Which is, the Earth or the creatures that move upon it, the more
important? This is a question prompted solely by intellectual
arrogance, for in life there is no greater and no less. The thing
that _is_ has justified its own importance by mere existence, for
that is the great and equal achievement. If life were arranged
for us from without such a question of supremacy would assume
importance, but life is always from within, and is modified or
extended by our own appetites, aspirations, and central activities.
From without we get pollen and the refreshment of space and
quietude—it is sufficient. We might ask, is the Earth anything more
than an extension of our human consciousness, or are we, moving
creatures, only projections of the Earth’s antennæ? But these
matters have no value save as a field wherein Thought, like a wise
lamb, may frolic merrily. And all would be very well if Thought
would but continue to frolic, instead of setting up first as _locum
tenens_ for Intuition and sticking to the job, and afterwards as
the counsel and critic of Omnipotence. Everything has two names,
and everything is twofold. The name of male Thought as it faces
the world is Philosophy, but the name it bears in Tir-na-nÓg is
Delusion. Female Thought is called Socialism on earth, but in
Eternity it is known as Illusion; and this is so because there has
been no matrimony of minds, but only an hermaphroditic propagation
of automatic ideas, which in their due rotation assume dominance
and reign severely. To the world this system of thought, because
it is consecutive, is known as Logic, but Eternity has written
it down in the Book of Errors as Mechanism: for life may not be
consecutive, but explosive and variable, else it is a shackled and
timorous slave.
One of the great troubles of life is that Reason has taken charge
of the administration of Justice, and by mere identification it has
achieved the crown and sceptre of its master. But the imperceptible
usurpation was recorded, and discriminating minds understand
the chasm which still divides the pretender Law from the exiled
King. In a like manner, and with feigned humility, the Cold Demon
advanced to serve Religion, and by guile and violence usurped
her throne; but the pure in heart still fly from the spectre
Theology to dance in ecstasy before the starry and eternal goddess.
Statecraft, also, that tender Shepherd of the Flocks, has been
despoiled of his crook and bell, and wanders in unknown desolation
while, beneath the banner of Politics, Reason sits howling over an
intellectual chaos.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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