Page:Dawn of the Day.pdf/383

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FIFTH BOOK
347

510

To escape one's virtues—What of a thinker who does not occasionally know how to escape his own virtues ? Is he not supposed to be more than a moral being ?

511

The temptress.—Honesty is the great temptress of all fanatics. That which seemed to tempt Luther in the shape of the devil or a beautiful woman, and which he warded off in that uncouth way of his, was probably nothing else than honesty, and perchance, in rarer cases, even truth.

512

Bold to the things.—He who, in conformity to his character, is considerate and timid to persons but bold to the things, is afraid of new and more intimate acquaintances, and limits his old ones: for the purpose of making his incognito and arbitrariness coalesce with truth.

513

Tamits and beauty.—Do you seek lovers of a fine culture? Then you will also have to be contented with limited views and sights, as when you are on the looking for beautiful countries. There certainly are such panoramatic persons; they are indeed like the panoramatic regions, instructive and marvellous: but not beautiful.