PREFACE
Thisbookismeanttobeacompanionto"Heretics，"andtoputthepositivesideinadditiontothenegative。Manycriticscomplainedofthebookcalled"Heretics"becauseitmerelycriticisedcurrentphilosophieswithoutofferinganyalternativephilosophy。
Thisbookisanattempttoanswerthechallenge。Itisunavoidablyaffirmativeandthereforeunavoidablyautobiographical。ThewriterhasbeendrivenbackuponsomewhatthesamedifficultyasthatwhichbesetNewmaninwritinghisApologia；hehasbeenforcedtobeegotisticalonlyinordertobesincere。Whileeverythingelsemaybedifferentthemotiveinbothcasesisthesame。Itisthepurposeofthewritertoattemptanexplanation，notofwhethertheChristianFaithcanbebelieved，butofhowhepersonallyhascometobelieveit。
Thebookisthereforearrangeduponthepositiveprincipleofariddleanditsanswer。Itdealsfirstwithallthewriter’sownsolitaryandsincerespeculationsandthenwithallthestartlingstyleinwhichtheywereallsuddenlysatisfiedbytheChristianTheology。
Thewriterregardsitasamountingtoaconvincingcreed。Butifitisnotthatitisatleastarepeatedandsurprisingcoincidence。
GilbertK。Chesterton。
CONTENTS
I。IntroductioninDefenceofEverythingElseII。TheManiacIII。TheSuicideofThoughtIV。TheEthicsofElflandV。TheFlagoftheWorldVI。TheParadoxesofChristianityVII。TheEternalRevolutionVIII。TheRomanceofOrthodoxyIX。AuthorityandtheAdventurerORTHODOXY
IINTRODUCTIONINDEFENCEOFEVERYTHINGELSE
THEonlypossibleexcuseforthisbookisthatitisananswertoachallenge。Evenabadshotisdignifiedwhenheacceptsaduel。
WhensometimeagoIpublishedaseriesofhastybutsincerepapers，underthenameof"Heretics，"severalcriticsforwhoseintellectIhaveawarmrespect（ImaymentionspeciallyMr。G。S。Street）
saidthatitwasallverywellformetotelleverybodytoaffirmhiscosmictheory，butthatIhadcarefullyavoidedsupportingmypreceptswithexample。"Iwillbegintoworryaboutmyphilosophy，"
saidMr。Street，"whenMr。Chestertonhasgivenushis。"
Itwasperhapsanincautioussuggestiontomaketoapersononlytooreadytowritebooksuponthefeeblestprovocation。
Butafterall，thoughMr。Streethasinspiredandcreatedthisbook，heneednotreadit。Ifhedoesreadit，hewillfindthatinitspagesIhaveattemptedinavagueandpersonalway，inasetofmentalpicturesratherthaninaseriesofdeductions，tostatethephilosophyinwhichIhavecometobelieve。Iwillnotcallitmyphilosophy；forIdidnotmakeit。Godandhumanitymadeit；
anditmademe。
IhaveoftenhadafancyforwritingaromanceaboutanEnglishyachtsmanwhoslightlymiscalculatedhiscourseanddiscoveredEnglandundertheimpressionthatitwasanewislandintheSouthSeas。
Ialwaysfind，however，thatIameithertoobusyortoolazytowritethisfinework，soImayaswellgiveitawayforthepurposesofphilosophicalillustration。Therewillprobablybeageneralimpressionthatthemanwholanded（armedtotheteethandtalkingbysigns）toplanttheBritishflagonthatbarbarictemplewhichturnedouttobethePavilionatBrighton，feltratherafool。
Iamnothereconcernedtodenythathelookedafool。Butifyouimaginethathefeltafool，oratanyratethatthesenseoffollywashissoleorhisdominantemotion，thenyouhavenotstudiedwithsufficientdelicacytherichromanticnatureoftheheroofthistale。Hismistakewasreallyamostenviablemistake；
andheknewit，ifhewasthemanItakehimfor。Whatcouldbemoredelightfulthantohaveinthesamefewminutesallthefascinatingterrorsofgoingabroadcombinedwithallthehumanesecurityofcominghomeagain？WhatcouldbebetterthantohaveallthefunofdiscoveringSouthAfricawithoutthedisgustingnecessityoflandingthere？Whatcouldbemoregloriousthantobraceone’sselfuptodiscoverNewSouthWalesandthenrealize，withagushofhappytears，thatitwasreallyoldSouthWales。
Thisatleastseemstomethemainproblemforphilosophers，andisinamannerthemainproblemofthisbook。Howcanwecontrivetobeatonceastonishedattheworldandyetathomeinit？
Howcanthisqueercosmictown，withitsmany-leggedcitizens，withitsmonstrousandancientlamps，howcanthisworldgiveusatoncethefascinationofastrangetownandthecomfortandhonourofbeingourowntown？
Toshowthatafaithoraphilosophyistruefromeverystandpointwouldbetoobiganundertakingevenforamuchbiggerbookthanthis；itisnecessarytofollowonepathofargument；
andthisisthepaththatIhereproposetofollow。Iwishtosetforthmyfaithasparticularlyansweringthisdoublespiritualneed，theneedforthatmixtureofthefamiliarandtheunfamiliarwhichChristendomhasrightlynamedromance。Fortheveryword"romance"hasinitthemysteryandancientmeaningofRome。
Anyonesettingouttodisputeanythingoughtalwaystobeginbysayingwhathedoesnotdispute。Beyondstatingwhatheproposestoproveheshouldalwaysstatewhathedoesnotproposetoprove。
ThethingIdonotproposetoprove，thethingIproposetotakeascommongroundbetweenmyselfandanyaveragereader，isthisdesirabilityofanactiveandimaginativelife，picturesqueandfullofapoeticalcuriosity，alifesuchaswesternmanatanyratealwaysseemstohavedesired。Ifamansaysthatextinctionisbetterthanexistenceorblankexistencebetterthanvarietyandadventure，thenheisnotoneoftheordinarypeopletowhomIamtalking。
