第6章

Butnaturedoesnotsaythatcatsaremorevaluablethanmice；

naturemakesnoremarkonthesubject。Shedoesnotevensaythatthecatisenviableorthemousepitiable。Wethinkthecatsuperiorbecausewehave（ormostofushave）aparticularphilosophytotheeffectthatlifeisbetterthandeath。ButifthemousewereaGermanpessimistmouse，hemightnotthinkthatthecathadbeatenhimatall。Hemightthinkhehadbeatenthecatbygettingtothegravefirst。Orhemightfeelthathehadactuallyinflictedfrightfulpunishmentonthecatbykeepinghimalive。

Justasamicrobemightfeelproudofspreadingapestilence，sothepessimisticmousemightexulttothinkthathewasrenewinginthecatthetortureofconsciousexistence。Italldependsonthephilosophyofthemouse。Youcannotevensaythatthereisvictoryorsuperiorityinnatureunlessyouhavesomedoctrineaboutwhatthingsaresuperior。Youcannotevensaythatthecatscoresunlessthereisasystemofscoring。Youcannotevensaythatthecatgetsthebestofitunlessthereissomebesttobegot。

Wecannot，then，gettheidealitselffromnature，andaswefollowherethefirstandnaturalspeculation，wewillleaveout（forthepresent）theideaofgettingitfromGod。

Wemusthaveourownvision。Buttheattemptsofmostmodernstoexpressitarehighlyvague。

Somefallbacksimplyontheclock：theytalkasifmerepassagethroughtimebroughtsomesuperiority；sothatevenamanofthefirstmentalcalibrecarelesslyusesthephrasethathumanmoralityisneveruptodate。Howcananythingbeuptodate？——

adatehasnocharacter。HowcanonesaythatChristmascelebrationsarenotsuitabletothetwenty-fifthofamonth？

Whatthewritermeant，ofcourse，wasthatthemajorityisbehindhisfavouriteminority——orinfrontofit。Othervaguemodernpeopletakerefugeinmaterialmetaphors；infact，thisisthechiefmarkofvaguemodernpeople。Notdaringtodefinetheirdoctrineofwhatisgood，theyusephysicalfiguresofspeechwithoutstintorshame，and，whatisworstofall，seemtothinkthesecheapanalogiesareexquisitelyspiritualandsuperiortotheoldmorality。

Thustheythinkitintellectualtotalkaboutthingsbeing"high。"

Itisatleastthereverseofintellectual；itisamerephrasefromasteepleoraweathercock。"Tommywasagoodboy"isapurephilosophicalstatement，worthyofPlatoorAquinas。"Tommylivedthehigherlife"isagrossmetaphorfromaten-footrule。

This，incidentally，isalmostthewholeweaknessofNietzsche，whomsomearerepresentingasaboldandstrongthinker。

Noonewilldenythathewasapoeticalandsuggestivethinker；

buthewasquitethereverseofstrong。Hewasnotatallbold。

Heneverputhisownmeaningbeforehimselfinbaldabstractwords：

asdidAristotleandCalvin，andevenKarlMarx，thehard，fearlessmenofthought。Nietzschealwaysescapedaquestionbyaphysicalmetaphor，likeacheeryminorpoet。Hesaid，"beyondgoodandevil，"becausehehadnotthecouragetosay，"moregoodthangoodandevil，"or，"moreevilthangoodandevil。"

Hadhefacedhisthoughtwithoutmetaphors，hewouldhaveseenthatitwasnonsense。So，whenhedescribeshishero，hedoesnotdaretosay，"thepurerman，"or"thehappierman，"or"thesadderman，"foralltheseareideas；andideasarealarming。Hesays"theupperman，"

or"overman，"aphysicalmetaphorfromacrobatsoralpineclimbers。

Nietzscheistrulyaverytimidthinker。Hedoesnotreallyknowintheleastwhatsortofmanhewantsevolutiontoproduce。

Andifhedoesnotknow，certainlytheordinaryevolutionists，whotalkaboutthingsbeing"higher，"donotknoweither。

Thenagain，somepeoplefallbackonsheersubmissionandsittingstill。Natureisgoingtodosomethingsomeday；

nobodyknowswhat，andnobodyknowswhen。Wehavenoreasonforacting，andnoreasonfornotacting。Ifanythinghappensitisright：

ifanythingispreventeditwaswrong。Again，somepeopletrytoanticipatenaturebydoingsomething，bydoinganything。

Becausewemaypossiblygrowwingstheycutofftheirlegs。

Yetnaturemaybetryingtomakethemcentipedesforalltheyknow。

Lastly，thereisafourthclassofpeoplewhotakewhateveritisthattheyhappentowant，andsaythatthatistheultimateaimofevolution。Andthesearetheonlysensiblepeople。

Thisistheonlyreallyhealthywaywiththewordevolution，toworkforwhatyouwant，andtocallTHATevolution。Theonlyintelligiblesensethatprogressoradvancecanhaveamongmen，isthatwehaveadefinitevision，andthatwewishtomakethewholeworldlikethatvision。Ifyouliketoputitso，theessenceofthedoctrineisthatwhatwehavearoundusisthemeremethodandpreparationforsomethingthatwehavetocreate。

Thisisnotaworld，butratherthematerialforaworld。

Godhasgivenusnotsomuchthecoloursofapictureasthecoloursofapalette。Buthehasalsogivenusasubject，amodel，afixedvision。Wemustbeclearaboutwhatwewanttopaint。

