The Seven Deadly Sins Today [1 ed.] 0268016984, 9780268016982

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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS TODAY

Paperback published in 1979 by University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 www.undpress.nd.edu All Rights Reserved Published in the United States of America Reprinted in 1988, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016 Hardback edition published in 1978 by New Republic Books 1220 Nineteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Copyright © 1978 by Henry Fairlie

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fairlie, Henry, 1924– The seven deadly sins today. Reprint of the ed. published by New Republic Books, Washington. Bibliography: p. 1. Deadly sins. I. Title. 79-893 [BV4626.F34 1979] 241'.3 ISBN 13: 978-0268-01698-2 (paper) ISBN 10: 0-268-01698-4 (paper) ISBN 13 978-0-268-07988-8 (web pdf) ∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper.

C O NTENTS

PREFACE

vii THE FACT O F SIN

1 PRIDE OR SUPERBIA

37 ENV Y OR INV IDIA

59 ANGER O R IRA

85 S LOTH OR ACEDIA

111 AVARICE OR AVARITIA

131 G LUTTONY OR GU LA

1 53 LUST OR LUXURIA

1 73 THE PATHS OF LO V E

191 A C H EC K LIS T O F S O M E B O O K S 215

Th i s book i s for Bet t y and Bo b w h o h a ve followed t h e p a t h s of love better t h a n m o s t .

PREFAC E

A S OF NO o t h e r b o o k t h a t I h a v e writ ten , p e ople have asked why I chose t o w r i t e on t h e s u b j e c t . T h e origin of the e s s a y s i s clear in my own m i n d . I have for a long t i m e t h o ught that t h e p sychological e x p l a n at i o n s of t h e w a y ­ wardne s s of our own b e h a v i o r and t h e s o c i o l og i c a l ex­ planations of t h e e v i l s of o u r s o c i e t i e s have c o m e very ne arly t o a d e a d end . They h a v e taken us s o far, b u t not very far, and it is hard t o see, in whatever d i r e c t i o n they m ay move, t h at t h e y w i l l t ak e u s much farther. T h e y have c o m e t o t h i s i m p a s s e b e c a u s e t h e y shirk t h e prob lem of e vi l , and they s h irk i t b e c a u s e o f t h e maj or prem i s e on w h i c h t h ey rest: t h a t our own fau l t s and t h o s e of o u r s oc i et i e s are t h e r e s u l t o f s o m e k i n d of m echanical failure, w h i c h h a s only t o b e d i ag n o s e d and u n d e r s t o o d for u s t o s et it right . Y e t n o n e o f t h e s c h e m e s for improve­ ment, p e r s onal or social, have m a d e m u c h differen c e , and s ome w ou l d even s ay t h at t h e y h a v e m a d e t h i ng s w o r s e. There have e s p e c i a l l y b e e n m a n y t e n d e n c i e s in t h e m o dern a g e t h a t h a v e m ade u s m i s c h i e v o u s l y and in t h e end d e s t r u c t i v e l y e g o c e ntric , a n d even o u r s oc i et i e s a r e in d a n g e r of b e i n g l eft w i t h n o j u st ific at i on or funct i o n b u t t o b ol s t e r o u r e g o t i s m . T h i s w a s o n e of t h e t h e m e s in Th e Spoi l ed Ch i l d of the Wes t ern World - e sp e c i a l l y i n t h e c h a p t e r "The Exhau s t i o n o f t h e S elf"-and t h e s e e s ­ s a y s c on t i n u e t h a t t h e m e . T h e y a r e a d d r e s s ed t o t h e s p o i l e d child t h a t all of u s are i n c i t e d t o b e c o m e , and if t h e emphasis s e e m s sometimes t o b e p l a c e d heavily on t h e y oung p e o p l e of t od a y , t h at is only b e c a u s e we c an s e e in them t h e next s t ag e in the d e c l i n e int o a l i st l e s s s elf-

P R EFACE

vii

c o ncern . The b e h a v i o r of t h e y o u n g refl e c t s t h e a t t i t u d e s of their e l d e r s . T h i s i s not a work of t h e o l o g y , b u t i t s debt t o t h eology i s c l e a r . S i n c e t h e s i n s were defined b y t h e ol o g y , w e can­ not and should not wish t o escape from it s definit i on s , e v e n when w e a r e u n a b l e wholly t o a c c e p t t he m . I h av e c o n s ulted s o m e t h e o l o g i a n s I k n o w ; t h e m an u script w a s s h o w n t o t h e m . Alth ough it would b e t o o m u c h t o s a y t h a t t h e y h a v e g i v e n t he b o o k t h e i r i m p r i m a t u r a n d n i hil o b s t a t , t h e y have b e e n kind enough t o say t h at it s mere layman's g r a s p of t h e ol og y at l e a s t does n o t offend i n any imp ortant p a r t i c u l a r . S o m e y e a r s ago t h e Sunday Ti m es of L o n d o n p u b ­ lished a s er i e s on t h e Seven D eadly S i n s , b y s e v e n o f t h e be s t - k n own English writers of t h e day , wh i c h were t he n published a s a b o o k . I f o u n d t h e m s l e n d e r at t h e t i m e a n d h a v e s t ill found them slender on r e r e a d i n g t h e m , even t h o u gh Angu s W i l s o n o n Envy and Christopher Sykes on L u s t b e a r p e r u s a l . T h e y nevert h el e s s raise an i n t e r e s t ­ ing point . I n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e m , Ra y m ond M or­ timer s ay s that a l t h o u g h "in a s e ri e s o f art i c l e s such as I am i n t r o d u c i n g , p a s s i onat e denunciat i o n s and t h r e at s of b r i m s t one wou ld b e out of place, . . . the m i l d n e s s with which on t h e whole t he y regard t h e deadly sins m a y be t h ought s u rp r i s i n g a n d s ignific ant . " I n o t h e r words, t he y a v o id m oralizing, but at t h e c o s t o f s p e aking very s e r i o u s l y about moralit y . I hope t h a t I have av oi d e d moral iz ing, b u t it i s surely point l e s s to write of s i n at a l l , if o n e i s not p r e p a r e d t o s p e ak s t rongly i n m o r a l t e rm s . Washingt o n , D .C . Chr istm a s 1 9 7 7

viii

P R E F ACE

H.F.

Pecca tum poen a p e c ca t i S i n i s t h e p u n i shment o f s i n .

St . August i n e

THE FACT OF SIN

TO RAISE THE s u b j e c t o f s i n i s to p r o v o k e t h e inte r e s t and u s u ally t h e humor o f e v e ry o n e ; it i s a l s o t o d i s c over h o w limited i s t h e range o f humor o n t h e s u b j e c t . People s e e m c ompelled t o try t o b e funny about s in, but the j ok e s are only v ar i a t i o n s on t h e theme t h a t s i n i s fun, and o f c o u r s e t h a t Lus t e s p e c i a l l y i s fun . T h e r e are s o m e attempts at merriment a b o u t Glu t t o n y , and t o a l e s s e r e x ­ tent about A v a r i c e and S l o t h , b u t there t h e humor b e g i n s to falter. N o o n e s e e m s able to t a k e E n v y l i g h t l y , the thought o f Anger i s d i s comfiting, and t h a t Pride i s c ounted a s in c au s e s mainly b e w ilderm e n t . Everyone i s r e s p onding d i ffe r e n t ly to t h e " warm, d i s r e p u t able" s in s and t o the " c ol d , r e s p e c t a b l e " o n es . B u t what i s i n t e r es t ing i s that when p e ople are brought face t o face w i t h a sin, such a s Envy , t o w h i c h they are not willing t o adm i t , they turn t o look again at t h e s i n s , s u c h a s Lu s t , of w h i c h they were at fir s t e a g e r t o b o a s t . W h a t h a s h a p p e n e d i s t ha t t h e y h a v e b e e n m ade t o c o n ­ fro n t t h e ide a o f s i n i t s elf-not of p ar t i c u l ar s in s , lap s e s in o u r c onduct t h a t m a y n o t s e e m t o c ou n t f o r m u c h , b u t t h e fac t of s in-and it i s at t h i s p o i n t t h a t o n e realizes t h a t , e v e n in a s e c ul a r age , we n e e d t o keep t h e i d e a of s i n . E v e n the we akne s s o f t h i s s t a t e m e n t , if left a s i t i s , i s c haracteri s t ic o f o u r o w n t i me s . W h at it h alf-he artedly says i s that , a l t h o u gh we may n o t believe t h a t s i n e xi s t s , w e neverthele s s n e e d t o k e e p i t s s h a d o w , j ust a s w e might s ay t h a t , although w e m a y n o t b e l i e v e t h a t God ex­ i s t s , we s t ill need t o k e e p his s h a d o w . W e must s p e a k m o re d i re c t l y . W e s i n .

T H E FACT O F SIN

W e are n o t e x e m p t from sinning s im p l y b e c a u s e we d o not b e l i e v e t h a t t h e w il l fu l v i o l a t i o n o f o u r humanity i s n o l e s s a w i llful v i o l a t i o n o f o u r l i fe i n G o d ; a n d e v e n t h e m o s t irre l ig ious a m o n g u s c a n h a v e s o m e i d e a o f w h a t t h a t c on c e p t me ans . W h e n a t h e o l og i a n s ay s t h a t " i n e a c h o f the s i n s , a man a c t s i n s u c h a w ay a s t o m a k e h i s r e l a t io n s h ip t o God p r e c a r i o u s , fright e n e d , s u s p ic i o n ­ l a d e n , d e c e i t fu l , " i t i s n o t i mp o s s ib l e for t h e irreligio u s t o u n d e r s t a n d w h at h e i s s ay i n g , a s t h e y c an a l s o under­ s t an d when h e a d d s t h a t "sin i s w h a t a m a n i s c ompelled t o c o n fe s s t o God b e c a u s e h i s action has placed h i m i n a c r i s i s b e fo r e God . " C e r t ainly if o n e h a s n o i nkl i ng o f w h a t he i s t alking a b o u t , o n e w i l l u n d e r s t an d w h y s i n i s m o r e t h a n moral e v i l , w h y i t i s c o mmonly d e sc r i b e d a s in­ fid e l i t y , why i t has been said that s in i s less like t h e a c t o f a c r i m i n a l t h a n t h e a c t o f a t r a i t o r . B et r a y a l and s e lf­ b e t rayal are i n the s u b s t a n c e o f s i n , and for the t ra i t or there i s rarely a w a y bac k. " A s y o u have d e s t ro y e d y o u r l i fe in t h i s c it y , " s a y s C a v afy i n a terrib le line , " y o u h ave ruined i t i n the r e s t o f the w o r l d . " O n e d o e s n o t like t o b e g i n o n s o al arming a n o t e . The p r o s p e c t at once s ee m s s o d e s o l a t e . O n e c an almost h e ar t h e reader s c l o s i n g t h e b o o k and turning q ui c k l y t o p a n ­ a c e a s that are le s s e x a c t ing. B u t i f i t s ee m s s o d e s o l a t e , i t c a n o n l y b e b e c a u s e t h e i d e a o f s i n , w h e n w e are f o r c e d t o c onfront i t , at o n c e p l a c e s i t s finger o n s omething i n o u r s e l v e s o f w h i c h w e a r e aware, a n d o f w h i c h w e d o n o t like to be reminded, when there are s o many easier ex­ p l an a t i o n s t o h a n d . I f w e f e a r w h at t h e ide a of s i n t e l l s u s o f o u r s e lv e s , i t i s b e c au s e w e fe a r o u r s e lv e s . S i n i s t h e d e s t r u ction o f o n e ' s s e lf a s w el l a s t h e d e s t ru c t i o n of o n e ' s r e l at i o n s h i p s w it h other s . B u t the fearfu l n e s s of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n c a n n o t be grasped u n l e s s w e r e a lize t h a t t h e d amage i s d o ne p r e c i s e l y where e a c h o f o u r n a t u r e s i s organized b y s om e unifying p r i n c iple that is more t h a n i t s p a rts , where there is s om e t h i n g u n ­ k n o w ab le i n u s , w h i c h w e neverthele s s k n o w t o b e m o s t

4

S E V E N DEADLY S I N S T O D A Y

completely o u r s e l v e s a n d with w h i c h w e h a v e e a c h t o form o u r o w n r e l a t i o n s h i p :

Below t h e s u rface s t rea m , s h allow and ligh t , O f w h a t we s a y we feel-below t h e s trea m , A s lig h t , of w h a t w e t h i n k we feel, t h ere flows Wi th n o i s eles s c urren t , s t rong, obscure and deep, The cen t ral s t re a m of what we feel i n deed . T h i s i s w h e r e s in c a u s e s i t s deva s t at i o n i n u s , at t h e very c o re o f o u r b e ings , w h e re life's flo w i s t h i s n o i s e le s s , s t rong, d e e p , o b s c u r e c urrent i n u s ; a n d i f t o t a l k o f God h e l p s t o r e inforce our a w a re n e s s o f how d e e p l y our p e r ­ s on a l i t i e s lie w i t h i n u s , and h o w s e v e r e l y w e v i o l a t e them when w e s i n , then the u n b e l i e v i n g m a y s ometimes use His n ame w it h o u t t a k i n g it i n vain. A t l e a s t w e s t i l l vaguely understand it. B u t in t h e i r s e c u larization o f e v e r y t h i n g e l s e , t h e u n ­ b e l i e v i n g m u s t b e c areful n o t t o s e c u larize God . He i s m o r e t h a n an I d e a . H e i s m o r e t h a n t h e W o r d . H e i s more than Log o s . There are to o many u n b e l i e v e r s t o d a y ­ many o f t h e m e v e n i n o u r temple s and c h u r c h e s - w h o t a k e His n ame in v a i n . P er h a p s n o one s i n s more o u t ­ rag e o usly in o u r age , o r i s m o r e c h ar a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e s l a c k n e s s w e t o le r at e , t h a n t h e p r i e s t a n d the t h e o l o g i a n w h o reduce God t o n o m o r e than a c o n c e p t b u t i n s i s t t h a t they b e l i e v e e n ou g h t o remain memb e r s o f t h e i r c h u r c h o r t e m p l e . T h e y are m a k i n g i t a w k w a r d t o b e a n a t he i s t . A p ­ p a r e n t l y o n e may n o w d e n y t h e t e ac h i n g s o f Chr i s t i an i t y - e v e n a t e ac h i n g a s fun d ame n t a l a s t h e divinity o f Chr is t , a s s o m e t h e o l o g i a n s h av e d o n e at O x ­ ford in the p a s t y e a r - a n d y e t r e s e r v e t h e privilege o f c alling o n e s e l f a Chris t i a n . W h y s t a n d o u t s i d e t h e d o o r s o f t h e c h u r c h a s an athei s t , and t h ink gra v e l y o f t h e fal s e h o o d s p r e a c h e d w i t h i n t h a t one fee l s c ompelled t o c o m b a t , w h e n a l l t h e t i m e o n e c o u ld j u s t s t e p i n s i d e and i n God's o w n house preach a g a i n s t them i n His name? To

T H E FACT O F S I N

5

deny that God i s a B e i n g a n d reduce Him t o a mere c o n ­ c e p t , a figment o f o u r m a k i n g , a s hadow o f Himself, m a y l e a v e one s t i l l a religi o u s m a n in a t r i v i a l w a y , b u t it d o e s n o t le ave one a b e l i e v i ng J e w o r a b e l i e v i n g Chr i s t i a n . T h e s e e s s ay s are a d d re s s e d t o a s e c u l a r age by s omeone w h o may best d e s c ribe h i m s e l f a s a reluctant unbeliever. A Chr i s t i a n friend who r e a d t h e first draft o f t h e m s ai d t h a t t h e i r a c c e n t w a s one o f reverent disbelief. I t i s n o t a c omfo r t a b le p o s it i o n t o b e i n . Cert ainly it has few c o n s o l a t i o n s . O n e l i v e s w i t h a h ole i n one's life , a n d t h e emp t i n e s s i s ever-pre s en t , b e c a u s e one i s s o aware o f i t . Y e t one c annot j u s t fil l i t a t o n e ' s w i s h a n d i s certainly n o t willing t o fil l it w i t h any flo t s a m that l i e s t o h a n d , the wreck age o f the b e l iefs i n which o n e w a s r a i s e d , o r o f o t h e r s t o w h i c h one h a s leaned . There a r e t h o s e w h o are unable t o belie v e , and are condemned eventually t o h a r d ­ ly t h e mo s t c ongen i a l c i rc l e o f h e l l , while t h o s e who d i d not enj oy the o p p o r t u n i t y t o believe l o l l about i n the relative ease and l a c k o f d i s c o mfor t o f limbo . P e r h a p s one i s a m o n g t h e m , willfu l in one's r e fu s al of grac e , t o o proud to believe. But even if this is one's condition, one may s till be allowed t o say that i t i s import ant that w e understand t h a t we s i n , a n d that we are a b l e t o s ay t h a t we d o . Lack o f faith m a y i t s e l f, aft e r a l l , be evidence o f the s i n o f S l o t h . S ometimes e v e n the u n b e l i e v e r find s i t d ifficu l t t o t a l k in any b u t " r e l ig i o u s " terms o f that t r a n s c e ndent Other that all o f us fe e l lies beyond the g r a s p o f our everyday s e n s e s . W e are n o t i n s e n s it i v e t o what are c o n c e i v e d t o be the divine at t r i b u t e s - infinity and eternity, omni­ pre s e n c e , omnis c i e n c e , omnip o t e n c e , immut a b i l i t y , a n d unity- at work in creation and in o u r s e lve s . And when we attend t o t h e deepest p a r t s of o u r being, we find that o u r humanity c a n i n the e n d only be defined, whether we like it or n o t , i n terms o f s omething that l i e s b e y o n d i t , and that i s o f deep s i g n i fi c a n c e t o u s . When we read t h e v i e w s o f t o d a y ' s agno s t i c s o r

6

S E V E N DEADLY S I N S T O D A Y

a t h e i s t s in a magazine s u c h a s t h e H u m a n i s t , t h e i r p i c ­ t u r e of h u m a n n a t u r e s e e m s t o o d e s s ic at e d a n d certainly t o o mechanic al. W e are r e d u c e d to things of pulleys and levers . P u ll t h i s o n e o r t h a t one, and t h i s or that w i l l h a p p e n . I f m a n y p e o p l e are t o d a y a t t r a c t e d t o fee b l e and unexacting forms o f E a s t e rn religi o n s , i f t h e y t a lk trivial­ ly o f mystical experience s t h a t t h ey p a t h e t i c a l l y imagine they h a v e h a d , if a s t rology h a s returned a s m o r e than a j ap e in p o p u lar magazines and n e w s p a p er s , it i s p artly because t h i s s hr i v e l e d concept o f h u m a n n at u r e h a s been found w o e fully in a de q u a t e . T h e s e fol l i e s are o f course no improve m e n t . T h e y are a re a c t i o n . B u t the unbeliever w h o i s modest h a s t h e n e e d , and must e v e n b e allowed t h e righ t , t o reach t o t h e i n s i g h t s o f h i s o w n c iv i l i z at i o n , not l e a s t of i t s t h e o l o gi e s , t o e x p re s s w h at o t h e r w i s e h e i s u n a b le t o utter or e x p l a i n . Although the s in s are a b u n d antly a n d v i v i d l y a n d , one m a y s ay , r i o t o us l y d e s c r i b e d in t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t , and although there are dire w arnings against t h e m in the N e w Testament, t h e i d e a o f s i n i s preeminently a con­ s t r u c t i o n o f C h r i s t i an theology. One is immediately a w a re o f t h i s w h e n one t r i e s t o d e s c r i b e any s i n in­ dividually, s e ar c h i n g for t h e p o i n t , t o whic h one m u s t a l w a y s r e ac h , a t w h i c h i t i s c l e a r that m o re t h a n moral e v i l i s b e ing described. W h e n o n e t h i n k s o f i t , t h i s i s un­ a v o i d a b l e . T h e definition o f s i n i n Christian theology w a s p a r t o f i t s tre m e n d o u s redefi n i t i o n o f h u m a n p e r ­ s o nality over the c e n t u ri es . S i n c e t h a t redefinition, none o t h e r h a s t a k e n u s m u c h furth e r . In the M id d l e Age s a n d e v e n i n what w e u s e d m i s ­ t a kenly t o c al l the D ar k A g es , o u r c o n c e p t o f h u m a n p e r ­ s onality w a s c on t i n u a l l y e x p a n d e d b y the m o d e l s , a s w e w o u l d n o w c a l l t h e m , with wh i c h C h r i s t i a n theology went a b o u t i t s w ork . It w a s a s u p e rb int e l l e c t u a l c o n s t r u c ­ t i o n , b u t i t w a s a l s o a s u p e rb i m a g i n a t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n , a s the v i t a l i t y o f i t s s ym b o l i s m t e s t ifie s in i t s art and

T H E FACT O F S I N

7

literature. T h e i d e a o f s in i n general, and o f the S e v e n D e a d ly S i n s in p a r t i c u l a r , w o u l d n o t h ave t a k e n s o deep o r s t ro n g a h o l d i f they h a d n o t refle c t e d a c o n c e p t of human p e r s o n al i t y and i t s p o t e n t i al i t i e s , b o t h for good and for e v i l , t h a t w a s being c e a s e l e s s ly w id e n e d and deepened. In order t o conceive t h e terrible d e s t r u c ­ tivene s s o f s i n , i t w a s fir s t n e ce s s ary t h at o u r w h o l e n a t u r e s s h o u l d h av e b e e n c on c e i v e d a s s o r i c h and i n ­ tricate that there i s something i n them t hat c a n be terribly d e s t roye d . W e have s ai d t h a t s i n i s m o re l i k e t h e a c t of a traitor t h a n the ac t o f a c r i m i n a l . In primitive societies the dis­ t i n c t i o n w a s n o t really made. Sinning w a s the violation o f tribal l a w s and customs. Attention w a s given t o i t a s an outward a c t and n o t an i n n e r i n c l i n a t i o n . Early societies were c on c e r n e d m o s t l y w i t h the c o n s eque n c e s o f i n d i v i d u a l s in s a n d d i d n o t y e t h a v e any n o t i o n o f s i n a s s u c h , s omething t h a t l i e s w i t h i n u s , an ineradicable part o f o u r h u m a n n a t u re s . W e h a v e only t o turn t o the Gree k trage d i e s t o recognize that, h ow e v e r profoundly they s e ar c h e d out human motives and confronted the fac t s o f g o o d and evil, there w a s s omething that in the e n d they did not e x p l ore. The e v i l o f men i n t h e m i s s till law-defying. The e v i l men and women are crimin a l s , w h o v i o l a t e the l a w s o f men and g o d s . B u t b y t h e time we reach S h ak e s p e are , sin i s life-betray ing. In h i s p l ay s we are with trait o r s , who are unfaithfu l as well a s d i s ­ o b e d i e n t . God h a s b e come m o r e t h an h i s l aw s , a s i s o f c o u r s e m o s t o b v i o u s i n D a n t e , a n d a l t h o u g h S h ak e s p e are can hardly be d e s c ri b e d a s a Chr i s t i an w r i t e r , o n e t h i ng t h a t h a d intervened i n the c o u r s e o f the c e n t u r i e s w a s the Chr i s t i an vision o f man, and i t i n formed h i s o w n v i s i o n . The Chr i s t ian v i s i o n h a d b u i l t o n a n o t h e r t r a d i t i o n , t h e s t ory o f the tribe s of I s r a e l . I n t h e O l d T e s t ament the i n ­ n e r i n c l i n a t i o n t o s in i s a l r e a d y b e i n g e x p l o r e d . If s i n i s "wh a t a man i s c om p e l l e d t o c o n fe s s t o God , " t h a t v o i c e i s t o be found throughout t h e O l d T e s t ament , a s in t h e c r y o f

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SEVEN DEADLY S I N S TODAY

the p s alm i s t , "Against t h e e , and thee only , h a v e I s i nned , " a c o n fe s s ion t h a t i s m a d e w i t h o u t t h e t hreat of divine p u n i s h me n t . I t i s t h e c r y o f a b e t ra y e r w h o repen t s h i s t r e a c h e r y . J os e p h w a s t h i n k i n g o f neit he r d i v i n e nor human punishment when h i s m a s ter's wife entreated him t o lie w i t h h e r , and he replied t h a t , s i n c e t h e pharoah had e n t ru s t e d h i m w i t h h i s hou s eh o l d , a n d k e p t nothing from h i m e x c e p t s h e w h o w a s h i s w ife , h o w c o u l d he d o s u c h a g r e a t w i c k e d n e s s and s i n a g a i n s t G o d ? At t h i s p o i n t , the tru s t h e r e t u r n s t o h i s m a s t e r and t h e t r u s t h e r e t u r n s t o G od h a v e b e c o m e o n e and t h e s a m e ; s i n i s e s ­ t a b l i s h e d a s an a c t o f infi d e l i t y and n o t only o f d i s ­ o b e d i e n c e , o f a t r a i t o r and n o t only of a c r i m i n a l . In the Ores t e i a , when the oracle p r e s c r i b e s t h a t A g a m e m n o n s h o u l d s ac rifice h i s d au g h t e r Ip higenia, h e d o e s s o , and the g o d s d o n o t i n t e r v e n e t o s t o p him . In t h e Old T e s t a m e n t , w h e n G o d p r e s c r ib e s t h a t A bra ha m s h o u l d s acrifice h i s s o n Is a a c , h e p r e p a r e s t o do so, bu t G o d intervenes a n d stay s h i s h a nd s . O b e d ience t o t h e divine w i l l i s s tr o n g in b o t h s t o r i e s , b u t i n t h e Old T e s t a ­ m e n t another f a c t o r h a s e n t e r e d . T o the j u s t i c e o f t h e g o d s i s added the l o v e o f G o d , and the w h o l e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f m a n w i th G o d i s r a d i c ally d i ffere n t . T h e g o d s had a d e s t iny for A g a m e m n o n , that h e s h o uld b e p u n i s h e d for the terrible c r i m e s o f the h o u s e of A t re u s , and t h a t d e s t iny m u s t b e p la y e d o u t e v e n a t t h e c o s t o f Iphigenia's life . B u t the d e s t i n y o f Abraham i s left o p e n a s t h e l o v e o f G o d w o r k s in h i m . Hi s i n t u i t i o n o f G o d ' s w i l l i s that Is a a c s h o u l d n o t b e s ac r i fi c e d , and the q u e s t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s at o n c e r a i s e d t o a d i ffe r e n t p la n e ; r a i s e d with it is the question of sin. T h e re i s s t ill a great d e a l o f l e g a l i s m i n t h e Old T e s t a ­ m e n t i d e a o f s i n . T h e e m p h a s i s in the S e r m o n o n t h e Mount i s very diffe r e n t f r o m t h a t in the c om m a n d m e n t s t h a t M o s e s b r o u g h t down fro m S i n a i . The c om m a n d ­ m e n t s h a v e b e e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o b e a t i t u d e s . "B le s s e d a r e the m e e k , f o r t h e y s h a l l inherit t h e eart h , " i s n o t a

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s e n t e n c e one c ou l d read in t h e O l d T e s t ament w i t hou t a j o l t , b u t b y the time we r e a c h it i n the N e w Te s t ament , we h a v e b e e n p r e p ar e d for it. I t i s s e t in t h e c on t e x t o f the r e s t o f Chr i s t's l ife a n d te a c h i n g . W i t h o u t t h a t example t h e s entence c arries little c on v i c t i o n , for there i s n o e v i ­ d e n c e that the mee k d o o r e v e r w i l l i n h e r i t t h e e a r t h . W e h a v e b e e n t u r n e d a w a y f r o m a c on c e r n m e r e l y w i t h our o u t w a rd a c t s , t o c on t e m p l a t e w h a t l i e s m o s t d e e p in o u r i n n e r m o s t s e l v e s , hidden f r o m a l l b ut o u r s e l v e s a n d Go d ; t h e c o rruption t h a t i s w r o u gh t t h e r e b y o u r s inning; t h e d i s a b l ing o f o u r w h o l e n a t u r e s s o t h a t w e d im i n i s h e v e n our freedom as h u m a n b e ings ; a n d t h e s u p p r e s s i o n i n u s - e v e n t h e u n b el iev ers a m o n g us-of a l l t h a t w e m a y r e a s o n a b l y c a l l d ivine . T h i s i s a t r e m e n d o u s e x p a n s i o n of o u r i d e a of human p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d w h e n w e turn t o the g r e a t doctors o f the early church, w e h a l t a t words that are h ar d l y t o b e found e l s e w h e r e . " P e n i t e n c e i s t h e mourning o f man for the sin that h e h as d o n e , " s a y s St. Ambro s e , "and the resolve to do n o more anything for w h i c h h e ought t o m o u rn . " I t is we that s orrow at o u r own s i nning and, i f w e truly are repentant, our c ontrition " s h a l l b e heavy and grie v o u s , " s a y s S t . B e rn ard , " sh a r p and p o i g n a n t i n the heart . " W e d o n o t s o r r o w a t the p u n i shment o f God or m e n , b u t in ourselves that w e h av e s inned . A s St. A u g u s t ine s ai d , in the w o r d s placed at t h e h e a d of t h e s e e s s ay s , Pecca t u m poena pecca t i , " s i n i s t h e p u n i s hment o f s i n . " There i s n o o t h e r form u l a t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m o f h u m a n g o o d and e v i l that s o drive s u s b a c k t o o u r i n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s ib i l i t y for our c h o i c e s a n d to so v i t a l a n affi r m a t i o n o f our fre e d o m a s moral b e i n g s . The c l a s s ific a t i o n o f t h e S e v e n D e a d l y S ins h a d i t s origins in t h e m o n a s t i c m o v e me n t . " T h e l i s t w a s firs t framed i n the c lo i s te r s o f t h e E a s tern Chu r c h , " and i n the E a s t i t w a s and it "has a l w a y s remained e s s en t i a l l y a l i s t o f the v i c e s b e s e t t ing t h e m o n a s t i c l i fe . " E v e n i f t h a t were all, we c o u l d n o t s h r u g them off. P e r h ap s one o f t h e most

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SEVEN DEADLY S I N S TODAY

unexpected fac t s a b o u t the p i o n e e r s o f t h e m o n a s t i c m o v e m e n t s i s the w a y i n w h i c h m a n y o f t h e m " p l u m b e d the d e p t h s o f the h u m a n h e a r t i n a w a y r arely e q u a l e d s i n c e . " B u t perhaps we s h ou l d expect it . I f one i s c o n ­ c e r n e d t o e sc ap e the t e m p t a t i o n s o f the w orld , in o r d e r t o devote one's life e x c l u sively t o t h e s ervi c e a n d worship of God , one i s like ly t o b e acutely a w a re o f w h a t t h o s e temp­ t a t i o n s are and o f our h u m a n frailty i n face of them. M o n k s and n u n s h ave a c o n siderable a m o u n t of t i m e i n w h i c h t o c on t e m p l a t e the w a y s o f the world o n w h i c h t h e y h a v e t u r n e d t h e i r b a c k s , a s w e l l a s t h e longings a n d t e m p t a t i o n s by which their fle s h a n d s p irit are s t i l l e n ­ c u mbered in t h e c l o i s t e r and the c e l l . One may s ay i n p a s s ing th at f e w t h i n g s are more characteristic of our t i m e s than t h at the c h o i c e of m o n a s t i c life i s regarded a s evidence o f s om e k i n d of p s y ­ c h o l ogic al d i s order in t h o s e w h o t a k e i t s v o w s . W e all have t o choose w h a t p a r t s o f o u r s e l ve s w e w i l l develop­ we cannot be everything that w e m a y be c a p able of being- b u t if s om e p e o p l e c h o o s e t o s et aside their sex­ uality we think they are p e c u l i a r . Ev ery popular movie about a n u n ' s life m a k e s it s e e m as if t h e n o v i c e who d e c i d e s t o leave the convent i s healthy- m i n d e d , whereas the sisters whom s h e leaves behind are o b v i o u s ly women who have shriveled the most i mpor t a nt p a rt of their beings . Y e t there i s ample evidenc e , from their literature o v e r the c e n t u ri e s , that those w h o have chosen the monastic l ife , m e n and women, are at least as fully developed a s human beings, and s u ffe r from as few or a s many d i s orde r s , a s t h o s e who have rem ained o u t s i d e in the worl d . O u r u n w i l l ingne s s and i n a b i l i t y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m o n a s t i c l ife e x t e n d s even t o the o u t s ide w o r l d . W e h a v e r e a c h e d the s t a g e of regarding a v i r g i n a s not q uite healthy. S h e i s c e r t ainly thought t o b e p e culiar. Even s o m e o f the prop a g a n d a o f W o men's Liberation has, i n its m i s s io n ary emphasis on what i t t h i n k s of a s s e x u a l

THE FACT O F S I N

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liberation, h ardly b e e n c a re fu l o f p r e s erving the reality of s e x u a l c h o i c e , which m u s t include the right to c h o o s e n o t t o d e v e l o p o n e ' s s e x u a l i t y , n o l e s s i f o n e i s a man t h a n if one i s a w oman. Why s hould men or w o m e n n o t decide , whether in a m o n a s tery o r c o n v e n t o r n o t , t h a t s e x u a l ac ­ tivity is n o t the e x p r e s s i o n o f their p e r s o n al it i e s i n which they are most intere s t e d , o r the pursuit to w h i c h they are most inclined t o d e v o t e their l i v e s ? The flying nun may s o o n b e thought t o be one w h o p erforms the s ex u a l a c t on a trapeze , and t h e v a s t c o n t ribution o f t h e monastic movement t o our civilization be neglec t e d. It w a s the a s c e tic , J ohn Cas sian o f M ar s e i l le s , who in­ troduced the rules o f E a stern monasticism t o the W e s t , and w i t h t h e m t h e n o t i o n o f the (eig h t ) d eadly s ins. I t w a s n o t t h e l i s t as w e k n o w i t t o d a y , b u t it w as l a t e r modified by Gregory the Gre at , a n d it i s Gregory's list that h a s prevailed. B u t the i d e a o w e s m o r e t o t h e g r e a t p o p e t h a n that. H e s o defined the s i n s t h a t they were " a b l e t o s erve a s a c l a s s ific a t i o n o f the n o rmal perils o f t h e s oul i n the ordinary c onditions o f life , " and n o t merely as a l i s t of the temptations that t h o s e i n t h e m o n a s t ic life must resist. In the Middle A g e s the p e ri l s o f the s i n s were preached in­ tens ively , and in England at t h e e n d o f t h e fourteenth century, Archb i s h o p P ec k h am ordered e v e r y priest who had t h e cure of souls t o expound " t h e Seven D e adly Sins and their branche s " four time s a y e a r " i n the vulgar tongue without any fan t a s t i c a l imagination or any manner [of] subtlety o r curio s ity." We are fortunate t o have s u c h a n e x p o s it i o n , eloquent­ ly rendered and yet "without fantas t i c a l imaginati o n , " in the " P ars on's T ale" in the Can t erbury Tales o f Chaucer. Unlike s ome other repre s en t atives of t h e church in h i s t a le s , t h e P ar s o n w a s a good a n d humble man, a n d Chaucer le t s him g i v e a s t raightforward s ermon t h a t i s s t i l l c ompelling from s t art t o fin i s h. It s brilliance l i e s in the way in which the d e adly s i n s are rel a t e d t o our day­ to-day life. If it i s the great n e s s o f D an t e t h a t h e lays b are

12

S E V E N DEADLY S I N S T O D A Y

o u r s o u l s in h i s e x p o s it i o n o f t h e s in s , i t i s n o l e s s t h e g reatnes s o f Ch a u c e r t h a t h e l a y s b a r e o u r c o n d u c t . W r i t t e n a b o u t e i g h t c e n t u r i e s a ft e r Gregory t h e Gre a t , t h e " P ars on's T al e " i s f a r from b e ing a m o na s t ic r u l e . W e a r e a s k e d t o c o n s i d e r t h e extravagance of o u r c l o t h i n g , t h e greedine s s o f l a n d l o rd s , t h e richne s s o f o u r f o o d , t h e d e c e i t o f merchan t s , t h e r a i s i n g o f o u r c hi l d r e n , t h e b a c k biting o f g o s s i p s , and m u c h m o r e i n t h e s ame v e i n ­ all o f them examples from our ordinary behavior, no less r e l e v a n t n o w t h a n s ix h u n d r e d y e ar s ag o . T h e v i t al i t y o f t h e sermon lie s i n t h e fac t t h a t it i s as forceful a demo nstration a s o n e c o u l d a s k o f t h e light t h a t i s thrown o n o u r c on d u c t b y t h e concept o f t h e S e v e n D e ad l y S i n s . We m i g h t b e l i s t e n i n g w i t h t h e pilgrim s , b u t s t i l l w e c a n fin d ours e l v e s in h i s w o r d s . Chaucer p u t s t h e s i n s i n t h e s a m e o r d e r a s Gregory-t o t h a t w e w i l l c om e - b u t there i s s omething a t l e a s t a s im­ p o r t a n t as the o r d e r . The S e v e n D e a d l y S i n s are " al l l e a s he d toge ther , " s ay s t h e P a r s o n; t h e y are " t h e t r u n k o f t h e t r e e from w h i c h o t h e r s branch." T h i s i s t h e a n s w e r t o those who ask, "Why these seven?" and not others of w h i c h they are a c u t e l y aware. F o r o f c o u r s e t h e o t h e r s are include d , t h e " b r a n c h e s " o f the s e v e n , and t h e m o r e o n e explores the t r a d i t i o n a l c l a s s ific a t i o n , t h e more one fin d s that, n o t only i s n o o t h e r c l a s s ific a t i o n needed, b u t t h a t n o n e o t h e r w i l l s u ffic e a s w e l l . I t i s t h e i n t e r l o c k i n g t h a t matte r s , t h e fac t t h a t t h e deadly s i n s are all l e a s h e d together, and i t i s t h i s t h a t i s e m p h a s i z e d i n t h e traditional c l a s s ific a t i o n . There are n o t s i m p l y a l l t h e i n ­ dividual s i n s w e c an c o u n t , o f w h i c h w e are g u i l t y i n one degree o r a n o t h e r , there are these seven c a p i t al s i n s that lie deeply rooted i n o u r n a t u r e s . F ac e d b y t h e d e s c r i p ­ t i o n s o f t h e m , w e k n o w t h a t we e l u d e none . I t b e c o m e s l e s s e a s y f o r u s t o c laim t h a t , l i k e t h e c u r a t e ' s egg, we a r e g o o d i n p a r t s , g u i l t y p e r h a p s o f S i n O ne , t o s ome e x t e n t o f S i n F o u r and S i n S i x , and o f c o u r s e S i n S e v e n , b u t i n ­ n o c e n t o f t h e re s t and s o , o n b a l a n c e , n ot all t h a t b a d a

