2.  To-day misery is the disease of mankind, as disease is the misery of man.  And even as there are physicians for disease, so should there be physicians for human misery.  But can the fact that disease is, unhappily, only too prevalent, render it wrong for us ever to speak of health? which were indeed as though, in anatomy—­ the physical science that has most in common with morals—­the teacher confined himself exclusively to the study of the deformities that greater or lesser degeneration will induce in the organs of man.  We have surely the right to demand that his theories be based on the healthy and vigorous body; as we have also the right to demand that the moralist, who fain would see beyond the present hour, should take as his standard the soul that is happy, or that at least possesses every element of happiness, save only the necessary consciousness.

We live in the bosom of great injustice; but there can be, I imagine, neither cruelty nor callousness in our speaking, at times, as though this injustice had ended, else should we never emerge from our circle.

It is imperative that there should be some who dare speak, and think, and act as though all men were happy; for otherwise, when the day comes for destiny to throw open to all the people’s garden of the promised land, what happiness shall the others find there, what justice, what beauty or love?  It may be urged, it is true, that it were best, first of all, to consider the most pressing needs, yet is this not always wisest; it is often of better avail from the start to seek that which is highest.  When the waters beleaguer the home of the peasant in Holland, the sea or the neighbouring river having swept down the dyke that protected the country, most pressing is it then for the peasant to safeguard his cattle, his grain, his effects; but wisest to fly to the top of the dyke, summoning those who live with him, and from thence meet the flood, and do battle.  Humanity up to this day has been like an invalid tossing and turning on his couch in search of repose; but therefore none the less have words of true consolation come only from those who spoke as though man were freed from all pain.  For, as man was created for health, so was mankind created for happiness; and to speak of its misery only, though that misery be everywhere and seem everlasting, is only to say words that fall lightly and soon are forgotten.  Why not speak as though mankind were always on the eve of great certitude, of great joy?  Thither, in truth, is man led by his instinct, though he never may live to behold the long-wished-for to-morrow.  It is well to believe that there needs but a little more thought, a little more courage, more love, more devotion to life, a little more eagerness, one day to fling open wide the portals of joy and of truth.  And this thing may still come to pass.  Let us hope that one day all mankind will be happy and wise; and though this day never should dawn, to have hoped for