Thisaddsafurtherprincipletoourpreviouslistofprinciples。

Wehavesaidwemustbefondofthisworld，eveninordertochangeit。

Wenowaddthatwemustbefondofanotherworld（realorimaginary）

inordertohavesomethingtochangeitto。

Weneednotdebateaboutthemerewordsevolutionorprogress：

personallyIprefertocallitreform。Forreformimpliesform。

Itimpliesthatwearetryingtoshapetheworldinaparticularimage；

tomakeitsomethingthatweseealreadyinourminds。Evolutionisametaphorfrommereautomaticunrolling。Progressisametaphorfrommerelywalkingalongaroad——verylikelythewrongroad。Butreformisametaphorforreasonableanddeterminedmen：itmeansthatweseeacertainthingoutofshapeandwemeantoputitintoshape。

Andweknowwhatshape。

Nowherecomesinthewholecollapseandhugeblunderofourage。

Wehavemixeduptwodifferentthings，twooppositethings。

Progressshouldmeanthatwearealwayschangingtheworldtosuitthevision。Progressdoesmean（justnow）thatwearealwayschangingthevision。Itshouldmeanthatweareslowbutsureinbringingjusticeandmercyamongmen：itdoesmeanthatweareveryswiftindoubtingthedesirabilityofjusticeandmercy：awildpagefromanyPrussiansophistmakesmendoubtit。ProgressshouldmeanthatwearealwayswalkingtowardstheNewJerusalem。ItdoesmeanthattheNewJerusalemisalwayswalkingawayfromus。Wearenotalteringtherealtosuittheideal。Wearealteringtheideal：

itiseasier。

Sillyexamplesarealwayssimpler；letussupposeamanwantedaparticularkindofworld；say，ablueworld。Hewouldhavenocausetocomplainoftheslightnessorswiftnessofhistask；

hemighttoilforalongtimeatthetransformation；hecouldworkaway（ineverysense）untilallwasblue。Hecouldhaveheroicadventures；theputtingofthelasttouchestoabluetiger。

Hecouldhavefairydreams；thedawnofabluemoon。Butifheworkedhard，thathigh-mindedreformerwouldcertainly（fromhisownpointofview）leavetheworldbetterandbluerthanhefoundit。

Ifhealteredabladeofgrasstohisfavouritecoloureveryday，hewouldgetonslowly。Butifhealteredhisfavouritecoloureveryday，hewouldnotgetonatall。If，afterreadingafreshphilosopher，hestartedtopainteverythingredoryellow，hisworkwouldbethrownaway：therewouldbenothingtoshowexceptafewbluetigerswalkingabout，specimensofhisearlybadmanner。

Thisisexactlythepositionoftheaveragemodernthinker。

Itwillbesaidthatthisisavowedlyapreposterousexample。

Butitisliterallythefactofrecenthistory。Thegreatandgravechangesinourpoliticalcivilizationallbelongedtotheearlynineteenthcentury，nottothelater。TheybelongedtotheblackandwhiteepochwhenmenbelievedfixedlyinToryism，inProtestantism，inCalvinism，inReform，andnotunfrequentlyinRevolution。

Andwhatevereachmanbelievedinhehammeredatsteadily，withoutscepticism：andtherewasatimewhentheEstablishedChurchmighthavefallen，andtheHouseofLordsnearlyfell。

ItwasbecauseRadicalswerewiseenoughtobeconstantandconsistent；

itwasbecauseRadicalswerewiseenoughtobeConservative。

ButintheexistingatmospherethereisnotenoughtimeandtraditioninRadicalismtopullanythingdown。ThereisagreatdealoftruthinLordHughCecil’ssuggestion（madeinafinespeech）thattheeraofchangeisover，andthatoursisaneraofconservationandrepose。

ButprobablyitwouldpainLordHughCecilifherealized（whatiscertainlythecase）thatoursisonlyanageofconservationbecauseitisanageofcompleteunbelief。Letbeliefsfadefastandfrequently，ifyouwishinstitutionstoremainthesame。

Themorethelifeofthemindisunhinged，themorethemachineryofmatterwillbelefttoitself。Thenetresultofallourpoliticalsuggestions，Collectivism，Tolstoyanism，Neo-Feudalism，Communism，Anarchy，ScientificBureaucracy——theplainfruitofallofthemisthattheMonarchyandtheHouseofLordswillremain。

ThenetresultofallthenewreligionswillbethattheChurchofEnglandwillnot（forheavenknowshowlong）bedisestablished。

ItwasKarlMarx，Nietzsche，Tolstoy，CunninghameGrahame，BernardShawandAuberonHerbert，whobetweenthem，withbowedgiganticbacks，boreupthethroneoftheArchbishopofCanterbury。

Wemaysaybroadlythatfreethoughtisthebestofallthesafeguardsagainstfreedom。Managedinamodernstyletheemancipationoftheslave’smindisthebestwayofpreventingtheemancipationoftheslave。Teachhimtoworryaboutwhetherhewantstobefree，andhewillnotfreehimself。Again，itmaybesaidthatthisinstanceisremoteorextreme。But，again，itisexactlytrueofthemeninthestreetsaroundus。Itistruethatthenegroslave，beingadebasedbarbarian，willprobablyhaveeitherahumanaffectionofloyalty，orahumanaffectionforliberty。Butthemanweseeeveryday——theworkerinMr。Gradgrind’sfactory，thelittleclerkinMr。Gradgrind’soffice——heistoomentallyworriedtobelieveinfreedom。Heiskeptquietwithrevolutionaryliterature。

Heiscalmedandkeptinhisplacebyaconstantsuccessionofwildphilosophies。HeisaMarxianoneday，aNietzscheitethenextday，aSuperman（probably）thenextday；andaslaveeveryday。

Theonlythingthatremainsafterallthephilosophiesisthefactory。

TheonlymanwhogainsbyallthephilosophiesisGradgrind。

Itwouldbeworthhiswhiletokeephiscommercialhelotrysuppliedwithscepticalliterature。AndnowIcometothinkofit，ofcourse，Gradgrindisfamousforgivinglibraries。Heshowshissense。

