
Itiswhenhesaysthatheissimplyacitizenthatnobodycanpossiblybelievehim。
Butindeedthecaseisyetmorecuriousthanthis。
Theoneargumentthatusedtobeurgedforourcreedlessvaguenesswasthatatleastitsavedusfromfanaticism。
Butitdoesnotevendothat。Onthecontrary，itcreatesandrenewsfanaticismwithaforcequitepeculiartoitself。
ThisisatoncesostrangeandsotruethatIwillaskthereader\'sattentiontoitwithalittlemoreprecision。
Somepeopledonotliketheword\"dogma。\"Fortunatelytheyarefree，andthereisanalternativeforthem。Therearetwothings，andtwothingsonly，forthehumanmind，adogmaandaprejudice。
TheMiddleAgeswerearationalepoch，anageofdoctrine。
Ourageis，atitsbest，apoeticalepoch，anageofprejudice。
Adoctrineisadefinitepoint；aprejudiceisadirection。
Thatanoxmaybeeaten，whileamanshouldnotbeeaten，isadoctrine。Thataslittleaspossibleofanythingshouldbeeatenisaprejudice；whichisalsosometimescalledanideal。
Nowadirectionisalwaysfarmorefantasticthanaplan。
IwouldratherhavethemostarchaicmapoftheroadtoBrightonthanageneralrecommendationtoturntotheleft。
Straightlinesthatarenotparallelmustmeetatlast；butcurvesmayrecoilforever。ApairofloversmightwalkalongthefrontierofFranceandGermany，oneontheonesideandoneontheother，solongastheywerenotvaguelytoldtokeepawayfromeachother。
Andthisisastrictlytrueparableoftheeffectofourmodernvaguenessinlosingandseparatingmenasinamist。
Itisnotmerelytruethatacreedunitesmen。Nay，adifferenceofcreedunitesmen——solongasitisacleardifference。
Aboundaryunites。ManyamagnanimousMoslemandchivalrousCrusadermusthavebeennearertoeachother，becausetheywerebothdogmatists，thananytwohomelessagnosticsinapewofMr。Campbell\'schapel。
\"IsayGodisOne，\"and\"IsayGodisOnebutalsoThree，\"
thatisthebeginningofagoodquarrelsome，manlyfriendship。
Butouragewouldturnthesecreedsintotendencies。ItwouldtelltheTrinitariantofollowmultiplicityassuch（becauseitwashis\"temperament\"），andhewouldturnuplaterwiththreehundredandthirty-threepersonsintheTrinity。Meanwhile，itwouldturntheMoslemintoaMonist：afrightfulintellectualfall。
ItwouldforcethatpreviouslyhealthypersonnotonlytoadmitthattherewasoneGod，buttoadmitthattherewasnobodyelse。
Wheneachhad，foralongenoughperiod，followedthegleamofhisownnose（liketheDong）theywouldappearagain；
theChristianaPolytheist，andtheMoslemaPanegoist，bothquitemad，andfarmoreunfittounderstandeachotherthanbefore。
Itisexactlythesamewithpolitics。Ourpoliticalvaguenessdividesmen，itdoesnotfusethem。Menwillwalkalongtheedgeofachasminclearweather，buttheywilledgemilesawayfromitinafog。
SoaTorycanwalkuptotheveryedgeofSocialism，ifheknowswhatisSocialism。ButifheistoldthatSocialismisaspirit，asublimeatmosphere，anoble，indefinabletendency，why，thenhekeepsoutofitsway；andquiterighttoo。Onecanmeetanassertionwithargument；buthealthybigotryistheonlywayinwhichonecanmeetatendency。IamtoldthattheJapanesemethodofwrestlingconsistsnotofsuddenlypressing，butofsuddenlygivingway。
ThisisoneofmymanyreasonsfordislikingtheJapanesecivilization。
TousesurrenderasaweaponistheveryworstspiritoftheEast。
Butcertainlythereisnoforcesohardtofightastheforcewhichitiseasytoconquer；theforcethatalwaysyieldsandthenreturns。
