Itistrustingtoaconsensusofcommonhumanvoicesratherthantosomeisolatedorarbitraryrecord。ThemanwhoquotessomeGermanhistorianagainstthetraditionoftheCatholicChurch，forinstance，isstrictlyappealingtoaristocracy。Heisappealingtothesuperiorityofoneexpertagainsttheawfulauthorityofamob。
Itisquiteeasytoseewhyalegendistreated，andoughttobetreated，morerespectfullythanabookofhistory。Thelegendisgenerallymadebythemajorityofpeopleinthevillage，whoaresane。
Thebookisgenerallywrittenbytheonemaninthevillagewhoismad。
ThosewhourgeagainsttraditionthatmeninthepastwereignorantmaygoandurgeitattheCarltonClub，alongwiththestatementthatvotersintheslumsareignorant。Itwillnotdoforus。
Ifweattachgreatimportancetotheopinionofordinarymeningreatunanimitywhenwearedealingwithdailymatters，thereisnoreasonwhyweshoulddisregarditwhenwearedealingwithhistoryorfable。
Traditionmaybedefinedasanextensionofthefranchise。
Traditionmeansgivingvotestothemostobscureofallclasses，ourancestors。Itisthedemocracyofthedead。Traditionrefusestosubmittothesmallandarrogantoligarchyofthosewhomerelyhappentobewalkingabout。Alldemocratsobjecttomenbeingdisqualifiedbytheaccidentofbirth；traditionobjectstotheirbeingdisqualifiedbytheaccidentofdeath。Democracytellsusnottoneglectagoodman’sopinion，evenifheisourgroom；
traditionasksusnottoneglectagoodman’sopinion，evenifheisourfather。I，atanyrate，cannotseparatethetwoideasofdemocracyandtradition；itseemsevidenttomethattheyarethesameidea。
Wewillhavethedeadatourcouncils。TheancientGreeksvotedbystones；theseshallvotebytombstones。Itisallquiteregularandofficial，formosttombstones，likemostballotpapers，aremarkedwithacross。
Ihavefirsttosay，therefore，thatifIhavehadabias，itwasalwaysabiasinfavourofdemocracy，andthereforeoftradition。
BeforewecometoanytheoreticorlogicalbeginningsIamcontenttoallowforthatpersonalequation；Ihavealwaysbeenmoreinclinedtobelievetheruckofhard-workingpeoplethantobelievethatspecialandtroublesomeliteraryclasstowhichIbelong。
Iprefereventhefanciesandprejudicesofthepeoplewhoseelifefromtheinsidetotheclearestdemonstrationsofthepeoplewhoseelifefromtheoutside。Iwouldalwaystrusttheoldwives’
fablesagainsttheoldmaids’facts。Aslongaswitismotherwititcanbeaswildasitpleases。
Now，Ihavetoputtogetherageneralposition，andIpretendtonotraininginsuchthings。Iproposetodoit，therefore，bywritingdownoneafteranotherthethreeorfourfundamentalideaswhichIhavefoundformyself，prettymuchinthewaythatIfoundthem。ThenIshallroughlysynthesisethem，summingupmypersonalphilosophyornaturalreligion；thenI
shalldescribemystartlingdiscoverythatthewholethinghadbeendiscoveredbefore。IthadbeendiscoveredbyChristianity。
ButoftheseprofoundpersuasionswhichIhavetorecountinorder，theearliestwasconcernedwiththiselementofpopulartradition。
AndwithouttheforegoingexplanationtouchingtraditionanddemocracyIcouldhardlymakemymentalexperienceclear。Asitis，IdonotknowwhetherIcanmakeitclear，butInowproposetotry。
Myfirstandlastphilosophy，thatwhichIbelieveinwithunbrokencertainty，Ilearntinthenursery。Igenerallylearntitfromanurse；thatis，fromthesolemnandstar-appointedpriestessatonceofdemocracyandtradition。ThethingsIbelievedmostthen，thethingsIbelievemostnow，arethethingscalledfairytales。
Theyseemtometobetheentirelyreasonablethings。Theyarenotfantasies：comparedwiththemotherthingsarefantastic。
Comparedwiththemreligionandrationalismarebothabnormal，thoughreligionisabnormallyrightandrationalismabnormallywrong。
Fairylandisnothingbutthesunnycountryofcommonsense。
Itisnotearththatjudgesheaven，butheaventhatjudgesearth；
soformeatleastitwasnotearththatcriticisedelfland，butelflandthatcriticisedtheearth。IknewthemagicbeanstalkbeforeIhadtastedbeans；IwassureoftheManintheMoonbeforeI
wascertainofthemoon。Thiswasatonewithallpopulartradition。
Modernminorpoetsarenaturalists，andtalkaboutthebushorthebrook；
butthesingersoftheoldepicsandfablesweresupernaturalists，andtalkedaboutthegodsofbrookandbush。Thatiswhatthemodernsmeanwhentheysaythattheancientsdidnot"appreciateNature，"
becausetheysaidthatNaturewasdivine。Oldnursesdonottellchildrenaboutthegrass，butaboutthefairiesthatdanceonthegrass；andtheoldGreekscouldnotseethetreesforthedryads。
ButIdealherewithwhatethicandphilosophycomefrombeingfedonfairytales。IfIweredescribingthemindetailIcouldnotemanynobleandhealthyprinciplesthatarisefromthem。
