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ds has done； and is doing； in these heavy…laden generations。
Do you want a man _not_ to practise what he believes； then encourage him to keep often speaking it in words。 Every time he speaks it； the tendency to do it will grow less。 His empty speech of what he believes； will be a weariness and an affliction to the wise man。 But do you wish his empty speech of what he believes； to become farther an insincere speech of what he does not believe？ Celebrate to him his gift of speech； assure him that he shall rise in Parliament by means of it； and achieve great things without any performance； that eloquent speech； whether performed or not； is admirable。 My friends； eloquent unperformed speech； in Parliament or elsewhere； is horrible！ The eloquent man that delivers； in Parliament or elsewhere； a beautiful speech； and will perform nothing of it； but leaves it as if already performed；what can you make of that man？ He has enrolled himself among the _Ignes Fatui_ and Children of the Wind； means to serve； as beautifully illuminated Chinese Lantern； in that corps henceforth。 I think； the serviceable thing you could do to that man； if permissible； would be a severe one： To clip off a bit of his eloquent tongue by way of penance and warning； another bit； if he again spoke without performing； and so again； till you had clipt the whole tongue away from him；and were delivered； you and he； from at least one miserable mockery： 〃There； eloquent friend； see now in silence if there be any redeeming deed in thee； of blasphemous wind…eloquence； at least； we shall have no more！〃 How many pretty men have gone this road； escorted by the beautifulest marching music from all the 〃public organs；〃 and have found at last that it endedwhere？ It is the _broad_ road； that leads direct to Limbo and the Kingdom of the Inane。 Gifted men； and once valiant nations； and as it were the whole world with one accord； are marching thither； in melodious triumph； all the drums and hautboys giving out their cheerfulest _Ca…ira_。 It is the universal humor of the world just now。 My friends； I am very sure you will _arrive_； unless you halt！
Considered as the last finish of education； or of human culture； worth and acquirement； the art of speech is noble； and even divine； it is like the kindling of a Heaven's light to show us what a glorious world exists； and has perfected itself； in a man。 But if no world exist in the man； if nothing but continents of empty vapor； of greedy self…conceits； common…place hearsays； and indistinct loomings of a sordid _chaos_ exist in him； what will be the use of 〃light〃 to show us that？ Better a thousand times that such a man do not speak； but keep his empty vapor and his sordid chaos to himself； hidden to the utmost from all beholders。 To look on that； can be good for no human beholder； to look away from that； must be good。 And if； by delusive semblances of rhetoric； logic； first…class degrees； and the aid of elocution…masters and parliamentary reporters； the poor proprietor of said chaos should be led to persuade himself； and get others persuaded；which it is the nature of his sad task to do； and which； in certain eras of the world； it is fatally possible to do；that this is a cosmos which he owns； that _he_； being so perfect in tongue…exercise and full of college…honors； is an 〃educated〃 man； and pearl of great price in his generation； that round him； and his parliament emulously listening to him； as round some divine apple of gold set in a picture of silver； all the world should gather to adore： what is likely to become of him and the gathering world？ An apple of Sodom set in the clusters of Gomorrah： that； little as he suspects it； is the definition of the poor chaotically eloquent man； with his emulous parliament and miserable adoring world！Considered as the whole of education； or human culture； which it now is in our modern manners； all apprenticeship except to mere handicraft having fallen obsolete； and the 〃educated man〃 being with us emphatically and exclusively the man that can speak well with tongue or pen； and astonish men by the quantities of speech he has _heard_ （〃tremendous _reader_；〃 〃walking encyclopaedia；〃 and such like）；the Art of Speech is probably definable in that case as the short summary of all the Black Arts put together。
But the Schoolmaster is secondary； an effect rather than a cause in this matter： what the Schoolmaster with his universities shall manage or attempt to teach will be ruled by what the Society with its practical industries is continually demanding that men should learn。 We spoke once of vital lungs for Society： and in fact this question always rises as the alpha and omega of social questions； What methods the Society has of summoning aloft into the high places； for its help and governance； the wisdom that is born to it in all places； and of course is born chiefly in the more populous or lower places？ For this； if you will consider it； expresses the ultimate available result； and net sum…total； of all the efforts； struggles and confused activities that go on in the Society； and determines whether they are true and wise efforts； certain to be victorious； or false and foolish； certain to be futile； and to fall captive and caitiff。 How do men rise in your Society？ In all Societies； Turkey included； and I suppose Dahomey included； men do rise； but the question of questions always is； What kind of men？ Men of noble gifts； or men of ignoble？ It is the one or the other； and a life…and…death inquiry which！ For in all places and all times； little as you may heed it； Nature most silently but most inexorably demands that it be the one and not the other。 And you need not try to palm an ignoble sham upon her； and call it noble； for she is a judge。 And her penalties； as quiet as she looks； are terrible： amounting to world…earthquakes； to anarchy and death everlasting； and admit of no appeal！
Surely England still flatters herself that she has lungs； that she can still breathe a little？ Or is it that the poor creature； driven into mere blind industrialisms； and as it were； gone pearl…diving this long while many fathoms deep； and tearing up the oyster…beds so as never creature did before； hardly knows；so busy in the belly of the oyster chaos； where is no thought of 〃breathing；〃whether she has lungs or not？ Nations of a robust habit； and fine deep chest； can sometimes take in a deal of breath _before_ diving； and live long； in the muddy deeps； without new breath： but they too come to need it at last； and will die if they cannot get it！
To the gifted soul that is born in England； what is the career； then； that will carry him； amid noble Olympic dust； up to the immortal gods？ For his country's sake； that it may not lose the service he was born capable of doing it； for his own sake； that his life be not choked and perverted； and his light from Heaven be not changed into lightning from the Other Place；it is essential that there be such a career。 The country that can offer no career in that case； is a doomed country； nay it is already a dead country： it has secured the ban of Heaven upon it； will not have Heaven's light； will have the Other Place's lightning； and may consider its