WISDOM

THE

BEING

ARTHUR

OF
THE

FIRST

LIFE

OF

PART

SCHOPENHAUER'S

Hpborismen

Xebensweisbeit

sur

Viictm

impendere

TRANSLATED

vero"

"

JUVENAL.

PREFACE

WITH

BY

T.

BAILEY

THIRD

S A

HiT

S,

M.

A.

EDITION.

LONDON
SWAN

SONNENSCHEIN

"

PATERNOSTER

SQUARE

1891

CO.

/S"3
"

PREFACE.

TRANSLATOR'S

SCHOPENHAUER

'.

be

can

is

generally understood

All his theories

to

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ii

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c'est

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PREFACE.

philosophe qui

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TRANSLATOR'S

the

in
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most

iii

PREFACE.

followed

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to
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Schopenhauer

the

sense

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something

; hence

need

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iv

TRANSLATOR'S

pain

is

what

are

PREFACE.

positivein

possiblehappiness is

the

world, and

only
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renunciation

negation,a

the

will to live.
is instructive

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of

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of

Schopenhauer

Religion

are

heaven

Art

than

; and

polytheism

or

world

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element

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experience,

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recognise pessimism
of life.

view

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main,

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to

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to earth.

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world

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Ribot

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note,

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which

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taining
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have

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TRANSLATORS

in

title of

of

with
the

to

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volume, and

third

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PREFACE)*

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vi

TRANSLATOR'S

up

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PREFACE.

all,

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TRANSLATORS

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vil

PREFACE.

round

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of effort

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details,life may

TRANSLATOR'S

viii
indeed

to be

appear

happy

and

there

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view

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point

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PREFACE.

natural
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TRANSLATOR'S

things in
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give

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us

ix

PREFACE.

support
not

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of it ;

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present

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life

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TRANSLATOR'S

and

appear,

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the

of

aim

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ultimately

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medium

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Art; for

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apprehensionof

Art

PREFACE.

TRANSLATOR

raised

are

we

their relations

free from

existence,and

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is

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bondage

in the

few of those who

Art

after

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our

noble,

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fellow-man, because, in injuringhim,

we

TRANSLATOR'S

xii

ourselves

injuring

are

of

sufferers

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PREFACE.

connected

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Xlii

PREFACE.

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xiv

TRANSLATOR'S

tion of the

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TRANSLATOR'S

xvi

question which
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TRANSLATOR'S

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xvii

PREFACE.

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xviii

TRANSLATOR'S

whose

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PREFACE.

E.

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how-

TRANSLATOR'S

xix

PREFACE.

be, the

endeavour

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problems

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TRANSLATOR'S

"x

and
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PREFACE.

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TRANSLATOR'S

feceratille minus,1

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xxi

PREFACE.

of

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TRANSLATOR'S

xxii

the false in

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true

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TRANSLATOR'S

xxiv

what
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be

should

sombre, there

existence
be

free from

der Mensch

was

noble

; for

manifestations

And

feel that lifeis

There

is

splendid

which

picture drawn

well

by

if

ideal

the
1

The

world

weak

or

the

"

of

will

looks

man

sorrows

than

says,

life with

character

any

happening
that have

nobilityis

Pleasures

of Life.
B

to
Part

gloomy
in

and
his

merely

not

"

we

us,

at

can

courage

das

ist ein heroischer

complain at

never

round

is his

though

unmanly

erlangenJcann

is

Is denied

pain

of that which

will,he finds
to bear

that

the

face

and

heroes

misfortune

harder

but

happy existence, he

Lebenslauf. A

the

at

say

manifold blessings

remembered

nothing

is

If

attitude.

hochste

not

philosopher.

Schopenhauer'spicture of

least

more

resolutely

we

do

out

pressed
boldly ex-

this statement

darker

the

up

Finally,it

an

the

of

cannot

we

us;

optimism

the outer

happiness;

so

If

trasting
con-

thingsas they really

at

glorious inheritance.1

by

to

opinion

Lubbock,

John

the

we

and

of

source

English writer.

Sir

look, observes

if

Lubbock,

of life itself will stand

Schopenhauer'sview
clearlyif

John

xxv

appeals they severallymake

inner

the

PREFACE.

him

at

inner

own

other

nature,

to his fellow-men

come

upon

deserve
I.,p.

the
5.

himself.

praise

TRANSLATOR'S

xxvi
Hamlet

which

to his friend

gave

"

hast been

Thou

As

its
or

reallythe

were

such

from

happinesswould
constituted

incentives

as

of

conditions

very

destiny.

It is not

to

happiness.
the

it is the mistaken

thus

it

more

boredom.
had

we

to

that

that life would

and

natural

supply two

and

it is obvious

lie in action ; and

to

with

as

life,and

partialview,

action,and

to

pain

of

sum

carries

existence

between

oscillation

less violent

reason

describes

He

correction.

own

If this

so

nothing.
sufferingall,that suffers

mie, in

perhaps Schopenhauer's theory

But

of Pessimism

Shakespeare'sTragedy

in

"

PREFACE.

contain

Life

be

inevitable

in itself the

itself reveals

our

strugglewhich producesmisery,

aims

the low

and

bdndigt,das Geineine !
That
Schopenhauer conceives

ideals

was

"

uns

alle

life

deduction, and possiblya mistaken

metaphysicaltheory.
correct

not

or

"

and

Whether

it shares

deduction, from

his scheme
the

evil is

an

as

of

his

thingsis

fate of all

common

a,nd to
metaphysicalsystems in being un verifiable,
extent

made

will in the

"

good

varied
age

unprofitable he

needs

will

his claim
of

to be read

human

life.

by

It may

consignhis metaphysics to

lumber-room

; but

and
philosopher,

capacity.

he

he is
can

last resort

his

that
have

insightinto
be that

the

the

future

philosophical

literaryartist

make

as

bid for fame

well

as

in either

X. B. SL

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION
i

.....

i.

DIVISION

OF

SUBJECT

THE

....

n.

in.

iv.

PERSONALITY,

OR

PROPERTY,

OR

POSITION,

OF

WHAT

WHAT

MAN'S

OR

MAN

MAN

is

15
.

.48

HAS

PLACE

IN

ESTIMATION

THE

OTHERS
"

Sect.

i.

Reputation

-59
.

2.

Pride

68

"

3.

Rank

,,

4.

73
"

5.

.72
.

Honour

"

"

Fame

"

.116
.

INTRODUCTION.

IN

these

the

ordering

possible
theory

of

teaches

lives

our

of

amount

of

which

existence
looked

at

rather,

after

lead

and

be

and

not

that

we

Now

should

never

whether

question

system

in

the

second

this

hypothesis

existence, I

have

like

it to

higher

of

this

to

come

life

is

well-known,

negative

chief

my

upon

to

and

On

question

the
must

in

shown,

(ch. 49),

that

mistake.
of

complete

ethical

is

phical
philoso-

my

fundamental
scheme

could

or

existence,

I have

work

the

make

metaphysical

end.

answer.

the

; and

further,

and

an

of

sake,

own

corresponds,

conception

elaborating
had

non-existence;

death

is based

in

the

to

of

affirmative

volume

Accordingly,

of

the

or,

the

"

fear

view,
for

reflection

hypothesis, however,

answered

be

of

the

as

an

which,

one

its

returns

eudsemonistic

as

it for

which,

to

it

Such

to

to

for

subjective considerations,

human

possibly correspond,
a

defined

the

art

an

cling

from

merely

greatest

existence.

preferable

should

we

success

mature

decidedly

that

implying

the

Eudcemonology,

be

involves

question necessarily
would

and

art, namely,

purely objective point

cool

"

obtain

happy

perhaps

from

to

as

called

be

to

might

so

as

in

of Life

the

term,

pleasure

may

how

us

the

Wisdom

The

of

speak

meaning

common

of

I shall

pages

happy

surrender

standpoint

to

INTRODUCTION.

which

in

will

here

say

to

embrace

of

bottom

it.

My

logy

is

completeness

and
to

the

possess

claims
is

subject

been

has

the

at

eudcemonono

I should

because

what

again

word

very

because

partly
partly

over

say

the

is
will

therefore,

Further, I make

euphemism.

which

of

standpoint

error

remarks,
for

compromise

upon

common

the

qualified value,

only

the

I shall

everything

rest

I take

and

day,

every

and

extent

some

is,as

far, that

so

lead

theories

own

my

to

haustible,
inex-

otherwise

have

said

already

by

others.

The

only book

with

like

collection

capienda,

be

may

aphorisms,

used

in

but

Rhetoric;
As

much.
made

of

in
is

of
the

of

have

fools, who

at

in

and

says,

shall

wicked

as

we

not

of

form

leave

found

acted

will

it

so

it

this
on

eudsemonobook

of

his

to

very

business, I

have

come

especially

more

view

is

the

general, indeed,

said

always

work.

compiling individuality

In

kind.

too

not

predecessors;

ex

reading, and

on

my

individuality of

way

opposite;
we

is

all times

their

does

says

process

this

in all
ages

have

these

lost, and

works

he

compilation
use

no

because
view

what

utilitate

first

the

this

present

words

of

chapter

De

the

few

remember,

animates

worth

supplement

to

fifth

the

which

is well

as

Cardan's

is

which

Aristotle, it is true, has

logy

far

as

that

to

purpose

of

adversis

composed,

the
the

immense

alike, and

continue.
world
our

amvaL

the

wise
the

majority,
done

For,
as

kernel

thing, and

same

of

as

j List

the

Voltaire

foolish and

as

THE

from

man

; and

that

they

influence
in

mankind

contained

those

two

infer

once

unhappiness

or

mind

or

than

followingheads,

which

human

radical

pared
Com-

arrangements.

of

royal birth, are

stage to kings

in

real

as

privilegesof rank
but
as
kings on the

great heart, all

life.

of

way

birth, even

or

and

man

at

may

vital and

the

effect of

we

are

genuine personal advantages, such

with

great

set between

happiness

more

under

the

merely

the

much

has

fact alone

this

the first head

under

come

herself

Nature

which

those

are

which

differences

The

LIFE.

OF

WISDOM

the

said
thing was
earliest
disciple of

The

same

long ago by Metrodorus, the

Epicurus,who wrote as the title of one of his chapters,
The happiness we
receive from ourselves
is greater
obtain
that which
than
we
from our
surroundings.1
it is

And

obvious

an

fact,which

question,that the principalelement

being, indeed, in the whole tenor of
"

he is made

what

is the immediate

of, his inner

source

in

influence

indirect
external
alike ;

events

immediate

so

which

him.

as

man

This

circumstances

world

of

his

apprehension only

far

only

exert

outer

world

is

affect

can

this

total

of

mediate
the

why

or

same

For
own

two

no

has

man

ideas,feelings

influence

him

only

brings these to life. The world

lives shapes itself chieflyby the
way
Alex.

Strom.

his

his surroundings,

it

Cf. Clemens

or

people
surroundings every

own.

of his

For

satisfaction

inward

perfectlysimilar

volitions ; the

and
in

in

hand,
upon

or

with

even

lives

one

other

is

"

the
sum
resulting from
sensations, desires and thoughts ; whilst
the

well-

his existence,

dissatisfaction

on

man's

constitution.

of that

called in

be

cannot

II., 21.

in
in

which

looks

he

different

hearing of
in

will wish

so

it is

one

SUBJECT.

it proves

different

barren, dull,

the
to

interestingevents which have happened

of a man's
the course
experience,many
people
that similar thingshad happened in their lives

but

of the

mental

man

of

genius they

he describes

events

them

interestingadventures

were

foolish

the

reader

perceptionsof

;
;

ordinary individual
have
been
stale, everyday occurrences.
they would
of
This is in the highest degree the case
with
many
Goethe's
and
which
are
Byron's poems,
obviously
founded
actual facts; where
it is open
to a
upon
to

dull

when

possess

be envious

lent those

aptitude which

they
significance
a

ficial
super-

the

too, completely forgettingthat they should

rather

and

to

and full of meaning.

rich,interesting,

; to another

On

it, and

at

; to

men

THE

OF

DIVISION

to

the

envy

an

poet

because

so

many

delightful
things happened to him, instead of envying
of phantasy which
that mighty power
was
capable of
turning a fairlycommon
experience into something
so
great and beautiful.
In the same
of melancholy temperaa person
ment
way,
will make
in a tragedy out of what
a
scene
to the sanguine man
only in the light of an
appears
thing
interestingconflict,and to a phlegmatic soul as somewithout
meaning; all of which rests upon
any
"

the

fact that

every

event, in order

appreciated,requires the

namely, a subject and

an

to

external
but

the

realised

and

co-operationof two factors,

object; although these are

closelyand necessarilyconnected
When
therefore
hydrogen in water.

as

be

as

the

oxygen

and

objectiveor
factor in an experience is actuallythe same,
or
subjective
personalappreciation of it varies,

6
the

is

event

different

objectin

and

is therefore

world

pent

within

up

he

is not

his

get beyond

can

of much

minister,

the

rank
this

and

by

wealth

no

and
in all

pleasure; here,
these

Though

causes,

much

same

of

absence
which

the

-All the

has to

ences
differ-

of

is in most

and

it

in

no

exists

alone, the

constitution

which

pleasureof

go
the

far

nature

degrees
wise

more

to form

of

spond
corre-

the presence

Since

cises

troubles.

essential

play,to
man

being

same

proceed fivin

case

their

wealth.

is the

man

is the

doubt, but

no

man

circumstances

pride

or

all the anxieties

forms, with

happens for a
and happens for

which
than

in

or

for

is

all these appearances

hardships and

"

all their

vary,

part

consciousness

aid

Differences

in every

are

position and

exists

thing

they
in

intensitywhich
to the

hi

indeed,

may,

dissimilar
the

servant

same.

too, there

mortal, with

poor

more

his part to play, but

give every man
impliesa difference of inward happiness

means

"

life it is just the

is

man

external

"

In

bad

external

so

"

of his lot.

man

stage, one

third

fine

consciousness,

mere
general,and so on,
inner reality,
the kernel of
: the
is the same
a poor
player,with
or

not

limits any

skin

On

of

every

own

those

own

to him.

use

prince,another

soldier

his

directlyget beyond

cannot

than

plain language,
of

like

reflection

in the

or

limits

the

of

the fairest and

intelligence
presents only a poor reality,

weather,
In

had

objectivefactors

"

obscura.

camera,

in the eyes

one

only poorly appreciated,

dull

landscape in

blunt

the

best

and

to

different

if the

as

persons

LIFE.

OF

much

just as

alike ; for

been

WISDOM

THE

or

everything
only in his
most

tial
essen-

of this

sciousness,
con-

important
its contents.

world, mirrored

in

OF

DIVISION

of

the dull consciousness

with
Don

in

realityis

of life and

subjectivehalf
the

Hence

is

ourself,and

life of

the

fate,and

in

on

limits to which

much

his

alter ; it is like

may

No

singletheme.

within

keep

it

to what

of the

one

case

feel.

can

his

with

he

it is with

small,

whatever

fellow-

men

raise him
and
resources

or

the

that fortune

be restricted

family life at
pastime ; even

the

is
especially
fix

this the

for all his

once

of

pleasure.If these powers

without, nothing that his
do for

can

appetite,

most,

measure

hand
before-

him, will suffice

the

his sensual

are

always

must

ordinary degree of human

pleasure,half animal though it be ;
above

narrow

; the

man

which

powers,

efforts from

no

of

get beyond

is determined

attain

can

capacityfor the higherkinds

are

pet happy

individuality. More

the mental

nal
exter-

series

can

of its nature, and

So

the

irrevocablyconsigned it;so

to make

the compass

happiness
by

has

nature

endeavours

our

always

with

own

that

the

it

stamped

is

man

every

individuality. An animal, under

within
circumstances
it is placed,remains
his

ingly
accord-

cases

essentials

throughout, however

circumstances
variations

objectivehalf

different

in

forms

his

same.

character

same

of

pared
com-

writing

The

prison.

the hand

in

various

takes

remains

miserable

indeed

is poor

Cervantes

of

imagination

the

Quixote

fool,

SUBJECT.

THE

"

"

education,

low

happiness
his only

and

company

the

on

cosy

whole,

to

cheerful

and
can

vulgar
avail

if anything, for the enlargement of his horizon.

little,
For

the

those

deceive

highest,most

of

the
us

on

mind,
this

varied

and

lastingpleasuresare
much
our
youth may

however

point ;

and

the

pleasuresof

the

THE

mind

clear, then,

degree
whilst

lot
we

sense,

may

we

or

have,

remains

though

he

This

is

that

every

its

as

und

Sei

Everything
in

he

in

fool
even

paradise.

Divan, says

positionin

personalityas

to

happiness :
"

Knecht

und

Uebertmnder

nur

Gluek

der

Erdenkinder

die Personlichkeit.

the

fact

incomparably

and

pleasure than

the

low

occupy

hour,

in

honris

West-ostlicher

life is

sayings as
Age cannot
and

to his last

by

of it if

hand,

other

victor,testifies

confirms

happiness

Genius

the

much

ask

this

gestehen,zu jeder Zeit,

Hochstes

and

on

the

whether

man,

Sie

such

in

why Goethe,

Volk

our

do not

surrounded

were

greatest factor

element

we

lot, in

Our

reputation.

our

or

fool,a dull blockhead,

life,or emerges
the

our

improve ; but
inwardly rich :

are

It is

mind.

of the

powers

happiness depends in a great

what
we
our
individuality,
are,
upon
only
destiny is generallytaken to mean

that

upon

what

the

chieflyon

turn

LIFE.

OF

WISDOM

that
more

the

the

subjective
important for
from
objective,

Hunger is the best sauce,

live together,
up to the
Saint.

Health

and

Youth

life of

the

outweighs all other

really say that a
an
ailing king. A

that one
blessingsso much
may
healthy beggar is happier than
ment
quiet and cheerful temperament, happy in the enjoyof a perfectlysound
physique,an intellect clear,
lively,penetrating and seeing things as they are, a
and
moderate
science
gentle will, and therefore a good conwhich
rank
wealth
these are privileges
no
or
is in
for or replace. For what
make
a
man
can
up
"

OF

DIVISION

himself,what
can

one

no

essential

to him

excellent

has

intellectual

An

the world.

he

what

even

fancies, whilst

amount

no

and

pleasure,theatres, excursions
from

off boredom

ward

gentle character
whilst
he

; to

in

richest

has

who

one

malicious

and

the

amusements,

delightof

constant

if

even

man,

Nay

miserable.

world, goes

the

can

good, temperate,
needy circumstances,

in

happy

covetous, envious

be the

more

be

can

social

dullard.

of

eyes

diversity of

or

of

complete solitude
own
thoughts and

his

in

entertainment

the

in

be
in

man

more

in the way

has

may

alone,what

obviously

is

away,

everything he

than

possessions,or

he is

when

him

accompanies
give or take

SUBJECT.

THE

special

of
most
with a high degree of intellect,
individuality,
after by mankind
the
are
run
are
pleasureswhich
trouble
even
a
perfectly superfluous; they are
and

And

burden.

however

is

life,there

of
them

are

many

Sunt

when

spread

out

qui

deprived

of

the

fancy-goods

least

who

live

can

without

for

vestes Gcetulo

sale,he exclaimed

that I do not

what

other

than

play under
blessings which

we

How

much

luxury
tliere is

want.

"

it is

our
a

all circumstances
are

of

articles

essential element
are,

that

habere

curat

non

various

saw

most

tinctas

murice

habeant, est qui

iion

the first and

reason

tabellas,
ebur, Tyrrhena sigilla,

marmor,

happiness is
into

himself, that,

at

one

Socrates

the world
So

of

"

Argentum,

in

says

Gemmas,

and

Horace

so

described

in

if
personality,
constant
:

factor

life's

our

for

coming

besides,unlike

under

the

no

other

the
two

10

THE

heads, it is

absolute

that

us

"

the

in

it is much

mental

far,it is endowed

with

a n

the

to

The

difficult than

its

before

alone

remains

the

destructive

the

blessingsnamed

which

time

those

of

the
for

claimed

the

first.

to it.

us,

entry by

immutable,
me

quote

not

to

open

kind

of

us

an

lines in which

those

if

might
their

be

very

attainable,

are

at
possibility,
; whilst

what

is

acquire,but making its

for life,
right,it remains

to

divine

inalienable,

as

of

superior to

were

least,of coming into possessionof them

view

heads, of

two

objective and external, they

is presented with
the
one
every

subjectiveis

In

indeed,

advantage
being in

them, namely, that

and

Moral

away.

other

Another

claims

physical

seems,

directlyrob

cannot

in and

waste

time, it

But

without.

influence

under

of this is

people commonly

inaccessible

effect of

relative

merely

consequence

advantages gradually

character

and

so

two.

more

rights,and

nature

be

from
get a hold on a man
all-powerful agent, Time, comes

the

its

cannot

destiny

to

suppose
here

and

of

contrast

other

LIFE.

OF

sport
and,

value
of

worth

the

not

from

wrested

WISDOM

inexorable
Goethe

Let

doom.

describes

how

an

at the hour
destinyis assignedto every man
of his birth, so that he can
develope only in the lines
for him, as it were,
laid down
by the conjunctions of
the stars ; and how the Sibyl and the prophets declare
that himself a man
can
never
escape, nor
any
power
avail to change the
his life
of time
path on which

unalterable

is cast

"

Wie

Die

an

dem

Sonne

Tag,
stand

Bist alsobald

der

znm

dich

der

Grnsse

Welt

der

verliehen,

Planeten,

undfort undfort gediehent

12

WISDOM

THE

it is

two,

manifestly
of

maintenance

not

neglectto
of life.

LIFE.

wiser

health

our

aim

at

the

the cultivation

of

our

to

course

and

amassing of wealth; but this

should
be mistaken
as
meaning that we
acquirean adequate supply of the necessaries

faculties,than
must

OF

at

the

strict

in the

Wealth,

little for

do

is,great superfluity,
can

of the

sense

word, that

happiness ;

our

people feel unhappy just because they

mental
culture
without
true
or
knowledge,
any
consequently have no objectiveinterests which

and

rich

many

are

and
would

for intellectual

qualifythem

satisfaction

the

beyond

of

occupations.
and

real

some

all that the possessionof wealth

necessities,
has

very

of

sense

proper

influence

small

it,because
a

great

are

than

that

man,

times

indeed, wealth

what

as

than

is

man

what

intent

more

as

has.
an

So

the
turbs
dis-

entails

still

men

becoming rich
is quite certain

on

it

contributes
he

industrious

rather

And

anxieties.

acquiring culture, though

on

achieve

can

preservationof property

unavoidable

many

happiness
a

the

thousand

word

the

natural

happiness,in

our

upon

For

much
you

to

more

may

see

his

many

ant, ceaselesslyoccupied

to increase
night in the endeavour
horizon
of
his heap of gold.
Beyond the narrow
to this end, he knows
means
nothing ; his mind is a
blank, and consequently unsusceptible to any other

from

morning

influence.
are

The
to

to

highest pleasures,those
him

inaccessible,and

he

of

the

tries in

tellect,
invain

in
replace them by the fleetingpleasuresof sense
he indulges,lastingbut a brief
which
hour
and
at
And
if he is lucky, his struggles
tremendous
cost.
result in his having a reallygreat pileof gold,which

to

DIVISION

THE

OF

he leaves to his heir, either

squander it
though pursued
to

air

element

in

the

with

of

strugglewith

like
make

they

so

them

life

vicious
here

most

with
in

it

with

is

He

rich

but

to

make

was

for his inner

comes

poor

two

of

kinds
human

do.

not

of

And
to be

insist upon

of

space

bis

so

an

forth

poor,

also poor
the

blessingswhich
life; now-a-days

old

man

end

the

wealth
to

obtain

who

seeks

who

one

de
is inwardly

outwardly.

importance
make

into

Marechal

or

man

arid his

external

David

in the

time, in

the

so

sent

was

runs

because,

Simply

inwardly

thingfrom without, like

strengthenhimself as King
to

often

poverty, by trying

every

tried

and

void, and

and

empty

pleasure,

finally,in excess
rich family enters

of

man

they

entertainment,

sensual

large patrimony,

outwardly

compensate

I need

in

and

kind,

existence.

endeavour

Retz

and

those

where

"

an

too, the mind

the world

to

gaudet

part

young

happy
un-

Their

of

company

incrediblyshort
extravagance ; and why ?

is bored

vain

the

to

simili

every

libertinism.

quite as

imagination dull, their spirits

driven

are

the

of

amusement

through

an

placed beyond

are

pursuit of pastime

common

upon

who

feel at bottom

similis

for

"

consisting for
and

this,

and

earnestness

ar^ still engaged in it.

who

vacant, their

are

poor, and

like

as

those

penury,

those

as

minds

of

sense

larger,or

life

extravagance.

most
little,

very

it still

another
sillyas many
for its symbol.
a fool's cap
in himself is, then, the
has
chief
man
this is,as a rule,
his happiness. Because

has

What

make

to

importance, is just

of

which

so

in

IS

SUBJECT.

up
value

of

the

other

the

happiness

of

possessing

14

is

them

third

the

second,

the

on

of

who

and

blessings

of

fame

elect

the

The

property.

are

reciprocally

Petronius'

us

in

whilst

and

habes

favour
the

way

of
of

Golden
fools

effect

others,

getting

in
what

so

is
all

we

all

Fleece,

prefer

classes,
;

habeberis,

priceless
of

will

third

indeed.

precious

the

and

as

those

by

few

very

far
true

its

want.

to

Rank,

only

upon

only

second

cause

maxim,
the

puts

attainf"

has

name.

to

by

most

consists

everyone

aspired

looked

it

as

good

fame

the

as

Still

say,

be

is

can

man

to

and

reputation

treasure,

is

should

State,

the

case,

were,

that

hand,

character,

opinions.

with

compared

seem,

may

ethereal

advertisement.

require

to

true,

very

reputation,

other

any

is

people's

serve

In

other

for

strive

it

LIFE.

OF

known

class,

of

only

well

too

The

to

WISDOM

THE

the

as

it

rank

moreover,

that

and

forms,

is,

as

versely,
con-

often

CHAPTER
OR

PERSONALITY,
WE

have

already

contributes

has,

or

how

and

so

what

chief

he
he

thing

has

for

regard

to

striking
not

says,

When

we

"

made
as

well

what

befalls

that

is, upon

we

bitter

than

us

word,

All
be

kind

the
What

direct

else is mediate

factor
and

and

neutralised

This

qualitiesexcite
the

most

principally

enjoys

and

delicate

has

in

happiness

is the

why
most

the

in

the

ings
blessupon

"

only

mediate
im-

can

influence

envy

in

welfare.

its influence
the

general

and

implacable

carefully dissembled.

in

himself,

in his

is

one

"

wine

our

entails, is the

but

very

it is met,

all it

indirect, and

depends
of

degree

sion,
expres-

himself

in which

is and

man

lectual,
intel-

ill-conditioned

an

way

in

this

observe

life,less

frustrated

personalitynever.
it is also

the

upon

personality,with
and

of

its

ment,
enjoy-

it is of

for

is like

ills of

the

of

gall. Therefore, in

with

in

as

kind

English

he

"

possessed

man

gives

employing

are

but

panies
accom-

and

truer

that

the

always

admits

one

use

enjoys Paris,"

susceptibility.
a

every

much

oneself,"

individuality, all pleasure

mouth

In

is,

man

individuality

appropriate phrase

he

To

Paris."

his

Every
how

and

is

person,

he

what
a

pleasure depends

physical, and
enjoy

to

own

everywhere,

himself.

man

than

is

man

What

others.

