ements:

"The world of finite interests and objects has rounded itself,
as it were, into a separate whole, within which the mind of
man can fortify itself, and live _securus adversus deos_, in
independence of the infinite. In the sphere of _thought_,
there has been forming itself an ever-increasing body of
science, which, tracing out the relation of finite things to
finite things, never finds it necessary to seek for a
beginning or an end to its infinite series of phenomena, and
which meets the claims of theology with the saying of the
astronomer, 'I do not need that hypothesis.' In the sphere of
_action_, again, the complexity of modern life presents a
thousand isolated interests, crossing each other in ways too
subtle to trace out--interests commercial, social, and
political--in pursuing one or other of which the individual
may find ample occupation for his existence, without ever
feeling the need of any return upon himself, or seeing any
reason to ask himself whether this endless striving has any
meaning or object beyond itself."[428:18]

[Sidenote: The Value of Contemplation for Life.]

Sect. 220. There is no dignity in living except it be in the solemn
presence of the universe; and only contemplation can summon such a
presence. Moreover, the sessions must be not infrequent, for memory is
short and visions fade. Truth does not require, however, to be followed
out of the world. There is a speculative detachment from life which is
less courageous, even if more noble, than worldliness. Such is Dante's
exalted but mediaeval intellectualism.

"And it may be said that (as true friendship between men
consists in each wholly loving the other) the true philosopher
loves every part of wisdom, and wisdom every part of the
philosopher, inasmuch as she draws all to herself, and allows
no one of his thoughts to wander to other things."

Even though, as Aristotle thought, pure contemplation be alone proper to
the gods in their perfection and blessedness, for the sublunary world
this is less worthy than that balance and unity of faculty which
distinguished the humanity of the Greek.

"Then," writes Thucydides, "we are lovers of the beautiful,
yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without
loss of manliness. Wealth we employ, not for talk and
ostentation, but when there is a real