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or the statute right to vote； by those who have never dared to think
or to act； yet it is wholesome to man to look not at Fate； but the
other way： the practical view is the other。 His sound relation to
these facts is to use and command； not to cringe to them。 〃Look not
on nature； for her name is fatal；〃 said the oracle。 The too much
contemplation of these limits induces meanness。 They who talk much
of destiny； their birth…star； &c。； are in a lower dangerous plane；
and invite the evils they fear。
I cited the instinctive and heroic races as proud believers in
Destiny。 They conspire with it； a loving resignation is with the
event。 But the dogma makes a different impression； when it is held
by the weak and lazy。 'Tis weak and vicious people who cast the
blame on Fate。 The right use of Fate is to bring up our conduct to
the loftiness of nature。 Rude and invincible except by themselves
are the elements。 So let man be。 Let him empty his breast of his
windy conceits； and show his lordship by manners and deeds on the
scale of nature。 Let him hold his purpose as with the tug of
gravitation。 No power； no persuasion； no bribe shall make him give
up his point。 A man ought to compare advantageously with a river； an
oak； or a mountain。 He shall have not less the flow； the expansion；
and the resistance of these。
'Tis the best use of Fate to teach a fatal courage。 Go face
the fire at sea； or the cholera in your friend's house； or the
burglar in your own； or what danger lies in the way of duty； knowing
you are guarded by the cherubim of Destiny。 If you believe in Fate
to your harm； believe it； at least； for your good。
For； if Fate is so prevailing； man also is part of it； and can
confront fate with fate。 If the Universe have these savage
accidents； our atoms are as savage in resistance。 We should be
crushed by the atmosphere； but for the reaction of the air within the
body。 A tube made of a film of glass can resist the shock of the
ocean； if filled with the same water。 If there be omnipotence in the
stroke； there is omnipotence of recoil。
1。 But Fate against Fate is only parrying and defence： there
are； also； the noble creative forces。 The revelation of Thought
takes man out of servitude into freedom。 We rightly say of
ourselves； we were born； and afterward we were born again； and many
times。 We have successive experiences so important； that the new
forgets the old； and hence the mythology of the seven or the nine
heavens。 The day of days； the great day of the feast of life； is
that in which the inward eye opens to the Unity in things； to the
omnipresence of law； sees that what is must be； and ought to be；
or is the best。 This beatitude dips from on high down on us； and we
see。 It is not in us so much as we are in it。 If the air come to
our lungs； we breathe and live； if not； we die。 If the light come to
our eyes； we see； else not。 And if truth come to our mind； we
suddenly expand to its dimensions； as if we grew to worlds。 We are
as lawgivers； we speak for Nature； we prophesy and divine。
This insight throws us on the party and interest of the
Universe； against all and sundry； against ourselves； as much as
others。 A man speaking from insight affirms of himself what is true
of the mind： seeing its immortality； he says； I am immortal； seeing
its invincibility； he says； I am strong。 It is not in us； but we are
in it。 It is of the maker； not of what is made。 All things are
touched and changed by it。 This uses； and is not used。 It distances
those who share it； from those who share it not。 Those who share it
not are flocks and herds。 It dates from itself； not from former
men or better men； gospel； or constitution； or college； or custom。
Where it shines； Nature is no longer intrusive； but all things make a
musical or pictorial impression。 The world of men show like a comedy
without laughter： populations； interests； government； history；
'tis all toy figures in a toy house。 It does not overvalue
particular truths。 We hear eagerly every thought and word quoted
from an intellectual man。 But； in his presence； our own mind is
roused to activity； and we forget very fast what he says； much more
interested in the new play of our own thought； than in any thought of
his。 'Tis the majesty into which we have suddenly mounted； the
impersonality； the scorn of egotisms； the sphere of laws； that engage
us。 Once we were stepping a little this way； and a little that way；
now； we are as men in a balloon； and do not think so much of the
point we have left； or the point we would make； as of the liberty and
glory of the way。
Just as much intellect as you add； so much organic power。 He
who sees through the design； presides over it； and must will that
which must be。 We sit and rule； and； though we sleep； our dream will
come to pass。 Our thought； though it were only an hour old； affirms
an oldest necessity； not to be separated from thought； and not to be
separated from will。 They must always have coexisted。 It apprises
us of its sovereignty and godhead； which refuse to be severed from
it。 It is not mine or thine； but the will of all mind。 It is poured
into the souls of all men； as the soul itself which constitutes them
men。 I know not whether there be； as is alleged； in the upper region
of our atmosphere； a permanent westerly current； which carries with
it all atoms which rise to that height； but I see； that when souls
reach a certain clearness of perception； they accept a knowledge and
motive above selfishness。 A breath of will blows eternally through
the universe of souls in the direction of the Right and Necessary。
It is the air which all intellects inhale and exhale； and it is the
wind which blows the worlds into order and orbit。
Thought dissolves the material universe； by carrying the mind
up into a sphere where all is plastic。 Of two men； each obeying his
own thought； he whose thought is deepest will be the strongest
character。 Always one man more than another represents the will of
Divine Providence to the period。
2。 If thought makes free； so does the moral sentiment。 The
mixtures of spiritual chemistry refuse to be analyzed。 Yet we can
see that with the perception of truth is joined the desire that it
shall prevail。 That affection is essential to will。 Moreover； when
a strong will appears； it usually results from a certain unity of
organization； as if the whole energy of body and mind flowed in one
direction。 All great force is real and elemental。 There is no
manufacturing a strong will。 There must be a pound to balance a
pound。 Where power is shown in will； it must rest on the universal
force。 Alaric and Bonaparte must believe they rest on a truth； or
their will can be bought or bent。 There is a bribe possible for any
finite will。 But the pure sympathy with universal ends is an
infinite force； and cannot be bribed or bent。 Whoever has had
experience of the moral sentiment cannot choose but believe in
unlimited power。 Each pulse from that heart is an oath from the Most
High。 I know not what the word _sublime_ means； if it be not the
intimations in this infant of a terrific force。 A text of heroism； a
name and anecdote of courage； are not arguments； but sallies of
freedom。 One of these is the verse of the Persian Hafiz； 〃'Tis
written on the gate of Heaven； ‘Wo unto him who suffers himself to be
betrayed by Fate！'〃 Does the reading of history make us fatalists？
What courage does not the opposite opinion show！ A little whim of
will to be free gallantly contending against the universe of
chemistry。
But insight is not will； nor is affection will。 Perception is
cold； and goodness dies in wishes； as Voltaire said； 'tis the
misfortune of worthy people that they are cowards； _〃un des plus
grands malheurs des honnetes gens c'est qu'ils sont des lafaches。〃_
There must be a fusion of these two to generate the energy of will。
There can be no driving force； except through the conversion of the
man into his will； making him the will； and the will him。 And one
may say boldly； that no man has a right perception of any truth； who
has not been reacted on by it； so as to be ready to be its martyr。
The one serious and formidable thing in nature is a will。
Society is servile from want of will； and therefore the world wants
saviours and religions。 One way is right to go： the hero sees it；
and moves on that aim； and has the world under him for root and
support。 He is to others as the world。 His approbation is honor；
his dissent； infamy。 The glance of his eye has the force of
sunbeams。 A personal influence towers up in memory only worthy； and
we gladly forget numbers； money； climate； gravitation； and the rest
of Fate。
We can afford to allow the limitation； if we know it is the
meter of t