IfamanprefersnothingIcangivehimnothing。ButnearlyallpeopleIhaveevermetinthiswesternsocietyinwhichIlivewouldagreetothegeneralpropositionthatweneedthislifeofpracticalromance；thecombinationofsomethingthatisstrangewithsomethingthatissecure。Weneedsotoviewtheworldastocombineanideaofwonderandanideaofwelcome。Weneedtobehappyinthiswonderlandwithoutoncebeingmerelycomfortable。
ItisTHISachievementofmycreedthatIshallchieflypursueinthesepages。
ButIhaveapeculiarreasonformentioningthemaninayacht，whodiscoveredEngland。ForIamthatmaninayacht。
IdiscoveredEngland。Idonotseehowthisbookcanavoidbeingegotistical；andIdonotquitesee（totellthetruth）
howitcanavoidbeingdull。Dulnesswill，however，freemefromthechargewhichImostlament；thechargeofbeingflippant。
MerelightsophistryisthethingthatIhappentodespisemostofallthings，anditisperhapsawholesomefactthatthisisthethingofwhichIamgenerallyaccused。Iknownothingsocontemptibleasamereparadox；amereingeniousdefenceoftheindefensible。
Ifitweretrue（ashasbeensaid）thatMr。BernardShawliveduponparadox，thenheoughttobeamerecommonmillionaire；
foramanofhismentalactivitycouldinventasophistryeverysixminutes。Itisaseasyaslying；becauseitislying。
Thetruthis，ofcourse，thatMr。Shawiscruellyhamperedbythefactthathecannottellanylieunlesshethinksitisthetruth。
Ifindmyselfunderthesameintolerablebondage。IneverinmylifesaidanythingmerelybecauseIthoughtitfunny；thoughofcourse，Ihavehadordinaryhumanvainglory，andmayhavethoughtitfunnybecauseIhadsaidit。Itisonethingtodescribeaninterviewwithagorgonoragriffin，acreaturewhodoesnotexist。
Itisanotherthingtodiscoverthattherhinocerosdoesexistandthentakepleasureinthefactthathelooksasifhedidn’t。
Onesearchesfortruth，butitmaybethatonepursuesinstinctivelythemoreextraordinarytruths。AndIofferthisbookwiththeheartiestsentimentstoallthejollypeoplewhohatewhatIwrite，andregardit（veryjustly，forallIknow），asapieceofpoorclowningorasingletiresomejoke。
Forifthisbookisajokeitisajokeagainstme。
Iamthemanwhowiththeutmostdaringdiscoveredwhathadbeendiscoveredbefore。Ifthereisanelementoffarceinwhatfollows，thefarceisatmyownexpense；forthisbookexplainshowIfanciedI
wasthefirsttosetfootinBrightonandthenfoundIwasthelast。
Itrecountsmyelephantineadventuresinpursuitoftheobvious。
NoonecanthinkmycasemoreludicrousthanIthinkitmyself；
noreadercanaccusemehereoftryingtomakeafoolofhim：
Iamthefoolofthisstory，andnorebelshallhurlmefrommythrone。Ifreelyconfessalltheidioticambitionsoftheendofthenineteenthcentury。Idid，likeallothersolemnlittleboys，trytobeinadvanceoftheage。LikethemItriedtobesometenminutesinadvanceofthetruth。AndIfoundthatIwaseighteenhundredyearsbehindit。Ididstrainmyvoicewithapainfullyjuvenileexaggerationinutteringmytruths。AndIwaspunishedinthefittestandfunniestway，forIhavekeptmytruths：
butIhavediscovered，notthattheywerenottruths，butsimplythattheywerenotmine。WhenIfanciedthatIstoodaloneIwasreallyintheridiculouspositionofbeingbackedupbyallChristendom。
Itmaybe，Heavenforgiveme，thatIdidtrytobeoriginal；
butIonlysucceededininventingallbymyselfaninferiorcopyoftheexistingtraditionsofcivilizedreligion。ThemanfromtheyachtthoughthewasthefirsttofindEngland；IthoughtIwasthefirsttofindEurope。Ididtrytofoundaheresyofmyown；
andwhenIhadputthelasttouchestoit，Idiscoveredthatitwasorthodoxy。
Itmaybethatsomebodywillbeentertainedbytheaccountofthishappyfiasco。ItmightamuseafriendoranenemytoreadhowIgraduallylearntfromthetruthofsomestraylegendorfromthefalsehoodofsomedominantphilosophy，thingsthatI
mighthavelearntfrommycatechism——ifIhadeverlearntit。
TheremayormaynotbesomeentertainmentinreadinghowI
foundatlastinananarchistcluboraBabyloniantemplewhatI
mighthavefoundinthenearestparishchurch。Ifanyoneisentertainedbylearninghowtheflowersofthefieldorthephrasesinanomnibus，theaccidentsofpoliticsorthepainsofyouthcametogetherinacertainordertoproduceacertainconvictionofChristianorthodoxy，hemaypossiblyreadthisbook。
Butthereisineverythingareasonabledivisionoflabour。
Ihavewrittenthebook，andnothingonearthwouldinducemetoreadit。
Iaddonepurelypedanticnotewhichcomes，asanotenaturallyshould，atthebeginningofthebook。TheseessaysareconcernedonlytodiscusstheactualfactthatthecentralChristiantheology（sufficientlysummarizedintheApostles’Creed）isthebestrootofenergyandsoundethics。Theyarenotintendedtodiscusstheveryfascinatingbutquitedifferentquestionofwhatisthepresentseatofauthorityfortheproclamationofthatcreed。Whentheword"orthodoxy"isusedhereitmeanstheApostles’Creed，asunderstoodbyeverybodycallinghimselfChristianuntilaveryshorttimeagoandthegeneralhistoricconductofthosewhoheldsuchacreed。IhavebeenforcedbymerespacetoconfinemyselftowhatIhavegotfromthiscreed；
