Mendidnotyetfeelthemselvestobe'theenvyofsurroundingnations';
　　andwereenviableonthatveryaccount。Societywaswhatwecancallwhole，inbothsensesoftheword。Theindividualmanwasinhimselfawhole，orcompleteunion;andcouldcombinewithhisfellowsasthelivingmemberofagreaterwhole。Forallmen，throughtheirlife，wereanimatedbyonegreatIdea;thusalleffortspointedoneway，evbrywheretherewaswholeness。
　　OpinionandActionhadnotyetbecomedisunited;buttheformercouldstillproducethelatter，orattempttoproduceit;asthestampdoesitsimpressionwhilethewaxisnothardened。Thoughtandthevoiceofthoughtwerealsoaunison;thus，insteadofSpeculation，wehadPoetry;Literature，initsrudeutterance，wasasyetaheroicSong，perhapstooadevotionalAnthem。
　　Religionwaseverywhere;Philosophylayhidunderit，peaceablyincludedinit。
　　Herein，asinthelife—centreofall，laythetruehealthandoneness。
　　OnlyatalatereramustReligionsplititselfintoPhilosophies;andthereby，thevitalunionofThoughtbeinglost，disunionandmutualcollisioninallprovincesofSpeechandActionmoreandmoreprevail。ForifthePoet，orPriest，orbywhatevertitletheinspiredthinkermaybenamed，isthesignofvigourandwell—being;solikewiseistheLogician，oruninspiredthinker，thesignofdisease，probablyofdecrepitudeanddecay。Thus，nottomentionotherinstances，oneofthemmuchnearerhand，—sosoonasProphecyamongtheHebrewshadceased，thendidthereignofArgumentationbegin;andtheancientTheocracy，initsSadduceeismsandPhariseeisms，andvainjanglingofsectsanddoctors，givetokenthatthesoulofithadfled，andthatthebodyitself，bynaturaldissolution，'withtheoldforcesstillatwork，butworkinginreverseorder，'
　　wasontheroadtofinaldisappearance。
　　Wemightpursuethisquestionintoinnumerableotherramifications;
　　andeverywhere，undernewshapes，findthesametruth，whichweheresoimperfectlyenunciate，disclosed;thatthroughoutthewholeworldofman，inallmanifestationsandperformancesofhisnature，outwardandinward，personalandsocial，thePerfect，theGreatisamysterytoitself，knowsnotitself;whatsoeverdoesknowitselfisalreadylittle，andmoreorlessimperfect。
　　Orotherwise，wemaysay，Unconsciousnessbelongstopureunmixedlife;
　　Consciousnesstoadiseasedmixtureandconflictoflifeanddeath:
　　Unconsciousnessisthesignofcreation;Consciousness，atbest，thatofmanufacture。Sodeep，inthisexistenceofours，isthesignificanceofMystery。
　　WellmighttheAncientsmakeSilenceagod;foritistheelementofallgodhood，infinitude，ortranscendentalgreatness;atoncethesourceandtheoceanwhereinallsuchbeginsandends。Inthesamesense，too，havePoetssung'HymnstotheNight';asifNightwerenoblerthanDay;asifDaywerebutasmallmotley—colouredveilspreadtransientlyovertheinfinitebosomofNight，anddidbutdeformandhidefromusitspurelytransparenteternaldeeps。SolikewisehavetheyspokenandsungasifSilencewerethegrandepitomeandcompletesum—totalofallHarmony;andDeath，whatmortalscallDeath，properlythebeginningofLife。Undersuchfigures，sinceexceptinfiguresthereisnospeakingoftheInvisible，havemenendeavouredtoexpressagreatTruth;—aTruth，inourTimes，asnearlyasisperhapspossible，forgottenbythemost;whichneverthelesscontinuesforevertrue，foreverall—important，andwilloneday，undernewfigures，beagainbroughthometothebosomsofall。