Thereisthechivalrouslessonof"JacktheGiantKiller"；thatgiantsshouldbekilledbecausetheyaregigantic。Itisamanlymutinyagainstprideassuch。Fortherebelisolderthanallthekingdoms，andtheJacobinhasmoretraditionthantheJacobite。Thereisthelessonof"Cinderella，"whichisthesameasthatoftheMagnificat——
EXALTAVITHUMILES。Thereisthegreatlessonof"BeautyandtheBeast"；
thatathingmustbelovedBEFOREitisloveable。Thereistheterribleallegoryofthe"SleepingBeauty，"whichtellshowthehumancreaturewasblessedwithallbirthdaygifts，yetcursedwithdeath；
andhowdeathalsomayperhapsbesoftenedtoasleep。ButIamnotconcernedwithanyoftheseparatestatutesofelfland，butwiththewholespiritofitslaw，whichIlearntbeforeIcouldspeak，andshallretainwhenIcannotwrite。Iamconcernedwithacertainwayoflookingatlife，whichwascreatedinmebythefairytales，buthassincebeenmeeklyratifiedbythemerefacts。
Itmightbestatedthisway。Therearecertainsequencesordevelopments（casesofonethingfollowinganother），whichare，inthetruesenseoftheword，reasonable。Theyare，inthetruesenseoftheword，necessary。Sucharemathematicalandmerelylogicalsequences。Weinfairyland（whoarethemostreasonableofallcreatures）admitthatreasonandthatnecessity。
Forinstance，iftheUglySistersareolderthanCinderella，itis（inanironandawfulsense）NECESSARYthatCinderellaisyoungerthantheUglySisters。Thereisnogettingoutofit。
Haeckelmaytalkasmuchfatalismaboutthatfactashepleases：
itreallymustbe。IfJackisthesonofamiller，amilleristhefatherofJack。Coldreasondecreesitfromherawfulthrone：
andweinfairylandsubmit。Ifthethreebrothersallridehorses，therearesixanimalsandeighteenlegsinvolved：thatistruerationalism，andfairylandisfullofit。ButasIputmyheadoverthehedgeoftheelvesandbegantotakenoticeofthenaturalworld，Iobservedanextraordinarything。Iobservedthatlearnedmeninspectaclesweretalkingoftheactualthingsthathappened——
dawnanddeathandsoon——asifTHEYwererationalandinevitable。
TheytalkedasifthefactthattreesbearfruitwerejustasNECESSARY
asthefactthattwoandonetreesmakethree。Butitisnot。
Thereisanenormousdifferencebythetestoffairyland；whichisthetestoftheimagination。YoucannotIMAGINEtwoandonenotmakingthree。Butyoucaneasilyimaginetreesnotgrowingfruit；
youcanimaginethemgrowinggoldencandlesticksortigershangingonbythetail。ThesemeninspectaclesspokemuchofamannamedNewton，whowashitbyanapple，andwhodiscoveredalaw。
Buttheycouldnotbegottoseethedistinctionbetweenatruelaw，alawofreason，andthemerefactofapplesfalling。IftheapplehitNewton’snose，Newton’snosehittheapple。Thatisatruenecessity：
becausewecannotconceivetheoneoccurringwithouttheother。
Butwecanquitewellconceivetheapplenotfallingonhisnose；
wecanfancyitflyingardentlythroughtheairtohitsomeothernose，ofwhichithadamoredefinitedislike。Wehavealwaysinourfairytaleskeptthissharpdistinctionbetweenthescienceofmentalrelations，inwhichtherereallyarelaws，andthescienceofphysicalfacts，inwhichtherearenolaws，butonlyweirdrepetitions。Webelieveinbodilymiracles，butnotinmentalimpossibilities。WebelievethataBean-stalkclimbeduptoHeaven；butthatdoesnotatallconfuseourconvictionsonthephilosophicalquestionofhowmanybeansmakefive。
Hereisthepeculiarperfectionoftoneandtruthinthenurserytales。Themanofsciencesays，"Cutthestalk，andtheapplewillfall"；buthesaysitcalmly，asiftheoneideareallyleduptotheother。Thewitchinthefairytalesays，"Blowthehorn，andtheogre’scastlewillfall"；butshedoesnotsayitasifitweresomethinginwhichtheeffectobviouslyaroseoutofthecause。
Doubtlessshehasgiventheadvicetomanychampions，andhasseenmanycastlesfall，butshedoesnotloseeitherherwonderorherreason。
Shedoesnotmuddleherheaduntilitimaginesanecessarymentalconnectionbetweenahornandafallingtower。Butthescientificmendomuddletheirheads，untiltheyimagineanecessarymentalconnectionbetweenanappleleavingthetreeandanapplereachingtheground。Theydoreallytalkasiftheyhadfoundnotonlyasetofmarvellousfacts，butatruthconnectingthosefacts。
Theydotalkasiftheconnectionoftwostrangethingsphysicallyconnectedthemphilosophically。Theyfeelthatbecauseoneincomprehensiblethingconstantlyfollowsanotherincomprehensiblethingthetwotogethersomehowmakeupacomprehensiblething。
Twoblackriddlesmakeawhiteanswer。
Infairylandweavoidtheword"law"；butinthelandofsciencetheyaresingularlyfondofit。Thustheywillcallsomeinterestingconjectureabouthowforgottenfolkspronouncedthealphabet，Grimm’sLaw。ButGrimm’sLawisfarlessintellectualthanGrimm’sFairyTales。Thetalesare，atanyrate，certainlytales；
