tion of humanity to the retrogression of knowledge. And finally, if humanity do not perish through some passion, it will perish through a weakness; which would you rather have? This is the main question. Do you wish an extinction in fire and light or in the sands ?
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Another heroism.—To do things of the worst possible odour, which we are afraid of mentioning, but which are useful and necessary, may also exemplify heroism. The Greeks were not ashamed of classing even the cleansing of a stable among the great labours of Hercules.
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The opinions of opponents.—For the purpose of estimating the natural subtlety aud weakness of even the cleverest heads, we should study their way of taking and reciprocating the opinions of their opponents, for in this the natural disposition of any intellect comes to light. The perfect sage quite unintentionally idealises his opponent and frees the latter's inconsistencies from all stains and accidentalities; only after having thus turned him into a god with shining weapons, he takes up arms against him.
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Investigator and tempter.—There is no monopoly of
