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As to Caesar's sense of humor； there is no more reason to assume
that he lacked it than to assume that he was deaf or blind。 It is
said that on the occasion of his assassination by a conspiracy of
moralists （it is always your moralist who makes assassination a
duty； on the scaffold or off it）； he defended himself until the
good Brutes struck him； when he exclaimed 〃What！ you too；
Brutes！〃 and disdained further fight。 If this be true； he must
have been an incorrigible comedian。 But even if we waive this
story； or accept the traditional sentimental interpretation of
it； there is still abundant evidence of his lightheartedness and
adventurousness。 Indeed it is clear from his whole history that
what has been called his ambition was an instinct for
exploration。 He had much more of Columbus and Franklin in him
than of Henry V。
However； nobody need deny Caesar a share； at least； of the
qualities I have attributed to him。 All men； much more Julius
Caesars； possess all qualities in some degree。 The really
interesting question is whether I am right in assuming that the
way to produce an impression of greatness is by exhibiting a man；
not as mortifying his nature by doing his duty； in the manner
which our system of putting little men into great positions （not
having enough great men in our influential families to go round）
forces us to inculcate； but by simply doing what he naturally
wants to do。 For this raises the question whether our world has
not been wrong in its moral theory for the last 2；500 years or
so。 It must be a constant puzzle to many of us that the Christian
era； so excellent in its intentions； should have been practically
such a very discreditable episode in the history of the race。 I
doubt if this is altogether due to the vulgar and sanguinary
sensationalism of our religious legends； with their substitution
of gross physical torments and public executions for the passion
of humanity。 Islam； substituting voluptuousness for torment （a
merely superficial difference； it is true） has done no better。 It
may have been the failure of Christianity to emancipate itself
from expiatory theories of moral responsibility； guilt；
innocence； reward； punishment； and the rest of it； that baffled
its intention of changing the world。 But these are bound up in
all philosophies of creation as opposed to cosmism。 They may
therefore be regarded as the price we pay for popular religion。
End