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view of our advantage。 We sometimes choose absolute nonsense
because in our foolishness we see in that nonsense the easiest
means for attaining a supposed advantage。 But when all that is
explained and worked out on paper （which is perfectly possible；
for it is contemptible and senseless to suppose that some laws of
nature man will never understand）； then certainly so…called
desires will no longer exist。 For if a desire should come into
conflict with reason we shall then reason and not desire； because
it will be impossible retaining our reason to be _senseless_ in
our desires； and in that way knowingly act against reason and
desire to injure ourselves。 And as all choice and reasoning can
be really calculatedbecause there will some day be discovered
the laws of our so…called free willso； joking apart； there may
one day be something like a table constructed of them； so that we
really shall choose in accordance with it。 If； for instance；
some day they calculate and prove to me that I made a long nose
at someone because I could not help making a long nose at him and
that I had to do it in that particular way； what _freedom_ is
left me； especially if I am a learned man and have taken my
degree somewhere？ Then I should be able to calculate my whole
life for thirty years beforehand。 In short； if this could be
arranged there would be nothing left for us to do； anyway； we
should have to understand that。 And； in fact； we ought
unwearyingly to repeat to ourselves that at such and such a time
and in such and such circumstances nature does not ask our leave；
that we have got to take her as she is and not fashion her to
suit our fancy； and if we really aspire to formulas and tables of
rules； and well； even 。。。 to the chemical retort； there's no help
for it； we must accept the retort too； or else it will be
accepted without our consent 。。。。〃
Yes； but here I come to a stop！ Gentlemen； you must excuse me
for being over…philosophical； it's the result of forty years
underground！ Allow me to indulge my fancy。 You see； gentlemen；
reason is an excellent thing； there's no disputing that； but
reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side
of man's nature； while will is a manifestation of the whole life；
that is； of the whole human life including reason and all the
impulses。 And although our life； in this manifestation of it； is
often worthless； yet it is life and not simply extracting square
roots。 Here I； for instance； quite naturally want to live； in
order to satisfy all my capacities for life； and not simply my
capacity for reasoning； that is； not simply one twentieth of my
capacity for life。 What does reason know？ Reason only knows
what it has succeeded in learning （some things； perhaps； it will
never learn； this is a poor comfort； but why not say so frankly？）
and human nature acts as a whole； with everything that is in it；
consciously or unconsciously； and； even it if goes wrong； it
lives。 I suspect； gentlemen； that you are looking at me with
compassion； you tell me again that an enlightened and developed
man； such； in short； as the future man will be； cannot
consciously desire anything disadvantageous to himself； that that
can be proved mathematically。 I thoroughly agree； it canby
mathematics。 But I repeat for the hundredth time； there is one
case； one only； when man may consciously； purposely； desire what
is injurious to himself； what is stupid； very stupidsimply in
order to have the right to desire for himself even what is very
stupid and not to be bound by an obligation to desire only what
is sensible。 Of course； this very stupid thing； this caprice of
ours； may be in reality； gentlemen； more advantageous for us than
anything else on earth； especially in certain cases。 And in
particular it may be more advantageous than any advantage even
when it does us obvious harm； and contradicts the soundest
conclusions of our reason concerning our advantagefor in any
circumstances it preserves for us what is most precious and most
importantthat is； our personality； our individuality。 Some；
you see； maintain that this really is the most precious thing for
mankind； choice can； of course； if it chooses； be in agreement
with reason； and especially if this be not abused but kept within
bounds。 It is profitable and some… times even praiseworthy。 But
very often； and even most often； choice is utterly and stubbornly
opposed to reason 。。。 and 。。。 and 。。。 do you know that that； too；
is profitable； sometimes even praiseworthy？ Gentlemen； let us
suppose that man is not stupid。 （Indeed one cannot refuse to
suppose that； if only from the one consideration； that； if man is
stupid； then who is wise？） But if he is not stupid； he is
monstrously ungrateful！ Phenomenally ungrateful。 In fact； I
believe that the best definition of man is the ungrateful biped。
But that is not all； that is not his worst defect； his worst
defect is his perpetual moral obliquity； perpetualfrom the days
of the Flood to the Schleswig…Holstein period。 Moral obliquity
and consequently lack of good sense； for it has long been
accepted that lack of good sense is due to no other cause than
moral obliquity。 Put it to the test and cast your eyes upon the
history of mankind。 What will you see？ Is it a grand spectacle？
Grand； if you like。 Take the Colossus of Rhodes； for instance；
that's worth something。 With good reason Mr。 Anaevsky testifies
of it that some say that it is the work of man's hands； while
others maintain that it has been created by nature herself。 Is
it many…coloured？ May be it is many…coloured； too： if one takes
the dress uniforms； military and civilian； of all peoples in all
agesthat alone is worth something； and if you take the undress
uniforms you will never get to the end of it； no historian would
be equal to the job。 Is it monotonous？ May be it's monotonous
too： it's fighting and fighting； they are fighting now； they
fought first and they fought lastyou will admit； that it is
almost too monotonous。 In short； one may say anything about the
history of the worldanything that might enter the most
disordered imagination。 The only thing one can't say is that
it's rational。 The very word sticks in one's throat。 And；
indeed； this is the odd thing that is continually happening：
there are continually turning up in life moral and rational
persons； sages and lovers of humanity who make it their object to
live all their lives as morally and rationally as possible； to
be； so to speak； a light to their neighbours simply in order to
show them that it is possible to live morally and rationally in
this world。 And yet we all know that those very people sooner or
later have been false to themselves； playing some queer trick；
often a most unseemly one。 Now I ask you： what can be expected
of man since he is a being endowed with strange qualities？
Shower upon him every earthly blessing； drown him in a sea of
happines