T H E FACT OF SIN

13

p e r s o n after all. T h e c unning o f t h i s k i n d of s elf­ a b solution i s o b v io u s , and what w e are for c e d t o do, by t h e idea o f the S e v e n D e adly Sin s , i s t r y to avoid t h i s shallowne s s and i n s t e a d t o t ak e r e s p o n s ibility f o r o u r whole n a t u r e s and s e e k t o k n o w them i n a l l their in­ t ri c a t e n e s s . C r u e l t y , f o r e x am p l e , i s a s in. But i f w e think o f it o n l y a s a s i n on i t s o w n , it i s comparatively e a s y for u s t o s a y that we a r e n o t o f t e n crue l . N o t m a n y of u s a r e torturer s , c o n s c i o u s l y a n d deliberately cruel t o o ther s , in temper o r in p r a c t ic e . B u t i f w e realize t h a t e a c h o f t h e S ev e n D e a d ­ ly S i n s c an c au s e u s t o b e c r u e l , w e at o n c e r e cognize that w e are p r o b a b l y cruel more often t h a n w e t h i n k . W e may admit t o being avaricious o r l u s t ful- s u c h admi s s i o n s are e a s y e n ough t o m a k e f r o m time t o t i m e - b u t h o w o f t e n d o w e s t op t o t h i n k t h a t our Av arice o r Lus t - like all t h e re s t o f the c ap i t a l sins-is likely to c a u s e u s t o b e cruel? W h e n w e l o o k a t it i n t h i s w a y , cruelty c e a s e s t o b e an i n d i v i d u a l act , w h i c h may b e e x p l a i n e d if n o t e x c u s e d b y the c i rc u ms t an c e s ; it b e c ome s a d e e p i n c l i n a t i o n in u s , s o m e thing o f which w e are c ap a b l e in m a n y w ay s , t h a t h a s i t s origi n s in t h e s e s trong imp u ls e s of o u r natures . I t i s being sugge s t e d on all s i d e s t o d a y t h a t , in a rather s imple-minded way, w e may j u s t l o v e each o t he r as w e are , without much b eing expected o n e it h e r s i d e . But t h e truth i s that there i s a gre at deal o f e m o t i o n al " ri p p i ng off"-lice n s e d cruelty-in t h e s e e a s y -going relation­ ships t h a t i s ign o re d . S omeone i s still l i k e l y to get hurt in them, howe ver lit tle may seem to h a v e b e e n a s k e d , b e c a u s e it i s d ifficu l t t o prevent s ome h u m a n fee l i ng from being arou s ed and so l a i d open to b r u i s ing and p a i n . P e o ­ ple who e x p e c t and a s k l i t t l e of o t h e r s w i l l us ually b e fou n d t o e x p e c t and a s k l i t t l e of t h e m s e lve s . T h e y will expect t o have to give little, if to give anything at all . They will in p a r t i c u lar not expect t o have t o correct any o f t h e P ri d e , or E n v y , o r Ange r , or Av aric e , o r G l u t t o n y , o r S l o t h , or Lu s t , w i t h w h i c h t h e y a r e b o u n d s ometimes

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t o h u rt the o t h e r p e r s o n . The e xc u s e s have b e e n b u i l t i n t o o e as i l y : " I e x p e c t l i t t l e of y o u , you e x p e c t l i t t l e of me; I promise y o u n o t h i n g , you promi s e me n o t h i n g ; s o neither o f u s can h u r t the o t h e r , o r a c c u s e the o t h er o f hurting . " B u t i f o n e gaze s on s u c h a relation s h i p a s i t crumble s , a s cru mble it w i l l , o n e u s u ally s e e s t h a t s omeone h a s been hurt , although h e o r s h e may fliply dismiss the p a i n t o h i d e t h e w e a l acros s t h e fac e , a s i f t h e s t r i c k e n heart may n o t cry its s u ffer i n g alou d . I f we d o n o t t a k e s er i o u s l y o u r c a p a c i t y for e v i l , w e are u n a b le t o t ak e s er i o u s l y o u r c ap a c i t y for g o o d . B o t h b e c ome l i t t l e m o r e than c o i ncidence s , t h e r e s u l t of our genes and our p s ychology and our env ironment , for which o u r re s p o n s ib il i t y i s unclear. J u s t a s w e c a n b e l i t ­ t l e b lamed for t h e e v i l we d o , s o we are a s l i t t l e entitled t o t a k e c re d i t f o r t h e g o o d . T h e c o n c e p t of t h e S even D e adly Sins h a s a t least this t o b e s aid fo r i t : t h a t i t does not allow u s t o c ompartmentalize o u r live s , any more t h an it l e t s u s imagine that we c an s i n i n c om p artme n t s . It p r e s e n t s u s each w i t h t h e u l t imate b eing t h at i s wholly ourselve s , beyond the influence of o u r genes and o u r p s y ­ c h o l ogy a n d o u r environme n t , f o r w h i c h ultimately and inescapably w e are alone r e s p o n s i b le . There is s omething enlivening in t hi s , which rem i nd s u s t h a t our live s , t o a degree that c o u n t s , are a l w a y s o u r s t o make; that we may s t ill choose t o b e more w h o l e ; t h at there is more and b e t te r i n us, o n which we c a n c al l , than w e have s o far chosen t o become. The understanding that w e s i n i s a summons t o l ife . I t is charac t e r i s t i c of our age t h a t p e o p le w ant t o have God b u t d o n o t w a n t t o have the D e v i l . P e op le are i n v e n ­ ting g o d s for themselve s , w i t h w h a t I have e l s ewhere called their D o - I t -Y o u r s e l f God K it s . But they are gods w h o d o not demand much of them, and t h e y certainly are n o t gods w h o p u n i s h , although they are allowed t o r e w a r d . O n the c ontrary, t h e i r g o d s ab s olve t h e m from

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c o nflict and d o u b t , m a s s age them, p a t them o n the h e a d , a n d , r a t h e r l ike their p a r e nt s , t e l l them t o r u n along, get s t on e d i f they w i l l , p i c k m a rigold s , a n d l o v e . S o e a s y it i s t o l ove! B u t a b o v e all t h e y a r e go d s w h o w i l l not trouble them with the fac t o f e v i l . The problems o f e v i l , s u ffering , and d e ath a r e n o t c o n fr o n t e d , b u t e v a d e d a n d d i s m i s s e d . T h e recipe s a r e t o o e a s y . Twenty m i n u t e s o f transcen­ d e n t a l meditat i o n , o r o f mindl e s s ly ch ant ing the name o f g o d , o r o f s imply s t anding on o n e ' s he a d , a n d the t h i ng i s d o n e : One i s again m a d e whol e , at p e a c e w i t h t h e worl d , w i t h one's fe llow s , a n d o f c o u r s e w i t h o n e s e lf . Universal h armony h a s never b e e n offered s o c h e aply before. U nfort u n a t e l y , the D e v i l i s cleverer t h an any guru . G o d may move in a mysterious w a y His w on d e r s t o per­ form, b u t the D e v i l m o v e s in inge n i o u s o n e s t o ac­ c omplish h i s victorie s . He i s rather l i k e a h o t e l b u rglar, who goe s d own the c o rrido r t rying a l l the d o o r s , until he finds one that is u n l o c k e d . " Re s i s t the Devil," s ay s the N e w Testame n t , " a n d h e will flee you." P e r h a p s he will. But h e i s n o t e a s ily l o c k e d out; he h a s t o o many p a s s k e y s . "The Devil i s a gentleman , " s a i d S h e l l e y , which is in­ t e re s t ing as a comment on gentlemen b u t n o less in­ t e r e s t ing a b o u t the D e v i l , because he ofte n h a s the most civil manners and c omes with imp e c c ab le l e t t e r s of in­ t r o d u c t i o n . He w a s h i m s e l f, aft e r a l l , rather well-born, and, like t h e y ou nger s o n o f a good family who h a s fallen on b ad time s , he i s very a d e p t a t i n s i n u a ting him s e l f int o t h e b e s t of c om p a n y . H i s u s u al accent in literature, a s in Th e Scre w t a pe Let ters , i s one o f e x c e p t i o n a l civility; S c re w t ape in fac t w r i t e s very much like a don at M agd alen. "The D e v i l's clevere s t wile i s t o c o nvince us that h e d o e s n o t ex i s t , " s ai d B audelaire. This i s not a s difficult for him as one might s u p p o s e , s in c e he is inside us alre ady, and we do not c are to look for him there . Jame s Hogg wrote a long u n k n o w n , a n d s ti l l little k n o w n , n o v e l in the eighteenth c e n t u r y , The Con fe s s i on s of a Jus tified

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Sinner, in which the hero ( i f he may b e c alled t h a t ) en­ counters a s tranger o n e d a y , who e ngage s him in conver­ s a t i o n and then b e c ame his fas t fr ie n d . Thi s fri end materialize s from nowhere, as when the t w o first m e t , and d i s ap p e ar s a s p r o m p t l y and my s t e r i ou s l y . H e l e a d s the hero f r o m corruption t o c o rrup t i o n , u n t i l the f i n a l e v i l - d o i n g a n d c a t a s t r o p h e , a l w a y s w i t h the j us t i fic a t i o n s t o hand that i n the end m a k e " t h e j u s t ified s inner" of the t i t l e . He is o f course the D ev i l , e n c ountered not outside the h e r o , b u t i n s i d e him, m a t e r i al i z ing when i t i s opportune , w h e n t h e re s i s t an c e t o temptation i s w e a k e s t . T h e s t ory i s f u l l of illumin ation s , of which p e rhaps t h e m o s t p l e a s i ng and i n s t ru c t i v e i s the c i v i l i t y with which the D e v i l a d d re s s e s the h e r o , as if gentleman w a s indeed s p e aking t o gentleman. His addr e s s i s irrepro achab l e . W e c an rec ognize e v i l i n o t h e r s , b u t if w e w i s h t o l o o k o n the f a c e o f s i n , w e w i l l s e e i t m o s t cle arly in o u r s e l ve s . I t cannot always b e rec ognized o r meas ured b y i t s v i s ib l e c o n s e q u e nc e s . The f a c e o f D o r i an Gray d i d n o t c h a nge where it c ou l d b e s e e n ; it c hanged only i n the portrait in the attic o f which only h e knew. He could n o t hide h i s sin from himself. Sin i s o u r s e c re t from others. Only we know wher e , and h o w d eeply, i t h a s taken root i n u s . Alt h ough i t i s a u n iv e r s a l presence i n the w o r l d , alth ough we know that other s s i n as well as o ur s e l v e s , every d i s ­ c u s s i on o f i t m u s t p r o c e e d outward from ourselve s . We l e arn more about t h e nature of s i n from St. Augus t i n e i n h i s Con fe s s i on s than i n all t h e v olume s of The Cit y of God. T h e e s s ay s that f o l l o w are n o t confe s s i o n s , although there a r e pres umably s o m e trace s , n o t a l l o f w h i c h one h o p e s a r e hypocritical, o f o n e's o w n a c q u a i n ­ t a n c e with s i n . T h e y are written f r o m t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t , a s individ u a l s and s o c i e t i e s , we a r e trifling w i t h the fac t that s i n exi s t s , and that i t s p o we r t o d e s troy i s a s great a s e v e r; from the b e l i e f that m u c h o f the feck le s s n e s s a n d triviality, d e j e c t i o n a n d fainthearte d ne s s , w a s t ing and

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c o rrup t i o n , which we n o w feel around us , i n our p e r s o n a l l i v e s but a l s o in our common l i v e s , h a v e their source ex­ actly where we d o n o t choose to l o o k. " I f we s a y we h a v e n o s i n , " s aid S t . J ohn the Ev ange l i s t , " w e d e c e i v e our s e l v e s , and t h e t r u t h i s n o t i n u s . " I f w e d o not a c k n o wledge i t s p r e s ence i n u s , w e a b a n don such r e s i s t ance as w e m ight o ffer , even b e fore the s truggle h a s begun. We le ave o u r d o o r unlock e d t o the b urgl a r . "An idle man i s like a h o u s e that has no w a ll s ," s ay s the P ar ­ s o n i n h i s d i s q u i s ition o n S l o t h ; " the devils m a y e n t e r o n e v e ry s i d e a n d s h o o t a t him, h e b e i n g thus unprot e c t e d , and tempt him on every s i d e . " This may b e the particular e v i l of S loth-as our mothers u s e d t o admon i s h us, Satan fin d s mi schief for idle h a n d s t o d o - b u t i t i s a l s o more generally a d ange r . All t o o e a s i l y , i f w e d o not under­ stand the e x i s t e n c e o f sin i n us, and n o t just our capacity for s o metimes d oing s i n fu l things , we leave ourselves a s h o u s e s without w a l l s . W e need t o a c k n o w l e dge t h a t t h e inclination t o s i n i s at the r o o t of our n ature s . I f s i n s e e m s t o u s a s t rong a n d o m i n o u s w o rd, a s K ar l M e n ninger puts i t , it i s w o r t h realizing t h a t , without t h e n o t i o n of i t , our s it u a t i o n c a n s e e m e v e n m o re omi n o u s . I f w e d o n o t acknowledge that t h e inclination to s i n i s p art o f our nature s , then why h a s all our t i n kering w i t h ourselves and our s o c i e t i e s over t h e centuri e s , a l l o u r s o c iologi e s a n d p s ychologie s and p sy c hoan a l y s e s , refo rms and experiments and therapie s , not made o u r l i v e s more v i r t u o u s and m o r e h a p p y than t h e y are? W h y d o w e h ave the fe e l i ng t o d ay that w e m a y even b e s l i p ­ p i ng b a c k ? I f t h e v a s t accumu l a t i o n of o u r k n o w l e dge and sheer inge n u i t y , our intelligen c e and e n e rgy , have achieved so little i n the past, why d o w e imagine that they c an achieve any m o re i n the future? W h y i s it worth continuing the h u m an endeavor, if w e h ave no inclina­ tion to s i n in u s , a n d yet are un able to m a k e our l iv e s good and h appy? What s ituation c o u l d be more omi n o u s ? T h e r e have o f c ou r s e b e e n m a n y m i n d s in the modern age ,

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once certain of t h e p o w e r of h u m a n k n o w ledge t o eradicate or at l e a s t l e s sen o u r c a p a c ity for e v i l - d o i n g , that have e n d e d only i n d i s i l l u s i o n and d e s p a i r . M i n d a t t h e End of Its Tet h e r w a s the l a s t d e s o l a t e cry o f H . G . W e l l s , a n d he s p o k e i n t u r n f o r b o t h m o o d s o f our century-a t oo-facile h o p e on t h e o n e hand a n d , i n reac ­ t i o n t o i t , a t o o -facile d e s p a i r o n t h e o t h e r - u n t i l i t s o metimes s e e m s t h a t w e h a v e n o g r o u n d b e t w e e n t h a t i s n o t s hifting a n d t r e a c herou s . B u t i f w e ackn owledge t h a t o u r inclinat i o n t o s i n i s part o f our n a t u re s , and t h a t w e w i l l never wholly eradicate it, there i s a t l e a s t something for u s t o d o i n our live s that will not in t he end seem j us t fu t i l e and a b s u r d , n o t h i n g but a w i llfu l g e s t ure again s t t h e odd s . We c a n try t o make sense of evil and , in making s e n s e o f it , m ak e s e n s e o f our lives, o f w h a t we a t t e m p t in t h e m . W e will not d r a w u p prep o s t e r o u s s c h e m e s to m a k e u s all at once innocen t , only t o fi n d t h a t the fl owery meadows of the earthly p a r a d i s e d o n o t s p ring u p around u s ; neither will w e pretend that o u r e v i l i s t h e resu l t of s o m e mal adj u s t ­ m e n t i n o u r p s y c h o l o g i e s o r o u r s oc i et i e s , o n l y t o find that when the next adj u s t m e n t has b e e n m a d e w e r e m a i n a s e v i l as before. W e w i l l r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e i n c l i n a t i o n t o e v i l i s in our n a t u re s , t h a t i t s e x i s t e n c e in u s p r e s e n t s u s w i t h moral c h o i c e s , a n d t h a t it is in m a k i n g t h o s e c h o i c e s that we form our c h aract ers . We may b e g i v e n o u r n a t u re s , b u t w e m a k e our c h a r a c t e r s ; and if it i s i n our n a t u r e s t o d o e v i l , it c a n and ought t o b e in our characters t o r e s i s t i t . When w e s a y that s o m e o ne i s a "good m an" or " g o od w om a n , " w e d o not m e an that t h ey are people from whom the inclinat i o n to evil is a b s en t , but that they are p e o p le who have w r e s t le d and s t i ll w r e s t l e with it. We s ay that they are p e o p l e o f c h aract er , and right l y s o, b e c a u s e they h a v e formed their c h a r a c t e r s in t h e w r e s t l ­ ing. W e c a n e ngage i n t h e c o m bat. We c an n o t c ou n t t h e v i c ­ t o r ie s . They a r e few , a n yh o w , and fragi le . W h a t i s m o r e ,

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t h e re are e v i l w a y s t o r e s i s t e v i l , a s when we s u c c u m b t o s e l f-righ t e o u s n e s s , a n d t h e y a r e n o t t h e e a s i e s t o f tempters t o resist. What counts is the quality of our e n d e a v o rs . W e c an k n o w o u r i n c l i n a t i o n t o d o e v i l , b e alert t o t h e s u b t l e t y o f i t s s t r at ag e m s , a n d c on t e n d w i t h i t in t h e right w a y s . S o we form from o u r n at u r e s , which are largely t h e c o m m o n c on d i t i o n o f our h u m a n i t y , the in­ dividual c h a r a c t e r that is o u r own u n iq u e c r e a t i o n , m a k ­ ing o f t h a t c h a r a c t e r , f o r w e c an h ardly h op e t o d o more o r a t t e m p t t o d o le s s , s o me thing t h a t i s m o r e p l e a s ing t o o t h e r s , and m ore rewarding t o o u r s elve s , t h an o t h e rw is e i t might h ave been. I f t h i s i s n o t m e a n i n g e n o ug h for a h u m a n l i fe , i f t h i s e n d e a v o r i s t o b e writt e n o ff a s an a b ­ s u r d g e s t u r e t h a t w e m a k e b e t w e e n t h e cradle and the g r a v e , then o n e wonders w h a t c a n e v e r b e m e a n t b y b e i n g h u m a n . To c on t e n d i n t r i c a t e l y w i t h t h e e v i l t h a t l i e s i n ­ t r i c a t e l y in u s , t o d o s o i n t h e r i g h t w ay s , a n d s o e a c h t o m a k e s o me t h ing o f i n d i v i d u a l worth o f t h e ch aracters t h a t we form- this i s e nough fo r a t o m b s t o n e , e v e n if n o t f o r b e y o n d i t , and it i s a l s o what h a s b r i g h t e n e d , often e n o ugh for it t o c o u n t , t h e long c ar a v a n o f mankind a c ro s s the c e n t urie s . W e c an n o t afford t o s light t h e n o ­ t i o n that our r e s i s t e n c e t o o u r o w n e v i l , a n d t h e q u a l i t y o f our re s i s t a n c e , a r e t h e m s e lv e s a p u r p o s e t h at m a k e s our l i v e s more than absurd, and t h a t keeps u s in t ouch w i t h the divine . I f we acknowledge t h e e x i s t en c e of s in a t a l l , we m u s t a c k nowledge t h a t t h e r e i s original s in . B u t t h e i d e a o f o r i g i n a l s i n , when i t i s p o pu l a ri z e d , and n o t l e a s t when i t i s s e c u l arize d , i s s o a b u s e d t h a t we n e e d t o b e c l e a r a b o u t i t . O n e n e e d n o t f o l l o w all o f S t . A u g u s t i n e ' s i n t e r ­ p re t a t i o n s o f the F a l l in order t o recogn ize how s earching i s his i n s i s t e n c e t h a t o u r " fi r s t parents" were already w i c k e d i n t h e m s e l v e s b efore t h e y s u c c u m b e d t o t h e ac­ tual t e m p t at i o n , otherwise " t h e Dev i l w o u l d n o t h a v e begun b y an o p e n and o b v i o u s s i n t o t e m p t m a n i n t o d o -

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ing something w h i c h G o d had forbi d d e n . " M a n had already b e g u n t o s e e k s at i s fa c t i o n in h i m s e lf a n d , c o n s e ­ q u e n t l y , t o t ak e p l e a s ure i n t h e words of t h e s erpent: " Y e s h a l l be a s g od s . " W e h a ve s a i d s om e t hing of t h e same in s e c u l a r t e r m s : t h a t t h e evil t h a t we d o , and t h e conse­ quences o f i t which w e c an s e e , are n o t i n t h e m s e l v e s our s i n , b u t h a v e b e e n preceded b y it. If i t helps t o make the point, we m a y e v e n make a v e rb a l d i s t i n c t ion: b e t w e e n o u r s in and our s inning. W e m a y s a y t h at o u r sin i s t h a t w e a r e in t h e frame o f m i n d t o l i s t e n t o t h e Dev i l , b e fore we d o what h e asks o f us, while o u r s inning i s t h a t , h a v ­ ing listened t o h i m , w e d o not then r e s i s t and s o d o w h a t he h a s ask e d . The n o t ion t h a t e v e r y infant i s born s inful i s t o o s imple- a s t a tement o f flam b o yant rhet oric t h a t t e l l s u s lit t l e - and i t s s impleness b r i n g s i t t o o c l o s e t o w h a t i s m o s t rep e llent i n the A ugu s t i n i an n o t i o n o f "original guilt . " A s St. Augustine s aid i n a famou s p a s s age , " W e are all i n t h a t one man [ A d am), s i n c a we all were t h a t o n e man who fe ll into s i n " ; o u r p r o p a g a t i o n i s therefore " vi t i ated b y s i n , " and we are " b o und by the chain of d e a t h , and j u s tly condemned . " The s h e e r i n j u s t ice o f t h i s - t h a t original s i n s h o u l d i m p l y o u r p e r s o n a l g u i l t b e fore G o d a n d make u s j us t l y d a m n e d b y H i m , e v e n b e fo re we h ave committed a n y a c t of our o w n - i s irreconc i l a b l e w i t h any n o t i o n of G o d ' s l o v e , and i s the k i n d of p e r v e r s i t y t h a t g i v e s S t . A ug u s t ine a b a d name . The i d e a o f original s i n i s an a t t e m p t t o a c c o u n t for the universal presence o f s i n i n the w orld , i n all human b e ings in every age in every culture. The result of t h e Fall w a s a l os s of s an c tifying g r a c e , and t h e likelihood of our s i nning. W e are e s t ranged from God. W e are u n a b l e t o know H i s w i l l perfe c t l y , a n d s u c h o f i t a s we c a n a p ­ prehend we c a n n o t c arry o u t c o mp l e t e l y . I t i s a tendency t o sinfuln e s s t h a t i s inherent i n m a n , and these words­ " inclination" and "tendency"- are c r u c i al . They help to demys t i fy the idea of s i n , when i t s s ec ularizers s e e m b e n t

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o n m y s tifying i t . E v e n if we d o n o t s h are t h e b e l i e f t h a t b a p t i s m r e m i t s origi n al s i n , we c a n neverthele s s u n d e r ­ s t and t h a t , alth ough i t l e a v e s u s s t i l l s u b j e c t t o h u m an d i s ab i l i t i e s , moral and p h y s i c a l , o u r fre e w il l remain s . W e m a y s t i l l c h o o s e a right e o u s c o u r s e or a s inful o n e , t o a degree t h a t c o u n t s a n d i n fact mak e s o u r l i v e s h u m a n . We s i n nece s s arily b u t w i l l i n g l y , s a y s S t . A u g us t i n e , i n o n e o f t h o s e s tern and s e arching ap othegms t h a t reach acros s t h e centurie s . "No o n e sins b e c a u s e G o d fore s aw he would s i n . No one s i n s u n l e s s i t i s h i s c h o ic e to sin; and his choice n o t t o sin, t h a t also God fore s a w . " H i s foreknowledge l e a v e s u s s t i l l free and t h erefore moral agent s , and although t h e i d e a o f original sin has b e e n u s e d t o j u s t i fy t h e v a r i o u s concep t s of prede s t i n a t i o n , C a t h olic doc trine a t l e a s t h a s n e v e r f u l l y a c c e p t e d them, a n d they n e e d n o t c o n c e r n u s . Let u s t r y further t o demyst i fy t h e i d e a . W e c a n n o t a t e v e ry moment i n o u r l i ve s , a n d i n e v e r y o c c a s i o n t h a t w e e n c o u n t e r , c o n s id e r w h a t we ought t o d o ; w e have s ometimes t o a c t b y h a b i t o r o u t o f w h a t we may c al l in­ tuition. Even w h e n w e d o have t h e t i m e and inclina t i o n to c o n s ider, w e find t h a t often w e are n o t sure w h a t we ought to d o; t h e c h o ic e s are diffi c u l t , and there s e e m s to b e much t o b e s ai d o n m a n y s i d e s . B u t e v e n w h e n w e h av e d e termined w h a t w e think we o u g h t t o d o , w e often t h e n f a l l far s hort of doing it; we are l az y i n our p erform a n c e , o r w e get d i s t r ac t e d b y s o m e t h i n g e l s e , or we s imply c a n ­ n o t summon the w i l l t o c a rry s o m e t h i n g t h r o u g h . None o f t h i s exc u s e s u s from trying, b o t h t o determine w h a t w e o u g h t t o d o , w h a t i s m o r a l l y demanded o f u s , w h e t h e r b y o u r s e l v e s o r b y G o d o r b y s o m e a b s o l u t e moral s t and ard that we a c k n o wledge , and t o d o i t t o the b e s t o f our p o w e r s . We m ay not do all that is demanded-even all t h a t we know i s demanded-and w e may n o t d o e x a c t l y w h a t i s d e m a n d e d . B u t w e c an d o s omething i n re s p o n s e; and t o t h e extent t h a t w e t ry t o d o i t , and t h e n m a nage t o d o i t , we are moral a n d free agent s , able t o c h o o s e a

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( s omewhat more ) righ t e o u s and ( s o m e w h a t m o r e ) a c c e p ­ table c o u r s e , e v e n t h o u g h we will als o s t i l l nece s s arily and willingly s i n . W e m u s t n o t b e fright e n e d o f t h e i d e a of original s i n . Let u s s ay t h a t it i s in the natures o f s c h o olchildren t o b e lazy a n d d i s ob e d i en t , t h a t t o b e l azy a n d d i s obedient are " o riginal s ins" of s c h o o l children-a fact that would s e e m t o have b e e n d e m o n s t rated by e m p ir i c a l e v i d e n c e o v e r the g e n e r a t i o n s and t h a t i s c onfirmed by o n e ' s o w n memories of o n e ' s o w n s c h o o l d ay s . T h e n we w i l l e x p e c t all s c h o olchildren t o s kimp their h om e w o r k f r o m t i m e t o t i m e and t o defy w illfully t h e r e a s o n a b l e o r d e r s o f t h e i r s c h o o l t e achers . T h i s i s t h e i r " original s i n , " for w h i c h they s h ou l d b e p u n i s h e d b u t n o t severely, b e c a u s e s u c h l a p s e s are t o b e e x p e c t e d . I n a s e n s e t h e s e lap s e s are not their fau l t , and w e are n o t ascribing " or i g i n al g u i l t " to t h e m . I n fac t , w e are s u s p ic i o u s o f s c h o olchildren w h o a r e never l a z y and n e v e r d i s o b e d ie n t and think w i t h s ome j u s t i fication t h a t there i s s om e t h i ng w r o n g w i t h their n a tures . B u t i f t h e l a p s e s are m ore t h a n o c c a s i o n a l , i f the s c h oolchildren n ever d o t h e i r h o m e w o r k , a n d always d e fy t h e a u t h o ri t y o f t h e i r te achers , we a r e n o l o n g e r d e a l i n g w i t h their " original s i n " a s s c h o olchildren , but with an ind i v i d u a l s i n fulne s s t h at ought t o c arry with it an individual guilt , for which t h e y ought to be a p ­ propriate ly a n d e v e n s e v e rely p u n i s h e d . T h e r e a r e theories of c h i l d - r e a r i n g t o w h i c h s u c h a n i d e a i s a b h o rren t , b u t by m o s t s ch o o l t e a c h e r s a n d p a r e n t s and even m o s t s ch o o l c h i ldren the d i s t i n c t i o n i s under s t o od . I t i s much the s am e with the original s i n t h a t l i e s in u s . O u r l a p s e s c an n o t b e overlooked-the fact t h a t w e s i n n e c e s s arily and w i l l i ngly-but n e i t h e r c a n w e b e t o o o p ­ pre s s e d b y them . I f w e are t o o o p p re s s e d b y t h e m , i t i s t o o e asy t o dec ide t h a t there i s n o h e a l t h i n u s , t h a t t h e re i s n o p o i n t i n t rying t o d o b e t t e r , until we p a s s impercept i b l y f r o m the lap s e s , s t e p b y s t ep, t o e m b r ac ing a life o f s in, which w e have in fact j u s t ifie d . This is p artic ularly the

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s i n o f S l o t h . I n every a c c o u n t of s i n i n o u r l i t e r a t u re, t h i s s t e p - b y - s t e p progre s s i o n i s n o t e d . T h e s i n i s n o t j u s i t ified b y s ay i n g t h a t i t i s r i g h t b u t b y s aying t h a t o n e i s h e lp l e s s not t o s i n . T h e r e are i n f a c t m a n y children w h o, because t h e i r lapses were o v e r l o o k e d a n d n o cor­ rection w a s a p p l ied, h a v e t h e n b e c ome o p p re s s ed by them and d e c i d e d that t h e y w e re h e l p le s s n o t t o sin. The i d e a o f original sin t ak e s a c c o u n t o f o u r l a p s e s , and helps t o exp l ai n them, but t h e n s till asks t h a t w e s ho u l d find, as human b e ings who have our free wills, s o m e r e s p o n s e t o t h e m o r a l d e m a n d s made o n u s, w h i c h if n o t p erfe c t w i l l at l e a s t b e ade q u a t e . I t i s h ard t o s e e w h a t i s o m i n o u s in t h a t - i t c o u l d n o t b e m o re human- and i t i s a tragedy t h a t the concept h a s s o o ft e n b e e n d i s t o r t e d . A m o r a l d e m a n d m u s t b e a p o s s ib l e demand, o n e t o which i t i s p o s s ib l e for t h o s e o n w h o m i t i s m a d e t o r e s ­ p o n d adequ a t e ly, a n d w e come here t o o n e o f t h e m o s t i m ­ portant c on s ider a t i o n s t h a t w i l l r u n t h r o u g h t hes-e e s ­ s ay s , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o h i s o r h e r s o c i e ­ t y . We a re n o t born o u t o f a v a c uum, or i n t o o n e, and w e d o n o t l i v e i n a v a c u u m . O u r e n vironment and o u r s o c i e t i e s c an make i t more d i ffi c u l t f o r u s t o m e e t t h e moral dem ands t h a t are made o n u s . T h e y c a n make i t l e s s likely t h a t w e c h o o s e right a n d more l i k e l y t h a t we will d o s i n fu l t h i ng s . " A p e rfect l i fe c a n o n l y be lived i n a perfect s oc i e ty," i t h a s b e e n s aid. " T h a t is t h e diffi c u l t y of t h e S e r m o n on t h e M o u n t . " (It i s n o t its o n l y d ifffi c u l t y, o n e s h o u l d p e r h a p s add, b efore o n e fee l s t o o q u i c k ly ex­ onerated . ) O u r s e n s e o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h a t o u r i n c l i n a t i o n t o s i n i mp o s e s on u s i s s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e m u s t b e c areful n o t t o s e e k any e a s y exo n e r a t i o n i n t h e a c t u a l or s u p p o s e d c o n d i t i o n o f o u r s oc i e t ie s . But i t i s n o l e s s t r u e that, t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e y m a k e i t more d i f­ fic u l t for u s t o c h o o s e right ly, t h e y c annot b e e a si l y ex­ cus e d e i t h e r . S i n i s " w h a t e v e r I d o t h a t mars, m a u l s , i n fl a t e s,

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d e p re s s e s , d i s t o rt s , o r abandons" our h um a n i t y , and i t c a n hardly b e denied t h a t our s o c i e t ie s , a s d i s t inct from us a s indiv i d u als , are c a p a b l e o f doing all t h e s e thing s . A b o o k w a s p u b l i s h e d recently w i t h t he t it l e S i n f u l Soc i a l Struc t u res , a n d w e n e e d s o m e t i m e s t o t h i nk o f o u r s o c i e t i e s a s s inning. The t oleration o f a v o i d a b l e poverty i s sinful. It i s t h e s i n o f Avarice. The glut o f foo ds and g o o d s t h a t we c on s u m e i s sinfu l . I t i s t h e s i n o f G l u t t o n y . The e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s e x i s s i n fu l . I t i s t h e sin of L u s t . These are p a r t l y our own sinning-we are avaricious and glut t on o u s and l u s tful-but they are n o t e ntirely or only s o . A s o c i e t y i s n o t only t h e individuals w h o compose i t . I t h a s i t s o w n life , in i t s l a w s a n d i n s t i t u t io n s , c u s t o m s and v alue s , and t h r o u g h t h e m i t i s able t o i m p ose on u s . I t can i n c i t e u s t o d o w h a t we o u g h t n o t t o d o , a n d l u l l u s i n t o n o t d o i n g w h a t we o u g h t t o d o . W e m a y b e ultimately respons i b le as individuals , s i n c e we c o u l d change our societies i f we w i s h e d , b u t t h a t t h e y are c ap a b l e of sin­ ning on t h e i r own , e v e n in o u r name , w i t h out our direct participation or approval, i s b eyond a n y q u e s t io n . I f we neglect t h e p o o r , i t i s not only because e a c h of u s i s avarici ous , n o t e v e n only b e c a u s e t h o s e w h o m anage t h e economy m a y b e p a r t i c u larly avarici o u s , b u t b e c a u s e the e c o n o mi c system itself i s fou n d e d on Avarice. I f t h e sins are de adly t o u s a s individu a l s , they are no l e s s d e adly t o our societies. The fe e b l e n e s s o f our s o c i e t i e s , t h e s t e ady we akening o f all s o c i a l b o nd s , i s in part a c on s e q u ence of t h e i r own sinning . One cannot e x ­ p e c t i n d i v i d u a l s to b e a t t ached t o t h e ir s o c i e t i e s and t o a c c e p t whol ehe artedly their s o c i a l r e s p o n s ibilities , i f t h e s e s o c i e t i e s are t h e m s e l v e s perceived t o b e sinfu l . O u r s o c i e t i e s are ( in p art ) what we o b e y - c u s t o m s , l a w s , c onventions-even w h e n our o b e d i e n c e d o e s not h a v e t o b e enforc e d . M u c h of o u r obedience c an a n d should b e willing. T h e p u p i l w h o acknowledges t h e authority of h i s t e a c h e r's s c h olarship will b e o b e d i e n t t o h i s t e acher's authority in o t h e r r e s p e c t s , b e l i e v i n g t h a t it w i l l b e for

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h i s o w n g o o d , e v e n i f h e c an n o t s e e t h e p o i n t o f s o m e e x ­ e r c i s e t h a t t h e t e ac h e r h a s i m p o s e d . H e m a y a l s o s imply b e lieve that his teacher d e s e rv e s t o b e r e s p e c t e d . I f a s o c i e t y i s t o h o l d t o g e t h e r for l o n g , i t s m e m b e r s m u s t have a similar respect for its authority , and s o obey it willingly a n d n o t merely u n d e r t h e t h r e a t o f p u n i s h m e n t . B u t i f a s oc i e t y i s generally b e l i e v e d t o b e a n d t o d o e v i l , i t c a n n o t h o p e t o k i ndle s u c h allegi ance , a n d i t s p o p u l a t i o n will c e a s e t o b e a c i t izenry. The re l a t i o n s h ip o f t h e individual t o h i s society has seldom been l e s s h ar m on i o u s t h a n n o w . The individual s h o u l d find an inner personal s a t i sfac t io n i n t h e perfor­ mance of h i s s oc i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . But h e h ardly finds i t t o d a y . E q u a l l y t h e s o c i e t y s h o u l d b e a b l e t o draw c o n ­ fid e n t l y on the s p ir i t e d p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f a l l i t s m e m b e r s i n i t s multifari o u s e n d e a v o r s . B u t it can h ardly d o s o n o w . The i n d i v i d u a l u s e s h i s s o c i e t y , and s o c i e t y u s e s the i n ­ dividual: T h a t i s t od a y the breadth a n d d e p t h o f the r e l a t i o n s h i p . I t i s a m u t u a l b a rg a i n , not a j oi n t e n t e r p r i s e ; and even i n the b argain, t h e re i s l i t t l e e x c h an g e o f t ru s t . It i s hard t o think of a time i n W e s t e r n c i v i l i z a t i o n when the individual h a s b e e n so s u b j e c t t o s o c ie t y , yet fe l t s o little a t t ac h e d t o i t ; or when society h a s b e e n fo r c e d t o govern s o m u c h , b u t w i t h so l i t t l e authority t o govern at all. The d i s l o c a t i o n is so s e v e re that it should tell us that we do not face only a fe w s oc i a l p r o b le m s , which we m a y meet with yet more fe ats o f s o c i a l engineering, b u t are c o n ­ fro n t e d w i t h a b r e a k d ow n.of all s e n s e o f m u t u a l i t y , and not l e a s t o f any s h ared u n d e r s t anding o f w h a t i s m e a n t b y " ought , " o f the o b l i g a t i o n s t h a t are a t t a c h e d t o t h e rights t h a t are b e s t ow e d and p r o t e c t e d . W h e n i t i s s e c u l arized and a p p l i e d t o o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h o u r s o c ie t i e s , t h e i d e a o f original s i n i s m o s t o f t e n u s e d b y c on s e r v at i v e s . Since w e are inhere n t l y s o w i c k e d , they s ay in effe c t , w e c annot b e t r u s t e d w i t h t h e d e g r e e o f fre edom, l e a s t o f a l l the e q u a l i t y of c o n d i t i o n i n which we m i g h t a l l e n j o y t h i s fre e d o m , t h a t w e d e m a n d

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so imperiously . This has from the b e ginning , is now , and ever shall b e , the political theology of the National Review, and of course of other conservatives; and what they are doing for secular p urposes is once again to transform the idea of original sin into one of original guilt. If man is as inherently doomed to do evil as they say, ther e is little that society can do but truss him u p . The notion that soci ety is a partnership of its members, which will not con fine them so much as free them to choose rightly, is not one that the conservative now e ntertains. The r e has to be only one backsliding, and he wags his finger and admonishes, "There is the old Adam . mman. To say that our natures are inclined to do evil is very different from saying that w e are doome d to do evil. The first is a doctrine of hop e and choi c e , the second a doc ­ trine of d espair and abdication. The conservative likes to think of himself as the most faithful of the g uardians of society, yet he in fact leaves very little for soci ety to do, very fe w ways in which it and its members can e n gage continually and fruitfully in a partnership . The laws and customs of society are to him little more than a moat, thrown round the k e e p i n which those who govern it hud ­ d l e fearfully , while everyone e lse i s k e p t outside at a safe distance. The conservative today complains that our soc i e t i e s have no moral warran t . But i t is h e w ho redu c e s t h e g r o u n d s f o r the i r moral ac t i v i t y t o l i t t l e m o r e t han t h e s uspi cion that the i r c i t izens are u n t r u stwor t h y . It i s not the function o f essays such as these to prescribe what our societies should b e like; or rathe r they may hint what they should b e l i k e , b ut it is not thei r fun c ­ tion to p ropose the political or e conomic stru cture that s e e m s mos t likely to ac hieve that e n d . " T h e N e w T e s ta­ ment, without going into details," says C . S . Lewis, " give s a pretty clear h i n t of what a fully Christian soc i ety would b e l ik e . " H e then says: "If there were s uc h a s oc i e t y i n ex­ istence and you or I visited it, I think we should come "

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a w a y w i t h a c u r i o u s i m p re s s i o n . We s h o u l d feel t h a t i t s e c o n omic life w a s v e r y s o c i a l i s t i c and , i n t h a t s e n s e ' a d ­ vanced , ' b u t t h a t i t s family life a n d c od e o f m a n n e r were rather old-fa s h i o n e d , perhaps e v e n c e r e m o n i o u s and a ri s t oc r a t ic . " Far fro m b e i ng prov o c a t i v e o r p a r a d o x i c a l , t h e s e s t at e m e n t s c o me n e a r t o a p o s it i o n t h a t i s v e ry u n d e rs t an d a b l e . There i s n o r e a s o n w h y a s oc i e t y t h a t i s w h a t w e c al l " p rogre s s iv e " i n i t s e c o n o m i c s t r u c t ure s h ou l d a l s o be w h a t w e c al l "progre s s iv e " in i t s c u l tural a t t itude s , w h y s o m e o ne who b e l i e v e s i n a more e q u a l dis­ tribution o f g o o d s s ho u l d a l s o b e l i e v e i n m o r e p e rm i s s iv e s t andard s o f b e h a v i o r . T h e r e may h a v e b e e n a s hort p e r i o d w h e n t h i s s e e me d t o b e s o , w h e n i t s e e m e d t h a t every i n s t it u t i o n a n d s y m ­ b o l o f authority w a s s o interwoven w i t h e ve r y o t h e r , t h a t t h e y all h ad t o b e c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i o n . Bu t i n f a c t t h o s e w h o w i s h t o c r e a t e a n e c o n omically more j us t s oc i e t y ­ which d e m a n d s a c o n s iderable m e a s u r e o f s e l f- d i s c i pl i n e i n i t s members , i f a n external d i s c i p l i n e i s n o t t o b e i m ­ p o s e d w i t h u n a c c e p t a b l e severity f r o m t h e t op - c a n n o t w e l c o m e t h e w e a k e n i n g o f s oc i a l b o n d s t h a t h a s b e e n t h e m ark o f t h e m o d e r n age . I n d e e d m u c h o f what w e c al l " permi s s i v e ne s s " in o u r s o c i e t i e s t o d a y i s o n l y a n e x ­ t r e m e f o r m o f t h e v e ry individu a l i s m t h a t t h e y w i s h t o c o m b a t i n t h e e c o n o m i c r e a l m . There i s a d i l e m m a here for b o t h the c o n s e r v a t i v e and t h e s o c i al i s t - t o u s e t h e l a b e l s only a s s h o r t h a n d . The c o n s e r v a t i v e w a n t s t o e n ­ c ourage indiv i d u a l i s m in t h e e c o n o m i c r e a l m b u t t o m a i n ­ t a i n t he a u t h orit y of i n s t it u t i o n s and c on v e n t i o n s e l s e ­ where in s oc ie t y ; t h e s o c i a l i s t w i s h e s t o s ub d u e individ­ ualism in the e c o n om i c realm b u t again and a g a i n finds h i m s e l f in a l l i a n c e w i t h those who cl aim for it i n an a b ­ s o lu t e f o r m i n t h e re s t o f o u r l i v e s . A s for t h e l i b e r a l , h e w a v e rs b e t w e e n t h e t w o p o s i t i o n s , managing t o e x t r ac t t h e w o r s t from b o t h o f t h e m , which is a s m u c h t h e r e a s o n a s a n y , s i n c e h i s " p h i l o s op h y " h a s governed o u r s oc i e t i e s f o r s o l o n g , w h y t h e y a r e t o d a y s o w e ak a n d p u rp o s e le s s .