Allmodernbooksareonhisside。Aslongasthevisionofheavenisalwayschanging，thevisionofearthwillbeexactlythesame。

Noidealwillremainlongenoughtoberealized，orevenpartlyrealized。

Themodernyoungmanwillneverchangehisenvironment；forhewillalwayschangehismind。

This，therefore，isourfirstrequirementabouttheidealtowardswhichprogressisdirected；itmustbefixed。Whistlerusedtomakemanyrapidstudiesofasitter；itdidnotmatterifhetoreuptwentyportraits。Butitwouldmatterifhelookeduptwentytimes，andeachtimesawanewpersonsittingplacidlyforhisportrait。

Soitdoesnotmatter（comparativelyspeaking）howoftenhumanityfailstoimitateitsideal；forthenallitsoldfailuresarefruitful。

Butitdoesfrightfullymatterhowoftenhumanitychangesitsideal；

forthenallitsoldfailuresarefruitless。Thequestionthereforebecomesthis：Howcanwekeeptheartistdiscontentedwithhispictureswhilepreventinghimfrombeingvitallydiscontentedwithhisart？

Howcanwemakeamanalwaysdissatisfiedwithhiswork，yetalwayssatisfiedwithworking？Howcanwemakesurethattheportraitpainterwillthrowtheportraitoutofwindowinsteadoftakingthenaturalandmorehumancourseofthrowingthesitteroutofwindow？

Astrictruleisnotonlynecessaryforruling；itisalsonecessaryforrebelling。Thisfixedandfamiliaridealisnecessarytoanysortofrevolution。Manwillsometimesactslowlyuponnewideas；

buthewillonlyactswiftlyuponoldideas。IfIammerelytofloatorfadeorevolve，itmaybetowardssomethinganarchic；

butifIamtoriot，itmustbeforsomethingrespectable。Thisisthewholeweaknessofcertainschoolsofprogressandmoralevolution。

Theysuggestthattherehasbeenaslowmovementtowardsmorality，withanimperceptibleethicalchangeineveryyearorateveryinstant。

Thereisonlyonegreatdisadvantageinthistheory。Ittalksofaslowmovementtowardsjustice；butitdoesnotpermitaswiftmovement。

Amanisnotallowedtoleapupanddeclareacertainstateofthingstobeintrinsicallyintolerable。Tomakethematterclear，itisbettertotakeaspecificexample。Certainoftheidealisticvegetarians，suchasMr。Salt，saythatthetimehasnowcomeforeatingnomeat；

byimplicationtheyassumethatatonetimeitwasrighttoeatmeat，andtheysuggest（inwordsthatcouldbequoted）thatsomedayitmaybewrongtoeatmilkandeggs。Idonotdiscussherethequestionofwhatisjusticetoanimals。Ionlysaythatwhateverisjusticeought，undergivenconditions，tobepromptjustice。

Ifananimaliswronged，weoughttobeabletorushtohisrescue。

Buthowcanwerushifweare，perhaps，inadvanceofourtime？Howcanwerushtocatchatrainwhichmaynotarriveforafewcenturies？

HowcanIdenounceamanforskinningcats，ifheisonlynowwhatI

maypossiblybecomeindrinkingaglassofmilk？AsplendidandinsaneRussiansectranabouttakingallthecattleoutofallthecarts。

HowcanIpluckupcouragetotakethehorseoutofmyhansom-cab，whenIdonotknowwhethermyevolutionarywatchisonlyalittlefastorthecabman’salittleslow？SupposeIsaytoasweater，"Slaverysuitedonestageofevolution。"Andsupposeheanswers，"Andsweatingsuitsthisstageofevolution。"HowcanIanswerifthereisnoeternaltest？Ifsweaterscanbebehindthecurrentmorality，whyshouldnotphilanthropistsbeinfrontofit？Whatonearthisthecurrentmorality，exceptinitsliteralsense——themoralitythatisalwaysrunningaway？

Thuswemaysaythatapermanentidealisasnecessarytotheinnovatorastotheconservative；itisnecessarywhetherwewishtheking’sorderstobepromptlyexecutedorwhetherweonlywishthekingtobepromptlyexecuted。Theguillotinehasmanysins，buttodoitjusticethereisnothingevolutionaryaboutit。

Thefavouriteevolutionaryargumentfindsitsbestanswerintheaxe。TheEvolutionistsays，"Wheredoyoudrawtheline？"

theRevolutionistanswers，"IdrawitHERE：exactlybetweenyourheadandbody。"Theremustatanygivenmomentbeanabstractrightandwrongifanyblowistobestruck；theremustbesomethingeternalifthereistobeanythingsudden。Thereforeforallintelligiblehumanpurposes，foralteringthingsorforkeepingthingsastheyare，forfoundingasystemforever，asinChina，orforalteringiteverymonthasintheearlyFrenchRevolution，itisequallynecessarythatthevisionshouldbeafixedvision。

Thisisourfirstrequirement。

WhenIhadwrittenthisdown，Ifeltonceagainthepresenceofsomethingelseinthediscussion：asamanhearsachurchbellabovethesoundofthestreet。Somethingseemedtobesaying，"Myidealatleastisfixed；foritwasfixedbeforethefoundationsoftheworld。Myvisionofperfectionassuredlycannotbealtered；

foritiscalledEden。Youmayaltertheplacetowhichyouaregoing；butyoucannotaltertheplacefromwhichyouhavecome。