Suchistheforceofagreatimpersonalprejudice，suchaspossessesthemodernworldonsomanypoints。Againstthisthereisnoweaponatallexceptarigidandsteelysanity，aresolutionnottolistentofads，andnottobeinfectedbydiseases。
Inshort，therationalhumanfaithmustarmoritselfwithprejudiceinanageofprejudices，justasitarmoureditselfwithlogicinanageoflogic。Butthedifferencebetweenthetwomentalmethodsismarkedandunmistakable。Theessentialofthedifferenceisthis：
thatprejudicesaredivergent，whereascreedsarealwaysincollision。
Believersbumpintoeachother；whereasbigotskeepoutofeachother\'sway。Acreedisacollectivething，andevenitssinsaresociable。
Aprejudiceisaprivatething，andevenitstoleranceismisanthropic。
Soitiswithourexistingdivisions。Theykeepoutofeachother\'sway；
theTorypaperandtheRadicalpaperdonotanswereachother；
theyignoreeachother。Genuinecontroversy，faircutandthrustbeforeacommonaudience，hasbecomeinourspecialepochveryrare。
Forthesincerecontroversialistisaboveallthingsagoodlistener。
Thereallyburningenthusiastneverinterrupts；helistenstotheenemy\'sargumentsaseagerlyasaspywouldlistentotheenemy\'sarrangements。
Butifyouattemptanactualargumentwithamodernpaperofoppositepolitics，youwillfindthatnomediumisadmittedbetweenviolenceandevasion。Youwillhavenoanswerexceptslangingorsilence。
Amoderneditormustnothavethateagerearthatgoeswiththehonesttongue。Hemaybedeafandsilent；andthatiscalleddignity。
Orhemaybedeafandnoisy；andthatiscalledslashingjournalism。
Inneithercaseisthereanycontroversy；forthewholeobjectofmodernpartycombatantsistochargeoutofearshot。
Theonlylogicalcureforallthisistheassertionofahumanideal。
Indealingwiththis，Iwilltrytobeaslittletranscendentalasisconsistentwithreason；itisenoughtosaythatunlesswehavesomedoctrineofadivineman，allabusesmaybeexcused，sinceevolutionmayturnthemintouses。Itwillbeeasyforthescientificplutocrattomaintainthathumanitywilladaptitselftoanyconditionswhichwenowconsiderevil。Theoldtyrantsinvokedthepast；thenewtyrantswillinvokethefutureevolutionhasproducedthesnailandtheowl；evolutioncanproduceaworkmanwhowantsnomorespacethanasnail，andnomorelightthananowl。
TheemployerneednotmindsendingaKaffirtoworkunderground；
hewillsoonbecomeanundergroundanimal，likeamole。
Heneednotmindsendingadivertoholdhisbreathinthedeepseas；
hewillsoonbeadeep-seaanimal。Menneednottroubletoalterconditions，conditionswillsosoonaltermen。
Theheadcanbebeatensmallenoughtofitthehat。
Donotknockthefettersofftheslave；knocktheslaveuntilheforgetsthefetters。Toallthisplausiblemodemargumentforoppression，theonlyadequateansweris，thatthereisapermanenthumanidealthatmustnotbeeitherconfusedordestroyed。
Themostimportantmanonearthistheperfectmanwhoisnotthere。
TheChristianreligionhasspeciallyutteredtheultimatesanityofMan，saysScripture，whoshalljudgetheincarnateandhumantruth。
Ourlivesandlawsarenotjudgedbydivinesuperiority，butsimplybyhumanperfection。Itisman，saysAristotle，whoisthemeasure。
ItistheSonofMan，saysScripture，whoshalljudgethequickandthedead。
Doctrine，therefore，doesnotcausedissensions；
ratheradoctrinealonecancureourdissensions。
Itisnecessarytoask，however，roughly，whatabstractandidealshapeinstateorfamilywouldfulfilthehumanhunger；