　　Butindeed，inafarlowersense，therudestmindhasstillsomeintimationofthegreatnessthereisinMystery。IfSilencewasmadeagodofbytheAncients，hestillcontinuesagovernment—clerkamongusModerns。Toallquacks，moreover，ofwhatsortsoever，theeffectofMysteryiswellknown:
　　hereandtheresomeCagliostro，eveninlatterdays，turnsittonotableaccount:theblockheadalso，whoisambitious，andhasnotalent，findssometimesin'thetalentofsilence，'akindofsuccedaneum。Oragain，lookingontheoppositesideofthematter，dowenotsee，inthecommonunderstandingofmankind，acertaindistrust，acertaincontemptofwhatisaltogetherselfconsciousandmechanical？Asnothingthatiswhollyseenthroughhasotherthanatrivialcharacter;soanythingprofessingtobegreat，andyetwhollytoseethroughitself，isalreadyknowntobefalse，andafailure。
　　Theevilreputeyour'theoreticalmen'standin，theacknowledgedinefficiencyof'paperconstitutions，'andallthatclassofobjects，areinstancesofthis。
　　Experienceoftenrepeated，andperhapsacertaininstinctofsomethingfardeeperthatliesundersuchexperiences，hastaughtmensomuch。Theyknowbeforehand，thattheloudisgenerallytheinsignificant，theempty。
　　Whatsoevercanproclaimitselffromthehouse—topsmaybefitforthehawker，andforthosemultitudesthatmustneedsbuyofhim;butforanydeeperuse，mightaswellcontinueunproclaimed。Observetoo，howtheconverseofthepropositionholds;howtheinsignificant，theempty，isusuallytheloud;and，afterthemannerofadrum，isloudevenbecauseofitsemptiness。
　　TheusesofsomePatentDinnerCalefactorcanbebruitedabroadoverthewholeworldinthecourseofthefirstwinter;thoseofthePrintingPressarenotsowellseenintoforthefirstthreecenturies:thepassingoftheSelect—VestriesBillraisesmorenoiseandhopefulexpectancyamongmankindthandidthepromulgationoftheChristianReligion。Again，andagain，wesay，thegreat，thecreativeandenduringiseverasecrettoitself;onlythesmall，thebarrenandtransientisotherwise。
　　PartII
　　Ifwenow，withapracticalmedicalview，examine，bythissametestofUnconsciousness，theConditionofourownEra，andofman'sLifetherein，thediagnosiswearriveatisnowiseofaflatteringsort。ThestateofSocietyinourdaysis，ofallpossiblestates，theleastanunconsciousone:thisisspeciallytheErawhenallmannerofInquiriesintowhatwasoncetheunfelt，involuntarysphereofman'sexistence，findtheirplace，and，asitwere，occupythewholedomainofthought。What，forexample，isallthisthatwehear，forthelastgenerationortwo，abouttheImprovementoftheAge，theSpiritoftheAge，DestructionofPrejudice，ProgressoftheSpecies，andtheMarchofIntellect，butanunhealthystateofself—sentence，self—survey;theprecursorandprognosticofstillworsehealth？ThatIntellectdomarch，ifpossibleatdouble—quicktime，isverydesirable;nevertheless，whyshouldsheturnroundateverystride，andcry:SeeyouwhatastrideIhavetaken！SuchamarchingofIntellectisdistinctlyofthespavinedkind;whattheJockeyscall'allactionandnogo。'Oratbest，ifweexaminewell，itisthemarchingofthatgoutyPatient，whomhisDoctorshadclaptonametalfloorartificiallyheatedtothesearingpoint，sothathewasobligedtomarch，anddidmarchwithavengeance—nowhither。Intellectdidnotawakenforthefirsttimeyesterday;
　　buthasbeenunderwayfromNoah'sFlooddownwards:greatlyherbestprogress，moreover，wasintheoldtimes，whenshesaidnothingaboutit。Inthosesame'darkages，'Intellect（metaphoricallyaswellasliterally）
　　couldinventglass，whichnowshehasenoughadotogrindintospectacles。
