第一小说网

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later　—　“but　not　because　the　former　is　no　hero；　but　because　the　latter　is　a　valet。”　He　takes　off　the

heros　boots；　assists　him　to　bed；　knows　that　he　prefers　champagne；　&c。　Historical　personages

waited　upon　in　historical　literature　by　such　psychological　valets；　e　poorly　off；　they　are　brought

down　by　these　their　attendants　to　a　level　with　—　or　rather　a　few　degrees　below　the　level　of　—　the

morality　of　such　exquisite　discerners　of　spirits。　The　Thersites　of　Homer　who　abuses　the　kings　is　a

standing　figure　for　all　times。　Blows　—　that　is　beating　with　a　solid　cudgel　—　he　does　not　get　in　every

age　as　in　the　Homeric　one；　but　his　envy；　his　egotism；　is　the　thorn　which　he　has　to　carry　in　his　flesh；

and　the　undying　worm　that　gnaws　him　is　the　tormenting　consideration　that　his　excellent　views　and

vituperations　remain　absolutely　without　result　in　the　world。　But　our　satisfaction　at　the　fate　of

Thersitism　also；　may　have　its　sinister　side。

§　35

A　World…historical　individual　is　not　so　unwise　as　to　indulge　a　variety　of　wishes　to　divide　his

regards。　He　is　devoted　to　the　One　Aim；　regardless　of　all　else。　It　is　even　possible　that　such　men

may　treat　other　great；　even　sacred　interests；　inconsiderately；　conduct　which　is　indeed　obnoxious　to

moral　reprehension。　But　so　mighty　a　form　must　trample　down　many　an　innocent　flower…crush　to

pieces　many　an　object　in　its　path。

§　36

The　special　interest　of　passion　is　thus　inseparable　from　the　active　development　of　a　general

principle：　for　it　is　from　the　special　and　determinate　and　from　its　negation；　that　the　Universal　results。

Particularity　contends　with　its　like；　and　some　loss　is　involved　in　the　issue。　It　is　not　the　general　idea

that　is　implicated　in　opposition　and　bat；　and　that　is　exposed　to　danger。　It　remains　in　the

background；　untouched　and　uninjured。　This　may　be　called　the　cunning　of　reason；　—　that　it　sets

the　passions　to　work　for　itself；　while　that　which　develops　its　existence　through　such　impulsion　pays

the　penalty　and　suffers　loss。　For　it　is　phenomenal　being　that　is　so　treated；　and　of　this；　part　is　of　no

value；　part　is　positive　and　real。　The　particular　is　for　the　most　part　of　too　trifling　value　as　pared

with　the　general：　individuals　are　sacrificed　and　abandoned。　The　Idea　pays　the　penalty　of

determinate　existence　and　of　corruptibility；　not　from　itself；　but　from　the　passions　of　individuals。

§　37

But　though　we　might　tolerate　the　idea　that　individuals；　their　desires　and　the　gratification　of　them；

are　thus　sacrificed；　and　their　happiness　given　up　to　the　empire　of　chance；　to　which　it　belongs；　and

that　as　a　general　rule；　individuals　e　under　the　category　of　means　to　an　ulterior　end；　—　there　is

one　aspect　of　human　individuality　which　we　should　hesitate　to　regard　in　that　subordinate　light；　even

in　relation　to　the　highest；　since　it　is　absolutely　no　subordinate　element；　but　exists　in　those　individuals

as　inherently　eternal　and　divine。　I　mean　morality；　ethics；　religion。　Even　when　speaking　of　the

realisation　of　the　great　ideal　aim　by　means　of　individuals；　the　subjective　element　in　them　—　their

interest　and　that　of　their　cravings　and　impulses；　their　views　and　judgments；　though　exhibited　as　the

merely　formal　side　of　their　existence；　—　was　spoken　of　as　having　an　infinite　right　to　be　consulted。

The　first　idea　that　presents　itself　in　speaking　of　means　is　that　of　something　external　to　the　object；

and　having　no　share　in　the　object　itself。　But　merely　natural　things　—　even　the　monest　lifeless

objects　—　used　as　means；　must　be　of　such　a　kind　as　adapts　them　to　their　purpose；　they　must