; for

and

what

happiness

experiences.

pleasure.
"

his

instance, the

the

upon

in

always

to all his

his

regarded by

consider

to

him
colour

is

IS.

general, that

to

more

MAN

WHAT

in

seen,

much

II

of

which
of aM,

sonal
per"

as

16

LIFE.

OF

WISDOM

THE

of

Further, the constitution

consciousness

our

lastingelement in all we
at work,
individualityis persistently

our

of

moment

at every

life

our

all other

temporal, incidental, fleeting,and

kind
says

of

chance

for

just

the

misfortune
than

and

fortune

we

which

to

comes

always

may

to

upon

change,

but

lasts.1

without,
; for

character.

noble

"

And

ourselves
not

Therefore, subjective blessings, a

every

Aristotle

entirelyfrom

us

are

easily bear

more

can

less,

or

why

that

drawn

have

we

more

influences

is

character

reason

same

which

one

but

suffer;

or

subject

This

change.

wealth

It is not

do

and

present

ever

is the

nature,

joyful temperament, bright spirits,

well-constituted, perfectly sound
physique, in a

capable head,
a

in

word,

mens

most

important

should
such
and

sana

be

intent

more

than
qualities
external

And

The

of all

reason

There

you

excellent

these, the

possessionof

so

and

that

we

preserving

external

is

genial

quality is

for

makes

which

one

is cheerful

who

man

promoting

on

the

on

happiness ;

first and

wealth

honour.

directlyhappy
this

in

elements

the

are

sano,

corpore

flow

its
and

of

us

merry

most

good spirits
;

immediate

own

the

has

for

reward.

always

good

the fact, namely, that he is so.

being so,
is nothing which, like this quality,can
so
pletely
comreplace the loss of every other blessing. If
know

"

who

anyone

esteemed, and

happy, ask,

you

is

want

cheerful

Is he

Eth.

young,
to

and

handsome,

know,

further, if he

genial?

vii. 2. 37

EuJ
,

/^e/So-tov,
ov
ra
f)yap ""ixris

rich

"

"

and

if he

and
is

is,

OR

PERSONALITY,

does

what

it

WHAT

is young

he

whether

matter

17

IS.

MAN

old,

or

straightor humpbacked, poor or rich ? he is happy.

In my
opened an old book and
early days I once
found
these words
: If you
laugh a great deal, you are
happy ; if you cry a great deal, you are unhappy ;
it
a very
simple remark, no doubt ; but just because
to
able
been
is so
forget it,
simple I have never
So if
even
though it is in the last degree a truism.
"

"

knocks

cheerfulness
wide
of

want

be

to

else, merely
makes
and

us

that

is but

eternities.

after

be

as

in the lower

bank

for

all

it alone

country,

that

is it not
find faces
we

we

between

moment

and

promote

the

supreme

that

nothing

riches,or

so

classes,the

especially those

immediate

weighty
gain,

this
aim

two

feeling of
of

all

our

happiness.

it is certain

more

or

happiness,and not, like

the

upon

secure

to cheerfulness

we

of

of

tbat cheerfulness

and

direct

reason

every

reflections

serious

infinitesimal

should

endeavours

and

is

an

To

cheerfulness

not

with

cheque

afraid

are

we

have

we

immediately happy in the present moment,

is the highestblessingfor beingslike us, whose

existence

Now

that

coin,as it were,

the very

"

; then

Cheerfulness

cares.

it

throw

inopportunely; instead
scruples about lettingit in.

make

interfere

should

we

comes

quite sure

to be contented

spirits
may

door,

our

never

often

that, we

We

it

for

open,

at

see

amongst

of

much,

so-called
them

cheerful
the

high degree of

try

as

rich,the upper

as

health

much
;

for

health.

Is it

live

in

as

the

faces?

contented

and

little

so

working classes,

who

and

full of ill-humour
should

contributes

classes,that

vexation

possibleto

cheerfulness

sequently
Contain
main-

is

the

18

THE

flower

very
do

be

to

violent

of

WISDOM

it.

I need

"

every

unpleasant emotion,

take

daily exercise in the

such like hygienic measures.
of daily exercise no
amount
all the processes

parts

whole

of

of

performance
the

body.

kind

of

For
one

For,

proper

healthy ;

for
not

due

the

of

only

also of the

but

rightlysays, Life is
Ceaseless
and rapid

Aristotle

as

remain

exercise

and

baths

without

can

all

excess,

air,cold

open

must

one

overstrain,

functions, exercise

; it is its very

motion

what

all mental

life demand

their

say

immediately concerned,

more

movement

LIFE.

hardly

avoid

healthy

and

OF

essence.

organism. The
heart,with its complicated double systoleand diastole,
beats
strongly and
untiringly; with twenty-eight
beats

goes

on

it has

to

arteries,veins

in

drive
and

part

every

of

the

the blood

of

the whole

through
like

capillaries
; the lungs pump

steam-engine,without intermission ; the intestines are

all conaction ; the glands are
stantly
always in peristaltic
the brain has a
absorbing and secreting; even
motion

double

pulse and

who

numbers
a

every

exercise

get no
is

the want
which

we

be shaken
which

of

own,

breath

we

at

with

all,as is the

fatal
inner

When

the

people can
the countless

with

case

of

beat

every

draw.

condemned

glaring and
motion

its

are

inactivityand

rule

of

sedentary life,there
outward
disproportionbetween
to

tumult.

For

ceaseless

this

ternal
in-

external
requiressome
counterpart, and
it produces effects like those of emotion

obliged to

are

by

wind, if they

the

finds

its

brieflyexpressed in
eo magis motus,

Even

suppress.
are

to

applicationhere

Latin

omnis

motus,

trees

must

thrive.

The

may

be

most

quo celerior^

20

WISDOM

THE

be

and

generally given

ultimate

of

cause

man's

the

sad

to

up

this is

The

thoughts.

undoubtedly

to

be found

in

unalterable, physical constitution,

innate, and therefore

especially in

LIFE.

OF

less

or

more

normal

to his muscular

sensitiveness

of

relation

and

vital energy.

sensitiveness

a
produces inequalityof spirits,
restrained
predominating melancholy, with periodicalfits of un-

Abnormal

liveliness.

in

has

Cicero

mind

which

esse.2

expressed this
in those
Nature

ait

that

evermore

peep

laugh, like parrots at

And

others

That

not
they'll

says,

ingeniosos

omnes

has

he

neatly

very

her time

through

their eyes,

bag-piper;

of such vinegar aspect,

show

their teeth in way

the

swear

"

the

of smile,

jestbe laugJiable.

which

difference

Svo-KoAos

and

when

the

diversityof temperament
Merchant
of Venice :

And

is the

to be all

is doubtless

framed strangefellowsin

will

totle
Aris-

as

innate

and

lines in The

Though Nestor

euKoAos

his

Shakespeare

radical

has

Some

This

in

does, Aristoteles

often

he

has

nervous

distinguished

art, appear

or

This

melancholicos

to

Men

correctlyobserved,

very

melancholy temperament.

passage

of

genius is one whose

is largelyin excess
;

philosophy,politics,
poetry

of a

as

sensitiveness

or

power

man

Plato

draws

of easy,

and

between
the

man

disposition in proof of which he refers

difficult
which
the varying degrees of susceptibility
ent
differto pleasurableand
painful imprespeople show
sions;
will laugh at what
makes
another
man
so that one

despair.

"

Asa

to unrule,the stronger the susceptibility

pleasant

the
impressions,
1

frobl.

xxx,

weaker

ep. 1.

is the
2

to
susceptibility

Tusc.

i.,33,

OR

PERSONALITY,

and

pleasantones,
for

event

an

be

will

unfavourable

If the

is successful

one

will

ings,he
one

be

not

miscarried

has

fact

and

instance

of the

without

its

on

the

whole,

fears the
not

be

when

morbid

of the
innate
such
a

height

nothing

in
to

that

the

even

actuallybring

end

and

side

the

are,

less real

careless ; for
who

of

constantly

as

who

one

things.
or

nerves,

And

ment
derange-

worst

arises

; nay,

man

when
be

then

to

unpleasantness
the

tendency
occasioned
by

may

resolve

existence, simply because

unhappy,and

duces
pro-

inclination

an

trivial

it may

form,

but
particular,
his

So

most

about

discomfort

permanent

of life.

weariness

its

overcome,

in this world,

of

and

accordingly,will

bright

affection

entirely

digestiveorgans, plays into the hand of

tendency to gloom, this tendency may
a

attains

an

gay

another

therefore

measures

often

the

upon

suicide, which
may

the

takes

disappointedso
looks

reach

and

worst

always

an

befall

is

the

is, people of

to

and

imaginary

single

misfortunes

paints everything black,

who

man

the

character, have

which

those

than

for

that

in

tvil is

Sw/coAot, that

the

more

annoyed

hardly any

over

undertak--

ten

here

the

well.

out

consolation

But

compensation ;

sufferingswhich
gloomy and anxious

of

find

to

truth, that

it turns

other, if only

cheerful.

remain

On
fret

nor

worry

rather

the

will

unfavourable,

happy.

out

pleased,but
; whilst

equally possible
is

it be

in nine

succeeds, will manage

one

issue

rejoiceif

issue,but

21

IS.

ill,the SiWoAos

or

hand, the ei'/coAo?will neither

other
an

well

should
rejoice,

not

MAN

If it is

if the

grieved

or

versa.

out

to turn

annoyed

and

vice

WHAT

coollyand

he

to

put

is permanently

firmly carry

22

out

THE

his determination
the

which

as

sufferer,when

LIFE.

be

may

under

waits

supervision,

seize

to

in

the way

by

seen

placed

usually is, eagerly

he

as

OF

WISDOM

the

first

out
shudder, witha
unguarded moment, when, without
the now
natural
recoil,he may use
a struggleor
welcome
of effectinghis release.1
Even
and
means
cheerful
the most
the healthiest,perhaps even
man,
resolve

may

for

when,

under

death

upon

certain

circumstances

his fears of
instance, his sufferings,
or

misfortune, reach

inevitable

such

some

weigh
pitch as to outThe
of death.
the terrors
only difference lies
to bring about
the
in the degree of suffering
necessary
will be high in the case
of a
fatal act, a degree which

cheerful, and

in

low

of

that

greaterthe melancholy, the

gloomy

lower

sink to
even
end, it may
his spiritsare
is cheerful, and

in the

need

the

degreebe

But

zero.

The

man.

if

man

health, it

supported by good
requiresa high degree of sufferingto make

him

hands

lay

steps in
the

the

scale between
which

suicide

and

There

the two

cheerful

gloom, and

man,

who

from

'countless

are

extremes

springs merely

of innate

intensification

healthy

himself.

upon

of
a

the suicide

has

suicide,
morbid
of

the

entirelyobjective

grounds for putting an end to his existence.

It may
be
Beauty is partly an affair of health.
reckoned
as
a personaladvantage ; though it does
not,
directly to our happiness.
properly speaking, contribute
does
It
so
indirectly,by impressing other
people; and it
man.
Beauty
1

For

EsquirolDes

is

is

detailed
maladies

no
an

in
unimportant advantage,even
letter of recommendation,
open

description of
mentales.

this

condition

of

mind

cf.

OR

PERSONALITY,

heart

predisposing the

said

giftof beauty is not

that
gloriousgift which
gods alone

MAN

favour

to

is well

As

presents it.

WHAT

in

the

those

none

Homer,

thrown

bestow

can

who

person

lines of
be

lightlyto

the

23

IS.

away,
the

save

"

Bewv IpiKvSeaSwpa,
ecrrt
a.TTopX.'rjr

OVTOL

avro\

6'cnra Kev

generalsurvey shows
happiness are pain and

most

The
of human

further, and

go

the

approach

Tts

av

eAoiro.1

that

us

the

We

degree

the

presents,in fact,a
these

two

may

in which

from

the

foes

two

boredom.

away

between
of

each

the

get

Life

other.

this is that

of

to

oscillation

less violent

in

that

say

enough

fortunate

are

BOXTLV,IKWV S'OVK

we

one,

we

more

two.

The

poles

stands

or

reason

in

antagonism to the other, external or objective,

inner
or
subjective. Needy surroundings and

double
and

poverty produce pain ; while,

is bored.

off,he

well

classes

man

is

Accordingly, while
ceaseless

than

more

the

lower

strugglewith

pain,the upper carry on a

often desperate battle with boredom.2
subjectiveantagonism arises from the

and
or

that, in

in

words, with

in other

inner

engaged

are

if

need,
stant
con-

The
fact

to pain varies
individual, susceptibility

the

inverselywith
Let
with

to boredom, because
susceptibility
ceptibility
susis directlyproportionateto mental
power.
is,as a rule associated
me
explain. A dull mind
dull sensibilities,
which
stimulus
nerves
no
can

Iliad 3, 65.

And

nomad

where
gase

the
or

extremes

wandering

everyone
of

is at

necessity ;

the

meet

for the

life,finds
times
latter

is

its

lowest

of

civilization,

counterpart in the highest,

tourist.
a

state

remedy

The

earlier

for boredom.

stage

was

24

THE

affect,a

pain
it

of

bottom

that

and

of

in

intellectual

of mind

state

the

boredom
order

external

have

to

dulness

which
to

feel

not
or

terrible

is

the

at

is

stamped on
betrays itself by

all the

world.

continual

"

does

great

soul which

lively attention

in
source

short, which

vacuity of

faces,a

many
constant

Now,

be.

LIFE.

much, however

anxiety very

or

OF

in

temperament,

may

so

WISDOM

trivial circumstance

This

is the

after excitement,

panting

pretext for giving the

and

them.
spiritssomething to occupy
of things people choose
for this purpose
witness
as
they are not very particular,

true

The

mind
kind

shows

that

the miserable

to, and their ideas of

pastimes they have recourse
social pleasureand conversation
: or
again,the number
of people who
gossip on the doorstep or gape out of
It is mainly because
window.
of this inner
the
vacuity of soul that people go in quest of society,
lead
so

extravagance
of the

wealth, the wealth

the

grows,

material

less

to

of self and

mind,

it leaves

room

of

them,

there

"

invigoratesthe mind,

relaxation, sets it far above

But,

on

the

other

is rooted

in

greater strength of
from

the

and

because

the

for boredom.

greater it
The

exhaust
in-

new
activity of thought! finding ever
in the multifarious
work
phenomena
upon
ready to form new
nature, and able and

combinations
that

sort, which

every

misery. Nothing is
protection againstsuch misery as inward

to

many

good

of

luxury

diversion, amusement,

union

of

and
the

you

have

apart from

something
moments

of

of boredom.

reach

gence
hand, this high degree of intelli-

high degree

of

susceptibility,
will/greater passionateness
; and
a

these

comes
qualities

an

increased

Oil

PERSONALITY,

WHAT

MAN

25

IS.

sensibilityto all
capacity for emotion, an enhanced
and
mental
even
bodily pain,greater impatience of
all of
of interruption
obstacles,greater resentment
;
which
tendencies
are
augmented by the power of the
of the whole
imagination,the vivid character
range
of thought, including what
is disagreeable. This
applies,in varying degrees, to every step in the long
"

scale of mental

greatest genius that

point of view,
in human

life,the farther

man's

againstthat

measures

liable.

freedom

will

conform
is to

The

wise

from

lead

his

to

say,

he

form

of

him

other.

of

his

in solitude.

so, after

fellow-men,

so-called

retirement, or

less he

be ; and

even,

For

if he

the
from

will want

is

more

other

he
a

man

will
of
has

people,
"

he is

all,strive after

man

as

greatest

which

sufferingto

quiet
pain and annoyance,
life,with
consequently a tranquil,modest
may

his

much

the

from

as

And

make

to

take

will,above

man

objective
suffering

subjectiveas
will

nearer

an

of

the

the

to

the

sources

is from

he

bent

natural

objectiveworld
possible; that
most

of these

one

dunce

Therefore

subjectiveor

to

veriest

the

lived.

ev^r

is,either from

anyone

so

from

power,

and
as

leisure,
few

counters
en-

little

experience

elect

to

live

in

great intellect,
in

the

himself, the
less,indeed,

other

be to him.
This
is why
a
people can
high
unsocial.
a
man
degree of intellect tends to make
True, if quality of intellect could be made
up for by
in the
while to live even
quantity, it might be worth

great world

togetherwill
But
the

the

scale

but, unfortunately, a

not

make

individual
is

no

sooner

one

who
free

wise
stands
from

hundred

fools

man.

at

the

the

end

other

pangs

of

of

need

WISDOM

THE

26

than

endeavours

he

OF

taking up with the

avoiding nothing so much
what

fine raiment

a
personality,

whilst
his

Seneca

than

worse
a

death.1

choice

in this world

side

one

on

the

that
and

are

I remember

the

in

The
the
the
the

the

at

one

brain

rule, it will be found

the

degree in

go much

of all

bottom
in

the

other.
are

of

scale

space, because

another's
may

up

in

they

snub-nosed

one's

solitude

negroes

in intellect.

paper
free

he

It is said

French

shutting themselves

For

the

people
the

which

beyond

America, whether

smallest

compared
lifeof a fool

generallyvulgar.
not

once

placeswith
that follyis
fastidiosui,
be

may

vulgarity on

North
of

of

much

does

reading

in

fond

are

just in

sociable

most

they

blacks

and

as

off,

throw

of Sirach, The

son

and

intellectually
poor

declares

which

And,

is sociable

man

waste

stultitia laborat

of Jesus, the

words

that

omnis

"

the fool in

never

can

peoplesthe

saying,with

true

very

the

is

burden,

own

is

of talent

man

animating thoughts.

its
"

the

he

which

burden

resources,

own

of his miserable

burden

the

in solitude,

light;

to

comes

under

groans

For
his

upon

any

meets, and

he

himself.

as

in himself

has

man

societyat

firsfcperson

is thrown

one

every

and

get pastime

to

cost,

where

LIFE.

or

that

the

enslaved,

large numbers

cannot

have

too

company.

be

regarded as a kind of parasiteof

pensioner,as it were, who dwells with

organism, a
has for
body : and leisure,that is,the time one
free enjoyment of one's consciousness
viduality,
indior
is the fruit or produce of the rest of existence,
is in general only labour and
which
effort. But
1

xxii.
Ecclesiasticus,

Le

11.

Commerce, Oct. 19th, 1837.

28

THE

sign
people have

that

try and

win

ward

and

it is

another's

one

may

certainlybe said in defence

world
a preparation for the

because
of

to be

fortuitous

but

case),and

to

and

to do

and

how

this
to

the

in

employ

order

habit
and

kind

every

win

to

what

its way

pushes
and

meum

man

in much

tuum

to consider

that

advantages

he possesses,

within
are

the

of

daily
it

as

themselves.
leisure ?

bored

doubt,

northern
dilettante

But

only

"

business.

and

thing

of

Europe.
interest

the

past, at

in art

And

another.

the

root

as

whatever

utmost

he

does

rather

not

of what

mercantile

or

to

the

come

life.

mean

Since,

fruit,of

himself.

Let

rate

amongst

the

fashion

is rather

in

any

present
or

object

istence,
ex-

possessionof himself,
who
possess something real in
do you get from
most
people's

burden

The

that

reason

good-for-nothingfellow, who
a

But,

into

man

wrhat

machination

and

Examples
in

indeed

happy

are

law.

flower,

puts

to

long

so

occurrence

is the

to

use

may

of the

arm

then, leisure

those

he

can

practicallife ; and in the

to regard
gradually comes
the same
lightas cards, and

into

day

every

one

as

card-table, strikes

the

at

(cards,in

the whole

of trick

belongs

of this sort, learnt

affairs of

bad

demoralising,since

so

use

little dissimulation,

hand, it is exactly for this

card-playingis

it

life,

clever

of them
a

face upon

good

that

for business
make

to

out

But

card-playing that

and

learn

must

remark

me

of

cards,

Idiots !

circumstances,

much

as

man

put

other

of it is to

get

let

so

how

thereby
unalterable

this

on

unjust ;

learns

one

in, they deal

money.

not

Because

thought.

deal

to

I do

it is

wish

in

bankrupt

thoughts

no

LIFE.

OF

WISDOM

literature.

us,

is terribly

there-

nati;

favour

ns

of

of
a

OR

PERSONALITY,

WHAT

dear brethren, for

fore,rejoice,
the

but

bondwoman,

Further,

land

no

as

the

of

is

we

MAN

children

not

arc

29

IS.

of

free.
well

so

off

that which

as

quires
re-

at all,so the happiestman

imports,or none
inner wealth, and reis one
who
has enough in his own
quires
little ornothingfrom outside f or his maintenance,
reveal dependence,enfor imports are expensivethings,
tail
danger,occasion trouble,and, when all is said and
substitute
for home
a
clone, are
produce. No
poor
man
ought to expect much from others, or, in general,
from
world.
What
the external
human
one
being
is not a very great deal : in the end
be to another
can
stands
alone, and the important thing is
one
every

few

ivho it is that

stands

alone.

Here, then, is another

applicationof the general truth which Goethe

nises
recogin Dichtung und
Wahrheit
that in
(Bk. III.),
has ultimatelyto appeal to himself;
everything a man
or,

Goldsmith

as

puts it

in The

Traveller

Still to ourselves in every

Our

Himself

is the

be

achieve.

can
man

or

finds

happier he
that

his

nature

sport of

The

will be.

is

find.
and

pleasure

so

in

Therefore, it is with
To

be

happy

means

most
"

the

man

more

himself

"

the

great truth
to

be

self-

of

happiness are in
the
uncertain, precarious,
fleeting,

; and

circumstances
this

or

this is

more

all other

most

chance

place consigned

the best

of

says,

For
sufficient.
their

of

source

sources

Aristotle1

make

we
felicity

ouni

so

sources

under

even

they

easilybe
unavoidable, because
they
1

Eth.

can

Eud., vii. 2.
D

the

most

exhausted
are

not

able
favour; nay,

always

30

WISDOM

THE

necessarilydry

most

for

taken

from

depends

by

us

and

Then

man

has

of

sources

love

"

death.

what

upon

up

; friends

intercourse

social

these

leaves

to travel, delight in

wit, desire

and

in old age

And

reach.

within

LIFE.

OF

ness
happithen,

us

horses, aptitude

relations,too, are
than

more

in

it

ever,

for

himself;

this

longest; and at any period of life it

of happiness.
it is the only genuine and
lastingsource
much
to be got anywhere in the world.
is not
There
if a
It is filled with
misery and pain ; and
man
stick to him

will

these, boredom

escapes
corner.

Nay

upper

hand, and

happy

the
follymakes
pitiable. In
in

is rich

who

man

for

of

at every

generallyhas
noise.

most

such

is like

himself

him

the

Fate

world

is

this,

as

bright,warm,

Christrnastide, while

at

room

wait

; it is evil which

more

mankind

cruel,and

lies in

without

are

December

night. Therefore,
without
doubt, the happiest destiny on earth is to
the rare
have
and, more
gift of a rich individuality,
be
to
possessed of a good endowment
especially,
the frost and

of

snow

intellect ; this

may

not

deepest

had

then

known

to

seems

must

be
1

case

me

with

favourable

which

There

one.

Queen

nineteenth
lived

for

Holland,

in

solitude

much

Christina

year,

twenty

about
in

years

and, apart from

only by a singleessay:
happiest of men, and his
to

be envied}-

Descartes, external

enough

to

Vie de Descartes, par Balllet.

it

was

her

to

Descartes, she said, is the

the

brilliant

her

in

made,

Sweden

report, was

was

happiest destiny,though

remark

in that

Descartes, who
the

is the

be, after all,a very

great wisdom
of

allow

Of

M.
dition
con-

course,

as

circumstances
a

man

Liv. vii.,ch. 10.

to

be

of

master

life and

his
"

MAN

happiness ;

or,

them

fate

and

nature

that

31

IS.

have

in

tance,
inheri-

an

the

see

read

we

as

good togetherwith

unto
profitable

whom

to

man

is

Ecclesiastes,1 Wisdom
and

WHAT

OR

PERSONALITY,

The

sun.

granted

the

and
careful
blessingof wisdom, will be most anxious
of happiness which
the fountains
to keep open
he has
in himself ; and for this,independence and leisure are
To

necessary.

obtain

his desires

moderate

because

more

the

external

be

misled

is

world

advice

It is

order

; nay,

So

in

his

such

case

to
not
or

money,

fellow-men, into

conform

to

will

he

to

low

he

will

Horace

that

Maecenas.2

gives in his
great piece of follyto

rendering
sur-

desires
follow

epistle to
sacrifice the

give

the

whole

greater part of one's quiet leisure

for splendour, rank, pomp,
titles and

and

independence

inner

the

outer

Goethe

what
the

for

in

all the

others, restricted

pleasures.

applause of

and

vulgar tastes

the

his

willing to

his resources,

not, like

for

himself
and

harbour

be

expectationsof office,or

by

favour

the

he

and

will

he

them,

other

The

did.

to

man,

My good

luck

quite

me

is
in

direction.

truth

which

truth, namely, that the

observation

of Aristotle

chief

vii. 12.

in the

Lib.

Nee
Otia

of human

source

by

that

some

i. 7 and

sort

Ethics,8
of

vii. 13, 14.

