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be told that the microscope and scalpel show no difference； in the first
stage of visible existence； between him and the lower mammals； then he
has a right to answeras he will answerSo much the worse for the
microscope and scalpel： so much the better for my old belief； that there
is beneath my birth； life； death； a substratum of supernatural causes；
imponderable； invisible； unknowable by any physical science whatsoever。
If you cannot render me a reason how I came hither； and what I am； I must
go to those who will render me one。 And if that craving be not satisfied
by a rational theory of life； it will demand satisfaction from some magical
theory； as did the mind of the eighteenth century when； revolting from
materialism； it fled to magic； to explain the ever… astounding miracle of
life。
The old Regime。 Will our age； in its turn； ever be spoken of as an old
Regime？ Will it ever be spoken of as a Regime at all； as an organised；
orderly system of society and polity； and not merely as a chaos； an
anarchy； a transitory struggle； of which the money…lender has been the real
guide and lord？
But at least it will be spoken of as an age of progress； of rapid
developments； of astonishing discoveries。
Are you so sure of that？ There was an age of progress once。 But
what is our agewhat is all which has befallen since 1815save after…
swells of that great storm； which are weakening and lulling into heavy
calm？ Are we on the eve of stagnation？ Of a long check to the human
intellect？ Of a new Byzantine era； in which little men will discuss； and
ape； the deeds which great men did in their forefathers' days？
What progressit is a question which some will receive with almost
angry surprisewhat progress has the human mind made since 1815？
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If the thought be startling； do me the great honour of taking it home；
and verifying for yourselves its truth or its falsehood。 I do not say that it
is altogether true。 No proposition concerning human things； stated so
broadly； can be。 But see for yourselves； whether it is not at least more
true than false； whether the ideas； the discoveries； of which we boast most
in the nineteenth century； are not really due to the end of the eighteenth。
Whether other men did not labour； and we have only entered into their
labours。 Whether our positivist spirit； our content with the collecting of
facts； our dread of vast theories； is not a symptomwholesome； prudent；
modest； but still a symptomof our consciousness that we are not as our
grandfathers were； that we can no longer conceive great ideas； which
illumine； for good or evil； the whole mind and heart of man； and drive him
on to dare and suffer desperately。
Railroads？ Electric telegraphs？ All honour to them in their place：
but they are not progress； they are only the fruits of past progress。 No
outward and material thing is progress； no machinery causes progress； it
merely spreads and makes popular the results of progress。 Progress is
inward； of the soul。 And； therefore； improved constitutions； and
improved book instructionnow miscalled educationare not progress：
they are at best only fruits and signs thereof。 For they are outward；
material； and progress； I say； is inward。 The self…help and self…
determination of the independent soulthat is the root of progress； and the
more human beings who have that； the more progress there is in the world。
Give me a man who； though he can neither read nor write； yet dares think
for himself； and do the thing he believes： that man will help forward the
human race more than any thousand men who have read； or written either；
a thousand books apiece； but have not dared to think for themselves。
And better for his race； and better； I believe； in the sight of God； the
confusions and mistakes of that one sincere brave man； than the second…
hand and cowardly correctness of all the thousand。
As for the 〃triumphs of science；〃 let us honour； with astonishment and
awe； the genius of those who invented them； but let us remember that the
things themselves are as a gun or a sword； with which we can kill our
enemy； but with which also our enemy can kill us。 Like all outward and
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material things； they are equally fit for good and for evil。 In England
herethey have been as yet； as far as I can see； nothing but blessings：
but I have my very serious doubts whether they are likely to be blessings
to the whole human race； for many an age to come。 I can conceive them…
…may God avert the omen！ the instruments of a more crushing executive
centralisation； of a more utter oppression of the bodies and souls of men；
than the world has yet seen。 I can conceivemay God avert the omen！
centuries hence； some future world…ruler sitting at the junction of all
railroads； at the centre of all telegraph…wiresa world…spider in the
omphalos of his world…wide web； and smiting from thence everything that
dared to lift its head； or utter a cry of pain； with a swiftness and surety to
which the craft of a Justinian or a Philip II。 were but clumsy and impotent。
All； all outward things； be sure of it； are good or evil； exactly as far as
they are in the hands of good men or of bad。
Moreover； paradoxical as it may seem； railroads and telegraphs；
instead of inaugurating an era of progress； may possibly only retard it。
〃Rester sur un grand succes；〃 which was Rossini's advice to a young
singer who had achieved a triumph； is a maxim which the world often
follows； not only from prudence； but from necessity。 They have done so
much that it seems neither prudent nor possible to do more。 They will
rest and be thankful。
Thus； gunpowder and printing made rapid changes enough； but those
changes had no farther development。 The new art of war； the new art o