andthisapartfromwhetherwecancompletelyobtainitornot。
Butwhenwecometoaskwhatistheneedofnormalmen，whatisthedesireofallnations，whatistheidealhouse，orroad，orrule，orrepublic，orking，orpriesthood，thenweareconfrontedwithastrangeandirritatingdifficultypeculiartothepresenttime；andwemustcallatemporaryhaltandexaminethatobstacle。
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IV
THEFEAROFTHEPAST
Thelastfewdecadeshavebeenmarkedbyaspecialcultivationoftheromanceofthefuture。Weseemtohavemadeupourmindstomisunderstandwhathashappened；andweturn，withasortofrelief，tostatingwhatwillhappen——whichis（apparently）mucheasier。
Themodernmannolongerpresentsthememoirsofhisgreatgrandfather；
butisengagedinwritingadetailedandauthoritativebiographyofhisgreat-grandson。Insteadoftremblingbeforethespectersofthedead，weshudderabjectlyundertheshadowofthebabeunborn。
Thisspiritisapparenteverywhere，eventothecreationofaformoffuturistromance。SirWalterScottstandsatthedawnofthenineteenthcenturyforthenovelofthepast；Mr。H。G。Wellsstandsatthedawnofthetwentiethcenturyforthenovelofthefuture。Theoldstory，weknow，wassupposedtobegin：
\"Lateonawinter\'seveningtwohorsemenmighthavebeenseen——。\"
Thenewstoryhastobegin：\"Lateonawinter\'seveningtwoaviatorswillbeseen——。\"Themovementisnotwithoutitselementsofcharm；
thereissomethingspirited，ifeccentric，inthesightofsomanypeoplefightingoveragainthefightsthathavenotyethappened；
ofpeoplestillglowingwiththememoryoftomorrowmorning。
Amaninadvanceoftheageisafamiliarphraseenough。
Anageinadvanceoftheageisreallyratherodd。
Butwhenfullallowancehasbeenmadeforthisharmlesselementofpoetryandprettyhumanperversityinthething，Ishallnothesitatetomaintainherethatthiscultofthefutureisnotonlyaweaknessbutacowardiceoftheage。
Itisthepeculiarevilofthisepochthatevenitspugnacityisfundamentallyfrightened；andtheJingoiscontemptiblenotbecauseheisimpudent，butbecauseheistimid。
ThereasonwhymodernarmamentsdonotinflametheimaginationlikethearmsandemblazonmentsoftheCrusadesisareasonquiteapartfromopticaluglinessorbeauty。Somebattleshipsareasbeautifulasthesea；andmanyNormannosepieceswereasuglyasNormannoses。Theatmosphericuglinessthatsurroundsourscientificwarisanemanationfromthatevilpanicwhichisattheheartofit。ThechargeoftheCrusadeswasacharge；
itwaschargingtowardsGod，thewildconsolationofthebraver。
Thechargeofthemodernarmamentsisnotachargeatall。
Itisarout，aretreat，aflightfromthedevil，whowillcatchthehindmost。ItisimpossibletoimagineamediaevalknighttalkingoflongerandlongerFrenchlances，withpreciselythequiveringemployedaboutlargerandlargerGermanshipsThemanwhocalledtheBlueWaterSchoolthe\"BlueFunkSchool\"
utteredapsychologicaltruthwhichthatschoolitselfwouldscarcelyessentiallydeny。Eventhetwo-powerstandard，ifitbeanecessity，isinasenseadegradingnecessity。
NothinghasmorealienatedmanymagnanimousmindsfromImperialenterprisesthanthefactthattheyarealwaysexhibitedasstealthyorsuddendefensesagainstaworldofcoldrapacityandfear。
TheBoerWar，forinstance，wascolorednotsomuchbythecreedthatweweredoingsomethingright，asbythecreedthatBoersandGermanswereprobablydoingsomethingwrong；drivingus（asitwassaid）tothesea。Mr。Chamberlain，Ithink，saidthatthewarwasafeatherinhiscapandsoitwas：