whilethelawisnotalaw。Alawimpliesthatweknowthenatureofthegeneralisationandenactment；notmerelythatwehavenoticedsomeoftheeffects。Ifthereisalawthatpick-pocketsshallgotoprison，itimpliesthatthereisanimaginablementalconnectionbetweentheideaofprisonandtheideaofpickingpockets。
Andweknowwhattheideais。Wecansaywhywetakelibertyfromamanwhotakesliberties。Butwecannotsaywhyaneggcanturnintoachickenanymorethanwecansaywhyabearcouldturnintoafairyprince。AsIDEAS，theeggandthechickenarefurtherofffromeachotherthanthebearandtheprince；fornoegginitselfsuggestsachicken，whereassomeprincesdosuggestbears。
Granted，then，thatcertaintransformationsdohappen，itisessentialthatweshouldregardtheminthephilosophicmanneroffairytales，notintheunphilosophicmannerofscienceandthe"LawsofNature。"
Whenweareaskedwhyeggsturntobirdsorfruitsfallinautumn，wemustanswerexactlyasthefairygodmotherwouldanswerifCinderellaaskedherwhymiceturnedtohorsesorherclothesfellfromherattwelveo’clock。WemustanswerthatitisMAGIC。
Itisnota"law，"forwedonotunderstanditsgeneralformula。
Itisnotanecessity，forthoughwecancountonithappeningpractically，wehavenorighttosaythatitmustalwayshappen。
Itisnoargumentforunalterablelaw（asHuxleyfancied）thatwecountontheordinarycourseofthings。Wedonotcountonit；
webetonit。Werisktheremotepossibilityofamiracleaswedothatofapoisonedpancakeoraworld-destroyingcomet。
Weleaveitoutofaccount，notbecauseitisamiracle，andthereforeanimpossibility，butbecauseitisamiracle，andthereforeanexception。Allthetermsusedinthesciencebooks，"law，"
"necessity，""order，""tendency，"andsoon，arereallyunintellectual，becausetheyassumeaninnersynthesis，whichwedonotpossess。
TheonlywordsthateversatisfiedmeasdescribingNaturearethetermsusedinthefairybooks，"charm，""spell，""enchantment。"
Theyexpressthearbitrarinessofthefactanditsmystery。
AtreegrowsfruitbecauseitisaMAGICtree。Waterrunsdownhillbecauseitisbewitched。Thesunshinesbecauseitisbewitched。
Idenyaltogetherthatthisisfantasticorevenmystical。
Wemayhavesomemysticismlateron；butthisfairy-talelanguageaboutthingsissimplyrationalandagnostic。ItistheonlywayIcanexpressinwordsmyclearanddefiniteperceptionthatonethingisquitedistinctfromanother；thatthereisnologicalconnectionbetweenflyingandlayingeggs。Itisthemanwhotalksabout"alaw"thathehasneverseenwhoisthemystic。
Nay，theordinaryscientificmanisstrictlyasentimentalist。
Heisasentimentalistinthisessentialsense，thatheissoakedandsweptawaybymereassociations。Hehassooftenseenbirdsflyandlayeggsthathefeelsasiftheremustbesomedreamy，tenderconnectionbetweenthetwoideas，whereasthereisnone。
Aforlornlovermightbeunabletodissociatethemoonfromlostlove；
sothematerialistisunabletodissociatethemoonfromthetide。
Inbothcasesthereisnoconnection，exceptthatonehasseenthemtogether。Asentimentalistmightshedtearsatthesmellofapple-blossom，because，byadarkassociationofhisown，itremindedhimofhisboyhood。Sothematerialistprofessor（thoughheconcealshistears）isyetasentimentalist，because，byadarkassociationofhisown，apple-blossomsremindhimofapples。Butthecoolrationalistfromfairylanddoesnotseewhy，intheabstract，theappletreeshouldnotgrowcrimsontulips；itsometimesdoesinhiscountry。
Thiselementarywonder，however，isnotamerefancyderivedfromthefairytales；onthecontrary，allthefireofthefairytalesisderivedfromthis。Justaswealllikelovetalesbecausethereisaninstinctofsex，wealllikeastonishingtalesbecausetheytouchthenerveoftheancientinstinctofastonishment。
Thisisprovedbythefactthatwhenweareveryyoungchildrenwedonotneedfairytales：weonlyneedtales。Merelifeisinterestingenough。AchildofsevenisexcitedbybeingtoldthatTommyopenedadoorandsawadragon。ButachildofthreeisexcitedbybeingtoldthatTommyopenedadoor。Boyslikeromantictales；
butbabieslikerealistictales——becausetheyfindthemromantic。
Infact，ababyisabouttheonlyperson，Ishouldthink，towhomamodernrealisticnovelcouldbereadwithoutboringhim。
Thisprovesthatevennurserytalesonlyechoanalmostpre-natalleapofinterestandamazement。Thesetalessaythatapplesweregoldenonlytorefreshtheforgottenmomentwhenwefoundthattheyweregreen。Theymakeriversrunwithwineonlytomakeusremember，foronewildmoment，thattheyrunwithwater。Ihavesaidthatthisiswhollyreasonableandevenagnostic。And，indeed，onthispointIamallforthehigheragnosticism；itsbetternameisIgnorance。
Wehaveallreadinscientificbooks，and，indeed，inallromances，thestoryofthemanwhohasforgottenhisname。Thismanwalksaboutthestreetsandcanseeandappreciateeverything；onlyhecannotrememberwhoheis。Well，everymanisthatmaninthestory。
