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a little overstated； but may pass。
But these are magazines and arsenals。 A man must thank his
defects； and stand in some terror of his talents。 A transcendent
talent draws so largely on his forces； as to lame him； a defect pays
him revenues on the other side。 The sufferance； which is the badge
of the Jew； has made him； in these days； the ruler of the rulers of
the earth。 If Fate is ore and quarry； if evil is good in the making；
if limitation is power that shall be； if calamities； oppositions； and
weights are wings and means； we are reconciled。
Fate involves the melioration。 No statement of the Universe
can have any soundness； which does not admit its ascending effort。
The direction of the whole； and of the parts； is toward benefit； and
in proportion to the health。 Behind every individual； closes
organization： before him； opens liberty； the Better； the Best。
The first and worst races are dead。 The second and imperfect races
are dying out； or remain for the maturing of higher。 In the latest
race； in man； every generosity； every new perception； the love and
praise he extorts from his fellows； are certificates of advance out
of fate into freedom。 Liberation of the will from the sheaths and
clogs of organization which he has outgrown； is the end and aim of
this world。 Every calamity is a spur and valuable hint； and where
his endeavors do not yet fully avail； they tell as tendency。 The
whole circle of animal life； tooth against tooth； devouring
war； war for food； a yelp of pain and a grunt of triumph； until； at
last； the whole menagerie； the whole chemical mass is mellowed and
refined for higher use； pleases at a sufficient perspective。
But to see how fate slides into freedom； and freedom into fate；
observe how far the roots of every creature run； or find； if you can；
a point where there is no thread of connection。 Our life is
consentaneous and far…related。 This knot of nature is so well tied；
that nobody was ever cunning enough to find the two ends。 Nature is
intricate； overlapped； interweaved； and endless。 Christopher Wren
said of the beautiful King's College chapel； 〃that； if anybody would
tell him where to lay the first stone； he would build such another。〃
But where shall we find the first atom in this house of man； which is
all consent； inosculation； and balance of parts？
The web of relation is shown in _habitat_； shown in
hybernation。 When hybernation was observed； it was found； that；
whilst some animals became torpid in winter； others were torpid in
summer： hybernation then was a false name。 The _long sleep_ is not
an effect of cold； but is regulated by the supply of food proper to
the animal。 It becomes torpid when the fruit or prey it lives on is
not in season； and regains its activity when its food is ready。
Eyes are found in light； ears in auricular air； feet on land；
fins in water； wings in air； and； each creature where it was meant to
be； with a mutual fitness。 Every zone has its own _Fauna_。 There is
adjustment between the animal and its food； its parasite； its enemy。
Balances are kept。 It is not allowed to diminish in numbers； nor to
exceed。 The like adjustments exist for man。 His food is cooked；
when he arrives； his coal in the pit； the house ventilated； the mud
of the deluge dried； his companions arrived at the same hour； and
awaiting him with love； concert； laughter； and tears。 These are
coarse adjustments； but the invisible are not less。 There are more
belongings to every creature than his air and his food。 His
instincts must be met； and he has predisposing power that bends and
fits what is near him to his use。 He is not possible until the
invisible things are right for him； as well as the visible。 Of what
changes； then； in sky and earth； and in finer skies and earths； does
the appearance of some Dante or Columbus apprise us！
How is this effected？ Nature is no spendthrift； but takes the
shortest way to her ends。 As the general says to his soldiers； 〃if
you want a fort； build a fort；〃 so nature makes every creature do its
own work and get its living； is it planet； animal； or tree。 The
planet makes itself。 The animal cell makes itself； then； what it
wants。 Every creature； wren or dragon； shall make its own
lair。 As soon as there is life； there is self…direction； and
absorbing and using of material。 Life is freedom； life in the
direct ratio of its amount。 You may be sure； the new…born man is not
inert。 Life works both voluntarily and supernaturally in its
neighborhood。 Do you suppose； he can be estimated by his weight in
pounds； or； that he is contained in his skin； this reaching；
radiating； jaculating fellow？ The smallest candle fills a mile with
its rays； and the papillae of a man run out to every star。
When there is something to be done； the world knows how to get
it done。 The vegetable eye makes leaf； pericarp； root； bark； or
thorn； as the need is； the first cell converts itself into stomach；
mouth； nose； or nail； according to the want： the world throws its
life into a hero or a shepherd； and puts him where he is wanted。
Dante and Columbus were Italians； in their time： they would be
Russians or Americans to…day。 Things ripen； new men come。 The
adaptation is not capricious。 The ulterior aim； the purpose beyond
itself； the correlation by which planets subside and crystallize；
then animate beasts and men； will not stop； but will work into finer
particulars； and from finer to finest。
The secret of the world is； the tie between person and event。
Person makes event； and event person。 The 〃times；〃 〃the age；〃 what
is that； but a few profound persons and a few active persons who
epitomize the times？ Goethe； Hegel； Metternich； Adams； Calhoun；
Guizot； Peel； Cobden； Kossuth； Rothschild； Astor； Brunel； and the
rest。 The same fitness must be presumed between a man and the time
and event； as between the sexes； or between a race of animals and the
food it eats； or the inferior races it uses。 He thinks his fate
alien； because the copula is hidden。 But the soul contains the event
that shall befall it； for the event is only the actualization of its
thoughts； and what we pray to ourselves for is always granted。 The
event is the print of your form。 It fits you like your skin。 What
each does is proper to him。 Events are the children of his body and
mind。 We learn that the soul of Fate is the soul of us； as Hafiz
sings；
Alas！ till now I had not known；
My guide and fortune's guide are one。
All the toys that infatuate men； and which they play for；
houses； land； money； luxury； power； fame； are the selfsame thing；
with a new gauze or two of illusion overlaid。 And of all the drums
and rattles by which men are made willing to have their heads broke；
and are led out solemnly every morning to parade； the most
admirable is this by which we