RalphWaldoEmerson.(18031882).EssaysandEnglishTraits. TheHarvardClassics.190914. IX.Circles(1841) THEEYEisthefirstcircle;thehorizonwhichitformsisthesecond;andthroughoutnaturethisprimarypictureis repeatedwithoutend.Itisthehighestembleminthecipheroftheworld.St.AugustinedescribedthenatureofGodasa circlewhosecentrewaseverywhereanditscircumferencenowhere.Weareallourlifetimereadingthecopioussenseof thisfirstofforms.Onemoralwehavealreadydeducedinconsideringthecircularorcompensatorycharacterofevery humanaction.Anotheranalogyweshallnowtrace,thateveryactionadmitsofbeingoutdone.Ourlifeisan apprenticeshiptothetruththataroundeverycircleanothercanbedrawn;thatthereisnoendinnature,buteveryendis abeginning;thatthereisalwaysanotherdawnrisenonmidnoon,andundereverydeepalowerdeepopens. 1 Thisfact,asfarasitsymbolizesthemoralfactoftheUnattainable,theflyingPerfect,aroundwhichthehandsofmancan nevermeet,atoncetheinspirerandthecondemnerofeverysuccess,mayconvenientlyserveustoconnectmany illustrationsofhumanpowerineverydepartment. 2 Therearenofixturesinnature.Theuniverseisfluidandvolatile.Permanenceisbutawordofdegrees.Ourglobeseen byGodisatransparentlaw,notamassoffacts.Thelawdissolvesthefactandholdsitfluid.

id.Ourcultureisthe predominanceofanideawhichdrawsafteritallthistrainofcitiesandinstitutions.Letusriseintoanotheridea;theywill disappear.TheGreeksculptureisallmeltedaway,asifithadbeenstatuesofice:hereandthereasolitaryfigureor fragmentremaining,asweseeflecksandscrapsofsnowleftincolddellsandmountaincleftsinJuneandJuly.Forthe geniusthatcreateditcreatesnowsomewhatelse.TheGreekletterslastalittlelonger,butarealreadypassingunderthe samesentenceandtumblingintotheinevitablepitwhichthecreationofnewthoughtopensforallthatisold.Thenew continentsarebuiltoutoftheruinsofanoldplanet;thenewracesfedoutofthedecompositionoftheforegoing.Newarts destroytheold.Seetheinvestmentofcapitalinaqueducts,madeuselessbyhydraulics;fortifications,bygunpowder; roadsandcanals,byrailways;sails,bysteam;steam,byelectricity. 3 Youadmirethistowerofgranite,weatheringthehurtsofsomanyages.Yetalittlewavinghandbuiltthishugewall,and thatwhichbuildsisbetterthanthatwhichisbuilt.Thehandthatbuiltcantoppleitdownmuchfaster.Betterthanthe handandnimblerwastheinvisiblethoughtwhichwroughtthroughit;andthusever,behindthecoarseeffect,isafine cause,which,beingnarrowlyseen,isitselftheeffectofafinercause.Everythinglookspermanentuntilitssecretis known.Arichestateappearstowomenandchildrenafirmandlastingfact;toamerchant,oneeasilycreatedoutofany materials,andeasilylost.Anorchard,goodtillage,goodgrounds,seemafixture,likeagoldmine,orariver,toacitizen; buttoalargefarmer,notmuchmorefixedthanthestateofthecrop.Naturelooksprovokinglystableandsecular,butit hasacauselikealltherest;andwhenonceIcomprehendthat,willthesefieldsstretchsoimmovablywide,theseleaves hangsoindividuallyconsiderable?Permanenceisawordofdegrees.Everythingismedial.Moonsarenomoreboundsto spiritualpowerthanbatballs. 