　　IntellectbuiltnotonlyChurches，butaChurch，theChurch，basedonthisfirmEarth，yetreachingup，andleadingup，ashighasHeaven;andnowitisallshecandotokeepitsdoorsbolted，thattherebenotearingoftheSurplices，norobberyoftheAlms—box。ShebuiltaSenate—houselikewise，gloriousinitskind;andnowitcostsherawell—nighmortalefforttosweepitclearofvermin，andgettheroofmaderain—tight。
　　Butthetruthis，withIntellect，aswithmostotherthings，wearenowpassingfromthatfirstorboastfulstageofSelf—sentienceintothesecondorpainfulone:outoftheseoften—asseverateddeclarationsthat'oursystemisinhighorder，'wecomenow，bynaturalsequence，tothemelancholyconvictionthatitisaltogetherthereverse。Thus，forinstance，inthematterofGovernment，theperiodofthe'InvaluableConstitution'hastobefollowedbyaReformBill;
　　tolaudatoryDeLolmessucceedobjurgatoryBenthams。Atanyrate，whatTreatisesontheSocialContract，ontheElectiveFranchise，theRightsofMan，theRightsofProperty，Codifications，Institutions，Constitutions，havewenot，forlongyears，groanedunder！Oragain，withawidersurvey，considerthoseEssaysonMan，ThoughtsonMan，InquiriesconcerningMan;
　　nottomentionEvidencesoftheChristianFaith，TheoriesofPoetry，ConsiderationsontheOriginofEvil，whichduringthelastcenturyhaveaccumulatedonustoafrightfulextent。NeversincethebeginningofTimewasthere，thatwehearorreadof，sointenselyself—consciousaSociety。
　　OurwholerelationstotheUniverseandtoourfellow—manhavebecomeanInquiry，aDoubt;nothingwillgoonofitsownaccord，anddoitsfunctionquietly;butallthingsmustbeprobedinto，thewholeworkingofman'sworldbeanatomicallystudied。Alas，anatomicallystudied，thatitmaybemedicallystudied，thatitmaybemedicallyaided！Tillatlengthindeed，wehavecometosuchapass，thatexceptinthissamemedicine，withitsartificesandappliances，fewcansomuchasimagineanystrengthorhopetoremainforus。
　　ThewholeLifeofSocietymustnowbecarriedonbydrugs:doctorafterdoctorappearswithhisnostrum，ofCooperativeSocieties，UniversalSuffrage，Cottage—and—Cowsystems，RepressionofPopulation，Votebyballot。TosuchheighthasthedyspepsiaofSocietyreached:asindeedtheconstantgrindinginternalpain，orfromtimetotimethemadspasmodicthroes，ofallSocietydootherwisetoomournfullyindicate。
　　Farbeitfromustoattribute，assomeunwisepersonsdo，thediseaseitselftothisunhappysensationthatthereisadisease！TheEncyclopedistsdidnotproducethetroublesofFrance;butthetroublesofFranceproducedtheEncyclopedists，andmuchelse。TheSelf—consciousnessisthesymptommerely;nay，itisalsotheattempttowardscure。Werecordthefact，withoutspecialcensure;notwonderingthatSocietyshouldfeelitself，andinallwayscomplainofachesandtwinges，forithassufferedenough。NapoleonwasbutaJob's—comforter，whenhetoldhiswoundedstaff—officer，twiceunhorsedbycannon—balls，andwithhalfhislimbsblowntopieces:"Vousvousecouteztrop！"
　　Ontheoutward，asitwerePhysicaldiseasesofSociety，itwerebesideourpurposetoinsisthere。Thesearediseaseswhichhewhorunsmayread;
　　andsorrowover，withorwithouthope。Wealthhasaccumulateditselfintomasses;
　　andPoverty，alsoidaccumulationenough，liesimpassablyseparatedfromit;
　　opposed，uncommunicating，likeforcesinpositiveandnegativepoles。