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U n t i l one or another o f t h e m e s t a b l i s h e s s o m e coherent view t h a t c an b e applied t o t h e w h o le s oc i e t y , the r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e individual t o h i s s oc i e t y , and o f socie­ ty t o the i n d i v i d u a l , i s b o u n d t o r e m a i n a s unharmonious and me aningle s s a s i t i s t o d a y . I t i s o n e o f t h e c o n v i c t i o n s i n t h e s e e s s ay s t h a t , b y s p e a k i n g o f o u r p r o b l e m s i n t h e d i rec t manner t h a t i s r e q uired w h e n w e s p e ak of s i n n i n g , it i s e a s i e r t o s e e where the g e o l o g i c a l fau l t s i n o u r s o c i e t i e s l i e . T h e fun d a m e n t a l q u e s t i o n t h a t we s h o u l d a s k o f our s o c i e t i e s i s w h e t h e r t h e y as s i s t a n d e n c ourage u s to b e g o o d; the fundamental q u e s t i o n that we s h o u l d a s k o f o u r s e l v e s i s w h e t h e r we w i s h t o b e g o o d and en­ c o uraged and as s i s t ed b y o u r s o c i e t ie s to b e so. T h i s for­ m u l a t i o n is s imple and old-fashioned; i t d o e s n o t b y i t s e l f get u s v e r y far . B u t it i s i n t e re s t i n g , a s p e r h a p s t h e s e e s ­ s ay s w i l l s h o w , h o w the p o litic al i s s u e s t h a t we fac e , q u e s t i o n s about o u r e c o n o m i e s a n d s oc ie t i e s , c o m e n e w ­ ly alive whe n p o s e d in t e r m s o f virt u e . W e c an n o t s ay t h a t s i n i s c o n fined t o t h e individual. W e are t o a l arge extent formed b y o u r s oc i et ie s , a n d even the m o s t n o n c o nform i s t among u s r e fl e c t o u r s oc i a l e n v i r o n ­ ment and the t i m e s in which w e l i v e . B u t w e m u s t never s t r a y far fr om the awaren e s s t h a t i t is u l t i m ately always a s individuals that we s i n , t h a t i t i s a t l a s t alone t h a t we c h o o s e t o a c t either that much b e t t e r or t h a t much w o r s e t h a n we otherwise m i g h t . There i s in t h e s e e s s a y s an implicit-at time s , an e x p l i c i t - c r i t ic i s m o f p s yc h i a t r y , o f the e x c u s e s t h a t i t fin d s f o r u s , and of t h e s h al l o wn e s s o f the adj u s t m e n t s a n d a c c o m o d a t i o n s t h a t it invites u s to m a k e . I t s e x p l a n a t i o n s are o u r s u b s t i t u t e s f o r t h e i d e a o f s i n , and i n n o t h ing i s t h i s more o b v i o u s t h a n in the mirthle s s n e s s w i t h which i t encourage s u s t o b e i n ­ t e re s t e d i n our l e s s er d i s order s , while it free s u s f r o m the dark night o f the soul in which we must wrestle w i t h our evil. With a s olem n i t y that can be j u s t i fi e d o n l y b y the fe e s

T H E FACT O F S I N

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t h a t it extracts, our psychi atry poin ts to t he levers and p u l leys t h a t w e m ay p ul l and p ush i nside us, and by t hese simple e xe r cises make our lives happier and more rewarding . ( It is not m u c h interest e d in w h e ther they c a n be made more virtuous. ) O n l y a n age t h a t does not k now how to l a u gh cou l d t a k e such slight p r escript ions so seriously. At le ast if we recognize t h at we sin , k now t h a t we a r e indivi d u a l ly a t war, we may g o to w a r a s w arriors do, with something of valor and zest a n d even of mirth, for t hese are usu ally the most inse parable of com ­ panions. B u t to b e told t h a t in our d isord e rs we are only responding to some disturbance in our lives j ust as others do, t h a t there is a mechanical e x p l a n ation of our woes that c al ls for no more than a m e c h a n i c a l reordering of our psy c h es- t h is c alls for no valor or zest or mirth from us, and t h ese are certainly t h e l ast q u a li ties that we associ a t e with our t e d ious l i t t l e ther apies. Pilgrim 's Progress is a work of high adve n ture; one c a n hardly say that of psychoanalytical c ase h istories. As a resu l t of the h ab i ts that psyc h i at r y has en­ couraged in us, e n dlessly we scrape over our faults and weaknesses, which we ought to be able to t a k e in good p art in others and in ourselves, b e cause we will not a c k nowledge t h a t t h e real danger lies e lse where and deeper. In no oth e r age c a n p eopl e h ave been so appare n t ­ ly frank and serious about t h e i r p e c c a d il loes, and so ready to confess t h e m a n d p u b l i c ly flage l l a t e t h emselves for them a t coc k t ail p arties and dinner tab les, but always to use these admissions of their disorders as a j ustifi c a ­ t ion for not t h e n resisting the total d espoil a t ion of sin , as if by some miracle of absolu t ion w h a t h as b e e n shown to be p art of their n a t u res need not then be combated. M i rt hlessly and with self-impor t a nc e , we confess to offenses t h a t w e know will be forgiven in order to j ustify t h e sin to which we are about to con c e de; so we g ive game , s e t , and m a t c h to t h e D e v i l , when he h as won on l y a n advan t age . H e fin ds a c h i n k i n our armor , w h e r e we

30

S E V E N DEADLY S I N S T O D A Y

have b e e n found w e a k o r at fault , and w h e n he crie s , " Ah a ! Y o u are already l o s t ! " we l a y o u r s e l v e s o p e n t o h i s m u c h gre ater d e p r e d a t i o n s . P s y c h i atry i s c o n cerned with o u r n at u r e s , t o make t h e d i s t i n c t i o n t h a t h a s b e e n s u g ge s t e d , and n o t w i t h o u r c h a rac t e r s . I t i s c on c e r n e d with t h e raw m at e r i a l s a m o n g w h i c h we m u s t s i ft i n o u r s e l v e s as we m ak e o u r m o r a l c h o i c es , a n d not w i t h t h e a c t u a l act of m o ral c h o i c e a n d t h e k i n d of e ffort it a s k s o f u s . I t t h erefore l e a v e s u s o b s e s s e d and i n t r i g u e d b y t h e r a w m a t e r i a l s o f our n a t u re s , but c a s u al and even fri v o l o u s in our a t t e n t i o n to t h e k i n d of moral demands t h a t we must m a k e on them. " O n e o f the D e v i l ' s most effe c t i v e t ri c k s t o w a y l a y u s i s to p i c k a fight with us," K afka remark e d . " I t is l i k e a figh t w i t h a w o m a n w h i c h e n d s in b e d . " H e m a k e s u s q u a r re l s ome , a n d t h e q u arrel o n l y reinfo r c e s o u r s e n s e o f familiarity with him; h e i s f u l l o f i n n u en d o e s , t h a t h e k n o w s u s and w h a t we are up t o , u n t i l at l a s t the fight seems p ointle s s and wearying, and we decide that it is fut i l e for u s t o c arry it on o r r e s i s t a n y longer. W e are ready t o c o n c e d e , b e c a u s e h e has r o b b e d u s o f our p e r s p e c t i v e , even ab o u t o u r s e lv e s . This i s exactly the effe c t o f the habits t h a t p s yc h i a t r y h as e n c ouraged in u s . W e a r e p u t i n t o a s t a t e of c o n s t a n t q u arre l w i t h and between all the d i s orders and d i s t u rb an c e s i n o u r c h a o t i c raw natures , u n t i l a t t h e e n d o f t h e d ay w e a r e s o wearied and even bored w i t h ourselves t h a t there i s n o real fight t h a t we will wage . W h a t i t can bring u s t o-all t h a t t h e s e e s s ay s are in­ tended to re s i s t- al l t h a t i s meant b y s i n - h a s b e e n sum­ marized b y Sh irley M ac Lai n e . I n an interview w i t h the Wa s h i n gton Pos t in 1 9 7 7 , s h e s a i d t h at "the most p l e a s ­ u r a b l e j ourney y o u t a k e i s t hrough y o u r s e l f . . . t h a t t h e only s u s t aining l o v e involvement i s w i t h y o u r s e l f . " O n e g u l p s and reads o n : "When y o u look b a c k o n y o u r life a n d try t o figure o u t w h e re you've b e e n and where y o u are go­ ing, when y o u l o o k a t y o u r w o r k , y o u r l o v e affai r s , your

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marriag e s , your children, your p a i n , your h a p p i n e s s ­ when y o u e x a m i n e all t h a t clos e l y , w h a t you r e a l l y find out i s that the onl y p erson you r e ally go to bed with i s you r s elf. T h e onl y p e r son you really d r e s s i s yourself. The only thing you h ave i s working to t h e con s u m m a t ion of your own i d e n t i t y . And t h a t ' s what I've b e e n trying to do all my life . P eop le always want to k now where my d rive com e s from . W e l l , all I can s ay is my drive is what I have to do. " This i s not onl y s e l f-ce n t e r ed n e s s rais e d to s e l f­ ob s e s s ion , b u t a r a t ionalization for s e l f-aggrandizement . There is in it not a hint of understandin g or wis hing to underst and-of contrition or s ad n e s s - t h a t a human s p i r i t h a s be come so vengefully u n c aring of anyone or anything other t h a n i t s e l f. O t h e r p eopl e or other things t h a t one ' s own life tou c h e s are merely e x t e n s ions of one s elf. So one goes to b e d with o n e s e lf, a g l a c i e r in one ' s b e d , a s W . H . Au den o n c e p u t i t . For t h e r e is no under­ s t anding e i t h e r t h a t what i s b e i n g d e s c r ib e d i s a life that a t i t s core has b e e n reduced to ru i n s , among which all that can henceforth be enacted i s a deathly m a s q u e r a d e . B u t also in i t all and p e rh a p s respon s i b l e to s o m e e x t e n t for it all, there i s again an a p p a l l i n g mirthle s s n e s s t h a t m u s t always accompany s u c h s e l f-ab sor p t ion ; in s p i t e of the apparent boldne s s of the affirmation , t h e r e i n fac t is only a whimpering s e lf-pi t y . Yet this is only one of many such doc u m e n t s w e have today. The s e ar c h for one' s " i d e n t i t y " has b e come s o ag­ gravating in our age p r e c i s e l y because t h e s e l f has b e e n reduced to t h i s pinpoin t of s e l f- i n t i m a c y , and the bot h e r abou t one's own s e l f-in- i t s e l f i s t h at i t i s very like everyone's s e lf-in - i t s elf. O n e tries to grasp t h e individual life in the words j u s t q uote d , but it a t onc e c r u m b le s i n one ' s hand l i k e a for t u n e cook i e , and t h e for t u n e t h a t i s fore told in t h e m i s j u s t a s banal a s t h a t i n t h e cook i e . One cannot a s k anything i n t e r e s t i n g about s uc h a l i fe , whe ther it h a s b e e n good o r b a d , b e c a u s e t h e only s t an -

32

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dard b y which i t is lived i s the drive to d o " w h a t I have t o d o . " A l i fe t h a t is s e lf-j u s t ifying is o n e t h a t i s u n ­ i n t e r e s t i n g , b e c a u s e there are n o q u e s t i o n s o n e c a n p u t f r o m o n e ' s own e x p e r i e n c e , o r f r o m the w h o le h u m a n e x ­ perience o v e r the c e n t u rie s , t o w h i c h t h e a n s w e r w i l l n o t b e g i v e n that " I did what I had t o d o . " O n e is here at the l o we s t common d e n o m i n a t o r that an exi s t e n c e c a n reach. Arguing again s t the kinds o f p sychiatry that d o away with the c a t e g o r i e s o f "good" and b a d , " and saying that he h a s m e t a " r e m a r k a b l e number o f bad b o y s , " William G a y l i n , p r o fe s s or o f clinical p s ychiatry at C ol u m b i a , has said rec e n t l y : " S p are m e , t h e re fore , y o ur good i n t e n t i on s , y o u r inner s e n s i tiviti e s , y o u r u n a r t ic u l a t e d a n d u n e x ­ p re s sed love . A n d s p a re me al s o t h o s e t ed i o u s p s y ­ c h o h i s t ories which-by e x p o s i n g the g o o d ne s s i n s i d e the b a d m a n , and the evil i n the good-invariably e s t ab l i s h a vulgar and p er v e r s e egalit arian i s m , a s i f the arrange ­ ment of what is o u t s i d e and what i s i n s ide m a k e s n o differe n c e . " B u t it i s e x a c t l y an e x a m p l e of this vulgar egalit ari a n i s m that we have j u s t b e e n noticing. One o f the reward s of k n owing and s e e i ng t h at w e c a n b e evil, of a c k n o wledging that individually w e sin, and c aring whether we d o , i s that we s t and o n o u r own fe e t on ground we c h o o s e and n o t in a c o m m o n ru t , unique a s p e r s o n s who n e v e r w e re b e fore and n e v e r will b e again and not merely as common d e n o m i n a t o r s of a p s y ­ c h o l ogical o r e v e n the h u m a n c o n d i t i o n , p u s i ll a n i m o u s and faint-hearted, w i t h n o real t a s t e of what free d o m means . I t w a s an E n g l i s h m e d i e v a l p h i l o s o p h e r who s p o k e o f h i la r i t a s l i bert a t i s , which m a y b e freely translated a s " t h e alive and d elighting e n j o y m e n t of fre e d o m , " and one i s l e ft wondering if a n y o n e b u t a Christian c ould have s aid i t . A word a b o u t the order in which th e S ev e n D e a d l y S i n s are dis c u s s ed h e r e . T h e order e s t a b l i s h e d b y G r e g o r y t h e G r e a t , m a i n t a i n e d through o u t the M i ddle Ages , a n d

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followed b y b o t h D a n t e and C h a u c e r , h a s g r e a t p o w e r t o i t , a n d i t i s the o r d e r followed in t h e s e e s s ay s : P r i d e , E n v y , Ange r , S l o t h , Avari c e , G l u t t o n y , Lus t . T h e r e h a s b e e n a t e n d e n c y in m o d e rn t i m e s t o a d v a n c e Lu s t i n the order, which c ould b e s a i d t o r e v e a l an o b s e s s i o n with s e x , and t o a l t e r the placing o f s o m e o f t h e others. I n h i s work on Moral and Pa s toral Th eology , H enry D avi s , a J e s u i t , d i s c u s s e s the s i n s in t h i s order: P r i d e , A v a r i c e , Lus t , A n g e r , G l u t t o n y , Envy, S l o t h ; and the s am e order i s followed in a c o n t e m p o rary hand b o o k of m o r a l t h e o l o g y , e x c e p t t h a t Envy and Anger change p l a ce s . B o t h t h e s e v o l u m e s c arry t h e appropriate n i h i l obstat a n d i m ­ p ri m a t u r , o ffic i a l d e c l arations t h a t they are free o f d o c ­ trinal and m o r al error, and i t w o u l d be a b s u r d i f i t w e r e r e g a r d e d a s either a d o c t ri n a l or m o r a l offe n s e t o r e a rrange the order at o n e ' s own c h o o s i n g . B u t it s h o u l d n o t b e at o n e ' s own whim, b e c a u s e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l o r d e r in w h i c h the s i n s are p l a c e d h a s a r e al s ig n i fi c a n c e , which i s n o t that o f s uggesting t h a t o n e i s w o r s e t h a n another. We are d e aling with an e l a b o r a t e i n t e l le c t u a l c o n s t ru c ­ t i o n t h a t i s i n t e n d e d t o illu s t r a t e p r o fo u n d m o r a l truth s . A l l the S e v e n D e a d l y S i n s are d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f love that has gone w r o n g . They s p ring fr o m the i m p u l s e , which i s n atural in m a n , t o love what p l e a s e s h i m , b u t the l o v e i s m i s p l ac e d o r weakened or d i s t o r t e d . (It i s characteri s tic of the intricacy o f C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g y that it s h o u l d find the cause of s i n in the s am e i m p u l s e t o love t h a t i s als o the r o o t o f all v i rt u e . ] P r i d e and Envy and Anger a re s i n s of perverted lov e . The l o v e i s directed t o a w o rthy obj e c t - i n e ac h c a s e , t o o n e s e l f- b u t i t i s direc t e d in a fal s e m anner. T h e fault i n t h e m i s t h a t o n e imagines t h a t one may g a i n some g o o d for oneself b y c au s ing harm t o others. Sloth i s placed next a s a s i n of defec t i ve love . The love may b e d i r e c t e d t o a d e s erving o b j e c t , b u t i t i s n o t g i v e n i n a p r o p e r m e a s u r e . A v a r i c e a n d G l u t t o n y and Lu s t a re s in s o f exces s i ve lov e . The love may again b e

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SEVEN DEADLY S I N S TODAY

directed t o what in t h e m s elves are d e s erving o b j e c t s , b u t i t i s s o e x c e s s ive t h a t i t i n terru p t s , a n d m u s t i n t h e e n d d e s t ro y , o n e ' s c a p a c i t y t o l ove other o b j e c t s t h a t a r e a l s o a n d p e r h a p s even m o r e d e s e rvi n g . The fi r s t t h r e e s i n s are a rej e c t i on o f c om m u n i t y w i t h o t he r s , evi l form s o f e g o t i s m , and are s om e t i m e s s a i d t o b e t h e " c o ld " s i n s ; t h e l a s t three invo lve a t l e a s t s o m e c o m m u n i t y w i t h othe r s , h owever i t i s t h e n perverted, and are s om e t i m e s s ai d t o b e t h e " w arm" sins. The " w arm" should n o t b e placed ab ove the " c o l d , " a s l o n g as i t i s understood that their p l a c i n g i n n o w a y diminishes the d e v a s t a t i o n that t h e y c a u s e to oneself a n d t o others . B e c a u s e our s o c i e t i e s are s o abund ant in m a t e r i a l g o o d s , a n d p r ovide s o m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r p h y s i c al g r a t i fic a t i o n , w e n e e d t o b e reminded t h a t t h e s e m o r e phys ical s i n s c a n d evo u r u s s p i r i t u a l l y . B u t at the t o p m u s t s t i l l s t a n d the s i n s o f c o l d egot i s m . There i s s urely a c o n siderable value in re taining t h i s c o n s t r u c t i o n . I t force s u s t o m a k e d i ffe r e n t i ation s w i t h w h i c h we might otherwi s e n o t b other and t o l o o k m o r e d e e p l y for the roots o f s ome evil ac t a n d at least t o know where the trou­ ble lie s . I f the sins b e g i n in l ove , they end i n l o v e le s s n e s s . G iven t h a t t h e y a r e a l l love l e s s , t h e y a r e a l l a s s eriou s . What t h e c on s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Seve n D e adly S i n s s h o w s u s i s h o w var i o u s are t h e fo rms that t h i s love le s s n e s s can and doe s t a k e . T h e w i se s t o b s erver s o f the p a s s i n g s c e n e have always remarked t h a t , i f one wishes t o l o v e the h u m a n r a c e , one s h o u l d n o t m a k e the m i s t ak e o f e x p e c t i n g t oo m u c h o f it. There i s a w e a l t h o f c o mm o n sense and h u m a ni t y i n t h a t , and perhaps the m o s t u n e x p e c t e d elemen t in the idea o f the Seve n D e ad l y S i n s i s t h a t , although i t p o i n t s w i t h deadly a c c u r a c y t o o u r c a p a c i t y for evi l , it a l s o l e a v e s u s w i t h a vivid a n d s trong s e n s e o f w h a t it m e a n s t o b e human . I t p i c k s i t s w a y s o int ric a t e ly a m o n g all t h e m o t i v e s and p a s s i o n s b y w h i c h w e are m o v e d , t h a t i t give s u s a t l e a s t the re a s s u rance t h a t it is v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g

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to b e h u m a n . B u t it i s i n t e re s t i n g only if we re c ognize t h a t our n a t u re s are m or a l n at u r e s and t h at it i s o n l y w h e n we sharpen our m oral s e n s e that we g i v e them full p l a y . " M o rality l i k e art , " s a i d G . K . C h e s t e r t o n , " c o n s i s t s o f d r a w i n g a line s om e w h e re . " W e l i v e i n an age i n w h i c h n o l i n e s s e e m t o b e drawn at a l l , a n d i t i s f o r t h i s r e a s o n t h a t o u r h u m a n i t y s e e m s a p a l s i e d thing o f l i t t l e rew ard t o u s . I f w e begin t o t a k e o u r s i n n i n g s e r i o u s l y , w e m i g h t at least find that we c a n b e i n t e re s t i n g a g a i n .

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PRID E oR S UPERBIA

P RIDE I S T H E fir s t o f t h e s i n s , t h e r o o t o f the " b a d w i l l " o f Ad am and E v e n , the beginning of all s i n , i t i s s a i d i n E c cl e s i as t e s . Y e t p e o p l e a r e t o d a y o f t e n bewildered that it i s c ou n t e d a s a s i n at all. They a s k : S h o u l d w e not be proud o f ourselves? We s a y o f s o me o n e who i s s l o p p y i n h i s a p p e arance or carele s s i n h i s work t h a t h e "takes n o p r i d e " i n t h e m . In o t h e r w o rd s , w e c r i t i c i z e h i m for l a c k o f p r i d e . W e also criticize those w h o , b y t h e i r b e h av i or t o others, " l e ave them n o pride . " There i s pride i n t h e s t at em e n t , "Black i s b e a u tiful , " a n d s u r e l y i t i s right t o b e s o p r o u d . All o f which i s true. When the word is used in this way, pride is a j u s tifiable s e n s e o f o n e ' s o w n w o r t h . I t i s s elf-e s t e e m and s e l f- re s p ec t , as l o n g a s t h e s e are fit t i n g . I t s c o n s e ­ quences may b e good. We may be prompted b y such pride t o try n o t t o f a l l b e l o w o u r own s ta n d a r d s , t o d o b e t t e r t h a n b e fo r e , e v e n t o a t t e m p t t h e b e s t o f which w e a r e c a p a b l e . H ow c a n t h i s pride b e r e g a r d e d a s s i nful? B u t a r e a s o n a b l e and j u s tified s e l f- e s t e e m i s n o t what i s m e a n t b y t h e sin o f P r i d e . The fir s t d e fi n i t i o n o f pride i n the d i c t i o n a r i e s i s o f s o me t h i n g u n fi t t i n g . " An inor­ dinate s e l f-e s te e m , " s a y s Web s t e r 's , as a l s o d o e s t h e Ox ­ ford Engl i s h D i c t ion a ry : " an u n r e a s o n a b l e c o n c e i t o f s u p e ri o r i t y . . . an o v e r w e e n i n g o p i n i o n of o n e ' s own q u a l i t i es . " Its synonyms o r n e a r- s y n o n y m s are n o t at­ tractive : vanity, vainglory, conceit, arr o g a nc e , e g o t i s m , b o a s t fulne s s , s e l f-glorifi c a t i o n , s e l f i s h n e s s , a n d m a n y m o r e , all o f w h i c h we u s e a s t e r m s o f repr o a c h . T h e r e i s s o m e c u n n i n g i n the q u e s t i o n , " S h o u l d w e n o t b e p r o u d o f

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o u r s e l v e s ? " E v e n as it is s o i n n o c e n t l y p u t , t h e r e i s already a n o t e o f v a n i t y a n d self-s a t i s fa c t i o n i n i t , and o n e fee l s t h a t t h e Devil i s there , alert as ever, making an opening for the real s i n o f Pride t o e n t e r . " B e i n g p r o u d o f o n e s e l f" i s o f t e n e q u a t e d t o d ay w i t h " feeling g o o d a b o u t o n e s elf"; and feeling g o o d a b o u t o n e ­ s e l f i s an a l t o g e t h e r l a u d a b l e a m b i t i o n , b u t again only a s long as o n e h a s a d e q u a t e r e a s o n s f o r fe eling g o o d . As t h e p h r a s e h as s p r u n g i n t o p o p u l a r s p e e c h in r e c e n t years , d i s t i l l e d from t h e r e a s suring l i t t l e t h e r a p i e s of o u r t i m e , it s o me t i me s s ee m s t o b e an all-embracing j us t ific a t i o n f o r b e i n g a n y t h i n g ( o r n othing ) . A s l o n g a s o n e feels g o o d a b o u t o n e s e l f, a m u l t i t u d e o f s i n s are c o v e r e d . B u t it i s p o s s i b l e t o feel g o o d a b o u t o n e s e lf in s t a t e s of t o t al v a c u i t y , e u p h o r i a , intoxication , a n d s elf-indulgenc e , and it i s even p o s s i b l e wh e n we are d o ing wrong and k n o w w h a t w e are d o i n g . " S h o u l d w e n o t b e p r o u d o f o u r ­ s e l v e s ? " c an inv i t e far t o o e a s y a r e a s s u r a n c e . I f o u r s elf­ e s t e e m i s to b e j u s t i fi e d , it needs more than " doing o n e ' s own t h i n g , " and fee l i n g g o o d a b o u t o u r s e lve s w h i l e w e are d o i n g i t . " D o ing one's own t h i n g , " or any o f t h e o t h e r s i m i l a r p a s s words o f o u r t i m e , s u c h as ' ' I 'm O K , y o u 're OK , " m a y s e e m t o have l i t t l e Pride in t h e m . W h e r e i s t h e c l a i m t o s uperiority i n t h e m ? D o t h e y n o t m er e l y a s k t o b e al­ lowed t o live and l e t live? B u t what w e e v e n t ually find in t h e m i s an a s s e r t i o n o f s e l f - s u ffic ie n c y - a denial o f one's need for com m u n i t y with o t h e r s , which i s in fact a form o f s e l fi s hne s s , s i n c e i t i s always ac c o m panied by a refu s a l o f one's o b l i g a t ion of com m u n i t y w i t h o ther s . The s t e p s from a r e a s onable s e l f- c o n cern to an utter s e l fi s h ­ n e s s a re s h o r t and s wift . M o s t o f t h e p r e s c ri p t i o n s f o r " s elf-act u alization" t o d a y a r e r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s f o r a n aggre s sive s el f-c e n t e r ed n e s s a n d , in s o m e o f t h e i r forms , for v i o l e n t aggre s s i o n b y one' s s e l f again s t o t he r s e l v e s t h a t g e t in t h e w a y . I f i t i s n o t aggr e s s i o n , t h e n i t i s manipu l a t i o n , and t h e e n d i s alway s t h e s ame: a l w a y s

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s t riking or m a n e u v e ring t o t a k e fir s t p l a c e , t o domineer o v e r other's and o n e ' s environmen t , e v e n t o seek revenge for real or s u p p o s e d s light s . What i s in v i t e d i s P r i d e . I f we a r e t o c l a i m t h a t t h e s e l f-l o v e o f pride i s j u s t i fi e d , it had b e t te r b e in a s s t r e n u o u s t e r m s a s t h o s e u s e d b y Ari s t ot l e : "If anyone m a de i t h i s c o n s t an t e n d e a v o r t o s e t an e x a m p l e i n p e rforming j u s t o r t e m p e r a t e o r a n y other k i n d o f v i r t u o u s a c t i o n s , and in g eneral a l w a y s claimed the prerogative o f acting h o n o r a b l y , c e r t a inly n o one w o u l d reproach him with b e ing a s e l f-l o v e r . . . . S o it i s right for t h e g o o d m a n t o b e self-loving, b e c a u s e t h e n h e will both b e b e n e fi t e d h i m s e l f b y performing fine a c ­ t i o n s , and als o h e l p o t he r s . B u t i t i s n o t right for the b a d m a n , b e c a u s e he w i l l inj u r e h i m s e l f a n d h i s n e i g h b o r s b y g i v i n g way t o b a s e fee l i ng s . " I t i s r i g h t t o b e s el f-loving i f o n e p u r s u e s w h a t i s m o rally fine , b e c a u s e the g o o d m a n d o e s w h a t h e o u g h t t o d o ; b u t i t i s n o t r i g h t " i n the s e n s e in w h i c h m o s t p e o p l e are s el f-l o v i n g , " b ec a u s e what t h e b a d m a n d oe s i s n o t u s ually w h a t h e o u g h t t o do . Few of o u r p re s c r ip t io n s for s el f-love t o d a y are c on c e r n e d with the moral q u al i t y o f o u r a c t i o n s o r u s e i t as any measure a t a l l ; c e r t ainly t h e y d o n o t a s k u s to c on si d e r any more than a selfish purp o s e t o o u r live s , for a l w a y s its affir­ m a t i o n s b e g i n with "I - I - I . " Pride i s c a m e l - n o s e d , a s Ang u s W i l s o n h a s s a i d . It i s a l s o high-blown , p u ffe d - u p , s t u c k - u p , s t iff- ne c k e d . All of t h e s e are e p i t he t s , n o t only o f s u p e r i o r i t y , b u t o f a l o o fne s s . The p r o u d m a n s e t s h i m s e l f u p a n d , in d o i n g s o , s e t s h i m s e l f ap art . A t o w e r i s o n e o f the c o m m o n e s t met aphors o f P r i d e . I t i s l ofty and i n ac c e s s ib l e . W h e n w e s a y t h a t s om e o n e t owers o v e r u s- a s a p ar e n t may over a child-we are t al k i n g of s om e o n e w h o c a n n o t be r e a c h e d . W e s p e a k o f an ivory t o w e r a s a p l a c e of s elf-willed retreat from t h e world, and there i s Pride in that a l s o . When i t i s p r o u d , " t h e s o u l b e c o m e s i n o r d i n a t e l y p l e a s e d w i t h i t s elf," a n d it m a k e s a s olit ar y w o r l d , s e l f-

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s u ffi c i e n t , w alled in by i t s s e l f-p l e a s i ng . I f a l l t h e s i n s are c a u s e s o f s o lit arine s s , Pride is t h e firs t b e g e t t e r o f it. "To b e in one s e l f in t h e s e n s e o f t o p l e a s e o n e s e lf," s a y s S t . Augus ti n e , " i s n o t t o b e w h o l l y n o t h i n g b u t t o b e ap ­ proaching n o t h i n gn e s s . " There i s t o d ay e v i d e n c e of t h i s all a r o u n d u s , in the v a c a n c y o f l i v e s t h a t are l i v e d only for t h e m s e lv e s . When D an t e e n c o u n t e r s t h e p r o u d i n p u r g a t o r y , they are e a c h c arrying the c r u s h i n g w e i g h t o f a huge s t o n e , w h i c h b e n d s them d o u b l e , s o t h a t t h e y c an n o t l i f t t h e i r e y e s from t h e g r o u n d . T h o s e w h o l o o k e d d o w n on everyone else in t h e i r lives are n o w u n a b l e t o look u p at a n y t h i n g . " A l a s , proud C h ri s t i a n s , " h e e x c l a i m s . S e e n a s they are, their Pride avails them nothing. There i s a sense i n w h i c h this h a s a l r e a d y b e e n t h e i r c on d i t i o n o n e a r t h . ( T h o s e w h o l o ok d o w n all t h e t i m e , s a y s C . S . Lew i s , will n o t l o o k u p t o find G o d . ) The p r o u d m a y l o o k d o w n o n everyone e l s e , b u t f r o m t h e i r l ofty g aze , fro m t h e tower w h e re they have s e t t h e m s e l v e s u p , t h e y in fac t c a n see little. S t i ff-n e c k e d t h e y l o o k d o w n t h e i r c amel-no s e s and c a n hardly see t h o s e at their fe e t . T h e y are b e n e at h t h e i r n o t i c e , as t h e s aying g o e s . A lordly m a n w i l l s ay t h a t h i s t o w n h o u s e is e m p t y f o r t h e s u m m e r , e v e n t h o u g h i t i s s t i l l full o f s er v a n t s . H e s i m p l y doe s n ot s e e t h e s ervants a s people; in fac t he does n o t s e e them a t a l l . I n all the m e t aphors w e have for pride-as w h e n w e say that s om e o n e g e t s o n h i s high h o r s e - t h e r e i s always this ele­ ment o f withdrawal from others. One i s s a t i s fi e d w i t h o n e self; only one s e l f i s n ec e s s ary . Pride is the c a u s e o f d i s ob edienc e , w h i c h s e t s one w illfully at o d d s w i t h lawful a u t h o r i ty , i n t h e family or i n society. P r i d e i s t h e cause o f b oa s t i n g a n d h y p o c ri s y , w h i c h m a k e i t i m p o s s i b l e t o commu n i c a t e intelligently w i t h others . P r i d e i s t h e c a u s e o f s c o rn a n d p r e s u m p t i o n and arroganc e , which erect b arri e r s again s t t h o s e w i t h whom o n e c o m e s in c o n t a c t . Pride i s t he c a u s e o f imp a ­ t i e n c e and o b s t in a c y , which lead t o s t r i fe r a t h e r

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t h a n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r p e op le . P r i d e i s t h e c a u s e of s e l f- c e n t e re d n e s s a n d vainglory, w h i c h s e t one apart t o d o merely a s o n e w i s h e s . P r i d e l e a d s t o s u c h a s w e l l i n g o f t h e h e a r t , fill e d w i t h i t s o w n s e lf-p l e a s u r e , t h a t t h e r e i s n o p l a c e for o t h e r s i n i t . The o p p o s i t e o f t h e s e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f Pride i s of c o u r s e t o be found i n P au l ' s fam o u s w ord s t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s a b o u t l o v e , t o which t h e K i n g J a me s V e r s i o n g i v e s t h e n ame o f c h a r i t y : "Charity s u ffe ret h l o n g , and i s k i n d ; charity e n v i e t h not; charity v a u n t e t h n o t i t s elf, i s n o t p u ffe d up, Doth n o t b e h av e i t s e l f u n s e e m l y , s e e k e t h n o t h e r own , i s n o t e a s i l y p r o ­ v o k e d , t h i n k e t h n o e v i l ; Rej o i c e t h n o t i n i n i q u i t y , b u t re ­ j oi c e t h i n the t r u t h ; B e areth a l l t h i ng s , b e l i e v e t h a l l t h i ng s , h o p e t h all t h i ng s , endureth a l l t h i n g s . C h a r i t y never faile t h . " If w e t h i n k t h a t i t i s o n l y t h e r i c h and t h e p owerfu l w h o c an b e p r o u d , w e s h o u l d p a u s e t o c o n s ider h o w l i t t l e our a c t i o n s e a c h day r e fl e c t the w o r d s o f Paul and how m u c h t h e e v i l s of P ri d e . We w i l l e n c o u n t e r all o f t h e s e e v i l s i n v a r i o u s form s i n t h e o t h e r s i n s . B u t i t i s o n l y w h e n we k n o w t h e working o f P ride i n us t h a t w e s e e h o w d e e p l y t h e s in s are inter­ w o v e n . H ere is t h e k e y s t o n e o f t h e a rc h , and o n c e w e rec ­ ognize t h a t i t r u n s through a l mo s t e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e d o , everywhere in o u r n a t u re s , we a re i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o fight t h e o t h e r s i n s . T h i s i s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e warning o f D o r o t h y S ay e r s , t h a t " t he devilish strategy o f Pride is that i t attacks u s , n o t i n o u r we a k e s t p oi n t s , b u t i n our s t ronge s t . It i s preeminently t h e s i n o f the n o b l e m i n d . " N o t o n l y o f the n o b l e , b u t a l s o o f t h e righteou s . S e l f­ righte o u s n e s s is a c ommon and p e c u liarly l o a t h s o m e f o r m of P r i d e . W h e n we e n c o u n t e r i t in t h e n o b l e m i n d , P r i d e i s l i k e a t a i n t o r fl a w . I t s u ffu s e s t h e w h o l e c h a rac t e r of t h e p e r s o n , e v e n where t h at c h a r a c t e r i s a p ­ p a r e n t l y n oble s t or s tronge s t . If i t l i e s s o p e r v a s i v e l y in the b e s t , it must l i e at l e a s t equally so in u s . Pride i s i n o u r E n v y , p e r s u ading u s t h a t we de s erve better t h a n we h a v e , e v e n t o b e o t h e r t h a n w e a r e , and so