Totheorthodoxtheremustalwaysbeacaseforrevolution；

forintheheartsofmenGodhasbeenputunderthefeetofSatan。

Intheupperworldhelloncerebelledagainstheaven。Butinthisworldheavenisrebellingagainsthell。Fortheorthodoxtherecanalwaysbearevolution；forarevolutionisarestoration。

AtanyinstantyoumaystrikeablowfortheperfectionwhichnomanhasseensinceAdam。Nounchangingcustom，nochangingevolutioncanmaketheoriginalgoodanythingbutgood。

Manmayhavehadconcubinesaslongascowshavehadhorns：

stilltheyarenotapartofhimiftheyaresinful。Menmayhavebeenunderoppressioneversincefishwereunderwater；

stilltheyoughtnottobe，ifoppressionissinful。Thechainmayseemasnaturaltotheslave，orthepainttotheharlot，asdoestheplumetothebirdortheburrowtothefox；stilltheyarenot，iftheyaresinful。Iliftmyprehistoriclegendtodefyallyourhistory。Yourvisionisnotmerelyafixture：itisafact。"

IpausedtonotethenewcoincidenceofChristianity：butI

passedon。

Ipassedontothenextnecessityofanyidealofprogress。

Somepeople（aswehavesaid）seemtobelieveinanautomaticandimpersonalprogressinthenatureofthings。Butitisclearthatnopoliticalactivitycanbeencouragedbysayingthatprogressisnaturalandinevitable；thatisnotareasonforbeingactive，butratherareasonforbeinglazy。Ifweareboundtoimprove，weneednottroubletoimprove。Thepuredoctrineofprogressisthebestofallreasonsfornotbeingaprogressive。ButitistononeoftheseobviouscommentsthatIwishprimarilytocallattention。

Theonlyarrestingpointisthis：thatifwesupposeimprovementtobenatural，itmustbefairlysimple。Theworldmightconceivablybeworkingtowardsoneconsummation，buthardlytowardsanyparticulararrangementofmanyqualities。Totakeouroriginalsimile：Naturebyherselfmaybegrowingmoreblue；

thatis，aprocesssosimplethatitmightbeimpersonal。ButNaturecannotbemakingacarefulpicturemadeofmanypickedcolours，unlessNatureispersonal。Iftheendoftheworldweremeredarknessormerelightitmightcomeasslowlyandinevitablyasduskordawn。Butiftheendoftheworldistobeapieceofelaborateandartisticchiaroscuro，thentheremustbedesigninit，eitherhumanordivine。Theworld，throughmeretime，mightgrowblacklikeanoldpicture，orwhitelikeanoldcoat；

butifitisturnedintoaparticularpieceofblackandwhiteart——

thenthereisanartist。

Ifthedistinctionbenotevident，Igiveanordinaryinstance。Weconstantlyhearaparticularlycosmiccreedfromthemodernhumanitarians；

Iusethewordhumanitarianintheordinarysense，asmeaningonewhoupholdstheclaimsofallcreaturesagainstthoseofhumanity。

Theysuggestthatthroughtheageswehavebeengrowingmoreandmorehumane，thatistosay，thatoneafteranother，groupsorsectionsofbeings，slaves，children，women，cows，orwhatnot，havebeengraduallyadmittedtomercyortojustice。Theysaythatweoncethoughtitrighttoeatmen（wedidn’t）；butIamnothereconcernedwiththeirhistory，whichishighlyunhistorical。

Asafact，anthropophagyiscertainlyadecadentthing，notaprimitiveone。Itismuchmorelikelythatmodernmenwilleathumanfleshoutofaffectationthanthatprimitivemaneverateitoutofignorance。Iamhereonlyfollowingtheoutlinesoftheirargument，whichconsistsinmaintainingthatmanhasbeenprogressivelymorelenient，firsttocitizens，thentoslaves，thentoanimals，andthen（presumably）toplants。Ithinkitwrongtositonaman。Soon，Ishallthinkitwrongtositonahorse。

Eventually（Isuppose）Ishallthinkitwrongtositonachair。

Thatisthedriveoftheargument。Andforthisargumentitcanbesaidthatitispossibletotalkofitintermsofevolutionorinevitableprogress。Aperpetualtendencytotouchfewerandfewerthingsmight——onefeels，beamerebruteunconscioustendency，likethatofaspeciestoproducefewerandfewerchildren。

Thisdriftmaybereallyevolutionary，becauseitisstupid。

Darwinismcanbeusedtobackuptwomadmoralities，butitcannotbeusedtobackupasinglesaneone。Thekinshipandcompetitionofalllivingcreaturescanbeusedasareasonforbeinginsanelycruelorinsanelysentimental；butnotforahealthyloveofanimals。Ontheevolutionarybasisyoumaybeinhumane，oryoumaybeabsurdlyhumane；butyoucannotbehuman。Thatyouandatigerareonemaybeareasonforbeingtendertoatiger。

Oritmaybeareasonforbeingascruelasthetiger。Itisonewaytotrainthetigertoimitateyou，itisashorterwaytoimitatethetiger。Butinneithercasedoesevolutiontellyouhowtotreatatigerreasonably，thatis，toadmirehisstripeswhileavoidinghisclaws。

Ifyouwanttotreatatigerreasonably，youmustgobacktothegardenofEden。Fortheobstinateremindercontinuedtorecur：

onlythesupernaturalhastakenasaneviewofNature。Theessenceofallpantheism，evolutionism，andmoderncosmicreligionisreallyinthisproposition：thatNatureisourmother。Unfortunately，ifyouregardNatureasamother，youdiscoverthatsheisastep-mother。ThemainpointofChristianitywasthis：thatNatureisnotourmother：

Natureisoursister。Wecanbeproudofherbeauty，sincewehavethesamefather；butshehasnoauthorityoverus；wehavetoadmire，butnottoimitate。ThisgivestothetypicallyChristianpleasureinthisearthastrangetouchoflightnessthatisalmostfrivolity。