Everymanhasforgottenwhoheis。Onemayunderstandthecosmos，butnevertheego；theselfismoredistantthananystar。
ThoushaltlovetheLordthyGod；butthoushaltnotknowthyself。
Weareallunderthesamementalcalamity；wehaveallforgottenournames。Wehaveallforgottenwhatwereallyare。Allthatwecallcommonsenseandrationalityandpracticalityandpositivismonlymeansthatforcertaindeadlevelsofourlifeweforgetthatwehaveforgotten。Allthatwecallspiritandartandecstasyonlymeansthatforoneawfulinstantwerememberthatweforget。
Butthough（likethemanwithoutmemoryinthenovel）wewalkthestreetswithasortofhalf-wittedadmiration，stillitisadmiration。
ItisadmirationinEnglishandnotonlyadmirationinLatin。
Thewonderhasapositiveelementofpraise。Thisisthenextmilestonetobedefinitelymarkedonourroadthroughfairyland。
Ishallspeakinthenextchapteraboutoptimistsandpessimistsintheirintellectualaspect，sofarastheyhaveone。HereIamonlytryingtodescribetheenormousemotionswhichcannotbedescribed。
Andthestrongestemotionwasthatlifewasaspreciousasitwaspuzzling。Itwasanecstasybecauseitwasanadventure；
itwasanadventurebecauseitwasanopportunity。Thegoodnessofthefairytalewasnotaffectedbythefactthattheremightbemoredragonsthanprincesses；itwasgoodtobeinafairytale。
Thetestofallhappinessisgratitude；andIfeltgrateful，thoughIhardlyknewtowhom。ChildrenaregratefulwhenSantaClausputsintheirstockingsgiftsoftoysorsweets。CouldI
notbegratefultoSantaClauswhenheputinmystockingsthegiftoftwomiraculouslegs？Wethankpeopleforbirthdaypresentsofcigarsandslippers。CanIthanknooneforthebirthdaypresentofbirth？
Therewere，then，thesetwofirstfeelings，indefensibleandindisputable。Theworldwasashock，butitwasnotmerelyshocking；
existencewasasurprise，butitwasapleasantsurprise。Infact，allmyfirstviewswereexactlyutteredinariddlethatstuckinmybrainfromboyhood。Thequestionwas，"Whatdidthefirstfrogsay？"Andtheanswerwas，"Lord，howyoumademejump！"
ThatsayssuccinctlyallthatIamsaying。Godmadethefrogjump；
butthefrogprefersjumping。Butwhenthesethingsaresettledthereentersthesecondgreatprincipleofthefairyphilosophy。
Anyonecanseeitwhowillsimplyread"Grimm’sFairyTales"
orthefinecollectionsofMr。AndrewLang。ForthepleasureofpedantryIwillcallittheDoctrineofConditionalJoy。
Touchstonetalkedofmuchvirtueinan"if"；accordingtoelfinethicsallvirtueisinan"if。"Thenoteofthefairyutterancealwaysis，"Youmayliveinapalaceofgoldandsapphire，ifyoudonotsaytheword`cow’"；or"YoumaylivehappilywiththeKing’sdaughter，ifyoudonotshowheranonion。"Thevisionalwayshangsuponaveto。
Allthedizzyandcolossalthingsconcededdependupononesmallthingwithheld。Allthewildandwhirlingthingsthatareletloosedependupononethingthatisforbidden。Mr。W。B。Yeats，inhisexquisiteandpiercingelfinpoetry，describestheelvesaslawless；theyplungeininnocentanarchyontheunbridledhorsesoftheair——
"Rideonthecrestofthedishevelledtide，Anddanceuponthemountainslikeaflame。"
ItisadreadfulthingtosaythatMr。W。B。Yeatsdoesnotunderstandfairyland。ButIdosayit。HeisanironicalIrishman，fullofintellectualreactions。Heisnotstupidenoughtounderstandfairyland。Fairiespreferpeopleoftheyokeltypelikemyself；peoplewhogapeandgrinanddoastheyaretold。
Mr。Yeatsreadsintoelflandalltherighteousinsurrectionofhisownrace。ButthelawlessnessofIrelandisaChristianlawlessness，foundedonreasonandjustice。TheFenianisrebellingagainstsomethingheunderstandsonlytoowell；butthetruecitizenoffairylandisobeyingsomethingthathedoesnotunderstandatall。
Inthefairytaleanincomprehensiblehappinessrestsuponanincomprehensiblecondition。Aboxisopened，andallevilsflyout。
Awordisforgotten，andcitiesperish。Alampislit，andlovefliesaway。Aflowerisplucked，andhumanlivesareforfeited。
Anappleiseaten，andthehopeofGodisgone。
Thisisthetoneoffairytales，anditiscertainlynotlawlessnessorevenliberty，thoughmenunderameanmoderntyrannymaythinkitlibertybycomparison。PeopleoutofPortlandGaolmightthinkFleetStreetfree；butcloserstudywillprovethatbothfairiesandjournalistsaretheslavesofduty。
Fairygodmothersseematleastasstrictasothergodmothers。
CinderellareceivedacoachoutofWonderlandandacoachmanoutofnowhere，butshereceivedacommand——whichmighthavecomeoutofBrixton——thatsheshouldbebackbytwelve。Also，shehadaglassslipper；anditcannotbeacoincidencethatglassissocommonasubstanceinfolk-lore。Thisprincesslivesinaglasscastle，thatprincessonaglasshill；thisoneseesallthingsinamirror；
theymayallliveinglasshousesiftheywillnotthrowstones。