IdonottouchthemattermuchdisputedamongmodernChristians，ofwhereweourselvesgotit。Thisisnotanecclesiasticaltreatisebutasortofslovenlyautobiography。Butifanyonewantsmyopinionsabouttheactualnatureoftheauthority，Mr。G。S。Streethasonlytothrowmeanotherchallenge，andIwillwritehimanotherbook。
IITHEMANIAC
Thoroughlyworldlypeopleneverunderstandeventheworld；
theyrelyaltogetheronafewcynicalmaximswhicharenottrue。
OnceIrememberwalkingwithaprosperouspublisher，whomadearemarkwhichIhadoftenheardbefore；itis，indeed，almostamottoofthemodernworld。YetIhadhearditoncetoooften，andIsawsuddenlythattherewasnothinginit。Thepublishersaidofsomebody，"Thatmanwillgeton；hebelievesinhimself。"
AndIrememberthatasIliftedmyheadtolisten，myeyecaughtanomnibusonwhichwaswritten"Hanwell。"Isaidtohim，"ShallItellyouwherethemenarewhobelievemostinthemselves？
ForIcantellyou。IknowofmenwhobelieveinthemselvesmorecolossallythanNapoleonorCaesar。Iknowwhereflamesthefixedstarofcertaintyandsuccess。IcanguideyoutothethronesoftheSuper-men。Themenwhoreallybelieveinthemselvesareallinlunaticasylums。"Hesaidmildlythattherewereagoodmanymenafterallwhobelievedinthemselvesandwhowerenotinlunaticasylums。
"Yes，thereare，"Iretorted，"andyouofallmenoughttoknowthem。
Thatdrunkenpoetfromwhomyouwouldnottakeadrearytragedy，hebelievedinhimself。Thatelderlyministerwithanepicfromwhomyouwerehidinginabackroom，hebelievedinhimself。
Ifyouconsultedyourbusinessexperienceinsteadofyouruglyindividualisticphilosophy，youwouldknowthatbelievinginhimselfisoneofthecommonestsignsofarotter。Actorswhocan’tactbelieveinthemselves；anddebtorswhowon’tpay。Itwouldbemuchtruertosaythatamanwillcertainlyfail，becausehebelievesinhimself。Completeself-confidenceisnotmerelyasin；
completeself-confidenceisaweakness。Believingutterlyinone’sselfisahystericalandsuperstitiousbelieflikebelievinginJoannaSouthcote：themanwhohasithas`Hanwell’writtenonhisfaceasplainasitiswrittenonthatomnibus。"Andtoallthismyfriendthepublishermadethisverydeepandeffectivereply，"Well，ifamanisnottobelieveinhimself，inwhatishetobelieve？"
AfteralongpauseIreplied，"Iwillgohomeandwriteabookinanswertothatquestion。"ThisisthebookthatIhavewritteninanswertoit。
ButIthinkthisbookmaywellstartwhereourargumentstarted——
intheneighbourhoodofthemad-house。Modernmastersofsciencearemuchimpressedwiththeneedofbeginningallinquirywithafact。
Theancientmastersofreligionwerequiteequallyimpressedwiththatnecessity。Theybeganwiththefactofsin——afactaspracticalaspotatoes。Whetherornomancouldbewashedinmiraculouswaters，therewasnodoubtatanyratethathewantedwashing。
ButcertainreligiousleadersinLondon，notmerematerialists，havebeguninourdaynottodenythehighlydisputablewater，buttodenytheindisputabledirt。Certainnewtheologiansdisputeoriginalsin，whichistheonlypartofChristiantheologywhichcanreallybeproved。SomefollowersoftheReverendR。J。Campbell，intheiralmosttoofastidiousspirituality，admitdivinesinlessness，whichtheycannotseeevenintheirdreams。Buttheyessentiallydenyhumansin，whichtheycanseeinthestreet。Thestrongestsaintsandthestrongestscepticsaliketookpositiveevilasthestarting-pointoftheirargument。Ifitbetrue（asitcertainlyis）
thatamancanfeelexquisitehappinessinskinningacat，thenthereligiousphilosophercanonlydrawoneoftwodeductions。
HemusteitherdenytheexistenceofGod，asallatheistsdo；orhemustdenythepresentunionbetweenGodandman，asallChristiansdo。
Thenewtheologiansseemtothinkitahighlyrationalisticsolutiontodenythecat。
Inthisremarkablesituationitisplainlynotnowpossible（withanyhopeofauniversalappeal）tostart，asourfathersdid，withthefactofsin。Thisveryfactwhichwastothem（andistome）
asplainasapikestaff，istheveryfactthathasbeenspeciallydilutedordenied。Butthoughmodernsdenytheexistenceofsin，Idonotthinkthattheyhaveyetdeniedtheexistenceofalunaticasylum。Weallagreestillthatthereisacollapseoftheintellectasunmistakableasafallinghouse。Mendenyhell，butnot，asyet，Hanwell。Forthepurposeofourprimaryargumenttheonemayverywellstandwheretheotherstood。Imeanthatasallthoughtsandtheorieswereoncejudgedbywhethertheytendedtomakeamanlosehissoul，soforourpresentpurposeallmodernthoughtsandtheoriesmaybejudgedbywhethertheytendtomakeamanlosehiswits。
Itistruethatsomespeaklightlyandlooselyofinsanityasinitselfattractive。Butamoment’sthoughtwillshowthatifdiseaseisbeautiful，itisgenerallysomeoneelse’sdisease。
Ablindmanmaybepicturesque；butitrequirestwoeyestoseethepicture。Andsimilarlyeventhewildestpoetryofinsanitycanonlybeenjoyedbythesane。Totheinsanemanhisinsanityisquiteprosaic，becauseitisquitetrue。Amanwhothinkshimselfachickenistohimselfasordinaryasachicken。Amanwhothinksheisabitofglassistohimselfasdullasabitofglass。
Itisthehomogeneityofhismindwhichmakeshimdull，andwhichmakeshimmad。Itisonlybecauseweseetheironyofhisideathatwethinkhimevenamusing；itisonlybecausehedoesnotseetheironyofhisideathatheisputinHanwellatall。Inshort，odditiesonlystrikeordinarypeople。Odditiesdonotstrikeoddpeople。Thisiswhyordinarypeoplehaveamuchmoreexcitingtime；
