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constructed of bricks and timber； and kept going by the price of stocks。
We are all tempted； and the easier and more prosperous we are； the
more we are tempted； to fall into that sordid and shallow frame of mind。
Sordid even when its projects are most daring； its outward luxuries most
refined； and shallow； even when most acute； when priding itself most on
its knowledge of human nature； and of the secret springs which； so it
dreams； move the actions and make the history of nations and of men。
All are tempted that way； even the noblest…hearted。 ADHAESIT
PAVIMENTO VENTER； says the old psalmist。 I am growing like the
snake； crawling in the dust； and eating the dust in which I crawl。 I try to
lift up my eyes to the heavens； to the true； the beautiful； the good； the
eternal nobleness which was before all time； and shall be still when time
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has passed away。 But to lift up myself is what I cannot do。 Who will
help me？ Who will quicken me？ as our old English tongue has it。 Who
will give me life？ The true； pure； lofty human life which I did NOT
inherit from the primaeval ape； which the ape…nature in me is for ever
trying to stifle； and make me that which I know too well I could so easily
beea cunninger and more dainty…featured brute？ Death itself；
which seems at times so fair； is fair because even it may raise me up and
deliver me from the burden of this animal and mortal body：
'Tis life； not death for which I pant； 'Tis life； whereof my nerves are
scant； More life； and fuller； that I want。
Man？ I am a man not by reason of my bones and muscles； nerves
and brain； which I have in mon with apes and dogs and horses。 I am
a manthou art a man or womannot because we have a fleshGod forbid！
but because there is a spirit in us； a divine spark and ray； which nature did
not give； and which nature cannot take away。 And therefore； while I live
on earth； I will live to the spirit； not to the flesh； that I may be； indeed； a
man； and this same gross flesh； this animal ape…nature in me； shall be the
very element in me which I will renounce； defy； despise； at least； if I am
minded to be； not a merely higher savage； but a truly higher civilised man。
Civilisation with me shall mean； not more wealth； more finery； more self…
indulgenceeven more aesthetic and artistic luxury； but more virtue； more
knowledge； more self…control； even though I earn scanty bread by heavy
toil； and when I pare the Caesar of Rome or the great king； whether of
Egypt； Babylon； or Persia； with the hermit of the Thebaid； starving in his
frock of camel's hair； with his soul fixed on the ineffable glories of the
unseen； and striving； however wildly and fantastically； to bee an angel
and not an ape； I will say the hermit； and not the Caesar； is the civilised
man。
There are plenty of histories of civilisation and theories of civilisation
abroad in the world just now； and which profess to show you how the
primeval savage has； or at least may have； bee the civilised man。 For
my part； with all due and careful consideration； I confess I attach very
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little value to any of them： and for this simple reason that we have no
facts。 The facts are lost。
Of course； if you assume a proposition as certainly true； it is easy
enough to prove that proposition to be true； at least to your own
satisfaction。 If you assert with the old proverb； that you may make a silk
purse out of a sow's ear； you will be stupider than I dare suppose anyone
here to be； if you cannot invent for yourselves all the intermediate stages
of the transformation； however startling。 And； indeed； if modern
philosophers had stuck more closely to this old proverb； and its defining
verb 〃make；〃 and tried to show how some person or personslet them be
who they maymen； angels； or godsmade the sow's ear into the silk
purse； and the savage into the sagethey might have pleaded that they
were still trying to keep their feet upon the firm ground of actual
experience。 But while their theory is； that the sow's ear grew into a silk
purse of itself； and yet unconsciously and without any intention of so
bettering itself in life； why； I think that those who have studied the history
which lies behind them； and the poor human nature which is struggling；
and sinning； and sorrowing； and failing around them； and which seems on
the greater part of this planet going downwards and not upwards； and by
no means bettering itself； save in the increase of opera…houses； liquor…bars；
and gambling…tables； and that which pertaineth thereto； then we； I think；
may be excused if we say with the old Stoics＇Greek text＇I withhold my
judgment。 I know nothing about the matter yet； and you； oh my
imaginative though learned friends； know I suspect very little either。
Eldest of things； Divine Equality：
so sang poor Shelley； and with a certain truth。 For if； as I believe；
the human race sprang from a single pair； there must have been among
their individual descendants an e