to think, but from wickedness and contempt of coarse intellects.
352
Centre.—The feeling: “I am the centre of the world," springs up with full force when we are suddenly overtaken by same. We feel dazed and, as it were, standing in the midst of a surge, dazzled by one great piercing eye, which from all sides gazes down upon us and looks straight through and through us.
353
Freedom of speech.—"The truth should be told, even though the world should go to rack and ruin"—thus says great, outspoken Fichte! Yes, certainly! But we must first of all love it. But he means to say that everybody ought to speak out his mind, even though everything were to be turned upside clown. This point, however, is still open to argument.
354
Courage for suffering.—Such as we now are, we are able to bear a great deal of displeasure, our stomachs being suited to such rich diet. If deprived of the latter we should perhaps think the banquet of life insipid: and but for our ready acceptance of pain we should have to give up too many pleasures,