awhitefeather。
NowthissameprimarypanicthatIfeelinourrushtowardspatrioticarmamentsIfeelalsoinourrushtowardsfuturevisionsofsociety。
Themodernmindisforcedtowardsthefuturebyacertainsenseoffatigue，notunmixedwithterror，withwhichitregardsthepast。
Itispropelledtowardsthecomingtime；itis，intheexactwordsofthepopularphrase，knockedintothemiddleofnextweek。
AndthegoadwhichdrivesitonthuseagerlyisnotanaffectationforfuturityFuturitydoesnotexist，becauseitisstillfuture。
Ratheritisafearofthepast；afearnotmerelyoftheevilinthepast，butofthegoodinthepastalso。
Thebrainbreaksdownundertheunbearablevirtueofmankind。
Therehavebeensomanyflamingfaithsthatwecannothold；
somanyharshheroismsthatwecannotimitate；somanygreateffortsofmonumentalbuildingorofmilitaryglorywhichseemtousatoncesublimeandpathetic。Thefutureisarefugefromthefiercecompetitionofourforefathers。
Theoldergeneration，nottheyounger，isknockingatourdoor。
Itisagreeabletoescape，asHenleysaid，intotheStreetofBy-and-Bye，wherestandstheHostelryofNever。Itispleasanttoplaywithchildren，especiallyunbornchildren。
Thefutureisablankwallonwhicheverymancanwritehisownnameaslargeashelikes；thepastIfindalreadycoveredwithillegiblescribbles，suchasPlato，Isaiah，Shakespeare，MichaelAngelo，Napoleon。Icanmakethefutureasnarrowasmyself；
thepastisobligedtobeasbroadandturbulentashumanity。
Andtheupshotofthismodernattitudeisreallythis：
thatmeninventnewidealsbecausetheydarenotattemptoldideals。
Theylookforwardwithenthusiasm，becausetheyareafraidtolookback。
NowinhistorythereisnoRevolutionthatisnotaRestoration。
AmongthemanythingsthatLeavemedoubtfulaboutthemodernhabitoffixingeyesonthefuture，noneisstrongerthanthis：
thatallthemeninhistorywhohavereallydoneanythingwiththefuturehavehadtheireyesfixeduponthepast。
IneednotmentiontheRenaissance，theverywordprovesmycase。
TheoriginalityofMichaelAngeloandShakespearebeganwiththediggingupofoldvasesandmanuscripts。Themildnessofpoetsabsolutelyaroseoutofthemildnessofantiquaries。
SothegreatmediaevalrevivalwasamemoryoftheRomanEmpire。
SotheReformationlookedbacktotheBibleandBibletimes。
SothemodernCatholicmovementhaslookedbacktopatristictimes。
Butthatmodernmovementwhichmanywouldcountthemostanarchicofallisinthissensethemostconservativeofall。
NeverwasthepastmoreveneratedbymenthanitwasbytheFrenchRevolutionists。Theyinvokedthelittlerepublicsofantiquitywiththecompleteconfidenceofonewhoinvokesthegods。
TheSans-culottesbelieved（astheirnamemightimply）inareturntosimplicity。Theybelievedmostpiouslyinaremotepast；
somemightcallitamythicalpast。Forsomestrangereasonmanmustalwaysthusplanthisfruittreesinagraveyard。
Mancanonlyfindlifeamongthedead。Manisamisshapenmonster，withhisfeetsetforwardandhisfaceturnedback。Hecanmakethefutureluxuriantandgigantic，solongasheisthinkingaboutthepast。Whenhetriestothinkaboutthefutureitself，hisminddiminishestoapinpointwithimbecility，whichsomecallNirvana。To-morrowistheGorgon；amanmustonlyseeitmirroredintheshiningshieldofyesterday。Ifheseesitdirectlyheisturnedtostone。Thishasbeenthefateofallthosewhohavereallyseenfateandfuturityasclearandinevitable。
