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T.F. Unwin
The gain of life, and other essays
The gain of life, and other essays
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This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
V. THE DATA INTERPRETED. SEARCH FOR ULTIMATE GROUNDS OF ACTION. In the last chapter I sketched in outline what I conceived to be the essential character of Human Progress. Being unwilling to confuse the main question with side issues, I did not think it necessary to dwell on certain obtrusive facts that would have relieved a somewhat sombre picture. It is easy enough to paint in attractive colours aspects of life and duty on which the genial mind loves to dwell. The pure pleasures of a well-attuned home, the gladsome meetings of congenial friends, the cheering spectacle of Nature's loveliness, the inspiring contemplation of great Artdo we not all know something of these benign and kindling influences ? and is it within the power of the saddest cynic to scowl them into non-existence ? They are facts as real, and, as I at least think, as extensive, asthose darker and saddening phenomena that make the discords in the terrestrial harmony. But if the truth be, as I believe it is, that for every joy there is a sorrow, for every hope a fear, then the riddle of Life is not made plainer by presenting a gross sum of our emotional gains ; and it is the function of the poet, rather than of the philosophic critic, to describe in eloquent terms their innumerable varieties. Of more consequence is it for our present purpose to vividly realize the negative side; first because that side has been sedulously kept out of view owing to the optimistic character of our religious traditions, and secondly because it is only by resolutely turning aside to note the shadows, that we are enabled to free ourselves from that glamour with which ideal hope touches our eyes, disturbing our clear and steady gaze. We started on our inquiry, be it remembered, with the object of discovering the worth of Life ...
This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
V. THE DATA INTERPRETED. SEARCH FOR ULTIMATE GROUNDS OF ACTION. In the last chapter I sketched in outline what I conceived to be the essential character of Human Progress. Being unwilling to confuse the main question with side issues, I did not think it necessary to dwell on certain obtrusive facts that would have relieved a somewhat sombre picture. It is easy enough to paint in attractive colours aspects of life and duty on which the genial mind loves to dwell. The pure pleasures of a well-attuned home, the gladsome meetings of congenial friends, the cheering spectacle of Nature's loveliness, the inspiring contemplation of great Artdo we not all know something of these benign and kindling influences ? and is it within the power of the saddest cynic to scowl them into non-existence ? They are facts as real, and, as I at least think, as extensive, asthose darker and saddening phenomena that make the discords in the terrestrial harmony. But if the truth be, as I believe it is, that for every joy there is a sorrow, for every hope a fear, then the riddle of Life is not made plainer by presenting a gross sum of our emotional gains ; and it is the function of the poet, rather than of the philosophic critic, to describe in eloquent terms their innumerable varieties. Of more consequence is it for our present purpose to vividly realize the negative side; first because that side has been sedulously kept out of view owing to the optimistic character of our religious traditions, and secondly because it is only by resolutely turning aside to note the shadows, that we are enabled to free ourselves from that glamour with which ideal hope touches our eyes, disturbing our clear and steady gaze. We started on our inquiry, be it remembered, with the object of discovering the worth of Life ...