Forthisthinglitterofglasseverywhereistheexpressionofthefactthatthehappinessisbrightbutbrittle，likethesubstancemosteasilysmashedbyahousemaidoracat。Andthisfairy-talesentimentalsosankintomeandbecamemysentimenttowardsthewholeworld。
Ifeltandfeelthatlifeitselfisasbrightasthediamond，butasbrittleasthewindow-pane；andwhentheheavenswerecomparedtotheterriblecrystalIcanrememberashudder。
IwasafraidthatGodwoulddropthecosmoswithacrash。
Remember，however，thattobebreakableisnotthesameastobeperishable。Strikeaglass，anditwillnotendureaninstant；
simplydonotstrikeit，anditwillendureathousandyears。
Such，itseemed，wasthejoyofman，eitherinelflandoronearth；
thehappinessdependedonNOTDOINGSOMETHINGwhichyoucouldatanymomentdoandwhich，veryoften，itwasnotobviouswhyyoushouldnotdo。Now，thepointhereisthattoMEthisdidnotseemunjust。
Ifthemiller’sthirdsonsaidtothefairy，"ExplainwhyI
mustnotstandonmyheadinthefairypalace，"theothermightfairlyreply，"Well，ifitcomestothat，explainthefairypalace。"
IfCinderellasays，"HowisitthatImustleavetheballattwelve？"
hergodmothermightanswer，"Howisitthatyouaregoingtheretilltwelve？"IfIleaveamaninmywilltentalkingelephantsandahundredwingedhorses，hecannotcomplainiftheconditionspartakeoftheslighteccentricityofthegift。Hemustnotlookawingedhorseinthemouth。AnditseemedtomethatexistencewasitselfsoveryeccentricalegacythatIcouldnotcomplainofnotunderstandingthelimitationsofthevisionwhenIdidnotunderstandthevisiontheylimited。Theframewasnostrangerthanthepicture。Thevetomightwellbeaswildasthevision；
itmightbeasstartlingasthesun，aselusiveasthewaters，asfantasticandterribleasthetoweringtrees。
Forthisreason（wemaycallitthefairygodmotherphilosophy）
InevercouldjointheyoungmenofmytimeinfeelingwhattheycalledthegeneralsentimentofREVOLT。Ishouldhaveresisted，letushope，anyrulesthatwereevil，andwiththeseandtheirdefinitionIshalldealinanotherchapter。ButIdidnotfeeldisposedtoresistanyrulemerelybecauseitwasmysterious。
Estatesaresometimesheldbyfoolishforms，thebreakingofastickorthepaymentofapeppercorn：Iwaswillingtoholdthehugeestateofearthandheavenbyanysuchfeudalfantasy。ItcouldnotwellbewilderthanthefactthatIwasallowedtoholditatall。
AtthisstageIgiveonlyoneethicalinstancetoshowmymeaning。
Icouldnevermixinthecommonmurmurofthatrisinggenerationagainstmonogamy，becausenorestrictiononsexseemedsooddandunexpectedassexitself。Tobeallowed，likeEndymion，tomakelovetothemoonandthentocomplainthatJupiterkepthisownmoonsinaharemseemedtome（bredonfairytaleslikeEndymion’s）
avulgaranti-climax。Keepingtoonewomanisasmallpriceforsomuchasseeingonewoman。TocomplainthatIcouldonlybemarriedoncewaslikecomplainingthatIhadonlybeenbornonce。
Itwasincommensuratewiththeterribleexcitementofwhichonewastalking。Itshowed，notanexaggeratedsensibilitytosex，butacuriousinsensibilitytoit。AmanisafoolwhocomplainsthathecannotenterEdenbyfivegatesatonce。Polygamyisalackoftherealizationofsex；itislikeamanpluckingfivepearsinmereabsenceofmind。Theaesthetestouchedthelastinsanelimitsoflanguageintheireulogyonlovelythings。Thethistledownmadethemweep；aburnishedbeetlebroughtthemtotheirknees。
Yettheiremotionneverimpressedmeforaninstant，forthisreason，thatitneveroccurredtothemtopayfortheirpleasureinanysortofsymbolicsacrifice。Men（Ifelt）mightfastfortydaysforthesakeofhearingablackbirdsing。Menmightgothroughfiretofindacowslip。Yettheseloversofbeautycouldnotevenkeepsoberfortheblackbird。TheywouldnotgothroughcommonChristianmarriagebywayofrecompensetothecowslip。Surelyonemightpayforextraordinaryjoyinordinarymorals。OscarWildesaidthatsunsetswerenotvaluedbecausewecouldnotpayforsunsets。
ButOscarWildewaswrong；wecanpayforsunsets。WecanpayforthembynotbeingOscarWilde。
Well，Ileftthefairytaleslyingonthefloorofthenursery，andIhavenotfoundanybookssosensiblesince。Ileftthenurseguardianoftraditionanddemocracy，andIhavenotfoundanymoderntypesosanelyradicalorsosanelyconservative。
Butthematterforimportantcommentwashere：thatwhenI
firstwentoutintothementalatmosphereofthemodernworld，Ifoundthatthemodernworldwaspositivelyopposedontwopointstomynurseandtothenurserytales。Ithastakenmealongtimetofindoutthatthemodernworldiswrongandmynursewasright。
Thereallycuriousthingwasthis：thatmodernthoughtcontradictedthisbasiccreedofmyboyhoodonitstwomostessentialdoctrines。
Ihaveexplainedthatthefairytalesfoundedinmetwoconvictions；