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inciting u s t o p u l l d o w n whatever w e p e rceive t o b e s u p e r i o r t o u s . P r i d e i s in o u r Ang e r , in which we a d o p t a p o s i t i o n of s u p eriori t y from which our s c o rn and o b s ti n a c y , and even o u r e l a t i o n , will n o t let u s b e b u d g e d . P r i d e i s in our Av aric e , p r o m p t i n g u s t o d i s p l a y o ur s elve s in "an e x t r avagant a r r a y o f c l o t h i n g , " a s the P a r s o n p u t s it in C h a u c e r' s t a l e , and in " k e e p i n g u p great h o u s eh old s , " which we d o n o t n e e d . Pride i s i n our Glu t ­ t o n y , in t h e d i s p l a y again o f an " e x c e s s o f d i v e r s m e a t s a n d drink s ; and e s p e c i al l y in " certain b a k e d m e a t s and made-dishe s , " as the P a r s o n says with h i s u s u a l s p ir i t , " b u rning with spiri t u o u s l i q u o r s and d e c o r a t e d and c a s te l l a t e d with p ap e r , and in s i m ilar w a s t e . " (There goes the c r e p e s u z e t t e ! And the crown of l a m b ! ) Pride i s i n o u r S l o t h , in o u r as suranc e that we m a y g e t by with a minimum of e ffort and find achievement and reward b y s l uggishne s s . P r i d e is in o u r L u s t , in o u r s c ant regard for the fle s h and fe elings o f o t h e r s , and our b e l i e f that we may d e h u m anize them and o u r s e l v e s and s till b e re ­ garded as h u m a n . P r i d e i s the s u s t ainer of o u r s i n n i n g , t h e r e i n f o r c e r o f all i t s m o t i v e s . What o n e n o t i c e s in t h e s e e x a m p l e s i s t h e element of c o m p e t i t i v en e s s . Pride m u s t b e c o m p e t i t i v e , since i t can­ not b e ar to c o n c e d e first place to anyone e l s e , even w h e n it s r e a l want s are s a t i sfied. T h e r e may b e b o t h Avarice and Envy in t h e relent l e s s s t riving for s t at u s s y m b ol s , b u t behind t h e m i s t h e P r i d e t h a t w i s h e s t o d i s p l a y it s superiorit y . I t i s nothing b u t Pride t h a t g i v e s u s p l e a s u r e in having m o r e t h an our n e i ghb o r s , and o f c o u r s e of m ak ­ ing s u re t h a t it i s known t h a t we h a v e m o r e . T h i s c o m p e t ­ itivene s s m u s t s e p arate p e o ple from e ac h other-again it i s a s ource of s o l i t arin e s s - and at its worst it l e a d s to e n m i t y agai n s t anyone w h o challeng e s o n e ' s superiority. One becomes in o n e ' s Pride a hater and d e spi s e r of o n e ' s fe llow m e n . As O m b e r t o Ald o b r an d e s c o , one of the proud whom Dante meets in purgat ory, e x c l a i m s aloud: "Anc ient blood, past chivalry, I T h e s e p u ffed m e up-for-

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g e t t i n g in m y pride I T h e c o m m o n m o t h e r of h u m a n i t y ­ T o s u c h c on t e m p t of all the w orld b e s i d e" ; a n d O d e r i s i of U m b r i a , the c e le b r a t e d i l l u m i n a t o r o f m a n u s crip t s whom D a n t e als o m e et s , says in turn: " a r d o u r t o o u t s h ine/ B u rn e d in m y bosom w i t h a k i n d o f r ag e . " Contempt for all the world . . . . The rage t o outshine . . . . F o r g e t t i n g t h e c om m o n n e s s of o u r b i rt h . Alw a y s t h e e m p h a s i s i s o n t h e s e p arat ion f r o m o t h er s , t h e refu s a l o f c o m m u nit y , t h e h o s t i l i t y that then b u r n s all t h e t i m e i n s i d e o n e . T h e r e will b e m a n y w h o t h i n k t h a t t h e y are e x e m p t f r o m s u c h p a s si o n s . B u t t h e p l e a s u r e t h at w e a r e t od ay i n c i t e d to t a k e in o ur s e l v e s , n o t o n l y i s o l a t e s u s fro m e a c h o t h e r ; it s e p ar a t e s a f e w m i n u t e a s p e c t s of o u r o w n beings , t o exalt t h em a b o v e t h e fu ll richn e s s of w h i c h w e are c ap ab l e a s h u m a n b e i ng s . P r i d e m a y e x c i t e u s t o t ak e t o o m u c h p l e a s u r e in o u r s e l v e s , b u t it d o e s n o t e n c o u r ­ age u s t o t ak e p l e a s u r e in o u r h u m a ni t y , i n w h at i s c o m ­ m o n l y s h ared b y all of u s a s s o c i al b e i n g s . T h e t ur n i n g in t o o u r s e l v e s h a s t u rned u s a w a y from o u r s o ci e t i e s . I t i s a s i n of negle c t : I t c a u s e s u s t o ignore o t h e r s . I t i s a s i n of aggr e s s io n : I t provok e s us t o hurt o t h e r s . I t i s a s i n o f con­ de s c e n s i o n : I t makes u s p a t r o nize others. All of these are turned agai n s t o u r neighb o r s , and oft en i n our Pride we d o n o t realize h o w a l o of w e h a v e b e c o m e , and how c u t off even from w h at i n our own n a t ure w e s h o u l d m o st d e e p l y k n o w and enj o y . A s W illiam F . M a y s a y s , t h i s w it h d r a w a l m a y t ak e m any form s : t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l who " re t r e at s from t h e m e d iocrit i e s of m a s s c ulture i n t o t h e i n n e r c o m m u n i t y o f t a s t e " ; t h e liberal w h o "retreat s f r o m t h e m o r al f a i l u r e s o f t h o s e w h o are w ielders o f p o w e r int o t h e i n n e r c o m m u n i ­ ty o f c r i t ic i s m a n d virtue"; t h e r e a c t i o n ary w h o " r e t re a t s i n t o imp o s s i b l e d r e a m s a b o u t a b y g o n e p a s t t o e s c ap e contact with and responsibility for the present"; the academic w h o " r e t r e a t s f r o m t h e s im p l i ci t i e s of t h e c o m ­ m o n life int o t h e c o m p l e x it i e s of h i s e x p e rt i s e . " B u t t h e m o s t w i d e s p r e a d f o r m t h a t it t a k e s t od a y i s s i m p l y t h e

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retreat of p e o p l e i n t o t h e i r p r i v a t e l i v e s . As l ong a s t h e ir s oc i e t y p r o v i d e s t h e m w i t h a r e a s o n a b l e degree of per­ s onal security and affl u e n ce , and t h e n e c e s s ar y m e a n s and opp ort u n i t i e s t o e n t e r t ain t h e m s el v e s , i t m a y b e left to fun c t i o n and b e managed a s m a y be, no m a t t er t hat it is s t il l an unfit place for o th e r s to live in. W e at l e a s t h a v e " ma d e it , " a n d having m a d e i t , n e e d o n l y t o b e l eft alone . N o one can read Helter Skelt er, t h e b e s t a c c o u nt t h a t w e have s o far of C h arle s M an s o n and h i s "family ," w i t h o u t l o o k i n g severely a t h i m s e l f and at o u r s o c i e t i e s . Most interesting and perhaps most haunting are the ra­ t i onalizat i o n s t h at M a n s o n u s e d , and t h a t h i s fol l o w e r s then p ar r o t e d a s t h e y c arried o u t h i s o r d er s . They con­ s t an t ly u s ed t h e p h r a s e "the E s t ab l i s h m e n t " a s a s elf-j u s ­ t ific ation-the m em b e r s of " t h e E s t a b l i s h m e n t " m u s t die- and o n e of t h e m i n fac t u se d t h e p h r a s e t o h e r v i c t im a s s he c o m m i t t e d t h e final a t r o c i t y o n h e r . T h e i d e a of " t he E s t abli s h m e n t " - t o g e t h e r w i t h m a n y o t h e r m u d ­ dled ide a s - w a s n e ce s s ary t o s u s t ai n t h e i r exalt a t i o n . They were t h e a v e n g e r s of s o c i e t y a g a i n s t it s e n e m ie s . They w ou l d d e c i d e w h o w o u l d o r w o u l d n o t e x i s t . Alt hough it will b e r e s i s t ed by m a n y , it n e e d s t o b e s ai d t h a t there i s a v e r y t h i n l i n e t o b e d r aw n , if a l i n e at a l l , between them and t h e radical terrori s t s w h o k e ep forcing t h e m s e l v e s on o u r a t t e n t i o n , t h e children of an affl u e n t m i d d le - c l a s s t h at i s d e m o r al ized in t h e m o s t lit eral of s e n se s . They are c l o s e r , in m o t ive a s w el l a s m e t h o d , than m a y seem at fir s t . Charles M a n s o n a n d h i s fo llowers d i d n o t murder fr om Ange r : M a n y o t h e r s a t t h e t i m e were e n t i t l e d to s u c h credit as anger may b e allow e d . They d i d n o t m u r d e r from Envy: They were s trangely i m p e r s o nal a b o u t their v i c t im s , their e y e s w e r e n o t fixed o n t h e m i n r e s e n t m e n t . They did not m u rder from Av arice: T h e ft w a s not their motive, t h e y t o o k nothing; a n d e q u ally t h e y d i d not m u rder from Gluttony. They did n o t m u r d e r from Sloth:

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O n e fe e l s a d e j e c t i on of t h e s p i r i t in t h e m , b u t i t w a s n o t t h i s w h i c h t h e y w e r e flee i n g . They d i d not m u rder fr om L u s t : They did not i n t erfere s e x u a l l y with their v i c t i m s , a n d their o w n s e x u al life in t h e " family" m a y h a v e b e e n t awdry , but it w a s hardly a n overwhe l m i n g c o n c e r n t o t h e m . T h e y m u r d e r e d in t h e s el f- e x a l t a t i o n of P r i d e and from t h e incit e m e n t s t o it in o u r time. T h e y had b e e n t a u g h t t o b e p l e a s e d in t h e m s e l v e s , w i t h w h a t e v e r t h e y fe lt they w e r e , f e l t t h e y fel t , and s o felt t h e y m u s t d o . T h e y had b een r e l e a s e d t o act a s g o d s , w h o l l y free from any human limit a t i o n s . W e m u s t u n d e r s t and the r o o t of P r i d e . M o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r of t h e s i n s w e a s s oc i a t e P r i d e w i t h r e b e l l i o n , and it i s t h e s in most d iffi c u l t t o d i s c u s s w it h out referring to t h e r e b e l l i o n of " o u r fir s t p a r en t s ." They w e r e already wicked in t h e m s e l v e s , a s we h a v e seen, b efore t h e y s u c ­ c u m b e d t o t h e t em p t a t i o n ; and b y w i c k e d in t h e m s e l v e s , we mean e x a l t e d in t h e m s elve s , u n t i l t h ey w ere ready t o invite d e s t ru c t i o n a n d t h e d e s t ru c t i o n o f t h e i r w o r l d . A n t e r u i n a m exa Jt u r- " be fore d e s t r u c t i o n t h e h e ar t o f m a n is e x a l t e d . " St . A u g u s t i n e ' s w o r d s are s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e m o r e c om m o n p h r a s e : " P r i d e g o e t h b efore a fal l . " The e x a l t at ion d o e s not j u st p r e c e d e t h e d ownfall b u t i s c l o s e ­ ly a s s o c i a t e d w i t h it . W e b e c o m e r a s h and s e l f-wil l e d . W e c a n d o any t h i n g , s o w e w i l l d o a n y t h i n g , r e g a rdle s s of i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s . W e think w e a r e a s g o d s . T h e s e a r e t h e m a r k s of r e b e l l i o u sn e s s , not l e a s t t h e r e b e l l iou s n e s s o f the child . They are t h e m a r k s a l s o of t h e r a d i c a l t er r o rist s w h o now t a k e s u c h a l i c e n s e t o be s o c i e t y ' s avenge r s ; a n d i t m u s t t o s o m e e x t e n t b e t r u e of a n y s o c i e t i e s t h a t a r e fo unded on w h a t t oday we a b j e c t l y c a l l t h e y o u t h c u l t u r e . T h e r e are p at h et ic w a ifs all a r o u n d u s who have b e e n zealously i n st r u c t e d in Pride from t h eir cradle. Far from it b e ing o u r obj e ct t o s u b d u e i t in them, we h a v e m i n d le s s l y e x c i t ed i t i n t h e m . W e h a v e c o nfirmed i n t h e m t h e b e lief t h a t t h ere i s already i n s id e t h em a f u l l y d e v e l -

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o p e d s e lf, t h at t h e y are e q u i p p e d t o know t h a t self, and that armed with this s e l f-kn owledge they m a y d o a s t he y w i s h . T o s ay of children and t h e y o u n g t h a t " t hey a r e per­ s o n s , too," i s o b v i o u s l y t r u e to s om e e x t e n t , although w h a t is true a b o u t it i s u n i n t e r e s t i n g and b an a l . But u s e d a s i t is t od a y , it i s a r e c i p e f o r fre e i n g t h e c h i l d f r o m a l l r e s t r a in t , of e n c o u raging P r i d e in i t . I t b e c o m e s t o o p l e a s e d w i t h it s e l f . It h a s b e e n t a u g h t b o t h t o e x a l t i t s own p e r s o n a l i t y a n d y e t s e arch t h at p e r s o n al i t y only shallowly . From it c o m e s t h e a d u l t . W e have only t o l oo k at our­ selves t o s e e w h a t t e d i o u s and trivi al chroniclers w e have b e c o m e of o u r s e l v e s and our l i v e s . W e e x a l t w h a t i s l i t t l e m or e t h a n a s elf-intrigu ing b u t i d l e c u r i o s i t y a b o u t o u r s e l v e s i n t o t h e p r e t e n s e t h a t we are s e r i o u s l y engaged in t r y i n g to know o u r s e l v e s . Any glimmering of w h a t we fe el-what w e t h i n k we fee l , or feel w e f e e l , or s a y w e fe e l - w e c ou n t a s a g e n u i n e form of s elf- k n owledge . T h i s k n o w ledge i s a c c e s s i b l e , o f c o u rs e , o n l y t o e a c h o f u s as individu a l s . It i s thus s e t beyond a n y ch allenge b y o t h e r s , and m a y b e u s ed t o c l a i m t h e r i g h t t o do w h a t w e w an t , in r e s p o n s e t o a n y w h i m or fancy of t h e m om e n t . P e o p l e oft e n t alk t oday of t h eir " n e e d " t o expres s t h e m ­ s e l v e s in s o m e c h o i c e of t h e m o m e nt - ac t i o n , w o r d , g e s t ure- and t h i s " n e e d " i s t h e n p r e s ent ed a s t h e only j u s t ific ation that i s req u ired for t h e i r whim . T h i s i s t h e m o r a l i t y of t he c h i l d . P r i d e is t h e m o s t p e r s i s t e n t of o u r s in s . T h e urge t o t h e o t h e r s may w ax and w a n e , b u t Pride i s a fix t u r e in o u r n a t u re s . I t c o m e s e arly, it h a s been s a i d , and it s t a y s l a t e . It is t h e r e i n u s when w e are young . M i c hael O a k e s h o t t h a s t a lked o f t h e " sw e e t s o lip s i s m " of y o u t h , a n d t h i s s e l f-centered n e s s of t h e y o u n g i s engaging in a w a y . I t i s n a t u r a l that t h ey s h o u l d b e i n t e r e s t e d in find ing o u t w h o and w h a t t h e y are. T h e y o u n g have not y e t e n c o u n t ered the b o u n d aries of r e a l life; they d o n o t y et k n o w t h a t for everything a price h a s t o b e paid , t h a t w h a t w e use t o pay

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for one thing c annot t h e n b e u s e d t o p ay for a n o t h e r . T h e y o u n g are h ardly t o b e crit icized f o r t h i s c on d i t i o n ­ y o u t h would n ot be y o u t h without t h i s s w e e t s o l i p s i s m ­ but an a d u lt s o c i e t y c an b e c r i t i c i z e d f o r adu l a t i n g t h e m and even i m i t a t i n g t heir condit i o n . S o l i p s i s m h a s t h e s ame c h ar a c t e r i s t i c a s Pride: The s e lf b e c o m e s " t h e c e n ­ t e r a b o u t w h i c h t h e w ill and d e s ire revolv e . " T h at s u c h a beguiling b u t n atural c o n d i t i o n in t h e y o u n g s hould b e s o c onfirmed a n d e n c ouraged b y o u r s o c i et i e s t h a t i t b e c o m e s t h e n a t u ral and b e g u i l i n g c o n d i t i o n of a d u l t ­ h o o d is evidence o f t h e lic e n s e t h a t w e h a v e g i v e n t o Prid e . Spinoza calls Pride a "species of madness , wherein a man dreams with h i s e y e s o p e n , t h i n k i n g t h at he c a n a c ­ c omplish a l l t h i n g s t h a t f a l l w i t h i n t h e s c o p e of h i s c o n ­ c e p t i o n , a n d thereupon ac c oun t ing t h e m r e a l , s o l o n g as he i s u n a b l e t o c o n c e ive anything w h i c h e x c l u d e s their existence and determines h i s own p ow e r of act i o n . " I t s om e t i m e s s e e m s a s i f t h i s m a d n e s s i s abroad a s n e v e r b e f o r e . W e h a v e g i v e n a licen se t o e ve r y f o r m of n i h i li s m , which m a y s e e m t o b e t h e opp o s i t e o f P ri d e , b u t i s i n fac t a n extreme form of it a n d c an b e a p le a s u r a b l e o n e . I t i s n o t unp l e a s i n g , aft er a l l , t o d e n y a l l e x i s t en c e , e v e n t o m a k e e x i s t e n c e s e e m s e n s e le s s . I n it s m o r e g e n e r a l form s , n ih i l i s m fe e d s our Prid e . W e m a y d e c i d e w h a t is and i s not good, what i s and i s n o t a b s u r d , w h a t d o e s a n d d o e s n o t exi s t , what d e serves and d o e s n o t d e s e r v e t o live . It t e l l s u s t h at w e a r e g o d s in t hi s s m a l l m o m e n t i n which w e live . T h e k i n d s o f d e b a s e d n ihili s m t h a t r u n thro ugh s o m a n y a t t i t u d e s t oday a r e , l i k e Pride i t s e l f , a d e n i a l of human limit a t i o n s and t h e b o u n d a r i e s of r e a l life . The rebelliou s n e s s a g a i n s t t h e s e limit s n ow r u n s deep in us, and without an awaren e s s o f o u r own Pride w e w i l l not l e a r n what we have t o l e arn f r o m M a n s on ' s s t o r y , a n d w i l l d i s m i s s it a s j u s t a n o t he r c a s e of p sy c h o p a t h o l o g y . T h i s is n ot t o e x c u s e him , or t o s a y t h a t w e are l i k e him , or

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that we w o u l d in a n y circum s t an c e s act a s h e d i d . But i t i s t o s a y t h a t b e y o n d h i s s i c k n e s s , which w e d o not s h a r e , there l i e s a s infu l n e s s t h a t w e d o s h ar e . Sin a c t e d i n M an ­ s o n o n a s ic k m i n d . T h a t d o e s n o t e x e m p t u s from t h e s i n m e r e l y b e c a u s e our m i n d s are h e a l t h i e r . M an s o n a n d t h o s e w h o d i d t h i s b id d i n g did n o t s p r i ng f r o m a v a c u u m ; t h e y s prang f r o m a t im e and p l a c e t h at are o u r s a s w e l l a s t h e i r s . The r e b e l l i o u s n e s s of t h e s e l f a g ai n s t al l t h a t might c o n st r a i n it h a s b e e n g i v e n t o o l o o s e a r e i n f o r t o o l o n g . The o p p o s i t e o f P r i d e i s humility , but w h e n t h i s i s now m e n t i o n e d , o n e fin d s t h a t it is n o l on g e r h e l d i n very high regard . T h a t w e s h o u l d be s o u n c o mfort able at the thought of humility m a k e s us realize j u st h o w un­ c h e c k e d our Pride n o w i s b y o u r s o c i e t i e s . There is an u n s h ak a b l e a i r o f unreality i n o u r t u r n i n g in t o o u r s e l v e s and o u r p r i v a t e l i v e s for a l l o u r s a t i sfac­ t i o n s . O u r gratification in t h e m h a s an i m p l a u s ib l e q u ali­ t y o f d a y d r e a m i n g , o ft e n accompanied b y a m o r e p l a u s i ­ b l e qu ality of d e sp e r a t i o n . ( W e a re p l e a s e d w i t h our­ s e l v e s ! W e a re s a t isfied w i t h our lives! O u r p r ot e s t s are s u sp e c t . ) We do n ot have to look far to find w h o i n c i t e s t h i s daydreaming i n u s . I f o u r c om m e r c i a l s o c i e t i e s k n o w how s t r o n g l y t h e y m a y a p p e a l t o o u r A v a r ic e , t h e y know no l e s s how to s e e k o u t o u r Pride . T h e y w ou l d m u c h rather t h a t w e b e p l e a s e d w i t h o u r s e l v e s in o u r p r i v a t e live s , w h e r e w e m a y i n d e e d i m a g i n e t h at w e are a s g od s , t h a n t h a t w e b e d i s c o nt en t e d with o u r s o c i e t i e s a n d our r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h them. S o t h ey d i v ert us from any serious c oncern w i t h w h a t i s other t han us. In s hort , our s o c i e t i e s a p p e al t o t h e very s in in us t hat m u s t d e s t r o y t h e m , our s e lf- l o v e . I t h a s b e e n e x a l t e d a s t h e m o t i v e b y w h i c h our s oc i e t i e s m u s t b e drive n , w h e r e a s it i s t h e mot ive that m u s t u lt im a t ely u n d e r m i n e all s oc i a l b o n d s . There is n o w ay in w h i c h t h e c o n s ervative of d e e p l y moral impulse can pretend that these small-spirited s oc i e t i e s of o u r s are t h e s o ci e t i e s t h a t h e i s b i d d e n t o de-

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fen d . There is no way in w h i c h t h e l i b e r a l c a n pretend that he c a n any longer remain in an u n q u e st i oning and u n h o ly a l l i a n c e with a c ommercial s y st e m that a p p e a l s t o n o o t h e r m o t i v e t h a n t h o s e o f s e lf- l o ve and s e lf­ a p p r ov a l . There i s n o way even t h e s o c i a l i s t can hope t o c h ange t h o s e s oc i e t i e s u n le s s h e a p p e a l s t o a m oral order beyond t h a t which w e and o u r s o c i e t i e s have s o si ngle ­ mindedly e n t ertained for s o l o n g . Pride i s a s i n o f s e lf­ ishness- se l f - c e n t e redne s s , s e l f- s at is f ac t i o n , self - e x a l ­ t a t ion- and o n s e l fishne s s our s o c i e t i e s are fou nde d . I t i s t h e y t h a t h ave s t irred u p t h e m o t i v e of s e l f- l o v e t o o per­ s i s t e n t l y and for too l o n g ; they c an n o t t h e n b e surprised if it take s exotic and terrible for m s . Equally w e c a n n o t b e surprised t h a t , when p e o p le b e g i n t o l o o k for e x o t i c and terrible for m s o f s e l f- p l e a s ing, o u r c om m e r c i a l s o c i e t i e s a r e at once in t h e m ar k e t p l a c e t o s u p p l y t h e m . O u r c u l t ur e is not unaffe c t e d b y t h e e c o n o m i c s y s ­ t e m . S e e i ng the individual s e t a p a r t i n hi s i v o r y t o w e r . the priv a t e life t h at he e n j o y s a s a m e m b e r of the m i d d l e c l a s s , our c u l t u r e in t u rn h a s a s sured h i m t h a t t here he may a s an individual find h a p p i n e s s , at l e a s t s u c h h a p ­ p i n e s s a s m a y w i t h l u c k b e a t t a i n a b l e . O u r a rt and literature b o t h assist in the i s o l a t i o n of t h e individu a l . T h e y d e s c r i b e w h a t i s s u p p o s e d t o b e g o i n g on i n o u r ­ s e l v e s , including o u r re s p o n s e t o t h e m , u n t i l t h a t i s a l l t h a t intere s t s u s . The w i d e r s o c i e t y in w h i c h w e l i v e i s s i m p ­ l y a b s e n t from t h e m . ( After a l l , there i s n o t m u c h o f the wider s o c i e t y t o b e s h own in t h e b e d r o o m , where s o m u c h o f our literature and t he a t er and c i n e m a now hovers . ] P e r s on a l r e l at i o n s h i p s are c u l t i v a t e d at t h e e x ­ p e n s e o f a l l s oc i al r e l a t i o n s h i p s , b u t even t h e s e i n t h e end bring only t edium and s o l it u d e , and the individual is t hen e n c ouraged to retreat still furt h e r , from t h e tiny s p a c e that he h a s b e e n c ul t i v a t i n g a r o u n d h i m , int o a r e a l m o f " inner s p ac e " where h e w i l l f i n d and need t o c u l t i v a t e o n l y h i m s e lf. W h e n G o d a s k e d A d a m aft e r he h a d s i nned, " W h e r e a r t t h o u ? " i t w a s n o t b e c a u s e G o d did n o t

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k n o w , s i n c e h e k n o w s everyt h i n g , b u t b e c a u s e he w a s s c o lding A d am , reminding h i m that " t here r e a l l y w a s nowhere he c ould g o , once God w a s not in h i m . " H e w a s at l a s t o n l y in h i m s e lf, t here v a i n ly t o l o o k f o r s at i s fac­ t i o n . "Where art thou?" we m a y a s k o u r s e l v e s n o w , and we are nowhere, except in an inner empt i n e s s of ourselve s . I t i s from t h i s t h a t s o much o f t h e r e s t of o u r si n n i n g flo w s . I f t h e proud m a n i s approaching nothingne s s , S t . A u g u s t ine c o u l d n o t have fore s e e n t h at w e w o u l d s o r u s h t o e m b r a c e it . T h e c u r i o u s thing about o u r s e lf­ a b s o r p t i on- curiou s only u n t i l one t h i n k s about i t - i s t h a t it s e e m s t o b r i n g s o little c o n t e n t m ent . P e o p l e have never been more agi t ated about t h e m s e l v e s , w o n dering all the time whether t h e y are " a c t u alizing" their s e l v e s to t h e fu l l . Their l i t t le effo r t s are c a ll ed " self-improve­ ment," but a l w a y s a s elf-improvement , as i t t u r n s o u t , t h a t i s m e a s ured o n l y b y how g o o d o n e fe e l s a b o u t o n e s e lf. I n b o o k s t ores there a r e s e c t i o n s t h at are d e v o t e d t o " S e x u a l i t y and S elf-improveme n t , " a n d t h e pl a ci n g of the t w o together tells how s h a l l o w i s the exerci s e . P eo p le w a t c h their m o o d s and feelings n o w a s t h e y w a t c h the bathroom s c a l e s and turn t o new therapies i n the s am e w a y as t o new diet s . B u t t h i s s e arch f o r s e l f-p l e a s i n g brings n o c o n t e n t m en t . They are s t i l l agit a t e d . T h e r e m u s t b e b e t t e r . There m u s t b e m o r e . T h i s d i s c o n t e n t i s always one of the p u n i s hment s o f P r i d e , t h e c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e illu s i o n s o f s e lf- s u ffic i e n c y t h at i t e n c o urage s . B u t there i s a m or e p r o found c a u s e for t h i s aggrava­ tion. H u m a n beings are moral b e i ng s . O u r natures are moral nature s . M or a l i t y i s c o n cerned with the right n e s s a n d wrongn e s s of our a c t i on s , and our a c t i o n s affect n o t only o u r se l v e s b u t other p e o p l e . It h a s b e e n s aid in theological term s , "A m a n d o e s n o t m e et God, m u c h le s s evade G o d , in an e n c o u n t e r i s o l a t e d from h i s world and neigh b o r s " ; and it m a y equally be s a id t ha t , in a n en­ c ounter is olated from o t h er s , he m ay s u cceed in evading

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himself, b u t w i l l not m e e t h i m s e lf. M or a l i t y i s t h e c h o i c e between p o s s ib l e c o u r s e s o f a c t i o n . I f t h a t c h o i c e revolves round only o n e s e l f , there i s in fact n o c h o i c e at a l l , b u t merely a s u b m i s s i o n t o o n e o r other whim or i m ­ p u l s e . T h e r e i s n o r e a l w i l l o f one's own t o d e c i d e w h a t one s h ou ld d o . " I c a n never f i n d o u t w h at m y o w n w i l l i s b y merely brooding on my n a t u r a l d e si re s , or b y fo l l o w ­ ing my moment ary c ap r i c e s , " s a y s J o si ah R o y c e , and he reiterat e s , "Left to m y s e l f alone, I c a n never find out w h a t my w i l l i s , " b e c a u s e there i s never j u s t one d e s i r e p r e s e n t in u s b u t a heap o f c o n fl i c t i n g d e s ir e s . H ow c a n o n e d e c i de w h a t one o u g h t t o d o , if t h e o b j e c t i s o n l y o n e ' s s e l f- p leas ure , s i n c e s o many t h i n g s seem d e s i r a b l e at the s ame m o m e n t ? I f w e are ever t o b e a s fu lly o u r s e l v e s a s w e may b e , a c o ncern for others m u s t be present in o u r c h o i c e s . D u t y or loyalty or c o n s c ie n c e - c a l l it what one w i l l - m u s t c o n ­ s i s t e n t l y be o n e of t h e governors o f o u r a c t io n s . To s t r i p people o f t h e ir m or a l natures i s in f a c t t o s trip them a l s o of t h e p o s s ibility of fully b e i n g . S e l f- p l e a s i n g i s t h e v a n i ­ ty o f Pride , and it i s t h e f o r m t h a t i t m o st o b v i o u s l y t a k e s t o d a y . The p e r s o n w h o i s v a i n is emp t y . " V a i n d e s c r i b e s what is abs o l u t e l y l a c k i n g in value or w or t h , " according t o Web s t er 's , " or what i s re latively i n s ignifi c a n t o r u n ­ avail ing . " I f the s e l f i s t u r n e d in t o o n l y it s s e lf- p l e a s i n g , it i s this w o r t h le s s n e s s and i n s ign ific a n c e t h at it w i l l fi n d . T o p u n i s h h i m f o r h i s v a n it y , the g o d s m a d e N ar ­ c i s s u s f a l l in love w i t h h i s refl e c t i on , and g a z i n g at it he w a s t e d a w a y . He " d o e s not fal l in love w i t h h i s refl e c t i o n b e c a u s e it i s b e a u t i fu l , but bec a u s e i t i s h i s , " W . H . A u d e n s a i d . " I f it were h i s b e a u t y that enthralled h i m , he w o u l d b e s e t fre e in a few y e a r s b y i t s fad i n g . " That he w a s t e d away in h i s self-love i s only a s y m b o l o f t h e w a st i n g away o f lives that w e can s e e a l l around u s t od a y . T h e y are lives that are v a c a n t , i n the p u r s u i t of s e lf- p l e a s u r e , a s t h e e x p r e s s i o n s o n t he i r fac e s are v a c a n t . V ac a n t o f in­ tere s t . Vacant of p u rp o s e . Vacant o f experience. Vacant

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of c o m m i t m en t . O ur s oc i e t i e s are s a t i sfied t h a t they s h o u l d b e so, since in s u c h a t r a n s fixed state t h e y c a u s e n o trouble , and d o n o t q u e s t i o n w h e r e o u r s oc i e t i e s are leading u s . N a rc i s s u s loved h i m s e l f r a t h e r t h an t h e n y m ph s , and Auden even s u g g e s t s t h a t h e loved h i m s e l f for the s a t i s fa c t i o n of n o t loving t h e n y m p h s . There i s t h e same t rap in the P r i d e of o u r own age , in w h i c h s e lf-love i s e x ­ a l t e d a b o v e l o v e for o t h er s . T o i m a g i n e t h at o n e d o e s n o t need c o m m u n i t y w i t h o t h e r s i s a t er r i b l e form of Pride . The refu s a l b y many p e o p l e t od a y o f c o m m i t m e n t i n their personal l i v e s i s refle c t e d in a s imilar r efu s a l of c o m m i t ­ m e n t t o the w i d e r s oc i e t y . H u m a n b ei n g s h a v e a n e e d for s o c i a l e x i s t e nc e , and by that one d o e s not m e a n g o i n g t o c o c k t a i l p ar t i e s o r t o s i n g l e s b a r s , b ot h o f w h i c h repre­ s e n t the o p p o s i t e of s o c ial e x i s t en c e and are s u b s t i t u t e s f o r i t . T h e w i s h t o b e J o nathan Livi n g s t o n S e agull a few years ago w as a w i s h to b e fre e of all s u c h e ngagement , c ommitment , and involvement , t o do w h a t m a n c annot do, g l i d e c arefree o n t h e wind and breeze, above and beyond the m und ane life o f h i s world . If it was t h o u g h t that t h e f l i g h t of J on a t h a n Li v i n g s t o n S e ag u l l , a s one commentator said, "romantically s y m b olized the free s p ir i t o f the heroic i n d iv i d u a l , " then it was the f al s e s t k i n d o f romant i c i s m . I t s u i t e d t h e t i m e , t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t o n e can b e free a n d h e r o i c a n d s trong in i s o l a t i o n , and perhaps only in i s o l a t i o n . It led q u ic k l y to d i s il l u s i o n , b u t n o t t o t h e p u l li n g u p o f t h e r o o t , the fal s e a n d exaggerated individualism of o u r age . T h e individual h a s merely t urned further in to b e unheroic . Unheroic b u t s t i l l alone; a l o n e and s o s t i l l fre e . The fre e d o m t h at is claimed i s the free d o m fro m r e s p o n s ib i l i ­ t y , f o r anyone e l s e o r for t h e w i d e r s o c i e t y , a n d w i t h t h e fre e d o m fro m r e s p o n s ib i l i t y g o e s the free d o m f r o m guilt . The s u p p o s e d i n n o c e n c e of a few y e a r s a g o has given w a y t o a prevailing cyn i c i s m - t h e r i p - off i s now a proclaimed w a y of life - b u t what h a s b e e n c om m o n t o b o t h m o o d s h a s b e e n t h e s e l f-ex c u s i n g from a n y feelings

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of g u i lt . I n b o t h c a se s , there is Prid e . Whether o n e is c la i m i n g t o b e s o innocent t h a t t h e morality o f one's ac­ tions is b e y o n d any q u e s t i o n , or s o uninnocent t h a t it i s irre l e v a n t t o r a i s e a n y q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e ir m o r a l i t y a t a l l , o n e i s a g a i n s e t t ing o n e s e l f a b o v e and apart from s o c i e t y w i t h n o j u dge of one's a c t i o n s but o n e s e l f . Our s oc i e t i e s are c o n t en t t h at t h e i r m e m b e r s s h o u l d t h u s a b ­ s o lve t h e m s e l v e s fr om r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d g u i l t , for, if s u c h fe e l i n g s w ere t o o v e r t a k e them , t h e y m ig h t b e g i n to c oncern themselves w i t h how t h e s e s oc i e t i e s are t h e m ­ s e l v e s organized and t o w h a t end s . A p e o p l e a b s o rb e d i n s e l f- l o v e w i l l n ot b e m o v e d b y l o v e f o r t h e i r n e i g h b o r s t o i n q u i r e how their s oc i e t i e s a r e c aring f o r t h o s e l e s s for­ t u n a t e than t h e m s e l ve s . The s elf-love o f P r i d e t o d ay i s more u n b r i d l e d t h a n a t any other t im e . N o t h ing i s s e t a g a i n s t t h e i n d i v i d u a l , nourished t o be presumptuous and vain , t o command his d u t y or his l o y a l t y , e x c e p t t h e p o w e r o f t h e s t a t e , a power t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l t h e n b o a s t s o f evad i n g . Since t h e s t a t e i s fe ared , and c e r t a i n l y i s n o t l o v e d , t he i n d i v i d u a l i s r e l e a s e d s t i l l fu r t h e r , t o d o s i m p l y w h a t he w i l l . T h e s o c i e t y and c u l t ure i n fact egg him o n t o m or e a n d g r e a t e r a c t s o f P r i d e , f o r a s a s e lf-p l e a s i n g i n d i v i d u a l h e c a n e a s i ­ ly b e a p p e a s e d b y m e r e t r i fle s . I n r e i n f o r c i n g t h e d i s ­ t orted c l a i m s of t h e individu a l , o u r c u l t ure h a s b o t h c o n ­ s c i o u s l y and u n c o n s c i ou s l y d o n e t h e b id d i n g of c o m ­ merce , and h e l p e d t o d e s t roy e v e r y i n st it u t i o n t h a t m i g h t have re s i s t e d i t . I f there i s t od a y n o a v a n t - g arde feared b y t h o s e in p o s i t i o n s o f p ower and infl u e nc e , the r e a s o n i s s o c ia l and not a e s t h e t i c . I n fac t , it i s p ol i t i c a l . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g for t hem t o f e a r from o u r a r t or our l i t e r a t ure , w h i c h c a n be left t o e n t ert a i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l , while the c ommercial s y s t em s a t i a t e s h i m . T o k e ep u s quiet, w e are made trivia l . T h e w or k i n g of Pride i n u s w i l l b e s ee n i n t h e r e s t of t h e s i n s . B u t it i s w o r t h r e t urning f o r a m o m e n t t o t he fac t t h a t h u m i l i t y i s t od a y l o o k e d u p o n w i t h s u c h s c a n t

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regard t h at it is a l m o s t e m b a r r a s s in g t o m e n t i o n i t . There is a c o m m o n m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g in t h i s r e s p o n s e . A fal s e h u m i l i t y is n o m o re t o b e p r a i s e d t h an a fal s e pride , d e p r e c i a t ing o n e s e l f t o o m u c h i s a s wrong a s e s t e e m i n g o n e s e l f t o o m u c h . A c c o rding t o A r i s t o t l e in h i s t a b l e o f virtues a n d vic e s , i f " m a g n a n i m i t y " or a p r o p e r p r i d e i s t h e m e a n , and v a n i t y i s i t s e x c e s s , it s defi c i e n c y i s w h a t he c a l l s " p u s i l l a n i m it y . " "The m a n w h o h a s t o o l o w an opinion o f h i s o w n worth i s p u s i l l a n i m o u s , a n d i t makes no d i ffe r e n c e whether h i s worth i s g r e a t or moderate or l i t t l e , if his opinion o f it i s t o o l o w . " T o b e h u m b l e is n o t to "put one s e l f d o w n , " a s the p h r a s e i s now u n d er s t o o d . H u m i l i t y is defined by S t . T h o m a s Aquinas a s "a p r a i s eworthy d e p r e c i a t i o n o f oneself t o the v ery l o w e s t degree , " but t h e v i t a l me aning here i s t h a t t h e s el f­ depreciation w i l l not b e p r a i s e w o r t h y i f i t i s fa l s e . O n e c a n als o s in b y t h i n k ing t o o l i t t l e or t o o m e a n l y o f o n e s e lf. A s he le a v e s t h e proud in p u r g a t o r y , t h e Angel o f H u m i l i t y c o m e s t o D an t e , t o l e a d h i m t o t h e next c o r n i c e , and even in t r a n s l a t i on o n e c a t c h e s t h e r ad i a n c e o f t h e moment:

On came t h e bea u t eo u s crea t u re , clot h e d i n w h i t e , A n d s ee m ing a s h e c a m e i n cou n te n a n c e A s t a r of d a w n a l l trem u lou s w i t h ligh t . H e s p re a d h i s arm s a broad, a n d s pread h i s van s, A n d , " Com e, " s a i d h e, "th e s t a i r s are n i g h ; h en ceforth An e a s ier cli m b i s yours and e very m a n 's . " A s h e leave s P r i d e b e h i n d him , " v o i c e s i n our e a r I S a n g out Bea t i p a u peres spiritu: N o t ongue c o u l d t e l l h o w s w e e t they were t o h e ar . " I t i s t h e fir s t o f the b e a t i t u de s . " B l e s s e d a r e t h e p o o r i n spirit"-the h u m b le-"for t he i r s i s t h e k ingdom of h e a v e n . " I f w e a r e t o u n d e r s t a n d the s h i m m ering of the a n g e L the meaning o f h u m i l i t y , i t i s worth s ee i n g h o w D an t e

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u s e s the w ord in other c o n t ex t s . "W h e n I b e h e l d B e a t r i c e t h e r e s m o t e i n t o me a f l a m e o f c h a r i t y s o t h at i f a n y o n e had a s k e d me a b o u t a n y t h ing w h a t s oe v e r , m y r e p l y w o u l d have b e e n s i m p l y , Love , w i t h a c o u n t e n a n c e c l o t h e d in u m i l i t o . " Aga i n , " S h e b o r e a b o u t her s o t r u e an u m i l i t a , that she seemed to s ay , I am in p e a ce . " Y e t a g a i n , " S h e g o e s u p o n her w a y , h e a r i n g h e r s e lf prai s e d , b e n i g n ­ ly c l o t h e d w i t h u m i l i t a , a n d s e e m s a t h i n g c o m e from heaven t o earth to show for t h a mirac le . " A s D or o t h y S ayers s a y s o f t h e s e e x a m p le s , "The c o n n o t a t i o n i s a l w a y s of p e a c e , s w e e t n e s s , and a k i n d of s u s p e n s i o n of t h e heart in a delighted t r a n q u i l it y . " This i s hardly a h u m i l i t y t h a t w e c a n t h i n k i t n ec e s s ary or even d e s i ra b l e t o rej e c t , a n d when w e t h i n k o f t h o s e arou n d u s w h o have b e e n h a p p i e s t i t i s s ome degree o f humility i n t he m that a b o v e all w e remember. I n the peace a n d s w e e t n e s s that i s d e s c r i b e d b y D a n t e , w e are far from the b o a s t i n g and presump t u o u s n e s s and s t ri fe o f Pride . W h i c h would a m a n of c om m o n s e n s e w i s h t o e n j o y ? The found at i o n of h u m i l i t y i s t r u t h . T h e h u m b l e m a n s e e s h im s e lf a s he i s . I f h i s d ep r e c i a t i on o f h i m s e l f w e r e u n t r u e , as w e have s a i d , i t w o u l d n o t b e p r a i s ew o r t h y , and w o u l d b e a form of hy poc ri s y , w h i c h i s o n e o f t h e e v i l s o f P r i d e . The m an w h o i s f a l s e l y h u m b l e , we k n ow from our o w n e x p erie n c e , i s o n e w h o i s fa l s e l y p r o u d . B u t " t he s a i n t s c ou l d trut hfully c a l l t h e m s e l v e s t h e great e s t o f s inners w h e n t h e y c o n s i d e red t h e i r great gifts fr om God and the i n a d e q u a t e return t h a t t h e y m a d e . " The h u m b le man not only s e e s h i m s e l f t r u t h fu l l y , h e s e e s h i m s e l f truthfully in r e l a t i o n t o o t h e r s . W i t h o u t d e p r e c i a t i n g h i m s e l f i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y , h e m ay neverthe l e s s b e m o s t aware o f h i s o w n defect s o n t h e o n e h a n d , and o n t h e o t h e r of t h e v i r t u e s of o t h e r p e o p l e . H e may rej o i c e in t he i r g i ft s , w h i l e k n ow ing h o w he h a s m i s ­ u s e d h i s o w n . I n n e i t h e r c a s e w i l l h e b e fals e . " D i l e t t a n t i s m , h y p o t h e s i s , s p e c u l at i o n , a k i n d o f a m a t e u r - s e a r c h for Trut h , t oy i n g a n d c o q u e t t ing w i t h

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Truth: t h i s is t h e s or e s t s i n , " s ai d C ar l yl e . "The root of a l l o t h e r imaginable s i n s . I t c o n s i s t s in the h e art and s o u l o f t h e m a n never h a v i n g b e e n o p e n t o T r u t h - ' l i v i n g i n a v a i n s h o w . " ' O n e w ould be hard p u t t o it t o c al l Carlyle a h u m b le m a n . B u t n o m a t t e r . H e h a d a w ay of p u t t i ng h i s f i n g e r on aspect s o f t h e m o d ern age t h a t o t h e r s preferred t o ignore . T h e b e s e t t i n g sin o f our time i s that it w ill n o t t a k e Truth w it h e n ough s e r i o u s n es s , a s oft en a s n o t w i t h n o r e a l s eriou s n e s s a t a l l . O n e i s n o t t a l k i n g of credibility gap s . N either i s o n e t al k i n g of what may b e believed b y o n e p e r s o n of a n o t h e r . O n e i s s p e ak i ng of a failure t o a c k n owledge t h e c o m p l e x i t y of t h e T ru t h o f t h i n g s and t h e difficulty of at t aining it . I n n o t h i n g is our Pride m o r e e v i d e n t than in t h i s . We a re n ou r i s h e d t o t oy and c o q u e t w i t h i t . A hundred l i t t l e - o l ogie s s p a w n a t ho u s and little t h e ra p ie s , for o u r s e l v e s and o u r s o c i et i e s , a n d w h at we t h i n k we have d i s c overed for the fir st t im e we place b e fore all t h e k n ow l e d g e o f t h e past, t h u s furt her rele a s ­ i n g o u r s e l v e s t o d o s imply w h a t we w i l l . We h ave n o h u m i l i t y b e fore the pa st , and not m u c h b e fore t h e fut ure e i t h e r . A s a l w a y s w h e n h u m i l i t y i s a b ­ s e n t , we s t and in n o truthful r e l a t i o n t o t h e p a s t , or e v e n t o t h e fu ture f o r w h i c h we have s o m e r e s p o n s i b i li t y . W e a r e a b s orbed i n t h e p r e s e n t , which i s o nly another w a y , but o n e t h a t h e l p s t o underline t h e d a n g e r , of s aying t h a t we a r e a b s or b e d in ourselve s . W e will " s el f- a c t u alize" the present as w e w ill o u r s e lv e s ; w e will l i v e in " n ow" with o n l y the resources of n o w . W e e v e n r efu s e t o l i s t e n s e r i o u s l y t o t h e m o s t truthful v o i c e in o u r c u l t u re at t h e m o m e n t : that o f a s ci e n c e t h a t h a s learned humility in our o w n age and pr ofit e d from it . A s w e find it r u n n i n g t h r o u g h the re s t o f the s i n s , it i s w o r t h c o n s idering t h a t we may be more l o v e le s s a n a g e t h a n a n y in the p a s t , s e l f­ s u ffic i e n t in o u r s e l v e s i n o u r own t i m e .