1.,ep. 7.

somnum

plebislaudo,

divitiis Arabum

satur

liberrima

altilium,nee
muto.

ness
happiaccurate

most

Nichomachean

pleasurepresupposes

every

here, the

insistingupon

am

is internal, is confirmed

that

the

This

honour.
drew

or

activity,

32

the

WISDOM

THE

applicationof
exist.

it cannot

OF

of

sort

some

LIFE.

doctrine

The

of

Aristotle's,that

free

happiness consists in the

highest faculties,is also enunciated

man's

which

without

power,

exercise

of

his

by Stobseus in his
expositionof the Peripateticphilosophy1: happiness,
he says, means
vigorous and successful
activityin all
undertakings; and he explains that by vigour
your
he
(dper?;)

means

Now,

originalpurpose

the
has

nature

endowed

if this

forces

and

play

human

ago

his

the

life of

every

seldom

in his

there, and
off

better

is

he

again,and
hurries

still

returns

outside

back

or

"

in the

to

of

once

posed.
ex-

Lucretius

long

the truth

where

the

rich

else

him

it bores

he

is

country, as

once

Exit

saepe

foras magnis

away

if it

there, than

were

he

Esse

domi

quern

pertaesum

Qnippe foris niliilo

melius

Eel.

eth.

cedibus

gui

sentiat

ch. 7.
ii.,

esse.

is
be

he

is

in

haste
post-

on

no

fire ;

is bored

ille,

reventat
est,subitoqiie

the

to

more.

ex

of

man

forget everything in sleep,or

to town

is at

he

no

source

thither, because

arrived

sooner

seeks

for

recognisedto-day,in

halls,because

still he

no

to set to

mean,

state, and

"

own

has

other

boredom.

great capital

to his house

and

of

be

descriptionmay

he

the

which

miserable

their

all sides.

on

classes,people of wealth, who

upper

greatestvictims

described

which

struggle

to

him

them, I

avoiding
to

with

him

; and

use

"

boredom,
suffering,
It is the

are

them,

it be.

end, his unemployed

an

to him

all,beyond

at

purpose

with

beset

to

burden

forces

those

is to enable

man

strugglecomes

become

work

of

thing,whatever

difficulties which

against the
But

in any

mastery

else

PERSONALITY,
Currit,agens
Auxilium
Oscitat

In

Aut

etiam

youth,

of

muscular

those
of

instans

oblivia

people

of the

mind,

had

have

must

vital

and

quaerit ;

petitatque revisit.1

urbem

such

villae ;

limina

gravis,atque

properans

33

is.

precipitanter,

villam

quasiferre ardentibus

somiium

their

MAN

extemplOy tetigit
quum

obit in

degree

WHAT

ad

mannos,

tectis

Aut

unlike

OR

energy,

and

fluity
super-

which,

powers

"

maintain

cannot

full

their

they
either have no mental
at all,or cannot
develope
powers
for want
of employment which
would
bring them
any
into play; so
that
plight.
they are in a wretched
vigour

long ;

very

in later

Will, however, they still possess, for this

that

power

their will
for

chance
form

of

man

finds

choose

is inexhaustible

is the

they try

to stimulate

"

And

one

himself

with

he

nothing

to

do, he is
kind

to the

excels, bowls, it may

painting ; horse-racing or
poetry, heraldry,philosophy,or some

music

other

We

might classifythese interests

to expressions of
by reducing them

to make

to

sure

ing
; hunt-

cards,

or

dilettante
cally,
methodithe

three

the factors,that is to say, which

powers,

of power

be, or chess

"

or

fundamental

if

generally that

say

may

suited

amusement

some

interest.

only

by passionateexcitement, such as games of

high stakes
undoubtedly a most degrading

vice.

in wrhich

; and

years

go

of man
constitution
physiological
; and
further, by consideringthese powers
by themselves,
and apart from any of the definite aims which
they
may
of

up the

subserve, and

simply as
possiblepleasure,out of

choose

what

direction

or

suits

affording three
which

him, according

another.
1

III.

1073.

every
as

he

sources

will

man

excels

in

one

"4
of

First
of

WISDOM

THE

all

LIFE.

OF

vital

pleasures of
rest and sleep;
food, drink, digestion,

parts of

the world

characteristic
the

are

the

come

and

where

it

national

pleasuresof

and

there

be said that

can

energy,

these

are
are

pleasures. Secondly,there

muscular

such

energy,

walking,

as

riding and similar

running,wrestling,
dancing,fencing,
which
the form
athletic pursuits,
take
sometimes
of
of a military life and real warfare.
sport,and sometimes
Thirdly,there are the pleasures of sensibility,
such

observation, thought, feeling,

or

as

poetry

value, relative
of

and

worth

tbe nobler

like.

duration
deal

the reader

I leave

that

see

the

pleasure,a great

however,
will

for

culture,music, learning,reading,meditation,

or

invention, philosophy and

kinds

taste

to

the

As
of

might
supply.

regards the

be

these

said,which,

But

which

power

of

each

every

one

brought

is

it
play, the greater will be the pleasure which
gives ; for pleasure always involves the use of one's
and
own
happiness consists in a frequent
powers,
into

repetitionof pleasure.
respect

the

place than
which

pleasures
either

exist

in

No

of

of the

one

will

deny

that

sensibilityoccupy

other

two

fundamental

in this

higher
kinds;

equal,nay, in a greater degree in

of sensibility
brutes ; it is his preponderating amount
from- other animals.
which
Now,
distinguishesman
mental
forms
of sensibility,
and therefore
our
are
powers
of it makes
a preponderating amount
us
capable
of pleasurewhich
of that kind
has to do with mind,
intellectual
so-called
bility
sensipleasure; and the more
predominates,the greater the pleasurewill be.1
1

Nature

mechanical

an

exhibits
and

chemical

continual

progress,

starting

from

activityof the inorganic world,

the
pro-

3fi

THE

excitement

constant

good,

WISDOM

to

of

the

say

LIFE.

OF

the

will

least ; in

is

other

never

unmixed

an

words, it involves

pain. Card-playing, that universal

occupation of
good society everywhere, is a device for providing
this kind
of excitement, and
of
that, too, by means
interests so small
to produce slightand
tary,
momenas
instead of real and permanent, pain. Card-playing
"

"

is,in fact,a
On

the

ticklingof

mere

other

hand,

will.1

the

of

powerful intellect is
interest in things in the

man

taking a vivid
of mere
knowledge, with no admixture
way
nay, such an interest is a necessityto him.
him in a sphere where
pain is an alien,a
the gods live serene
where
:
capable

of

of will ;
It

places

diviner

air

"

the

will

completely predominates

latter does
the

nothing

and

the

is

result
is the

intellect

possessed by

the

which

is necessary

go

trivial

just

in

on

his

an

itself in his

animal.

face, in

is

case,

base, selfish

and

and

thing
the

the

the

is

all

perceives
the

sufficient
Such

his whole
which
"

the

exterior

altogetherbad

This

the

of

the

the

little

his

mental

more

factor
one.

his
dition
con-

intellect
ingly,
Accord-

sense.

all sorts

to

; and

world,

is the

of

amount

rouse

man's

only

in

of

the

attention
condition

hence

sions,
impres-

triflingthings

lightestwhisper,

to

is all

will without

only active elements

data

constantly open

its power,

gratificationof

small

apprehending

his will
and

Now

common

he

of its master,

entirelyloses

mind.

of

that

environment

repulsive appearance,
usually the

intellect

vulgarity,in which

circumstance, is

like

the

the

demands, supplies

no

is made.

immediately

and

will makes

service

stuff of which

sense,

man

the

the

vacancy

where
intellect,

in

for

vulgar

the

over

in which

consciousness

blockhead, who,

called
of

of

perform

vulgar

the

organs

the

that

complete

every

of mind

weak,

or

most

passions,shows

are

than

more

Therefore, when

will.

motives, strong

no

kind

the

Vulgarityis,at bottom,

that

most

; he

is

reveals

vulgar,

offensive,if, as

in his consciousness-

is
-

PERSONALITY,

WHAT

OR

IS.

MAN

Oeol peta

Look

pictures the life

of struggle and
record

these

on

two

long,dull

one

devoted

to the

in

misery

all its forms,

as

the

is thrown

be

soon

as

of

interests

petty

boredom
man

"

those

ever

back

the

masses,

effort

entirely

personalwelfare, to
beset by intolerable

life

of

aims

satisfied

are

himself, whence

upon

and

he

can

roused

sort of movement
again to some
only by
the wild fire of passion. On the other side you have
endowed
with a high degree of mental
a man
power,
leading an existence rich in thought and full of life

and

meaning, occupied by worthy and interesting

he is free to give himself
to
as
ever
objectsas soon
of the noblest pleathem, bearing in himself a source
sure.
What
works

the

ages

by

and

who

of

can

the

of

but
them

either

alone

more

the

need

contemplation
of the

great of

of
all

are

and

that

that

casual
or

of
one

achievements

quite understand

lived ; it is to him
are

the

from

come

thoroughly appreciated
type alone, as being the only one

this

it is for him

rest

from

countries, which

man

he wants

promptings

nature, and

affairs and

human

so

external

feel with

those

they

hearers

great

make

who

followers.

their

intellectual
than

the

them.
have

ones

their

only
Of

others, the

really

appeal ;

half

this characteristic

course,

need

the

understand

implies that

man

And

of

he

has

reading,

observing,studying, meditating,practising,the need,

in short, of undisturbed

leisure.

very

rightlysaid, there

real

needs

and

the
1

are

no

need

of

For,
real

them

Odyssey IV.,

805.

as

Voltaire

has

pleasures without
is

why

to

such

38

THE

"

the varied

To
and

of nature

beauties

cannot

hairs to fall in love.

respect leads
life;and the
the true

as

Other

it.

troubled

latter
and

existence
a

former

the
make

will

man

them

want

give
the

intellectual,

an

be looked

merely

as

upon
to

means

shallow, empty

in itself.

occupations: by

his other

not

to

this

end

an

literature.

expecting grey
privilegedin this

is

who

man

others,

is like

gradually comes

people

intellect such

do

lives,a personaland

two

one,

to

art and

who

people
appreciate them,

denied

are

and

round

these

heap

LIFE.

accessible which

pleasuresare

man

OP

WISDOM

To

and

the life of the

all

preferenceover

the

of

growth

constant

sight
in-

knowledge, this intellectual life, like a

slowly-forming work of art, will acquirea consistency,
becomes
ever
a
permanent intensity,a unity-which
and
more
more
complete ; compared with which, a
and

life devoted

to

life that

may

the

broaden
but

deepened, makes

personal comfort,

indeed, but
show

poor

this

said,people make

of

attainment

ba?er

sort

and

of

can

never

I have

yet, as

existence

be

an

end

in itself.
The

ordinary

by passion,is

moved
so

moved, it

happy

whom

them

with

an

of the

to say,

will,is

superfluityof

what

fluity
superis

just

of their

will; for it

intellectual

life

well, a life

full of vivid

intellect

not

some

behests

the

out

to lead

leisure,that is
real

day, so far as it is not

and
insipid; and if it is
painful. Those alone are

favoured

has

by pain and

unattended

tedious

becomes

nature

to carry

necessary

enables

soon

every

intellect,something beyond

of

be

life of

of

as

interests.

unoccupied

itself sufficient

power,

set

free

Mere

in the

there

from

the

vice
ser-

must
ser-

OR

PERSONALITY,

vice of

devoted

the will and

says, otium

Seneca

for, as
hominis

"

the intellect ;

leisure

is

with

the

Varying

countless

be

est et vivi

mars
a

of

form

of

amount

developments

life,the life of the mind; it

in this second

be the

may

of insects,birds,minerals,
labelling
the highest achievements
of poetry and philosophy.
The life of the mind
is not only a protection

collection

coins, or

litteris

sine

will

of

to that

3D

IS.

MAN

illiterate

sepultura
death, a living tomb.
the superfluity,
there
mere

WHAT

and

againstboredom, it also wards off the perniciouseffects

from
of boredom
the
bad company,
; it keeps us from
dangers, misfortunes, losses and extravagances
many
which

the

places his happiness entirelyin

is sure
to encounter.
osophy,
My phil-

who

man

objectiveworld

the

instance, has

for
; but

The

things

it has

ordinary
external

spared me

many

places his

man

to

brought

never

expense.

life's

happiness

the

like, so

that

in

and
when

tion
the foundadisappointing,
of his happiness is destroyed. In other
words,
of gravity is not in himself; it is constantly
centre

loses them

his

pence
six-

him, in property, rank, wife

children,friends,society,and
he

an

in

me

finds them

or

changing

its

is

of means,

man

place,with

country, another

every

wish

and

whim.

If he

day it will be his house in the

buying horses,or entertainingfriends,
one

travelling, a life,in short, of generalluxury, the

side
reason
being that he seeks his pleasure in things outwhose
Like
health
him.
and strength are
one
of jellies
and drugs,
gone, he tries to regain by the use
instead of by developing his own
vital power, the true

or

source

"

of what

opposite,let

us

he has
compare

lost.
with

Before
this

proceeding to
common
type

the
the

40

WISDOM

THE

who

man

but

mind,

with

somewhat

amount

of intellect.

in

or

art,

science

devote

history,and

find

studies,and.
of

sources

him

of

is

and
superficial

to be

of the matter.
such

completely

loses all interest

in

with

them

partly
a

not

very

to

fail to

or

in

external

when

satisfy

be said that

himself.

different

thing from

pursuitof
penetrate

Bat

to

science

is

the heart

entirelyidentifyhimself

have

pursuits,or
filled and

deal

cannot

man

of

physics,astronomy,
of pleasure in such

or

amateur

an

interest

branch

some

like this it may

man

in art is

activity; and

"creative

with

ordinary

dilettante

to

exhausted

are

gravity

interest

dilettante

apt

himself

Of

attention

great

happiness

centre

will take

example,

amuse

more.

any

his

for

the

than

more

He
his

botany,

"

LIFE.

the two, endowed,

midway between
of
exactly with distinguishedpowers

comes

be, not

it may

OF

his

whole

permeated with
everything else.

existence
them

so

he

that

It is

only the
call genius,that
highest intellectual power, what we
attains
to this degree of intensity,
making all time
and
existence
its theme, and
strivingto express its
it contemplates
peculiarconception of the world, whether
life as the subjectof poetry or of philosophy.
Hence, undisturbed
occupation with himself, his own
of urgent necessity
thoughts and works, is a matter
such

to

man

highestgood, and

; solitude

is welcome,

everything else

leisure

is the

is unnecessary,

nay,

burdensome.

even

of whom
it can
be
only type of man
said that his centre of gravity is entirelyin himself ;
which
explains why it is that people of this sort
This

is the

"

and

they are

very

rare

"

no

matter

how

excellent

their

PERSONALITY.

character

interest

general,of

if

they

have

for the

loss of

other

this

since
their

So

in

the

whom
the
us

has

than

be, it

by

Lucian
6

IIAovros

"the
with

wealth
all other
The

they.
outside

but

develop

and

irXeiova

soul

the

his mind

the

man

wealth

the

whatever

bane

wealth

his
; in

whole

is

latter

true

wealth, for

greater than

nothing

wants

undisturbed

short, he

to

even

intellectual

life

race,

ecrrtv

only

negative gift of
mature

that

we.

TWV

inner

If he is destined
upon

of

of

subjectiveconcerns

povos

is the

comes

himself, his whole

hour.

thinking

"

is,to enjoy his wealth

to be

about

move

in

is

upon

of

the

more,

nay

"

riches

man

to

the

for

irXovros
Tr)?^v\vj"s

of

as

secondarily,and
only indirectly,
of the former
pressed
a truth
finelyex-

S'e^etar^v

TaAAa

effective

intellectual

with

objective;

work

can

nature

to

come

it is that

true

the

tion
isola-

an

more

they instead

say

we

the medium

through

is all the

for

inconsolable

gives

beings,and

alien

endowed

so

This

get accustomed
as

capable ;

constantly forcingitself

is

conclusion

happiest;
more

else.

community

not

are

different

general,to

nature

may

to

whole, of

mankind

humanity

they

limited
un-

really quite satisfythem,

people never
difference

often

so

are

everything

notice, they

amongst

and

the

others

41

IS.

friends, family,and

character, which

the

being,on

MAN

warm

which

show

not

only themselves

to their

since

in

WHAT

that

be, do

may

in

OR

from

leisure,

faculties,that

permission

wants

long,every day and every

of
impress the character
he

Epigrammata,

has
12.

only

one

measure

42

THE

of

OF

WISDOM

LIFE.

happiness
perfectinghis

unhappiness to succeed
and
completing his
powers

else is of small

consequence.

of

minds

or

all ages

undisturbed

have

leisure,as

fail in

or

"

All

work.

Accordingly,the greatest
the highest value
upon
the
as
exactly as much

set

worth

Happiness appears to consist in leisure.

Aristotle;1and Diogenes Laertius
reports that
says
Socrates praised leisure as the fairestof all possessions.
himself.

man

So, in the
that

life devoted

he

as

Nichomachean

in

says

it may

be, is happiness. This, again,

what

Goethe

says

is born

with

tallies with
who

man

philosophy is the happiest; or,

Politics? the free exercise of any

to

the

whatever

power,

concludes

Ethics, Aristotle

in

talent

Wilhelm
which

Meister

The

is meant

he

to

finds his greatesthappiness in using it.

But
to be in possessionof undisturbed
leisure,is
far from
lot; nay, it is something
being the common
use,

nature, for the ordinary man's

alien to human
is to

rule

need,

get

soon

forced

aims

every

kind.

For

the

the

abnormal.

But

it is to
i

Eth.

reason

if you

hand,

if it

exists, and

happy,
x.

he
7.

is

of

saying,
nothing to
as

man

will want

of

possible

intellect

unnatural
the

and

true

have

measure
as

it

hobbies

it is full of

keep quiet

Nichom.

fictitious

no

quies

ordinary, is
be

are

otio

other

of

son

leisure,and

it,play,pastime and

in
difficitis

surpassing
with

of undisturbed

this very

the

intelligence.So people

if there

it is difficult to
On

free

tired

to occupy

danger, and
do.

not

burdensome

becomes

"

procuring what is necessary

his family ; he is
himself
and

of

struggle and
a

for

life in

spend

subsistence

as

destiny

far

it

is

endowed

preciselythat
2

iv. 11.

44

THE

it

bears
that

OF

narrow-minded

happiest,even
make

judgment

no

though

his

attempt

to

plausibility,

some

is

man

at

fortune

is

forestall

the

this

the

bottom

unenviable.
reader's

I
own

as
especially
Sophocles
two
to
diametrically

point; more
himself
has
given utterance
oppositeopinions:
on

LIFE.

said, too, with

said, and

the

shall

WISDOM

"

"j"pov"Lv

TO

is the greatestpart of
place wisdom
happiness; and again,in another passage, he declares
that the life of the thoughtlessis the most
pleasant
in

he says

one

"

of all"
yap

philosophers of

The

in

Old

the

Testament

find

selves
them-

like contradiction.

The

and

fJLTjSev

lifeof a fool is

worse

than

death

"

In much
and

he that

increaseth

needs, because

normal

and

is much

grief',

knowledge increaseth
that

remark, however,

may

mental

wisdom

amount,

intellect

his

is, in the strict

sorrow.

man

who

has

is of

the

narrow

sense

of the

no

word,

philistine an expression at first

language,a kind of slang term
peculiarto the German
the Universities,afterwards
at
used, by analogy,in a
is called

what

1
2

Antigone, 1347-8.
Ajax,

554.

"

xxii.
Ecclesiasticus,

i. 18.
Ecclesiasies,

11.

WHAT

OR

PERSONALITY,

MAN

45

IS.

higher sense, though still in its original meaning, as

is not
A
who
Son
a
of the Muses.
denoting one
I should
is and remains
prefer
philistine
a/^owos
avrjp.
to take a higher point of view, and
apply the term
philistineto people who are always seriouslyoccupied
with

which

realities

definition

would

be

realities ; but

no

are

transcendental

place in
popular.

which

present treatise,

the
The

definition

other

hardly
aims

be

can

such

and

one,

it would
generally intelligible,

not

as

at

fore
therein

be

being

easily

more

it does, satisfactorily
elucidated, indicating,
as
enough,
the

essential
the

in
firstly,

all those

philistine.

without

man

of

nature

From

himself, that

to

pleasures; for, as
are

tine's life

this
he

pleasureswithout
is animated
by no

real

be

no

lectual
intel-

before,there

needs.

desire

to

tinguish
dis-

it follows,

has

remarked

was

real

no

defined

is

needs.

mental

relation

He

qualitieswhich

The

philisgain knowledge

to

and

sake, or to experience that

insight for their own
is so nearly akin to them.
true aesthetic pleasure which
If pleasures of this kind
are
fashionable, and the
finds
philistine

them,

himself

compelled to

will force himself

he

littleinterest inthemas
are

him

of

sensual

the

is to procure

he is indeed

trouble,
he will
has

kind, and

If

height

he thinks

in

of existence

happy

the luxuries

way

of life

inevitably be bored,
great

many

but

he will take

fancied

that these

To him

will contribute

what

so,

attention

to
as

possible.His onlyrealpleasures

for the loss of the others.

are

and

to do

pay

and

pagne
oysters and cham-

; the

to his

if this
are

indemnify

aim

of his life

bodily welfare,
him

causes

heaped

against

upon

boredom

some

him,
he

remedies, balls, theatres.

46

OF

WISDOM

THE

LIFE.

parties,cards, gambling, horses,

travellingand so on ; all of which
from

man

being bored,

needs,

no

for

drinking,

women,

not

can

there

where

are

protect a
lectual
intel-

no

intellectual

pleasures are
possible.
of the philistine
is a dull,
that of animals.
Nothing

peculiar characteristic
dry kind of gravity,akin to
really pleases,or excites,or interests him, for sensual
pleasure is quickly exhausted, and the society of
The

"

tired of

get

even

of

vanity

own

way,

of

cards.

rank,

or

him

have

himself
the

"

other

to

; or,

who

blessings,sunning
their splendour what

of

pleasures

power

these

reflection

may

enjoys in his
superior in point
honour

those

one

he

and

influence

or

people, who thereupon pay

with
rate, by going about
of

True, the

by feeling himself

either

wealth,

playing

left,pleasures which

are

and

burdensome,

becomes

philistinessoon

at

any

fluity
superin

English

the
call

snob.
From

the

of the

essential nature

philistineit follows,

secondly,in regard to others,that, as he possesses

intellectual,but only physicalneeds, he will seek
can
satisfythe latter,but
society of those who
the

friends

is the

capacity;
rouse

The

former.

his

last

chances

antipathy and

in addition

to

he will

possession of
if he

nay,

thing

it sometimes

of

But

him

rancour.

to make

his

for
own

all
ideas

grows

kind

of worth

envy,

from

even

that, it will
or

his

because

he
inferiority,
of

into

not

it,it will

simply

of

sense

experiences,in his heart, a dull

be
has
to
carefully concealed
Nevertheless,

with

hatred

even

from

the

of intellectual

sort

any

to meet

unpleasant

an

expect

no

secret

never

value

which
himself.

feeling
occur

conform

to

OR

PERSONALITY,

to

which

influence,

excel

to

his

in

are

are

either

lose

their

ideal

ideas,

in

interest

they

of

without

all

that,
of

need

unsatisfactory
interest,

world

is

or

illimitable

to

NOTE.

In

the

these

go

to

the

with
For

man.

influence

my

22.)

prize

an

sphere

of

of

essay

oa

of

upon

The

will

this

is

is

the

that

quence
conse-

needs.
have

they

being
Now

dangerous

our

bored,
realities

when

they
But

the

afar
sorrow.

the
I

and

physical

morality

wish

realities.

on

happiness,

account

his

calm,

remarks

make

and

fatiguing.

and

"

winch

only

escape

something
From

the

intellectual

become

they

and

be

philistines

and

constant

to

power

to

All

man

continue

riches,

world

47

IS.

will

seem

eyes

himself.

being

MAN

he

and

the

in

affliction

great

rank

his

them

in

of

no

in

qualities
to

advantages

genuine

The

such

preference

the

give

be

of

standard

the

WHAT

the

have

been

qualities

mainly

intellectual
direct

happiness,
Foundation

personal

cerned
con-

of

nature

and
let

of

immediate
me

Morals

refer

to

(Sec.

III

CHAPTER

EPICURUS

divides

classes, and
of

is

happiness

natural

and

there

I may

senses.

of

which
my

account

and

exact

the
of

difficult

more

which

needs
need

of

the

satisfy.

are

neither
and

luxury

which

natural

to

class

rather

consists

of
the

necessary,
and

show

end, and

an

point

definite

needs

nor

prodigality,

come

never

third

given

this

on

are

the

mention

not

more

These

The

of

report

is somewhat

original.

to

the

not

are

certain

that

so

doctrine

his

than

means

et

Secondly,

does

Epicurus

he

senses

in

that

however,

fied,
satis-

victus

natural,
of

come

not

satisfied.

gratification

Laertius,

Diogenes

by

when

though

which,

First

clothing,
be

three

great professor

as,

and

into

one.

such

easily

can

add,

this

fine

food

HAS.

mankind

by

and

the

as

MAN

"

needs

such

necessary,

of

needs,

which

those

are

needs

true

pain,

needs

made

necessary

produce
amictus,

the
division

the

WHAT

OR

PROPERTY,

are

splendour,
hard

veiy

to

satisfy.1
It
which
for

difficult,if

is

should

reason

is

there

will

which

no

also

Cf.

Diogenes

Cicero

impose

absolute

satisfy

relative, that

impossible,

not

is to

say,

Laertius,

definibus, i.3 13.

definite

or

The

man.

just
Bk.

the

on

x.,

so

define
desire

the
for

is
will

as

xxvii.,

pp.

127

limits

wealth

of

amount
amount

much
ch,

to

wealth

always

maintain
and

149

"

PROPERTY,

WHAt

OR

the

proportion between
a
gets; for to measure
gets,and
as

try and

to

loss of

for ; he

who

because

he

wants.

of

his

his

In

horizon

reckon

looks

in the

come

his horizon
that

the

has

and

consoled

Riches,

one

may

fame.

of

reason

the

amount

is,that

is

of

upon

us,

just what

done

so, the

more

; like

when

pain
a

So

him.
do

beyond
agitate

not

is not

man

to

becomes
wound

the

the

it is

hopes.

more

you
is true

same

prosperityleaves
of grief are
over,

and

temper

as

soon

his claims.

is most

old

an

lies

wealthy

he
possessions,

the amount

confidently
if difficulties

; but

; and

wealth

habitual

this

could

like sea-water;
become

he

as

object within

an

rich

other,
an-

horizon

an

What

the

to ask

much

as

all upon

first pangs

same

of his

comes

claims

the

the

the

reduces

loss of
as

much

very

happy

feels

for the failure of his

are

say,

The
soon

as

man,

is

effect at

drink, the thirstier you

of

he

though

thing which
has

to

If

have

much, feels

one

man

get.

futile

as

; whilst

as

him

all his wealth

by

times

is miserable.

no

he

never

them

got the

possessionsof
conversely,that

vast

the poor,

without

expect just

as

what

to him

will

he

way,

man

occurs

never

not

getting it,he

on

fact,here too, every

he

he

shall

which

hundred

possiblefor

it

fraction

he has

and

own3

thinks

have

what

expects to get,is

he

and

wants

denominator.

no

may

he

49

HAS.

happinessonly by

things which it
just as happy

is

miserable

what

by

express

but

numerator

the

also

not

what
man's

MAtt

reduce

as

But
the

which

piece of good

before

fortune

; and

immediately
tune
misfor-

when

of

amount

that

less,and
has

in

fate diminishes

himself

painful;once
less and

as

we

our

have

is felt

healed.
befalls

no

versely,
Conus,

our

50

WISDOM

THE

claims

higher and

mount

regulate them ;
that the delightof
to

process

the

delightceases;
in

increase

But

when

in

I may

quote

Toios yap
Olov

voo?

""/"
fjfJiap
ayet

the

the

to increase

When
race

we

for

sincere

else in

that

gain

is made

that

does

not

"

lead

the
to

which

of

will

in
;

earth

are

and

gods

crease
in-

less
power-

satisfythem.

needs

the

tliem, it

upon

wealth

human

is held

ought

in

than

greater honour,

nor

as

men.

to

are

we

is based

surprise that
nay,

re.

endeavour

full of

existence

the world

the

on

father

how

esteem,

anything

dwells

Oea"v

claims, when

amount

consider

matter

more

the

is

There

re

constant

our

its whole

is,how

is not

of

amount

lines

avSpuv

Trarrjp

springs from

to

tTriyfloviwv
dvOpu-jrcov

that
thoughts of man
day granted him by the

Discontent

the

to

this truth, of
illustrating

last two

IOTIV

accustomed

satisfies them.

the

"

expansion is complete,

become

which

the

nothing

consequently indifferent

Odyssey

the

is

feeling of expansion
it lasts no longer than

the

have

of wealth

passage

which

it lies.

claims, and

our

the amount
a

this

we

there

higher,as

it is in

and
itself,

the

LIFE.

