ape or to indulge in sensual pleasures or childish
amusements, cards or dice; or they will talk in the dullest way, or
dress up and make obeisance to one another. And how few are those who
have even a little superfluity of intellectual power! Like the others
they too make themselves a pleasure; but it is a pleasure of the
intellect. Either they will pursue some liberal study which brings
them in nothing, or they will practice some art; and in general, they
will be capable of taking an objective interest in things, so that
it will be possible to converse with them. But with the others it is
better not to enter into any relations at all; for, except when they
tell the results of their own experience or give an account of their
special vocation, or at any rate impart what they have learned from
some one else, their conversation will not be worth listening to; and
if anything is said to them, they will rarely grasp or understand it
aright, and it will in most cases be opposed to their own opinions.
Balthazar Gracian describes them very strikingly as men who are not
men--_hombres che non lo son_. And Giordano Bruno _says_ the same
thing: _What a difference there is in having to do with men compared
with those who are only made in their image and likeness_![1] And how
wonderfully this passage agrees with that remark in the Kurral: _The
common people look like men but I have never seen anything quite like
them_. If the reader will consider the extent to which these ideas
agree in thought and even in expression, and in the wide difference
between them in point of date and nationality, he cannot doubt but
that they are at one with the facts of life. It was certainly not
under the influence of those passages that, about twenty years ago, I
tried to get a snuff-box made, the lid of which should have two fine
chestnuts represented upon it, if possible in mosaic; together with a
leaf which was to show that they were horse-chestnuts. This symbol was
meant to keep the thought constantly before my mind. If anyone wishes
for entertainment, such as will prevent him feeling solitary even when
he is alone, let me recommend the company of dogs, whose moral and
intellectual qualities may almost afford delight and gratification.

[Footnote 1: Opera: ed. Wagner, 1. 224.]

Still, we should always be careful to avoid being unjust. I am often
surprised by the cleverness, and now and again by the stupidity of my
dog; and I have similar experience