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IT HAS B E E N s aid t h a t E n v y i s t h e o n e d e a d l y sin t o w h i c h n o one readily c o n fe s s e s . I t s e e m s t o b e t h e n a s t i e s t , t h e m o s t g r i m , t h e meane s t . S n e ering, s l y , v i c i ou s . The f a c e o f E n v y i s n e v e r lovely . I t i s n e v e r e v e n fa intly p l e a s a n t . I t s expr e s s i on c r o s s e s our fac e s in a s p l i t s e c o nd . "Few are able t o s u p p r e s s in t h em s e l v e s a s e c re t s a t i s f a c t i o n at t h e m i s fo r t u n e o f t h ei r fri e nd s , " s aid La R ochefou c a u l d , a n d f e w o f u s a r e a b l e t o s u p p r e s s a secret envy a t s om e o n e e l s e ' s g o o d fort u n e , o r e v e n at s o m e o n e e l s e ' s good j o k e . If we c o n fe s s e d each day how often we had been e n v i o u s during it, w e w o u l d be o n our k n e e s longer t h an for any other of the s i n s . Although a l l t h e de adly s i n s a r e m or b i d a n d s e l f­ d e s t roying , A n g u s W i l s o n h a s s a i d , m o s t of the o t h e r s p r o v i d e at l e a s t s om e grat ific ation i n t h e i r e a r l y s t age s . B u t there i s n o gratifi c a t i o n for Env y , n o t h i n g it c a n ever enj o y . Its appetite never c e a s e s , yet it s o n ly s a t i s f a c t i o n i s endle s s s e l f- t o rm e n t . " I t h a s the ugline s s of a t r a p p e d rat that h a s gnawed i t s own feet in i t s effort s t o e s c a p e . " O n e think s of E n v y a s b e i n g a d r a g on s o m e o n e , holding him back , w i t h n o reward or p le a s ure or h e l p t o him . The endless s e l f-t orment i s an endless s e lf-mortifi c a t i o n . Each o f t h e o t h e r s i n s m a y b r i n g w h at at l e a s t t emporari­ ly s e e m t o b e m om e n t s o f elevation , w h e n w e t h i n k t h a t we a r e set b y them above other p e op l e . B u t t h e slit e y e s o f Envy are always turned u p or a s i d e t o w h at it t h i n k s i s s u p e rior t o i t . I t s p o s t ure i s t h a t of U r i a h H e e p . H e m ay h a v e been d r i v e n b y o t h e r s o f t h e s i n s a s w el l- A v a r i c e , f o r example - b u t t h e r e a l m o t i v e in h i m w a s E n v y , which

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a l w a y s i s s el f- a b a s i n g . H owever h i g h E n v y m a y a p p e ar t o a s p ire , it in fact i s s ervile . It never s t raigh t e n s it s b a c k . O n e o f the d e s t ru c t ive forms t h a t E n v y t a k e s t oday i s t h e w i d e s p r e a d as s u m p t i o n t h a t every o n e s h o u l d b e a b l e t o d o and e x perience and e n j o y everything t h a t everyone else c a n d o and experience and e n j o y . W e must all plod through Th e Joy of Sex a s i f it i s t h e C an a d i a n A i r Force b o o k o f exerci s e s . " A l l t ogether n o w ! O n e - t w o - t hr e e ­ fo u r ! " I f we h e ar t h a t s om e p e op l e p e r f o r m t h e s e x u a l a c t while s w inging f r o m a c h a n d e l i e r , w e f e e l wretched because we have not d o n e it and w e d o n o t e v e n have a c h andelier . P e o p l e w h o have b e e n w h o l l y c o n t e n t i n t h e i r own n at u r e s , and i n t h ei r expre s s ion of t h e m , are s u d d e n ­ ly p e r s u aded t h a t t h e y have been m i s s ing s om e t hing . N o s oc i e t i e s in t h e p a s t h av e ever s o a s s i d u o u s l y t aught p e o ­ p l e t o envy experiences t h a t c annot b y n at u r e b e t h e ir s . S om e o n e o n c e p u t o u t a p a r o d y under t h e t i t l e , The Jo b of Sex , and it e x a c t ly c ap t u r e s t h e ardu o u s n e s s of t he s elf­ torment t o which Envy r e d u c e s u s . This form o f Envy s p r e a d s i n t o a l l o u r a t t i t u d e s . N o t o n l y m u s t w e a l l b e a b l e t o read p o e t r y , which i s d e s i r a b le , w e m u s t a l l b e a b l e t o w r i t e it . T i m e a n d energy are wasted in t e ac h i n g " c r e a t iv e writ ing" to those who are u n e q u i p p e d for it ; and e v e n m o r e t im e a n d energy are wasted in inciting c h ildren t o for m s o f " s e lf- expre s si o n " o f which their i n f a n t n a t u r e s a r e i n c a p ab l e , e x c e p t on t h e m o s t b an a l o f leve l s , and w h i c h n o u r i s h fals e n o t i o n s o f w h a t their adult n a t u r e s might e v e n t u a l l y b e c o m e if t he y w e r e r e a l i s t i c a l l y a n d intelligently direct ed . W e a r e t o ­ day surrounded b y y ou n g p e o p l e w h o t hi n k t hat t h e y are art i s t s and p o e t s , b e c a u s e they t h ink t h a t t h e y h ove t h e righ t to b e art i s t s a n d p o e t s . They d a b b l e a n d d a u b w i t h no talen t . I t w o u l d b e h ard t o c o u n t t h e n u m b e r o f t h e m w h o , in the a b s e n c e o f a t a l e n t t o writ e or p aint , fois t t h e m s e l v e s on u s a s filmmak e r s , o r w h o have t a k e n u p p h o t ography a s a n a r t form t h a t w i l l n e v e r t he l e s s b r i n g a c o mmercial reward as w e l l . They are a rt i s t s , have a right

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t o b e artis t s , and m u s t b e acknowledged a s art i s t s , and a camera will s erve i n p l a c e of any art i s t i c v i s i o n o r s k i l l . The l e g e n d o f o u r t i m e s , i t h a s b e e n s u g g e st e d , m i g h t b e " T h e Revenge of Failure . " T h i s i s w h a t E n v y h a s d o n e for u s . If W e c annot p aint w e l l , w e will d e s t r o y the c a n o n s of p a i n t ing and p a s s o u r s e l v e s off a s p aint e r s . If w e will n o t t a k e the t r o u b le t o w r i t e p oetry , we w i l l d e s t r o y t h e rule s o f p r o s o d y and p a s s o u r s e l v e s off as p o e t s . I f we are n o t i n c l i n e d t o t h e r i g o r s o f an a c a d e m i c di s c i p l i n e , w e w i l l d e s t r o y the st andards o f t h a t d i s c ip l i n e and p a s s o u r s e l v e s o f f as gradu a t e s . I f we c a n n o t o r w i l l n o t r e a d , w e will s ay that " linear t h o u g h t " i s now irrel evant a n d s o d i s p e n s e with r e a d i n g . I f w e c an n o t m a k e m u s i c , w e w i l l s i mply m a k e a n o i s e and p e r s u a d e o t h er s t h at it i s m u s ic . If w e c a n d o n o t h i n g a t a l l , w h y ! w e w i l l s t r u m a g ui t ar all d a y , and c a l l it s e lf- expr e s s i o n . As long as n o t alent i s r e ­ q uired, n o appre n t i c e s hip t o a s k i l l , e v e r y o n e c a n d o i t , and we are all m agically m a d e e q u a l . E n v y h a s at l e a s t m o m e n t arily b e e n a p p e a s e d , and failure h a s h a d i t s revenge . ' Envy grow s n a t u r a l l y , s ai d Ari s t o t l e , in r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t ween e q u a l s . "We live in a s o c i e t y t hat p e rha p s as much as any other h a s pitted e q u a l s against e q u a l s , " w r i t e s W i l l i am F . M a y , but I t h i n k t h a t he m i s s t a t e s h i s p o i n t . T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and other W e st ern s o c ie t i e s a r e not p i t t i n g e q u al s a g a i n s t e q u al s , b u t u n e q u a l s again s t u n e q u als as if t h e y a r e e q u a l s . Thi s i s a d i s t o r t i o n o f t h e i d e a o f e q u al i t y , and it i s t h i s d i s t or t i o n , a s m u c h as anything e l s e , t h a t h a s e n a b led t h e enemies of g e n u i n e e q u ality t o m o v e t o t h e o ffe n sive . To p i t u n e q u al s agains t u n e q u a l s as if t h e y are e q u als i s t o m a k e a breeding ground for Envy . The i d e a t h a t w e are e q u al h a s been perverted i n t o t h e i d e a t h a t w e are identical; and when we then find that w e c an n o t all d o a n d experience and en­ joy the things t h a t o t h e r s do and e x p e r ience and enj o y , w e t ak e our r e v e n g e a n d d e n y t h a t t he y were w o r t h d o i n g and experie n c ing a n d e n j o y i n g i n t h e fir s t p l ace . What we

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are unable t o achieve , we w i l l b ring l o w . W h at r e q u i r e s t a l e n t and training a n d hard work , w e w il l s h o w c a n b e a c c o m p l i s h e d w ithout t h e m . W . H . A u d e n once s ai d t h a t h e c ou l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d the p o i n t o f writing p oetry if o n e d i d n o t o b e y at l e a s t t h e b a s i c ru le s of p r o s o d y . I t w a s l i k e d o i n g a c r o s s w o r d p uz­ zle and, on b e i n g u n a b l e t o find t h e correct w o r d of seven l e t t e rs , writ ing in one o f nine l e t t e r s that s p i l l s over t h e margin. Where i s t h e p o i n t and s a t isfac t i o n in t ha t ? The s a m e can b e asked o f m u c h o f the revenge t h at Envy i s t ak ing t o d a y t o c on c e al the s en s e o f failu r e t h a t g n a w s at it. We are g i v i ng the name of art t o w h a t i s not art , of p o etry t o what i s n o t poetry, o f education to what i s not e d u c a t i o n , of achievement t o what i s n ot achievement , o f m o rality t o what i s not m o r a l i t y , and of l ov e t o w h a t is not l o v e . W e trivialize o u r c o n c ep t s of them all , t o m a k e it s e e m as if w e m a y all a t t a i n t h e m . N on e o f u s i s wholly e x e m p t fr om t h e corrup t i o n . We find n o p l a c e for the u ni q u e , for w h at is rare and cannot b e i m i t at e d , s i n c e we w o u l d then not b e able t o achieve i t . W e s e e m n o longer able t o admire, r e s p e c t , or b e grateful for w h at i s n o b ler o r lovelier or greater than o u r s e lv e s . W e m u s t pull d o w n - or put d o w n - what i s e x c e pt ion a l . W h a t d o w e fee l , w h e n we fe el E n v y ? I t i s not a q u e s ­ t i o n o f s eeing t h a t s o m e o n e e l s e p o s s e s s e s s o m e g o o d , m a t erial or s p i r i t u al , and w i s hing t h a t w e p o s s e s s e d i t o u r s e lv e s . I m a y w i s h t h a t I c o u l d writ e a s w e l l a s X , o r w a s a b l e t o afford a library l i k e Y ' s , and yet n o t b e e n ­ v i o u s of the m . I feel Envy only i f the fact s t h at X w r it e s s o w e l l , a n d that Y h a s the b e s t e d i t i o n s of all t h e c l a s s ic s , m a k e m e b e l i t t l e m y s e l f and m y c o n d i t i o n , a n d s o w i s h t o p u l l X a n d Y d o w n . Envy i s n o t merely a grieving on a c ­ c o u n t of a n o t h e r ' s g o o d , w h i c h i s t h e element o f Pride in i t , b u t a grieving because o n e regard s t h at g o o d as d i m i n i s h i n g one's own a n d e v e n a s refle c t i n g d i s grace on o n e s e lf. This i s its e s s en c e as a sin. "M erely to grieve t h a t

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o n e d o e s n ot have s o m e t h in g t h a t another h a s i s n o t envy , " s ay s one of t h e a u t h o rized handb o o k s o f moral t h e o logy . It is a s i n w h e n t h e env i o u s p e r s o n wishes t h a t t h e other did not have i t , s o that h e him s e l f "might n o t s u ffe r h i s imaginary d i s a d v a n t ag e . " T h i s i s t h e c an k e r , and we have been w arned that Envy i s " n at u ral t o m a n " [ H e r o d o tu s ) , that it is one o f the s p a rk s t h a t " s e t all o n fire" [ D an t e ) , a n d t h a t i t i s " r o o t e d in t h e h u m a n h e ar t " [ S he r i d an ) . W e m u s t b e on g u ard a g a i n s t it i n o u r s e l ve s , b u t any s o c i e t y m u s t b e e q ually o n guard a ga i nst i n ­ c it i n g , more t h an it already e x i s t s in u s , a p a s s i o n s o u n i ­ v e r s a l , a n d o n e that in t u rn i n c i t e s p a s s i o n s t h a t are n o l e s s v i c i ou s . " S t i rr'd w i t h e n v y and revenge" i s M i l t on's phra s e , and Envy c an s t ir u p Anger a n d Avarice a n d Lus t in u s , and i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h P r i d e , even t h o ugh a perverted form of P r i d e , hardly need s to b e e m p h a s i z e d . O n e o f the s y m p t o m s of this Envy i s d e j ec t i o n . I t m a y b e c e a s ele s s l y alert t o what i t r e s e n t s , b i t i n g i t s nail s , b u t a s f o r d oing s ometh ing f o r i t s e l f , it i s r e d u c e d t o a k i n d o f S l o t h . [We are a l r e a d y s eeing how c lo s ely the s i n s are i n ­ t e rrelated . ) The enviou s are f i l l e d f r o m d a y t o d a y , hour t o h o u r , m i n u t e t o minute, w i t h a b i t t er regret for w h a t t h e y c an n ot have or b e ; and o n e way of at le a s t a t t e m p t ­ ing t o s urmount that d e j e c t i o n is t o d e n y t h a t what t h e y lack w a s worth h aving or being in t h e fir s t p l a c e . T h e e n ­ v i o u s p e r s o n is a r m e d with a ready m a l i c e , and if he h a s " a peculiar g ift for chipping away at t h e r e p u t a t i o n s o f o t h er s , " if he is e sp e c i a l l y adept a t not icing and p o inting out their fault s , that i s one o f h i s escapes from h i s d e j e c ­ t i o n . E n v y m u s t a l w a y s t r y to l e v e l what it c a nnot emulate , and o n e can w e l l u n d e r s t and t h e vehemence with which t h e P a r s o n in Th e Ca n t er b u ry Ta les calls it " t h a t fou l s i n . . . , t h e w o r s t s i n there is," b e c a u s e it i s " a g a i n s t all v i r t u e s a n d g o o d n e s s e s . " O n e o f t h e e v i l s into which E n v y l e a d s u s i s that o f b a c k b i t i n g . S p i t e , mali gnity , accu s a t i o n . I t i s w e l l u n ­ d e r s t ood that t o t a k e a w a y s om e o n e ' s g o o d n a m e i s s e c -

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o n d only t o murder a s an offe n s e a g a i n s t t h e m ; it i s i t s e l f a way of d e s t roying t h e m . The g o s sip c ol u m n i s t h e s y m ­ b o l o f an e n v i o u s age , and s o i s t h e c o n t e m p or ary f o r m o f t h e interv iew , which s e e m s d e s ig n e d t o e n s u r e , i n the s ame manner a s t h e g o s s ip c o l u m n , t h a t v i r t u e and talent and achievement w ill b e red uc ed t o t h e level at which w e c a n fe e l that we are t h e i r e q u a l s . T h e y are " j u s t l i k e u s , " e v e n a l i t tle l o w er t h a n u s . N othing i s allowed t o s e e m o u t o f the ord inary, b e y ond o u r own a b i l i t i e s , and e v e n b e y o n d o u r u n d er s t an d i n g . " I s n ot h i n g s acred a n y m o r e ? " is a cry of o u r a g e a n d , e v e n a l l o w ing f o r t h e s e c ularization of t h e s ac r e d , it r e a c h e s t o a p ar t i c u l a r s i n ­ ful n e s s of E n v y . The s acred i s what we c an n o t e n t irely k no w or m a s t e r a s h u m a n b e i n g s , and when we a l l o w e d a p l a c e t o it in earlier age s , w e d id not fe e l the need to h u m b l e t h e things that we were unable t o understand o r control. W e even r e a l ized that s om e t h i n g s are a s t h e y are , s i m p l y a s a r e s u l t of fat e or for t u n e or a c c i d e n t , a n d t h at t h e y might no l e s s d e s erve our respect and admirat i o n . W e can hard­ ly expect the g o s s i p c o l u m n i s t s and t h e interviewers t o p u t o ff their s h o e s and c o n s id e r t h a t t h e y m ay b e w a l k i n g on holy ground . That i s not w h a t one is a s k ing of t h e m . B u t t h e r e i s s om e t h i n g s i n ful in an age t h a t h a s spa w n e d them and seem s a b l e only t o sm irk w i t h them at whatever s u r p a s s e s o u r own achievem e n t s . Envy c an n o t b e ar t o think t h a t m e r e accident or fo rtune-or some other u n k n o w ab le p o w e r , fat e or d e s t i n y , or perh a p s even G o d - h a s c o nferred a good on s o m e o n e else. There has t o b e a re a s o n , and if only it c o u l d find that reason, it persuades i t s el f from day t o d a y , it c ould a l s o e n j o y t h a t g o o d . T h i s i s w h a t w h e t s i t s a p p e t i t e for s e lf- t o rm e n t . I t will n o t a l l o w for chance or admit the u n k n o w a b l e , s o i t b i t e s its n a il s , b e li eving t h a t there i s a s ecret t h a t it h a s only t o d i s c ov e r t o s u c c e e d as a n o t her s u c c e ed s , e x p e r i e n c e a s a n o t h e r e x p e ri e n c e s , e n ­ j o y a s another e n j o y s . T h i s i s w h a t i s profane in E n v y . I t

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w i l l n o t e m b r a c e what i s fat e-given , c h a n c e - g i v e n , or G o d -give n . It w i l l n o t l e t i n t o i t s heart the n o t i o n t h a t t h o s e of u s w h o are o n l y m e d i o c r e a r e n o t therefore n e c e s s arily t o b e counted a s fai l u re s ; and so it e q u a l l y w i l l n o t l e t i n t o i t s he art t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h o s e who e x c e l c a n ungru dgin g l y b e given o u r admirat ion a n d r e s p e c t w ith n o d i m i n i s h i n g o f o u r s e lv e s . T h e e n v i o u s p e r s o n i s m o v e d , fir st a n d l a s t , b y h i s o w n l a c k of s e l f- e s t e e m , w h i c h i s a l l the m o r e tormenting b e c a u s e it s prings fr om an inordinate s e l f- l o v e . T o c r i t ic ize a p u b l i c f i g u r e fro m d e e p l y h e l d p o l i t i c a l or r e l igiou s , m oral or a e s t h e t i c , c on vic t i o n s i s o n e thing. T o c h ip a w a y at h i s o r her r e p u t a t i o n fro m n o p u b l i c b e l i e f at a l l i s a n o t h e r . B u t o u r society i s r i d d l e d w i t h t hi s k i n d o f E n v y . " T h e d u l l a rd's e n v y o f b r i l l i ant m e n , " s a i d M ax B e erbohm in Zu l e i k o D o b s on , " i s a l w a y s a s s u ag e d b y the s u sp i c i o n that they will come t o a b a d e n d . " We fe e l cheated b y o u r n e w s p ap e r s a n d m ag a z i n e s i f no o n e i s leveled in t h e d u s t in t h e m . W e w a i t in am b u s h f o r t h e n o v e l t h a t fail s , f o r the p o e t w h o c o m m it s s u i c i d e , f o r t h e fi nancier w h o i s a c r o o k , f o r the p o l i t i c i an w h o s l i p s , for the p ri e s t who is d i s c overed t o be an a d u l t e r e r . W e lie in a m b u s h for them a l l , so t h at w e may g l o a t at t he i r m i sfor­ t u n e s . It h a s long b e e n recognized t h at s c h a denfre u d e ­ j o y at t h e s u ffer ing of another-is p e c u li arly a m a r k o f o u r a g e ; b u t E n v y m a k e s u s n o l e s s d e s p i c a b l e - i n the face of the good fort u n e o f another, b y making u s c a p a b l e o n l y of d e s p i s ing what i s admirab l e . There i s l i t t l e n o w t h a t we h o n o r . T h e e n v i o u s m a n d o e s not love him s elf, a l t h o ugh h e b e g i n s w i t h s elf- l o v e . H e i s n o t grateful f o r , or h a p p y i n , w h a t he i s or w h a t he h a s . T h e s i n i s d e a d l y , l e s s b e c a u s e it d e s t r o y s h im , t h an b e c a u s e it w i l l n o t l et h i m l i v e . I t w i l l not let h i m live a s h im self, grateful f o r h i s q u a l i t i e s and talen t s , s u c h a s t h e y are, and m ak i n g t h e b e s t a n d m o s t rewarding u s e o f t h e m . H i s d i s p a r a g e m e n t o f o t h e r s i s a refle c t ion of h i s d i s p aragement o f h i m s e l f ; he regards

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h i m s e l f with as m u c h malice as h e regards t he m . S o t o t orture o n e s elf, a n d t o t o r t u re o n e s elf for n o t h i n g , s ince there i s n o p o s s i b i l i t y of s a t i sfac t i o n ! - I t i s n o w o n d e r that H orace s ai d t h a t S i c i l i an tyrant s h a d invented n o g r e a t e r torm e n t . T h i s i s o n e r e a s o n why w e s a y o f E n v y , perhap s more fit t i n g l y than o f any o t h e r o f t h e s i n s , t h a t i t i s evil-minded , s p i t e ful and g i v e n t o c al u m n y , and e x ­ c i t e d t o an u n d u e c u r i o s ity a b o u t t h e affai r s of other p e o ­ p l e . I t m u s t j u s t ify it s s e l f- t orture . T h o s e w h o try t o d e s c r i b e Envy find t h at t h e y have a l w a y s t o m e e t its e y e s . The s l i t e y e s of E n v y , alw a y s t h e y are narrow e d . Envy i s the e v i l e y e , it h a s b e e n s a i d , and D a n t e g a z e s o n t h e enviou s i n p u r g a t o r y , a s if on t h e b l i n d and the p o o r , and h i s imagery i s t errib l e a n d e x ­ c r u c i a t i n g , f o r t h e ir e y e s have b e e n c l o s e d b y drawing threads o f iron w i r e through the lid s , a s threads of waxed silk used t o b e drawn through t h e eyelids o f a w i l d hawk t o b l ind and t am e it. The ey e s of t h e envi o u s , while t he y lived , c o u l d not b e a r t o look upon j o y , e s p e c i ally t h e j oy of o t h e r s , which m ig h t have s h o n e on t h e m ; s o n o w i n purgat ory t h e ir e y e s are c l o s e d , s o t h a t t h e y m a y n o t l o o k o n t h e l i g h t o f t h e s u n , and o t h e r s m a y n o t l o o k i n t o their eye s , with t h e h a p p i n e s s t h a t might h a v e greeted t h e m . I f all t h e s i n s are lovele s s , E n v y ' s e y e s are p e c u l i arly so. They s e e m t o find nothing to love in t h e w or l d , n o t in t h e w h o le of c r e a t i o n , not in anyone e l s e , n o t even w h e n they are turned up t o what i s l o v e l y . T h e o t h e r s i n s have b e e n celebrated, however p er v e r s e ly , i n popular song down t h e age s , b u t Envy h a s n o song. I t does not s i n g ; it cannot b e a r t o l o o k , e x c e p t through it s s l i t eyes; it i s un­ able t o l o v e , b e c a u s e i t i s riddled with fe ar . T h i s gnawing fe ar t h a t , if someone else g a i n s s om e t h i n g , it m u s t be l o s ­ ing s o m e t h ing , t h a t s o m e o n e e l s e ' s g o o d , material or spiri t u a l , m u s t m e an i t s own l e s s e n i n g , runs through ourselves and o u r s oc i e t i e s today. There must b e a reason why it i s now s o u n b r i d l e d . W e s e e m t o h av e removed t h e

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r e s t ra i n t s on i t , w h i l e at t h e s a m e t i m e i n c r e a s i n g t h e provoc a t i o n s t o i t . The c as u a l n e s s of m an n e r s i n i t s e l f remove s o n e of t h e r e s traint s . P e o p l e a r e m o r e r e a d y t o b e b i t c h y a b o u t o t h e r p e o p l e in pub l i c , t o b e h e ard c u t t in g down s o m e o ne e l s e ' s r e p u t a t i o n . Envy c a n of c o u r s e s t i l l lie b eneath a s u rface o f m an n er s , b u t a h a b i t of reticence in t alking a b o u t other p e o p l e , which u se d n o t to b e m e r e ­ ly a s u r fac e g e n t i l i t y , w a s i t s e l f a c orrec t i o n o f one's E n v y , because o n e w a s reminded t h a t it w a s not accep­ t a b l e , that it w a s agreed t h a t o n e should b e a s h a m e d o f i t . M an n e r s a r e n o t o n l y p o l i s h ; c o n v e n t i o n s a r e n o t a l w a y s h y p o crit i c a l ; a n d e v e n h y p o c r i s y a b o u t o t h e r s c a n s e r v e a p u rp o s e , if it a s k s u s t o rein i n our impu l s e s , t o check t h e " m e a n s t r e a k " in u s , w h i c h i s u s u a l l y b o r n o f our Env y . S p o n t a n e i t y and authent i c it y , t h o s e t w i n t e m p t e r s , are n o t o f t e n p l e a s an t when n o b ou n d s are s e t , e s p e c i ally over t h e dinner t a b l e , where t h e l ic e n s e s e e m s n o w t o b e t a k e n a m o n g the t r u ffle s , t o b andy a b o u t t h e p e r s o n a l l i v e s and p u b lic rep u t a t i o n s of other p e o p l e , w i t h n o o b v i o u s j u st ification b u t a m u s em en t , and no a p ­ p a r e n t impu l s e b u t c a l l o u s n e s s . B u t r e s t r ai n t s on o u r Envy c an b e r e m o v e d in o t h e r way s . W e c an t al k a b o u t m o n e y , or r e a l e s t a t e , or s u cc e s s , s u b j e c t s t h a t u s e d t o b e banned fr om p o l i t e t a b le s , in s u c h a w a y a s t o s t ir u p Envy i n u s , a n d t h i s at a t i m e when o u r Envy o f s u c h things i s p r o v o k e d b y our s o c i e t i e s m o r e t h a n e v e r b e fo r e . O n e o f t h e m o s t u n c o m fo r t a b l e fac t s a b o u t o u r e c onomic s y s t e m i s t h a t i t i s b o u n d t o i n c i t e E n v y i n t h o s e to w h o m it m u s t s el l . I t m u s t p e r s u a d e e v e r y o n e t o w a n t w h a t everyone e l s e h a s . I n o t h er w o r d s , j u s t a s E n v y i s a l e v e l e r , s o i s o u r c o m m e r c i a l sy s t e m a l e veler: a fact that h a u n t s i t s c r i t i c s n o l e s s t h a n it s defender s , every s o c i a l i s t n o l e s s t h a n every c o n s ervat ive . I t h a s o f t e n b e e n s a i d t h a t c a p i t a l i s m i s m o r e agit ating and e v e n rev o lu t i o n ary t h a n i s generally realized. I t i s c e a s ele s s ly p r o v o k i n g p e o p l e t o r e b e l l i o n , b e c a u s e it i s

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c e a s el e s s ly p r o d d i n g t h e m t o E n v y . t o w an t what o t h e r s hav e , and even t o b e what o t h e r s are . I ne v i t a b l y and r e s t l e s s l y , out o f i t s o w n n e e d for p r o fit , it makes people w a n t more than t he y n e e d and h a v e h i t h ert o desired, and then to expect what they w an t . Having given t he m what t h e y exp ec t , it t h e n i nc i t e s their E n v y agai n , to want s o m e thing e l s e . Thoughtful c o n s e rv a t i v e s a r e [ o r o u g h t t o b e ) am o n g the m o s t s earching c r i t i c s o f our s o c i e t ie s ; and a s much as anyone e ls e t o d a y t h e y wish t o c o n t a i n t h e malice o f E n v y . B u t e v ery day it i s s t imulated b y t h eir a l l i e s i n i n ­ d u s t ry and c o m m erce , a s t h e s e try t o sell t h e large s t n u m b er o f g o o d s t o t h e large s t n u m b e r of p e op l e , exciting a G r o s s N a t i o n a l A p p e t i t e t o d e v o u r t h e Gross N at i onal P r o du c t . T h i s i s t h e genius o f o u r economic s y s t e m , and there is n o q u e s t i o n t h a t , at this level, i t has c onferred e s ­ t i m a b le b e n e fit s on m a n y million s o f p e op l e . B u t t h e i n ­ c i t e m e n t o f the d e sire t o p o s s e s s g o o d s i s n ot i n i t s e l f t h e incitement t o E n v y , b u t rather a p r o v o c a t i o n t o Avarice and G l u t t o n y , and it i s as m a n i fe s t at i o n s of these two s i n s t h a t w e will d i s c u s s i t . A s we have seen, Envy is m o re complex. I t i s a form o f s e l f- d e m e an i ng t urned agai n s t others , and here t h e damage i s done. It has b e e n c o m m o n for c on se r v a t i v e s i n t h e p a s t thirty y e a rs t o complain that people i n t h e W e s t ern democrac i e s are increasingly fi lled w it h E n v y or ressen ­ t i m en t . They h a v e u sually attribu t e d t h e growth of t h i s e n v i o u s fe eling t o t h e e x p a n s i o n of t h e democratic s p irit- s o m e w o u l d s a y , i t s aggran dizem ent - during the past cen tury and a h alf. They would certainly agree with A r i s t o t l e t h a t E n v y g r o w s m o st n a t urally i n relation s h i p s b e t w e e n e q u a l s , a f a c t t h a t i s perhaps m o s t n o t i c e able in t h e fac u l t i e s o f u n i v e r s i t i e s . There is s o m e t h i n g , o f c o u r s e , in all of t h i s . H e r e d i t ary d i s t i n c ­ t i o n s are le s s l ik e ly t o e x c i t e Envy t h a n any o t h e r s , for example, s ince the e l e m e n t s of a c c ident and fort u n e are s o o b v i o u s that they c a n b e neither a reproof n o r a goad to

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u s . There is n o s ec r e t for E n v y t o u n c o v e r - i t i s o u t in t h e o p e n ; s o m e p e o p l e w e r e high b o rn- and w e k n o w t h a t w e c a n n o t acq u ire t h e a d v a n t a g e s o f a l o n g d e s c e n t s im p l y b y p r o v i n g our genealogy . When M e l b ourne s ai d of t h e O r d e r of t h e G ar t e r t h a t " t here i s n o d a m n e d n o n s e n s e o f m e r i t a b o u t it , " h e w a s m a k i n g a p o i n t we c a n all ap ­ pre c i a t e . W h e r e t h e r e i s n o sugge s t ion o f m e r i t , t here w i l l be l i t t l e i n c i t e m e n t t o Envy. T h e u n s u c c e s sful man d o e s n o t e n v y a du k e . H e envie s t h e s u c c e s s ful m a n , w h o m h e t h i n k s i s o t h e rw i s e " j u s t l i k e h i m , " and w h o s e s u c c e s s h e t h e re fo r e s e e s as a d i s g r a c e o f h i m s e l f. B u t it i s n o t o n l y , p e r h a p s n o t e v e n p r i m a ri l y , the growth o f democracy, and of t h e e g a l i t a r i a n i s m o n which it i s based, and w h i c h i t in turn n o u r i s h e s , t h at has in­ c i t e d t o Envy . I t i s also in t h e l o g i c of our e c o n o m i c s y s t e m t h a t i t m u s t d o s o , b e c a u s e t h i s s y s t em h a s found n o way in which t o provoke p e o p l e into t h inking t h a t t h e y c a n h a v e t h e g o o d s t h a t o t h e r s h a v e , w i t h o u t en­ c o u raging in t h em t h e a c c o mp a n y i n g b el i e f that t hey are or can b e a s o t hers are . Few s oc i a l i s t t r ac t s are as i m p l ic i t ly and i n s i d i o u s l y e g a l i t arian a s an advert i s e ­ m e n t on t e l e v i s i o n ; and it i s an e g a l i t arianism t h a t , s i n c e i t h a s n o o t h e r m or a l or p h i l o s o p h i c a l b a s i s , m u s t m a k e u n e q u a l s b e l i e v e t h a t t he y a r e e q u a l in t h o se very r e s p ec t s in which they are inelu c t ab ly u n eq u a l . This is o n e of the p a r a d o x e s of o u r s oc i e t i e s : for the p u rp o s e s o f t h e econ omic s y s t e m on which t h e y are f o u n d e d , and t o t h a t e x t e n t o n l y , t h e m a s s m a r k e t i s n e c e s s arily a d e m o c r a t ic m a r k e t . I t s d e fe n d e r s in fact t al k a b o u t t h e " v o t e " o f t h e c o n s u mer in t h e mark e t p l a c e . F a s h i o n u s e d t o b e t h e p r e s erve of w e a l t h and p r i v i l e g e , b u t t o make i t s profit e v e n h a u t e cou t u re h a s h a d t o c a t er , n o t t o t h i s minority, but t o the department stores where "the m a s s e s " g o t o s h o p . E v e n i t mak e s i t s g o o d s a v a i l a b l e t o all. I t i s b ec a u s e i t i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l l y o p p o s e d t o e q u al i t y ­ o r s ay s t h a t i t i s - t h a t o u r e c o n o m i c s y s t e m h a s b e e n u n -