whileoddpeoplearealwayscomplainingofthedulnessoflife。
Thisisalsowhythenewnovelsdiesoquickly，andwhytheoldfairytalesendureforever。Theoldfairytalemakestheheroanormalhumanboy；itishisadventuresthatarestartling；
theystartlehimbecauseheisnormal。Butinthemodernpsychologicalnoveltheheroisabnormal；thecentreisnotcentral。
Hencethefiercestadventuresfailtoaffecthimadequately，andthebookismonotonous。Youcanmakeastoryoutofaheroamongdragons；butnotoutofadragonamongdragons。Thefairytalediscusseswhatasanemanwilldoinamadworld。Thesoberrealisticnovelofto-daydiscusseswhatanessentiallunaticwilldoinadullworld。
Letusbegin，then，withthemad-house；fromthisevilandfantasticinnletussetforthonourintellectualjourney。Now，ifwearetoglanceatthephilosophyofsanity，thefirstthingtodointhematteristoblotoutonebigandcommonmistake。Thereisanotionadrifteverywherethatimagination，especiallymysticalimagination，isdangeroustoman’smentalbalance。Poetsarecommonlyspokenofaspsychologicallyunreliable；andgenerallythereisavagueassociationbetweenwreathinglaurelsinyourhairandstickingstrawsinit。
Factsandhistoryutterlycontradictthisview。Mostoftheverygreatpoetshavebeennotonlysane，butextremelybusiness-like；
andifShakespeareeverreallyheldhorses，itwasbecausehewasmuchthesafestmantoholdthem。Imaginationdoesnotbreedinsanity。
Exactlywhatdoesbreedinsanityisreason。Poetsdonotgomad；
butchess-playersdo。Mathematiciansgomad，andcashiers；
butcreativeartistsveryseldom。Iamnot，aswillbeseen，inanysenseattackinglogic：Ionlysaythatthisdangerdoeslieinlogic，notinimagination。Artisticpaternityisaswholesomeasphysicalpaternity。Moreover，itisworthyofremarkthatwhenapoetreallywasmorbiditwascommonlybecausehehadsomeweakspotofrationalityonhisbrain。Poe，forinstance，reallywasmorbid；notbecausehewaspoetical，butbecausehewasspeciallyanalytical。Evenchesswastoopoeticalforhim；
hedislikedchessbecauseitwasfullofknightsandcastles，likeapoem。Heavowedlypreferredtheblackdiscsofdraughts，becausetheyweremorelikethemereblackdotsonadiagram。
Perhapsthestrongestcaseofallisthis：thatonlyonegreatEnglishpoetwentmad，Cowper。Andhewasdefinitelydrivenmadbylogic，bytheuglyandalienlogicofpredestination。Poetrywasnotthedisease，butthemedicine；poetrypartlykepthiminhealth。
HecouldsometimesforgettheredandthirstyhelltowhichhishideousnecessitarianismdraggedhimamongthewidewatersandthewhiteflatliliesoftheOuse。HewasdamnedbyJohnCalvin；
hewasalmostsavedbyJohnGilpin。Everywhereweseethatmendonotgomadbydreaming。Criticsaremuchmadderthanpoets。
Homeriscompleteandcalmenough；itishiscriticswhotearhimintoextravaganttatters。Shakespeareisquitehimself；itisonlysomeofhiscriticswhohavediscoveredthathewassomebodyelse。
AndthoughSt。JohntheEvangelistsawmanystrangemonstersinhisvision，hesawnocreaturesowildasoneofhisowncommentators。
Thegeneralfactissimple。Poetryissanebecauseitfloatseasilyinaninfinitesea；reasonseekstocrosstheinfinitesea，andsomakeitfinite。Theresultismentalexhaustion，likethephysicalexhaustionofMr。Holbein。Toaccepteverythingisanexercise，tounderstandeverythingastrain。Thepoetonlydesiresexaltationandexpansion，aworldtostretchhimselfin。
Thepoetonlyaskstogethisheadintotheheavens。Itisthelogicianwhoseekstogettheheavensintohishead。Anditishisheadthatsplits。
Itisasmallmatter，butnotirrelevant，thatthisstrikingmistakeiscommonlysupportedbyastrikingmisquotation。WehaveallheardpeoplecitethecelebratedlineofDrydenas"Greatgeniusistomadnessnearallied。"ButDrydendidnotsaythatgreatgeniuswastomadnessnearallied。Drydenwasagreatgeniushimself，andknewbetter。Itwouldhavebeenhardtofindamanmoreromanticthanhe，ormoresensible。WhatDrydensaidwasthis，"Greatwitsareofttomadnessnearallied"；andthatistrue。Itisthepurepromptitudeoftheintellectthatisinperilofabreakdown。
AlsopeoplemightrememberofwhatsortofmanDrydenwastalking。
HewasnottalkingofanyunworldlyvisionarylikeVaughanorGeorgeHerbert。Hewastalkingofacynicalmanoftheworld，asceptic，adiplomatist，agreatpracticalpolitician。Suchmenareindeedtomadnessnearallied。Theirincessantcalculationoftheirownbrainsandotherpeople’sbrainsisadangeroustrade。
Itisalwaysperiloustothemindtoreckonupthemind。Aflippantpersonhasaskedwhywesay，"Asmadasahatter。"Amoreflippantpersonmightanswerthatahatterismadbecausehehastomeasurethehumanhead。
Andifgreatreasonersareoftenmaniacal，itisequallytruethatmaniacsarecommonlygreatreasoners。WhenIwasengagedinacontroversywiththeCLARIONonthematteroffreewill，thatablewriterMr。R。B。Sutherssaidthatfreewillwaslunacy，becauseitmeantcauselessactions，andtheactionsofalunaticwouldbecauseless。Idonotdwellhereuponthedisastrouslapseindeterministlogic。Obviouslyifanyactions，evenalunatic’s，canbecauseless，determinismisdonefor。Ifthechainofcausationcanbebrokenforamadman，itcanbebrokenforaman。