4 Thekeytoeverymanishisthought.Sturdyanddefyingthoughhelook,hehasahelmwhichheobeys,whichistheidea afterwhichallhisfactsareclassified.Hecanonlybereformedbyshowinghimanewideawhichcommandshisown.The lifeofmanisaselfevolvingcircle,which,fromaringimperceptiblysmall,rushesonallsidesoutwardstonewandlarger circles,andthatwithoutend.Theextenttowhichthisgenerationofcircles,wheelwithoutwheel,willgo,dependsonthe forceortruthoftheindividualsoul.Foritistheinerteffortofeachthought,havingformeditselfintoacircularwaveof circumstance,asforinstanceanempire,rulesofanart,alocalusage,areligiousrite,toheapitselfonthatridgeandto solidifyandheminthelife.Butifthesoulisquickandstrongitburstsoverthatboundaryonallsidesandexpands anotherorbitonthegreatdeep,whichalsorunsupintoahighwave,withattemptagaintostopandtobind.Buttheheart refusestobeimprisoned;initsfirstandnarrowestpulsesitalreadytendsoutwardwithavastforceandtoimmenseand innumerableexpansions. 5 Everyultimatefactisonlythefirstofanewseries.Everygenerallawonlyaparticularfactofsomemoregenerallaw presentlytodiscloseitself.Thereisnooutside,noinclosingwall,nocircumferencetous.Themanfinisheshisstory, howgood!howfinal!howitputsanewfaceonallthings!Hefillsthesky.Lo,ontheothersiderisesalsoamananddraws acirclearoundthecirclewehadjustpronouncedtheoutlineofthesphere.Thenalreadyisourfirstspeakernotman,but onlyafirstspeaker.Hisonlyredressisforthwithtodrawacircleoutsideofhisantagonist.Andsomendobythemselves. Theresultoftoday,whichhauntsthemindandcannotbeescaped,willpresentlybeabridgedintoaword,andthe principlethatseemedtoexplainnaturewillitselfbeincludedasoneexampleofaboldergeneralization.Inthethoughtof tomorrowthereisapowertoupheaveallthycreed,allthecreeds,alltheliteraturesofthenations,andmarshalltheeto aheavenwhichnoepicdreamhasyetdepicted.Everymanisnotsomuchaworkmanintheworldasheisasuggestionof thatheshouldbe.Menwalkaspropheciesofthenextage. 6 Stepbystepwescalethismysteriousladder;thestepsareactions,thenewprospectispower.Everyseveralresultis threatenedandjudgedbythatwhichfollows.Everyoneseemstobecontradictedbythenew;itisonlylimitedbythenew. Thenewstatementisalwayshatedbytheold,and,tothosedwellingintheold,comeslikeanabyssofscepticism.Butthe eyesoongetswontedtoit,fortheeyeanditareeffectsofonecause;thenitsinnocencyandbenefitappear,andpresently, allitsenergyspent,itpalesanddwindlesbeforetherevelationofthenewhour. 7

Fearnotthenewgeneralization.Doesthefactlookcrassandmaterial,threateningtodegradethytheoryofspirit?Resist itnot;itgoestorefineandraisethytheoryofmatterjustasmuch. 8 Therearenofixturestomen,ifweappealtoconsciousness.Everymansupposeshimselfnottobefullyunderstood;and ifthereisanytruthinhim,ifherestsatlastonthedivinesoul,Iseenothowitcanbeotherwise.Thelastchamber,the lastcloset,hemustfeelwasneveropened;thereisalwaysaresiduumunknown,unanalyzable.Thatis,everyman believesthathehasagreaterpossibility. 9 Ourmoodsdonotbelieveineachother.TodayIamfullofthoughtsandcanwritewhatIplease.IseenoreasonwhyI shouldnothavethesamethought,thesamepowerofexpression,tomorrow.WhatIwrite,whilstIwriteit,seemsthe mostnaturalthingintheworld:butyesterdayIsawadrearyvacuityinthisdirectioninwhichnowIseesomuch;anda monthhence,Idoubtnot,Ishallwonderwhohewasthatwrotesomanycontinuouspages.Alasforthisinfirmfaith,this willnotstrenuous,thisvastebbofavastflow!IamGodinnature;Iamaweedbythewall. 