OF

to wonder

we

only goal of life,and everything

it pushed aside or thrown
board
over-

philosophy,for instance, by

those

who

profess

People are often reproached for wishing for money

all things,
and for loving it more
above
than anything
it.

else ; but
to

love

it is natural
that

and
like

which,

always ready to turn

or
wandering wishes
1

inevitable

even
an

unwearied

itself into

whatever

manifold

desires

xviii.,130-7.

for

people

Proteus, is

objecttheir
may

for

the

52

THE

in

the

; moreover,

men

demand

true,

as

of

kind

the

why they

reason

is

case

are

paid. They ought to build up a capitalout of

earnings ; but they recklesslylook upon them

merely interest,and

them

try

encroach

make

to

it ; nay,

upon

in

end

inherit

distinguishbetween

least

the

they do is always
proverb says is quite
of gold. But with

is the

that

hand, people who

to

of work

what

quite different,and
their

kind

useful trade is a mine

and
professionalsof every

artists

well

OF

that

so

LIFE.

WISDOM

On

ruin.

know,

money

other

the

least,how

at

capitaland interest,and most

their
and
not
capitalsecure
if they can, they put by at

eighth of their interest in order to meet

future
of them
maintain
contingencies. So most
their position. These
few remarks
about
capitaland
interest are
not
life,for
applicable to commercial
of
merchants
look
only as a means
money
upon
an

gain,just as a workman
regards his tools ; so
if their capitalhas been
even
entirelythe result of
their own
and increase it
efforts,they try to preserve
much
so
by using it. Accordingly,wealth is nowhere
farther

at home

It
what
very

as

will

in the

generally be

it is to
much

inclined

to

have

less

class.

merchant

found
in

been

afraid

of

than

about

those

the
who

passed
if

poverty

need

were

future,

not

more

know

destitution

are

who

have
as

know
been

rule

poverty
born

much

economical,

and
more

in

fact,

denly
piece of good luck, have sudThis looks
as
poverty to wealth.
reallysuch a very wretched
thing

by

from

are

who

consequently more

those

who

those

and

it, and

extravagance, than

only by hearsay. People

bred in good circumstances
careful

that

however,
born

upon

it

into

live than
he does
of

he

could

live without
life ; and

been

born

the natural

into

poor

if

by

and

one,

fortune, he regards it

be

enjoyed

he

can

get

the less ; or,

the

But

it should

firm

and

of

the

born

excessive

and
heart

be said

could

the

But

he

chance

no

more

who

man

it

upon

to

comes

as

in for

conies

superfluity,
something

to

end,

an

run

be

must

their horse

people

verified
to death.

of this

kind

have

trust, partly in fate,partly in the

poverty,

have
a

"

also ; and

rich, look

adage

that

which

already

trust
so

console

raised

only of

not

they

the

upon

bottomless, but
that

beggarsmounted

peculiar means
of need

look

just as well as before, with one anxiety

as
Shakespeare says in Henry VI.,1
.

That

to

guards it as
generallya lover

wasted, because, if it

or
on

as

has

comes

positionlooks
any

who

air ; he

economical.

reason,

man

he

he is

so

true

the

which

without

order, prudent and

has

The

that

53

HAS.

position of wealth

his very

fact

the

something

as

MAN

distance.

is rather

been

from

it appears

as

WHAT

OR

PROPERTY,

do

shallows

themselves

the

them

head, but

not, like the

of
with

out

man

poverty

as

the

thought
ground again,they can

they have touched

take another
upward flight. It is this trait in human
character
who
which
explains the fact that women
before
their marriage often make
were
greater
poor
claims, and are
more
extravagant, than those who
have brought their husbands
rich dowry ; because
a
a
as
rule, rich girls bring with
them, not
only a
once

fortune, but

also
1

more

Part

eagerness,
III., Act

1, Sc.

nay,
4.

more

of

the

54

WISDOM

THE

inherited

instinct,to

preserve

If anyone

doubts

truth

is

opposite,he

the

just

the

in Ariosto's

view
Dr.

Johnson

it,than

of

find

with

but,

it

that

thinks

authority

for his

other

hand,

the

on

opinion."A

my

girlsdo.

poor

this,and

will

first Satire

agrees

LIFE.

OF

of

woman

fortune,he says, being used to the handling of money

who
spends it judiciously; but a woman
gets the
command
riage,
of money
for the firsttime upon her mar-

such

has

with

it away

advise

me

take

who

the

of the children's
do

upon

marries

capital but

has

think

by any means
subject which

is

preserve

what

they have earned

as
just as much

having
for

which

plague ;
which

it

if
of

"

this

of his

life

the
from

own

morning,

This

time

and

day

Life of Johnson

be

careful

to

is

For

to

pendent,
inde-

one

an

advantage

means

tion
exemp-

disease

of

forced

powers,

ann

under

said

the

to

be

word,

sui

and

own.

1776, setat

labour

Only

of

of

like

man

be

man

is my
:

to

mortal.

sense

proper

while

make

that

can

my

chronic

lot of every

like

touching

am

to

; for it

that

on

out
comfortably withhas only justenough

family

emancipation

fate

will

one

from

fastens

Boswell's

management

inherited.

or

over-estimated

free,to be, in the

every

to

live

to

one

speak

is the natural

juris,master
say

be

is

interest, and
the

people

even

"

immunity

favourable

born

to

which

penury,

to work

cannot

and

recommend

is,allow

oneself,not

to

worth

that

girl not

that

not

when

life with

the

let

case

any

poor

not

mention

start

in

fortune.

not
a

only

she

that

especialcare

And

great profusion*-

anyone

her

leave

gusto in spending it. that she throws

able

And
:

67.

to

just

OR

PROPERTY,

the

for

has

who

hundred

and

year

smaller
thousand, is infinitely
the

falls

the

to

and

wealth

inherited

But

of

former

high order, who is

life not
compatible with
he is then
doubly endowed
his genius ; and
he will
a

hundred

the

by

his

pay

value

of

debt

when

it

powers
a

line of
; for

live for

can

mankind

to

times, by achieving what

other

no

tween
beall.

money

and

at

mental

to pursue

fate

has

nothing

making

man

difference

with

resolved

who

the
has

endowed

the

man

its utmost

reaches

individual

the

who

55

HAS.

between

than

man

MAN

difference

the

reason

same

WHAT

could

work
which
contributes
producing some
of
to the
to the
honour
generalgood, and redounds
his
use
humanity at large. Another, again, may
wealth
to further
philanthropicschemes, and make
himself
But a man
well-deservingof his fellow-men.
does none
of these things, who
who
does not even
try
to do them, who
never
attempts to study thoroughly
branch
of knowledge
that he may
some
one
at
so

achieve, by

do

least

born

one,

he

what
as

can

towards

is into

he

of

time,

even

be

happy, because,

need

delivers

thief

him

suffering,boredom,
that

given
apt

would

he

to

whichhe

riches, is

contemptible

up

to

in

been

his

ease,

is such
better

it

mere

fellow.

the other

which

have

promoting
He

such

"

idler

and

will

not

exemption

extreme

martyrdom

of

from

human
to

off if poverty

him,
had

something to do. And as he is bored he is

lose the ad vantage, of
be extravagant, and
so
himself unworthy. Countless numbers
showed

him

in want, simply because, when

peoplefind themselves
they spent it only to get momentary
they had money,
which oppressedthem.
relief from the feelingof boredom

of

66

WISDOM

THE

It is quite another

LIFE.

OF

if one's

matter

in

objectis success

and
connections
life,where
favour, friends
political
all-important,in order to mount
are
by their aid step
by step on the ladder of promotion,and perhaps gain
the

topmost

better

to be cast

if the

aspirantis

kind

this

In

rung.

the world

on

of

not

absolute
in

For

pauper.

inferior to

his fellows

how

has

who

pauper

such

point

every

of

view, of his

worthlessness, that he

and

politicalmachine.1
keep on bowing low

in

the

can

down
to

entire

worthlessness
voice

loudest

speak

write

or

of those

aims

an

at

them

absolute

an

insignificance
take his placequietly
can
He
is the only one
who
enough, and even
go right
utter

own

his boldest

and

to be

is this the

only

; he

laugh at it ; he
of
merit; he

and

everything

of

man

prove

more

is

his face if necessary

upon

of his
thorough conviction
and positiveinferiority
from

complete,profound

own

is to

much

it

is

most

one

; and

penny

advantage

every

politics. Now,

in

case

what

; and

himself

family,but

to his

with

ordinary contact

life,it is much

without

noble

talent,it will redound

some

of

who

alone
alone

knows

alone

he

placed over

are

the
his

uses

whenever

type

mit
sub-

can

has

his

to

head,

positionof influence ; and if they do

he is ready to applaud it as a masterlittle scribbling,

Translator's
of

his

many

of

account

servilityto
system
can
an

be

has
110

what
the
been

doubt

effective

understands

alone

He

work.

one

any

occupy

or

Note.

Schopenhauer

"

virulent
he

attacks

thought
of

government
the
that

support

how

fruitful

upon

to
his

mother

be

is

here

; in

this

the

and

so

making
case

on

philosopher's abject
Though

of many

Hegel's influence, in
of Prussian

probably

Hegel

day.

beg,

to

his

bureaucracy.

the

liberal
own

Hegelian

ideas,there

life-time,was

OR

PROPERTY,

WHAT

MAN

becomes

Goethe

he

57

HAS.

hardly out of
a
high priestof that hidden
brings to light;

betimes, when

his

is

boyhood,

mystery

he

which

"

Ueber^s

Niedertrachtige

Niemand
Denn
Was

"

it is

no

to

use

say,

the

other

beldage:

ist das

Machtige

dir auch

man

complain of

sage

low

aims; for,whatever

rule the world.

the

hand,

man

who

is

born

with

live upon
is generallyof a somewhat
pendent
indeturn of mind
to keep his
; he is accustomed

enough
head

es

they

people may
On

sich

to

up

has

he

learned

not

all the

arts

of

the

little upon
the
a
beggar ; perhaps he even
presumes
possessionof talents which, as he ought to know, can
never
compete with cringing mediocrity; in the long
of those who
he comes
to recognisethe inferiority
run
his head, and
when
are
they try to put
placed over
insults upon
him, he becomes
refractory and shy.
in the world.
is not
the way
to get on
This
Nay,
such

man

expressedby
it is

worth

not

last incline to the

at

may

Voltaire
our

We

while

opinion freely

have
to

only two
spend them

days

to live ;

cringing to

in

But alas ! let me

observe
contemptiblerascals.
by the
which
attribute
that contemptiblerascal is an
way,
number
be predicatedof an
abominable
of people.
may
What

Juvenal

poverty

is

says

it is

"

greater than

Hand

your

difficult
talent

facileemerguut quorum
Res angusta domi

to

rise

if your

"

mrtutibus

obstat

"

is

more

than

to

of
applicableto a oareer
aud social ambition.
political

art

and

literature

58

THE

and

Wife

man's

but
than

children

possessions
easier

be

would

man's

he

WISDOM

belongs

to

friends
to

he

is

OF

have

belong
them.

reckoned

not

rather

include

LIFE.

in
friends
to

him

their

amongst

It

possession.

under
not

that

whit

head

more

60

THE

If the

WISDOM

feelingof

of human

OF

honour

nature, it may

the welfare

of

LIFE.

rests

have

this

upon
a

very

peculiarity

salutary effect

tute
people,as a substifor morality ; but
their happiness, more
upon
especiallyupon that peace of mind and independence
essential to happiness,its effect will be
which
so
are
than
disturbing and
prejudicial rather
salutary.
Therefore
it is advisable, from
our
point of view,
upon

to

limits

set

to

this

great

many

and

weakness,

duly

to

sider
con-

and

vantages
rightlyto estimate the relative value of adand thus temper, as far as possible,
this great
to other
the
susceptibility
people'sopinion,whether

opinion be

pain

us

causes

; for

in

other

people

either

are

is

requiresto disconcert
greedy of praise:"
Sic leve,sic parvum
Subruit

if
in

it will very

duly

we

for

and

the

of

up

the

in

short, all the

span

summed

up
; and

the man's

and

think,
"

how

mind

the

quod laudis

our

conduce

much

compare

himself

Under

others.

ing
feel-

same

is the slave of

man

soothe

or

est,animum

to

it

that

avarum

reficit.1-

ac

Therefore

it is the

case

pleased

little it

whether

vanity,or

our

Otherwise, a

is touched.

which
what

to
flattering

one

with

value

the

what

former
existence

he

of

to

what

is in

ness
happi-

our

the

and

makes

of

eyes

everything that

comes

is

man

it what

fills
it

is,

and
advantages already considered
under
the heads
of personalityand
perty
proall this takes place is
the sphere in which
consciousness.

own

On

the other

Horace, Epist : II,1, 180.

hand, the

61

REPUTATION.

sciousness,
people is their conmake
not ours
; it is the kind of figurewe
this
the thoughts which
in their eyes, together with
has no direct
this is something which
arouses.1
But
affect us only
existence for us, but can
and immediate

sphere of

what

for other

are

we

far, that is, as other

so
mediately and indirectly,
is directed by it ; and
towards
us
people'sbehaviour
then it ought to affect us
even
only in so far as it can
in and
to modify what
we
are
us
move
for ourselves.
sciousness
Apart from this,what goes on in other people'sconsuch,

is,as
and

in time
to

come

sentiments, how
of

learn
will

him,

perverse
there

error

opinions,and

most

of

thinks
And

ears.

that

if

ever

the

seeing how

is in

man

too
a

words,

in other

with

Let

me

remark

all their

show,

may

it exists

in what

not

that

people

brilliance,
pomp,

well say

only in

the

"

Our
heads

in

value
much

upon

shall
other

way,

who

finds

classes of blessings
it in the

third.

he

is in

the

highest positionsin life,

happiness
F

his

honour.
bad

very

we

what

himself, but

display,magnificence

of others.

fear

to

come

blockheads,

of

source

man

opportunity of
with nothing
meet

happinessin the first two

alreadytreated of,but has to seek

no

we

an

will

men

them

will not

had

lay great

to

is to pay

all events,

At

have

we

how

depreciationa
is not obligedto

says

half-a-dozen

that

people say

he

greatestof

slight from

understand

what

their

; when

them

we

mean

their

is in

us

people's

most

are

to

it,when

ideas, how

by experience with what

speak of his fellow,when he
or

but

their

narrow

to

futile

and
superficial

how

thoughts, how
much

indifference

get reallyindifferent

we

see

of

matter

lies

and

entirelyoutside

in

general
us,

for

62

THE

he

what

is in

the

the foundation

factor
after

of

the

physique,and

our

happiness is health, and,

health, the abilityto maintain
freedom

competitionor
factors

the

the

latter

should

for

add

No

timely recognition of
chief

man's

and

in independence

ourselves

between

the

real existence

we

hesitate

may

fice
sacri-

to

necessary.

happiness by

our

that

truth

simple

and

rank

were

no

essential

value

former, if it
to

be

can

these

much

would

much

very

importance

honour, pomp,

one

the

in

There

other, however

latter.

the

essential

most

next

care.

side, and

one

reputationon
set upon

from

compensation

the

on

For, after all,

others.

nature, and, therefore, of

whole

our

LIFE.

in

and

We

OF

opinion

of

happiness,is

our

WISDOM

is in his

every

skin, and

own

in other

people'sopinions;and, consequently,that
the actual
conditions
of our
personal life, health,
temperament, capacity,income, wife, children, friends,
hundred
times
a
home, are
more
important for our
not

"

happiness than
of

us:

what

otherwise

insist that

we

honour

other
shall

people are

And

be miserable.

is dearer

if

what
life itself,

than

think

pleasedto

people
they

is that existence
and
really mean
well-being are as
nothing compared with other people'sopinions. Of
be only an
this may
ing
exaggerated way of statcourse,
that reputation,that
the prosaic truth
is, the
opinion others have of us, is indispensableif we are
to make

back

any
to

progress

that

in

the

presently.

; but

world

When

their lives
devote
everything men
effort and encountering a thousand
no
in the

process,

has, in the

to raise themselves

in the

end,

see

we

no

to

I shall

that

come

almost

attain, sparing

toils and
further

estimation

of

dangers
object than

others

\ when

63

DEPUTATION.

decorations,but also
titles,
only offices,
wealth, nay, even
knowledge l and art,are striven for
goal of. all effort,
only to obtain, as the ultimate
is not
this a
greater respect from one's fellow-men,
lamentable
folly
proof of the extent to which human
To
set much
too
can
high a value on other
go ?
error
everywhere ; an
people'sopinion is a common
we

that

see

not

"

error,

result
;

civilisation

of

in human

be, rooted

it may

social

and

influence

on

all

we

itself,
or

arrangements

its source,

but, whatever

immoderate

nature

ally
gener-

it exercises

do, and

the

is very

very

dicial
preju-

it from
trace
can
a
happiness. We
and
slavish
other people
timorous
regard for what
made
will say, up
to the
Virginius
feeling which
plunge the dagger into his daughter'sheart, or induces
to

many

life

quiet,riches,health arid
posthumous glory. Undoubtedly

to sacrifice

man

itself,for

feelingis
of

our

those

convenient

very

who

have

the

instrument

control

or

in

even

this

the hands

direction

of

their

find that in every

accordingly we
for trainingup humanity in the way
scheme
it should
and
strengtheningof the feeling
go, the maintenance
of honour
occupies an important place. But it is
quitea different matter in its effect on human
happiness,
of which
it is here our
objectto treat; and we should
rather
be careful to dissuade
people from settingtoo
much
store by what
others think of them.
perience
Daily exshows
this is just the mistake
us, however, that
set the
people persistin making ; most
men
value
utmost
preciselyon what other people think,

fellow-men

"

; and

Scire tuum

knowledge

nihil

is

no

use

est nisi te scire hoc

unless

others

sciat

know

alter,(Persius i. 27)

that

you

have

it.

64

THE

and

are

concerned

more

in their

on

WISDOM

and

real

as

it than

what

about

goes

is the

thing most
directly present to them.
They
order, regarding the opinions of

the natural

others

about

consciousness, which

own

immediately
reverse

LIFE.

OP

"

and

existence

their

consciousness

own

and
something shadowy; making the derivative
secondary into the principal,and considering the
picturethey present to the world of more
importance

as

than

their

and

immediate

is called

which

has

the

vanity

solid

no

for that

appropriateterm

intrinsic

or

trying to get a direct

has no really direct
into the kind of folly
Like

value.

to obtain

in their eagerness

end

miser,

means.

is that

truth

of others, and

each

other

the

value

of

quite out

to

proportionto
attain

people'sattitude

universal

mania

do, almost

the first

people say

; and

of life may

be

to

our

this

about

kind

of

In all

on

and
this

we

will

is,what

the troubles

anxiety

may
to

inherits.

think

we

attention

regarded as

everyone

thing we
nearly half

traced

be

respect of it,

result

any

that

so

may

which

in

opinion

the

set upon

we

endeavour

constant

our

reasonably hope

is

the

"

people forgetthe

The

are

of what

existence,they fall

which

such

thus

By

result out

immediate

or

selves.

own

bothers
; it

score

the

is at the bottom
of all that
anxiety which
is so often
which
mortified
feelingof self-importance,
because
it is so very
It is solicitude
morbidly sensitive.
about

vanity
swagger

part

and

will say

others

pretension,yes,

too.

of the

point

what

Without

luxury

d'honneur

and

and

it,there

which

that

exists.

underlies

all
would
Pride

punctilio,however

our

not

all

show
be

in every

varied

our

and
tenth

form,
their

65

REPUTATION.

kind

sphere, are

or

anxiety

about

what

it often
and

costs

One

in

can

at

it

see

in

even

period

every

what

and

"

this

but

nothing

will say

others

it exists

though

bottom

at

of

"

fices
sacrichild ;

life,it

is

the

capacity for
sensual
pleasure fails,vanity and pride have
only
avarice to share their dominion.
Frenchmen, perhaps,
afford the best example of this feeling,
and
amongst
strongest

it is

them

regularepidemic, appearing

the most

absurd

national

vanity

However,

ambition,
and

fun

of

in

or

the

their
and

them

sometimes

ridiculous

shameless

most

frustrate

they

make

people

because, when

age;

kind

of

boasting.

aims, for

own

in

la

call them

other

grande

nation.

By

of

way

passage

giving

detailed

Wix,

Thomas

unusual

folly,which
allow
which
says

us

to

his

circumstances

is

so

form

it will go.
the

of

of

the

apprentice who,

one

combine

these

Times

murdered

character, though
and

the
account

an

had

vengeance,
very

from

to

give

.from

for

upon

demeanour,

betrayedno

him,

but

our

in human

we

have

Wix,

purpose

this

nature, and

of the

morning of
ordinary

attendance

of

strikingpicture of

the
rev.

one

extraordinary

an

notion

report, the

of

motives

Here

accurate

On

me

31st, 1846,

execution

master.

and

deeply rooted
an

March

suitable

very

and

perverse

people'sopinion,let

respect for other

exuberant
take

this
speciallyillustrating

the

extent

to

execution,

early in
beyond a quiet
was

interest in his ministrations,

appearing to feel anxious

only to acquit himself
bravely before the spectators of his ignominious
"

end

"

In

the

procession

Wix

fellinto his.

66

THE

WISDOM

LIFE

OF

place with alacrity,and, as he

loud
Chapel-yard, remarked, sufficiently
several

by

said, I shall

know

soon

the

wretch
scaffold,the miserable
the slightest
assistance,
drop without

proceeding which
from the degraded
This

is

and

gapers,

of

trial

Lecomte, who

1846, for

he

was

allowed

to

of

in

the

on

thing has

been

tells us, in the

executed

the

he

that

only

in recent

known

to

devoting their last

souls,as they ought to

memory
I take

speech to
these

of what

reflection of

of

purpose

our

mean

own

he

have

to

cases

; for

nature.

as

At

the

the
not

Upper

it

was

permitted

to

that

this kind

Mateo

Aleman
romance,

criminals,

the

welfare

the

committing

of

to

scaffold.

being the

they give us
The

in

done, neglect this

preparing and
from

in their

was

celebrated

hours

of

thing

infatuated

many

be made

extreme

times

happen.

of

the

not

to his

Introduction

crowd

execution

was

for

Frankfurt,

at

attire,before

of

his

care

of

that

before

king's life.

the

on

instead

for

cheer

him

kind

was

deAlfarache, that

duty

behind

same

Guzman

their

form

the

decent

day

him

It is not

leaves

annoyed

much

appear,

specialgrief to
shave.

dreadful

attempt

an

veiy

; and

House

much

was

he

in which

opinion he

the

in

of the way

example

the

There

also

tremendous

the

heads.
case

when

eternity beyond it, will

a
impression he makes
upon

and

but

nothing

and

the

beneath.

crowd

in the most

death

eyes,

very

forth

ing
reach-

spectators twice,

the

to

called

admirable

an

with

man,

bowed

centre, he

to the

On
mounted

the

got

Dodd

Dr.

secret"

grand

be heard

to

him, "Now, then, as

near

persons

the

entered

proper

anxieties

best illustrations

magnified
of

all of

68

WISDOM

THE

from

this universal

addition

to

present

our

of mind

generally behave

with

front

less

It is observable
has

word,

able

are

we

time

good

avoided, which

deal

and

enjoy them

But

xa^"7I"*d

of

an

established

worth

in

some

drawn

now

speak

life
of

peace

our

with
KaAa

"

less
what

our

opinions;

be

into

and

should

we

sequently
con-

give to solid realities

interruptionthan at present.
is worth
doing is hard to do.
to

Pride.

8.

nature

the

conviction

the

might

"

which

discussing

are

we

and

shoots, ambition, vanity

between

At

in

by striving
ing
correctly,
by indulg-

more

attention

more

three

difference

The

straint.
re-

of

mode

ourselves.

upon

piece of folly;

folly of
forth

puts

and

positivemisfortune

Section

The

world, and

on

their casual

to

are

we

mischievous
have

influence

return

to

after shadows, or, to

a

retired

is

having to live
everlastingregard
pay
same

that

at

as

present

the

to

an

thus
we
mainly because
escape
constantlyin the sight of others, and

this

and

mind,

such

embarrassment

exceedingly beneficial

an

people would

confident

be

cheerfulness

and

inconceivable
more

LIFE.

result would

folly,the

peace

seems

and

firmer

OF

last two
of

one's

particularrespect ;

is this
own

while

pride-

pride

is

paramount

vanity

is the

rousing such a conviction in others, and it is

mately
generallyaccompanied by the secret hope of ultioneself.
Pride
conviction
coming to the same
works
from within ; it is the direct appreciationof
oneself.
Vanity is the desire to arrive at this appreciation
desire

of

without.
indirectly,/row

So

we

find

that

vain

69

PRIDE.

people
vain
of

talkative, and

are

ought

person

taciturn.

that

aware

for, may

strives

he

others, which

be

to

proud,

the

But

the

good opinion

be obtained

much

easilyand certainlyby persistentsilence than by

though he has very good things to say.
speech,even
Anyone who wishes to affect pride is not therefore a
have
he will soon
to drop this, as
proud man
; but
more

other, assumed

every
It

is

only

firm, unshakeable

worth

and

the

true

proud

in

which

may,

advantages

which

since

so

pride is
other

every

as

it be

of

is

greatest obstacle,
"

world

of the
for

foundation

pride

whilst

mistaken

in

one

Pride's

worst

vanity,

which

order

to

high opinion
upon

and
less

of

pride

foe,

"

courts

the

gain
one's

for

And

it resembles

being

not

on

tional
conven-

real earnest.

in

man

rest

or

conviction,

knowledge

conviction

"

the

present in

in

is based

word,

is not

of preeminent

makes

adventitious

an

rooted

thus

form

pride

arbitrament.

own

our

long

of

still

which

of the

sense

are

conviction

specialvalue

doubt, be

no

character
all that,

character.

own

within
its

mean

the

plause
ap-

necessary

worth,

pre-existingconviction

it.

of

quite true that pride is something which is

fault
cried
down
with, and
generally found
; but
have nothing upon
usually,I imagine,by those who
In view
which
of the
pride themselves.
they can
It. is

impudence
who
do
want

and

possesses
well
it

natured

foolhardiness
any

kind

of

of

most

people, anyone

superiorityor

merit

will

keep his eyes fixed on it,if he does not

to be entirelyforgotten;for if a man
is goodand
enough to ignore his own
privileges,
to

YO

THE

hob-nob

with

WISDOM

OF

LIFE.

the

generalityof other
were
quite on their level,they will
him, frankly and
candidly, as one
piece of advice
whose
superiorityis

This

is

those

superiority,I

of

mean,

which

cannot, like orders

or

at

ear

moment

every

familiaritybreeds

used

to

show

soon

proverb ;

ought

nor

of

treat

themselves.

speciallyoffer to
real
highest kind
"

otherwise, they will

contempt,

with

eye
find

slave,and
Arabian

excellent

an

Horace

despisewhat

Sume

"

Romans

the

as

or,

Joke

to

we

to

sure

purely personal nature

and
titles,appeal to the

heels, is

his

be

Minervam.

sus

say,

would

of the

; as,

that

he'll

if he

people,as

says,

superbiam

Qucesitammeritis.