Butmypurposeistopointoutsomethingmorepractical。
Itwasnatural，perhaps，thatamodernMarxianSocialistshouldnotknowanythingaboutfreewill。ButitwascertainlyremarkablethatamodernMarxianSocialistshouldnotknowanythingaboutlunatics。
Mr。Suthersevidentlydidnotknowanythingaboutlunatics。
Thelastthingthatcanbesaidofalunaticisthathisactionsarecauseless。Ifanyhumanactsmaylooselybecalledcauseless，theyaretheminoractsofahealthyman；whistlingashewalks；
slashingthegrasswithastick；kickinghisheelsorrubbinghishands。Itisthehappymanwhodoestheuselessthings；
thesickmanisnotstrongenoughtobeidle。Itisexactlysuchcarelessandcauselessactionsthatthemadmancouldneverunderstand；
forthemadman（likethedeterminist）generallyseestoomuchcauseineverything。Themadmanwouldreadaconspiratorialsignificanceintothoseemptyactivities。Hewouldthinkthattheloppingofthegrasswasanattackonprivateproperty。Hewouldthinkthatthekickingoftheheelswasasignaltoanaccomplice。
Ifthemadmancouldforaninstantbecomecareless，hewouldbecomesane。Everyonewhohashadthemisfortunetotalkwithpeopleintheheartorontheedgeofmentaldisorder，knowsthattheirmostsinisterqualityisahorribleclarityofdetail；aconnectingofonethingwithanotherinamapmoreelaboratethanamaze。
Ifyouarguewithamadman，itisextremelyprobablethatyouwillgettheworstofit；forinmanywayshismindmovesallthequickerfornotbeingdelayedbythethingsthatgowithgoodjudgment。
Heisnothamperedbyasenseofhumourorbycharity，orbythedumbcertaintiesofexperience。Heisthemorelogicalforlosingcertainsaneaffections。Indeed，thecommonphraseforinsanityisinthisrespectamisleadingone。Themadmanisnotthemanwhohaslosthisreason。Themadmanisthemanwhohaslosteverythingexcepthisreason。
Themadman’sexplanationofathingisalwayscomplete，andofteninapurelyrationalsensesatisfactory。Or，tospeakmorestrictly，theinsaneexplanation，ifnotconclusive，isatleastunanswerable；
thismaybeobservedspeciallyinthetwoorthreecommonestkindsofmadness。Ifamansays（forinstance）thatmenhaveaconspiracyagainsthim，youcannotdisputeitexceptbysayingthatallthemendenythattheyareconspirators；whichisexactlywhatconspiratorswoulddo。Hisexplanationcoversthefactsasmuchasyours。
OrifamansaysthatheistherightfulKingofEngland，itisnocompleteanswertosaythattheexistingauthoritiescallhimmad；
forifhewereKingofEnglandthatmightbethewisestthingfortheexistingauthoritiestodo。OrifamansaysthatheisJesusChrist，itisnoanswertotellhimthattheworlddenieshisdivinity；
fortheworlddeniedChrist’s。
Neverthelessheiswrong。Butifweattempttotracehiserrorinexactterms，weshallnotfinditquitesoeasyaswehadsupposed。
Perhapsthenearestwecangettoexpressingitistosaythis：
thathismindmovesinaperfectbutnarrowcircle。Asmallcircleisquiteasinfiniteasalargecircle；but，thoughitisquiteasinfinite，itisnotsolarge。Inthesamewaytheinsaneexplanationisquiteascompleteasthesaneone，butitisnotsolarge。
Abulletisquiteasroundastheworld，butitisnottheworld。
Thereissuchathingasanarrowuniversality；thereissuchathingasasmallandcrampedeternity；youmayseeitinmanymodernreligions。Now，speakingquiteexternallyandempirically，wemaysaythatthestrongestandmostunmistakableMARKofmadnessisthiscombinationbetweenalogicalcompletenessandaspiritualcontraction。Thelunatic’stheoryexplainsalargenumberofthings，butitdoesnotexplaintheminalargeway。ImeanthatifyouorIweredealingwithamindthatwasgrowingmorbid，weshouldbechieflyconcernednotsomuchtogiveitargumentsastogiveitair，toconvinceitthattherewassomethingcleanerandcooleroutsidethesuffocationofasingleargument。Suppose，forinstance，itwerethefirstcasethatItookastypical；supposeitwerethecaseofamanwhoaccusedeverybodyofconspiringagainsthim。
Ifwecouldexpressourdeepestfeelingsofprotestandappealagainstthisobsession，Isupposeweshouldsaysomethinglikethis：
"Oh，Iadmitthatyouhaveyourcaseandhaveitbyheart，andthatmanythingsdofitintootherthingsasyousay。Iadmitthatyourexplanationexplainsagreatdeal；butwhatagreatdealitleavesout！Aretherenootherstoriesintheworldexceptyours；
andareallmenbusywithyourbusiness？Supposewegrantthedetails；
perhapswhenthemaninthestreetdidnotseemtoseeyouitwasonlyhiscunning；perhapswhenthepolicemanaskedyouyournameitwasonlybecauseheknewitalready。Buthowmuchhappieryouwouldbeifyouonlyknewthatthesepeoplecarednothingaboutyou！
Howmuchlargeryourlifewouldbeifyourselfcouldbecomesmallerinit；ifyoucouldreallylookatothermenwithcommoncuriosityandpleasure；ifyoucouldseethemwalkingastheyareintheirsunnyselfishnessandtheirvirileindifference！Youwouldbegintobeinterestedinthem，becausetheywerenotinterestedinyou。
Youwouldbreakoutofthistinyandtawdrytheatreinwhichyourownlittleplotisalwaysbeingplayed，andyouwouldfindyourselfunderafreersky，inastreetfullofsplendidstrangers。"
Orsupposeitwerethesecondcaseofmadness，thatofamanwhoclaimsthecrown，yourimpulsewouldbetoanswer，"Allright！