first，thatthisworldisawildandstartlingplace，whichmighthavebeenquitedifferent，butwhichisquitedelightful；second，thatbeforethiswildnessanddelightonemaywellbemodestandsubmittothequeerestlimitationsofsoqueerakindness。ButI
foundthewholemodernworldrunninglikeahightideagainstbothmytendernesses；andtheshockofthatcollisioncreatedtwosuddenandspontaneoussentiments，whichIhavehadeversinceandwhich，crudeastheywere，havesincehardenedintoconvictions。
First，Ifoundthewholemodernworldtalkingscientificfatalism；
sayingthateverythingisasitmustalwayshavebeen，beingunfoldedwithoutfaultfromthebeginning。Theleafonthetreeisgreenbecauseitcouldneverhavebeenanythingelse。Now，thefairy-talephilosopherisgladthattheleafisgreenpreciselybecauseitmighthavebeenscarlet。Hefeelsasifithadturnedgreenaninstantbeforehelookedatit。Heispleasedthatsnowiswhiteonthestrictlyreasonablegroundthatitmighthavebeenblack。
Everycolourhasinitaboldqualityasofchoice；theredofgardenrosesisnotonlydecisivebutdramatic，likesuddenlyspiltblood。
HefeelsthatsomethinghasbeenDONE。Butthegreatdeterministsofthenineteenthcenturywerestronglyagainstthisnativefeelingthatsomethinghadhappenedaninstantbefore。Infact，accordingtothem，nothingeverreallyhadhappenedsincethebeginningoftheworld。Nothingeverhadhappenedsinceexistencehadhappened；
andevenaboutthedateofthattheywerenotverysure。
ThemodernworldasIfounditwassolidformodernCalvinism，forthenecessityofthingsbeingastheyare。ButwhenIcametoaskthemIfoundtheyhadreallynoproofofthisunavoidablerepetitioninthingsexceptthefactthatthethingswererepeated。
Now，themererepetitionmadethethingstomerathermoreweirdthanmorerational。Itwasasif，havingseenacuriouslyshapednoseinthestreetanddismisseditasanaccident，Ihadthenseensixothernosesofthesameastonishingshape。Ishouldhavefanciedforamomentthatitmustbesomelocalsecretsociety。
Sooneelephanthavingatrunkwasodd；butallelephantshavingtrunkslookedlikeaplot。Ispeakhereonlyofanemotion，andofanemotionatoncestubbornandsubtle。ButtherepetitioninNatureseemedsometimestobeanexcitedrepetition，likethatofanangryschoolmastersayingthesamethingoverandoveragain。
Thegrassseemedsignallingtomewithallitsfingersatonce；
thecrowdedstarsseemedbentuponbeingunderstood。Thesunwouldmakemeseehimifheroseathousandtimes。Therecurrencesoftheuniverserosetothemaddeningrhythmofanincantation，andIbegantoseeanidea。
Allthetoweringmaterialismwhichdominatesthemodernmindrestsultimatelyupononeassumption；afalseassumption。Itissupposedthatifathinggoesonrepeatingitselfitisprobablydead；
apieceofclockwork。Peoplefeelthatiftheuniversewaspersonalitwouldvary；ifthesunwerealiveitwoulddance。Thisisafallacyeveninrelationtoknownfact。Forthevariationinhumanaffairsisgenerallybroughtintothem，notbylife，butbydeath；
bythedyingdownorbreakingoffoftheirstrengthordesire。
Amanvarieshismovementsbecauseofsomeslightelementoffailureorfatigue。Hegetsintoanomnibusbecauseheistiredofwalking；
orhewalksbecauseheistiredofsittingstill。ButifhislifeandjoyweresogiganticthathenevertiredofgoingtoIslington，hemightgotoIslingtonasregularlyastheThamesgoestoSheerness。
Theveryspeedandecstasyofhislifewouldhavethestillnessofdeath。Thesunriseseverymorning。Idonotriseeverymorning；
butthevariationisduenottomyactivity，buttomyinaction。
Now，toputthematterinapopularphrase，itmightbetruethatthesunrisesregularlybecausehenevergetstiredofrising。
Hisroutinemightbedue，nottoalifelessness，buttoarushoflife。ThethingImeancanbeseen，forinstance，inchildren，whentheyfindsomegameorjokethattheyspeciallyenjoy。Achildkickshislegsrhythmicallythroughexcess，notabsence，oflife。
Becausechildrenhaveaboundingvitality，becausetheyareinspiritfierceandfree，thereforetheywantthingsrepeatedandunchanged。
Theyalwayssay，"Doitagain"；andthegrown-uppersondoesitagainuntilheisnearlydead。Forgrown-uppeoplearenotstrongenoughtoexultinmonotony。ButperhapsGodisstrongenoughtoexultinmonotony。ItispossiblethatGodsayseverymorning，"Doitagain"tothesun；andeveryevening，"Doitagain"tothemoon。
Itmaynotbeautomaticnecessitythatmakesalldaisiesalike；
itmaybethatGodmakeseverydaisyseparately，buthasnevergottiredofmakingthem。ItmaybethatHehastheeternalappetiteofinfancy；
forwehavesinnedandgrownold，andourFatherisyoungerthanwe。
TherepetitioninNaturemaynotbeamererecurrence；itmaybeatheatricalENCORE。HeavenmayENCOREthebirdwholaidanegg。
Ifthehumanbeingconceivesandbringsforthahumanchildinsteadofbringingforthafish，orabat，oragriffin，thereasonmaynotbethatwearefixedinananimalfatewithoutlifeorpurpose。
