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embryologygo only to justify that old and general belief of man。
If man be told that the microscope and scalpel show no difference；
in the first stage of visible existence； between him and the lower
mammals； then he has a right to answeras he will answerSo much
the worse for the microscope and scalpel： so much the better for my
old belief； that there is beneath my birth； life； death； a
substratum of supernatural causes； imponderable； invisible；
unknowable by any physical science whatsoever。 If you cannot render
me a reason how I came hither； and what I am； I must go to those who
will render me one。 And if that craving be not satisfied by a
rational theory of life； it will demand satisfaction from some
magical theory； as did the mind of the eighteenth century when；
revolting from materialism； it fled to magic； to explain the ever…
astounding miracle of life。
The old Regime。 Will our age； in its turn； ever be spoken of as an
old Regime？ Will it ever be spoken of as a Regime at all； as an
organised； orderly system of society and polity； and not merely as a
chaos； an anarchy； a transitory struggle； of which the money…lender
has been the real guide and lord？
But at least it will be spoken of as an age of progress； of rapid
developments； of astonishing discoveries。
Are you so sure of that？ There was an age of progress once。 But
what is our agewhat is all which has befallen since 1815save
after…swells of that great storm； which are weakening and lulling
into heavy calm？ Are we on the eve of stagnation？ Of a long check
to the human intellect？ Of a new Byzantine era； in which little men
will discuss； and ape； the deeds which great men did in their
forefathers' days？
What progressit is a question which some will receive with almost
angry surprisewhat progress has the human mind made since 1815？
If the thought be startling； do me the great honour of taking it
home； and verifying for yourselves its truth or its falsehood。 I do
not say that it is altogether true。 No proposition concerning human
things； stated so broadly； can be。 But see for yourselves； whether
it is not at least more true than false； whether the ideas； the
discoveries； of which we boast most in the nineteenth century； are
not really due to the end of the eighteenth。 Whether other men did
not labour； and we have only entered into their labours。 Whether
our positivist spirit； our content with the collecting of facts； our
dread of vast theories； is not a symptomwholesome； prudent；
modest； but still a symptomof our consciousness that we are not as
our grandfathers were； that we can no longer conceive great ideas；
which illumine； for good or evil； the whole mind and heart of man；
and drive him on to dare and suffer desperately。
Railroads？ Electric telegraphs？ All honour to them in their place：
but they are not progress； they are only the fruits of past
progress。 No outward and material thing is progress； no machinery
causes progress； it merely spreads and makes popular the results of
progress。 Progress is inward； of the soul。 And； therefore；
improved constitutions； and improved book instructionnow miscalled
educationare not progress： they are at best only fruits and signs
thereof。 For they are outward； material； and progress； I say； is
inward。 The self…help and self…determination of the independent
soulthat is the root of progress； and the more human beings who
have that； the more progress there is in the world。 Give me a man
who； though he can neither read nor write； yet dares think for
himself； and do the thing he believes： that man will help forward
the human race more than any thousand men who have read； or written
either； a thousand books apiece； but have not dared to think for
themselves。 And better for his race； and better； I believe； in the
sight of God； the confusions and mistakes of that one sincere brave
man； than the second…hand and cowardly correctness of all the
thousand。
As for the 〃triumphs of science；〃 let us honour； with astonishment
and awe； the genius of those who invented them； but let us remember
that the things themselves are as a gun or a sword； with which we
can kill our enemy； but with which also our enemy can kill us。 Like
all outward and material things； they are equally fit for good and
for evil。 In England herethey have been as yet； as far as I can
see； nothing but blessings： but I have my very serious doubts
whether they are likely to be blessings to the whole human race； for
many an age to come。 I can conceive themmay God avert the omen！
the instruments of a more crushing executive centralisation； of a
more utter oppression of the bodies and souls of men； than the world
has yet seen。 I can conceivemay God avert the omen！centuries
hence； some future world…ruler sitting at the junction of all
railroads； at the centre of all telegraph…wiresa world…spider in
the omphalos of his world…wide web； and smiting from thence
everything that dared to lift its head； or utter a cry of pain； with
a swiftness and surety to which the craft of a Justinian or a Philip
II。 were but clumsy and impotent。
All； all outward things； be sure of it； are good or evil； exactly as
far as they are in the hands of good men or of bad。
Moreover； paradoxical as it may seem； railroads and telegraphs；
instead of inaugurating an era of progress； may possibly only retard
it。 〃Rester sur un grand succes；〃 which was Rossini's advice to a
young singer who had achieved a triumph； is a maxim which the world
often follows； not only from prudence； but from necessity。 They
have done so much that it seems neither prudent nor possible to do
more。 They will rest and be thankful。
Thus； gunpowder and printing made rapid changes enough； but those
changes had no farther development。 The new art of war； the new art
of literature； remained stationary； or rather receded and
degenerated； till the end of the eighteenth century。
And so it may be with our means of locomotion and intercommunion；
and what depends on them。 The vast and unprecedented amount of
capital； of social interest； of actual human intellect investedI
may say locked upin these railroads； and telegraphs； and other
triumphs of industry and science； will not enter into competition
against themselves。 They will not set themselves free to seek new
discoveries in directions which are often actually opposed to their
own； always foreign to it。 If the money of thousands are locked up
in these great works； the brains of hundreds of thousands； and of
the very shrewdest too； are equally locked up therein likewise； and
are to be subtracted from the gross material of social development；
and added （without personal fault of their owners； who may be very
good men） to the dead weight of vested selfishness； ignorance； and
dislike of change。
Yes。 A Byzantine and stationary age is possible yet。 Perhaps we
are now entering upon it； an age in which mankind shall be satisfied
with the 〃triumphs of science；〃 and shall look merely to the
greatest comfort （call it not happiness） of the greatest number； and
like the debased Jews of old； 〃having found the life of their hand；
be therewith content；〃 no matter in what mud…hole of slavery and
superstition。
But one hope there is； and more than a hopeone certainty； that
however satisfied enlightened public opinion may become with the
results of science； and the progress of the human race； there will
be always a more enlightened private opinion or opinions； which will
not be satisfied therewith at all； a few men of genius； a few
children of light； it may be a few persecuted； and a few martyrs for
new truths； who will wish the world not to rest and be thankful； but
to be discontented with itself； ashamed of itself； striving and
toiling upward； without present hope of gain； till it has reached
that unknown goal which Bacon saw afar off； and like all other
heroes； died in faith； not having received the promises； but seeking
still a polity which has foundations； whose builder and maker is
God。
These will be the men of science； whether physical or spiritual。
Not merely the men who utilise and apply that which is known （useful
as they plainly are）； but the men who themselves discover that which
was unknown； and are generally deemed useless； if not hurtful； to
their race。 They will keep the sacred lamp burning unobserved in
quiet studies； while all the world is gazing only at the gaslights
flaring in the street。 They will pass that lamp on from hand to
hand； modestly； almost stealthily； till the day comes round again；
when the obscure student shall be discovered once more to be； as he
has always been； the strongest man on earth。 For they follow a
mistress whose footsteps may often slip； yet never fall； for she
walks forward on the eternal facts of Nature； which are the acted
will of God。 A giantess she is； young indeed； but humble