10 Thecontinualefforttoraisehimself,abovehimselftoworkapitchabovehislastheight,betraysitselfinamans relations.Wethirstforapprobation,yetcannotforgivetheapprover.Thesweetofnatureislove;yetifIhaveafriendIam tormentedbymyimperfections.Theloveofmeaccusestheotherparty.Ifhewerehighenoughtoslightme,thencouldI lovehim,andrisebymyaffectiontonewheights.Amansgrowthisseeninthesuccessivechoirsofhisfriends.Forevery friendwhomhelosesfortruth,hegainsabetter.IthoughtasIwalkedinthewoodsandmusedonmyfriends,whyshould Iplaywiththemthisgameofidolatry?Iknowandseetoowell,whennotvoluntarilyblind,thespeedylimitsofpersons calledhighandworthy.Rich,nobleandgreattheyarebytheliberalityofourspeech,buttruthissad.OblessedSpirit, whomIforsakeforthese,theyarenotthee!Everypersonalconsiderationthatweallowcostsusheavenlystate.Wesell thethronesofangelsforashortandturbulentpleasure.11 Howoftenmustwelearnthislesson?Menceasetointerestuswhenwefindtheirlimitations.Theonlysinislimitation. Assoonasyouoncecomeupwithamanslimitations,itisalloverwithhim.Hashetalents?hasheenterprises?hashe knowledge?Itbootsnot.Infinitelyalluringandattractivewashetoyouyesterday,agreathope,aseatoswimin;now, youhavefoundhisshores,founditapond,andyoucarenotifyouneverseeitagain. 12 Eachnewstepwetakeinthoughtreconcilestwentyseeminglydiscordantfacts,asexpressionsofonelaw.Aristotleand Platoarereckonedtherespectiveheadsoftwoschools.AwisemanwillseethatAristotlePlatonizes.Bygoingonestep fartherbackinthought,discordantopinionsarereconciledbybeingseentobetwoextremesofoneprinciple,andwecan nevergosofarbackastoprecludeastillhighervision. 13 BewarewhenthegreatGodletslooseathinkeronthisplanet.Thenallthingsareatrisk.Itisaswhenaconflagrationhas brokenoutinagreatcity,andnomanknowswhatissafe,orwhereitwillend.Thereisnotapieceofsciencebutitsflank maybeturnedtomorrow;thereisnotanyliteraryreputation,notthesocalledeternalnamesoffame,thatmaynotbe revisedandcondemned.Theveryhopesofman,thethoughtsofhisheart,thereligionofnations,themannerandmorals ofmankindareallatthemercyofanewgeneralization.Generalizationisalwaysanewinfluxofthedivinityintothemind. Hencethethrillthatattendsit. 14 Valorconsistsinthepowerofselfrecovery,sothatamancannothavehisflankturned,cannotbeoutgeneralled,but puthimwhereyouwill,hestands.Thiscanonlybebyhispreferringtruthtohispastapprehensionoftruth,andhisalert acceptanceofitfromwhateverquarter;theintrepidconvictionthathislaws,hisrelationstosociety,hischristianity,his world,mayatanytimebesupersededanddecease. 15 Therearedegreesinidealism.Welearnfirsttoplaywithitacademically,asthemagnetwasonceatoy.Thenweseein theheydayofyouthandpoetrythatitmaybetrue,thatitistrueingleamsandfragments.Then,itscountenancewaxes sternandgrand,andweseethatitmustbetrue.Itnowshowsitselfethicalandpractical.WelearnthatGodis;thatheis inme;andthatallthingsareshadowsofhim.TheidealismofBerkeleyisonlyacrudestatementoftheidealismofJesus, andthatagainisacrudestatementofthefactthatallnatureistherapideffluxofgoodnessexecutingandorganizingitself. Muchmoreobviouslyishistoryandthestateoftheworldatanyonetimedirectlydependentontheintellectual classificationthenexistinginthemindsofmen.Thethingswhicharedeartomenatthishouraresoonaccountofthe ideaswhichhaveemergedontheirmentalhorizon,andwhichcausethepresentorderofthings,asatreebearsitsapples. Anewdegreeofculturewouldinstantlyrevolutionizetheentiresystemofhumanpursuits. 