heretics-第24节
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Until we understand that original dark； in which we have neither
sight nor expectation； we can give no hearty and childlike
praise to the splendid sensationalism of things。 The terms
〃pessimism〃 and 〃optimism；〃 like most modern terms； are unmeaning。
But if they can be used in any vague sense as meaning something；
we may say that in this great fact pessimism is the very basis
of optimism。 The man who destroys himself creates the universe。
To the humble man； and to the humble man alone； the sun is really a sun；
to the humble man； and to the humble man alone； the sea is really a sea。
When he looks at all the faces in the street； he does not only
realize that men are alive； he realizes with a dramatic pleasure
that they are not dead。
I have not spoken of another aspect of the discovery of humility
as a psychological necessity； because it is more commonly insisted on；
and is in itself more obvious。 But it is equally clear that humility
is a permanent necessity as a condition of effort and self…examination。
It is one of the deadly fallacies of Jingo politics that a nation
is stronger for despising other nations。 As a matter of fact；
the strongest nations are those； like Prussia or Japan； which began
from very mean beginnings； but have not been too proud to sit at
the feet of the foreigner and learn everything from him。 Almost every
obvious and direct victory has been the victory of the plagiarist。
This is； indeed； only a very paltry by…product of humility；
but it is a product of humility； and； therefore； it is successful。
Prussia had no Christian humility in its internal arrangements；
hence its internal arrangements were miserable。 But it had enough
Christian humility slavishly to copy France （even down to Frederick
the Great's poetry）； and that which it had the humility to copy it
had ultimately the honour to conquer。 The case of the Japanese
is even more obvious； their only Christian and their only beautiful
quality is that they have humbled themselves to be exalted。
All this aspect of humility； however； as connected with the matter
of effort and striving for a standard set above us； I dismiss as having
been sufficiently pointed out by almost all idealistic writers。
It may be worth while； however； to point out the interesting disparity
in the matter of humility between the modern notion of the strong
man and the actual records of strong men。 Carlyle objected
to the statement that no man could be a hero to his valet。
Every sympathy can be extended towards him in the matter if he merely
or mainly meant that the phrase was a disparagement of hero…worship。
Hero…worship is certainly a generous and human impulse； the hero may
be faulty； but the worship can hardly be。 It may be that no man would
be a hero to his valet。 But any man would be a valet to his hero。
But in truth both the proverb itself and Carlyle's stricture
upon it ignore the most essential matter at issue。 The ultimate
psychological truth is not that no man is a hero to his valet。
The ultimate psychological truth； the foundation of Christianity；
is that no man is a hero to himself。 Cromwell； according to Carlyle；
was a strong man。 According to Cromwell； he was a weak one。
The weak point in the whole of Carlyle's case for
aristocracy lies； indeed； in his most celebrated phrase。
Carlyle said that men were mostly fools。 Christianity； with a
surer and more reverent realism； says that they are all fools。
This doctrine is sometimes called the doctrine of original sin。
It may also be described as the doctrine of the equality of men。
But the essential point of it is merely this； that whatever primary
and far…reaching moral dangers affect any man； affect all men。
All men can be criminals； if tempted； all men can be heroes； if inspired。
And this doctrine does away altogether with Carlyle's pathetic belief
（or any one else's pathetic belief） in 〃the wise few。〃
There are no wise few。 Every aristocracy that has ever existed
has behaved； in all essential points； exactly like a small mob。
Every oligarchy is merely a knot of men in the streetthat is to say；
it is very jolly； but not infallible。 And no oligarchies in the world's
history have ever come off so badly in practical affairs as the very
proud oligarchiesthe oligarchy of Poland； the oligarchy of Venice。
And the armies that have most swiftly and suddenly broken their
enemies in pieces have been the religious armiesthe Moslem Armies；
for instance； or the Puritan Armies。 And a religious army may；
by its nature； be defined as an army in which every man is taught
not to exalt but to abase himself。 Many modern Englishmen talk of
themselves as the sturdy descendants of their sturdy Puritan fathers。
As a fact； they would run away from a cow。 If you asked one
of their Puritan fathers； if you asked Bunyan； for instance；
whether he was sturdy； he would have answered； with tears； that he was
as weak as water。 And because of this he would have borne tortures。
And this virtue of humility； while being practical enough to
win battles； will always be paradoxical enough to puzzle pedants。
It is at one with the virtue of charity in this respect。
Every generous person will admit that the one kind of sin which charity
should cover is the sin which is inexcusable。 And every generous
person will equally agree that the one kind of pride which is wholly
damnable is the pride of the man who has something to be proud of。
The pride which； proportionally speaking； does not hurt the character；
is the pride in things which reflect no credit on the person at all。
Thus it does a man no harm to be proud of his country；
and comparatively little harm to be proud of his remote ancestors。
It does him more harm to be proud of having made money；
because in that he has a little more reason for pride。
It does him more harm still to be proud of what is nobler
than moneyintellect。 And it does him most harm of all to value
himself for the most valuable thing on earthgoodness。 The man
who is proud of what is really creditable to him is the Pharisee；
the man whom Christ Himself could not forbear to strike。
My objection to Mr。 Lowes Dickinson and the reassertors of the pagan
ideal is； then； this。 I accuse them of ignoring definite human
discoveries in the moral world； discoveries as definite； though not
as material； as the discovery of the circulation of the blood。
We cannot go back to an ideal of reason and sanity。
For mankind has discovered that reason does not lead to sanity。
We cannot go back to an ideal of pride and enjoyment。 For mankind
has discovered that pride does not lead to enjoyment。 I do not know
by what extraordinary mental accident modern writers so constantly
connect the idea of progress with the idea of independent thinking。
Progress is obviously the antithesis of independent thinking。
For under independent or individualistic thinking； every man starts
at the beginning； and goes； in all probability； just as far as his
father before him。 But if there really be anything of the nature
of progress； it must mean； above all things； the careful study
and assumption of the whole of the past。 I accuse Mr。 Lowes
Dickinson and his school of reaction in the only real sense。
If he likes； let him ignore these great historic mysteries
the mystery of charity； the mystery of chivalry； the mystery of faith。
If he likes； let him ignore the plough or the printing…press。
But if we do revive and pursue the pagan ideal of a simple and
rational self…completion we shall endwhere Paganism ended。
I do not mean that we shall end in destruction。 I mean that we
shall end in Christianity。
XIII。 Celts and Celtophiles
Science in the modern world has many uses； its chief use； however；
is to provide long words to cover the errors of the rich。
The word 〃kleptomania〃 is a vulgar example of what I mean。
It is on a par with that strange theory； always advanced when a wealthy
or prominent person is in the dock； that exposure is more of a punishment
for the rich than for the poor。 Of course； the very reverse is the truth。
Exposure is more of a punishment for the poor than for the rich。
The richer a man is the easier it is for him to be a tramp。
The richer a man is the easier it is for him to be popular and generally
respected in the Cannibal Islands。 But the poorer a man is the more
likely it is that he will have to use