"

when

fame

the

usurp

modesty was
thing

niaie
for

the

virtue,it
fools

The
a

man

has

nothing

were

no

The

shares
man

fools in the

with

respects his

so

have

not

vantageo
ad-

very

is

everybody

were

This

one.

to

look

if

as

world.

be

own

only

too

nation

with

which

of his fellow-men.

important personal

clearlyin what
short, since their failings

ready

falls

to those

recourse

millions

many

is endowed

who

qualitieswill

to

constantlybefore his eyes.

has nothing at all
fool who

will be

doubt,

cheapest sort of pride is national pride ; for if

that
is proud of his own
he
nation, it argues
of which
he can
be proud;
qualitiesof his own

otherwise, he would
he

but

was

for

expected to speak of himself as if he

indeed ! for it comes
is levellingdown
there

No

deserved.

have

you

see

But
of which

every
he

able
misercan

be

71

PRIDE.

proud adopts,as a last

he belongs ; he
to which
all its faults

is

and

ready

follies tooth

and

in the

pride

resource,

and

glad

nation

to defend

re-im-

nail, thus

inferiority.For example,
bursing himself for his own
if you
speak of the stupid and degrading bigotry of
the English nation with the contempt it deserves, you
will hardly find one
Englishman in fiftyto agree with
if there

; but

you

happen

to be

The

Germans

how

are,

those

are

Deutsche

the

mob

the

natter

it said

that

I doubt

it.

is not

who

he

that

Briider

in order

is one;

and

to be

important thing
deserves
since

And

without

remarks

write

that

if

he

makes

or

an

that
as

in

nationality,and
of

apt
a

to

in

Note.

say

similar

It
in the

your

earlier

be

strain

things as

at

is

character

the

only

remembered

possible
is imsame

another

that

these

part of the present century,

philosopher now-a-days,
bitter

more

given

any

people,it

praises and

character

should

in

national
of

far

?l

consideration.

more

speak

National

German

Englishman

than

thousand-fold

pretence

any

is
be, individuality

loud

written

were

heard

I have

it.

referringto large masses

Translator's

were

to mislead

cannot

you

honest.

and

and

may

to be

time

try
proud of their counthe demagogues who

are

Frenchman

that

However

man

generally

invented
gunpowder was
by a German.
Lichtenberg asks, Why is it that a man
does not care
about pretending
German

all,it is

at

will

national

no

affectation,pretend that they

"

he

one,

pride,which shows
how
! and
as
everybody knows
who, by a piece of ridiculous

have

they

dishonest

be

man.
intelligent

an

honest

should

even

though

Schopenhauer, could

he

hardly

72

WISDOM

THE

for

name

mocks

nation
The

of

this

said,of what
in the

are

we

nations, and

at other

Section

Let
few

take

us

rank

of

eyes

useful

most

It

has

it

public opinion,and
credit

the

money

if

of

they

even

fame.

dismissed

in

an

much

the

an

whole

Of

of

serve

with

else,very

deal

good

useful

very

eyes

many

forgotten.

their

It

of

purpose,
and

and

ment.
judg-

ears,

little judgment

are

is

substitute

discrimination

quitebeyond the range of

others, again,are appreciatedand
soon

their value

as

course,

State

drawn

exchange

measure

the

save

There

memory.

then

exact

fact,the

bills of

people in general have

not

is to
of

matter

State

time, and

be

its method

drawer.

distributed

are

; but

true

plays

and, besides,they

For

or

the

pensions,they

for

and

buted
distri-

Rank.

"

be said, are

Orders, it may
on

further

what

or

farce.

mere

be

as

important part in
and of the philistines,
and is a
the masses
wheel in the machinery of the State.
value.
Strictly
a
purely conventional

speaking, it is a sham
artificial respect,and, as
thing is

treats,

world,

it may

first,
as

words, although

the

3.

Every

right.

are

honour, rank

praise

this too.

the

others, may

every

we

one,

chapter, which

heads

three

under

of

eyes

in

take

all

represent in

we

littleness,

the

mankind

get disgustedwith

we

contents

have

which

disgusted with

become

we

another, until

of

baseness

perversity and
If

LIFE.

particular form

the

country.

OF

services

it is

indeed,
to

the

understanding;

made

much

seems

to

of for
me,

there-

73

HONOUR.

fore, very

proclaim

the

to

This

is

But

like

lose

conferring them
bill.

It is

as

to inscribe

pleonasm

for every
That

Section

is

Honour

much

difficult to

more

and

show
would

to

were

be

they

careful

as

is in

in

signing

any

order

for

ought

to be

for

on

to

done

selection,or

reason.

larger question than

Let

say

Honour

rank, and

begin by trying

us

is

is inward

hardly

say,

go

Honour

opinion of what

the

to

; but

such

root

to

latter

be

is often

what
a

of the

is

valuable.
himself

not

The
a

be

good
more

definition,and

reason
man

matter.

it

very

the
opinion. From
is to
man
of honour
wholesome, but by no

sbame

utterly depraved,

recognised

everywhere

would

this

purely moral, influence.

and
feelings of honour

who

doubt

no

there

conscience,

prefer
its objective
side,other people's
is,on
worth; on its subjective
we
are
side,
to

respect we pay
point of view, to

exercise

external

honour,

it is the

in

has

Honour.

"

assent
people would
than
reality about

many

The

where,
every-

when

due

order

stands

4-

discuss.

conscience

means

and

it.

define
If

should

value

business

of

man

distinguishedservice ;
distinguishedservice.

man

their

unjustly,or without
great numbers
: a
princeshould

in too

star

he

you;

distributed

are

to

people always

not

orders

or

cross

of

mass

man

something.

that

proper,

can

exist
and

something

in every
honour

is

particularly
of this is as follows.
By and
accomplish very little ; he
as

74

THE

is like Robinson

WISDOM

Crusoe

in

societythat
activity. He

begins

him

to

desire

society,as

of

his

part
a

of

and, secondly,what
world

demands

But

upon
in the

but

he

is

another
is

this

thought
of

life
or

him

of his

gives

nature,

to

free

will.

much

so

with

favour

because

help

and

is

to

no

has

the

innocent,
absolute

taken

upon

Conversely,nothing
as

courage

conviction

him

he

at

estimation

he

that

which

one

cheek

fall in the

extends

remissness

own

man

give

human

his

to

knows

he

of the

to

of

"

renewal

joins

tries his best

he

so

feeling of honour, or, under

It
verecundia.
feelingof shame

but only
obligation,
himself

the

pends
everything dehis own
opinion,

in

characteristic

when

if his

even

nay,

things:
everywhere ;

impression upon the world,

Hence, this
a high value.

brings a blush
having suddenly to

others, even

to be

two

to do

that

which
of

do

must

Now,

the

aspect,the

member

own

such

innate

called

life.

social

expected

favourable

primitiveand
which

of

discovers

attaches

in

arises

useful

his

when

out

is

being useful, not

opinion of others ; and

to which

full

there

as

his

that

called into

particularpositionin
requires.

one's

soon,

to make

only

"

is

and

man

It is

capable of playing
ing
parte virili thereby acquir-

is,who

society,one

everyone

this

upon

benefits

the

be

develop, and

to

pro

member

what
firstly,

finds

looked

man"

island.

can

powers

that

one,

right to

useful

as

be

desert

soon

very

consciousness
the

on

man's

LIFE.

OF

that
it

other

means

the

attainment

people regard
that

everyone

which
protection,
against the ills

infinitelystronger bulwark
than anything he can
do himself.

in

is
of

an

life

76

no

THE

than

more

with

in

put

any

author

true

that

if

him

forward

as

the

to draw

the

against

kind

of summary
What

reasons.

slander

mean

may

from

phrase not quoted

fj XoiSopia 8ta/?oXi)
crwro/zos.
real

no

"

true

or

otherwise, he

as,

is

another, he

abuses

man

has

he

that

the

LIFE.

Greek

the

"krfw

"

OF

abuse, is

mere

suppressionof

well

be

WISDOM

premises, and

conclusion

causes

ing
simply showof complaint

would

rely

themselves

It is

these

bring

hearers

his

upon

instead

of

which,

leaves
and
out the premises,
gives the conclusion
trustingthat people will suppose that he has done so
only for the sake of being brief.

he

Civic

honour

the middle

draws

its existence

classes ; but

it

he

for

has

do, and

may

the

one

should

who

breaks

every
man

forfeited confidence, whatever

ever

whoever

of

consequences

from

name

appliesequally to all,not
man
can
disregardit,and

excepting the highest. No

it is a very serious thing,of which
be careful not
to make
light. The
confidence

and

he

loss of

be

may

; and

confidence

the

can

bitter
be

never

averted.
is

There
have

in

sense

of

exhibit, and

Honour,

must
not

oppositionto

the

positive

the

opinion

honour

is not

which
qualities

of the

be

be

to which

therefore,

exceptional; fame,
must

be

particularqualitieswhich
possess exclusively: it is rather

happen to
they have

which

in

may

of

people have

to

For

fame.

honour

which

negative character

character

false.

won

lost.

that
;

The

he

he

Fame

man

the

not

man

to

may

opinion
be

may

should
that

means

is.

man

said

pected
ex-

prove

is not

is

something
honour, only something which
absence

of

fame

is

obscurity,

77

HONOUR.

which

is

which

is

only a negative; but

a positive
quality.

of honour

must

loss of honour

is

This

character

be confused

not

negative

with

shame,

anything passive;

thingsactive in its working. It

the only qualitywhich
proceedsdirectlyfrom the
exhibits
it : it is concerned
who
entirelywith
is above

for honour
is
man

what

the

with

do

and

leaves

actions

of

does

he

place in

his way.

power

TWV

"

from

only weapon

by

; and

without

is to

of

from

off true honour

is the

the attack

and
publicity,

due

with

unmasking

be

can

repel

to

way

see

honour

honour

only

slander

the

confute

the sham

which

the

shall

we

the

proper

of him

who

it.

utters
The

why respect is paid to

in the
necessarilyshown

reason

people have
lives whether

or

they

not

their honour

unblemished

has

been

not

yet

credited

of

"

be

can

the

which
towards

the

is

only
any

the

old

years, the weakness

rather
a

are

young
:

for

nor,

if it

for

reason

were

attends

again, experience,
of the

knowledge

everywhere

which

excelled,in the

even

"

sufficient

the

world's

respect

required to show
of
merely a matter
on

age

for consideration

than

for

respect.

remarkable

that

white

hair

fact

their

that of young

animals,

closer

of

course

old

people
proof,though they are
it. For neither length

the

to

is that

age

able to maintain

been

; while

of the lower

some

which
ways,

put

have

possessionof
equalled,as it is,and

with

of years,
case

has

IfrjfiMv.This distinction,as

Slander

amount

undone, and

nothing to
others
the obstacles
or
they
something entirelyin our own

It is

marks
presently,
of chivalry.

attacked

all

would
It

call

ever,
is,how-

always

com-

78

WISDOM

THE

mands

reverence

"

Wrinkles
command

Honour

people think

do

at all

wrinkles

in

so

of

far

; but

safety which

state

of

long as

But

it is to

their

they

have
also

direct

held

by

or

Chrysippus and
good reputationis not
what

plained
ex-

other
us

towards
or

that

have
we

to
owe

possessionsenjoy in
do

we

need

we

the

have

help

of

confidence

anything to do with us.

is,indirectly,
us
a matter
I cannot

value.

quite

This

agree,

how

see

he

is

an

it

can

opinion

writes, witli

Diogenes used to say, that a

worth
raising a finger to obtain,

it is

useful.1 This truth has

at great length by Helvetius
in his
been insisted upon
of which
De
is
chief work
VEsprit? the conclusion
love esteem
not for its own
that we
sake, but solelyfor
it brings. And
the means
the advantages which
as
than the end, that saying,of which
be more
never
can
is made, Honour
is dearer than lifeitself,
much
is,
so
I have
remarked, a very exaggerated statement.
as
if

it

were

So much,

not

that

behaviour

with,

hair

affect

all,can

at

turn, must

immediate

Cicero.

chapter,what

live

our

Accordingly,their opinion of
of great importance ; though

as

"

one

any

For,

societyalone

have

can

us

we

; in all

they, in

before

and

we

civilisation

others, and

value.

their

so

only just

old age

hear

never

stincti
in-

and

venerable white

this

it governs

as

with, them.

us

you

if it affects

us,

sign of

surer

beginning of

that

in

much

reverence

the

at

us, and

reallyinnate

expression.
has
only an indirect

common

only

LIFE.

reverence

"

of venerable

speak
is

no

OF

so

then, for civic honour.

1

17.
Dejinibus iii.,

Disc:

13.
iii.,

79

HONOUR.

is the
honour
general opinion of other
Official
office reallyhas the
fills any
who
people that a man
for the proper
discharge of all the
qualities
necessary
duties which
appertain to it. The greater and more
has to discharge in the
important the duties a man
influential the office
State, and the higher and more
be the opinion which
the stronger must
which
he fills,
and
intellectual
qualities
people have of the moral
render

which

fit for

him

his

Therefore, the

post.

the greatermust
be the degree of
higher his position,
honour
paid to him, expressed,as it is,in titles,orders
behaviour
of others
and
the
generally subservient
official rank
him.
As a rule, a man's
towards
implies
which
ought to be
particulardegree of honour
this degree may
be modified
much
paid to him, however
to form any
notion
by the capacity of the masses
of its importance. Still,as a matter
of fact,greater
fulfils specialduties
honour
is paid to a man
who
than
to the
honour
citizen, whose
common
mainly
consists in keeping clear of dishonour.

the

Official honour

office must

occupiesan
sake

both

demands,

of his

after him.

This

respect an

observance

of

attack

that

be

its

over

may

occupant

unheeded

any

duties of the office are

the office itself does
He

must

attacks

prove

maintain

colleaguesand

proper

upon

further, that the

the

his

official

statement

not

for

who

it,for the
will

come

maintain

by a
by repellingany

can

the

upon

must

not

of those

duties, and

made
he

respect

who

man

office

itself

not, for instance,

to

the

effect that

properly discharged,or

conduce

unwarrantable

to the

or

pass

the
that

public welfare.

nature

by enforcing the legalpenalty for

of
them.

such

80

WISDOM

THE

Subordinate

who

of those

that

comes

honour

the

to

OF

LIFE.

official personages

of
the

serve

State

in any

other
in

doctors, lawyers, teachers, anyone,

capacity,as

by graduating in any subject,or by any

cise
public declaration that he is qualifiedto exersome
special skill, claims to practiseit ; in a

short, who
other

the

word,

all

of

honour

their

true

head

of the

bound

have

take

this

sense

really

country

who

Under

public pledges whatever.

military honour, in the
opinion that people who
defend

those

any
comes

word, the

themselves
the

possess

to

requisite
especially

will enable
them
to do so,
qualitieswhich
courage, personalbravery and strength,and that they
are
perfectlyready to defend their country to the

death, and
the

which

flagto

have

in which

that

once

in

wider

desert

allegiance. I

sworn

official honour

it is

circumstances

no

have

they

taken

here

under

and

never

than

sense

generallyused, namely, the respect

by citizens to an office itself.

In treatingof sexual honour
and

due

which

it rests, a little
; and

necessary

that
basis.

There

the

honour

"

either
The

side

her

the

relation
Female

girlthat

of

is faithful.

the

essential

more

upon
of

honour

well-understood

support my

divisions
the

analysisare
utilitarian
the
of

subject

in woman's

in

men,

espritde

important of

feature

tention
con-

corps.

the

two,

life is

man.

honour
she

and

women

most
to

natural

principleson

and

will

really rests

two

issuingin
is by far

former

because

all honour
are

attention

more

I shall say

what

the

is the

is pure,
The

and

general opinion in regard to

in

regard to a wife that she

importance of this opinion rests upon

81

ttONOUB.

Women

following considerations.

the

said, in

be

might

mutual

for

made

female

from

the

show

undivided

and

front

to

an

of

ment
arrangethe

esprit de
their

whole
have

plan,women

of

is

also for the

"

welfare

this

out

carry

it

women,

undertaking

man

union

their

upon

arrangement

an

needs

woman's

is based

To

present one

So

upon

"

together with

band

men

interdependence

which

race.

life ;

only.

one

for all
responsibility
that spring
children
on

of

relations

in all the

men

depend

to

corps, and

common

enemy,

good thingsof the earth,in

virtue of his superiorphysicaland intellectual power,
in order to lay siege to and
him, and so get
conquer
possessionof him and a share of those good things.
man,

who

"

all the

possesses

"

To

end

this

the

the

to
man

every

with

is made
a

be

may

ally himself
is

except

man

because

one

true

of

the

to do

who

has

anything

lost her
to

more

the

plague.

who

breaks

false to the

The
the
terms

so

same

she

with

is cast
No

vision
proThis

race.

which

the

female

man

shame
will

woman

in

race,
woman

every

with

out

as

have

is avoided

is awarded
tie ; for

commits

girlwho

her ; she

doom

marriage
upon

and

be obtained

Any

honour.

do

that

only by a
rule ; and, accordingly,
women
sisting
espritde corps in carefullyincan

betrays the whole

would
be destroyedif

likewise

order

arrangement

rule

its welfare

give

to surrender

of the female

whole

its maintenance.

upon
breach

marriage, in
this

upon

should

woman

by

woman

of the

show

no

were,

result,however, which

everywhere

were

in

depends

women

forced,as it

for the

strict observance

all

of the rule that

enforcement

herself

of

honour

to
so

like

woman

doing she is
capitulated
;

"2

TfiE

and

WISDOM

conduct

her

OF

frighten other men

from making a similar surrender, it imperilsthe welfare
of all her sisters.
Nay more
; this deceptionand
breach
of troth is a crime
coarse
punishable by the
loss,not only of personal,but also of civic honour.
This is why we
minimise
the shame
of a girl,
but not
of a wife ; because, in the former
case, marriage can
as

honour, while

restore

be made

this

espritde
of

foundation

wholesome,
of

matter

not

value.

It is

of

aims
this

and

will be

women

anything
and

existence

view, there

forced

of

will

be

leave

carry

of

forgetthe
just what
while

the

other

kind.

value

is

the

truth
One

is that

might

Lucretia

the
a

or

Galotti,for instance, makes

completelyill at

value

in

applaud
a

In

easilydegenerate into
terrible feeling
of revulsion.

sympathy with
principleof female
end in thinking of
people often do;

suggests that

relative

can

of

go

the
for

and

"

such

when

To
is to

this

is

exaggeration

honour

as

vent
pre-

far

is absolute

relative

far

the

on

cannot

too

means

more

purely conventional,

and,

Egmont.

honour

so

honour

sexual

it is

ease

Clara in

certain
this

at bottom

as

life itself.

conduct

hand, all the rules of female

other

importance
recognised. But

above
to

of Emilia

the theatre

be

to

seen

than

nothing

"

one

to be the

extreme

more

valued

extravagant

conclusion

can

end, lying beyond all other

which
Virginius conduct
tragicfarce, and produce
The

is

interest,its

absolute

no

and

arrangement,

and

possess

atonement

acknowledged

honour,

prudence

it does

is

corps

necessa^

for the welfare

latter,no

of contract.

female

nay,

to

as

in the

for the breach

Once

is such

LIFE.

to
one

than

say
sees

any

that

its

from

84

THE

Government

the

view
not

she

under

the

fact that

sacrifices which

who

and

but

the

have

is shown

been

against her whole sex

only secretlytaken
And

since, in

most

immediately,her

most

loves
in

honour

bloody

many

it, the murder

to

"

No

doubt

breach

this faith is

granted, and
her

And

female

the

by

commits

cases,

honour
who

man

suicide.

; but

for

sexual

marry.

offered

code

the

cannot

her

principleof

mother's

the

contravenes

her

point of
and
does
exceptional position,

originin nature,

of children

From

country.

she loves

whom

general,the
no

LIFE.

OF

ordinary rules of
merely given herself to a

has

her, and

has

of the

occupies an

come

for she

WISDOM

of faith
which

one

not

is
to.

sworn

prospects

own

girl

suffer

follyis infinitely
greater

than

crime.

The
the

corresponding
I have

one

corps, which

been

demands

to his

of

terms

that

the

in

treaty

agreement

is

men

that, once

marriage
he

conqueror,

the

in

is

discussing. It

of himself

surrender

virtue

which

is

shall take

itself may

lose

made

has

man

maintained;

are

product of
their espritde
a

that

tageous
advan-

so

that

care

both

in

the

order

of its force

none

permissionof any laxityin its observance, and

that men,
having given up everything,may, at least,
of their bargain,namely, exclusive
be assured
sion.
possesto
Accordingly, it is part of a man's honour

by

the

resent

wife, and
from

her.

If he

shame

not

nearly so
honour

marriage

punish it,at

to

cry

her

of the

breach

upon

foul

; the

the

condones
him
as

; but

that

stain

is

tie

very

the

on

least

part

of his

by separating

offence,his fellow-men

the

shame

of the

woman

by

the

no

means

in

this

has

who
of

so

is

case

lost

deep

85

HONOUR.

dye
to

levioris notae

"

is subordinate

woman

important
the

and

times
of

theme

to

agravio

his

demands
her

the

too, is

the

view

The

kind

hitherto

work

medico

in El

de

secreto

Insult

Secret

only ;

honour

punish

to

of

supererogation. This
taken, that a man's honour
I have

which

existed

always

Othello

in

corps.

of honour

has

honour

said,however, that

I have

originatesin espritde

man's

Secret

of the wife

punishment

paramour

confirms

be

more

dramatic

Honour), and

(for

venganza,

It should

Vengeance).

and

great

taken

Calderon

relation

man's

plays ; Shakespeare

Tale, and

secreta

two

each

honra, (the Physician of

su

other

many

The

have

two

Winters

The

because

"

affairs in his life.

modern

poets of
as

macula;

in

been

its various

discussing
forms

and

and
all times ;
at
principlesamongst all nations
although the historyof female honour shows that its
have
principles
undergone certain local modifications
at different periods. But
there is another
speciesof
honour

which

honour

of

differs from

which

and

up

the
to

amongst Chinese,
kind

of honour

Greeks

this

entirely,a species of

and

day

Hindoos

which

this

or

it is

Romans

had

no

perfectlyunknown
It is

Mohammedans.

only

ception,
con-

in

the

Middle

Age,
and is indigenousonly to Christian
Europe, nay, only
to an
extremely small portion of the population,that
is to say, the higher classes of societyand
those
who
It is knightly honour, or point d'honneur.
ape them.
Its principlesare
quite different from those which
I have
underlie
of honour
the kind
been
treating
until now,
and in some
opposed to
respects are even
The
I am
them.
sort
referring to produces the
arose

86

THE

cavalier; while
honour.

As

WISDOM

the

other
I

is so,

this

LIFE.

OF

the

kind

creates

shall

proceed

as
a
explanation of its principles,
of knightly courtesy.
mirror
(1.)To begin with, honour of this

give

to

kind

of

man

of

code

an
or

consists,not

sort

people'sopinion of what we are worth, but

wholty and entirelyin whether
they express it or not,
whether
matter
no
they reallyhave any opinion at all,
in other

let alone

whether

Other

one.

people

of

us

in consequence

us

as

much

like ;

give expression to

his

untarnished.

our

the
no

if

So

long as
opinion,our

how

wicked

or

nay,

gone

for ever,

superfluous proof

knightly honour
but

unless

what

upon

insults

be

can

of

as

soon

honour

can

remains

manage
say,

upon

what

furnished

as

by

anyone,

be, utters

may

or,

to

qualitiescompel
people,and they have

what

they say, is
withdrawn,

honour

our

depends, not

dares

one

he

we

may

no

foolish
us,

opinion
despise

and

actions

"

matter

having

worst

do, and

we

so

something depreciatoryof
A

the

highest respect from other

option but to give this respect,

no

for

reasons

entertain

may

of what

they

as

of

know

they

is

offended,

to restore

it.

namely, that
peoplethink,
the fact

if necessary,

form

that
the

them
as
subject of an apology,which makes
though
been
uttered.
Whether
the opinion
they had never
which
underlay the expressionhas also been rectified,
and why the expression should
have
been
ever
used,
are
are
questions which
perfectly unimportant : so
is withdrawn, all is well.
The
long as the statement
truth

is that

respect,but

(2.)In

conduct
at

the

of this kind

extortingit.
second
place,this

aims,

sort

of

not

at

honour

earning
rests,

8t

HONOUR.

not

what

on

obstacles

which

he

who

and

all

His

honour

can

talk it away

back

the

again by
a

it,in

whole

the

that

moment
at all who

short, of

who

fellow

not

be

the

tongue.

His

against the

people of

all.

of

tastes

What

ne'er-do-well.

against

readier

can

the

or

in

man,

of

sort

Seneca1

De

be

his

directed

described,because
be

apt to

raise the secret

is

Goethe

enemies;
1

is with

never

quite true, that

your

he

likely to
I have

man

of

is

honour

rascal

usually this
people ; for, as

most

are

kind

different

Divan

be

anyone

It is

is, the

man

merit

ostlicher

worthless

most

sight of pre-eminent
a

the

"

insults

very

with

quisque contemtissimus et ludibrio

linguceest the more
contemptible

ut

accordance

his spiritmay
principles,

insult

to

est,ita soLutissimce
ridiculous

in

life,

mind.

idler,gambler, debtor, a
at

likes

rightlyremarks,

be

his

to

of

peace

it
sently,
pre-

pleased to insult him,

offended
againstthis code of

account

no

danger

"

wrest

is

stupid beast, an

most

and

mention

breathed, his intellect of the very

yet bis honour
disappearthe
may

anyone

himself, let him

for ever,

I shall

and

every

tongue

which

noble

ever

has

of his

it is gone

involves

says

of

mercy

tip

what

man

to

may

; and

highest order

in

manages

conduct

purest that

honour

is attacked

property

righteousand

most

the

moment

which

process

suffers,the

another

the

at

on

process

health, freedom,
man's

is thus

who

man

he

himself, but in what

if he attacks

unless

what

on

differingfrom the
not
else,in consisting,

encounters

does

or

does.

man

does, but

man

prevailsin

he says
or

friends,and the

says

in

the

it is useless

for

Constant", 11.

they

can

to

ire

Westplain
comnever

88

WlSfcOM

THE

become

friends,if

your

reproach

to them

Uagst

Denen
Im

of

that

in every

other

bad

example, some
as

respect

on

far

of

law

man

who

honourable
insult
earth

with

the

insulted

remains

insult

the

"

honourable

to do

him, and

it may
may

This
to the

with

be, refuse

be

the
1

wise

who

C. G.

so

go

the

of

eyes

was

had

any

may,

not

the

to prove

had

to

Wachter's

especiallythe chapter

on

the
on

up

believe.

have

like

him

into

in the Middle

who
von

people will
treat

term,

all

nothing
leper,and,
where

company

he

on,

proceeding

fact that

accused
See

to

found, and

century, it
process

words, the

other

in

"

technical

Accordingly,all
more

In

at

which

judgment

"

was

"

him, for

to

who
uttered
the man
people what
the greatest wretch
though he were
pleased to call him ; for he has put

even

"

If

if it is not

; nay,

holds

is

them.

above

attribute

one,

wiped out in blood, it is

good and valid to all time.

once

stand

any

all the force

with

were,

thankful

be

description
to the principle
level with people

quality,this is taken prima facie

opinion,true in fact ; a decree, as it

well-founded

ist ?

of this worthless

puts them

fellow likes to insult

bist,

eivigerVwwurf

to

it

du

wie

people

cause

Freunde

je werden

Wewn,

das

honour, because

who

standing

Feinde

uber

du

stillen ein

good

being is

"

Sottten Solche

have

whole

your

Was

It is obvious

LIFE.