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able t o provide i t s own o n e - s i d e d egalit ari a n i s m - t h e e q u a l i t y of t h e c o n s umer- w i t h any m o r al or p h i l o ­ s o p h i c a l foun d a t i o n . I t s primary achievement -and perh a p s e v e n i t s primary o b j e ct - h a s th erefore b e e n t o t urn t h e d i s c on t e n t e d c i t i z e n i n t o a c o n t e n t e d c o n s u m e r ; and it then t u r n s r o u n d in s u r p r i s e w h e n it fi n d s t h a t , although t h e c o n s u m er m a y i n d e e d b e s at i s fied , a s a citizen h e i s s t ill d i s s a t i s fi e d . It i s e x a c t l y at t h i s intersec ­ t i o n , o f the c o n t e n t ed c o n s u mer w i t h t h e d i s c o n t e n t e d c i t i z e n , that Envy a n d ressen t i m e n t w i ll b r ee d . W e h a v e n o t found it n e c e s s ary t o c r e a t e a s s oc i a t i o n s and even government dep artmen t s t o p r o t e c t t h e c o n ­ s u m e r b e c a u s e w e h a v e s u d d e n l y b e c o m e m o r e s oc i a l l y alert . W e need them b e c a u s e t oday w e are hardly c i t i z e n s at a l l e x c e p t as c o n s u m e r s . Every t h i n g t h at t h e t h o u g h t ­ f u l c on s ervative n o w b e m o a n s , o f t e n w i t h j u s t ific ation­ the we a k e n ing of s o c i al b o n d s , t h e e r o s i o n of t r a di t i o n a l fo rms a n d value s , t h e c o l l a p s e o f m o r a l a u t hority i n s oc i e t y - in l a r g e p art h ave their c a u s e h e r e . The cit izen h a s not been k e p t a b r e a s t o f the c o n s u m e r . The " u r b a n m o b " t o w h i c h s o m e c o n s e rv a t i v e s s a y t h a t o u r s o c i e t i e s have b e e n redu ced-which i s a b r e e d i n g ground f o r E n v y among i t s a t o m s - h a s been t h e c r e a t i o n a s m u c h of o u r c o m me r ce a s of our d e m ocrac y . W e m a y sh are t o s o m e e x ­ t e n t a c o m m o n a c t i v i t y o f s e l l i n g and b u y i ng in t h e mark e t p l a c e , b u t b e y o n d i t w e are foot l o o s e , w i t h f e w trad i t i o n s or v a l u e s , b e liefs or a s p i r a t i o n s , p u r s u i t s or activit ie s , that create any s o c i al b o n d s of m u c h s ig n i fic ance . The c u r s e of t h e e c on o m i c s y s t e m , t o c o n se r v a t i v e s n o l e s s t h a n t o i t s critic s , i s t h a t it w i l l s e l l a n y t h i n g t o any o n e , and it w i l l s e l l any v a l u e s a s w e l l a s any c o m ­ m o d i t ie s . I t is c ommerce t h a t s e l l s a s a r t w h at i s n o t art , a s b o o k s what are n o t b o o k s , a s m u s i c w h a t is not m u s i c , a s morality w h a t i s n o t m o r a l i t y , a s h a p p i n e s s w h a t i s n o t h ap p in e s s , e v e n a s C h ri s t m a s w h a t i s n o t C h ri s t m a s . Wherever a q u i c k b u c k i s t o b e m ad e , it w i l l b e t here l i k e a

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s h o t , and damn t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t o s o c ie t y . O n c e l i ­ c e n s e d b y a foo l i s h l y e x p a n d e d i n t e r p re t a t ion of t h e Firs t Ame n d me n t , c o m m e r c e is n o t t h e n fa s t id i o u s in t h e retailing of porn ography . A s may b e s e e n any n i g h t on t e levi s i o n , m or a l l y and intellectually a n d a e s t h e t i c a l l y , i t s valu e s are d e t ermined b y i t s n e e d f o r profi t . The large c or p o r a t i o n s m a y s alve their c on sc i e n c e s b y s p o n s oring a fe w c u l t ural p r ogra m s , but these are o n l y a gloss and have n o m ore impact t h a n t h e Surgeon G en e r a l ' s warning on a p ac k e t o f c ig a r e t t e s . In t h e rest of their activi t i e s ­ t h e app e t i t e s t h ey e xc i t e , t h e general r u n o f t h e programs t h e y s p o n s o r , the advertising t h e y u se- t he y remorse­ lessly pro vo ke the c o n sumer to s e e k an e n d l e s s gratific a ­ t i on o f t h e v e r y w an t s t h a t t h e y h ave s t i m u l a t e d , w h i l e t h e whole p o t e n t i a l n a t u r e o f t h e c i t izen i s l e f t p a t h e t i c a l ­ ly u n d ern our i s h e d , and even d e l i b e r a t e l y s o . The s e are fam i l i a r critici s m s , b u t w h a t w e are e m p h a s izing here i s that the m o s t d es t ru c t ive feeling t h a t i s e x c i t e d is n o t acq u i s i t iv en e s s , b u t a s o u r n e s s of fe e l i n g in p e o p l e w h o s e o w n p e r s o n a l i t ie s , s i m p l y a s human beings, are given n o real s a t i s fa c t i on or a c k n o w l e d g ­ m en t , irre s p e c t i v e of s u c h t a l en t s or c a p a c i t i e s or am­ bitions as t h e y m ay p o s s e s s . Fundamentally w h a t we m e a n b y e q u a l i t y i s t h a t everyone should be g i v e n a n e q u a l i t y of c o n s i d e r a t i o n . B u t t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t our s o c i e t i e s d o n o t d o in t h e i r n eg l e c t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a s a c i t i z e n . W h i l e t h e C h r i s t ian me s s age w a s b e l i e v e d , i t a t l e a s t c arried t h e r e a s s u r a n c e t h a t one w a s e q u a l i n t h e e y e s o f s om e o n e , t h a t s o m e w h e r e one w a s of a s m u c h c o n s e q u e n c e a s o t h e r s in t h e fin al o r d e r o f t h i ng s , e v e n if t h a t s omewhere w a s in another world . E v e n the l o w l i e s t c o u l d h e l p t o b u i l d C hartres C a t h edral , o r e n t e r i t , and fe e l that h e was an i n t e l l ig i b l e p art of a universe t h a t w a s i t s e l f i n t e lligib l e , o f which h i s s o c i e t y w a s a p ar t , a n d t h e r e i s p erh a p s n o m o r e i m p o r t a n t w a y in w h i c h c o n ­ sideration can be shown to a human being. T h e b e lief might b e b u i l t o n w h a t w e w o u l d t od a y

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regard a s m e a g e r d a t a . B u t we are in no p o s i t i on t o d e s p i s e i t . W e n o l o n g e r b e l ie v e t h a t s o m e w h ere w e m a y enj o y an e q u a li t y of c o n s i de r a t i o n a s c i t izen s i n t h e C i t y o f G o d . A l l w e have i s r i g h t h e r e . And r i g h t here our societies s h o w l i t t l e i n t e r e s t i n n o u ri shing u s a s c i t i ze n s , o f giving an e q u a l c o n s ideration t o o u r w h o l e n a t u r e s a s men and w o m e n w h o form an i n t e l l i gi b l e p art o f a n order t h a t i s also intelligib l e . W e cannot a s k p e o p l e t o l i v e so p o i n t l e s s l y , and yet to live with p u rp o s e , to s t ri v e to do g o o d and not t o d o evil, a n d to r e s p e c t their s o c i e t i e s w h e n t h e s e s h o w t h e m s c ant r e s p e c t . N o s o c i e t y c a n a s k r e s p e c t w h e n i t g i v e s it m e m b e r s n o s e l f- r e s p e c t . H u m a n beings in t h i s c o n d i t i o n c a n n o t k n o w t he m s e l v e s a s human b e i n g s , and t h e y w i l l turn h a p l e s s l y i n t o s e l f i s h and r e s e n t fu l h e l o t s , Envy g o a d i n g t he m . There i s a n o t h e r i n c i t e m e n t t o E n v y i n o u r s o c i e t i e s . Not o n l y t h e y , but all o f w h at w e r a t h e r c h a ri t a b l y c a l l our p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h i e s , are b a s e d o n t h e i d e a of meritocracy: the notion t h a t m e r i t should b e d i s c o v e r e d , s e l e c t e d , and t r a i n e d , i n our s c h o o l s a n d o u r u n i v er s i t i e s , a n d t h e n e l e v a t e d t o p o s i t i o n s o f p o w e r a n d infl u e nc e , again by a p r o c e s s of c o m p e t i t i o n , w i t h t h e rewards and honors t h a t are c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a p p r o p r i at e . What system would b e more fair o r m o re i n t el l i g i b l e , h o w c o u l d t h e r e b e a more r a t i o n a l o r j u s t w a y of d o i n g t hi n g s ? B u t there i s a w orm a t it s c o r e . A s y st em of e l i t e s t h a t a r e , or a r e s u p p o s e d t o b e , c h o s e n o n m e r i t m u s t r e s t on t w o a s s u m p t i o n s : t h a t e v e r y o n e b e g i n s w i t h a n e q u a l c h a n c e from t h e s ame s t arting l i n e , and t h at t h e r u l e s o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n are f a i r a t every s t a g e . T h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a r e i n f a c t unreali zabl e , which i s t h e fl aw i n t h e i d e a t h a t " e q u a l i t y o f o p p o r t u n i t y " i s a de q u a t e a s a p r e s c ri p t i o n . Unrealizable or n o t , w h a t m at t e r s here i s t hat t h e i d e a of m e r i t i s rooted in t h e i d e a o f e q u a l i t y . It s u l t i m a t e moral s a n c t i o n s are t h at people s t art equal a n d t h at t h e y have an equal chance at every s t age in the race. It t h erefore has

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t o m e e t t h e leveling s p i rit of E n v y , when s o m e o n e a s k s why he did n o t m a k e it t o t h e t o p , i n s t e ad o f s om e o n e e l s e who is " j u st l i k e him , " f o r E n v y w i l l not a c c e p t t h e e x ­ p l a n a t i o n t h a t t h e s u c c e s sfu l p e r s o n w a s m o r e t al e n t e d t h a n h e , and in f a c t d e s er v e d t o s u c c e e d . T h i s i s t h e c u r s e o f a s y s t e m t h a t i s b a s ed o n m e ri t . I t produ c e s an i n e q u a l i t y of re s u l t s , a s it i s i n t e n d e d t o d o , b u t it c a n j u s t i fy i t s e l f o n l y b y a p p e a l i n g t o t h e i d e a o f e q u a l i t y , t o t h e v e r y i m p u l s e t h a t i t w o u l d l i k e t o all a y . There c o u l d b e n o m o re c e r t a i n p r e s c r i p t i o n for i n c i t i n g p e o p le t o E n v y , f o r i t l e a v e s t h e m aj o r i t y o f t h e m , w h o d o not s u c c e e d , with n o altern a t i v e b u t t o s e e t h e m s e l v e s a s l o s e r s . I n a n e q u a l r a c e , a s t h e y h a v e b e e n t o l d it i s , t h e y w e r e d e fe a t e d . I f it i s m e r i t a l o n e t h a t i s rewarded, a s t h e y have a g a i n b e e n t o l d , t h e n t h e y h a v e b e e n p r o v e d t o have l i t t l e or n o n e . B u t one c an n o t a s k p e o p l e t o a c c e p t s o sweeping a n d b l i ndfold a d i s m i s s al o f t h e i r o w n abilit i e s , a n d t h i s i s o n e r e a s o n why w h a t i s s o p r e t e nt i o u s ly d e s c ribed a s a m e r i t o c r a c y i s p o p u l arly d e s cribed a s a rat race . T h o s e w h o are c o n t e n t w i t h a system o f "equality of o p p o r t u n i t y " on t h e t erm s t h a t n o w exist, and defend it a s rational and fai r, must face t h e fact that it i s a s a rat race t h a t it i s perceived, a n d t h at a s such i t c a n n o t b e ex­ p e c t e d t o i n s p i r e e i t h e r v i r t u e or allegi an c e , i n those w h o either win or lose. T h e rat r a c e i s t h e v i v i d p o p u l a r de s c r i p t i o n o f a s y s t e m of p r o m o t i o n and reward s t h a t a p p e a l s t o Avaric e , o f c o u r s e , b u t t o an e v e n s t ro n g e r m o t i v e in E n v y . It is not r e a l l y for the a d d i t i o n a l m a t erial rewards t h a t a m a n n e a r t h e t o p will s e t h i s m o u t h and s l i t h i s eyes in order t o g e t even n e arer t o i t still. It i s Envy t h a t spurs h i m . H e c a n n o t l i v e c o n t e n t e d l y , h i s t al ent s fit t i ngly employed in some s at i s fying t as k , if a c o l l e ag u e rises t o a vice-pre s i d e n c y . H e w i l l even s t ru g g l e t o exchange a worthwhile j ob a s t h e head of a d e p artment for n othi n g m o re t h an t h e prestig e t h a t attac hes to a v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f h i s c o r p o r at i o n , a n d h i s m o s t p ow erful m ot i v e i s that

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he d o e s n o t w i s h t o a p p e a r o r t o f e e l d i s g r a c e d b y t h e a d ­ vancement o f s o m e o n e else. At a level o f s o c i e t y where leaders should be bred who understand and reli sh i t s v a l u e s , w e fi n d i n s t e a d o n l y p e o p l e w h o s e c y r, i c i s m i s s h arper a n d m o r e grating t h an i t i s i n t h o se b e l o w t he m . I f o u r s o c i e t i e s l a c k t h e a u t h o ri t y t h a t s h o u l d b e e a r n e d by respect , it i s partly because t h o s e at the t o p d o not themselves respect i t . T h i s spirit of E n v y i s bred early i n t o t h ose w h o are g r o o m e d t o s u c c e e d a n d l e a d . A y o u n g m a n fr o m H a r v a r d L a w S c h o o l , s a y , h a s a p e c u l i a r l y f e ro c i o u s a m b i t i o n . H e h a s l e ft t h e p a s t u r e w h e r e t h e g r a s s c o u l d h a r d l y b e greener for a y o u n g c o l t , and he e n t e r s t h e w orld to ad­ vance and to c o n q u e r with his t al e n t s and his training. One would expect him t o b e filled w i t h a gladitorial zeal a s h e b e g i n s h i s c ar e e r , t o fe e l t h at h e c a n d ar e t o challenge the society that he aspires t o lead, t o have a w a r m t h o f c o n v i c t i o n t h at h e c a n b r i n g t o i t t h e m e s s ag e s o f t ru t h a n d b e a u t y , s w e e t n e s s a n d l i g h t , f o r w h i c h i t h a s been w a i t i n g f o r s o l o n g . But , n o ! H e t a l k s o n l y about t h e s t a t u s a n d e a r n i n g s o f h i s e l d er s o n w h o s e h e e l s h e i s t re ad i n g , a n d o f h i s p e e r s w h o s e e m a t t h e f i r s t t h r o w o f t h e d ic e t o h a v e l a n d e d t h e m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s a n d b e s t ­ p a y i n g j o b s . He i s already sour at the p r o s p e c t of t h e race t h a t h e h a s b e g u n , e v e n w h i le t h e d e w o f h i s y o u t h f u l n e s s is st ill moist o n his cheek s . Watch him and listen t o him c a re f u l l y . E n v y i s a l r e a d y i n h i m , t h e t u rn o f h i s m o u t h , his turn s of phrase. An education t h a t i s int ended to b r e e d the leaders o f a s o c i e t y w i t h s t r o n gly h e l d a n d in­ dividual values, has pupped instead a litter of young peo­ p l e w h o a r e a l r e a d y d i s il l u s i o n e d w i t h i t a t t h e f i r s t e n ­ counter. T h e re i s l i t t l e w r o n g w i t h t h e c o m p e t i t i v e s p i r i t , i f i t i s kept w i t h i n bounds, but everything w r o n g with the en­ vious spirit; and i t is the second that our societies and es­ p e c i a l l y o u r s c h o o l s , f a r m or e t h an i n t h e p a s t , s e e m b e n t o n n o u r i s h i n g i n o rd e r l a t e r t o e x p l o i t . T h e c o l l a p s e o f t h e

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p r o fe s s i o n s h a s b e e n l a r g e l y t h e r e s u l t o f t h e i n s i n u a t i o n o f t h e s p i r i t o f E n v y i n t o t h e m . T h e p r o fe s s i o n s w e r e t h e t r u e l e a d e r s o f a m i d d l e- c l a s s s o c i e t y , w h e n t h at s o c i e t y still h a d confidence i n its o w n v a l ue s . T h e doctors a n d the t eachers and the ministers were t h e leaders of opi­ n i o n i n v i l l a g e s , i n s m a l l t o w n s , i n n e i g h b o rh o o d s i n t h e l a rg e c i t i e s , n o t v e r y w e l l p a i d a n d n o t e v e n w i t h m u c h w o r d l y p r e s t i g e , b u t e n j o y i n g a d e s e r v e d r e s p e c t i n t he i r communities, which i n turn earned them a deserved a u t h o r i t y . N ow t h ey a r e w e l l p a i d , i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h the past, and they enjoy n o respect and have ceased t o be leaders . They n o longer s t and i n s i d e t h e i r societies, b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h e e x e m p l a r s o f t h e v a l u e s t h at society is most likely t o let slide; they have become mere m e r c e n a r i e s o f t h e i r s oc i e t i e s , l i k e o t h e r s , t h e e x e m p l a r s o f e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e m t h at c o r ru p t s a n d , i f n o t c h a l ­ l e n g e d , i s b o u n d t o c o rru p t e v e n t h e b e s t t h at t h e y c a n prod uce. T h i s i s t h e w o rk o f En v y , l e t l o o s e i n o u r s o c i e t i e s a s n e v e r i n t h e p a s t . T h e u n i v e r s i t y t e a c h e r u se d t o b e m o d e s t l y a n d e v e n i l l p a i d , b u t h e w a s a m b i t i o u s t o t e ac h w e l l a n d , t e a c h i n g w e l l , h e s t o o d h i g h i n t h e re s p e c t o f o t h e r s a n d i n h i s o w n s e l f- r e s p e c t . H e e v e n h a d t h e respect of his pupils. Now he is well paid; in most cases, g r o s s l y o v e rp a i d ; h e d o e s n o t t e ac h w e l l ; a n d h e e n j o y s l i t t le r e s p e c t f r o m others, and if h o n e s t w i t h h i m s e l f h a s e v e n l e s s s e l f- r e s p e c t . H e h a s l i t t l e a u t h o ri t y i n t h e classroom, in the university as a whole, or i n the wider c o m m u n i t y , a n d h e i s g n a w ed b y t h e s n e a k i n g s u s p i c i o n t h a t h e i s a c h a rl a t a n . H e q u i c k l y g r o w s b i l i o u s i n temper. He takes u p any cause that sets out t o diminish s u c h a u t h or i t y a s t h e r e m a y s t i l l b e e l s e w h e r e , w h i c h i s a constant

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a u t h o r i t y . E n j o y i n g l i t t l e r e s p e c t f r o m h i s p u pi l s , h e s e e k s i n s t ead t h eir approva l , while k n o w i n g that their a p p r o v a l i s a n u l t i m a t e e x p re s s i o n o f t h e i r d i s d a i n . I f y o u c an't beat them, j oi n them: Such i s t h e c a l l o w n e s s of his

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p o s ture . Driven by E n v y t o t h e s e e x t r em i t i e s , Envy c o n ­ t i n u e s t o b r e e d ever m o r e m al i g n a n t l y and d e s t r u c t iv e l y in him . They are a v o c i fe r o u s p a r t of what I rving K r i s t o l c a l l s the "new c l a s s , " t h e l i t e ra t i o f vario u s l e v e l s of u n t u t ored and undirected i n t elligence , and a s u sual he h a s a point to be a n s wered , which i s a s m u c h a s o n e i s e nt i t l ed t o ask of a n y o n e . B u t he t a l k s of t h i s "new c l a s s" a s if t he i r p e t ­ t i n e s s and m a l i g n a n c y c ame only f r o m t hem selve s , n o m o r e than a s i c k n e s s of the individual , a s i f our s o c i e t i e s h a v e p l a y ed n o p a r t in n ourishing i n t hem t h ei r m e a n ­ s p i r i t e d n e s s and l a c k of any real seriou s n e s s o f p u r p o s e . O ne m ight s a y of t h e m t h a t t h e y are e m p t y , a s t h e profe s s i o n s h a v e n e v e r b e e n b efore , of t h e R o m a n v i r t u e s of p ie ta s , d i gn i t a s , and gra v i t a s b u t o n e m u s t at o n c e a s k w h e r e t h e s e virt u e s are t o b e foun d , m o s t of all t o be found celebrated and i n s t illed , in t h e s oc i e t i e s that have nourished this " n e w c l a s s . " These are envi o u s people­ t e a c he r s , writ e r s , j ournal i s t s , p u b l i c i s t s , b r o a d c a s t e r s , dependent s on foundat ion s , d epen d en t s on grant s , a r t s t u dent s , art i s t s , mini s t e r s , p h y s i c i st s , a c t o r s , direc t o r s , filmmakers-but t h ey h a v e b e e n b red b y Envy . For t hem a s for o t h e r s , o u r s o c i et i e s have s u p p l i e d no m o t i v e for s im p l y d o i n g w h at they d o w e l l , b u t only t he p r o d of Envy . ,

O n e of the evils of Envy , s a y s t h e t h e o l o g i a n , i s t h a t i t i s a s ource of d i s c o r d . W e hardly n e e d him t o t el l u s ; w e know it in o u r s e l v e s and in our everyday l i v e s . Envy i s a s o w e r of s t rife, b e t w e e n c o l l e a g u e s , b e t w een neig h b o r s , e v e n b e t w e e n fri e n d s , and here it i s c l o s e t o P r i d e . I t in­ t r o d u c e s i n t o even t h e m o s t st raightforw ard of r e l a t ionship s an a t m o sphere of d i s t ru s t , of ill-ease and contention and malice, until even t h e most a m i a ble and c o m p l a i s a n t of people w i l l find in self-defe n s e that t hey also h ave fa n g s . I t i s also-and here one m a y admire the precision of t h e v o c a b u l a ry t o which t h e o l o g y s o often

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r e a c he s - t h e s ou r c e of m u r m u ri n g . N o s o o n e r i s it s aid than o n e hears t h e s ound of m u rmu ring i n o n e ' s own d a y , a s E n v y d o e s i t s w o rk , and l a p s - l a p s - l a p s a g a i n s t t he few sh ore-defe n s e s w e h a v e b u i l t around u s , eroding them slowly but cert ai n l y , w h i s p ering its d o u b t s and s u s p i c i o n s and g o s s i p , u n t i l we begin t o b e l i e v e and l o o k forward t o t h em . We learn t o envy not only t h o s e w h o h a v e got t o t h e t op , whatever t h e r e a s o n s for t h e i r s u c c e s s , a n d n o t only those w h o are m o r e a b l e t h a n u s , b u t even those w h o are more v i rtuou s . W e even envy someone w h o i s good! W e will not b el i e v e t h a t t h e y are g o o d , or that t h e y are a s g o o d as they s e e m , or t h a t they are good for the right r e a s o n s . I f they are not s i m p l y h y p o c ri t i c al , t here m u s t b e an u lt erior m o t i v e , or s o m e p s y c h o l o gi c a l c o m p l e x . The good m a n m u s t b e b ad i n s i d e . T h e g o o d m arriage m u s t b e s u b j ect t o strains that are hidden from us. The g o od worker m u s t b e p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y s u b m i s s i v e . The good sheph erd m u s t h a v e tran sferred h i s cap acit y t o l o v e human b e i n g s t o h i s s h e e p . G o o d n e s s i s p a i n t e d a s b a d . T h e E n v y o f a n o t h er's s p i r i t u a l gift s h a s a l w a y s been regarded in t h e o l ogy a s a gri e v o u s sin. As St . J ohn o f the C r o s s put i t : " A s far a s envy i s c o n cerned , m a n y ex­ perience d i s p l e a s ure when they see o t h e r s i n t h e p o s s e s ­ s i o n o f s p irit u a l g o od s . T h e y feel s e n s i b l y h u r t b e c a u s e o t h e r s s u rp a s s t h e m on t h i s r o a d , a n d t h e y r e s e nt it w h e n o t h e r s are p r a i s e d . " T h i s , h ow e v e r , i s q u i t e contr ary t o l o v e w h i c h , a s S t . P e t e r s a y s , rej o i c e s in g o o d n e s s . "And if love h a s envy, it i s a holy e n v y ; for l o v e gri e v e s a t not p o s s e s sing t h e v i r t u e s of o t h e r s , but i t r e j o i c e s t h a t a n o t h er p e r s o n p o s s e s s e s them . " Few o f u s are c a p a b l e o f s u c h a r e j o ic i n g all t h e t i m e . W e k n o w how E n v y w o r k s in us, h o w it w ork s in our a g e , h o w it works i n o u r own g o s s ip a s well a s in t h e g o s s ip columns t h a t we read precisely w i t h a n i n v i d i o u s s p ir i t . B u t even a s we fe el a c u t ely the p e r s o n a l d ev a s t at i o n that it w re a k s , w e c a n ­ n o t e x o n e r a t e o u r s o c i e t i e s from a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .

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The correc t i o n of Envy in t h e o logy l i e s in o u r l o v e o f G o d , wh o s e m e an i n g e v e n t h e irreligi o u s c an u n d e r s t and and t o some ex t e n t emula t e , our love o f our neighbor as ourselv e s , and o f course our love of o u r e n e m ie s . The D e v i l i s "wounded to the d e a t h b y love for o u r e n e m i e s , " s a y s t h e P ar s o n i n h i s t al e ; a n d where t h e e n v i o u s rep e n t i n purga t o r y , D a n t e fin d s t h a t t h e c o r d s t h a t b r i n g t h em t o t h e i r p e n i t e n c e are drawn by " c h a r i t y ' s c orrec t in g hand . " B u t w h a t d o o u r s oc i e t i e s b i d u s l o v e ? T o w h a t d o t h e y encourage u s t o b e c h a r i t a b l e ? T h e s e a r e b a r e l y e v e n c o ncep t s any l o n g e r i n o u r s o c ie t i e s , a n d in our p r iv a t e l i v e s t h e y a r e h ardly m o r e t h a n arrangem e n t s o f c o n ­ v e n ience , t r a n s a c t i on s w i t h o t h e r s in o u r immedi a t e e n ­ vironme n t , t h a t offer s o m e e m o t i o n a l s e r v i c i n g w h e n we need it. O u r w ord for love n o w i s t he r a p y . O u r w o r d for c h a r i t a b le n e s s n ow is m a s s ag e . W e a r e n o t t au g h t t o love t h e p a s t . W e t a k e f r o m i t w h a t we t h ink i s u s e fu l t o u s , a n d d i s c ard a n d d i s d ai n t he r es t . W e are n o t t au g h t t o love t h e a n c i en t s . W e feel re ­ proached by t h e s t ernn e s s o f t h e i r b i d d i n g s , and flee t h e c h a l lenge of t heir c er t ain t i e s . W e are n o t t au g h t t o l o v e t he s ain t s . T h e y a r e t oo a w k w ard for u s i n t heir i n t e n s i ­ t y , and w e f i n d a p s yc h o l o g i c a l exp l a n a t i o n f o r t h e i r readin e s s t o serve. W e are n o t t au g h t t o l o v e t h e prop h e t s . T h e y d o n o t allow u s t o wh iffle a w a y o u r pre­ s e n t , but s n at c h from u s our g o l d e n calves a n d s u m m o n u s t o s o m e s t re n u o u s e n d e a v o r f o r a fu t ure w e w i l l n o t s e e . We are n o t t au g h t t o love o u r her o e s . They w e r e s t ra w m e n , w i t h p apier-mach e m a s k s . W e are n o t t au g h t t o love our in s t i t u t ion s . T h e y t h r e a t e n o u r s p o n t anei t y a n d a u t h e n t i c i t y , t h o s e t w i n b e t r ay e r s a s w e l l a s t e m p t e r s , o n which w e g i d d i ly l e a n , a n d a s k from u s o b l i g a t i o n s i n r e t u r n for t h e righ t s t h e y b e s t ow and pro t e c t . What o t h er t h a n o u r s e l v e s d o w e love? In all o f t h e s e we c a n f e e l Pride work ing t h r o u g h t h e malice o f Env y . Even our s o c i a l i s m h a s b e c o m e more l o v e l e s s t h a n in

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the p a s t and m a k e s i t s app e a l p r i m a r i l y t o our Envy . There is a fatal s o c i a l i s m t h a t merely w is h e s t o p u l l a few p e o p l e d o w n , rather than p u l l a large n u m b e r u p ; and altho ugh throughout its h i s t ory i t h a s s e l d o m c o m e fully t o g rip s with t h e Envy t h a t t h e lev eling i m p u l s e w i l l always t o o e a s i l y i n c i t e , s o c i a l i s m h a s s e l d o m b e fore b e en s o generally m e a n - s p irited a n d at t h e s a m e time s e lf-righ t e o u s in i t s c l a i m s . I n o u r W e st ern s oc i e t i e s to­ day it i s too e x c l u s i v e l y i n t e r e s t e d in t h e r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m a t e r i a l g o o d s . I t i s a s if i t h a s b e e n c orrup t e d b y i t s e n e m y , b y t h e s u c c e s s o f our p r e s en t s o c i e t ie s i n creating p o p u l at i o n s of c o n s u m e r s w h o are m ore or less g r a t i fied in their c o n s u m i n g , and so reduced i t s e l f t o s ay i n g mere­ ly that it will s u p p l y the s ame gratificat i o n s more j u s t ly to more p eo p l e . T h i s is a program w i t h no v i s i o n . Whether or not i t i s s o c i a l i s m , it i s c e r t a i n l y n e i t her t h e c r i t i c i s m nor t h e reformation t h a t our s o c i e t i e s s o d e s p erately need , if we a r e t o b e u p l ift ed b y t h e m . I f t h e r e is n o c h e c k t o o u r Envy i n our s o c i et i e s , it i s b e c a u s e there i s n othin g t h a t t h e y t e a c h u s , o r c a n e v e n s h o w u s , t o h o n o r m o r e t h an w e h o n o r o u r s e l ve s . D e ­ prived o f s ai n t s a n d p r o p h e t s a n d h eroe s , e v e n of p u b l i c figures o f s t an d i n g , we f i n d a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e m i n t h e c e l e b r i t y . The c e l ebrity i s the c r e a t u r e of an e n v i o u s age . He i s s o m e o n e t o w h o m we a s cr i b e n o v ir t u o u s ne s s , w h o s e t a le n t s are n o t o f p r i m ary i n t e r e s t , w h o m w e d o n o t think o f a s w i s e b e y ond u s , or gener o u s b e y o n d u s , o r s e l fl e s s b e y ond u s , or d e d i c a t e d b e y o n d u s , or e v e n hard­ working beyond us. H e i s merely paid beyond us. I n our Envy we erect them , for a while l e t o u r Envy prey o n t h e m , a n d then in our E n v y d e s t r o y t h em . E n v y c o u l d a s k f o r no m o r e s la v i s h c r e a t u r e . The t a lk s h o w s on t e l e v i ­ s ion are fe a s t s for o u r Envy . The a u d i e n c e i s the tyran t , fic k l e as t y r a n t s b y nature are , a n d t h e c e l e b r i t i e s are fed to i t , for it to d e v o u r and then c a l l m o n s t r o u s l y for another. What more c o u l d Envy a s k t o a p p e a s e i t s t o r m e n t ?

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W h a t it s e t s u p a s greater t h a n i t , it s h o w s t o be e v e n l e s s than its equal. It does not wish t o b e shown what is n o b ler o r m o r e virt u o u s t h a n i t . and o u r s o c i e t i e s c annot be l e ft b l a m e le s s for c re a t i n g p o p u l a t i o n s of helo t s , w h o then d e b a s e e v e r y t h i n g t o t h e level o f vulgarity t o which they h a v e b e e n c y n ic ally tutored. W e c a n n o t excuse t h e s u p p o s e d le a d e r s o f t h o s e s o c ie t i e s , w h o p a y e x ­ travagant s u m s for n o v e l s t h a t a r e n o more than t r a s h , not t o s e l l them a s t r a s h , w h i c h i s at l e a s t an old f o r m o f harlotry , b u t t o s e l l t h e m and review t h e m a n d a c c l a i m them as work s o f l i t e r a t u r e . For o u r w r i t e r s are t h e n hardly res i s t an t t o Envy a n d p e r s u a d e t h e m s e l v e s that if s u c h work s c a n , not o n l y c ommand a huge advance on r o y altie s , b u t actually b e honored b y revi e w s t h a t t a k e t h e m s e r io u s ly , t h e y may a s well e m u l a t e w h at s e e m s t o b r i n g n o d i s g r a c e w i t h i t s fee . I t i s n o t o n l y t h e i n ­ dividuals w h o a r e at fault; t h e i r s o c i e t i e s a r e e gging them o n with a r ec k l e s s d i s regard for any r e a l st andard s . Envy h a s b e e n a l l o w e d t o b e c o m e o n e of t h e governing m o t ive s o f our s o c i e t i e s , m o r e than of any in the p a s t , perverting t h e i d e a of equ ality , d e b a s in g t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d m o d e s t am b i t i o n s o f d e m o c r a c y , d e b i l i t a t ing t h e n o ­ t i o n o f excellence a n d even achievement , corrupting any elevated sense o f our public life , and leaving t he c i t i z e n s to a s im u l t a n e o u s l y e x c i t e d and d e j e c t e d p u r s u i t o f what h a s been c o n t e m p t o u s l y brought d own t o t h e level of t h e i r a s s u m e d c a p a c i t i e s . I t i s no w o n d e r t h at Angu s W i l s o n h a s s ai d t h a t Envy w e a r s "an uglier face than Lust's b l o o d s h o t e y e s , or G l u t t o n y ' s p a u n c h , or Pride's c amel nose, or Avarice's thin lip s . " I t i s a m o re secret appetite than these and reign s more s ec r e t l y in us. B u t it a l s o reigns m o r e s e cretly in o u r s o c i e t ie s , w h i c h h a v e d i s ­ c o v e red t h a t it m a y ce a s e l e s s ly b e i n c i t e d a n d w i t h p r ofit a p p e a s ed , t o b e incited again and then a p p e a s e d once m o re with t h e p r ofit undimini s h e d , t o re p lace any m o r e s t ren u o u s l o n g i n g s or a s p i r a t i o n s t h a t m ight i n s p i r e u s . While t h e s p i r it o f Envy i s l o o s e in o u r s oc ie t i e s , it can

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r e d u c e our a m b i t i o n s o n l y t o m e an n e s s a n d p e t t i ne s s , t o the d e s i r e , not s o m u c h t o d o w e l l o u r s e lv e s , a s t o s e e o t h e r s d o w o r s e . T h i s m a l i c e and e v i lm i n d e d n e s s a r e i n ourselve s , a h a b i t u a l s i n , b u t never have our s o c i e t i e s s o c o n s p ired t o infl a m e them in u s . I f a l l t h e s i n s are a hardening of the heart , Envy is als o a b i t t e r n e s s of the heart; and if w e are alienated and s u l l e n and f e c k le s s , it i s p a r t l y b e c a u s e , w i t h e n ough o f our h u m a n i t y s t ill fl icker­ ing in us, we c a n only regard with r e n ew e d b it t er n e s s the waste of t h e b i t t e rn e s s of h e art t o which w e h ave already been red u c e d .

ENV Y

1! 3

ANGER

oR

IRA

HOW O D D WE c a n feel- even prep o s t er o u s - w h e n w e h a v e b e e n a n g r y . W h a t w a s it all a b o u t ? W h ere did i t come fr om'� " I forgive m y s elf" a fri e n d o f m ine w i l l s a y the n e x t d a y , and it s e e m s enough ; at l e a s t h e i s not a s k ­ i n g o n e t o forgive h i m . S u c h o u t b u r s t s a r e n o t t o b e t a k e n lightly. W e fling w o r d s in a n g e r an d , w h e n w o r d s are fl u n g , they have a w ay o f fin ding a p er h a p s u n intended b u t wide-open t arget . After a l l , if w e are s p r aying the whole landscape w i t h gunshot, the o d d s are t h a t w e w i l l s c ore a h i t s omewhere. Anger i s a d e p t w i t h m e n a c e a n d a c c u s a t i o n . O u r v o i c e s r i s e . Our e y e s b l a z e . O ur b o d i e s s t iffe n . O u r f i n g e r s p o i n t . O u r f e e t s t am p . O u r w o r d s are hurled. "You . . You . . . YO U , " ris ing i n pitch, s p a t t e r s o u r d i a t r ib e . W e are t r y i n g t o make an e n e m y , even w he n t here is n o n e , and t h e s a d t h i n g i s t h at w e m ay s u c c e e d . W h o e v e r s aid t h a t s ti c k s and s t o n e s m a y b r e a k our b o n e s , b u t word s c a n never hurt us, m u s t have lived among d e a f m u t e s . Careless w o r d s c a n do untold da ma ge; o n e w o r d m a y destroy even a s u b lime love. Anger m ay not alw a y s c a u s e a deep w o u n d , b u t it m u s t leave a r e s i d u e of h atred i n the end , a n d a d e s ir e for revenge . The enemy whom i t a t fir st i n v e n t e d will h av e been s tung int o e x i s t ence b y i t s t o n g u e . O u r fl a s h e s of a n g e r are n o t b l a m e le s s , b u t i t i s as ­ s u m e d t h a t our r e a s o n h a s n o t a s s e n t e d t o t h e m . T h ey are regarded therefore a s a venial sin. W h at i s more, there m a y be s o m e t h i n g t o b e s ai d for t h e m , for fro m time to t i m e . " g e t t ing it off o n e ' s chest" S o m e y e ar s ago a group o f British and American p s y c h ol o g i s t s a n d s o c i a l .