Itmaybethatourlittletragedyhastouchedthegods，thattheyadmireitfromtheirstarrygalleries，andthatattheendofeveryhumandramamaniscalledagainandagainbeforethecurtain。
Repetitionmaygoonformillionsofyears，bymerechoice，andatanyinstantitmaystop。Manmaystandontheearthgenerationaftergeneration，andyeteachbirthbehispositivelylastappearance。
Thiswasmyfirstconviction；madebytheshockofmychildishemotionsmeetingthemoderncreedinmid-career。Ihadalwaysvaguelyfeltfactstobemiraclesinthesensethattheyarewonderful：
nowIbegantothinkthemmiraclesinthestrictersensethattheywereWILFUL。Imeanthattheywere，ormightbe，repeatedexercisesofsomewill。Inshort，Ihadalwaysbelievedthattheworldinvolvedmagic：nowIthoughtthatperhapsitinvolvedamagician。
Andthispointedaprofoundemotionalwayspresentandsub-conscious；
thatthisworldofourshassomepurpose；andifthereisapurpose，thereisaperson。Ihadalwaysfeltlifefirstasastory：
andifthereisastorythereisastory-teller。
Butmodernthoughtalsohitmysecondhumantradition。
Itwentagainstthefairyfeelingaboutstrictlimitsandconditions。
Theonethingitlovedtotalkaboutwasexpansionandlargeness。
HerbertSpencerwouldhavebeengreatlyannoyedifanyonehadcalledhimanimperialist，andthereforeitishighlyregrettablethatnobodydid。Buthewasanimperialistofthelowesttype。
Hepopularizedthiscontemptiblenotionthatthesizeofthesolarsystemoughttoover-awethespiritualdogmaofman。Whyshouldamansurrenderhisdignitytothesolarsystemanymorethantoawhale？IfmeresizeprovesthatmanisnottheimageofGod，thenawhalemaybetheimageofGod；asomewhatformlessimage；
whatonemightcallanimpressionistportrait。Itisquitefutiletoarguethatmanissmallcomparedtothecosmos；formanwasalwayssmallcomparedtothenearesttree。ButHerbertSpencer，inhisheadlongimperialism，wouldinsistthatwehadinsomewaybeenconqueredandannexedbytheastronomicaluniverse。
HespokeaboutmenandtheiridealsexactlyasthemostinsolentUnionisttalksabouttheIrishandtheirideals。Heturnedmankindintoasmallnationality。Andhisevilinfluencecanbeseeneveninthemostspiritedandhonourableoflaterscientificauthors；
notablyintheearlyromancesofMr。H。G。Wells。Manymoralistshaveinanexaggeratedwayrepresentedtheearthaswicked。
ButMr。Wellsandhisschoolmadetheheavenswicked。
Weshouldliftupoureyestothestarsfromwhencewouldcomeourruin。
ButtheexpansionofwhichIspeakwasmuchmoreevilthanallthis。
Ihaveremarkedthatthematerialist，likethemadman，isinprison；
intheprisonofonethought。Thesepeopleseemedtothinkitsingularlyinspiringtokeeponsayingthattheprisonwasverylarge。
Thesizeofthisscientificuniversegaveonenonovelty，norelief。
Thecosmoswentonforever，butnotinitswildestconstellationcouldtherebeanythingreallyinteresting；anything，forinstance，suchasforgivenessorfreewill。Thegrandeurorinfinityofthesecretofitscosmosaddednothingtoit。ItwasliketellingaprisonerinReadinggaolthathewouldbegladtohearthatthegaolnowcoveredhalfthecounty。Thewarderwouldhavenothingtoshowthemanexceptmoreandmorelongcorridorsofstonelitbyghastlylightsandemptyofallthatishuman。
Sotheseexpandersoftheuniversehadnothingtoshowusexceptmoreandmoreinfinitecorridorsofspacelitbyghastlysunsandemptyofallthatisdivine。
Infairylandtherehadbeenareallaw；alawthatcouldbebroken，forthedefinitionofalawissomethingthatcanbebroken。
Butthemachineryofthiscosmicprisonwassomethingthatcouldnotbebroken；forweourselveswereonlyapartofitsmachinery。
Wewereeitherunabletodothingsorweweredestinedtodothem。
Theideaofthemysticalconditionquitedisappeared；onecanneitherhavethefirmnessofkeepinglawsnorthefunofbreakingthem。
Thelargenessofthisuniversehadnothingofthatfreshnessandairyoutbreakwhichwehavepraisedintheuniverseofthepoet。
Thismodernuniverseisliterallyanempire；thatis，itwasvast，butitisnotfree。Onewentintolargerandlargerwindowlessrooms，roomsbigwithBabylonianperspective；butoneneverfoundthesmallestwindoworawhisperofouterair。
Theirinfernalparallelsseemedtoexpandwithdistance；
butformeallgoodthingscometoapoint，swordsforinstance。
SofindingtheboastofthebigcosmossounsatisfactorytomyemotionsIbegantoargueaboutitalittle；andIsoonfoundthatthewholeattitudewasevenshallowerthancouldhavebeenexpected。
Accordingtothesepeoplethecosmoswasonethingsinceithadoneunbrokenrule。Only（theywouldsay）whileitisonething，itisalsotheonlythingthereis。Why，then，shouldoneworryparticularlytocallitlarge？Thereisnothingtocompareitwith。