OF

think, be

Age,

in

accuser

the

guiltof

prove

law.

back

to the

fifteenth

any

criminal

the

accused, but

his innocence.1

Beitrage zur

criminal

up

traced

deutschen

This

Geschichte,

89

HONOUR.

do

he could
backers

consacramentales

"

he could

find
took

accuser

to trial

had
meant

the accused

For

to clear himself.

and

had

the

notion

of

was

Here, then,
of

disgrace,and

in

now

swear

disgrace,1

is the

that

whole

originof
system

honourable

prevailsnow-a-days amongst

which

and

come

was
objectionto his backers, recourse
by the Judgment of God, which generally

duel.

to

his

and

was

to

one

no

had

"

guilty;

not

was

incapableof perjury. If
help him in this way, or the

opinion he

in their

that

he

by swearing

people,

This
is also the
only that the oath is omitted.
explanationof that deep feelingof indignationwhich
honourable
people are called upon to show if they are
they say must
given the lie ; it is a reproach which
"

be

wiped

in

; but

superstitionwhich
matter

for
The

of

order, a

fact

who

man

of

also admitted

very

deep

have

form.

As

root.

told

one

himself.

Middle

In
a

to kill another

trial of the

is

rence
occur-

elsewhere, it is

threatens

That

answered:

the accused

common

than

never

shorter

this

to

comes

of

are

the criminal

is,that

seldom

taken

has

lie should

tellinga

It

though lies
England, more

however,

pass,

blood.

in

out

reply to the
lie',
whereupon

Age
charge,
it

was

Hence,
by the Judgment of God.
the code of knightly honour
prescribesthat, when the
follows
of
matter
lie is given,an
as
a
appeal to arms
So much, then, for the theory of insult.
course.
left to

But

be

decided

is

there

Note.

Translator's

another

and

Chivalry,but
for the

German

something
It

special meaning
it is the nearest
"

is

even

true

in

the

worse

that

this

technical

than

expression has
terminology

English equivalent which

ein Bescholtener.

insult,

can

of

find

90

THE

something
honourable
this

dreadful

so

of it

the

"

will

may

give another

This

is such

death

awful

an

honour, that, while

mentioning it in
I know
they will

as

for

end,

on

the very

at

malum, the greatest evil

and

horribile

"

of all

beg pardon

stand

summum

than

earth, worse

damnation.

dictu!

thing,and
other

any

slap or

"

man

blow.

utterlyfatal to all
speciesof insult may be
be cured only by the
can

this
by blood-letting,

healed

LIFE.

I must

that

their hair

shiver, and

on

OF

people for so much

of "knightlyhonour
;

code

thought

WISDOM

so

coup- de- grace.

(3.) In

absolutelynothing
for himself

and

his moral
ail

and

happens
can

place,this

third

the

to do

attacked,

be restored

soon

in

in

has

or

safer way

honour, whether
words.

If

you

your

opponent

This

will restore

But

if you

fear of any

on

wish

its

having

the
your

If

whether

or

worse,

honour

your

in

armed, you

spot,or perhaps

or

strike

can
an

does
of

against

attack

blows,

one

code

offended
any

are

you

the

to

recognisethe

meeting

it

gone,

entiretyif

once

has
be in

if the aggressor

But

it consists
are

may

recourse

himself
of

man

all appearances

classes which

belong to the
knightly honour,
not

in

duel.

"

is

to

honour

better

to be

or

of

question

pedantic inquiries.

only quick enough

universal
a
remedy

your

the

become

ever

can

such

very

it,there

what

again, with

; or,

character

with

kind

hour

upon

merely
down

later.

honour.

to avoid

such

an

extreme

step,from

unpleasantconsequences
arisingtherefrom,
is
the aggressor
from
or
uncertainty as to whether
subjectto the laws of knightly honour or not, there is
of making your positiongood, namely,
another
means

92

THE

at

can

we

his

annul

once

in

shallowness, and

turn

our

own
superiorityand our
be superior to him, by

being insultingand

offensive.

than

; it

argument

any

does

opponent

our

and

will not
into

us

For

rudeness

totallyeclipsesintellect.
for

care

mode

our

of

honour

and

victors

and

retreat

If

attack,

rudely,so as to plunge
ignoble rivalry of the Avantage, we
is

on

side.

our

knowledge, understanding, intellect,wit,

a

is better

still more

answer

the

the

are

not

LIFE.

OF

WISDOM

field

the

leave

beat

must

this

to

Truth,

almighty

insolence.

Honourable

their war-horse, if anyone

mounting
adverse

theirs,or shows

to

; and

muster

can

loss for

people immediately

if in

any

reply,they

look

rudeness, which
hand

; so

they

will

retire masters

be obvious

now

this
tone
which

of

serve

that

society.
forms

the

honour

show

utters

an

of

opinion

than they
intelligence
at
controversy they are

more

for

about
well

as

and

some

of

weapon

come

readier

to

position. It must
quiteright in applauding

of the

people are

principleof

make

as

having

ennobled

This

principlespringsfrom

heart

and

soul of the entire

the

another,
code.

impliesthat the highest court

to which
can
a man
appeal in any differences he may
is the court
have with
another
on
a
point of honour
of physicalforce,that is,of brutality. Every piece of
rudeness
is,strictlyspeaking,an appeal to brutality;
for it is a declaration
that intellectual
strength and
moral
insight are incompetent to decide, and that the
be
battle must
fought out by physical force
a
of man,
Franklin
whom
struggle which, in the case
defines as a tool-making animal, is decided by the
(5.) Fifthly,the

code

"

93

HONOUR.

the

peculiarto

weapons

irrevocable.

rightof might irony, of

The

parallelphrase.

honour

glory of might.

called the

(6.)Lastly,if,as
scrupulous in the

we

above, civic honour

saw

of

matter

code

and

meum

great respect to obligationsand

the

is

principleof the
like the wit of a fool,
of a knight may
be

course,

"

decision

well-known

is the

This

the

and

species;

tuwn, paying

promise

is very

made,

once

here

discussingdisplays,on the other

is only one
hand, the noblest liberality. There
word
which
be broken, the word
not
of honour
may
upon
the presumption being,of
honour, as people say
my
we

are

"

"

that every

course,

Nay,

if the worst

duel, and

alone, that

unpaid
called

like;

still remain

that

universal
who

remedy,
that

the
we

debt, and

one

circumstances

no

able
honour-

maintain
is

to break

be

must

left

gambling debt, which has accordinglybeen

debt of honour.
In all other kinds of debt you
a

"

cheat

may

under

be broken.

may

worst, it is easy

Further, there

word.

our

promise

and

those

fighting with

pledged
one

honour,

again by adopting

"

of

to the

comes

of

word

one's

even

other form

and

Jews

and

Christians

knightly

honour

unprejudiced reader

will

your

are

much

remains

as

you

without

stain.

The
a

strange,

this

has

warrant

savage

foundation

no

in

and

healthy

see

ridiculous
in
view

at

code

human
of

human

once

of

nature,

that
honour
nor

affairs.

such
as

any

The

extremely narrow
sphere of its operation serves
only
is exclusively confined
which
to intensifythe feeling,
to Europe since the Middle
Age, and then only to the
classes,officers and soldiers, and people who
upper

D4

THE

imitate

the

nor

Neither

them.
this

of

anything

recognised but
of which

that

actions, not

what

did

might perhaps

him.

man's,
horse

or

which

under

angry

and

nothing
blows
was

or

Asia, ancient
kind

discussed

of

To

them,

honour

certain

circumstances

or

honour.

personalbravery

omitted
and

harder

give a

immediate

with

but

was

could

insultingwords,

demanded

blow

or

might

vengeance

No
of

one

the

to be

contempt

of

is

to be

by his
pleased to
said

honour, but

own

donkey

demand

to do

affect his

or

first,in virtue

himself

he shows

knew

principles
;

wagging tongue is
They thought that what a man

of

any

its

any

say

other

of

other

no

which

is what

man

of

or

nations

them

Romans

nor

of honour

code

Amongst

LIFE.

OF

Greeks

civilised

highly

modern.

WISDOM

not

blow

one

"

make
;

but

any
and

"

a
a

or

blow
man

it had

of
kept account
which
satisfaction

demanded.

Yet

in

death, the ancients

of Christian
not inferior to the nations
certainly
wero
thorough
Europe, The Greeks and Romans
nothing about
heroes, if you like but they knew
If they had
point d'honneur.
any idea of a duel, it
with
the life of the nobles ;
was
totallyunconnected
it was
merely the exhibition of mercenary gladiators,
slaves
devoted
to
criminals,
slaughter,condemned
set to butcher
who, alternatelywith wild beasts, were
tianity
Chrisanother
to make
one
a Roman
holiday, When
done
shows
was
introduced, gladiatorial
were
with, and their place taken, in Christian times,
away
of settlingdifficulties
was
a way
by the duel, which
If the gladiatorial
fightwas
by the Judgment of God.
for great
cruel sacrifice to the prevailing desire
a
duellingis a cruel sacrifice to existingprespectacles,
were

"

95

HONOUR.

"

the

ancients

from

these

the
a

he

time

round

that

might

raised

stick

reader

be, if he

must

have

no

officers refused

in

that

we

writer

Demosthenes
a

of

who
a

of

smile

pity ;

him

serve

his

the

to

find

Athenian

longer

There
if

is

had

no

considers

anyone

honour, his ignorance will

and
In

Cicero

that

certain

not

was

of

with

such

matters.

were

often

followed

will

Translator's
no

doubt

wear

feelingof

any

Socrates'

by

Note.
a

These
belated

hardly yet antiquated

are
2

Soirees

Bk.

IX.

litteraires

par

his

for most

cite
exman

Plato's
or

cu/ao,

ancients

in connection

honour

frequent

discussions

being severely handled,

and
look

in

passage

the

notion

under

modern

philosopher speaks at length of

assault,showing us clearly enough that the
Laws?

sword,

sorry

the

any

that

of

upon
; where-

man,

that

The-

command

How

me.

like that!

of

either!2

honour

to

declares

man

in

honourable

an

body

life of

drawing

information

Themistocks, if he acted
French

of

; at

gladiator for

strike

to

turned
re-

were

himself

his

in
was

hear

is

chief

hang

relates

Strike, but

said:

chief,he

veteran

Themistocles, instead

simply

instance, Marius

that, if the

him

his

entirelyfree

were

and

of

character

Teutonic

Eurybiades, who

fleet,once

the

for

go

Plutarch

in

they

effect

offered

two.

or

mistocles
the

life,he

his

same

traits

and

free.1

the

that

the

to

answer

tired of

and

prejudices. When,
to a duel
by a

summoned

was

show

which

criminals, slaves

of

judices a sacrifice, not

but of the noble
prisoners,
There
are
a great many

other
to

remarks

English

readers

parts of the

C. Durand.

Rouen,

duelling

on

; but

Continent.
1828.

they

96

THE

and

he

bore

it all

him, the

surprisedone
Socrates, that if an

think,said
should

asked, Has

was

his

was

me.2

treated

On

that

not

lias

from

than

that

the

on

law

Socrates'

seen

the

in

Lucius

Veratius, who

Roman

citizens

ulterior

any

and

long

had
he

the

law

provided,

Greek

bag of small money,

legalpenalty to the

faction
satis-

and

wise
box

Gorgias,

the

on

told
the

on

whom

men

to

of

the aid of

The

the

where

thing

same

given by Gellius of one

the audacity to give some

he

and

he

from

received

by

me,

ancients

form

Plato's

met

consequences,

you

addressed

road

provocationwhatever;

any

Do

passage

other

found.

account

he

insulted you

how

see

which

friends.

satisfaction

be

whom

the ear, without

If

from

may

with

is not

no

the

get

instance, when

happened to kick
occasion,when

says

can

knew

evident

opinion

be

we

this.

could

is

as

may

he

ear,

he

which

people despisedeven

his

ass

preserved

They

for

fellow abused

which

insults.

of

another

what

answer,

Stobaeus

Musonius,

it ?

resent

LIFE.

patience

the insult

took

No,

OF

mildly. Once,

kicked

somebody

WISDOM

slave

had

box

on

but to avoid

spot paid
he

to

bring

the trivial

astonished

by

his conduct.

Crates, the
a

box

his

on

face

the

celebrated

Cynic philosopher,got

from

the

ear

swelled

up

Nicodromus,
and

became

such

musician, that

black

and

blue;

whereupon he put a label on his forehead, with the

Nicodromus
fecit,which
brought much
inscription,
had committed
such
disgrace to the fluteplayerwho
all Athens
whom
a piece of
brutalityupon the man
1

Diogenes Laertius,ii.,21.

Ibid 36.

97

HONOUR.

honoured

as

household

And

god.1

in

letter

to

Melesippus,Diogenes of Sinope tells us that he got a

of the Athenians
sons
beating from the drunken
; but
he adds that it was
of no importance.2 And
a matter
ConSeneca
devotes
the last few chapters of his De
insult
stantia to a lengthy discussion
on
contumelia;
"

in order

of it.

to show

In

i"

some

the

avenge

given

the

mouth

the

"

notice

no

shall
Cato

What

return

even

take

What

says,

blow ?

on

insult,or

will

man

he

struolc him

one

wise

XIV.

Chapter

do, if he

man

that

wise

did, when

fire up or
blow, but simply
not

ignore it.
say, but these

Yes, you
are

you

fools,eh

the

whole

code

to the

ancients

utterlyunknown
that

reason

themselves

of

be influenced

to

folly.

and

nothing

whereas
theme

the
for

in

class

The

life,called

should

have

member

been

of the

on

the

to

the

the way

ear,

as,

National

it would

other.

The

in which

for

Power
The

entitled

an

Diogenes Laertius, vi. 87,

Cf. Casaubon's

Note,

ad

vicious

and

to them

was

comedy

of

at Paris

from
which

occurrence

allow

not

of

middle-

of Circumstance, which
Power
of Prejudice. If

examples

such

face

judiced
unpre-

instance, in the Cid

Assembly

resound

and

did

such

simple

physical injury ;
catastrophe out of it,a

German

recent

; for the

trivial

make

tragedy ;

Corneille,or

And

honour

knightly

natural

any

the

in

more,

moderns

by

blow

of

affairs,and

human

abominable
blow

took

they always

view

"

Precisely.

It is clear that
was

philosophers.

were

men

and

got

end

one

Apul: Flor:

Diog. Laert.,vi.

33.

blow

of

have

would

Europe
given of

have
p. 126.

been

98

WISDOM

THE

treated

in

honourable

people;

notice, as

It is

let

of

ideas

the

recommend

me

their

to

story of Monsieur

antidote, the

Diderot's

in

suit

not

may

so

of

kind

Desglands
liste.

times

classic

LIFE.

OF

le

masterpiece,Jacques

fata-

knightly
specimen of modern
doubt, they will find enjoyable and

excellent

an

honour, which,

no

edifying.1
I have

what

From

said

be

it must

principleof knightly honour

spontaneous origin in human

has

that the
and

from

evident

essential

no

It is

nature.

hard

is not

product, and its source

existence
obviously dates

artificial
Its

quite

the

an

find.

to

when

time

their heads, when

than
people used their fists more
the human
intellect,the
priestcrafthad enchained
much
bepraised Middle
Age, with its system of
when
the time
people let the
chivalry. That was

is

refers
named

at table

sat

his best

to hear

not

of

agony

side

her

with

him, and

his

his

whispered
right

size

another

of

the

duel

plaster a
every
rival

duel
was

plaster.
Desglands

little smaller

the

his rival
his

drew

; and

blood
so

on

take

rival.
fresh

and
his

it

as

large piece of

In

When

at his

raise

him

duel

rival

tended
pre-

In

egg

in his

glands
Des-

hand,

given.
black

which

followed,
he

again

for five

or

less and

less,until

The

ing-plaster
stick-

reduced

recovered, they

again, and

the

its contents

which

; upon

she

; but

broke,

Sir, I

cheek.

Desglands' plastergrew
killed.

shell

with

As

lady opposite,Desglands

holding

was

Seeing

Desglands severely wounded

the

he

was

lady.

same

conversation

it ; the

day Desglands appeared

upon

his

as

rival's face.

it arid

seized

the

of whom

one

the

to

kept looking

jealousy,Desglands,

bespattered

court

here

Schopenhauer

gentlemen,

by side, with

hand, involuntarilycrushed

next

Two

which

to

story

paying

were

charm

to

The

follows

brieflyas

Desglands,

they
did

Note.

Translator's

six times.

made

had
his

After

at last his

100

hand

your

kernel

civic honour

aims

of

and

that

down

we

other

is this

we

integrity,the
perhaps,be
nature, where

civilised
of

person

of

watch-towers

respect
hand,

mined
being deter-

placed

essential

more

would

livingin

were

human

upon

to

not,
state

have

to

own

rights.

But

in

State

and

property, the principleis

the

undertakes

stands, like
age

when

the

the

might

of

self
protect him-

the

it

longer applicable:

deserve

we

other

confidence

his

sists
con-

own.

it is

would

man

every

life,where
our

be

we

directlymaintain

and

our

can

if

the

on

feared, as

invite

to

false one,

be

principlethat

than

fear

arouse

whereas

unconditional

pay

to

are

reliance

much

not

it rise.

that

people

to maintain

at all costs

make

so

matter

rights; knightly honour,

to their

by holding

room

peaceable intercourse,and

at

opinion of
because
full confidence,

As

of your

the

the

in

LIFE.

the thermometer

on

fact, the

lays

OF

the warmth

to prove

were

you

In

WISDOM

THE

tion
protec-

castles

no

and

right, a

was

object,amidst well-tilled fields and

railways.
frequented roads, or even
Accordingly, the application of knightly honour,
useless

and

forlorn

which

still

recognisesthis principle,is
of personalassault which
cases

those
but
even

small

slightpunishment
at

none

wrongs,

the

at

all,for de minimis

committed

sometimes

hands

of

non,

only

in

"

confined

with

meet
the

law,

or

trivial

mere

jest.

to

The

sequence
con-

applicationof the principleis

itself into an
has forced
exaggerated respect
value of the person,
a respect utterly alien to
of this limited

that

it

for the

"

destiny of man
speciesof sanctity: and

the nature, constitution

has

elevated

into

or

"

which
as

it

it
con-

101

HONOUR.

siders that

the

penalty on

the commission

takes

State

itself to

upon

in life

aggressor

has

imposed
of such

it
injuries,
by attacking the
thing manifestly

whole

The

insufficient

very

trivial

them

punish

limb.

or

degree of arrogant pride,

man
which, completely forgetting what
really is,
all attack
claims that he shall be absolutelyfree from
rests

Those

censure.

even

or

excessive

an

upon

this

principleby

rule

of

determine

who

main

force,and

action, whoever

insults

to

strikes

their

as

announce,

or

out

carry

shall

me

die !

pains to be banished the country.1

As a palliativeto this rash arrogance,
people are
in the habit
of giving way
on
everything. If two
intrepidpersons meet, and neither will give way, the
for their

ought

not

Knightly

pride, which

remarkable

is the

honour

the

adherents

nobleman
learned

any

attack

regard his

to

it, or

upon

army,

with

upper

the

them,

duels

the

were

the

them

but

principle of
to

Christendom

honour

not

the
:

now,

the

they

be

and

kind

the

behind

man

who

may
ancient

as

later

in

times;

and

offence

an

and

on,

of

also to

ship
relation-

incorporated

the

latter

that

are

not

application of

recognised

found

judge,

It is true

and

to

every

honour

Ordeals, however,
be

found

inviolable,and

them.

consequence

very

down

human

never

; but

need,

teaches

of off-and-on

were

made

no

nobles, and,

ordeals

old

the

divine.

Hindoos, especiallyof
even

to

of the

which

principleof knightly
to

be

put

insultingword,

or

classes,though they

rather

be

not

must

sacred

as

should

religionwhich

recognised

who, enjoying

product

foundation,

to

The

anxious

were

judge appealed
the

the

pride

it is

It is

race.

system,

who

blow

at first confined

was

officers in the

with

feudal

person

any

death.

punishable by
duel

the

petty sovereign

and

the

of

this pride
deepest humility. Still,

religion,but, rather, to

the

of

folly,and

human

form

this extreme
the

exclusivelyamongst

pride and

heritage of the

is the

fact that

child of

human

110

not

are

great

force

there

are

liar
pecuamong

traces

of

102

WISDOM

THE

OF

LIFE.

of abuse, then
difference may
a shower
cause
slightest
fatal blow : so that it would
fisticuffs,
a
and, finally,
decorous
really be a more
proceeding to omit the
intermediate

appeal to
have

these

and

together forming the most

regulations,
solemn
farce there
is, a regular temple of honour
if two
pute
dedicated
to folly! For
intrepidpersons distrivial matter, (more important affairs
some
over
of them, the cleverer of the
dealt with by law),one
are
two, will of course
yield;and they will agree to differ.
this is so is proved by the fact that common
That
classes of the community
people, or, rather, the numerous
do
who
not
acknowledge the principle of
its natural
knightly honour, let any dispute run
is a hundredfold
course.
Amongst these classes homicide
and
those
than
rarer
they amount, perhaps,
among
in all,to hardly one
who
in a thousand,
pay
of no
blows
are
homage to the principle: and even
very frequent occurrence.
of

laws

An
at once.
appeal to arms
has its own
arms
specialformalities ; and
developed into a rigid and precise system

steps

and

"

"

"

"

Then

it has

said that

been

of honour, which, with

a

bulwark

rudeness.

Athens,

assuredly boast
and
from
that

the

ancient

Corinth

of

and

out

and

savagery
Rome

could

good, nay, excellent society,and

of a high order, without
tone
port
any supIt is true
bogey of knightly honour.
not

occupy

societywhich

they

has taken

principle

of duels,is made

assaults

of

tone

of

did

women

this

upon

system

against the

But

manners

its

and

manners

ultimatelybased

good societyare
to be

the

on

that
hold

frivolous and

prominent place in

now,

when

tion
conversa-

character
trifling

to

103

HONOUR.

of

exclusion

the

the
contributed

that

deal

subordinate

very

of

mark

possessionof
personal courage

virtue, merely the

certainly

"

other

any
is

reallya

distinguishing

"

subaltern,

tinguishe
dis-

bring about the tendency,

good societynow-a-days, to

fact is that

The

has

change

to the

preferpersonalcourage
quality.

which

to

in

is observable

which

This

ancients.

great

discourse

weighty

virtue, indeed, in which

we

surpassedby the lower animals; or else you would

not. hear
people say, as brave as a lion. Far from
affords a
knightly honour
being the pillarof society,
asylum, in general for dishonesty and wickedness,
sure
are

small

for

also

and

want
incivilities,

Rude

unmannerliness.

and

in silence because

over

no

of

behaviour
one

consideration
is often

to risk

cares

passed

his neck

in

correctingit.
that
of

I have

what

After

said,it will

duellingsystem is carried
sanguinary zeal preciselyin
financial

records

What

honourable.

that

show

that

strange

appear

to the

the

and
political
too

not

highestpitch

nation

that

they
is

nation

whose
not

are

like

its

in

privateand domestic life,is a question which may be

best put to those who
are
experienced in the matter.
Their urbanity and social culture have
spicuous
long been conby
is

There
be
a

their
no

absence.

truth, then,

in

such

justicethat
urged with more
dog, he snarls in return, and

fawns

so

it

lies

in

the

pretexts.

as, when

when

nature

of

men

and
to be embittered
by hostility,
hostility
at any signsof depreciatorytreatment

and,

as

Cicero

says, there

is

can

snarl

you

you

It

pet him,

he

return

to
and
or

at

tated
irri-

hatred:

somethingso penetrating

104

THE

in the

that

shaftof envy

its wound

find

WISDOM

even

world, except, perhaps,in

insult

or

natural

view

and

would

the

proper

lying or
theory of
of the

of either

would

age

of

that, the
and

it

and

for insults

hastens

to

will

does

much

thing
any-

not

and

opinion

that
treat

prevent

the

take

a
own

to insult ; but

it,a little shrewdness

and

could only get rid of this

and

he

than

has

tempt,
con-

theory of
susceptibility
vengeance

man

must

self
him-

his

own

worth

who

an

unfavourable

eye.

value

will make

if he cannot
culture

done

it with

black

dissemble

real

some

bloody

of

utterance

slander

The

so.

show

of

is

perfectlybaseless

feel.

cannot

poor

appearances

is

shall

possess,
he

of

fact

offence

greater

quite sure

he

The

it.

not

vocates
the ad-

as

greater the

reproach may
safe in doing

that

and

anger,

duty

to

be

which

by
and

which

is

who

reallyindifferent

save

demand

case

slightesthint

opinion by giving his enemy

True
appreciationof his

to

no

to attach

accusation

deserve

but

have

in

honour

the

give

demands
he

which

religioussects, is an
equanimity. And
yet a

truth, the

that

will

man

to

honour

the

greater

terrible

nothing

few

is dictated

chivalry seek

is clear

that

insult

an

delinquency
most

in the

nowhere

obligation of

such

any

worth

and

requitalproportionateto the offence,

never
go the length of assigningdeath as
of
who
another
accuses
penalty for anyone
The
old German
stupidity or cowardice.
blood for a blow
is a revolting superstition
of chivalr3r. And
in any case
the return

requitalof

by

so

with

and

one;

taken

than

more

or

blow

of wisdom

men

painful

LIFE.