PerhapsyouknowthatyouaretheKingofEngland；butwhydoyoucare？
Makeonemagnificenteffortandyouwillbeahumanbeingandlookdownonallthekingsoftheearth。"Oritmightbethethirdcase，ofthemadmanwhocalledhimselfChrist。Ifwesaidwhatwefelt，weshouldsay，"SoyouaretheCreatorandRedeemeroftheworld：
butwhatasmallworlditmustbe！Whatalittleheavenyoumustinhabit，withangelsnobiggerthanbutterflies！HowsaditmustbetobeGod；
andaninadequateGod！Istherereallynolifefullerandnolovemoremarvellousthanyours；andisitreallyinyoursmallandpainfulpitythatallfleshmustputitsfaith？Howmuchhappieryouwouldbe，howmuchmoreofyoutherewouldbe，ifthehammerofahigherGodcouldsmashyoursmallcosmos，scatteringthestarslikespangles，andleaveyouintheopen，freelikeothermentolookupaswellasdown！"
Anditmustberememberedthatthemostpurelypracticalsciencedoestakethisviewofmentalevil；itdoesnotseektoarguewithitlikeaheresybutsimplytosnapitlikeaspell。Neithermodernsciencenorancientreligionbelievesincompletefreethought。
Theologyrebukescertainthoughtsbycallingthemblasphemous。
Sciencerebukescertainthoughtsbycallingthemmorbid。Forexample，somereligioussocietiesdiscouragedmenmoreorlessfromthinkingaboutsex。Thenewscientificsocietydefinitelydiscouragesmenfromthinkingaboutdeath；itisafact，butitisconsideredamorbidfact。
Andindealingwiththosewhosemorbidityhasatouchofmania，modernsciencecaresfarlessforpurelogicthanadancingDervish。
Inthesecasesitisnotenoughthattheunhappymanshoulddesiretruth；
hemustdesirehealth。Nothingcansavehimbutablindhungerfornormality，likethatofabeast。Amancannotthinkhimselfoutofmentalevil；foritisactuallytheorganofthoughtthathasbecomediseased，ungovernable，and，asitwere，independent。Hecanonlybesavedbywillorfaith。Themomenthismerereasonmoves，itmovesintheoldcircularrut；hewillgoroundandroundhislogicalcircle，justasamaninathird-classcarriageontheInnerCirclewillgoroundandroundtheInnerCircleunlessheperformsthevoluntary，vigorous，andmysticalactofgettingoutatGowerStreet。
Decisionisthewholebusinesshere；adoormustbeshutforever。
Everyremedyisadesperateremedy。Everycureisamiraculouscure。
Curingamadmanisnotarguingwithaphilosopher；itiscastingoutadevil。Andhoweverquietlydoctorsandpsychologistsmaygotoworkinthematter，theirattitudeisprofoundlyintolerant——
asintolerantasBloodyMary。Theirattitudeisreallythis：
thatthemanmuststopthinking，ifheistogoonliving。
Theircounselisoneofintellectualamputation。IfthyHEAD
offendthee，cutitoff；foritisbetter，notmerelytoentertheKingdomofHeavenasachild，buttoenteritasanimbecile，ratherthanwithyourwholeintellecttobecastintohell——
orintoHanwell。
Suchisthemadmanofexperience；heiscommonlyareasoner，frequentlyasuccessfulreasoner。Doubtlesshecouldbevanquishedinmerereason，andthecaseagainsthimputlogically。Butitcanbeputmuchmorepreciselyinmoregeneralandevenaestheticterms。
Heisinthecleanandwell-litprisonofoneidea：heissharpenedtoonepainfulpoint。Heiswithouthealthyhesitationandhealthycomplexity。Now，asIexplainintheintroduction，Ihavedeterminedintheseearlychapterstogivenotsomuchadiagramofadoctrineassomepicturesofapointofview。AndI
havedescribedatlengthmyvisionofthemaniacforthisreason：
thatjustasIamaffectedbythemaniac，soIamaffectedbymostmodernthinkers。ThatunmistakablemoodornotethatIhearfromHanwell，Ihearalsofromhalfthechairsofscienceandseatsoflearningto-day；andmostofthemaddoctorsaremaddoctorsinmoresensesthanone。Theyallhaveexactlythatcombinationwehavenoted：thecombinationofanexpansiveandexhaustivereasonwithacontractedcommonsense。Theyareuniversalonlyinthesensethattheytakeonethinexplanationandcarryitveryfar。
Butapatterncanstretchforeverandstillbeasmallpattern。
Theyseeachess-boardwhiteonblack，andiftheuniverseispavedwithit，itisstillwhiteonblack。Likethelunatic，theycannotaltertheirstandpoint；theycannotmakeamentaleffortandsuddenlyseeitblackonwhite。
Takefirstthemoreobviouscaseofmaterialism。Asanexplanationoftheworld，materialismhasasortofinsanesimplicity。Ithasjustthequalityofthemadman’sargument；wehaveatoncethesenseofitcoveringeverythingandthesenseofitleavingeverythingout。
Contemplatesomeableandsincerematerialist，as，forinstance，Mr。McCabe，andyouwillhaveexactlythisuniquesensation。
Heunderstandseverything，andeverythingdoesnotseemworthunderstanding。Hiscosmosmaybecompleteineveryrivetandcog-wheel，butstillhiscosmosissmallerthanourworld。
Somehowhisscheme，likethelucidschemeofthemadman，seemsunconsciousofthealienenergiesandthelargeindifferenceoftheearth；
itisnotthinkingoftherealthingsoftheearth，offightingpeoplesorproudmothers，orfirstloveorfearuponthesea。
Theearthissoverylarge，andthecosmosissoverysmall。
Thecosmosisaboutthesmallestholethatamancanhidehisheadin。
ItmustbeunderstoodthatIamnotnowdiscussingtherelationofthesecreedstotruth；but，forthepresent，solelytheirrelationtohealth。LaterintheargumentIhopetoattackthequestionofobjectiveverity；hereIspeakonlyofaphenomenonofpsychology。