Itwouldbejustassensibletocallitsmall。Amanmaysay，"Ilikethisvastcosmos，withitsthrongofstarsanditscrowdofvariedcreatures。"Butifitcomestothatwhyshouldnotamansay，"Ilikethiscosylittlecosmos，withitsdecentnumberofstarsandasneataprovisionoflivestockasIwishtosee"？
Oneisasgoodastheother；theyarebothmeresentiments。
Itismeresentimenttorejoicethatthesunislargerthantheearth；
itisquiteassaneasentimenttorejoicethatthesunisnolargerthanitis。Amanchoosestohaveanemotionaboutthelargenessoftheworld；whyshouldhenotchoosetohaveanemotionaboutitssmallness？
IthappenedthatIhadthatemotion。Whenoneisfondofanythingoneaddressesitbydiminutives，evenifitisanelephantoralife-guardsman。Thereasonis，thatanything，howeverhuge，thatcanbeconceivedofascomplete，canbeconceivedofassmall。
Ifmilitarymoustachesdidnotsuggestaswordortusksatail，thentheobjectwouldbevastbecauseitwouldbeimmeasurable。Butthemomentyoucanimagineaguardsmanyoucanimagineasmallguardsman。
Themomentyoureallyseeanelephantyoucancallit"Tiny。"
Ifyoucanmakeastatueofathingyoucanmakeastatuetteofit。
Thesepeopleprofessedthattheuniversewasonecoherentthing；
buttheywerenotfondoftheuniverse。ButIwasfrightfullyfondoftheuniverseandwantedtoaddressitbyadiminutive。Ioftendidso；anditneverseemedtomind。ActuallyandintruthIdidfeelthatthesedimdogmasofvitalitywerebetterexpressedbycallingtheworldsmallthanbycallingitlarge。ForaboutinfinitytherewasasortofcarelessnesswhichwasthereverseofthefierceandpiouscarewhichIfelttouchingthepricelessnessandtheperiloflife。
Theyshowedonlyadrearywaste；butIfeltasortofsacredthrift。
Foreconomyisfarmoreromanticthanextravagance。Tothemstarswereanunendingincomeofhalfpence；butIfeltaboutthegoldensunandthesilvermoonasaschoolboyfeelsifhehasonesovereignandoneshilling。
Thesesubconsciousconvictionsarebesthitoffbythecolourandtoneofcertaintales。ThusIhavesaidthatstoriesofmagicalonecanexpressmysensethatlifeisnotonlyapleasurebutakindofeccentricprivilege。Imayexpressthisotherfeelingofcosmiccosinessbyallusiontoanotherbookalwaysreadinboyhood，"RobinsonCrusoe，"whichIreadaboutthistime，andwhichowesitseternalvivacitytothefactthatitcelebratesthepoetryoflimits，nay，eventhewildromanceofprudence。Crusoeisamanonasmallrockwithafewcomfortsjustsnatchedfromthesea：
thebestthinginthebookissimplythelistofthingssavedfromthewreck。Thegreatestofpoemsisaninventory。EverykitchentoolbecomesidealbecauseCrusoemighthavedroppeditinthesea。
Itisagoodexercise，inemptyoruglyhoursoftheday，tolookatanything，thecoal-scuttleorthebook-case，andthinkhowhappyonecouldbetohavebroughtitoutofthesinkingshipontothesolitaryisland。Butitisabetterexercisestilltorememberhowallthingshavehadthishair-breadthescape：
everythinghasbeensavedfromawreck。Everymanhashadonehorribleadventure：asahiddenuntimelybirthhehadnotbeen，asinfantsthatneverseethelight。Menspokemuchinmyboyhoodofrestrictedorruinedmenofgenius：anditwascommontosaythatmanyamanwasaGreatMight-Have-Been。TomeitisamoresolidandstartlingfactthatanymaninthestreetisaGreatMight-Not-Have-Been。
ButIreallyfelt（thefancymayseemfoolish）asifalltheorderandnumberofthingsweretheromanticremnantofCrusoe’sship。
Thattherearetwosexesandonesun，waslikethefactthatthereweretwogunsandoneaxe。Itwaspoignantlyurgentthatnoneshouldbelost；butsomehow，itwasratherfunthatnonecouldbeadded。
Thetreesandtheplanetsseemedlikethingssavedfromthewreck：
andwhenIsawtheMatterhornIwasgladthatithadnotbeenoverlookedintheconfusion。Ifelteconomicalaboutthestarsasiftheyweresapphires（theyarecalledsoinMilton’sEden）：Ihoardedthehills。
Fortheuniverseisasinglejewel，andwhileitisanaturalcanttotalkofajewelaspeerlessandpriceless，ofthisjewelitisliterallytrue。Thiscosmosisindeedwithoutpeerandwithoutprice：
fortherecannotbeanotherone。
Thusends，inunavoidableinadequacy，theattempttouttertheunutterablethings。Thesearemyultimateattitudestowardslife；
thesoilsfortheseedsofdoctrine。TheseinsomedarkwayI
thoughtbeforeIcouldwrite，andfeltbeforeIcouldthink：
thatwemayproceedmoreeasilyafterwards，Iwillroughlyrecapitulatethemnow。Ifeltinmybones；first，thatthisworlddoesnotexplainitself。Itmaybeamiraclewithasupernaturalexplanation；
itmaybeaconjuringtrick，withanaturalexplanation。
Buttheexplanationoftheconjuringtrick，ifitistosatisfyme，willhavetobebetterthanthenaturalexplanationsIhaveheard。
Thethingismagic，trueorfalse。Second，Icametofeelasifmagicmusthaveameaning，andmeaningmusthavesomeonetomeanit。
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