OF

man

ing
help resent-

will enable

his anger.

about
superstition

him

If

honour"

we

105

HONOUR.

idea, I

the

and

disappearswhen you
restored
by returning the
it

that

mean,

be

can

sulted,
in-

are

insult ;

only stop people from thinking that wrong,

brutalityand insolence can be legalisedby expressing
that is,to fight in defence
readiness
to give satisfaction,
if

could

we

of

should

it,we

insult and

opinion that

the loser wins

which

resembles

abuse

all

the

to

come

like

depreciationare

that,as Vincenzo

; and

general
battle in

Monti

because
-procession,

church

soon

it

says,

always

it set out.
If we
point from which
insult in this light,
could only get people to look upon
should
no
we
longer have to say something rude in
in the right. Now,
order to prove
that we
are
fortunately,
un-

returns

to

the

if

take

to

want

we

serious

view

of any

it
question,we have first of all to consider whether
will not
other
to the
or
give offence in some
way
alarm
and resentment
at
dullard, who generallyshows
it may
and
the merest
easily
sign of intelligence:
contains
the intelligent
happen that the head which
view

has

to

of

empty

like

"

to

were

take

could

but

This

would

courtesy

anyone

and

narrowness

pave

and

and

the natural

the best kind

the less for

reason

of

withdrawing

for the

the way

effect of such

people would
from

wants

in
to

Athens,
see

society.

introduction

genuinely good society,such

existed
If

is

occupied,though people do not

of physique, mere
it, by excellence

fightingpluck, in fact :
be that
a change would
one

which

place now

confess

have

noddle

stupidity.
done
with, intellectual superiority
away
the leading place in societywhich
is

everything

If all this

its due

pitted against the

be

Corinth

of real
as

and

good example

doubtedly
un-

Rome.
of

what

106

THE

should

mean,

WISDOM

OF

like

LIFE.

him

read

to

Xenophon's

Banquet
The

last

doubt

no

awful

is,that, but

for

would

be

thought
I

which

!
"

of

code

the

parties. But
closely.

more

often

I have

tried

rate, plausiblebasis
one

rooted

conviction
that

rational

was

The

is to

death

to

dreadful
in

the

the

as

he

blow

of

to think

bottom

knight

from

no

of
may

his horse, will

in

away

for

say,

the

tains,
enter-

but

animal

I have

in the

or

is,and always

get

assure

human

mischief.
cuts

you

give

and
that

And
thrusts

yet
from

his wounds

than
enemy

the human
ten

times

the assurance,

you

hand

can

further.

no

gets a

whatever.

it is the

the

he

his

suppressed pain, that

consequence

that

still

any

one
man
physical injury which
proving, thereby, nothing more

greatest of evils,if

limps

matter

at

conventional

thing ;

A blow

nature.

argument

mankind

portion of

blow

the

this

merely

cognise
re-

amongst

superiorityin strength or skill,or that

off his guard. Analysis will carry
us
same
knight who regards a blow from

harder

and

very

To

not

trivial

another

hand

as

side of human

will be, a

his

is

blow

do

tenable, or

some

that

for it in vain, either

looked

do to

which

"

and

received

and

examine

than

positive reasons,

some

"

other

who

usually means

me

to find

"

world

hundred

whereas

blow
let

of the

one

nine

given

fatal consequences

any

adherents

that

thousand

often

the code, have

knightly honour

regularbear-garden.

of

out

of

its existence, the

briefly reply

may

ninety-nine people
without

defence

in

argument

So

I have

which
in

it is

the
are

come

is at
battle
same

not

the
the

hand,
worth

108

THE

WISDOM

OF

LIFE.

in their
bring real ones
imaginary misfortunes, which
train : and
yet this is the precise effect of the superstition,
thus
itself at once
which
stupid and
proves

malign.
It does

not

to

seem

legislativebodies

to

of

wise

me

promote

any

governments and
such
folly by
punishment
that they are
but, in point of

with floggingas
attempting to do away
idea is
in civil or militarylife. Their

acting in the interests of humanity ;

fact,they are doing justthe opposite;for the abolition
of floggingwill serve
only to strengthen this inhuman
fices
sacriand abominable
to which
so
superstition,
many
For all offences,except
have alreadybeen made.
beating is the obvious,
who
penalty ; and a man

the worst,
natural

will

reason

It

blows.

yield to

and
will
to

seems

listen

not

the

to administer

suffer

would

the

by

loss of

his

man

be fined,
interests

There

services.

to

right and

me

corporalpunishment to
cannot
who
possesses nothing and therefore
be put in prisonbecause his master's
cannot
or
proper

the

therefore

are

talk about
reallyno arguments against it ; only mere
talk which
the dignity of man
proceeds,not from
the perthe subject,but from
on
nicious
any clear notions
superstitionI have been describing. That it
"

superstitionwhich
is proved by
business

is

Not

long

ago,

countries,the
case

the

latter

in

cat

objectwas

method

derogatory

the

was

to

lies at the
an

almost

bottom

of the whole

laughable example.

military disciplineof

replacedby the stick.

produce physicalpain

involved

no

disgrace,and

many

In either
; but

the

was

not

to honour.

By promoting

this

the
superstition,

State

is

playing

109

HONOUR.

and

of

hands

into the

therefore

of

principleof knightly honour,

the

the

duel ; while

at the

time

same

it

pretends that it is trying,

As
duel by legislative
the
enactment.
to abolish
a
find that this fragment of the
natural consequence
we
has come
down
to
theory that might is right,which
from the most
us
days of the Middle Age, has
savage
still in this nineteenth
century a good deal of life left
for the
in it
shame
to us ! It is high time
more
principleto be driven out bag and baggage. Now-adays,no one is allowed to set dogs or cocks to fight
each other, at any
rate, in England it is a penal
are
offence, but men
plunged into deadly strife,
against their will,by the operationof this ridiculous,
absurd
principle,which
imposes
superstitiousand
its narrow-minded
the obligation,
us
as
upon
porters
supand
advocates
declare, of fightingwith one
like gladiators,
another
for any little trifle. Let me
recommend
our
puriststo adopt the expressionbaiting,1
instead of duel, which
to us, not from
probably comes
Latin
the Spanish duelo,
the
duellum, but from
nuisance, annoyance.
meaning suffering,
In any
well laugh at the pedantic
case, we
may

is

trying,or

at any

rate

it

"

"

"

"

to

excess

which

this foolish

It is reallyrevolting
that this

code,

can

form

imperio a
recognisingno

in

sort of
on

the

been

with
principle,

within

power

has

the

State

"

carried.

its absurd

imperium

easilyput in motion, which,

the
right but might, tyrannisesover
which
within
its range, by keeping up a
come
before which
be haled
inquisition,
may
any one
most
flimsy pretext, and there and then be
"

classes

system

power

too

Ritterhetze.
I

110

THE

tried
his

This

opponent.

death

is the

and

menace

may

best of men,

who,

of hatred

him.

to

between

or

able

to

it

prevent

must

street

and

life!

your

of

which
in question,

the noblest
be

and

object
system of justice and policeimpossible in these days for

Our

in the

scoundrel

money

such,

as

and

himself

lurking place from

exterminate

even

made

protection has

be

LIFE.

rascal,if he only belongs to the classes

every

any

OF

issue of life and

an

on

WISDOM

to

common

rogues

course

attack

an

with

us

Your

"

to
ought now
disturbing the peaceable
sense

Your
society by coming at us with
honour
or
life! An end should be put to the
your
which
the higher classes
burden
the
weighs upon
of having to be ready every
moment
burden, I mean,
intercourse

of

"

"

life and

to expose

it

takes
foolish

few

rascally
is

It

or

even

of

mercy

head

be

to

rude,

coarse,

should

be

killed,simply because

who

anyone

perfectlyatrocious

silly,passionate boys

maimed
a

his

malicious.

or

of

pair

into

to the

limb

that

wounded,
have

Lad

within

the

they

words.

The

strength of

State, and

the

this

force

tyrannical powrer

be
superstition,may
measured
by 'the fact that people who are prevented
from restoringtheir knightly honour
by the superior
inferior rank
of their aggressor, or
or
anything else
that

puts

to

tragic-comicend

despair.
false and
its
and
an

the

on

persons

You

may

ridiculous

of

different

level,often
suicide

by committing

come

in sheer

a
generally know
thing to
by finding that, if it is carried

logical conclusion,
here, too, we

the

have

officer is forbidden

it results
a

to

very

take

in

in

to

contradiction

glaringabsurdity.
part

be

For

duel ; but

if

Ill

HONOUR.

challenged and declines

punished by being dismissed the
is

he

As

the

on

am

matter, let

to

upon,

is

service.
be

me

important distinction, which

between
killingyour enemy

The

out, he

come

frank

more

is
in

often
fair

still.

insisted

fightwith

and
for
him, is
lying in ambush
equal weapons,
within
entirelya corollaryof the fact that the power
I have
the State, of which
spoken,recognisesno other
right than might, that is,the right of the stronger,-

appeals

and

to

For

code.

whole

that

prove

Judgment of God

in

man

justifythe deed, you must

strongeris reallya right.
that, if

is

the truth

my

fair
in

him

to

rightof the
defend

kill

superior to

are

you

skill ; and

But

to

the basis of the

as

fight,is

strength

or

that the

assume

is unable

opponent

to

to

the

himself, it gives me

but riot by
possibility,
the right,of killing him.
The
means
right,the
any
moral
must
the
justification,
depend entirely upon
I have
for taking his life. Even
which
motives
posing
supthat I have sufficient motive
for taking a man's
is

life,there

whether

depend

upon

In

such

he.
kill

case,

From

stronger is

no

moral
more

skilful ; and

more

murder
case

man

shoot

can

or

it is immaterial

I attack

him, whether

rear.

this

I should

why

reason

no

him

from

point of view,
convincing than

it is skill which

is

treacherously. Might

equally right :

fence

his

better_than

in

what

the

front

the
the

skill

way
or

right of
right of

employed
and

death

the
the
the

if you
are

in

duel, for instance, both

play ; for a feint is

for treachery. If I consider
only another name
self
myin taking a man's life,
it is stupid
morallyjustified

the

one

and

the other

in

make

come

into

112

of

THE

to

me

better

try

than

wronged
It

me,

WISDOM

if he

; as,

but

have

aggressor,
which

shows

honour
who

man

known

of

the

that

he

will

life into

that

the

him,

"

of

one

duel

to

way

with

your

opinion,however,
barelyindicate in a

an

of

books

the

only have
the bargain.

proper

fight a

to

not

fence

or

his

Emile.

philosopher so completely under the

mediaeval
superstitionof knightly
to murder
considers
it justifiable
a

accuses

to

he

shoot

can

enough only to

to

the

that

deserved

note

he

my

but to assassinate

mysterious
influence

taken

is, not

he is cautious

This

can,

opinion

insult

an

LIFE.

first of all whether

is Rousseau's

avenge

OF

of

you

have

lie

the

whilst

himself

and

man,

every

lying :
given

he must

have

has
especially,
times

him

without

number.
The

reallyright,and
Italian

aggressor

without
and

in

who,

wherever
any

than

the

he

an

duel

as

he

finds

rage,

him, and

acts, at any

may

duellist.

be

of

falls upon

and
as

God.
his

despatches him
rate, consistently
he

cleverer, but

If you

your

might

upon

interference

the

fit of

in

contest

open

obviously looks

ceremony,

naturally:

worse,

in

it is done

adversary,so long as
with
equal weapons,
The

the killingof
justifies

prejudice which

say,

am

is not

justified

killingmy

adversary in a duel, because he is at the

moment
doing his best to kill me ; I can reply that it
is your
has
challenge which
placed him under the
necessity of defending himself ; and that by mutually
ants
putting it on the ground of self-defence,the combatare
seeking a plausiblepretext for committing
I should
murder.
rather justifythe deed by the legal
maxim

Volenti

non

fit

iiyuria

because

the

parties

us

mutually agree

to set

argument

however, be rebutted

may,

their life upon

the issue.

This
that

by showing

injuredparty is not injured volens ; because it is

its
this tyrannicalprincipleof knightly honour, with
the

code, which

absurd

forciblydrags

before

combatants

I have

been

at least of

one

the

bloody inquisition.

rather

subjectof knightly
for being so, because
honour, but I had
the Augean stable of moral
intellectual enormity
and
be
the
in this world
cleaned
out
can
only with
of philosophy. There
besom
two
are
things which
all else

than

more

of
of

those

natural

life

and,

disease,
"

it were,

as

all

private.

The

influence

much

case,

as

nay,
men

of

in

devilish
and

mistrust

element

the

existence.

so

more

But
the

honour
which

"

and

have

modern
combined

public or

life,whether

this noble

than

extends

pair

at first appears

to be

its
the

warp
the
or

entered

into the relations

sinister

thread

and

woof

has

like

indirectlyshaking
and

dark

physical,but also a moral

have
the time
that poisoned arrows
Cupid's quiver,an estranging,hostile,

women,

in

with

antiquity, fresh,
pletely
morning of life,is com-

of

relations

farther

From

found

to pursue

fratrum

second

unfavourably
age a gloomy,

our

modern

being not merely

disease.
been

the

social arrangements

which

in the

mean

nobile

par

poison

from

aspect,

the

compare

antiquity,by giving

free ; I

to

make

to

serve

modern

sinister

and

the

prolixon
good reasons

of

foundations
less

it would

their
of

affecting the
be beside

subjectfurther.

of

my

fear

of
and

intercourse

human

whole

ship,
fellowtenor

of

present purpose

114-

WISDOM

THE

An

influence

other

that

"

world, which

solemn

universal

noble

tribute,
but

two

before
Let

that

and

of the
in

yearly
old,

It is

time

to

do

high

Would

world

century

that

might

appear
dis-

be able

may

; and

system

now.

modern

medicine

of

to

of the

every

company

this foolish

the

on

country alone, as

Europe.

trying
end

ancient

principleis

it demands

upon

of

The

goodly

one

in

am

the

hope

us

the

from

monsters

all.

which

land

every

is what

these

; and

not

strictest watch

is this

regular attack

this

Nor

the

to

societystiff,
gloomy

the

keep

houses

comes,

from

make

to

Minotaur

of

sons

modern

falls.

that

farce,unknown

makes

timid, forcingus
word

LIFE.

analogous to this,though working on

exerted
by the principleof knightly

lines,is

honour,

OF

to find

some

of

for

preventing the one, and that, by clearing

ideas, philosophy may
put an end to the other ;
ideas that the evil can
it is only by clearingour

be

eradicated.

means
our

Governments

and
legislation,

are

duelling system
their
to cope
a

law

the

It will

put

is

after

reallyconcerned

; and

efforts
with

if the
is

the

of which

small

reallydue

evil,I do
I

am

not

to

or

the

small

to do

so

no

suppress
that

success

only
mind

by

to their

the
has

ability
in-

proposing

prepared to guarantee.

sanguinary measures,
recourse
operation without

effects.

let the
there

involve

into

scaffold
It

success

tried

failed.

Still,if they
attended

have

and

can

be

either

to

the

gallows,or to imprisonment for life.

homoeopathic pilule,with no serious
If any man
send or accept a challenge,

corporal take him before the guard house, and

give him, in broad daylight,twelve strokes with

116

WISDOM

THE

allowed

to

It is

and

Castor
the

of

sense

of

sorts

of
has

estimation

this

of the

must

we

now

the

Fame

not.

honour.

speak, of

fame,

of which

some

mortal

was

one

is the

word; for, to

the

twins, too, like

; and

of the

course,

in the true
be

sure,

last but

and

brother

undying

and

there

of

highest
genuine

are

many
Honour

day.
qualitiesas
a

such
merely with
one
everyunder
similar
be expected to show
stances
circummay
only of those which cannot be required
; fame
Honour
is of qualities
which
man.
any
everyone
to himself; fame
a
right to attribute
only of
concerned

is

should

which

those
Whilst

of

make

fame

us;

as

in

only

to

far

people

as

advance,

its way.

honour;

to

others

in

runs

it finds

claim

attainable

being

left to

extends

wherever

known

can

be

honour

our

knowledge
us

twins

are

fame, that is,of fame

of

the

and

Pollux, of whom

was

ephemeral
kind

honour

and

other

placein

consider.

proceed to
Fame

Fame.

"

put Fame;

have

we

of

heading

the

world

of

combination

knightly honour.
Section 5.

Under

LIFE.

unheeded.

pass

of

civic and

OF

very

virtue

attribute.

and

have

makes

Every

few

to

one

fame,

as

of

extraordinary

two

kinds, either

achievements.
achievements

These
actions

open.

or

and

so

path

of

works;

On

the

chief recommendation
Each

of the

two

be

may

to

fame

of

there

are

actions,a great heart

on

paths has

that
its

of
own

works,

paths

two

is the

great

head.

peculiaradvantages

117

FAME.

and

and

detriments;

them

is that

actions

The

influence

of

last but

action, be

an

; but

that

All

ages.

and

of indifference

matter

to

works

never

remain.

noble, can

so

of

of

and

weak

becomes

that

between

genius is a living
ennobling throughout the

remain

can

it

work

and

influence, beneficial

difference

while
fleeting,

are

time

short

chief

the

actions

memory,

disfiguredby
until at

us,

is

time

last it is extinguished
it up,

altogether; unless,indeed, historytakes

presents it, fossilized, to posterity.

and

in themselves, and

immortal

live for

may

the

but

have

work

and

to-day

of

but

all

action

An

is

fragmentary
But

world.
as

try

work

is

and

The

fame
starts

all

heard

to

honour

pay

to

"

life-time.

own

still with

not

us

has

trace

work

sometimes

by callingit

part, in fact, of that Will

original element

great and
of

beautiful

universal

like
rises,

in

an

has

and
significance,

perfume, above

is

which

constitution

the

work

of

acter,
char-

permanent
from

sprung

the

the faults and

the

follies

of Will.
of

with

great action
a

loud

Europe

over

has

this

explosion ;
whereas

in its beginnings ; the noise

but

it goes

on

of

it makes

growing greater, until

it attains

that

loud, indeed,

the fame

gradual

perhaps,

advantage,

so

and

years

directly

as

compliment, though

poor

fleeting

and

being

world

to

which
Intellect,
of the

and

something essentially
higher in its nature.
always something based on motive, and, therefore,
a

universal

the

actions

we

Plato

alive,and

are

in their
they were
their Upanishads,are

it is

one,

For

action.

Horace

Great

but

ing,
writ-

to

the

record

are

to us.1

Accordingly

fashionable

the

contemporaneous

down

come

Alexander

as

Vedas, and

The

and

name

Aristotle,Homer
at

Of

ever.

Works

committed

once

"

its full force

at

as

great work

then

to

be

is slow

is at first

last,after

; but

it generally

slight,

hundred

it remains,

118

THE

Anoth'er
that

does

into

also from

the

not

and

importance
the

testimony of
always present,and
unbiassed

just or
the

witnesses
if

even

; and

of

these

are

always
ever,
disadvantage,hownot

present,are

This

observers.

of

lend

purelypersonal,depends

are

fewer

is counterbalanced

value, but

happened to
Again, the fame

lustre.

is

of
possibility
fame
they win

which

they

war,

for the

their intrinsic

circumstances

labour

actions

hence, the

entirelyfrom

actions,if,as in
upon

which

chance

upon

existence; and

flow

not

them

LIFE.

OF

disadvantage under

they depend

coming

WISDOM

by

the fact that

of

actions

have

practicalcharacter, and,
gence
intellitherefore,within the range of general human
been correctlyrethe facts have
ported,
; so that once
justiceis immediately done ; unless,indeed, the
motive
underlying the action is not at first properly
understood
or
appreciated. No action can be really
understood
prompted it.
apart from the motive which
advantage

It is just the
does

not

being

contrary

depend

their author

often

there

Their

works.

inception
entirely

chance, but wholly and

upon

upon

with

they are in and for

themselves, that they remain
as
long as they live.
in properlyjudging them,
Further, there is a difficulty
which
becomes
all the harder,the higher their character;
the

work, and

Their

grows
until

no

whatever

often

unbiassed

no

the

works

less and
it ends

the pages

the

when

case,

of

remain,
first

less,and

by

the

history.

depend
of

explosion is

over,

by

fewer

having only

honest

or

for thousands

is heard

action

not

understand

to

competent

persons

fame, however, does

because
other

are

; and

upon

years.
the
and

critics.

judge

one

But

in the

noise

it makes

fewer

persons

shadowy existence

in

119

FAME.

only; they
of

case

which

enter

can

appeal

an

down

traditional

form

to

; but

and
posterity,
works

and, except when

form

in the

there

case

facts ; and

is
any

"

for

These

appreciation;
time

inevitable

Whether

the

been

lost,

appeared. In
disfigurement of
may

and

away

with

only

after

of years

authors

depends upon
higher and more

pear
apceptional
ex-

verdicts

where

cases

in

it has
further

it,no

the verdict

of

time

perfectlyjust

to form

reverse

is the fame

the

lapse of

the

the

form
collectively
though there are

is able to

this

diced
preju-

have

giving their weighty

hundreds

some

lapse of

fame

have

the

selves,
them-

lapse of
the persons
reallycompetent to judge them
exceptionalcritics sittingin judgment on

succession.

and

in

only
down

which

origin,fall

works, and

taken

of them

any

circumstances

it is often

Nay,

that

the

first

they

room

in their

them
time.

no

then

handed

are

parts

in which

In

said,it is only their memory

actions,as I have
comes

another.

to

so

;
"

secure

great work.

ever

live to

the

chance

the

see

of

dawn

of their

circumstance

and
,

their works

important

are,

the

That

was

an

incomparably fine saying of Seneca's,that

merit as surely as the body casts a shadow

fame

follows

fallingin front, and

And

less likelihood

on

to remark

there is of their

that

sometimes

though

the

doing

so.

behind.

by universal silence,there will

judge without enmity or favour.
it is manifest

were

merit

rascals

who

that

understood

the

by maliciously ignoring

concealing good

work

from

the

goes

those who

come

From

in Seneca's

even

he

of contemporaries

envy

be shown
will

; sometimes

art

its

of

this
age

there

suppressing

existence,

public

mark
re-

in

and

of

order

to

120

WISDOM

THE

favour

bad

the

it is

OF

art

an

understood

well

day, too, manifestingitself,both

envious conspiracyof silence.

then

and

in

our

in

now,

an

general rule,the longer a man's fame is likely

to last,the later it will be in coming ; for all excellent
products require time for their development. The
fame
which
lasts to posterityis like an
oak, of very
As

slow

growth

and

while, like plants which

die ; whilst

which

that

endures

but

little

spring up in a year and then

is like a fungus,shooting up in

false fame

night and perishingas soon.

And
more
a
man
why ? For this reason
; the
in other
words, to humanity in
belongs to posterity,
of an
alien he is to his contemporaries;
general, the more

since

his

work

such, but only for them

mankind

at

colour

them;
it is

the

about
and

so

in

hour,

what

who
the

or

so

he

far

they

as

that

temper

them

form

as

part

familiar

would

of

local

appeal

to

does, fails of recognitionbecause

are

likely to appreciate

more

the circumstances

serves

for

meant

of
large; there is none
his productionswhich

strange. People

man

is not

of the

moment,

of his
"

own

belonging

brief
to

it,

and

livingand dying with it.

The
generalhistoryof art and literature shows that
the highest achievements
of the human
mind
are, as a
in
rule, not favourably received at first ; but remain
of a
obscurityuntil they win notice from intelligence
influence
they are
brought
higher order, by whose
into
the

positionwhich they then

authority thus given them.

If
found

the

reason

that

of

this

ultimately,a

maintain, in virtue of

should
man

be
can

asked, it will be

really understand

121

FAME.

and

appreciate those
himself.

with

nature

the

common

whose

ideas

are

of

thought

is dull,and
man

has

no

his

own

things only

brains

person

person

what

mixed

will

be

will
is

of

being

character

himself.

with

mus

of fabulous

This

Kcu

avSdveiv

KaAtos

is

memory

ovSev

truth

is that

ecrrt

/ze

avroicnv

ravO'

as

Kal
TT""f"VK"vaL'

should

themselves, and

with
for to

dog

an

an

ox

ox,

The
a

not

the
; to

best
an

feather-

weight

KVWV

KVVL

minds

to

are

an

the

son

of

; and

unavailing

for, instead

none

chorus

be lost

not

the world

ass

to

of

mass

"

but

of the

sow.

soon

its

fall to the

great

given

was

be

to

own

to

its way

speeding on

and

the

noble

masterpieces of genius,

little,weak,
"

; to

give impetus

to

it is with

very

dog

sow,

little energy

what

So
the

of

is

it will
effect,

appreciate them,

deplored by

it should

thing in

of momentum.

there

when

vt.

surprisedif peopleare pleased

fancy that they are in good case;

is

with

like

j3oV"S
/3ot

KCU

for

"

hittingits mark with

ground,having expended
to it, and
possessing no
thoughts,nay,

will

8oK"i"

KOLL

yap

and

vehicle

who

be

ass,

strongest arm

fusion
con-

him

to

Aeyetv

OVTW

avrovs,

of this passage

we

by

man

[ecrrtv],
v"s 8'

sense

"

l,

The

common

thoroughly at
old as Epichar-

one

like

like what

attracted

of all, a

best

of

are

follywill appeal

; and

as

dull

The

at all ; but

works,

which

wise

fact
in

and

which

perverse
has

Jesus,

all ages.

Sirach, for instance, declares

that

been

He

that

122

THE

telleth

he hath

when

?x

matter

in

that

tale to

dull

Hamlet

and
are

your

ear

mocks

Das

Wort
gliicUichste

into

opinion,

same

verhohnt,

be

not

no

discouragedif people
rings if you throw

marsh..

nicht,Alles bleibt so stumpf:

wirkest

Du

speechsleeps

Schiefohrist :

make

can

is the

word,

wird

es

ein

should

knavish

wisest

slumber:

What

say,

is of the

at the

der Horer

again,that we
stupid,for you
stone

Goethe

in

one

will
A

says,

And

Wenn

LIFE.

his tale,he

told

And

OF

fool speaketh to

fool'sear.2
a

WISDOM

guter Dinge I
Der Stein in Sumpf
Sei

Macht

asks

Lichtenber"

keine

Einge.

When

head

and

book

come

into collision,and
book ?
a

mirror

how

that
know

fine and
the

the bad

mistake

cure.

We

difficult !
"

they can
; they

see

good,

one

value

outer

eye

of life
but

Ecclesiasticus,xxii.,8.

Activ.,

sc.

that

daily

become

must

The

the

the

best
most

evil that

no
remedy
plague which
thing to be done, though

be.
with

that

for

"

as

to remember

do well

admirers, and

the

are

expect an

fewest

foolish

the

cannot

touching lament,

is but

never

in, you

should

prevent, like
There

like this

Works

place:
looks

ass

all find

nothing can
can

an

look out.

Gellert's

gifts of
men

if

apostleto
old

in another

And

holloio,is it always the

sounds

one

2.

wise,
"

they
never

and
never

with

124

lived

all; from

at

OF

WISDOM

THE

their

LIFE.

desire

to

themselves, people gladlyignore our

Htitte ich

mir^s

Leben

gegonnt,

Ich

ware

noch

nicht

auf Erden,

Die, um

etwas

; nay,

of it until
be

awards

mochten

verneinen.

is credited

with

contrary is proved.

the

despite of

the

geberden,

scheinen,

zu

man

every

in

won

sie sich

contrary,generallymeets with fair

is not exposed to the onslaught of

the

and
appreciation,
envy

seht,wie

gerne

on

laurel

envy,

is

and

composed

the

But

possession

fame

; fame

suffers

unattainable

more

harder

much

so

which

of

judges

biassed

work

learned

It is

amuse.

proportionas more
of winning
difficulty

become

than

as

material
who

are

It is

vague,

and, at

point of
working

view
on

writer

of all in
the

result

the
;

the

clear,then, from

same

Honour
share

it ; and
as

the

what

with

people come
fame
by any
number
hence

of
it is

of

author

who

aspiresonly to
of philosothe case
phical
at which
they aim is
time, useless

they appeal chieflyto

same

is

is rendered

ratio to the

famous

hardest

works, because
rather

and

in

to

to

tribunal

encroachment

by it. Further, the

stands
in inverse
given work
are
likely to read
people who

has

the

againstthe applicantfrom the very first.

something which we are able and ready to
everyone

"

begreifenIc"nnt,

ihr

Mich

werden,

man

Wenn

existence

very

Bis

JVie ihr

Honour,

gezaudertzu

important

appear

from

readers

lines themselves.
I have

said

as

to

the

of winning fame, that those who

labour, not
difficulty
from
of love for their subject,nor
out
pleasure in

125

FAME.

pursuing it,but
or

The

mankind

leave

never

avoid

must

seeks

who

man

the

misleaders.