IdonotforthepresentattempttoprovetoHaeckelthatmaterialismisuntrue，anymorethanIattemptedtoprovetothemanwhothoughthewasChristthathewaslabouringunderanerror。Imerelyremarkhereonthefactthatbothcaseshavethesamekindofcompletenessandthesamekindofincompleteness。Youcanexplainaman’sdetentionatHanwellbyanindifferentpublicbysayingthatitisthecrucifixionofagodofwhomtheworldisnotworthy。
Theexplanationdoesexplain。Similarlyyoumayexplaintheorderintheuniversebysayingthatallthings，eventhesoulsofmen，areleavesinevitablyunfoldingonanutterlyunconscioustree——
theblinddestinyofmatter。Theexplanationdoesexplain，thoughnot，ofcourse，socompletelyasthemadman’s。Butthepointhereisthatthenormalhumanmindnotonlyobjectstoboth，butfeelstoboththesameobjection。ItsapproximatestatementisthatifthemaninHanwellistherealGod，heisnotmuchofagod。And，similarly，ifthecosmosofthematerialististherealcosmos，itisnotmuchofacosmos。Thethinghasshrunk。
Thedeityislessdivinethanmanymen；and（accordingtoHaeckel）
thewholeoflifeissomethingmuchmoregrey，narrow，andtrivialthanmanyseparateaspectsofit。Thepartsseemgreaterthanthewhole。
Forwemustrememberthatthematerialistphilosophy（whethertrueornot）iscertainlymuchmorelimitingthananyreligion。
Inonesense，ofcourse，allintelligentideasarenarrow。
Theycannotbebroaderthanthemselves。AChristianisonlyrestrictedinthesamesensethatanatheistisrestricted。
HecannotthinkChristianityfalseandcontinuetobeaChristian；
andtheatheistcannotthinkatheismfalseandcontinuetobeanatheist。Butasithappens，thereisaveryspecialsenseinwhichmaterialismhasmorerestrictionsthanspiritualism。
Mr。McCabethinksmeaslavebecauseIamnotallowedtobelieveindeterminism。IthinkMr。McCabeaslavebecauseheisnotallowedtobelieveinfairies。Butifweexaminethetwovetoesweshallseethathisisreallymuchmoreofapurevetothanmine。
TheChristianisquitefreetobelievethatthereisaconsiderableamountofsettledorderandinevitabledevelopmentintheuniverse。
Butthematerialistisnotallowedtoadmitintohisspotlessmachinetheslightestspeckofspiritualismormiracle。PoorMr。McCabeisnotallowedtoretaineventhetiniestimp，thoughitmightbehidinginapimpernel。TheChristianadmitsthattheuniverseismanifoldandevenmiscellaneous，justasasanemanknowsthatheiscomplex。Thesanemanknowsthathehasatouchofthebeast，atouchofthedevil，atouchofthesaint，atouchofthecitizen。
Nay，thereallysanemanknowsthathehasatouchofthemadman。
Butthematerialist’sworldisquitesimpleandsolid，justasthemadmanisquitesureheissane。Thematerialistissurethathistoryhasbeensimplyandsolelyachainofcausation，justastheinterestingpersonbeforementionedisquitesurethatheissimplyandsolelyachicken。Materialistsandmadmenneverhavedoubts。
Spiritualdoctrinesdonotactuallylimitthemindasdomaterialisticdenials。EvenifIbelieveinimmortalityIneednotthinkaboutit。ButifIdisbelieveinimmortalityImustnotthinkaboutit。
InthefirstcasetheroadisopenandIcangoasfarasIlike；
inthesecondtheroadisshut。Butthecaseisevenstronger，andtheparallelwithmadnessisyetmorestrange。Foritwasourcaseagainsttheexhaustiveandlogicaltheoryofthelunaticthat，rightorwrong，itgraduallydestroyedhishumanity。Nowitisthechargeagainstthemaindeductionsofthematerialistthat，rightorwrong，theygraduallydestroyhishumanity；Idonotmeanonlykindness，Imeanhope，courage，poetry，initiative，allthatishuman。
Forinstance，whenmaterialismleadsmentocompletefatalism（asitgenerallydoes），itisquiteidletopretendthatitisinanysensealiberatingforce。Itisabsurdtosaythatyouareespeciallyadvancingfreedomwhenyouonlyusefreethoughttodestroyfreewill。
Thedeterministscometobind，nottoloose。Theymaywellcalltheirlawthe"chain"ofcausation。Itistheworstchainthateverfetteredahumanbeing。Youmayusethelanguageofliberty，ifyoulike，aboutmaterialisticteaching，butitisobviousthatthisisjustasinapplicabletoitasawholeasthesamelanguagewhenappliedtoamanlockedupinamad-house。Youmaysay，ifyoulike，thatthemanisfreetothinkhimselfapoachedegg。Butitissurelyamoremassiveandimportantfactthatifheisapoachedeggheisnotfreetoeat，drink，sleep，walk，orsmokeacigarette。
Similarlyyoumaysay，ifyoulike，thatthebolddeterministspeculatorisfreetodisbelieveintherealityofthewill。
Butitisamuchmoremassiveandimportantfactthatheisnotfreetoraise，tocurse，tothank，tojustify，tourge，topunish，toresisttemptations，toincitemobs，tomakeNewYearresolutions，topardonsinners，torebuketyrants，oreventosay"thankyou"
forthemustard。
InpassingfromthissubjectImaynotethatthereisaqueerfallacytotheeffectthatmaterialisticfatalismisinsomewayfavourabletomercy，totheabolitionofcruelpunishmentsorpunishmentsofanykind。Thisisstartlinglythereverseofthetruth。
Itisquitetenablethatthedoctrineofnecessitymakesnodifferenceatall；thatitleavesthefloggerfloggingandthekindfriendexhortingasbefore。Butobviouslyifitstopseitherofthemitstopsthekindexhortation。Thatthesinsareinevitabledoesnotpreventpunishment；ifitpreventsanythingitpreventspersuasion。
