Mein Kampf
longer. I began to express my attitude, and began to contradict. Then I realized that this was quite useless until I knew something definite about the points under dispute, so I began to go to the sources from which they drew their supposed wisdom. Book after book, pamphlet after pamphlet had its turn.
On the building lot there were now often heated arguments. I went on struggling, growing day by day better informed than my adversaries were, until one day the means was used which most easily vanquishes reason: terrorism, violence. Some of the spokesmen of the opposition forced me either to leave the job at once or to fly off the scaffolding on my head. As I was alone, and resistance seemed hopeless, I preferred to follow the former advice, richer by one experience.
I left, filled with disgust, but at the same time so agitated that it would have been quite impossible for me to turn my back on the whole affair. No; after the flaming up of the first indignation, my stiff neck once more got the upper hand. I was absolutely determined to find another construction job just the same. My decision was strengthened by the privation which closed me in its heartless embrace a few weeks later, after I had eaten up what little wages I had saved. Now I had to, whether or no. And the game began all over again, only to end as it had before.
I struggled with myself: were these human beings, worthy of belonging to a great people?
It was a painful question. If the answer were yes, the struggle for a national body was really not worth the effort and sacrifice which the best individuals must make; but if the answer were no, our people was poor indeed in human beings.
I was restless and uneasy during those days of brooding and puzzling, as I saw the mass of people who could not be counted among their own nation grow into a menacing horde.
With what new feelings, then, did I watch the endless rows of men marching in a mass demonstration of Viennese workmen that took place one day! For almost two hours I stood with bated breath, watching the enormous human serpent twisting its way past. At last, depressed and uneasy I left the square and walked
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