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w orkers met at t h e T a v i s t o c k In s t i t u t e in London to c o m ­ p a r e n o t e s on t h e c on d i t i o n o f t h e c on t e m p or ary fam i l y . O n e American p s y ch o l o g i s t s aid t h a t t h e m a i n s o u n d s h e a s s oc i ated w it h t h e B r i t i s h fam i l y w a s t h a t of doors b e ­ i n g b a n g e d i n s i d e it , w h e r e a s t h e m a i n s o u n d s h e a s s oc i a t e d w ith t h e American f a m i l y w a s t h a t of c a r s b e ­ ing d r i v e n away f r o m o u t s i d e i t . T h e A m e r i c a n family seems s om e t im e s t o try t o o hard t o b y p a s s anger, and t h i s may w e l l b e a r e a s o n why in t h e w i d e r s oc ie t y , where a d u l t s d e a l with a d u lt s , there are o c c a s i o n al l y such inex­ p l i c able and d e s t ruct ive outbursts o f a n g e r . The c h i l d n e e d s t o learn , not o n l y how t o c o n t r o l it s a n g e r , but h o w s o me t i m e s t o expre s s i t . A n g e r n e e d s a s a fe t y v a l v e , be fore it accumu l a t e s and at l a s t b r e a k s o u t , t o c au s e t h e d e v a s t a t i o n of w h i c h it i s c a p a b l e . Neverth e l e s s , a s w e d e s c r i b e t h e Anger t h a t i s c o u n t e d a s a d e a d l y s i n , w e w i l l f i n d t h a t w e r e t u rn c o n s t an t l y t o our everyday o u t b u r s t s o f anger f o r o u r i ll u s t r a t i o n s . They are the reminder, with t h e i r s t r u t t ing and p o s t u r ­ i n g , of how d e e p l y t h e s i n i s e m b e d d e d i n u s . The tantrum of the ch ild i s natural t o i t , b efore any o t her of t h e s i n s , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o n l y of Pride. W h e n it s w i l l m e e t s the b o u n d a r i e s that are set t o i t , it d i s s o l v e s into t e ar s , which c a n be fi lled s o m e t i m e s with the most s u b t le menaces o f A n g e r . I t h o w l s and s c r e a m s . W e oft en s a y t h a t an o u t ­ b u r s t o f a n g e r in t h e a d u l t i s m e r e c h i l d i s h n e s s , and we s h o u l d not refu s e o u r own i n s ight s . W e are saying that the child a l s o and already s i n s . B u t it i s n o t o u r f l a s h e s of a n g e r , a t least i n t h e m s elve s , t h a t are c ou n t e d a s o n e o f the d e a d l y s i n s . Anger a s a d e a d l y s i n is " a d i s orderly o u t b u r s t of e m o t i o n c o n n e c t e d w i t h the inordinate d e s ire f o r r e v e n g e " ; and it m a y be in­ ordinate " e i t h e r in regard t o t h e o b j ect o n which [ it] is vented , or in the degree in which [ it] i s f o s t ered or e x ­ pre s s e d . " I t is l i k e l y t o b e a c c o m p a n i e d b y surline s s o f h e a r t , by m a l i c e afo r e t h o u g h t , a n d a b o v e a l l b y t h e deter­ mination t o t a k e v e n g e a n c e ; and s i n c e it i s s u s t ained over

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a length of t i m e , w e are likely t o have a s s en t e d t o i t w i t h o u r r e a s o n , and then w i t h o u r w i l l , which are t w o o f the c o n d i t i o n s o f all sinning: t h a t we d o it k n o w ingly and willingly . William F . M a y g i v e s the n am e of H a t r e d t o the s i n o f A n g e r , t o e m p h a s i ze t h a t it t a k e s h o l d o f u s " i n t h e highe s t reaches o f t h e m i n d , " t h a t it b e c o m e s an o b s e s ­ s i o n , t h a t o n c e it h a s t a k e n h o l d i t e n d ur e s . T h e p oint i s importan t , b u t H atred i s the wrong w o r d . H atred i s n o t the s ame a s A n g e r , a l t h ough it i s a l arge c o m p o n e n t o f i t . It is o ften o n e ( b u t o n l y o n e ) o f i t s m o t i ve s , and i s u n ­ avoidably one o f i t s c o n s e q u en c e s . I f w e are t o g i v e A n g e r a n o t h er n a m e , t o e m p h a s ize i t s charact e r , we s h o u l d s t ic k t o t h e family o f its close r e l a t iv e s . W e may call it Wrath , which carries the s am e s u g ge s t i o n o f an o b s e s s i o n , of s om e t h i ng that c o n s u m e s us, n o t t h e flash o f ligh t n i n g , t h e s udden clap o f thund e r , b u t a burning in u s lik e a banked fir e . Wrath i s a fixat ion . Its e y e s are set on t h e ob j e c t of its anger. I t d e v o u r s i t s el f and o t h e r s . I t l a y s w a s t e . A m o dern s y m b o l o f it is t h e p ol i c y o f t h e s c orched e a r t h in w a r . W e think of Anger in t e r m s of fire: b l azing, fl aming, s corching, smoking, fu m i n g , spitting, smoldering, h e a t e d , white hot, s immering, boiling, a n d e v e n w h e n it is ice-cold it w i ll s t i l l b u r n . I t h a s b e e n called the D ev i l ' s furn a c e , and the o t h e r s i n s will fu el i t . P r i d e c a n o b v i o u s ­ ly lead t o W r a t h ; s c orn a n d o b s t i n a c y , for e x ampl e , a r e a s s oc i a ted with them b o t h . S o a l s o c a n E n v y , w i t h i t s o w n e y e s fix ed on t h e o b j e c t o f i t s r e s e n t m e n t , s e e k i n g vengean c e . A v a r i c e m a y e a s i l y l e ad t o it , if it i s b a l k e d ; and i f it a l s o i s b a l k e d , Lu s t can lead t o i t . B u t in it s t u r n W r a t h w i l l inflame the o t h er s i n s . T h e a n g r y man i s l i k e ­ ly t o b e c o m e m o r e proud , more enviou s , m o re avaric i ou s , and h e may even b e c o m e more s l o t h ful , att ending l e s s t h a n h e s h o u ld t o o t h er thing s , s i n c e h i s W r a t h c o n s u m e s h i m . F l a m e s l i c k and leap anywhere t h ey f i n d s o m e t h i n g t o b u r n . A fir e m a y s m o l d e r f o r a l o n g t i m e u n n o t i c e d . S o

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c a n Wrath burn i t s w a y through a w h o l e be ing, i n t o his w o r d s and deeds and gestures; and n o o t h e r of t h e sins uses all three o f t h e s e s o s k illfu l l y , o r in so d e a d l y a c o m ­ bination. W e u n d e r s t and t h a t t h e r e are a n g r y p e op l e , w h o s e e m s i m p l y t o b e a n g r y , within them s e l v e s , a t a n y t h i n g a n d everything: a n g r y at life , a n g r y at t h e ir l o t , a n g r y at t h e world, a n g r y at everyone e l s e , and angry at the m s e lve s , although this t h e y d o n o t s e e . I t i s h ardly w orth a s k i n g t h e m t h e c a u s e , b e c a u s e they will alw a y s b e a n g r y a t s omething . S h o w them t h a t t h e r e is n o r e a s o n f o r Anger in one circum s t a n c e , t h e y will return t h e n e x t d ay with their Anger s t ill j u s tifi e d , and sometimes t h e y s e e m m o s t m i l d . T h e s e a r e p e o p l e o f W r a t h , s u s t ained a n d vengefu l . We s h o u l d b e w arned b y t h e m b e c a u s e , e v e n if it m a y o n l y b e o c c a s i on a lly , the s ame Anger c a n w o r k al s o in u s a n d c a u s e i t s o w n h arm . W e live in an age of Wrath . I t is t o b e found in the terrori s t , the k i d n a p p e r , the hij a c k e r , the looter, a n d in the clenched fist of the demon s t r at o r . One m e n t i o n s t h e s e a t t h e beginn ing o n l y b e c a u s e t h e y are t h e m o s t o b ­ v i o u s s y m b o l i c figure s . T h e y a r e n o t a l o n e . W h e n w e a s k w h a t i s their j u st ific ation , t h e y h ardly h a v e t o g i v e a n a n s w e r , b e c a u s e our a g e find s it f o r t h e m . They a r e a n gry. That is apparently e n o u g h . W e j u st ify their W r a t h , s o w e j u s ti fy their v i o l e n c e . I f s o m eone think s that he h a s c a u s e t o b e angry , he may act from his Anger a s d e s tructively as he sees fit . I n fac t , w e have come c l o s e t o t h e p o i n t o f giving t o W r a t h an incont e s t a b le lic e n s e t o terrorize our s oc i e t ie s , j u st a s an a ngry m a n m a y terrorize his fam ily , b u t whereas we d o n o t e x c u s e the h u s b and or the fat h e r , we e x t e n d our sympathy and unders tan d i n g t o the t erro r i s t . The p o l i c e s t and b y w h i l e m a y h e m is c om m i t t e d in the most l i t e r a l s e n s e . M ayhem i s " t h e m a l i c i o u s a n d p e r m a ­ nent deprival of another o f t h e u s e o f a m e m b e r o f his

90

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body r e s u l t i n g in impairing h i s fighting a b i l i t y and c o n ­ s t i t u t i ng a g r a v e offe n s e u n d e r Engl i s h c o m m o n l aw . " T h i s i s e x a c t l y what h a p p e n s when a s oc i e t y h a s b e e n terrorized i n t o s u rrendering i t s right t o p r ot ec t i t s el f, b y r e s training i t s p o l i c e from l a w f u l a c t i o n s , o u t of the fe ar that they might p r o v o k e t h o s e who are t e r r orizing i t t o even m o r e v i o l e n c e a n d d e s t r u c t i o n . T h e s o c i e t y h a s allo wed i t s fig h t ing ability t o b e i m p a i r e d , m a l i c i o u s l y and perman e n t l y , o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t , j u st a s Wrath m u s t b e given our u n d e r s tandin g , s o t h e v i o l e n c e t o which i t l e a d s mu s t b e g i v e n our t o l e r a n c e . B u t it i s m o r e t h a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d t o lerance t h a t we g i v e s o generou s l y . I t i s w e in our s o c i e t i e s who h a v e s u p p l i e d t h e e x c u s e ­ n o t only the excu s e , b u t even t h e s t i m u l u s - w h o have n o t o n l y e n couraged t h e W r a t h , b u t p r o v o k e d p e o p l e t o i t . S o c i e t i e s t h a t t o lerate a n d e n c o u rage s o d e s t ru c t i v e a fo rce within t h e i r o w n b o d i e s m u s t at s o m e p o i n t have t a k e n a wrong turning, and w e h a v e g i v e n Wrath i t s l i c e n s e b y e l e v a t i n g a c o n c e p t o f i n d i v i d u a l and human rights that i s flagrant l y m i s l e ading . A n y felt need or d e s i re or longing, for anything t h a t one lacks b u t s o m e o n e e l s e h a s , i s tod ay c o n ceived t o b e a right t h a t , when demanded , m u s t b e c o n c e d e d w i t h o u t cha lle nge . And if it is not at o n c e c o n c e d e d , t h e c l a i m a n t s are e n ­ t i t l e d t o b e angr y , j u s t as a c h i l d m i g h t b e t h o u g h t t o b e e n t i t led t o be angry if i t i s n o t allowed t o p l a y w i t h a b o n e c h i n a p l a t e t h at b e l o n g s t o i t s p a r en t s . W e c a n hardly b l a m e t h e c l aimant s for t a k i n g adv a n t a g e of this fo o l i s h n e s s , s in c e t h ey are j u s t i fied in a d v a n c e o n four ground s : what they w a n t , it i s their right to h a v e ; when it i s asked, it s h o u l d b e gran t e d ; if it i s n o t g r a n t e d , it is u n d e rs t a n d a b l e t h a t they are angry ; s i n c e t h e y are angry , it is c lear that t h e i r d e m a n d in t h e fir st p l a c e w a s j u s t ifie d . ( Le s t it be thought t h a t n o o n e c o u l d s e r i o u s l y s u p p o r t s u ch l o g i c , let it be s ai d that t h i s h a s f o r t h e p a s t d e c ad e b e e n very m u c h the g o s p e l of T o m W ic k e r and o f o t h e r s c on tr i b u t ing t o the N e w Yor k Tim e s . ) N o c i v i l ized

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s o c i e t i e s can e v e r b e fore h a v e trapped t h e m s e l v e s i n t o s u c h a v i c i o u s c i r c l e , s o t h a t any and e v e r y fe lt w a n t i s t r a n s l a t e d i n t o an alleged righ t , i n c it ing i t s c i t i z e n s t o A n g e r a n d t h e n t o i t s d e s t ru c t i v e n e s s . C arried t o i t s m o s t extreme a n d l u d i c r o u s i n r e c e n t y e a r s , there h a v e b e e n w o m e n w h o h a v e s e e m e d t o b e c l a i m i n g , not merely t h e righ t s t h a t m e n e n j oy a s c i t izen s , b u t t h e right t h e m s e l v e s t o b e m e n ; s t u d e n t s w h o h a v e a c t u ally b e e n c l aiming t h e r i g h t t o b e t h e i r own e d u c a t o r s , not o n ly c h o o s ing w h a t t h e y w i l l s t u d y , which i s a c u r i o u s license in t h e first place, b u t even c h o o s i n g their own t e ac h e r s and grading t h e m ; and children w h o have b e e n c l a i m i n g t h e r i g h t t o b e a d u l t s , u n t i l o u r n e w s p ap e r s b egan t o r e p o rt s ol e m n ly t h at there w e r e " s t u d e n t right s " m o v e m e n t s at t h e g r a d e s c h o o l l e v e l . All o f these a b s u r d i t i e s h a v e r e s u l t e d in variou s expre s s i o n s o f W r a t h , w h i c h have in t u r n p r o v o k e d v a r i o u s d e g r e e s of v i o l e n c e . T h e y may s e e m o n l y t o b e follie s , b u t follies c a n h ar m . O n e d r a w s attention t o t h e m only to e m p h a s i z e t h a t there are n o b ou n d arie s t h a t c an l o g i c ally b e s e t t o t h e c on c e p t o f indiv i d u al and human r i g h t s t h a t w e have s o fr iv o l o u s l y a d op t e d . Any o f u s m a y s i m p l y expre s s a fe lt n e e d or w a n t a s a right , and o u r s oc i e t i e s h a v e l eft them s e l v e s w i t h l i t t l e or n o r e b u t t a l . I f we a r e t o c onfr o n t t h i s q u e s t i o n of righ t s , w e n e e d t o t a k e t h e m o s t c omplex a n d s e arching of i s s u e s . T h e right to have "control o v e r o n e ' s o w n b o d y , " for e x am p le , which i s u s e d t o j u st ify " ab o r t i o n o n d e m a n d , " a s i f a b o r ­ tion i s a s ervice that o n e s h o u l d b e a b l e t o g e t f r o m S e a r s & R o e b u c k or t h r o u g h a m a i l order c at al o g , i s a right t h a t not even men e n j o y . I f we drive o n t h e w r o n g s id e o f t h e r o a d , our b o d i e s are f o r c i b l y r e m o v e d f r o m i t ; if w e p u n c h an i n n o c e n t s t r an g e r o n t h e n o s e , our b o di e s are forc i b l y r e s t rained . We are n o t a l l o w e d t o walk n a k e d i n t h e s t r ee t s , or t o p erform t h e s e x u a l a c t o n t h e c ou n t e r o f a p u b li c bar or i n t h e a i s l e o f a c rowd ed aircr aft , a n d o f c o u r s e t h e m ale b o d y i s n o t allowed t o r a p e w h e n i t fee l s

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the h a p l e s s urge . .Th ere are p e o p l e w h o w o u ld l i k e t o pre­ v e n t us from smoking, because it i s b a d for o u r b o d ie s , a n d there a r e l a w s a g a i n s t t h e u s e of s om e drugs for the s a m e reason. Even b i o l og i c a l l y we d o n o t h a v e c o n t r o l o f our own b o d ie s . T h e y are s u b j e c t t o infec t i on , viru s , d i s ­ e a s e , d ec a y , and d e ath . T h e r e w i l l be a n g r y c o m p l a i n t s ­ they will o f c o u r s e b e angry- that t h e s e are a red u c t i o a d a b s u rd u m . B u t i t i s n e c e s s ary t o m a k e t h e p o i n t , b e c a u s e o n e c a n n o t c l aim as a righ t w h a t c a n n o t be g u a r a n t e e d , and there i s n o w a y o f g u aranteeing t o any of u s , m a l e or fe m a l e , the right t o h a v e " c ontrol over our o w n b o d ie s . " T o p r e s e n t as right s w h a t c a n n o t in t h e e n d b e s e c u r e d a s righ t s , as w e a l l t o o o ften d o t od a y , i s a s s u r e a p r e s c r i p ­ t i o n f o r Wrath a s any other t h a t c o u l d b e p r o p o s e d . I f our b o d i e s are s u b j e c t t o d i s e a s e , d e c a y , and d e a t h , they are n o l e s s s u b j e c t t o i m p u l s e , whim , and p a s s i o n , t o t h o s e v ery m o m e n t s w h e n w e in fac t s a y t h a t we h a v e lost control of ourselves. (The control has not been taken a w a y from u s , w e h a v e s u rrendered it . ) M o s t u n w a n t e d pregnanc i e s are t h e m s e l v e s a r e s u lt o f a w o m a n having lost c o n t r o l o f her own body-to i mp u l s e , w h i m , p a s s i o n , o r l u s t- and the dem and f o r n o n t h e r a p e u t i c a b o r t i o n s i s a demand only t o remove t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s of h a v i n g previou s ly forfe i t e d c on t r o l over her own b o d y , w h i c h s h e n o w imagines s h e may r e a s sert w i t h s u r g i c a l a s s i s tance from s om e o n e e l s e . The W r at h w i t h w h i c h t h e d e m and f o r n o n t h e r ap e u t i c abort i o n s i s s om e t i m e s m a d e - a Wrath t h a t i s i n e v i t a b l y dire c t e d , even if not in­ t e n t i on a l l y , at an i n n o c e n t o b j e c t , t h e conceived c h i l d - i s t h e result o f c o n ferring o n mere ly felt want s the character of righ t s . I f one w a n t s ( o r fe e l s t h a t one n e e d s ) to get rid of a fetu s , then o n e a p p a r e n t l y h a s t h e in­ d e fe a s i b l e right t o g e t rid o f i t . There m a y or may n o t b e a c a s e for a l l o w i n g w omen t o h a v e n o n t h e r ap e u t i c abor­ t i o n s on d e m and . T h a t i s n o t t h e q u e s t ion t h a t i s being argued h e r e . One i s merely s a y i n g t h a t to translate a w o m a n ' s w i s h t o have an a b o rt i o n i n t o h e r right t o h ave i t

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is merely another example- and an e x t r e m e o n e - o f the a b s u rdly d i s t or t e d concept o f individual and human rights b y which our s oc i e t i e s are n o w c o nfu s e d , and we are in t h i s way set against each other in an e n d l e s s c o m ­ b a t f o r the righ t s we c l a i m . A n g e r c o m e s . M o s t of the rig h t s t h a t s om e o n e c l a i m s w i l l , if g r a n t e d , involve t h e d im in i s h i n g o f another's right s . The fre e d o m o f a w o m a n t o c h o o s e n o t t o have a child c a n be a diminishing of t h e fre e d o m of a m a n t o e n j o y t h e child w h o m h e p layed some p a r t i n c o n c e i v i n g . Let u s s u p p o s e t h a t a y ou n g m a n and a y o u n g w o m a n d e c i d e t h a t t h e y w i l l h a v e a c h i l d , that t h ey then c o n c e ive o n e , b u t t h a t t h e w o m an i s then o ffered a good j ob t h a t s h e h a s alw a y s w a n t e d . S h e d e c i d e s t o a b o r t t h e fet u s , e v e n t h o u g h the m a n still wishes t o have t h e c h i l d , and c an p oi n t o u t t h a t it i s a s m u c h " h i s " a s i t i s " h e r s , " t h a t i t w as c o n c e i v e d e q u ally b y t h e m b y a j o int d e c i s i o n a n d a j o int a c t , p r e s u m a b l y o f l o v e f o r e a c h o ther a n d f o r t h e c h i l d t h a t m a y b e a c r e a t i o n o f i t . ( O n e i s deliberat ely t a k i n g an e x ­ a m p l e in w h i c h t h e "right s " a r e i n s om e r e al b a l a n c e , b e c a u s e it i s in s u c h c a s e s t h a t o n e c a n s e e t h e i s s u e s t h a t are involved . } W e h av e n o t even r a i s e d t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e r i g h t s that t h e fet u s may h av e - t he crux of t h e m atter­ because we are p oi n t i n g o u t only t h a t s o slipshod a c o n ­ c e p t o f i n d i v i d u a l righ t s a s we have a d o p t e d , w i t h s c arcely any r e s i s t an c e , c a n l e a d on ly t o s it u a t i o n s in which a d i s cord t h a t i s s o deep t h a t i t c a n hardly b e s p ok e n i s i n c i t e d on b o t h s i d e s . Even i f w e p u t a s i d e f o r a m o m e n t t h e v i o l e n c e of fee l ­ ing t o which s u c h a c o n c e p t c a n l e a d , w e c an s e e i n o t h er forms t h e d i s cord t h a t i t i n c i t e s . W e m a y e v e n s e e it m o r e c l e a rly in t h e m , p r e c i s e ly b e c a u s e t h e q u e s t i o n o f W r a t h d o e s n o t s o o b v i o u s l y i n t r u d e . Americ a n c o u r t s have in the p a s t ten y e a r s been inundated b y c a s e s of alleged d i s ­ crimin a t i o n : n ot d i s c r i m i n a t i o n o n t h e grounds o f s o m e one's r a c e or religion or s e x , b u t d i s crimination on

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almos t any ground t h a t t h e p l a i n t iffs a n d t h e i r lawyers have t h e ingen u i ty t o concoct. T w o high school s t u d e n t s w e r e refu s e d p e r m i s s i o n t o p u b l i s h a n a r t i c l e on b i r t h c o n t rol in t h eir h i g h s c h o o l n e w s p a p e r . T h e y t oo k t h e c a s e t o t h e c o u r t s o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t t h ey were b e i n g d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t b e c au s e t h e y w e r e n o t a d u l t s , and t h e Fourth Circuit C o u r t o f Appeals agreed with them. A high s c h o o l s t u d e n t " a s a j ok e " p u s h e d a c h o c o l a t e c r e a m pie i n t o t h e fac e o f o n e o f her t e a c h e r s and in p u n i s h m e n t w a s n o t allowed t o a t t e n d her gradu a t i o n . S h e t o o k h e r c a s e t o the c o u rt s on t h e gro u n d s t h a t s h e w a s being d i s ­ criminated a g a in s t , b e c a u s e t h e p u n i s h m e n t had b e e n decided w i t h o u t a h e aring b e fore t h e c o u n t y s c h o o l auth oritie s . A t l e a s t in t h i s c a s e , t h e s u i t w a s rej e c t e d . O t h e r s t u d e n t s have c o m p l a i n e d t h a t t h e y h av e b e e n d i s ­ cri m i n a t e d a g a i n s t f o r w e a ring b l u e j e a n s or n o t w e aring shoes. There h a v e b e e n t h o u s a n d s o f c a s e s b r o u g h t by a d u l t s on ground s t h a t are h ardly l e s s fr iv o l ou s , u n t i l s o me lawyers n o w r e a s o n a b l y a s k : I f everyone c a n claim t h a t t h e y a r e b e i n g d i s crimin a t e d again s t o n a l m o s t a n y g r o u n d , t h e n w h a t i s n o t d i s cr i m i n a t i o n a n d ( e v e n m o r e p uzzling ) w h a t i s d i s c rim i n a t i o n ? I f everyone c a n c l a i m t h a t t h e y are t h e v i c t i m s o f d i s c rim i n a t i o n , t h e n clearly there i s n o longer any d i sc r i m in a t i o n . T h i s i s only a n o t h e r w ay of s aying what we h a v e b e e n sugg e s t i ng here. I f e v e r y o n e c a n claim that any fe lt want or need or longing is a righ t , there are c l e arly n o s u c h things a s righ t s l e ft at a l l , s i n c e e v e r y o n e ' s s u p p o s e d righ t s are p i t ted l eg i t i m a t ely again s t everyone e l s e ' s s u p p o s e d righ t s , and w e no l o n g e r have any way of d e ciding w h a t i s a righ t and w h a t i s n o t . T h e s e c a s e s m a y s e e m now t o b e h armle s s l y in the c o u rt s , b u t t h e a s su m p t i o n s behind t h e m c a n only breed discord, which in turn c a n only breed a violent s oc i e t y . We h a v e i t now. N o s ooner d i d t h e young begin c l a i m i n g their rig h t s again s t t h e a d u l t s a h e a d o f t h e m , t h an t h e old c a m e

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forward t o c laim their rig h t s agains t t h e a d u l t s behind t h e m . In t h e past five y e a r s t h e n u m b e r o f c om p l a i n t s w h i c h the D ep a r t m e nt o f Lab o r h a s r e c e i v e d o f d i s ­ crimination on t h e g r o u n d s o f a g e h a s m u l t i p l i e d s ix t i m e s . When t h e y o u n g and t h e o l d have e s t a b l i s h e d their claims, the adu l t s in the m i d d l e w i l l arrive with their o w n , j u st a s t h e wh i t e s have brought their c l a i m s o f reverse d i s c rimination again s t t h e b l a c k s . T h e r e i s n o way in which a s oc i e t y t h a t re s t s o n s u c h p r e m i s e s c a n in the end breed a n y t h ing b u t the d i s c ord of Anger. W h e n an FBI age n t sues t h e FBI o n t h e grounds t h at h i s r ight s were viol ated , b e c au s e h e w a s c e n s ured and trans ferred t o a diffe r e n t p o s t for living w i t h a woman o u t of w e d l o c k , h e i s a c t i n g as s om e o n e who h a s b e en t aught b y h i s s o c i e t y t h a t h e h a s , in a n y and e v e r y s i t u a t i o n a s he c h o o s e s t o define i t , the r i g h t t o a c t and l i v e e x a c t l y as h e p l e as e s , e v e n if i t i s again s t t h e ru l e s or s t andards o f t h e organiza­ t i o n t o wh ich he belongs o f his own fr e e will. If t h i s right i s denied, h e b e l i e v e s h e h a s the right to b e angry . H e has not e v e n learned the wisdom o f Groucho M arx, that a c l u b t h a t w i l l have o n e as a member is n o t worth j oi n ­ ing. I f p e ople have b e e n t a u g h t t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y have the right t o s omething that they happen t o d e s ire , and t h i s alle ged r i g h t i s n o t grante d , it i s i n e v i t a b l e t h at t h e y w i l l at s o m e p o i n t y i e l d t o a n g e r ; and in then s e e k ing t o t ak e t h e alleged right for them s e l v e s , t h e y w i l l e a s i l y b e t e m p te d t o s e e k revenge . T h e d e s ire f o r revenge i s b o t h one of the impetuses t o Wrath, and one of its conse­ q u e n c e s . T h i s i s t r u e e v e n in o u r o u t b u r s t s a t p e o p l e w e k n o w ; f o r o n e r e a s on o r another we a r e trying t o " g e t b a c k " a t them . W h e n w e a r e c o n s u m e d w i t h W r a t h , n o t o n l y a r e our e y e s fixe d with h a t r e d on the e n e m y , b u t w e b e c o m e p r e o c c u p i e d with s t r a t a g e m s of revenge. When we watch s o m e on e w h o i s angry , w e o ft e n s ay that he i s o u t o f h i s mind . He i s driven o u t o f i t b y t h e t h i r s t for

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revenge, and the l eng ths and s t rategie s t o w h i c h it i m p e l s h i m . We k n o w it e v e n in o u r own o u t b u r s t s . T h e p o s i t i on in which w e p u t o u r s e l v e s i s imp o s s ib l e , and w e s e e k r e v e n g e on o t h e r s e v e n for t h a t . W h e t h e r w i t h d e e d s o r w o rd s , t h e w i s h i s t o h ar m a n o t h e r . B u t our fix a t i o n a l s o h arm s u s w h e n w e s u c ­ c u m b t o i t . I t m a k e s u s i m a g i n e slight s and i n j u r i e s w h e r e there are n o n e , and t o feel an u n d u e indignat i o n at t h e m . When we s ay t h a t s o m e o n e i s q u i c k t o ange r , we d o n o t mean only that h e g e t s angry q u i c k l y , b u t that he g e t s angry at t h i n g s t h a t d o n o t d e serve s u c h vehemenc e . W e u s u ally fee l a l i t t l e s h a m e faced after w e h a v e b e e n angry w i t h s o m e o n e . Why did so small an i n c i d e n t - a p ai r o f s o c k s that were m i s l a id- trigger s o v i o lent a r e a c t i o n ? Why did we throw e v e r y t h i n g b u t t h e k it c h e n sink i n t o o u r t i r a d e ? B u t t h i s i s even more t r u e o f t h e s u s t ained Wrath t h a t h a s i t s eyes fixed r e l e n t le s s l y on i t s enemy. T o the real injuries that have b e e n d o n e t o us, w e add slights and i n j u r i e s t h a t are imaginar y , and these tend t o dominate o u r m i n d s . It is always easy t o i t emize t h e s m a l l and imagined h u rt s , and s cr e a m "You . . . You . . Y O U " in a c c u s at i o n a s we n u m b e r them off. B u t the c a u s e s a n d n a t u r e o f the larger a n d m ore g e n u i n e h u r t s are more c o m p l e x , and i t i s n o t in Anger t h a t we c a n c ounter them m o s t effe c t i v e l y . M an y of the l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s a n d e s p e c i a l l y their e x t rem e w i ng s , a c t i n g f r o m Wrath and a d e s ire for reveng e , fixing t h eir e y e s o n the imaginary rather than the real inj u ri e s , the s m a l l r a t h e r than the l a r g e , have hurt t h e m s e l v e s even m o r e than others b y t h e d i s proportion o f their ac t s . B u t we are harmed i n a n even d e e p e r w a y . I n o u r o b s e s ­ s i o n w i t h the e n e m y , we t en d t o b e c o m e t h e e n e m y . The s t ory o f the R e s i s t a n c e was a s t ory o f c o ur a g e , y e s , but it w a s a s t ory also o f a Wrath that b e c a m e s e lf- j u s t ifyi n g , p r e p a r e d t o u s e and e v e n refine s o m e of t h e e n e m y ' s method s . N az i s m in the end had it s v i c t o r ie s , n o t a s a direc t r e s u l t o f i t s own b a r b a r i s m , for t h i s w a s defe a t e d , .

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but in t h e b ar b a r i s m t h a t it i n s p ired in i t s o p p o n e n t s , b e c a u s e they w e r e v i c t or i o u s . I t w a s then a s m a l l j u m p from t h e R e s i s t an c e t o t h e t e r r or i s t - all g u e r i l l a m o v e m e n t s are a f o r m o f a r b i t r a r y v i o l e n c e t h at h a s b e e n given a license- and fro m t h e t e r r o r i s t t o h i s fello w s ­ t h e k id n a p p e r a n d the hij a c k e r- w h o s e violence i s pecu li arly v i le b e c a u s e i t i s e s p e c i ally c o w ardly. I t i s s i nce World W a r I I t h a t t h e i d e a o f a se lf- legitimizing terrori s m h a s b e e n given an idly t o le r a n t a c q u i e s c e n c e by our c iv i lizat i o n . E i t h e r t h e i n j u r i e s o f t h e c e nturie s or the inj ury of the moment, r e a l o r i m agined , are t ho u g h t to be enough o f a warrant for any violence; a n d we are always s u rprised at the e n d o f t h e day, when we have permitted or r e s o r t e d t o s u c h m e t h o d s , to find that they have n o t left u s u n t o u c h e d . I f we have u s ed them , even o u r v i c t ory w i l l n o t be int a c t . W e m a y have terrorized at t h e m o m e n t , like t h e head o f a family , b u t it i s w e w h o l o s e in the e n d . The s l ave w i l l not b e f r e e u n t i l h e h a s c e a s e d t o d i r e c t h i s mind a n d h i s a c t i o n s again s t t h e s l a v e o w n e r , u n t i l he r i d s himself o f t h e s laveowner a s t h e enemy w h o defines him. The s tr e n g t h o f t h i s o l d truth h a s b e en n o less ob­ vious in t h e liberation m o v e me n t s in t h e past two d e c a d e s . There c am e a v i t a l p o i n t in t h e development of the b l ac k movemen t , at t h e e n d o f t h e 1 96 0 s and the beginning o f t h e 1 9 70 s , when t h e blacks i n A m e r i c a p u t " h o n k y " out o f t h e i r m i n d s . I t b e c a m e p o s s i b l e t o s a y t h a t b l a c k i s b e a u t i fu l , w i t h o u t hav ing t o s n arl t h a t w h i t e i s ugly. T h i s w a s i n d e e d a m o m e n t o f s e lf-lib e r a t i o n . B u t the women's m o v e m e n t h a s n o t y e t w h o l l y fre e d i t s e l f f r o m a p r e o c c u p a t i o n with t h e male a s a r e a l or s u p p o s e d o p p r e s s or and s o s t i l l p u t s i t s e l f t o o o f t e n i n t o t h e p o s i ­ t i o n o f s e e k i n g a fu t i le v e n g e a n c e a t t h e c o s t o f t h e g e n u i n e progr e s s t h a t h a s y e t t o b e m a d e . T h e h o m o s e x ­ ual who s a id t o t h e New York Ti mes in 1 9 7 7 , " I can ge t my w i n d o w s w a s h e d b y a gay p e r s o n , m y t e l e v i s i o n r e p a i r e d , d o a n y t h i n g , a n d n e v e r s e e a straight p e r s o n

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a g a i n , " h a d h i s e y e s fix e d rem o r s e l e s s l y on the heteros exu al a s h i s enemy, in hatred a n d w i t h a d e s ire for v e n g e anc e ; and in so m i s d irec ting h i s energi e s h e d i m i n i sh e s h i m s e l f a s a h u m a n b e i n g , e v e n w h i l e h e s ay s t h a t it i s a s a h u m a n being t h a t h e w i s h e s t o b e r e c o g ­ nize d . He s t ill h a s t h e m e n t a l i t y a n d s p ir i t of a s la v e . I t w i l l b e s aid t h a t all l i b e r a t i o n or revol u t i o n ary m o v e m e n t s have t o g o through an e x t r e m e and v i o l e n t p h a s e . Even if t h i s were t r u e , s uc h p h a s e s a r e s t i l l w a s ting and d i s t orting , likely t o c o rrupt , and t h e n e c e s s i ­ ty f o r them i s t h e r e s u l t o f the s i n fu l n e s s o f our n a t u r e s . W e turn t o v e n g e ance and v i o l en c e , b e c a u s e we a re un­ a b l e t o c h e c k o u r Wrath and are unwilling and u n a b l e to find a better way. T h i s w a y has b e e n shown to us, a n d we know in our right r e a s o n it i s b e t t e r . The i n j u n c t i o n to love our enem i e s as o u r s e l v e s is again the correc t i o n that we n e e d . B u t w e find it d iffi c u l t t o follow , hard e v e n t o m a k e the a t t e m p t . T o l o v e o u r enem i e s as o u r s e l v e s i s t o look u p o n t h e m w i t h charity and t o s e e that t h e y are driven b y the s ame fra i l t y and i n c l i n a t i o n to evil that beset us all . Y e t w e d o n o t e a s ily d o t hi s , even t h o u g h it c a n be shown from a t h o u s and e x a m p le s , in h i s t o r y and in o u r own live s , that those who d o n o t love their e n e m i e s as t h e m s e lv e s , who d o n o t fight them w it h forgiv e n e s s alre ady in t h e i r h e art s , a r e i n c a p a b l e a l s o o f l o v i n g their neighbors a s them s e l v e s . The extremist l e a d e r s of r e v o l u t ionary m o v e m en t s s el d o m love t heir fol l o w e r s . They may c a l l t h e m t h e i r c o m r ad e s ; t h e r e i s l i t t l e o f t h e affe c t i on o f c o m r a d e s h i p in t h e m . When t h e revolution h a s been w o n and they s i t in t h e s e at s o f p o w e r , t hey regard their fo llowers w i t h t h e same b i t t e rne s s of h e art a s e arlier they regarded their e n e m i e s . " B le s s ed are t h e p e a c e m a k e r s , for t h e y s h a l l b e c alled the children o f G o d . " B l e s s ed are t h e p e ac e m a k e r s , the Parson add s in his t a l e , for they know n o t evil w r at h . In­ deed the p r e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e Sermon o n the M o u n t m u s t s e e m b e y o n d our reach . B u t w e n e e d t o e m p h a s i z e w h a t

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w a s s a i d in t h e fir s t of t h e s e e s s a y s : that t o m a k e the ef­ fort , to know b u t n o t t o b e d i s mayed b y our o w n inade ­ q u a c y and b a c k s l i d i n g , is t h e b e g i n n i n g of right e o u s ne s s , o f t h e c orrection that w e n e e d , a n d t h i s w e c a n m a n ag e . The e ffort at g o o d n e s s , n o l e s s t h a n t h e s u rrender t o e v i l , c a n b e c o m e a h a b i t , and l i t t l e b y l i t t l e it w i l l help t o r e s t o re u s . W h e n o n c e t h e e ffort h a s b een m ad e t o l o v e a n enemy, it is e a s ier t h e next t i m e , a n d i t i s w e w h o fe e l r e s t ored , p erhap s e v e n m o r e t h a n t h e e n e m y . A c h i l d w h o h a s s t amped t o it s r o o m in a n g e r and c lo s ed t h e d o o r , or b e e n sent t o i t until it i s c o n t r i t e , fin d s i t d iffi c u l t t o open the door and come out; it s i t s there a n d b a n k s t h e fires of its misery , e v e n as i t s t i ll s t o k e s t h e fires o f i t s ven g e fu l n e s s , and d o e s n o t k n o w h o w t o r e t u r n c i v i l l y t o t h e c o m p a n y it h a s l e ft . I t i s o n e o f t h e e v i d e n c e s o f our adulthood that we k n o w h o w t o c o m e o u t o f that r o o m , how t o apologize and forgive w i t h c i v i l i t y and grac i o u s ­ ne s s a n d e v e n h u m or-in s h o r t , h o w t o l o v e o u r e n e m y , even o f t h e momen t- and t h e r e s t o r a t ion t h at i s t h e n fel t , by a l l w h o a r e c on c e r n e d , t e l l s o f m o r e t h a n a correc t i o n . F o r w h a t h a s b een d e m o n s trated i s t h e p o w e r , whenever it i s exerc i s e d , that w e know that l o v e p o s s e s s e s . F o r t w o c e n t u r i e s we h a v e l i v e d in an a g e o f rev o l u t i on s , and w h a t e v e r the g o o d they m a y h a v e b r o u gh t , t h e y h av e s ingly and c u m u l a t i v e l y r e n d e r e d o u r p e r c e p t i o n s of o u r s o c i e t i e s and o f o u r s e l ve s m o r e im­ p o v e ri s h e d , and m ade u s less eager and able t o c h o o s e to a c t righ t l y . T o o m an y s o p h i s t r i e s h a v e for t oo long t o l d us that v i o l e n c e i s not v i o l e n c e , crue lty i s n ot c r u e l t y , t or­ t u re is n o t torture, evil i s n o t e v i l , if these are c om m i tte d in the name of s om e v i r t u e t h a t i s d i s c ov ered a n d e x t o l l e d by t h e revol u t i o n . W h e n t h e p o l i t i c a l and s oc i a l c o n ­ s i d e r a t i o n s have b e e n set a s i d e and w e f a c e t h e m o r a l c h o i c e s that are s e t b efore u s , we b a r e l y k n o w h o w t o d i s ­ t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n g o o d a n d evil if a r e v o l u t i o n ary b a nner is held above u s . But the i s s u e s u l t i m a t e l y are m o r a l . And in an age in which s o many p e o p l e angrily claim the

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rights that they think are properly t h e i r s , with little thought o f the o b l i g a t i o n s t h a t are a t t a ched t o t h e m and alone g i v e them any m o r a l s u b s t a n c e , w e need t o recover the s e n s e t h a t the p r e s s ing o f s u c h c l a i m s d o e s n o t n e c e s s arily need , a n d i s u su ally h a r m e d b y , a r e s ort t o extremism a n d v i o l e n c e , which a r e t h e m s e lv e s o n l y e u ­ p h e m i s m s for c r u e l t y o f v a r i o u s form s a n d degree s . W e h a v e g o t i n t o t h e h a b i t o f thinking t h a t o n l y t h e extrem i s t " k e e p s t h e fai t h , " b u t t h e h i s t ory o f every r e v o l u t i o n ary or liberation m o v e m e n t o f the p a s t two c e n t u r i e s i s there t o s h o w t h e o p p o s i t e : t h a t it i s the e x t r e m i s t s who are u s u a l l y the b e t r a y e r s o f the fa i t h , and o f all t h e m o t i v e s in them t h a t w o r k s t h e c orru p t i o n , n o n e i s s t ronger t h a n the W r a t h that they w i l l not check . Something m o r e lies behind the Ang e r t h a t h a s b e e n loos e d in o u r age . O n e of t h e m o s t com m o n prov o c a t i o n s t o a n g e r i n our d a y - t o - d ay relati o n s h i p s i s a s u d d e n o n r u s h o f fe a r , a n d o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n c a u s e s o f t h i s fe a r i s t h a t w e are a n x i o u s n o t t o be s h o w n t o b e ignoran t . W e are a l l i n s o m e w a y afraid o f w h a t w e d o n o t k n o w , a nd we d o n o t l i k e o u r ignorance b e i n g brought t o o u r own o r t o a n y o n e e l s e ' s a t t e n t i o n . I f s om e o n e s a y s t h a t w e are m i s u s ing a w o r d a n d p o i n t s t o t h e d e f i n i t i o n i n the d i c t i o n a r y , w e angrily r e t o rt t h a t w e h av e t h e right t o use w o rd s a s w e c h o o s e ; i f s o m e o n e t r i e s t o r e b u t u s w i t h a p a s s age fro m Ari s t o t l e , we s a y w i t h h e at t h a t h e lived m o re than t w o t h o u s and y e ar s ago , a n d s o c an n o t speak t o u s with any me aning t o d ay ; if w e k n o w nothing o f m o d e rn s c ie n c e , we v e h e m e n t l y m e e t an a p p e a l t o i t b y d e n y i n g i t s relev anc e . If t h i s i s true in o u r lives fro m day t o d a y , i t i s n o le s s true b e y o n d t h e m . W e feel threatened i n o u r s oc i e t i e s n o w b y t h e e v i d e n c e of superior k n o wledge - s o m u c h k n o wledge t h a t most of it i s u n ­ available t o even t h e m o s t i n t e l l i g e n t o f u s- a n d o u r fe ar of it m o v e s u s t o a deep Wrath that w e d o not c o m p l e t e ly recognize.