16 Conversationisagameofcircles.Inconversationwepluckuptheterminiwhichboundthecommonofsilenceonevery side.ThepartiesarenottobejudgedbythespirittheypartakeandevenexpressunderthisPentecost.Tomorrowthey willhaverecededfromthishighwatermark.Tomorrowyoushallfindthemstoopingundertheoldpacksaddles.Yetlet usenjoytheclovenflamewhilstitglowsonourwalls.Wheneachnewspeakerstrikesanewlight,emancipatesusfrom theoppressionofthelastspeakertooppressuswiththegreatnessandexclusivenessofhisownthought,thenyieldsusto anotherredeemer,weseemtorecoverourrights,tobecomemen.O,whattruthsprofoundandexecutableonlyinages andorbs,aresupposedintheannouncementofeverytruth!Incommonhours,societysitscoldandstatuesque.Weall standwaiting,empty,knowing,possibly,thatwecanbefull,surroundedbymightysymbolswhicharenotsymbolsto us,butproseandtrivialtoys.Thencomeththegodandconvertsthestatuesintofierymen,andbyaflashofhiseyeburns uptheveilwhichshroudedallthings,andthemeaningoftheveryfurniture,ofcupandsaucer,orchairandclockand tester,ismanifest.Thefactswhichloomedsolargeinthefogsofyesterday,property,climate,breeding,personalbeauty andthelike,havestrangelychangedtheirproportions.Allthatwereckonedsettledshakesandrattles;andliteratures, cities,climates,religions,leavetheirfoundationsanddancebeforeoureyes.Andyethereagainseetheswift circumscription!Goodasisdiscourse,silenceisbetter,andshamesit.Thelengthofthediscourseindicatesthedistanceof

thoughtbetwixtthespeakerandthehearer.Iftheywereataperfectunderstandinginanypart,nowordswouldbe necessarythereon.Ifatoneinallparts,nowordswouldbesuffered. 17 Literatureisapointoutsideofourhodiernalcirclethroughwhichanewonemaybedescribed.Theuseofliteratureisto affordusaplatformwhencewemaycommandaviewofourpresentlife,apurchasebywhichwemaymoveit.Wefill ourselveswithancientlearning,installourselvesthebestwecaninGreek,inPunic,inRomanhouses,onlythatwemay wiselierseeFrench,EnglishandAmericanhousesandmodesofliving.Inlikemannerweseeliteraturebestfromthe midstofwildnature,orfromthedinofaffairs,orfromahighreligion.Thefieldcannotbewellseenfromwithinthefield. Theastronomermusthavehisdiameteroftheearthsorbitasabasetofindtheparallaxofanystar. 18 Thereforewevaluethepoet.Alltheargumentandallthewisdomisnotintheencyclopdia,orthetreatiseon metaphysics,ortheBodyofDivinity,butinthesonnetortheplay.InmydailyworkIinclinetorepeatmyoldsteps,and donotbelieveinremedialforce,inthepowerofchangeandreform.ButsomePetrarchorAriosto,filledwiththenew wineofhisimagination,writesmeanodeorabriskromance,fullofdaringthoughtandaction.Hesmitesandarousesme withhisshrilltones,breaksupmywholechainofhabits,andIopenmyeyeonmyownpossibilities.Heclapswingstothe sidesofallthesolidoldlumberoftheworld,andIamcapableoncemoreofchoosingastraightpathintheoryand practice. 19 Wehavethesameneedtocommandaviewofthereligionoftheworld.Wecanneverseechristianityfromthe catechism:fromthepastures,fromaboatinthepond,fromamidstthesongsofwoodbirdswepossiblymay.Cleansed bytheelementallightandwind,steepedintheseaofbeautifulformswhichthefieldoffersus,wemaychancetocasta rightglancebackuponbiography.Christianityisrightlydeartothebestofmankind;yetwasthereneverayoung philosopherwhosebreedinghadfallenintothechristianchurchbywhomthatbravetextofPaulswasnotspecially prized,ThenshallalsotheSonbesubjectuntoHimwhoputallthingsunderhim,thatGodmaybeallinall.Letthe claimsandvirtuesofpersonsbeneversogreatandwelcome,theinstinctofmanpresseseagerlyonwardtothe impersonalandillimitable,andgladlyarmsitselfagainstthedogmatismofbigotswiththisgenerouswordoutofthebook itself. 