TheCalvinists，withtheirperfectcreedofpredestination，wereturnedtostone。Themodernsociologicalscientists（withtheirexcruciatingEugenics）areturnedtostone。
TheonlydifferenceisthatthePuritansmakedignified，andtheEugenistssomewhatamusing，statues。
Butthereisonefeatureinthepastwhichmorethanalltherestdefiesanddepressesthemodernsanddrivesthemtowardsthisfeaturelessfuture。Imeanthepresenceinthepastofhugeideals，unfulfilledandsometimesabandoned。
Thesightofthesesplendidfailuresismelancholytoarestlessandrathermorbidgeneration；andtheymaintainastrangesilenceaboutthem——sometimesamountingtoanunscrupuloussilence。
Theykeepthementirelyoutoftheirnewspapersandalmostentirelyoutoftheirhistorybooks。Forexample，theywilloftentellyou（intheirpraisesofthecomingage）thatwearemovingontowardsaUnitedStatesofEurope。ButtheycarefullyomittotellyouthatwearemovingawayfromaUnitedStatesofEurope，thatsuchathingexistedliterallyinRomanandessentiallyinmediaevaltimes。Theyneveradmitthattheinternationalhatreds（whichtheycallbarbaric）arereallyveryrecent，themerebreakdownoftheidealoftheHolyRomanEmpire。Oragain，theywilltellyouthatthereisgoingtobeasocialrevolution，agreatrisingofthepooragainsttherich；buttheyneverrubitinthatFrancemadethatmagnificentattempt，unaided，andthatweandalltheworldallowedittobetrampledoutandforgotten。
Isaydecisivelythatnothingissomarkedinmodernwritingasthepredictionofsuchidealsinthefuturecombinedwiththeignoringoftheminthepast。Anyonecantestthisforhimself。
ReadanythirtyorfortypagesofpamphletsadvocatingpeaceinEuropeandseehowmanyofthempraisetheoldPopesorEmperorsforkeepingthepeaceinEurope。Readanyarmfulofessaysandpoemsinpraiseofsocialdemocracy，andseehowmanyofthempraisetheoldJacobinswhocreateddemocracyanddiedforit。
Thesecolossalruinsaretothemodernonlyenormouseyesores。
Helooksbackalongthevalleyofthepastandseesaperspectiveofsplendidbutunfinishedcities。Theyareunfinished，notalwaysthroughenmityoraccident，butoftenthroughfickleness，mentalfatigue，andthelustforalienphilosophies。
Wehavenotonlyleftundonethosethingsthatweoughttohavedone，butwehaveevenleftundonethosethingsthatwewantedtodoItisverycurrentlysuggestedthatthemodernmanistheheirofalltheages，thathehasgotthegoodoutofthesesuccessivehumanexperiments。
Iknownotwhattosayinanswertothis，excepttoaskthereadertolookatthemodernman，asIhavejustlookedatthemodernman——
inthelooking-glass。IsitreallytruethatyouandIaretwostarrytowersbuiltupofallthemosttoweringvisionsofthepast？
Havewereallyfulfilledallthegreathistoricidealsoneaftertheother，fromournakedancestorwhowasbraveenoughtotillamammothwithastoneknife，throughtheGreekcitizenandtheChristiansainttoourowngrandfatherorgreat-grandfather，whomayhavebeensabredbytheManchesterYeomanryorshotinthe\'48？
Arewestillstrongenoughtospearmammoths，butnowtenderenoughtosparethem？Doesthecosmoscontainanymammoththatwehaveeitherspearedorspared？Whenwedecline（inamarkedmanner）
toflytheredflagandfireacrossabarricadelikeourgrandfathers，arewereallydecliningindeferencetosociologists——ortosoldiers？
Haveweindeedoutstrippedthewarriorandpassedtheasceticalsaint？