Hence

the

bad, and

de

byOsorius

seeks

themselves

and

even

truth

it,and

seek

adapt

one

do what

the

the others

thing

to

is

again, fame
which

the
for

ambition, rarely
immortal
and

good

be

works.

genuine,
defy the

ready to
to despise it and
its
of the remark, ally
(especi6rform),that fame shuns
the

work

shun

who

their

of

taste

it ; for

in defiance

temporaries,
con-

of it.

acquirefame, it is an
once
keep it when
acquired. Here,
in direct oppositionto honour, with

everyone

is

to

presumably

to be

to

be

accredited.

only not be lost.

For
!
there lies the difficulty
worthy
by a single unaction, it is gone irretrievably.But fame, in
of the word, can
never
sense
disappear;
proper
it was
the action or work
acquired can
by which
has

Honour
But

is

those

to

But, difficult though it be

easy

of

legacy of

mob, nay,

insisted upon
who

to

is

what

opinions of

those

the stimulus

under

never
even

fame

undone

be

though
which

thereby

to

and
man's

not

work

; and

he does

fame

attaches

nothing to

vanishes,
have

; it must

won

or

is

deserve

spurious,in

due

to

momentary

; not

to

speak

of

it

outlived,

been
a

to

other

its

The

anew.

proves

itself

words,

over-estimate

the kind

author,

of fame

merited,
un-

of

which

Lichtenberg describes as
Hegel enjoyed, and which
graduates
trumpeted forth by a clique of admiring underthe resounding echo of empty
heads;
such a fame as will make
posteritysmile when it lights
a
of words, a fine nest
grotesque architecture
upon
at the
with
the birds long ago flown ; it will knock
door
of conventionalities
of this decayed structure
"

"

126

THE

and

it

find
truth
is in

man

to invite

is that

be

fame

predicatedonly of

and

all

and

in himself.

worth

other

moment

is.
man

Absolute

the

not

and

conducive

hold

deserves

in esteem.

of

This

which

himself.

Light

something

is not

reflect it ; and

to

only when

its fame

certain

symptom

the

without

one

it,Some

be

its value

make

is noised
of

the

a
or

other

Not

it were,

only

an

the
dent,
acci-

of external

own

opinion

it meets
is

But

with

of

sure

itself
is not

fame

have

can

you

of

Lessing nicelyputs

as

and

is

kind

; because

; or,

of

is

unless

abroad.

miserable
want

his

talent

merit

people obtain fame,

would

It

visible

it, which

is,as

confirm

to

serves

or

famous, is what

underlying substance, and fame

its subjectchieflyas a
affecting

symptom,

directly

great heart

be

to

is

any

happiness.

to

can

under

man

fame

mere

people

value

possesses

It is the po .session of

and

should

true

the

what

essentially
only indirectly

therefore

bub

It is

here, what

"

of

trace

nothing

man

circumstances,

having,

man

even

others.

what

fame, but that which

a

not

"

with

the famous

great head,

means

it vanishes

what

LIFE.

passer-by.

character, and

valuable; for
become

the

comparison

in

relative

OF

utterly empty

thought there
The

WISDOM

others

existence
value

deserve it.
should

which

depend

what

upon

be the life of a
people think ; but such would
consisted
in fame, that
hero or a genius if its worth
lives
is, in the applause of the world.
Every man
and exists on his own
account, and, therefore,mainly
other

in

and

manner

for
of

else ;

himself
his

so

; and

being

concern

if he is not

he

what

himself
worth

much

is and
more

whole

the
than

in this

one
any-

respect,

127

FAME.

much

be worth

he cannot

otherwise.

idea

The

which

of
is something
his existence
people form
secondary, derivative, exposed to all the chances of
him
but very indirectly.
fate,and in the end affecting
Besides, other people'sheads are a wretched
place to
of a man's
be the home
true
happiness a fanciful
other

"

happinessperhaps,but
And

what

mixed

Fame

not

real

one.

inhabits

company

Temple

the

generals,ministers, charlatans,
dancers, singers,millionaires and Jews ! It
jugglers,
sincere recognition,
is a temple in whicli more
more
genuine esteem, is given to the several excellences of
of a high
of mind, even
such folk, than to superiority
from
obtains
the great majority only a
order, which
of

Universal

!
"

verbal

acknowledgment.
From
the point of view of human
happiness,fame
is,surely,nothing but a very rare and delicate morsel
for the appetitethat feeds on
pride and vanity an
carefullyconcealed, exists to
appetitewhich, however
immoderate
an
degree in every man, and is,perhaps,
coming
beset their hearts on
strongestof all in those who
famous
at any
cost.
Such
people generally
have to wait some
time in uncertaintyas to their own
which
will put it
value, before the opportunity comes
let other people see what
to the proof and
they are
made
of; but until then, they feel as if they were
sufferingsecret injustice.1
"

But,
1

Our

who

as

admire

long

no
as

explained at

the

beginning of

greatest pleasure consists in being

us,

even

their

to. express

who,

matter
other

if

they have

sentiments.

how,

people

manages

leave

him

every
Hence

reason

he

sincerelyto
alone.

this

; but

admired
to

is the
admire

chapter,

do

so,

those

are

happiest
himself

slow
man

"

so

128

THE

unreasonable

an

opinion, and
and
he

value

has

doubt

no

fame,

hope

the

people's
its real
ject;
this sub-

on

he is

others,we

great

worth

as

of

other

upon

value

So

which

is

sacrifices i" there

any

the conclusion

to

come

think well of ourselves.

may

understand
to

set

strong remarks

some

with

ourselves
we

is

LIFE.

quiteright. Mental pleasure,

paring
ecstasy of any kind, arise when, on com-

writes, and

that

OF

quite disproportionateto

one

Hobbes

worth.

WISDOM

we

can

easily

attached

always
is the

slightest

attainingit.
Fame

that the clear

is the spur

raise

spiritdoth

(TJiatlast infirmityof nolle mind)

To

And

live laborious

delightsand

scorn

days*

again :
How
The

We

heightswhere

proud temple shines afar!

understand

thus

can

Fame's

how

it is that

the

vainest

always-talkingabout la gloire,
with
the most
to
implicitfaith in it as a stimulus
But
there can
be no
great actions and great works.
doubt
that fame
is something secondary in its character,

people in

a
or

the

echo

mere

symptom

admiration
itself.

world

it is to climb

hard

"

reflection

or

of merit:

must

The

are

truth

be of

and,

as

in any

value

more

is that

"

man

it were,
case,

than

what

shadow
excites

the admiration

is made

happy,
fame, by

not

his
by that which
brings him
merits, or to speak more
by the disposition
correctly,
and capacity from
which
his merits
proceed,whether
best side of a
intellectual.
The
or
they be moral

by fame,

but

Milton.

Lycidas

129

FAME.

man1*

him

for

than

He

far the

that

console

in

thought

and

often

important

more

reflection
of

others,is a

be

other.

great by

infatuated

Besides, if
which

be

fame

for its

in the

and

to

of

case

out

sign.

of

meant

spurious coin
discovery and
the sentence
like

creator

studied

man

The truest

aim, there

conceit

with

just

is,unmerited,

of which
fame

is

This

it without

upon

upon

actually

fame

must

himself

is the

often

put

for

the

when, in spite of the illusions born

come

never

chief

false,that

False

self-love,he will feel giddy

"

that

and

admire.

substratum

solid
visible

its possessor

was

fact

is the

up

his

were

recipientlives

possessingthe

may

treasured

him

in

nothing

happens

time

he

that

his

this,he possesses something

be wrested
from him; and, unlike

admiration

what

outward

in the

he

envy

possession dependent entirely

If

would

but

that

to

us

competent
in-

done

has

man

cannot

it is

himself.

of

masses

of years.

for hundreds

fame,

matter

It is not

people,but

really is great, which should move

position; and his happiness lies,not
posteritywill hear of him,
of thoughts worthy to be

it, the

degree.
getting it possesses by
of happiness,which

loss of the

to

of

for

subordinate

very

element

for the

him

is

man

the

without

important

more

should

only
fame

deserves

who

else

exists in the heads

affect him

can

necessitybe

anyone

opinion which
that

of

must

nature

and

of

to

climb,
in

the

on

the

or

look

heights which
of

degradation,he

posterityon

the foreheads

owes

fame, the

his
fame

property
that

to

comes

as

threatened

well-merited

who

he

himself

upon

anguish

of

will

read

of the wise

forged will.
after

death,,

130
is

THE

heard

never

called

WISDOM

of

its

by

LIFE.

OF

and

recipient;

yet he

is

His
happy man.
happiness lay both in the
him
won
possession of those great qualitieswhich
fame, and in the opportunity that was
granted him
of developing them
the leisure he had to act as he
a

"

pleased, to dedicate
It is
the

work

only

to his

from

done

favourite

heart

the

that

pursuits.
gains

ever

laurel.
of

Greatness

soul,

wealth

or

of

intellect,is what

such as, when

intellect,
happy
stamped
its productions,will receive the admiration
of centuries
made
him
to come,
thoughts which
happy at
of study
time, and will "in their tarn be a source
of the most
remote
delight to the noblest minds

makes
on

himself

man

"

"

the
and

posterity. The
deserving it; and
destined

works

their author

fame

the average

and

is

his

value

much
echo

of

few

touched

of

portance
great im-

critical power

where

fame

is

hundred

of

out

far

voices,which

it is
the

no

take

and

will,if he is wise,

it,because

widespread,

not

of

chance

wide

in

set

too

than

more
a

it

the

day

has

in his favour.

Would

all

they set

feel flattered

musician

of

nearly

upon

lifetime

very
no

is famed

man

life-time,he

own

Whether

the

no

lies in

absolutelyincapableof appreciating
a
great work.
People are always

If

faith alone.

it in

has

man

swayed by authority; and

that ninety-nine
it means
on

reward.

own

affair,of

For

fame

posthumous

attain

chance

of
difficulty

the

of

this is its

to

is

of his own,

value

an

audience

deaf, and

to work

to

if he

knew

that, to conceal

by

loud

the

that

they

their

clap vigorouslyas

soon

plause
apwere

infirmity,
as

ever

132
winter.

Fame

all the
There
of

WISDOM

THE

which

before

it

the

of

the fruit that

be

can

us

fame

little

attach

for it is with

pursuits;

of

than

grow
Yule.

at

the

feeling

one's

youth

into

more

closelythe

young.

examine

which

must

enjoyed

in age

force

whole

still remain

Finally,let
kinds

were,

LIFE.

greater consolation

no

having put

works

is,as it

summer

is

OF

various

to

fame

intellectual
that

of this sort

marks
re-

my

immediately concerned.
I think
it may
be said broadly that the intellectual
consists in forming theories,
superiorityit denotes
are

that

more

facts may

of

combinations

is, new

of very

be

certain

different

kinds

facts.
; but

These

the

better

within
they are known, and the more
they come
everyday experience,the greater and wider will be
which
the fame
is to be won
by theorisingabout them.
For instance, if the facts in question are
numbers
or
lines or
of science,such as physics,
specialbranches
in
zoology, botany, anatonry, or corrupt passages
ancient authors, or undecipherableinscriptions,
written,
unknown
it may
be, in some
alphabet,or obscure points

history; the kind of fame which

by correctlymanipulating such facts
in

much

beyond

small

But

all

are

who

persons,

envious

specialbranch

their

mind

alike ;

or

the
or

of

of

most

who

will

not

extend

study

of

whom

live retired

become

them

famous

"

in

knowledge.
as

are

fundamental

the human

the

make

of others

if the facts be such

example,

human

of

number

lives and

for

those

be obtained

may

known

to

everyone,

characteristics

heart, which

are

of the

shared

great physical agencies which

constantlyin operationbefore

our

eyes,

cr

the

by
are

genera]

133

FAME.

of natural

course

be

won

the facts

the

fame

and

the

all

almost
such

be

also will be

kind

as

the

over

because

the other

great

festly
mani-

is such

can

in time

as

the

grasp,

man

heads

many

the

for if

theory
of

extent

be

can

got

will

has not been

are

do not

brought
involve

to bear

very

also true.
much
the facts in

But

fame

beyond

those

question.

To

to

culty
diffinations
combi-

new

understanding
them

"

as

ties
qualipower

to

light upon

which

shall

be

such

tend
paths does not exwho
possess a knowledge of
solve problems of this sort
on

won

much

intellectual

easilybe so fortunate
theory in regard to them

may
new

of

upon

high

bility
possi-

said before.

after

sound

no

been

accessible

not

are

only

at

that, if

so

have

will be little or

hand, facts which

theories

judgment
which

some

and

new

labour, nearly always admit

and

is to

depend upon the difficulties overcome

the facts are, the harder
generallyknown
form a theory that shall be both new
and

more

and

"

which

will

everybody, and

and

fame

civilised world

everyone

occupiedwith them, and there

of saying anything that
On

of

But
generallyintelligible.

it will be to
:

; the

by spreading the light of

true theory in regard to them,

will extend

true

laws

doubt, a great deal of study and labour,

no
requires,
the path where
if only to get at the facts ; whilst
on
the greatestand most
widespread fame is to be won,
labour
be grasped without
at all.
the facts may
any
But just in proportionas less labour is necessary, more
between
such qualitalent or genius is required ; and
ties
and
the drudgery of research
no
comparison is
in respect either
possible,

the estimation

in which

of their intrinsic

they are

held.

value, or of

134

THE

And

OF

capacity and a
claim
the highest
of laborious

be afraid

themselves

work

reach

facts

toil.

learned

For

for

its aid

by

of

constantlybefore
this

is

which

yet
not

they may
humanity
eyes, and

their

accessible

are

where

sphere

and

should

powers,

great mob

spots

solid intellectu

possess

judgment,

mental

the

secluded

those

they

sound

study ;

above

the

have

LIFE.

feel that

people who

so

cannot

who

WISDOM

there

to
are

fewer
of only moderate
rivals, and a man
infinitely
find an
opportunity of proclaiming
capacitymay soon
a

shall

theory that

merit

his

of
of

be

at the facts.

fellow-students, who
of

far

sufficient

enough,

shall

we

foundation

necessityfor forming
man

famous

thought.
is that

to

by
The

culty
diffi-

up

last

at

get
of

at

to

this

sort

to

come
are

faint

the
of

point

in themselves

fame, without

any

theory ; travels,for instance,

little-known
countries,which make
a

and

in remote

the

upon

very

follow

we

difficult to

lay

to

if

the

; nay,

applause from one's

with
a
only persons

the

are

And

facts very

where

true

But

subject,sounds

the

far-off multitude.
fame

and

new

discovery will partly rest

coming

knowledge

both

what

"

be has

seen,

not

by

what

great advantage of this kind

what

relate

one

has

seen,

is much

he has
of fame
easier

impart one's thoughts,and people are apt to

understand
descriptions better than ideas, reading
the one
more
readilythan the other: for, as Asmus
than

to

says,
When
He

And

yet,for

all

has

one
a

that,

goes

forth a-voyaging

talc to tell.

personalacquaintancewith

135

FAME.

Horace

Coelum

animum

non

if

But

do

scenes

new

"

himself

faculties, such

mental

of

solution

nature

concern

as

well

of

little known
with

petty

seek
a

escape

in

words,

other

details.

crowd

of

material

will

give

him

and

true

and

who

for

and
the

he

facts

renders
form

they

amid

of which

the

regions

to

say

self
him-

in

nothing
for

at

will

once

be

to

of

life

serious

ated
appreci-

great part of
he

treats.

him

order

objects

theories

in

equally
far

access,

common

new

its widest

necessity

no

of

; the

service

"

know

difficult

which

occupying

knowledge,
is

the

on

invading

without

There

rivals

the

all those

by

of

branches

in

too

or

great

those

"

view

straying

by-paths,

subjects

out

his

various

special

of their
to

venture

humanity

extend

ever

of

possession

"

-1

currunt.

mare

problems

and

to

all directions, without

intricacies

all

whole

do

will

he

range,

of

from

ideas

new

should

alone

as

hardest

the

in

line

mean

qui trans

mutant

of

us

always

not

finds

man

reminds

often

travellers

celebrated

kind
man-

What

"

vast

distinction

human

and

the

life,the

who

men

poet

and
1

END

students

mineralogy,

chemistry, anatomy,
history,

is between

there

OF

deal
the

the

II.

FIRST

physics,

zoology, philology,
great facts

philosopher!

Epist. I.

THE

with

of

PART.

of

[MM
SGiENSCHEIN'S
Edited

OP

INTR

UC

TION

OF

English
Edited

PHILOSOPHY.

Translation

W.

S.

Second

is matter
the

over

German
"It

is not

"

of this

The

to

clearness

rendering,

WATSON

in

The

translation

of

OF

historical

now

THE

philosophy,

generation, the

to the

necessary

good, faithful

ERDMANN.

American

in 3 vols.

HOUGH,

J. E.

Vols.

Scholars.

i. and

ii.,each

ready.

PRESS.

congratulation, in the dearth

field

accessible

Its remarkable

JOHN

real

whole

compend

made

now

of

English and

Edition, revised,is

NOTICES
"It

Dr.

iii.,12s.
A

work

By

by several

by Professor

; vol.

15s.

M.A.

MUIRHEAD,

:"

HISTORY

THE

H.

by J.

OF PHILOSOPHY

still of original English or American

by the side of the ons
important
well fitted to serve
is
as its complement,
that

other, so
English-speaking student."
of

and
and

"

Mind.

the

of Erdmann's
great merits
History of Philosophy.
well
The
known.
translation
is a
comprehensiveness
are
in some
Professor
reaches a high literarylevel."
parts even

speak

"

Week.

of

is

in itself,and
event
in the fact that it is
important
great significance for the study of philosophy in
this country.
Mr.
MUIRHEAD
has persuaded
whose
work
in philosophy
has won
for
men
them
contribute
has
to
series.
He
to the
a great reputation,
CAIRD, Dr.
got Professor
the
of the work
the character
to be done, and
WARD,
"c., "c. ; these are sufficient to show
high aim of the editor and publishers. All the writers have done good work, though their
best work
remains
to be done."
Spectator.
and
admirable
methodical
A
of patient labour, critical acumen,
splendid monument
treatment.
It is not
too
much
to predict that, for the
library of the savant, for the
academical
will at once
become
A
student, and for the literary dilettante, these volumes
at least, of reference, if not of actual
We
nothing
study.
necessity for purposes,
possess
Pall Mall
that can
with
it in point of completeness."
Gazette.
bear anj
comparison
"It has been
editions
has
sought to
long known,
highly esteemed, "tnd in its successive
lent.
itself more
it has
is excelErdmann's
work
make
worthy of the success
justly achieved.
His history of mediaeval
and
attention
praise for its
philosophy especially deserves
fulness
and
Scotsman.
its admirable
comparative
scholarship."
The
combination
of qualities necessary
of the scope
and grade of
to produce a work
Erdmann's
is rare.
fair degree of philosophic understanding
and
a
Industry, accuracy,
like Uebervveg's ; but Erdmann's
history, while in no way
give us a work
superseding
may
handbook
for general use,
a
as
Ueberweg's
yet occupies a different position. Erdmann
his book, not
wrote
a
book, to give in brief compass
digest of the writings o/
as a reference
the
various
authors, but as a genuine
history of philosophy, tracing in a genetic way
is to
in its treatment
of thought
of philosophic
Its purpose
problems.
development
add
than
information.
to furnish
When
that,
we
develop philosophic intelligence rather
exhaustive
minute
and
successful
execution
of this intention, Erdmann
unites
a
to the
the entire field of philosophy
of philosophic sources
at first hand, equalled over
knowledge
of the
idea of the value
in a condition
to form
some
we
are
probably by no other one
man,
of philosophy,
To
the student
who
book.
wishes, not simply a general idea of the course
of
detailed
this and
that man
has said, but a somewhat
of what
knowledge
a
nor
summary
to it,
writer
have
of what
this and
the
other
contributed
the evolution
of thought, and
in The
is no
Professor
is indispensable; there
JOHN
Erdmann
substitute.""
DKWEV,

the first instalment

of

Erdmann

an

an

undertaking

of

"

"

"

"

"

Andover
"

It is

Review.
a

work

for the reader

that

is at

once

of literature.

At

compact enough for the ordinary student,

once
systematic and interesting."" Journal

and

full

enough

of Education.

LIST

WORKS

OP

PREPARATION

IN

LIBRARY

SONNENSCHEIN'S

PHILOSOPHY.

OF

SERIES:"

FIRST

IDEALISM:

EARLY
Hon.

Descartes

IDEALISTS:

Leibnitz.

to

By

of New

Fellow

(St. Andrew's),

LL.D.

W.

L.

COURTNEY,

M.A.,

College,Oxford.

to Hegel.
By WM.
WALLACE,
M.A., Whyte
Philosophy, University of Oxford.
MODERN
REALISTS:
Herbart, Lotze, "c.
SETH, M.A., ProBy ANDREW
fessor of Logic and English Literature, University of St. Andrew's.
to Mill.
Locke
SENSATIONALISTS:
Ph.M., Assistant
By W. S. HOUGH,
Moral
of
Mental
and
Professor
Philosophy, University of Minnesota,

GERMAN

Professor

Kant

of Moral

U.S.A.

JONES, M. A.,
Hegel. By HENRY
Philosophy, University College,Bangor.
THE
UTILITARIANS
to Contemporary Writers.
: Hume
By W. R. SORLEY,
of Trinity College,Cambridge, and Professor
sophy
of PhiloM.A., Fellow
in University College, Cardiff.
WRITERS:
SENSE
MORAL
Shaftesbury to Martineau.
By WILLIAM
KNIGHT, M.A., Professor of Moral
Philosophy, St. Andrew's, N.B.
THE

ETHICS

OF

Professor

PRINCIPLE

OF

THE

HISTORY
Owen's

AND

Professor

LL.D.,

College,Kingston,

OF

AND

of

PHILOSOPHICAL
Moral

Philosophy,

Canada.

THIRD

THEORY

Empirical
Professor

of

and

Rational.

Logic

and

By

D.

Political

By ROBERT
Economy,

of

PHILOSOPHY.

ECONOMICS

OF

IN

RATIONAL

THEIR

HISTORICAL

OF

By

THEOLOGY

BOSANQUET,
since

Kant.

M.A.,

By

late

sor
Profes-

[Ready.

:-

ETHICS.

Philosophy in
OR
THE
EPISTEMOLOGY,
D.Sc., LL.D., Fellow
SWAN

M.A.,

RELATIONS.

of Berlin.

PFLEIDERER,

Moral

RITCHIE,

LL.D.

OF /ESTHETICS.
By BERNARD
University College, Oxford.

SERIES

G.

College, Oxford.

M.A.,

DEVELOPMENT
OTTO

LL.D.,

POLITICAL

of Jesus

HISTORY
Fellow

PSYCHOLOGY:"

M.A.,

J. BONAR,

THE

SCIENTIFIC

College, Manchester.

PHILOSOPHY

THE

WATSON,

of Queen's

OF

HISTORY
Fellow

THE

ITS

SERIES."

ADAMSON,
THE

IN

JOHN

By

University

and

Moral

and

EVOLUTION

ASPECTS.

SECOND

Kant

IDEALISM:

of Mental

the

CAIRO,
By EDWARD
of
University
Glasgow.

THEORY
and

OF

Lecturer

SONNENSCHEIN

LL.D.,

KNOWLEDGE.
of

Professor

WARD,
By JAMES
Trinity College, Cambridge.

"

CO., LONDON.

of

SOCIAL

SCIENCE

SERIES.

Cloth, each

Scarlet

6d.

2s.

and

Work

1.

"

Wages.
that

Nothing
people."

"No

Professor

writes

Rogers

THOROLD

E.

J.

fail to be

can

ROGERS.

of interest

to

ful
thought-

Atheuaum.

"

Civilisation

2.

Prof.

its Cause

passing

piece

Quintessence

of

of

and

Cure.
but

polemics,

possession."" Scottish

permanent

CARPENTER.

EDWARD

Review.

3.

"Precisely
Weekly.

the

New
"

One

Religion

6.

Ethics

of

Mr.

7. The
"

"

"

"

A
11.

clear

and

E.

BELFORT

BAX.

E.

BELFORT

BAX.

reflection."

Graphic.

"

most

readable

form."

is

in

and

Scotsman.

"

unmistakable,

their freshness

style, their

of

humour,

Mall.

England.
of

CARPENTER.

the

subject from

SIDNEY

WEBB,

LL.B.

modern

Socialist

side."

the

Bismarck

Prince

and

State

succinct, well-digested review

Review.
"Saturday

Socialism.
social

of German

"

and

economic

Shows

Political

The

legislation

Justice

(On

Property).

at his

of

the

; with

interesting

an

French

outline."

trustworthy

Co-Operative
An

best

and

SALT.

by II. S.
informing

tion."
Introduc-

Herald.

Story

The
"

Godwin

Glasgow

"

"A

DAWSON.

1870."

Godwin's

"

H.

W.

Edited

14.

MACMILLAN.

enlightened utilitarian

most

EDWARD

Pall

general view

M.

Prof.

Happiness.
advanced

MITCHELL.

KATE

thentzum.

"A

13.

Socialism.""

of

exponents

Ideal, "c.

literary power

best

for

of the

account

their enthusiasm.""

since
12.

in

The

English

the

of

World.

Literary

"

Dr.

General

of

Socialism

10.

ablest

the

interesting matter

reasoned

The

and

far

by

England's

9.

with."

met

Question.

of

Plenty

doctrine

on

(Oxon.)

Evolution.

Human

Review.

Drink

Essays

have

we

M.A.

RITCHIE,

Socialism.

Promotion

8.

G.

Socialism.

is

Bax

Westminster

suggestive books

most

of

D.
additional

two

British

wise.""

Brief, lucid, fair, and

Politics.
with

SCHAFFLE.

Dr.

needed.

Edition,

of the

5.

"

manual

and

Darwinism

4.

Socialism.

independent

"

Revolution.

E.

BELFORT

BAX.

Scotsman.

Commonwealth.

exposition

of the

LAURENCE
Socialism

of

the

GRONLUND.

Marx

School.""

temporary
Con-

Review.

15.

Essays

Ought to
spirit."" Echo.
"

No
means.""

one

Addresses.

and

"

can

Pall

be

in

the

complain
Mall

hands

of not

Gazette.

BOSANQUET,

BERNARD
of

every

student

being able

of

the

to understand

M.A.

Nineteenth
what

Mr.

(Oxon.)
Century
Bosanquet
[OVEK.