20 Thenaturalworldmaybeconceivedofasasystemofconcentriccircles,andwenowandthendetectinnatureslight dislocationswhichapprizeusthatthissurfaceonwhichwenowstandisnotfixed,butsliding.Thesemanifoldtenacious qualities,thischemistryandvegetation,thesemetalsandanimals,whichseemtostandtherefortheirownsake,are meansandmethodsonly,arewordsofGod,andasfugitiveasotherwords.Hasthenaturalistorchemistlearnedhiscraft, whohasexploredthegravityofatomsandtheelectiveaffinities,whohasnotyetdiscernedthedeeperlawwhereofthisis onlyapartialorapproximatestatement,namelythatlikedrawstolike,andthatthegoodswhichbelongtoyougravitate toyouandneednotbepursuedwithpainsandcost?Yetisthatstatementapproximatealso,andnotfinal.Omnipresence isahigherfact.Notthroughsubtlesubterraneanchannelsneedfriendandfactbedrawntotheircounterpart,but,rightly considered,thesethingsproceedfromtheeternalgenerationofthesoul.Causeandeffectaretwosidesofonefact. 21 Thesamelawofeternalprocessionrangesallthatwecallthevirtues,andextinguisheseachinthelightofabetter.The greatmanwillnotbeprudentinthepopularsense;allhisprudencewillbesomuchdeductionfromhisgrandeur.Butit behoveseachtosee,whenhesacrificesprudence,towhatgodhedevotesit;iftoeaseandpleasure,hehadbetterbe prudentstill;iftoagreattrust,hecanwellsparehismuleandpannierswhohasawingedchariotinstead.Geoffreydraws onhisbootstogothroughthewoods,thathisfeetmaybesaferfromthebiteofsnakes;Aaronneverthinksofsuchaperil. Inmanyyearsneitherisharmedbysuchanaccident.Yetitseemstomethatwitheveryprecautionyoutakeagainstsuch anevilyouputyourselfintothepoweroftheevil.Isupposethatthehighestprudenceisthelowestprudence.Isthistoo suddenarushingfromthecentretothevergeofourorbit?Thinkhowmanytimesweshallfallbackintopitiful calculationsbeforewetakeupourrestinthegreatsentiment,ormakethevergeoftodaythenewcentre.Besides,your bravestsentimentisfamiliartothehumblestmen.Thepoorandthelowhavetheirwayofexpressingthelastfactsof philosophyaswellasyou.BlessedbenothingandTheworsethingsare,thebettertheyareareproverbswhich expressthetranscendentalismofcommonlife.22 Onemansjusticeisanothersinjustice;onemansbeautyanothersugliness;onemanswisdomanothersfolly;asone beholdsthesameobjectsfromahigherpointofview.Onemanthinksjusticeconsistsinpayingdebts,andhasnomeasure inhisabhorrenceofanotherwhoisveryremissinthisdutyandmakesthecreditorwaittediously.Butthatsecondman hashisownwayoflookingatthings;askshimselfwhichdebtmustIpayfirst,thedebttotherich,orthedebttothepoor? thedebtofmoney,orthedebtofthoughttomankind,ofgeniustonature?Foryou,Obroker,thereisnootherprinciple butarithmetic.Forme,commerceisoftrivialimport;love,faith,truthofcharacter,theaspirationofman,theseare sacred;norcanIdetachoneduty,likeyou,fromallotherduties,andconcentratemyforcesmechanicallyonthepayment ofmoneys.Letmeliveonward;youshallfindthat,thoughslower,theprogressofmycharacterwillliquidateallthese debtswithoutinjusticetohigherclaims.Ifamanshoulddedicatehimselftothepaymentofnotes,wouldnotthisbe injustice?Oweshenodebtbutmoney?Andareallclaimsonhimtobepostponedtoalandlordsorabankers? 23 Thereisnovirtuewhichisfinal;allareinitial.Thevirtuesofsocietyarevicesofthesaint.Theterrorofreformisthe discoverythatwemustcastawayourvirtues,orwhatwehavealwaysesteemedsuch,intothesamepitthathas consumedourgrosservices. Forgivehiscrimes,forgivehisvirtuestoo, Thosesmallerfaults,halfconvertstotheright.

