the night will be too cold for its winged frailty. For it, too, a philosophy might be found, though it may not be my own.
554
Progress.—When we praise progress we only praise the movement and those who do not leave us rooted to the spot, which, under circumstances, is certainly doing much, especially if we live among Egyptians. But in versatile Europe, where movement, as they say, “is a matter of course“—alas! if ice only understood something about it—I praise progress and those who are progressing, that is, those who always leave themselves behind and who do not in the least mind whether others follow them or not. ‘‘Wherever I pause I find myself alone: why should I pause? The desert is so wide!” This is the mode of reasoning of such a progressist.
555
The least important are important enough.—We ought to avoid events when we feel convinced that the least important leave a lasting impression on us—and this we cannot avoid. The thinker must needs have within himself un average canon of all those things which he wishes to experience.
556
The four noble virtues.—Honest towards ourselves