　　Thegodsofthislowerworldsitaloftonglitteringthrones，lesshappythanEpicurus'gods，butasindolent，asimpotent;whiletheboundlesslivingchaosofIgnoranceandHungerweltersterrific，initsdarkfury，undertheirfeet。
　　Howmuchamongusmightbelikenedtoawhitedsepulchre;outwardlyallpompandstrength;butinwardlyfullofhorroranddespairanddead—men'sbones！Ironhighways，withtheirwainsfire—winged，areunitingallendsofthefirmLand;quaysandmoles，withtheirinnumerablestatelyfleets，tametheOceanintoourpliantbearerofburdens;Labour'sthousandarmsofsinewandofmetal，all—conqueringeverywhere，fromthetopsofthemountaindowntothedepthsofthemineandthecavernsofthesea，plyunweariedlyfortheserviceofman:yetmanremainsunserved。HehassubduedthisPlanet，hishabitationandinheritance;yetreapsnoprofitfromthevictory。
　　Sadtolookupon:inthehigheststageofcivilisation，nine—tenthsofmankindhavetostruggleinthelowestbattleofsavageorevenanimalman，thebattleagainstFamine。Countriesarerich，prosperousinallmannerofincrease，beyondexample:buttheMenofthosecountriesarepoor，needierthaneverofallsustenanceoutwardandinward;ofBelief，ofKnowledge，ofMoney，ofFood。Therule，Sicvosnonvobis，neveraltogethertobegotridofinmen'sIndustry，nowpresseswithsuchincubusweight，thatIndustrymustshakeitoff，orutterlybestrangledunderit;and，alas，canasyetbutgaspandrave，andaimlesslystruggle，likeoneinthefinaldeliration。ThusChange，ortheinevitableapproachofChange，ismanifesteverywhere。InoneCountrywehaveseenlava—torrentsoffever—frenzyenvelopallthings;GovernmentsucceedGovernment，likethephantasmsofadyingbrain。InanotherCountry，wecanevennowsee，inmaddestalternation，thePeasantgovernedbysuchguidanceasthis:Tolabourearnestlyonemonthinraisingwheat，andthenextmonthlabourearnestlyinburningit。SothatSociety，wereitnotbynatureimmortal，anditsdeatheveranewbirth，mightappear，asitdoesintheeyesofsome，tobesicktodissolution，andevennowwrithinginitslastagony。Sickenoughwemustadmitittobe，withdiseaseenough，awholenosologyofdiseases;whereinheperhapsishappiestthatisnotcalledtoprescribeasphysician;—wherein，however，onesmallpieceofpolicy，thatofsummoningtheWisestintheCommonwealth，bythesolemethodyetknownorthoughtof，tocometogetherandwiththeirwholesoulconsultforit，might，butforlatetediousexperiences，haveseemedunquestionableenough。
　　Butleavingthis，letusratherlookwithin，intotheSpiritualconditionofSociety，andseewhataspectsandprospectsofferthemselvesthere。
　　Forafterall，itisthereproperlythatthesecretandoriginofthewholeistobesought:
　　thePhysicalderangementsofSocietyarebuttheimageandimpressofitsSpiritual;whiletheheartcontinuessound，allothersicknessissuperficial，andtemporary。FalseActionisthefruitoffalseSpeculation;letthespiritofSocietybefreeandstrong，thatistosay，lettruePrinciplesinspirethemembersofSociety，thenneithercandisordersaccumulateinitsPractice;
　　eachdisorderwillbepromptly，faithfullyinquiredinto，andremediedasitarises。Butalas，withustheSpiritualconditionofSocietyisnolesssicklythanthePhysical。Examineman'sinternalworld，inanyofitssocialrelationsandperformances，heretooallseemsdiseasedself—consciousness，collisionandmutually—destructivestruggle。Nothingactsfromwithinoutwardsinundividedhealthyforce;everythingliesimpotent，lamed，itsforceturnedinwards，andpainfully'listenstoitself。'
