—fromPastandPresent(Chapter4ofBook Ⅲ)
ThomasCarlyle
Allwork, evencotton-spinning, isnoble; workisalonenoble: ; alifeofeaseisnotforanyman, — ‘WorshipofSorrow.’Forthesonofmanthereisnonoblecrown, wellworn, orevenillworn, butisacrownofthorns!—Thesethings, inspokenwords, orstillbetter, infeltinstinctsaliveineveryheart, wereoncewellknown.
Doesnotthewholewretchedness, thewholeAtheismasIcallit, ofman’sways, inthesegenerations, shadowitselfforusinthatunspeakableLife-philosophyofhis: Thepretensiontobewhathecalls “happy”? Everypitifulestwhipsterthatwalkswithinaskinhashisheadfilledwiththenotionthatheis, shallbe, orbyallhumananddivinelawsoughttobe, “happy”.Hiswishes, thepitifulestwhipster’s, aretobefulfilledforhim; hisdays, thepitifulestwhipster’s, aretoflowoninever-gentlecurrentofenjoyment, , Thoushaltbehappy; thoushaltlovepleasantthings, , whyhavewenotfoundpleasantthings?