Ifearweonlyoutstripthewarriorinthesensethatweshouldprobablyrunawayfromhim。Andifwehavepassedthesaint，Ifearwehavepassedhimwithoutbowing。
Thisis，firstandforemost，whatImeanbythenarrownessofthenewideas，thelimitingeffectofthefuture。
Ourmodernpropheticidealismisnarrowbecauseithasundergoneapersistentprocessofelimination。Wemustaskfornewthingsbecausewearenotallowedtoaskforoldthings。
Thewholepositionisbasedonthisideathatwehavegotallthegoodthatcanbegotoutoftheideasofthepast。
Butwehavenotgotallthegoodoutofthem，perhapsatthismomentnotanyofthegoodoutofthem。Andtheneedhereisaneedofcompletefreedomforrestorationaswellasrevolution。
Weoftenreadnowadaysofthevalororaudacitywithwhichsomerebelattacksahoarytyrannyoranantiquatedsuperstition。
Thereisnotreallyanycourageatallinattackinghoaryorantiquatedthings，anymorethaninofferingtofightone\'sgrandmother。Thereallycourageousmanishewhodefiestyranniesyoungasthemorningandsuperstitionsfreshasthefirstflowers。Theonlytruefree-thinkerishewhoseintellectisasmuchfreefromthefutureasfromthepast。
Hecaresaslittleforwhatwillbeasforwhathasbeen；
hecaresonlyforwhatoughttobe。AndformypresentpurposeIspeciallyinsistonthisabstractindependence。
IfIamtodiscusswhatiswrong，oneofthefirstthingsthatarewrongisthis：thedeepandsilentmodernassumptionthatpastthingshavebecomeimpossible。Thereisonemetaphorofwhichthemodernsareveryfond；theyarealwayssaying，\"Youcan\'tputtheclockback。\"Thesimpleandobviousansweris\"Youcan。\"Aclock，beingapieceofhumanconstruction，canberestoredbythehumanfingertoanyfigureorhour。
Inthesamewaysociety，beingapieceofhumanconstruction，canbereconstructeduponanyplanthathaseverexisted。
Thereisanotherproverb，\"Asyouhavemadeyourbed，soyoumustlieonit\"；whichagainissimplyalie。
IfIhavemademybeduncomfortable，pleaseGodIwillmakeitagain。
WecouldrestoretheHeptarchyorthestagecoachesifwechose。
Itmighttakesometimetodo，anditmightbeveryinadvisabletodoit；
butcertainlyitisnotimpossibleasbringingbacklastFridayisimpossible。Thisis，asIsay，thefirstfreedomthatIclaim：
thefreedomtorestore。IclaimarighttoproposeasasolutiontheoldpatriarchalsystemofaHighlandclan，ifthatshouldseemtoeliminatethelargestnumberofevils。Itcertainlywouldeliminatesomeevils；forinstance，theunnaturalsenseofobeyingcoldandharshstrangers，merebureaucratsandpolicemen。
IclaimtherighttoproposethecompleteindependenceofthesmallGreekorItaliantowns，asovereigncityofBrixtonorBrompton，ifthatseemsthebestwayoutofourtroubles。Itwouldbeawayoutofsomeofourtroubles；wecouldnothaveinasmallstate，forinstance，thoseenormousillusionsaboutmenormeasureswhicharenourishedbythegreatnationalorinternationalnewspapers。
YoucouldnotpersuadeacitystatethatMr。BeitwasanEnglishman，orMr。Dillonadesperado，anymorethanyoucouldpersuadeaHampshireVillagethatthevillagedrunkardwasateetotallerorthevillageidiotastatesman。Nevertheless，IdonotasafactproposethattheBrownsandtheSmithsshouldbecollectedunderseparatetartans。NordoIevenproposethatClaphamshoulddeclareitsindependence。Imerelydeclaremyindependence。
Imerelyclaimmychoiceofallthetoolsintheuniverse；
andIshallnotadmitthatanyofthemarebluntedmerelybecausetheyhavebeenused。