to-day, he is tired! Such is the blush of shame of the weary thinker before his own philosophy.
488
Against the waste of lore.—Do we not blush when we surprise ourselves in a violent aversion? Well, then we ought also to blush in strong affections, on account of the injustice which they imply. Nay, even more: there are people who feel choked and oppressed when somebody bestows on them the benefit of his love to such an extent as thereby to deprive others of a share of his affection; when the sound of his voice reveals to us that we are singled out, preferred ! Alas, I am not grateful for this preference | I detect within myself a resentful feeling against him who wishes thus to distinguish me: he shall not love me at the expense of others. For I myself have to look for a way to endure myself within me. And often my heart is full to overflowing. To such a man one ought not to give anything of which others are in need, yea, sorely in need.
489
Friends in need.—We sometimes notice that one of our friends sympathises more with others than with us, that his delicacy is troubled by his consciousness thereof, and his selfishness no match for his consciousness: in such a case we must facilitate matters for him and estrange him by some offence or other. We should not