NaturewasasolemnmothertotheworshippersofIsisandCybele。

NaturewasasolemnmothertoWordsworthortoEmerson。

ButNatureisnotsolemntoFrancisofAssisiortoGeorgeHerbert。

ToSt。Francis，Natureisasister，andevenayoungersister：

alittle，dancingsister，tobelaughedataswellasloved。

This，however，ishardlyourmainpointatpresent；Ihaveadmitteditonlyinordertoshowhowconstantly，andasitwereaccidentally，thekeywouldfitthesmallestdoors。Ourmainpointishere，thatiftherebeameretrendofimpersonalimprovementinNature，itmustpresumablybeasimpletrendtowardssomesimpletriumph。

Onecanimaginethatsomeautomatictendencyinbiologymightworkforgivinguslongerandlongernoses。Butthequestionis，dowewanttohavelongerandlongernoses？Ifancynot；

Ibelievethatwemostofuswanttosaytoournoses，"thusfar，andnofarther；andhereshallthyproudpointbestayed："

werequireanoseofsuchlengthasmayensureaninterestingface。

Butwecannotimagineamerebiologicaltrendtowardsproducinginterestingfaces；becauseaninterestingfaceisoneparticulararrangementofeyes，nose，andmouth，inamostcomplexrelationtoeachother。Proportioncannotbeadrift：itiseitheranaccidentoradesign。Sowiththeidealofhumanmoralityanditsrelationtothehumanitariansandtheanti-humanitarians。

Itisconceivablethatwearegoingmoreandmoretokeepourhandsoffthings：nottodrivehorses；nottopickflowers。Wemayeventuallybeboundnottodisturbaman’smindevenbyargument；

nottodisturbthesleepofbirdsevenbycoughing。Theultimateapotheosiswouldappeartobethatofamansittingquitestill，nordaringtostirforfearofdisturbingafly，nortoeatforfearofincommodingamicrobe。Tosocrudeaconsummationasthatwemightperhapsunconsciouslydrift。Butdowewantsocrudeaconsummation？Similarly，wemightunconsciouslyevolvealongtheoppositeorNietzschianlineofdevelopment——supermancrushingsupermaninonetoweroftyrantsuntiltheuniverseissmashedupforfun。Butdowewanttheuniversesmashedupforfun？

Isitnotquiteclearthatwhatwereallyhopeforisoneparticularmanagementandpropositionofthesetwothings；acertainamountofrestraintandrespect，acertainamountofenergyandmastery？

Ifourlifeiseverreallyasbeautifulasafairy-tale，weshallhavetorememberthatallthebeautyofafairy-taleliesinthis：

thattheprincehasawonderwhichjuststopsshortofbeingfear。

Ifheisafraidofthegiant，thereisanendofhim；butalsoifheisnotastonishedatthegiant，thereisanendofthefairy-tale。Thewholepointdependsuponhisbeingatoncehumbleenoughtowonder，andhaughtyenoughtodefy。Soourattitudetothegiantoftheworldmustnotmerelybeincreasingdelicacyorincreasingcontempt：

itmustbeoneparticularproportionofthetwo——whichisexactlyright。

Wemusthaveinusenoughreverenceforallthingsoutsideustomakeustreadfearfullyonthegrass。Wemustalsohaveenoughdisdainforallthingsoutsideus，tomakeus，ondueoccasion，spitatthestars。Yetthesetwothings（ifwearetobegoodorhappy）mustbecombined，notinanycombination，butinoneparticularcombination。Theperfecthappinessofmenontheearth（ifitevercomes）willnotbeaflatandsolidthing，likethesatisfactionofanimals。Itwillbeanexactandperilousbalance；

likethatofadesperateromance。Manmusthavejustenoughfaithinhimselftohaveadventures，andjustenoughdoubtofhimselftoenjoythem。

This，then，isoursecondrequirementfortheidealofprogress。

First，itmustbefixed；second，itmustbecomposite。Itmustnot（ifitistosatisfyoursouls）bethemerevictoryofsomeonethingswallowingupeverythingelse，loveorprideorpeaceoradventure；

itmustbeadefinitepicturecomposedoftheseelementsintheirbestproportionandrelation。Iamnotconcernedatthismomenttodenythatsomesuchgoodculminationmaybe，bytheconstitutionofthings，reservedforthehumanrace。Ionlypointoutthatifthiscompositehappinessisfixedforusitmustbefixedbysomemind；foronlyamindcanplacetheexactproportionsofacompositehappiness。

Ifthebeatificationoftheworldisamereworkofnature，thenitmustbeassimpleasthefreezingoftheworld，ortheburningupoftheworld。Butifthebeatificationoftheworldisnotaworkofnaturebutaworkofart，thenitinvolvesanartist。

Andhereagainmycontemplationwasclovenbytheancientvoicewhichsaid，"Icouldhavetoldyouallthisalongtimeago。

Ifthereisanycertainprogressitcanonlybemykindofprogress，theprogresstowardsacompletecityofvirtuesanddominationswhererighteousnessandpeacecontrivetokisseachother。

Animpersonalforcemightbeleadingyoutoawildernessofperfectflatnessorapeakofperfectheight。ButonlyapersonalGodcanpossiblybeleadingyou（if，indeed，youarebeingled）toacitywithjuststreetsandarchitecturalproportions，acityinwhicheachofyoucancontributeexactlytherightamountofyourowncolourtothemanycolouredcoatofJoseph。"

