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； like the mother's voice to her little child that strays bewildered； weeping； in unknown tumults； like soft streamings of celestial music to my too…exasperated heart； came that Evangel。 The Universe is not dead and demoniacal； a charnel…house with spectres； but godlike； and my Father's！
〃With other eyes； too； could I now look upon my fellowman： with an infinite Love； an infinite Pity。 Poor； wandering； wayward man！ Art thou not tried； and beaten with stripes； even as I am？ Ever； whether thou bear the royal mantle or the beggar's gabardine； art thou not so weary； so heavy…laden； and thy Bed of Rest is but a Grave。 O my Brother； my Brother； why cannot I shelter thee in my bosom； and wipe away all tears from thy eyes！Truly； the din of many…voiced Life； which； in this solitude； with the mind's organ； I could hear； was no longer a maddening discord； but a melting one； like inarticulate cries； and sobbings of a dumb creature； which in the ear of Heaven are prayers。 The poor Earth； with her poor joys； was now my needy Mother； not my cruel Stepdame； Man； with his so mad Wants and so mean Endeavors； had become the dearer to me； and even for his sufferings and his sins； I now first named him Brother。 Thus was I standing in the porch of that '_Sanctuary of Sorrow_；' by strange； steep ways had I too been guided thither； and ere long its sacred gates would open； and the '_Divine Depth of Sorrow_' lie disclosed to me。〃
The Professor says； he here first got eye on the Knot that had been strangling him； and straightway could unfasten it； and was free。 〃A vain interminable controversy；〃 writes he； 〃touching what is at present called Origin of Evil； or some such thing； arises in every soul； since the beginning of the world； and in every soul； that would pass from idle Suffering into actual Endeavoring； must first be put an end to。 The most； in our time； have to go content with a simple； incomplete enough Suppression of this controversy； to a few some Solution of it is indispensable。 In every new era； too； such Solution comes out in different terms； and ever the Solution of the last era has become obsolete； and is found unserviceable。 For it is man's nature to change his Dialect from century to century； he cannot help it though he would。 The authentic _Church…Catechism_ of our present century has not yet fallen into my hands： meanwhile； for my own private behoof I attempt to elucidate the matter so。 Man's Unhappiness； as I construe； comes of his Greatness； it is because there is an Infinite in him； which with all his cunning he cannot quite bury under the Finite。 Will the whole Finance Ministers and Upholsterers and Confectioners of modern Europe undertake； in joint…stock company； to make one Shoeblack HAPPY？ They cannot accomplish it； above an hour or two： for the Shoeblack also has a Soul quite other than his Stomach； and would require； if you consider it； for his permanent satisfaction and saturation； simply this allotment； no more； and no less： _God's infinite Universe altogether to himself_； therein to enjoy infinitely； and fill every wish as fast as it rose。 Oceans of Hochheimer； a Throat like that of Ophiuchus： speak not of them； to the infinite Shoeblack they are as nothing。 No sooner is your ocean filled； than he grumbles that it might have been of better vintage。 Try him with half of a Universe； of an Omnipotence； he sets to quarrelling with the proprietor of the other half； and declares himself the most maltreated of men。Always there is a black spot in our sunshine： it is even； as I said； the _Shadow of Ourselves_。
〃But the whim we have of Happiness is somewhat thus。 By certain valuations； and averages； of our own striking； we come upon some sort of average terrestrial lot； this we fancy belongs to us by nature； and of indefeasible right。 It is simple payment of our wages； of our deserts； requires neither thanks nor complaint； only such _overplus_ as there may be do we account Happiness； any _deficit_ again is Misery。 Now consider that we have the valuation of our own deserts ourselves； and what a fund of Self…conceit there is in each of us；do you wonder that the balance should so often dip the wrong way； and many a Blockhead cry： See there； what a payment； was ever worthy gentleman so used！I tell thee； Blockhead； it all comes of thy Vanity； of what thou _fanciest_ those same deserts of thine to be。 Fancy that thou deservest to be hanged （as is most likely）； thou wilt feel it happiness to be only shot： fancy that thou deservest to be hanged in a hair…halter； it will be a luxury to die in hemp。
〃So true is it； what I then said； that _the Fraction of Life can be increased in value not so much by increasing your Numerator as by lessening your Denominator_。 Nay； unless my Algebra deceive me； _Unity_ itself divided by _Zero_ will give _Infinity_。 Make thy claim of wages a zero； then； thou hast the world under thy feet。 Well did the Wisest of our time write： 'It is only with Renunciation （_Entsagen_） that Life； properly speaking； can be said to begin。'
〃I asked myself： What is this that； ever since earliest years； thou hast been fretting and fuming； and lamenting and self…tormenting； on account of？ Say it in a word： is it not because thou art not HAPPY？ Because the THOU （sweet gentleman） is not sufficiently honored； nourished； soft…bedded； and lovingly cared for？ Foolish soul！ What Act of Legislature was there that _thou_ shouldst be Happy？ A little while ago thou hadst no right to _be_ at all。 What if thou wert born and predestined not to be Happy； but to be Unhappy！ Art thou nothing other than a Vulture； then； that fliest through the Universe seeking after somewhat to _eat_； and shrieking dolefully because carrion enough is not given thee？ Close thy _Byron_； open thy _Goethe_。〃
〃_Es leuchtet mir ein_； I see a glimpse of it！〃 cries he elsewhere： 〃there is in man a HIGHER than Love of Happiness： he can do without Happiness； and instead thereof find Blessedness！ Was it not to preach forth this same HIGHER that sages and martyrs； the Poet and the Priest； in all times； have spoken and suffered； bearing testimony； through life and through death； of the Godlike that is in Man； and how in the Godlike only has he Strength and Freedom？ Which God…inspiredd Doctrine art thou also honored to be taught； O Heavens！ and broken with manifold merciful Afflictions； even till thou become contrite and learn it！ Oh； thank thy Destiny for these； thankfully bear what yet remain： thou hadst need of them； the Self in thee needed to be annihilated。 By benignant fever…paroxysms is Life rooting out the deep…seated chronic Disease； and triumphs over Death。 On the roaring billows of Time； thou art not engulfed； but borne aloft into the azure of Eternity。 Love not Pleasure； love God。 This is the EVERLASTING YEA； wherein all contradiction is solved： wherein whoso walks and works； it is well with him。〃
And again： 〃Small is it that thou canst trample the Earth with its injuries under thy feet； as old Greek Zeno trained thee： thou canst love the Earth while it injures thee； and even because it injures thee； for this a Greater than Zeno was needed； and he too was sent。 Knowest thou that '_Worship of Sorrow