　　TobeginwithourhighestSpiritualfunction，withReligion，wemightask，WhitherhasReligionnowfled？OfChurchesandtheirestablishmentsweheresaynothing;noroftheunhappydomainsofUnbelief，andhowinnumerablemen，blindedintheirminds，havegrownto'livewithoutGodintheworld';
　　but，takingthefairestsideofthematter，weask，WhatisthenatureofthatsameReligion，whichstilllingersintheheartsofthefewwhoarecalled，andcallthemselves，speciallytheReligious？Isitahealthyreligion，vital，unconsciousofitself;thatshinesforthspontaneouslyindoingoftheWork，oreveninpreachingoftheWord？Unhappily，no。InsteadofheroicmartyrConduct，andinspiredandsoul—inspiringEloquence，wherebyReligionitselfwerebroughthometoourlivingbosoms，toliveandreignthere，wehave'DiscoursesontheEvidences，'endeavouring，withsmallestresult，tomakeitprobablethatsuchathingasReligionexists。ThemostenthusiasticEvangelicalsdonotpreachaGospel，butkeepdescribinghowitshouldandmightbepreached:toawakenthesacredfireoffaith，asbyasacredcontagion，isnottheirendeavour;but，atmost，todescribehowFaithshowsandacts，andscientificallydistinguishtrueFaithfromfalse。Religion，likeallelse，isconsciousofitself，listenstoitself;itbecomeslessandlesscreative，vital;moreandmoremechanical。Consideredasawhole，theChristianReligionoflateageshasbeencontinuallydissipatingitselfintoMetaphysics;
　　andthreatensnowtodisappear，assomeriversdo，indesertsofbarrensand。
　　OfLiterature，anditsdeep—seated，wide—spreadmaladies，whyspeak？
　　LiteratureisbutabranchofReligion，andalwaysparticipatesinitscharacter:
　　however，inourtime，itistheonlybranchthatstillshowsanygreenness;
　　and，assomethink，mustonedaybecomethemainstem。Now，apartfromthesubterraneanandtartareanregionsofLiterature;—leavingoutofviewthefrightful，scandalousstatisticsofPuffing，themysteryofSlander，Falsehood，Hatredandotherconvulsion—workofrabidImbecility，andallthathasrenderedLiteratureonthatsideaperfect'BabylonthemotherofAbominations，'inverydeedmakingtheworld'drunk'withthewineofheriniquity;—forgettingallthis，letuslookonlytotheregionsoftheupperair;tosuchLiteratureascanbesaidtohavesomeattempttowardstruthinit，sometoneofmusic，andifitbenotpoetical，toholdofthepoetical。
　　Amongothercharacteristics，isnotthismanifestenough:thatitknowsitself？
　　Spontaneousdevotednesstotheobject，beingwhollypossessedbytheobject，whatwecancallInspiration，haswell—nighceasedtoappearinLiterature。
　　WhichmelodiousSingerforgetsthatheissingingmelodiously？
　　Wehavenottheloveofgreatness，buttheloveoftheloveofgreatness。
　　HenceinfiniteAffectations，Distractions;ineverycaseinevitableError。
　　Consider，foroneexample，thispeculiarityofModernLiterature，thesinthathasbeennamedView—hunting。Inourelderwriters，therearenopaintingsofsceneryforitsownsake;noeuphuisticgallantrieswithNature，butaconstantheartloveforher，aconstantdwellingincommunionwithher。View—hunting，withsomuchelsethatisofkintoit，firstcamedecisivelyintoactionthroughtheSorrowsofWerter;whichwonderfulPerformance，indeed，mayinmanysensesberegardedastheprogenitorofallthathassincebecomepopularinLiterature;whereof，insofarasconcernsspiritandtendency，itstilloffersthemostinstructiveimage;fornowhere，exceptinitsowncountry，aboveallinthemindofitsillustriousAuthor，hasityetfallenwhollyobsolete。