. . . isn’t there a very real torment in knowing that since the dawn of that scientific discovery, Christianity, Man has been making a fool of himself, proving what is obvious, puffing with pride as he repeats his proofs . . . and living on that alone? This is a subtle, stupid torment—and this is the source of my spiritual ramblings. Nature may well be bored with it all! Prudhomme was born with Christ.
Isn’t it because we cultivate the fog? We swallow fever with our watery vegetables. And drunkenness! And tobacco! And ignorance! And blind faith! Isn’t all this a bit far from the thought, the wisdom of the Orient, the original fatherland? Why have a modern world, if such poisons are invented?
Priests and preachers will say: Of course. But you are really referring to Eden. There is nothing for you in the past history of Oriental races. . . . True enough. It was Eden I meant! How can this purity of ancient races affect my dream?
Philosophers will say: The world has no ages; humanity moves from place to place, that’s all. You are a Western man, but quite free to live in your Orient, as old a one as you want . . . and to live in it as you like. Don’t be a defeatist. Philosophers, you are part and parcel of your Western world!