Determinismisquiteaslikelytoleadtocrueltyasitiscertaintoleadtocowardice。Determinismisnotinconsistentwiththecrueltreatmentofcriminals。Whatitis（perhaps）inconsistentwithisthegeneroustreatmentofcriminals；withanyappealtotheirbetterfeelingsorencouragementintheirmoralstruggle。
Thedeterministdoesnotbelieveinappealingtothewill，buthedoesbelieveinchangingtheenvironment。Hemustnotsaytothesinner，"Goandsinnomore，"becausethesinnercannothelpit。Buthecanputhiminboilingoil；forboilingoilisanenvironment。
Consideredasafigure，therefore，thematerialisthasthefantasticoutlineofthefigureofthemadman。Bothtakeupapositionatonceunanswerableandintolerable。
Ofcourseitisnotonlyofthematerialistthatallthisistrue。
Thesamewouldapplytotheotherextremeofspeculativelogic。
Thereisascepticfarmoreterriblethanhewhobelievesthateverythingbeganinmatter。Itispossibletomeetthescepticwhobelievesthateverythingbeganinhimself。Hedoubtsnottheexistenceofangelsordevils，buttheexistenceofmenandcows。
Forhimhisownfriendsareamythologymadeupbyhimself。
Hecreatedhisownfatherandhisownmother。Thishorriblefancyhasinitsomethingdecidedlyattractivetothesomewhatmysticalegoismofourday。Thatpublisherwhothoughtthatmenwouldgetoniftheybelievedinthemselves，thoseseekersaftertheSupermanwhoarealwayslookingforhiminthelooking-glass，thosewriterswhotalkaboutimpressingtheirpersonalitiesinsteadofcreatinglifefortheworld，allthesepeoplehavereallyonlyaninchbetweenthemandthisawfulemptiness。Thenwhenthiskindlyworldallroundthemanhasbeenblackenedoutlikealie；
whenfriendsfadeintoghosts，andthefoundationsoftheworldfail；
thenwhentheman，believinginnothingandinnoman，isaloneinhisownnightmare，thenthegreatindividualisticmottoshallbewrittenoverhiminavengingirony。Thestarswillbeonlydotsintheblacknessofhisownbrain；hismother’sfacewillbeonlyasketchfromhisowninsanepencilonthewallsofhiscell。
Butoverhiscellshallbewritten，withdreadfultruth，"Hebelievesinhimself。"
Allthatconcernsushere，however，istonotethatthispanegoisticextremeofthoughtexhibitsthesameparadoxastheotherextremeofmaterialism。Itisequallycompleteintheoryandequallycripplinginpractice。Forthesakeofsimplicity，itiseasiertostatethenotionbysayingthatamancanbelievethatheisalwaysinadream。Now，obviouslytherecanbenopositiveproofgiventohimthatheisnotinadream，forthesimplereasonthatnoproofcanbeofferedthatmightnotbeofferedinadream。
ButifthemanbegantoburndownLondonandsaythathishousekeeperwouldsooncallhimtobreakfast，weshouldtakehimandputhimwithotherlogiciansinaplacewhichhasoftenbeenalludedtointhecourseofthischapter。Themanwhocannotbelievehissenses，andthemanwhocannotbelieveanythingelse，arebothinsane，buttheirinsanityisprovednotbyanyerrorintheirargument，butbythemanifestmistakeoftheirwholelives。Theyhavebothlockedthemselvesupintwoboxes，paintedinsidewiththesunandstars；theyarebothunabletogetout，theoneintothehealthandhappinessofheaven，theotherevenintothehealthandhappinessoftheearth。Theirpositionisquitereasonable；
nay，inasenseitisinfinitelyreasonable，justasathreepennybitisinfinitelycircular。Butthereissuchathingasameaninfinity，abaseandslavisheternity。Itisamusingtonoticethatmanyofthemoderns，whetherscepticsormystics，havetakenastheirsignacertaineasternsymbol，whichistheverysymbolofthisultimatenullity。Whentheywishtorepresenteternity，theyrepresentitbyaserpentwithhistailinhismouth。Thereisastartlingsarcasmintheimageofthatveryunsatisfactorymeal。
Theeternityofthematerialfatalists，theeternityoftheeasternpessimists，theeternityofthesupercilioustheosophistsandhigherscientistsofto-dayis，indeed，verywellpresentedbyaserpenteatinghistail，adegradedanimalwhodestroysevenhimself。
Thischapterispurelypracticalandisconcernedwithwhatactuallyisthechiefmarkandelementofinsanity；wemaysayinsummarythatitisreasonusedwithoutroot，reasoninthevoid。
Themanwhobeginstothinkwithouttheproperfirstprinciplesgoesmad；
hebeginstothinkatthewrongend。Andfortherestofthesepageswehavetotryanddiscoverwhatistherightend。Butwemayaskinconclusion，ifthisbewhatdrivesmenmad，whatisitthatkeepsthemsane？BytheendofthisbookIhopetogiveadefinite，somewillthinkafartoodefinite，answer。Butforthemomentitispossibleinthesamesolelypracticalmannertogiveageneralanswertouchingwhatinactualhumanhistorykeepsmensane。
Mysticismkeepsmensane。Aslongasyouhavemysteryyouhavehealth；
whenyoudestroymysteryyoucreatemorbidity。Theordinarymanhasalwaysbeensanebecausetheordinarymanhasalwaysbeenamystic。
Hehaspermittedthetwilight。Hehasalwayshadonefootinearthandtheotherinfairyland。Hehasalwayslefthimselffreetodoubthisgods；but（unliketheagnosticofto-day）freealsotobelieveinthem。Hehasalwayscaredmorefortruththanforconsistency。
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