Twiceagain，therefore，ChristianityhadcomeinwiththeexactanswerthatIrequired。Ihadsaid，"Theidealmustbefixed，"

andtheChurchhadanswered，"Mineisliterallyfixed，foritexistedbeforeanythingelse。"Isaidsecondly，"Itmustbeartisticallycombined，likeapicture"；andtheChurchanswered，"Mineisquiteliterallyapicture，forIknowwhopaintedit。"

ThenIwentontothethirdthing，which，asitseemedtome，wasneededforanUtopiaorgoalofprogress。Andofallthethreeitisinfinitelythehardesttoexpress。Perhapsitmightbeputthus：

thatweneedwatchfulnesseveninUtopia，lestwefallfromUtopiaaswefellfromEden。

Wehaveremarkedthatonereasonofferedforbeingaprogressiveisthatthingsnaturallytendtogrowbetter。Buttheonlyrealreasonforbeingaprogressiveisthatthingsnaturallytendtogrowworse。Thecorruptioninthingsisnotonlythebestargumentforbeingprogressive；itisalsotheonlyargumentagainstbeingconservative。Theconservativetheorywouldreallybequitesweepingandunanswerableifitwerenotforthisonefact。

Butallconservatismisbasedupontheideathatifyouleavethingsaloneyouleavethemastheyare。Butyoudonot。

Ifyouleaveathingaloneyouleaveittoatorrentofchange。

Ifyouleaveawhitepostaloneitwillsoonbeablackpost。Ifyouparticularlywantittobewhiteyoumustbealwayspaintingitagain；

thatis，youmustbealwayshavingarevolution。Briefly，ifyouwanttheoldwhitepostyoumusthaveanewwhitepost。Butthiswhichistrueevenofinanimatethingsisinaquitespecialandterriblesensetrueofallhumanthings。Analmostunnaturalvigilanceisreallyrequiredofthecitizenbecauseofthehorriblerapiditywithwhichhumaninstitutionsgrowold。Itisthecustominpassingromanceandjournalismtotalkofmensufferingunderoldtyrannies。

But，asafact，menhavealmostalwayssufferedundernewtyrannies；

undertyranniesthathadbeenpubliclibertieshardlytwentyyearsbefore。ThusEnglandwentmadwithjoyoverthepatrioticmonarchyofElizabeth；andthen（almostimmediatelyafterwards）

wentmadwithrageinthetrapofthetyrannyofCharlestheFirst。

So，again，inFrancethemonarchybecameintolerable，notjustafterithadbeentolerated，butjustafterithadbeenadored。

ThesonofLouisthewell-belovedwasLouistheguillotined。

SointhesamewayinEnglandinthenineteenthcenturytheRadicalmanufacturerwasentirelytrustedasameretribuneofthepeople，untilsuddenlyweheardthecryoftheSocialistthathewasatyranteatingthepeoplelikebread。Soagain，wehavealmostuptothelastinstanttrustedthenewspapersasorgansofpublicopinion。

Justrecentlysomeofushaveseen（notslowly，butwithastart）

thattheyareobviouslynothingofthekind。Theyare，bythenatureofthecase，thehobbiesofafewrichmen。Wehavenotanyneedtorebelagainstantiquity；wehavetorebelagainstnovelty。

Itisthenewrulers，thecapitalistortheeditor，whoreallyholdupthemodernworld。Thereisnofearthatamodernkingwillattempttooverridetheconstitution；itismorelikelythathewillignoretheconstitutionandworkbehinditsback；hewilltakenoadvantageofhiskinglypower；itismorelikelythathewilltakeadvantageofhiskinglypowerlessness，ofthefactthatheisfreefromcriticismandpublicity。Forthekingisthemostprivatepersonofourtime。Itwillnotbenecessaryforanyonetofightagainagainsttheproposalofacensorshipofthepress。

Wedonotneedacensorshipofthepress。Wehaveacensorshipbythepress。

Thisstartlingswiftnesswithwhichpopularsystemsturnoppressiveisthethirdfactforwhichweshallaskourperfecttheoryofprogresstoallow。Itmustalwaysbeonthelookoutforeveryprivilegebeingabused，foreveryworkingrightbecomingawrong。

InthismatterIamentirelyonthesideoftherevolutionists。

Theyarereallyrighttobealwayssuspectinghumaninstitutions；

theyarerightnottoputtheirtrustinprincesnorinanychildofman。Thechieftainchosentobethefriendofthepeoplebecomestheenemyofthepeople；thenewspaperstartedtotellthetruthnowexiststopreventthetruthbeingtold。Here，Isay，IfeltthatIwasreallyatlastonthesideoftherevolutionary。

AndthenIcaughtmybreathagain：forIrememberedthatIwasonceagainonthesideoftheorthodox。

Christianityspokeagainandsaid："Ihavealwaysmaintainedthatmenwerenaturallybacksliders；thathumanvirtuetendedofitsownnaturetorustortorot；Ihavealwayssaidthathumanbeingsassuchgowrong，especiallyhappyhumanbeings，especiallyproudandprosperoushumanbeings。Thiseternalrevolution，thissuspicionsustainedthroughcenturies，you（beingavaguemodern）callthedoctrineofprogress。Ifyouwereaphilosopheryouwouldcallit，asIdo，thedoctrineoforiginalsin。Youmaycallitthecosmicadvanceasmuchasyoulike；Icallitwhatitis——theFall。"

Ihavespokenoforthodoxycominginlikeasword；hereI

confessitcameinlikeabattle-axe。Forreally（whenIcametothinkofit）Christianityistheonlythingleftthathasanyrealrighttoquestionthepowerofthewell-nurturedorthewell-bred。

