OF VIRTUE THAT MAKETH SMALLER 243
I walk through these folk and keep mine eyes open. They have become smaller and are becoming ever smaller. And the reason, of that is their doctrine of happiness and virtue.
For they are modest even in their virtue ; for they are desirous of ease. But with ease only modest virtue is compatible.
True, in their fashion they learn how to stride and to stride forward. That call I their hobbling. Thereby they become an offence unto every one who is in a hurry.
T And many a one strideth on and in doing so looketh backward, with a stiffened neck. I rejoice to run against the stomachs of such.
Foot and eyes shall not lie, nor reproach each other for lying. But there is much lying among the small folk.
Some of them will, but most of them are willed merely. Some of them are genuine, but most of them are bad actors.
There are unconscious actors among them, and involuntary actors. The genuine are always rare, especially genuine actors.
Here is little of man ; therefore women try to make themselves manly. For only he who is enough of a man will save the woman in woman.
And this hypocrisy I found to be worst among them, that even those who command feign the virtues of those who serve.
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