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escape therefrom by any and every mad superstition which seemed
likely to give an answer to the awful questionsWhat are we； and
where？ and to lay to rest those instincts of the unseen and infinite
around it； which tormented it like ghosts by day and night： a sight
ludicrous or pathetic； according as it is looked on by a cynical or
a human spirit。
It is easy to call such a phenomenon absurd； improbable。 It is
rather rational； probable； say certain to happen。 Rational； I say；
for the reason of man tells him； and has always told him； that he is
a supernatural being； if by nature is meant that which is cognisable
by his five senses： that his coming into this world； his relation
to it； his exit from itwhich are the three most important facts
about himare supernatural； not to be explained by any deductions
from the impressions of his senses。 And I make bold to say； that
the recent discoveries of physical sciencenotably those of
embryologygo only to justify that old and general belief of man。
If man 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？
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 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 themmay 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
of literature； remained stationary； or rather receded and
degenerated； till the end of the eighteenth century。
And so it may be with our means of locomotion and interc