24 Itisthehighestpowerofdivinemomentsthattheyabolishourcontritionsalso.Iaccusemyselfofslothand unprofitablenessdaybyday;butwhenthesewavesofGodflowintomeInolongerreckonlosttime.Inolongerpoorly computemypossibleachievementbywhatremainstomeofthemonthortheyear;forthesemomentsconferasortof omnipresenceandomnipotencewhichasksnothingofduration,butseesthattheenergyofthemindiscommensurate withtheworktobedone,withouttime. 25 Andthus,Ocircularphilosopher,Ihearsomereaderexclaim,youhavearrivedatafinepyrrhonism,atanequivalence andindifferencyofallactions,andwouldfainteachusthatifwearetrue,forsooth,ourcrimesmaybelivelystonesoutof whichweshallconstructthetempleofthetrueGod. 26 Iamnotcarefultojustifymyself.IownIamgladdenedbyseeingthepredominanceofthesaccharineprinciple throughoutvegetablenature,andnotlessbybeholdinginmoralsthatunrestrainedinundationoftheprincipleofgood intoeverychinkandholethatselfishnesshasleftopen,yeaintoselfishnessandsinitself;sothatnoevilispure,norhell itselfwithoutitsextremesatisfactions.ButlestIshouldmisleadanywhenIhavemyownheadandobeymywhims,let meremindthereaderthatIamonlyanexperimenter.DonotsettheleastvalueonwhatIdo,ortheleastdiscrediton whatIdonot,asifIpretendedtosettleanythingastrueorfalse.Iunsettleallthings.Nofactsaretomesacred;noneare profane;Isimplyexperiment,anendlessseekerwithnoPastatmyback. 27 Yetthisincessantmovementandprogressionwhichallthingspartakecouldneverbecomesensibletousbutbycontrast tosomeprincipleoffixtureorstabilityinthesoul.Whilsttheeternalgenerationofcirclesproceeds,theeternalgenerator abides.Thatcentrallifeissomewhatsuperiortocreation,superiortoknowledgeandthought,andcontainsallitscircles. Foreveritlaborstocreatealifeandthoughtaslargeandexcellentasitself;butinvain;forthatwhichismadeinstructs howtomakeabetter. 28 Thusthereisnosleep,nopause,nopreservation,butallthingsrenew,germinateandspring.Whyshouldweimportrags andrelicsintothenewhour?Natureabhorstheold,andoldageseemstheonlydisease:allothersrunintothisone.We callitbymanynames,fever,intemperance,insanity,stupidityandcrime:theyareallformsofoldage:theyarerest, conservatism,appropriation,inertia;notnewness,notthewayonward.Wegrizzleeveryday.Iseenoneedofit.Whilst weconversewithwhatisaboveus,wedonotgrowold,butgrowyoung.Infancy,youth,receptive,aspiring,withreligious eyelookingupward,countsitselfnothingandabandonsitselftotheinstructionflowingfromallsides.Butthemanand womanofseventyassumetoknowall;throwuptheirhope;renounceaspiration;accepttheactualforthenecessaryand talkdowntotheyoung.LetthemthenbecomeorgansoftheHolyGhost;letthembelovers;letthembeholdtruth;and theireyesareuplifted,theirwrinklessmoothed,theyareperfumedagainwithhopeandpower.Thisoldageoughtnotto creeponahumanmind.Innatureeverymomentisnew;thepastisalwaysswallowedandforgotten;thecomingonlyis sacred.Nothingissecurebutlife,transition,theenergizingspirit.Nolovecanbeboundbyoathorcovenanttosecureit againstahigherlove.Notruthsosublimebutitmaybetrivialtomorrowinthelightofnewthoughts.Peoplewishtobe settled:onlyasfarastheyareunsettledisthereanyhopeforthem. 