Note 212 — XXII. CONCLUSION.
Reading edition
I append a note written from a different point of view—“With how little wisdom!” certainly seems to cover most departments of life. Seems? Yes; but are we not apt to overlook the wisdom that lies in the great mass of people? In some small department we may have investigated further than our class-mates, and may see, or think we see, a good deal of stupidity in what goes on. But in most matters we do not investigate for ourselves, but just do the usual thing; and this seems to work all right. There must be a good deal of wisdom underlying the complex machinery of civilised life. Carlyle’s “Mostly fools!” will by no means account for it. At times one has a dim perception that people in general are not so stupid as they seem. Perhaps a long life would in the end lead us to say like Tithonus,
“Why should a man desire in any way “To vary from the kindly race of men?”
There is a higher wisdom than the disintegrating individualism of Carlyle. Far better to believe with Mazzini in “the collective existence of humanity,” and remembering that we work in a medium fashioned for us by the labours of all who have preceded us, regard our collective powers as “grafted upon those of all foregoing humanity.” (Mazzini’s Essays: Carlyle.) This is the point of view to which Wordsworth would raise us:—
“Among the multitudes “Of that huge city, oftentimes was seen “.........................the unity of man, “One spirit over ignorance and vice “Predominant, in good and evil hearts; “One sense for moral judgements, as one eye “For the sun’s light. The soul when smitten thus “By a sublime idea, whence soe’er “Vouchsafed for union or communion, feeds “On the pure bliss and takes her rest with God.” Prelude viij, ad f.
Though unable to share in “the pure bliss” of Wordsworth we may take refuge with Goethe in the thought that “humanity is the true man,” and enjoy much to which we have no claim as individuals. Tradition, blind tradition, must rule our actions through by far the greatest part of our lives; and seeing we owe it so much, we should be tolerant, even grateful.