IhavelistenedoftenenoughtoSocialists，oreventodemocrats，sayingthatthephysicalconditionsofthepoormustofnecessitymakethemmentallyandmorallydegraded。Ihavelistenedtoscientificmen（andtherearestillscientificmennotopposedtodemocracy）

sayingthatifwegivethepoorhealthierconditionsviceandwrongwilldisappear。Ihavelistenedtothemwithahorribleattention，withahideousfascination。Foritwaslikewatchingamanenergeticallysawingfromthetreethebranchheissittingon。

Ifthesehappydemocratscouldprovetheircase，theywouldstrikedemocracydead。Ifthepoorarethusutterlydemoralized，itmayormaynotbepracticaltoraisethem。Butitiscertainlyquitepracticaltodisfranchisethem。Ifthemanwithabadbedroomcannotgiveagoodvote，thenthefirstandswiftestdeductionisthatheshallgivenovote。Thegoverningclassmaynotunreasonablysay：

"Itmaytakeussometimetoreformhisbedroom。Butifheisthebruteyousay，itwilltakehimverylittletimetoruinourcountry。

Thereforewewilltakeyourhintandnotgivehimthechance。"

ItfillsmewithhorribleamusementtoobservethewayinwhichtheearnestSocialistindustriouslylaysthefoundationofallaristocracy，expatiatingblandlyupontheevidentunfitnessofthepoortorule。

Itislikelisteningtosomebodyataneveningpartyapologisingforenteringwithouteveningdress，andexplainingthathehadrecentlybeenintoxicated，hadapersonalhabitoftakingoffhisclothesinthestreet，andhad，moreover，onlyjustchangedfromprisonuniform。Atanymoment，onefeels，thehostmightsaythatreally，ifitwasasbadasthat，heneednotcomeinatall。

SoitiswhentheordinarySocialist，withabeamingface，provesthatthepoor，aftertheirsmashingexperiences，cannotbereallytrustworthy。Atanymomenttherichmaysay，"Verywell，then，wewon’ttrustthem，"andbangthedoorinhisface。

OnthebasisofMr。Blatchford’sviewofheredityandenvironment，thecaseforthearistocracyisquiteoverwhelming。Ifcleanhomesandcleanairmakecleansouls，whynotgivethepower（forthepresentatanyrate）tothosewhoundoubtedlyhavethecleanair？

Ifbetterconditionswillmakethepoormorefittogovernthemselves，whyshouldnotbetterconditionsalreadymaketherichmorefittogovernthem？Ontheordinaryenvironmentargumentthematterisfairlymanifest。ThecomfortableclassmustbemerelyourvanguardinUtopia。

Isthereanyanswertothepropositionthatthosewhohavehadthebestopportunitieswillprobablybeourbestguides？

Isthereanyanswertotheargumentthatthosewhohavebreathedcleanairhadbetterdecideforthosewhohavebreathedfoul？

AsfarasIknow，thereisonlyoneanswer，andthatanswerisChristianity。OnlytheChristianChurchcanofferanyrationalobjectiontoacompleteconfidenceintherich。Forshehasmaintainedfromthebeginningthatthedangerwasnotinman’senvironment，butinman。Further，shehasmaintainedthatifwecometotalkofadangerousenvironment，themostdangerousenvironmentofallisthecommodiousenvironment。Iknowthatthemostmodernmanufacturehasbeenreallyoccupiedintryingtoproduceanabnormallylargeneedle。

Iknowthatthemostrecentbiologistshavebeenchieflyanxioustodiscoveraverysmallcamel。Butifwediminishthecameltohissmallest，oropentheeyeoftheneedletoitslargest——if，inshort，weassumethewordsofChristtohavemeanttheveryleastthattheycouldmean，Hiswordsmustattheveryleastmeanthis——

thatrichmenarenotverylikelytobemorallytrustworthy。

Christianityevenwhenwatereddownishotenoughtoboilallmodernsocietytorags。ThemereminimumoftheChurchwouldbeadeadlyultimatumtotheworld。Forthewholemodernworldisabsolutelybasedontheassumption，notthatthericharenecessary（whichistenable），butthatthericharetrustworthy，which（foraChristian）

isnottenable。Youwillheareverlastingly，inalldiscussionsaboutnewspapers，companies，aristocracies，orpartypolitics，thisargumentthattherichmancannotbebribed。Thefactis，ofcourse，thattherichmanisbribed；hehasbeenbribedalready。

Thatiswhyheisarichman。ThewholecaseforChristianityisthatamanwhoisdependentupontheluxuriesofthislifeisacorruptman，spirituallycorrupt，politicallycorrupt，financiallycorrupt。

ThereisonethingthatChristandalltheChristiansaintshavesaidwithasortofsavagemonotony。Theyhavesaidsimplythattoberichistobeinpeculiardangerofmoralwreck。

Itisnotdemonstrablyun-Christiantokilltherichasviolatorsofdefinablejustice。Itisnotdemonstrablyun-Christiantocrowntherichasconvenientrulersofsociety。Itisnotcertainlyun-Christiantorebelagainsttherichortosubmittotherich。

Butitisquitecertainlyun-Christiantotrusttherich，toregardtherichasmoremorallysafethanthepoor。AChristianmayconsistentlysay，"Irespectthatman’srank，althoughhetakesbribes。"

ButaChristiancannotsay，asallmodernmenaresayingatlunchandbreakfast，"amanofthatrankwouldnottakebribes。"

ForitisapartofChristiandogmathatanymaninanyrankmaytakebribes。ItisapartofChristiandogma；italsohappensbyacuriouscoincidencethatitisapartofobvioushumanhistory。

Whenpeoplesaythataman"inthatposition"wouldbeincorruptible，thereisnoneedtobringChristianityintothediscussion。WasLordBaconabootblack？WastheDukeofMarlboroughacrossingsweeper？

InthebestUtopia，Imustbepreparedforthemoralfallofanymaninanypositionatanymoment；especiallyformyfallfrommypositionatthismoment。