29 Lifeisaseriesofsurprises.Wedonotguesstodaythemood,thepleasure,thepoweroftomorrow,whenweare buildingupourbeing.Oflowerstates,ofactsofroutineandsense,wecantellsomewhat,butthemasterpiecesofGod, thetotalgrowthsanduniversalmovementsofthesoul,hehideth;theyareincalculable.Icanknowthattruthisdivine andhelpful;buthowitshallhelpmeIcanhavenoguess,forsotobeisthesoleinletofsotoknow.Thenewpositionof theadvancingmanhasallthepowersoftheold,yethasthemallnew.Itcarriesinitsbosomalltheenergiesofthepast, yetisitselfanexhalationofthemorning.Icastawayinthisnewmomentallmyoncehoardedknowledge,asvacantand vain.NowforthefirsttimeseemItoknowanythingrightly.Thesimplestwords,wedonotknowwhattheymean exceptwhenweloveandaspire. 30 Thedifferencebetweentalentsandcharacterisadroitnesstokeeptheoldandtroddenround,andpowerandcourageto makeanewroadtonewandbettergoals.Charactermakesanoverpoweringpresent,acheerful,determinedhour,which fortifiesallthecompanybymakingthemseethatmuchispossibleandexcellentthatwasnotthoughtof.Characterdulls theimpressionofparticularevents.Whenweseetheconquerorwedonotthinkmuchofanyonebattleorsuccess.We seethatwehadexaggeratedthedifficulty.Itwaseasytohim.Thegreatmanisnotconvulsibleortormentable.Heisso muchthateventspassoverhimwithoutmuchimpression.Peoplesaysometimes,SeewhatIhaveovercome;seehow cheerfulIam;seehowcompletelyIhavetriumphedovertheseblackevents.Notiftheystillremindmeoftheblack evens,theyhavenotyetconquered.Isitconquesttobeagayanddecoratedsepulchre,orahalfcrazedwidow, hystericallylaughing?Trueconquestisthecausingtheblackeventtofadeanddisappearasanearlycloudofinsignificant resultinahistorysolargeandadvancing. 31 Theonethingwhichweseekwithinsatiabledesireistoforgetourselves,tobesurprisedoutofourpropriety,toloseour sempiternalmemoryandtodosomethingwithoutknowinghoworwhy;inshorttodrawanewcircle.Nothinggreatwas everachievedwithoutenthusiasm.Thewayoflifeiswonderful.Itisbyabandonment.Thegreatmomentsofhistoryare thefacilitiesofperformancethroughthestrengthofideas,astheworksofgeniusandreligion.Aman,saidOliver Cromwell,neverrisessohighaswhenheknowsnotwhitherheisgoing.Dreamsanddrunkenness,theuseofopium andalcoholarethesemblanceandcounterfeitofthisoraculargenius,andhencetheirdangerousattractionformen.For thelikereasontheyasktheaidofwildpassions,asingamingandwar,toapeinsomemannertheseflamesand generositiesoftheheart.