401

Glory.—­The brutes do not admire each other.  A horse does not admire his companion.  Not that there is no rivalry between them in a race, but that is of no consequence; for, when in the stable, the heaviest and most ill-formed does not give up his oats to another, as men would have others do to them.  Their virtue is satisfied with itself.

402

The greatness of man even in his lust, to have known how to extract from it a wonderful code, and to have drawn from it a picture of benevolence.

403

Greatness.—­The reasons of effects indicate the greatness of man, in having extracted so fair an order from lust.

404

The greatest baseness of man is the pursuit of glory.  But it is also the greatest mark of his excellence; for whatever possessions he may have on earth, whatever health and essential comfort, he is not satisfied if he has not the esteem of men.  He values human reason so highly that, whatever advantages he may have on earth, he is not content if he is not also ranked highly in the judgment of man.  This is the finest position in the world.  Nothing can turn him from that desire, which is the most indelible quality of man’s heart.

And those who most despise men, and put them on a level with the brutes, yet wish to be admired and believed by men, and contradict themselves by their own feelings; their nature, which is stronger than all, convincing them of the greatness of man more forcibly than reason convinces them of their baseness.

405

Contradiction.—­Pride counterbalancing all miseries.  Man either hides his miseries, or, if he disclose them, glories in knowing them.

406

Pride counterbalances and takes away all miseries.  Here is a strange monster, and a very plain aberration.  He is fallen from his place, and is anxiously seeking it.  This is what all men do.  Let us see who will have found it.

407

When malice has reason on its side, it becomes proud, and parades reason in all its splendour.  When austerity or stern choice has not arrived at the true good, and must needs return to follow nature, it becomes proud by reason of this return.

408

Evil is easy, and has infinite forms; good is almost unique.[155] But a certain kind of evil is as difficult to find as what we call good; and often on this account such particular evil gets passed off as good.  An extraordinary greatness of soul is needed in order to attain to it as well as to good.

409

The greatness of man.—­The greatness of man is so evident, that it is even proved by his wretchedness.  For what in animals is nature we call in man wretchedness; by which we recognise that, his nature being now like that of animals, he has fallen from a better nature which once was his.