MuchvagueandsentimentaljournalismhasbeenpouredouttotheeffectthatChristianityisakintodemocracy，andmostofitisscarcelystrongorclearenoughtorefutethefactthatthetwothingshaveoftenquarrelled。TherealgrounduponwhichChristianityanddemocracyareoneisverymuchdeeper。Theonespeciallyandpeculiarlyun-ChristianideaistheideaofCarlyle——

theideathatthemanshouldrulewhofeelsthathecanrule。

WhateverelseisChristian，thisisheathen。Ifourfaithcommentsongovernmentatall，itscommentmustbethis——thatthemanshouldrulewhodoesNOTthinkthathecanrule。Carlyle’sheromaysay，"Iwillbeking"；buttheChristiansaintmustsay"Noloepiscopari。"

IfthegreatparadoxofChristianitymeansanything，itmeansthis——

thatwemusttakethecrowninourhands，andgohuntingindryplacesanddarkcornersoftheearthuntilwefindtheonemanwhofeelshimselfunfittowearit。Carlylewasquitewrong；

wehavenotgottocrowntheexceptionalmanwhoknowshecanrule。

Ratherwemustcrownthemuchmoreexceptionalmanwhoknowshecan’t。

Now，thisisoneofthetwoorthreevitaldefencesofworkingdemocracy。Themeremachineryofvotingisnotdemocracy，thoughatpresentitisnoteasytoeffectanysimplerdemocraticmethod。

ButeventhemachineryofvotingisprofoundlyChristianinthispracticalsense——thatitisanattempttogetattheopinionofthosewhowouldbetoomodesttoofferit。Itisamysticaladventure；

itisspeciallytrustingthosewhodonottrustthemselves。

ThatenigmaisstrictlypeculiartoChristendom。ThereisnothingreallyhumbleabouttheabnegationoftheBuddhist；themildHindooismild，butheisnotmeek。ButthereissomethingpsychologicallyChristianabouttheideaofseekingfortheopinionoftheobscureratherthantakingtheobviouscourseofacceptingtheopinionoftheprominent。TosaythatvotingisparticularlyChristianmayseemsomewhatcurious。TosaythatcanvassingisChristianmayseemquitecrazy。ButcanvassingisveryChristianinitsprimaryidea。

Itisencouragingthehumble；itissayingtothemodestman，"Friend，gouphigher。"Orifthereissomeslightdefectincanvassing，thatisinitsperfectandroundedpiety，itisonlybecauseitmaypossiblyneglecttoencouragethemodestyofthecanvasser。

Aristocracyisnotaninstitution：aristocracyisasin；

generallyaveryvenialone。Itismerelythedriftorslideofmenintoasortofnaturalpomposityandpraiseofthepowerful，whichisthemosteasyandobviousaffairintheworld。

Itisoneofthehundredanswerstothefugitiveperversionofmodern"force"thatthepromptestandboldestagenciesarealsothemostfragileorfullofsensibility。Theswiftestthingsarethesoftestthings。Abirdisactive，becauseabirdissoft。

Astoneishelpless，becauseastoneishard。Thestonemustbyitsownnaturegodownwards，becausehardnessisweakness。

Thebirdcanofitsnaturegoupwards，becausefragilityisforce。

Inperfectforcethereisakindoffrivolity，anairinessthatcanmaintainitselfintheair。Moderninvestigatorsofmiraculoushistoryhavesolemnlyadmittedthatacharacteristicofthegreatsaintsistheirpowerof"levitation。"Theymightgofurther；

acharacteristicofthegreatsaintsistheirpoweroflevity。

Angelscanflybecausetheycantakethemselveslightly。

ThishasbeenalwaystheinstinctofChristendom，andespeciallytheinstinctofChristianart。RememberhowFraAngelicorepresentedallhisangels，notonlyasbirds，butalmostasbutterflies。

Rememberhowthemostearnestmediaevalartwasfulloflightandflutteringdraperies，ofquickandcaperingfeet。ItwastheonethingthatthemodernPre-raphaelitescouldnotimitateintherealPre-raphaelites。Burne-JonescouldneverrecoverthedeeplevityoftheMiddleAges。IntheoldChristianpicturestheskyovereveryfigureislikeablueorgoldparachute。

Everyfigureseemsreadytoflyupandfloataboutintheheavens。

Thetatteredcloakofthebeggarwillbearhimupliketherayedplumesoftheangels。Butthekingsintheirheavygoldandtheproudintheirrobesofpurplewillalloftheirnaturesinkdownwards，forpridecannotrisetolevityorlevitation。Prideisthedownwarddragofallthingsintoaneasysolemnity。One"settlesdown"

intoasortofselfishseriousness；butonehastorisetoagayself-forgetfulness。Aman"falls"intoabrownstudy；hereachesupatabluesky。Seriousnessisnotavirtue。Itwouldbeaheresy，butamuchmoresensibleheresy，tosaythatseriousnessisavice。

Itisreallyanaturaltrendorlapseintotakingone’sselfgravely，becauseitistheeasiestthingtodo。ItismucheasiertowriteagoodTIMESleadingarticlethanagoodjokeinPUNCH。

Forsolemnityflowsoutofmennaturally；butlaughterisaleap。

Itiseasytobeheavy：hardtobelight。Satanfellbytheforceofgravity。

Now，itisthepeculiarhonourofEuropesinceithasbeenChristianthatwhileithashadaristocracyithasalwaysatthebackofitshearttreatedaristocracyasaweakness——generallyasaweaknessthatmustbeallowedfor。Ifanyonewishestoappreciatethispoint，lethimgooutsideChristianityintosomeotherphilosophicalatmosphere。