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Mon t aigne q uote s a c l a s s i c a l author w ho s ai d that t h e w i s e s t of m e n i s the p e a s a n t , b e c a u s e h e k nows w h a t he n e e d s to b e w i s e ab o u t . As l o n g a s h e k nows t h e s e a s o n s , h i s s oi l , h i s c rop s , h i s animal s , the weather, h e n e e d s to be wise about nothing e l se , except his God , and his God is all about him , in the e arth and the s k y , and in the c y c l e of e a c h year. The p e a s ant i s not bot h e r e d b y t h e c l a s s ier k nowledge of t h e citie s , and h e i s traditionally s low to anger. But in o u r citie s , we s e e m no longer to k now what we n e e d to know . Do we need to k now everything about b l a c k hole s , about c ancer, about the neutron b o m b , about Zaire, about laetrile, about s untan lotions , a b o u t N o rm a n M ailer, a b o u t art , about a s t roph y s i c s , about bio­ c h e m i s t r y , a b o u t t h e world, about t h e u n iver s e , about life, about d e at h , about God? W h a t in all t h i s c a n w e h o p e t o be w i s e abou t ? T o do even t h e s im p le s t thing, we hardly s e e m to know what w e need to know . A child w i l l s train its e y e s a t the s m a l l print on the wrapping b e fore i t buys a candy bar and, i n s t e ad of s i t ting a t t h e soda fou n t a i n w i t h its frien d s , will exch ange s c ient ific report s w i t h t h e phar­ macist about which t ooth p a s t e i s most l i k e l y t o reduce c avi t i e s . N o t only do we feel ignorant of a l l t h e informa­ tion t h a t i s now available, ab o u t everything under the s u n , b u t we are convin c e d t h a t it i s b y t h e m a n i p u l a t i o n o f t h i s i n form a t ion t h a t o u r soc i e t i e s a p p e a r to o p e r a t e and b e managed. Feeling ignoran t , we are fearfu l ; feeling afraid, we are angry . We then turn this Wrath against "The S y s t e m , " or whatever we like to call i t , which we be lieve i s the pos s e s sor of the knowledge t h a t we do not h ave and can­ not master, and t h e pos s e s sor i n p articular of t h e clues to that k now ledge t h a t w e think give s it pow e r ove r our live s , and w o u l d in t u rn give us power over our own l ive s if on ly we p o s s e s sed i t . Whenever people h ave direc t e d t h e i r W r a t h agains t " T h e S y s t e m " in r e c e n t y e a r s , or s o m e s imilar a b s t raction s u c h a s "The E s t a b l i s h m e nt , " it

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h a s been l e s s again s t i t s power a s s u ch t h a n aga i n s t t h e information t h a t is s u p posed to b e t h e source of that power. It is our fear of t h i s v a s t body of information , u n ­ k nown and u n k now able to u s , t h a t m ak e s u s think that all power h a s become a con s p i r a c y , not onl y all power, b u t all authority that othe r w i s e s hould be given our r e s p e c t; we turn our Anger aga i n s t t h e m . In much o f the p rop aganda and mythology o f our t i me s , t h e re l i e s t h i s be lief t h a t , i f only w e a t t ain m a s t ery o f that knowledge and the c l u e s to decoding i t , w e will a t t ain m a s t e ry also of our own l iv e s , and t h i s belief i s a l so in part respon s ible for our m i s l eading con c e p t of individual and human rights . G i v e us the key to the bank where the knowledge i s s tore d , and lo and b ehol d ! we will a l l a t l a s t b e free . T h e con c e p t o f rig h t s a s i t h a s d e v e loped i n c l u d e s t h e notion that t h e r e i s something out side our s e l v e s t h a t h a s only to be made a c c e s s ible t o u s , for u s at o n c e t o achieve the c ap a c i t i e s and even t h e n a t u r e s to which w e aspire. The individual i s defined by h i s o r her pow e r , a n d the e x t e n t o f t h a t power by t h e e x t e n t o f h i s or h e r k nowledge; w h e n t h a t liberating knowledge i s s u p posed­ ly d e n ie d , one o f t h e s u b t l e s t p r e s c r ip t i o n s for Anger h a s b e e n fil l e d . The e x a m p l e may s ee m t r i v i a l , b u t con s ider t h e s t u ­ dent whos e p rofe s sor h a s given him an " F " for a n i n ­ compet e n t p e r formance . H e will not , t h e s e days , b e angry at himself; the idea that his own incapacity or s lovenline s s is to b l ame , if i t enters his mind a t all, will at onc e be d i s m i s sed; and h e will not j u s t be angry for a mo­ ment at his p rofe s sor, u t t e ring an e x p l e t i v e t h a t is not meant to be s er iou s . He will d i s cove r t h e resou r c e s of Wrath and direc t it agains t "The S y s t e m " that m a k e s s u c h d e m a n d s o n him. It i s t h e cou r s e o f s tu d i e s t h a t i s at fau l t . If i t i s p h i losophy h e i s s tudying, h e s hould not have to begin with H e r a c li t u s . Who's He ra cl it u s , man? W h a t doe s he h ave to s ay to t h e twentieth century? If h e c a n not w r i t e a p aragraph of coherent p rose , he s houl d

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n o t b e giv e n a l o w grade for s o i n s ignific ant a faili n g . The ej aculation of a few m on o s yllables should s c or e a s m u c h . I t ' s r e a l , m an . S o h e w il l a s k t o c h o o s e f o r h i m s elf w h a t h e s h o u ld s t u d y , t o d e c i d e how he s h o u l d b e t augh t , and even to det ermine which profe s so r s are fit t o b e h i s in­ s t r u c t or s . All of which h a s h a p p e n e d in recent year s . T h i s i s W r a t h , e v e n t h ough i t m a y s e e m t o b e s o p a s s iv e and b a n a l , fury given licen s e . I t i s related t o Envy , b u t i t i s n o t t h e s ame . The hatred of Wrath i s e v e n more d e s t ructive t h an t h e m o r o s e regre t o f Envy . Envy b i t e s i t s n a i l s . W r a t h s c r a t c h e s a n d t e ars w i t h them. The s tu d e n t s who d e s t r o y e d t h e lifetime's w o rk o f a s cholar by burning his n o t e s o r t o r e u p the c ard c a t alog of a library , w ere n o t envious o f t h e k n o w l e dge t h a t they did n o t p o s s es s , fearing t h a t t h e ir l a c k of i t demeaned them. T h e y w e r e fe arful of it s p o w e r , which they were n o t prepared t o make any s er i o u s effort t o a t ­ t a i n . F o r i t i s w o r t h d w elling on t h i s image f r o m w h a t h a s a c t u ally h a p p e n e d in o u r t i me . Burning t h e n o t e s o f a scholar, te aring u p the c a rd c a t al og o f a library , d e s t roy­ ing t h i ngs that are so mutely u n o ffe n d i ng: This i s n o t j u s t a frea k i s h w ay o f b e h a ving, a b o u t w h i c h w e n e e d only b e idly c u r i o us , b u t t h e v e nting o f W r a t h , b it t er-hearte d and w i t h malice afore t hough t , h a ting and d e t ermined o n vengean c e , w i t h n o c h e c k o n i t s s av agery , and h aving n o c o ncern f o r the fitne s s o f i t s a c t i o n s , from w h i c h t h e v i c ­ t i m s u ffer s f a r m o r e p a i n and l o s s t h a n any m o m e n t ary s a t i s fa c t i o n that h i s torturer enj oy s . Envy h a s n o n e e d t o r a t i o n alize i t s bilio usn e s s . T h e o b ­ j ec t of i t s r e s e n t m e n t i s always a p e r s o n , s t u d i e d s o long that every lineament i s k n o w n . B u t in order to invent an enemy, when i n fact there i s none, Wrath m u s t rationalize. The s cholar a n d h i s n o t e s a r e inoffe n s ive­ not e v e n Anger c a n pretend t h a t h e i s t h e e nemy- s o he h a s t o b e presented a s s omething o t h e r t h a n a scholar. He i s t h e repre s e n t ative of "The S y s t e m " or whatever, a n d f e w t hings are more charact e r i s t i c o f our age , a n d

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fe w t h i n g s are m ore idly t o l e r a t e d , t h a n t h e w a y i n which Anger i s t u r n e d s o often o n a b s t ract i o n s , w h i c h are then p e r s o n i fi e d i n a c t u al p e o p le , w h o m a y therefore b e j u st l y p e r s e c u t e d a t o n e ' s own willing. If o n e s e ar c h e s the r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s fo r t h e i r e x c u s e s , o n e w i l l fi n d t h a t behind them there alway s l i e s t h e b e l i e f , almo s t t h e s u p e r s t i t i o n , t h a t s o m e where i s a b o d y o f k n o w l e dge t h a t i s inacce s s ib le and m e n ac i n g . It i s p artly f o r t h i s r e a s o n t h a t W r a t h t u r n s n at u r a l l y t o c o n s pi r ac y t h e o ri e s , which are again p e c u l ia r l y a m a rk o f o u r t i me s . There i n the c o n s piracy-unproved m a y b e b u t i t s e x i s t e n c e b e l i e v e d - i s the m o s t d u r a b l e of enemie s . Even i f h e d o e s n o t e x i s t , h e can b e s a i d t o e x i s t , i n t h e dark a n d h i d d e n fro m u s . The f a c t t h a t w e c a n n o t s e e h i m i s p r o o f o n l y o f h i s c u n n i n g , and above all i t i s p r o o f o f h i s c o n t rol over the k n owledge t h a t i s k e p t f r o m u s , s i n c e h e c o n c e a l s t h e k n owledge even o f h i s c o n s p i r a c y . Even i n o u r everyday fla s h e s o f Anger, we reach t o t h e i d e a o f c o n sp i r ac y . H owever s l i g h t t h e origin al p r ovoc a t i o n , we accuse the other o f trying t o g e t at u s , to u n dermine us, to g o b ehind o u r b a c k s , u n t i l a t last we c r y i n triumph, "I know w h a t you're u p to." Wrath will always d i s c over a p l o t , and the e x i s t e n c e o f t h i s p l o t , h owever imaginary, i s t h e m o s t all-en c o m p a s s i n g o f i t s j u s tific a t i o n s . A s i m p l e e x p l a n a t i o n w i l l neve r d o . The s o c k s w e r e never m i s l a i d b y accide n t , o r eve n merely b y a l i t t le c ar e le s s n e s s , t h e y were m i s l a i d b y inten t i o n , and p r o b a b l y t h e o t h e r p l o t t e d to mislay them. Wrath needs its enemy, it will create its e n e m y , it then n o u r i s h e s i t s e n e m y . The c o n s p ir a t o r i s s o l i t ar y . W e think o f h i m in h i s c e l l , a t b e s t in a c e l l a r . B u t t he p e r s o n w h o i s a l w a y s imagin­ ing c onspirac i e s is n o less s o l i t a ry . H e als o i s c u t off fro m t h e r e a l world a n d l o o k s o u t i n s t e a d o n a w o r l d of e n e ­ m ie s . C on spiracy t h e orie s a r e a s furi o u s o b s e s s i o n s a s c o nspirac i e s t h e m s e lves. T h e i r a u t h o r s a r e l i k e rec luses ; t h e i r r o o m s a r e n o l e s s l i k e cells , w i t h e v i d e n c e o n l y o f t h e i r o n e preoccupati on; t h e y a r e w rapp e d u p i n

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doc u me n t s . Their m e t hod i s mainly e x e ge s i s . From a few t e x t s , which they pore over endle s s l y , they p rod u c e t h e i r interpr e t a t i on s ; t h e y go on a d d i n g mor e footnot e s , y ear b y year, b u t rarely more s u b s t an c e . T h e world a s i t i s , w i t h a l l i t s accident a n d w a ywardne s s , is b loc k e d from their vie w . They are angry m e n in a worl d of t h e i r own , which t h e y h ave peop l e d w i t h angry m e n ; a n d again one m u s t e m p h a s iz e t h a t w h a t m ak e s t h e m angry is t h e belief, n agging at t h e m , t h a t there i s a b o d y o f informa ­ t ion that give s pow e r to t hose w h o cont rol it . If we are to u n d e r s t a n d this fe ar of ignoranc e , a s a source of our W r a t h , we m u s t look at i t in another of i t s for m s , o n e that tor m e n t s u s p e r h a p s more t h a n any oth e r . W e fe ar our ignor ance o f o u r selve s , b e c a u s e w e h ave b e e n taught t h at we may a c quire a full s e lf-know l e d g e , not by the e ffort of a life t i m e , an e ffort t h at anyhow i s doomed t o failure e v e n though we a r e b o u n d t o m a k e i t , b u t by t h e p e r u s a l o f a f e w manu als , now a n d t h e n w i t h the g u i d a n c e o f a p s y c h i a t ri s t , and b y g azing fondly on o u r s e lve s w i t h an idle b u t fla t t e ring c u r ios i t y . We are i n ­ c i t e d t o rake ove r o u r feelings , examine our m o t i v e s a n d d e s i r e s ( where t h e y a r e mos t e a s i l y a c c e s sible t o u s on the s urfac e ) to m a k e s ure t h a t they are t r u e , and t h e n t o explain t o o t h e r s how t ru e they are . W e g o on a n d o n a t e a c h other, w i t h o u r self-inquiries a n d reve l a t i o n s , which , if t h e y were r e a l l y d e e p , we c o u l d not c onfe s s s o fre e l y , u n t i l we c o m e up w i t h the c u n n i n g r e a s s u r a n c e , ' ' I ' m O K , y o u 're OK . " Peop l e today s pe n d interminab le hours telling e a c h other " where they're c o m ing from , " and " where they're a t , " when a l l that they are doing i s i n ­ v e n t ing imp l a u s i b le l i t t l e fic t i o n s a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s and their liv e s . E v ery n e w r e l a t i o n s h i p i s b e g u n w i t h the dubious e x c h ange of these q u irkly little m ap s . Reduced t o t h i s con d i t ion of m u t u a l s elf-dec e p t ion , our relation ship s b e c o m e a kind o f m u t u a l therap y . A n i n ­ t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p i s s a t i s fa ctory only if i t s a t i s fi e s

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" w h o I am"-wh i c h m e a n s only " w h o I t h i n k o r feel I am"- a t any moment at which o ne c h o o s e s to r a i s e the banner of one's s e lf. N o t only can one know oneself and s o be sure what o n e want s , b u t t h e other should k n o w t h e s ame things a b o u t one and be c o n s t a n t l y alert t o o n e ' s p l e a s for a reas s u ring m a s s ag e . T h u s t h e fir e s of Wrath are stoked. The r e l a t i o n s hip i s red uc ed t o an a l m o s t poli­ t i c a l battle o ver e ac h o t h e r' s claimed r i g h t s t o be grati­ fi ed a s a " p e r s o n . " There i s no mutuality t o b e cared for , only two individualities , each with its demands for itself in the m o me n t . T he fal l a c i e s a r e t h o s e w h i c h we a r e e x ­ a m i n i n g . W e a s s u m e that t h e r e i s a k i nd of k n owledge , in this case of o u r s e lv e s , that w e m ay e a s ily attain, and by which we can define ourselve s , and so ac q u ire a complete m a s t e ry over o u r own l i v e s , i n c l uding the ability t o c o m ­ m a n d h a p p i n e s s a t w i l l . W h e n t h i s p r o ve s t o be fal s e , fe ar and frus tration enter t o d o their work, and again the g r o u n dwork for Anger i s laid. F r o m this a s s umed k n owledge of o u r s e lves , we argue t h a t any felt n e e d or d e sire o r l onging repre s e n t s a right that must be grant e d , and w h e n s a t i s faction i s n o t forthcoming , our r e s e n t ­ m e n t s w o r k in a s d e adly a m a n n e r i n our p r i v a t e a s i n o u r p u b l i c liv e s . W e k n o w w h a t we w a n t , and it m u s t b e granted; it is a righ t , even i n l o v e . In all the e x a m p l e s that h a v e b e e n give n , one i n c i t e ­ ment i s c om m o n . P e o p l e have been t au g h t t o believe t h a t human k n o wl e d ge i s a b o x o f t ric k s , which they h a v e only t o open t o draw o n it for what they w a n t , s o t o m a k e all well for t h e m s e l v e s o r their c l a s s o r fo r the world. There i s o f course n o s u c h b o x , b u t when they believe that a c c e s s t o it i s being arbitrarily denied t o t h e m , o r d i s co v e r t h a t the t r ic k s d o n o t work , they a r e c o n sume d with Wrath at t h e i r impo t e n c e . F o r they are being denied t h e g re a t e s t of s u p p o s e d righ t s , the right t o complete c o n ­ t r o l o v e r their own l iv e s , and t o m a k e of them whatever they choose t o think t hey are or c a n be. W r a t h i s par­ t i c u l arly a s i n of impotence a s in t h e t an t r u m of the child

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w h o s e w i s h e s are c r o s s e d , and we are t o d ay m a d e t o fe e l i m p o t e n t b y t h e fa ls e e x p e c t a t i o n s t h at are a r o u s e d in u s , e s p e c i ally of the i m a g i n e d p o t e n t i a l i t i e s that l i e u n ­ j u s t l y oppres s e d in u s . M e r e l y by d e m o n s t rating s o me o f t h e f o r m s t h a t Anger takes in our age, we have i l l u s t r a t e d t h e theological defi­ n i t i o n of anger as an exampl e o f p e r v e r t e d l o v e . I t is the love o f j u s t ic e perverted i n t o the d e s ire for revenge and fo r the inj ury of s om e o n e else; j u s t i c e i s the p r o c l a i m e d m o t ive of every m a n i fe st a t i o n o f W r a t h at w h i c h we h ave looked. The m otive in s o m e c a s e s m a y b e g e n u i n e ; there a r e i n j u s t ic e s t o b e p u t righ t . B u t t h e l o v e o f j us t i c e i s a g a i n a n d a g a i n t u rned i n t o the h a t r e d o f s o m e o n e . W h enever l ove i s t r a n s l a t e d i n t o h a t r e d , w e k n o w t h a t s i n h a s entered and w r e a k e d i t s havo c . O u r s o c i et i e s are t o s o me e x t e n t to b l a m e . They are so organized that t h e y i n c r e a s e the fe eling o f i m p o t e nc e , a n d t h e refore of frus t ra t i o n , which i s y e t another o f t h e most c o m m o n p r o v o c a t i o n s t o W r a t h . This i s n o t o n l y , and p e r h a p s n o t e v e n primarily, b e c a u s e they are s o l a r g e a n d i m p e r s o n a l t h a t pe ople a r e b o u n d t o fe e l i m p o t e n t a n d fru s t r a t e d , t h e i r A n g e r r e a d y t o b u r s t o u t a n d as l i k e l y as n o t t o s p latter s o m e innocent b y s t anders in o u r life . P e o p l e d o n o t merely feel h a r a s s e d b y i t . T h e y a l s o b e g i n t o fee l , a s t h e y ru sh hither a n d thither, trying t o d o all t h e things t h a t their s oc i e t i e s b i d and e n t i c e them t o d o , t h a t they c a n n o t ever accomplish t h e m a l l , a n d t h ei r feeling o f i n ­ adequacy turn s e a s i l y i n t o fru s t r a t i o n a n d fear and Anger. But our W r a t h i s a s i n of o u r age , r a t h e r t h a n o f o u r s oc i e t ie s . T h e ology h a s always r e c o gnized t h a t o n e of t h e f o r m s t h a t Anger t a k e s i s impatience w i t h o n e s e l f a n d a t o n e ' s own fau lt s . " O t h e r s a g a i n b e c o m e i n d i g n a n t and highly i m p a t i e n t w h e n t h e y o b s e r v e t h e ir o w n imperfec­ tion," s ay s St. John o f t h e C r o s s . "And this great i m ­ p a t i e n c e d e r i v e s f r o m t h e i r a m b i t i o n t o b e c o m e s a i n t s in

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a single d a y . M any o f t h e m have g o o d i n t e n t i o n s and m a k e grand r e s o l u t i o n s , b u t t h e y are n o t h u m b l e and p l a c e t o o m u c h c o n fi d e n c e in t h e m s e l v e s . A n d t h e m o r e re s o l u t i o n s t h e y m a k e , t h e more o f t e n t h e y fall a n d t h e g r e a t e r b e c o m e s t h e i r a n n o y a n c e w i t h t h e m s e l ve s . " T h i s i s d e e p l y what w e have b e e n d e s c r i b i ng . P eo p l e feveris h ­ ly add t o t h e a l r e a d y i n c re a s e d t e m p o o f life , b y e x p e c t i n g t h a t they s h o u l d and c a n d o many t h i n g s . T h e y whip u p t h e i r own fee l i n g s o f i m p o t e n c e ; and all t h e t i m e t h e i r s o c i e t i e s egg t h e m on t o try m o r e , t o fulfill t h e m s e l v e s a hundredfold again in y e t o t h e r w ay s . O u r s oc i e t i e s find i t diffi c u l t t o s u b d u e t h e W r a t h o f o u r age , and e s p e c i ally t o repel t h e i d e a t h a t a n y felt w a n t m a y b e c l a i m e d as a righ t , b e c a u s e we h av e e r e c t e d an ex­ aggerated concept of t h e individu al and of h i s capacity t o f i n d a n u l t i m a t e fu l f i l l m e n t o n l y i n h i m s el f . W e a r e l e ft s t randed b e t we e n the w i d e r s o c i e t y , in w h i c h w e are n o l o n g e r a b l e or e v e n i n v i t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e f r o m d a y t o d a y w i t h a n y r e a l me aning, and t h e m e r e p i n p o i n t s o f o u r s elve s , for w h i c h anyhow only t h e t h i n n e s t gruel i s provided a s nourishment. I t is no wonder that the in­ dividual t u r n s r o u n d a n g r i l y and s a y s t h a t there m u s t b e m o re t o l i fe t h a n t h i s , a n d t h a t i t m u s t i m m e d i a t e l y b e given as a righ t . "Bullshit!" people shout in their Wrath a t s u p e r i o r a u t h o r i t y. " B u l l s h i t ! " t h e y s h o u t a t s u p e r i o r

k n o w l e d g e . " B u l l s h i t ! " t h e y s h o u t at t r a d i t i o n a l v a l ue s . " B u l l s h i t ! " t h e y s h o u t a t whatever s e e m s t o g e t i n t h e i r w a y , for i t i s t h e s e t h a t m u s t b e t h e c au s e o f t h e i r i n a d e ­ q u a c y . One o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f Anger t h a t i s c o n ­ demned i s t h e h a b i t o f foul l a n g u a g e and b l as ph e m y : W e have only t o l i s t e n w i t h our ears t o h e a r t h e Wrath o f o u r age everywhere.

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S L O TH

oR

A C EDIA

BY SLOTH I N o u r everyday idiom we mean only idlene s s , and idlene s s c a n b e a t t rac t ive , eve n s o m e t hing t h a t i s worth c u l t ivati n g . Lovers w i l l l aze b y t h e bank o f a rive r. F e w p l e a s ures a r e g r e a t e r t h an lingering over a lunch or a drink w i t h a frie n d . S i m p l y to i d l e away t h e d a y - h o w b e t t e r s om e t i m e s t o s p e n d o n e ? T o s t r o l l , t o w i n d o w s h o p , t o s au n t e r , t o h ave n o p articular p u r p o s e in mind, n o t t o hurry, n o t t o fre t , n o t t o m a k e an e ffor t ! " W h a t is t h i s life i f . f u l l of c a r e , I W e h ave n o t i m e t o s t a n d and s t are ? " a s k e d W . H . D avi e s , and t h e r e c an b e only o n e a n s wer: It i s n o t worth t h e living . B u t w e w o u l d n o t s a y t h a t a n y o f t h e s e a r e s l othful. They m i g h t even b e de s c ribed, i f it did not s p o i l the ide a o f t h e m , a s form s of a c t ivity. The mark of them all i s that t h e y are done for the love o f doing them. But the s i n o f Sloth is a s t ate o f d e j e c t i o n t h a t giv e s rise t o t o r p o r o f m in d and feeling and s p irit ; t o a sluggish­ n e s s or, as it h a s been p u t , a p o i s oning of the will; to d e s p air, faint h e ar te d ne s s , and even d e s i r el e s s ne s s , a lack of r e a l d e s ir e for anything, even for w h a t i s g o o d . S l o t h i s a d e adly s i n b e c a u s e i t i s " a n o p p r e s sive sorrow that s o w e ig h s upon a m a n ' s mind t h a t h e wants not to exercise any virtue . " It c a n eve n sorrow i n the divine good ins t e ad of r e j o icing i n it. In p at h o l o g y , s l o t h m e a n s a m o rbid inertia and , by t r a n s ferenc e , it m e a n s the same spiritually. In all of t h e s e aspects it i s p e c uliarly a n affliction of o u r t i m e , m u c h more p r e v a l e n t t h a n it s e e m e d t o the m e d i e v a l t h e o l o g i a n . W . H . A u d e n c alled o u r s the "age of a n x i e t y . " A n x i e t y i n this sense i s

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modern- o n e Prot e s t a n t t h e o l o g i a n h a s s ai d that it i s p o s t -R eform a t i o n - a n d it i s n o t u n r e l a t e d t o S l o t h . O u r p o p u lar s p e e c h i s t o d a y ful l of p h r a s e s t h a t s u g g e s t a n i n d i ffere n c e and a p a t h y t h a t amount t o s p i ri t u a l a n d e m o t i on a l torpor. H a n g l o o s e ! L a i d b a c k ! I c a n dig that , m a n ! P l a y it c o o l ! Go w i t h t h e fl o w ! That's h e a v y ! D o n ' t g e t u p t ight ! There i s S l o t h i n all o f them, and t h e y have their c ounterpart i n m o r e tradit i o n al phra s e s . I c o u ldn't c are l e s s ! I d o n ' t give a d a m n ! W h a t ' s t h a t t o m e ? I m i n d m y o w n b u s i n e s s ! Live and l e t l i v e ! N ot h i n g i s worth g e t t i n g v e r y s e r i o u s a b o u t , e x c e p t one's o w n w a n t s a t t h e m o m e n t i n one's o w n i m m e d i a t e e n v i r o n ­ m e n t . I ' m OK , y o u 're O K . S o what r e a s o n i s t here t o w o rry? " I n the w o r l d i t i s c a l l e d T o l e r an c e , b u t in h e l l i t i s c alled D e s p a i r , " s ay s D orothy S a y er s . " I t i s t h e s i n t h a t b e l i e v e s i n n o t h i n g , c ar e s for n o t h i n g , s e e k s t o k n o w n o t h i n g , i n t e r fe r e s w i t h n o t h i n g , enj o y s n o t h i n g , h a t e s n o t h i n g , fi n d s p u r p o s e i n n o t h i n g , l i v e s for n o t h i n g , and remains alive b e c a u s e there i s n o t h i ng for w h i c h i t will die." As e a c h generation i n t h e modern age h a s fol l o w e d deeper i n the fo o t p r i n t s o f i t s predece s s o r s , t h i s d e s c ri p ­ t i o n has applied t o i t w i t h c o n t i n u a l l y m o r e a c c u r a c y a n d fo rc e . There i s n o t a t r u m p e t n o te i n our l i v e s t o c a l l u s t o our fee t . M o s t o f t h e r e c i p e s o f t h e " h u m a n p o t e n ti a l " m o v e ­ m e n t for p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s hip s a n d " s e l f- a c t u a l i z a t i o n " are prescri p t i o n s for e m o t i o n a l and s p i r i t u a l S l o t h . Life i s reduced b y t h e m t o merely P a s s ages from meaning­ less " now" t o m e an i ng l e s s "now," e ach t o b e nego t i a t e d w i t h j u s t e n o u g h prec aut i on a ry e ffort t o a v o i d all but t h e s l i g h t e s t d i ffic u l t y and p a i n . O u r l i v e s are m a d e i n t o a s u c c e s s i o n of e p i s o de s , i n w h i c h a n y fu l fi l l m e n t or h a p ­ p i n e s s w i l l b e largely a n accide n t , at b e s t a c oincidenc e , a n d i n e i ther c a s e w i l l b e o f l i t t l e a c c o u nt t o u s or t o a n y o n e e ls e . I n fac t , we c a n give o n l y t h e b ar e s t a c c o u n t of them, f o r t h e r e are to b e n o n arra t i v e s t o o u r l i v e s, n o i n ­ t e l l i g i b l e t h r e a d s running t hrough them ; a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y a r e s tr i p p e d o f all b u t t h e m o s t slender a s s o c i a t i o n

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with the n arrativ e s o f o u r s o c i e t ie s , s i n c e w e are per­ s u ad e d t o live apart from t h e m i n the l i t t l e o as e s o f our s e l ve s . S u c h are t h e " h u m a n p o t e n t i a l" a n d " s e lf- a c t u a l i ­ z a t i o n " t h a t are r e c o m m e n d e d : l i v e s t h a t have no p e r ­ s o n a l h i s t ory- only a s u c c e s s i on o f m a s k s fit t e d t o e v e r c h a n g i n g r o l e s - l i v e d amid an e n v i r o n m e nt that has b e e n denuded o f h u m a n h i s t o ry . P i e d p ip e r s have o n l y to p i p e t o d a y , and adul t s a s w e l l a s c hildren dance after t h e m i n t o a total v ac u i t y . T h e name f o r s u c h a c o n d i t i o n i s S l o t h , a n d perhaps w h a t i s most d i s p iriting a b o u t o u r t i m e is, n o t merely that we are persuaded that t h i s i s h o w w e s h o u l d b e , bu t t h a t the v o i c e s r a i s e d again s t it are s o w e a k and t i m i d . S c h o o l t e a c h e r s t h e m s e l v e s have b e c o m e s lo t h fu l . T h e y have a b a n d o n e d t h e p a i n f u l t a s k of c o m b ating the n a t u ral idle n e s s o f t h e i r pupils and instead l e t t h e i r little v i c t i m s p l a y at w h a t t h e y w i l l , and what t h e y w i l l i s o f c o u r s e a p p l a u d e d as t h e i r s e l f-ac t u a l izat i o n . F r o m c r a d l e t o g r a v e , l i fe i s t o b e avoided b y t h e r ap i e s , e v e n w h e n t h e y a r e d i s g u i s e d a s s o m e t h i n g e l s e . W e s h o u l d think hard why the p h r a s e " l e arning e x p e r i e n c e " h a s b e e n fou n d n e ce s s ar y . B y l e a r n i n g we m e an s omething i s l e a r n e d . W h e n w e s ay " I l e a r n e d t h i s t o d a y , " there i s a m e a s u re by which t o t e s t i t s accuracy a n d v a l u e . " W h a t h a s b e e n learn e d , " s o m e t h i n g o b j e c t i v e o u t side o u r ­ s e l ve s , is w h a t c o u n t s . B u t when w e s a y " T h a t w a s a great l e arning e x p erience I had t o d ay , " w e m e a n o n l y a rather v ag u e and s u perfi c i a l r e s p o n s e i n o u r s e l ve s , i n which what h a p p e n e d t o u s i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e . W e are t a l k i n g merely o f a s u b j e ct i v e f e e l ­ i n g , w h i c h m a k e s u s feel g o o d , a f o r m o f s e lf-indulgence and s e l f-ent e r t a i n m e n t . W e are t u r n e d i n , to delight i n o u r own experiencing, r a t h e r than o u t , t o t h e o b s t i n a t e fact o f s om e t hing o t h e r . We c a n p u t b e s ide our o w n w e ak p r e scrip t i o n s o n e t h a t i s s t ronger, w i t h a s trong pre s c ri pt i o n . " I c an n o t a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n , ' W h o a m I ? ' e x c e p t in t e r m s o f s ome s o r t o f

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s t atement of the p l a n s and p u rp o s e s of m y life , " s a i d J o s iah R o y c e s eventy y e a r s ago i n The Phi losop h y of Loy a l t y . "I s h o u l d s ay t h a t a p e r s o n , an i n d ividual s e l f , m a y b e d e f i n e d a s a h u m a n l i f e lived a c c ording t o a p l a n . . . H e a c k n owledged t h a t "every m a n inevitably fin d s h i m s e l f a s a p p arently o c c u p y i ng t h e centre o f h i s own universe . . . . Y e s , the entire and i n f i n i t e vi sible w o rl d , t o b e even more e x ac t , s e e m s t o e ac h o f y o u t o h ave i t s c e n t re a b o u t where t h e bridge of y o u r n o s e h a p p e n s t o b e . " A s s u c h i n d ividu al s , we s e ek h a p p i n l: s s . "Happine s s involves t h e s a t i s fa c t i o n o f d e s i re s , " b u t o u r "nat ural d e s i re s are c ou n t le s s and c o nfli c t i n g . What s at i s fi e s one d e s ire d e fe at s another." W e therefore n e e d to b e e n a b l e d t o c h o o s e b e t w e e n them- t o learn t o k n o w our o w n w i l l , and h o w t o e x e r c i s e i t - a n d for t h i s w e n e e d a p l a n and p u rp o s e . B u t where and h o w c a n we find t h e m ? In s ide o u r s elve s , the voice o f our age i n s i n u at e s . Royce d i s ag re e d . " S i n c e n o m a n c a n f i n d a p l a n o f life b y m e r e l y l o o k i n g w i t h i n h i s own c h a o t i c n a t u r e , he h a s t o l o o k w i t h o u t , t o t h e w o rl d o f c onve n t i on s , deeds a n d c au s e s . . . . O n l y a c a u s e , then , an a b s orbing and fa s c i n a t i n g s o c i a l c a u s e , which b y his o w n w i l l and c o n s e n t c o m e s t o t ake p o s s e s ­ s i o n of h i s life . . . o n l y s u ch a c a u s e , dign ified b y t h e s o c i a l u n i t y t h a t i t g i v e s t o m a n y i n d i v i d u a l live s , b u t rendered a l s o v i t al for t h e l o y a l m a n b y t h e p e r s o n a l affe c t i o n which i t a w a k e n s in h i s heart , o n l y s u c h a c a u s e c a n u n i fy h i s o u t e r a n d inner world . " A n d he i n v o k e s u s in h i s c o n c l u s i o n : " S e e k , t h e n , s e r e n it y , b u t let it b e the serenity o f t h e d e v o t edly a n d s o c i ally a c t ive b e i n g . O t h e r wi s e y o u r s p ir i t u a l peace i s a mere f e e l i n g o f rep o s e , and , as s u c h , c o n t e n t s a t i t s b e s t b u t one s i d e o f y o u r natures , n am e l y , t h e more s e n s u o u s s id e . " R o y c e h a d n o t r e a d t h e l i terature o f " h u m a n p ot e n t i al" and " s elf- a c t u a l iz a t i o n , " but p o r t e n t s of i t were in the a i r , and h e h a d a s t ro n g i n k l i n g o f w h a t m u s t c o m e . " A mere fe eling o f rep o s e . . . b u t o n e side o f y o u r

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nat ure . . . t h e more s e n s u o u s s i d e "- t he s e p h ra s e s d o n o t o n l y s u m m arize where we h a v e arr i v e d , s e v e n t y y e a r s l a t e r , they are m o re a n d more w h a t o u r s o c i e t i e s c h o o s e t o c e l e b r a t e . " I do my t h i n g and y o u d o y o u r t h i ng , " r u n s what D on a l d Heinz h a s c al l e d " t h e m i s t y ­ e y e d G e s t alt prayer" o f F r i t z P e r l s . "Y o u a r e y o u a n d I a m I , and i f by c h a n c e we f i n d e a c h o t h e r , i t ' s b e aut iful . " T h i s i s t h e extent o f the h u m a n p o t e n t i a l we are t o a c t ualize , t h e d e p t h of our awarene s s o f o u r s e l v e s a n d o f t h e others whom by chance w e find. I t i s S l o t h a s a w ay of life. A l l t h a t i s t o be e x p l o r e d , a l l t h a t i s t o be g u ar d e d , i s a m e r e frac t i o n of o n e s e l f , in c o n t a c t w i t h a m ere frac t i o n o f o t h e r s , i n a world l i m i t e d t o t h e narrowe s t c o n c e rn s . One does not have to adopt Royce's idealistic philo s o phy in order t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t h e w a s , i n h i s own d a y , s e t t in g h i m s e l f a g a i n s t a fal s e c o n c e p t of in­ dividualism t h a t h a s c on t i n u e d t o dominate o u r c e n t u r y , a t l e a s t in our s o c i e t i e s . The m o s t m o n s t r o u s o f i t s fal s e h o o d s i s t h e belief t h a t the i n d i v i d u a l c a n fin d ful­ fillment and s al v a t i o n i n n o t h i ng but his o r h e r own self, and the denial t h a t w e are m e m b e r s o n e o f another, and that " t h e s o l id a r i t y o f mankind link s t h e c r i m e s of e a c h to t he s o r r o w s o f all." T h i s form o f i n d i v i d u a l i s m re s t s ul­ timately o n complacency. I t i s t h e c o m p l ac e n c y o f the c o mfor t a b l e , a s t h e y have grown in n u m b e r , and w e have o n l y t o l o o k around u s in o u r affl u e n t s o c i e t i e s t o s e e how d e e p ly it h a s taken r o o t . O n e c a n e v e n h e a r denials that we are our brother's keeper. T h i s c o m p l a c e n c y i s again our S l o t h . W e m u s t c onfront it unforgivin g l y , b e c au s e it i s c a u s ­ i n g h a v oc i n our s oc i e t i e s and therefore in our p e r s o n a l live s . I t i s the i n d i v i d u a l i s m o f the b ou r g e oi s , g i v e n the same r a t i o n a l iz a t i o n s as before , b u t w i t h a t wi s t that w a s u n p r ed i c t ab l e . Its fir s t c o m m a n dment is, n o w as be fore , t h a t we s h o u l d " l o o k o u t fo r N um b e r 1 . " ( I t i s i n ­ t e r e s t i n g t h a t m any who p r o c l a i m t h i s c o mm a n d m e n t are nevert h e le s s embarra s s ed b y i t a n d t al k archly o f

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" Numero U n o " a s if t o s ay t h a t they d o n o t really m e a n it . ) T h e t w i s t t h a t h a s followed i s t h e r e s u l t o f o u r affl u e n c e . The b ou r g e o i s t w o g e n er a t i o n s ago- s a y , B ab b i t - s t i l l n e e d e d s om e o f the i n s t i t u t i o n s o f s o c ie t y , s o he t o o k t h e i r m orality as h i s o w n , and w i llingly a n d w i t h h i s c on s e n t gave a t l e a s t h i s o u t w a r d l o y a l t y t o t h e m a n d t o w h a t they preached. I t i s t r u e t h a t their m o r a l i t y had become l i t t l e more than a s e r i e s of p r o h i b i ­ t i o n s , and t h a t B ab b it ' s a d h e r e n c e t o i t w a s w i t h o u t a n y r e a l u n de r s t an ding o r c o n v i c t i o n , t h a t there w a s e v e n a r e s t le s s n e s s in h i s adherence t h a t w a s a p o r t e n t of r e v o l t . All the s am e , the a l l e g i a n c e w a s given . B ut in an age o f pl enty, t h e b ourge o i s n e e d n o t acknowledge e v e n t h e s e o b ligation s , or the i n s t i t u t i o n s emb odying them , b e c a u s e he believes t h a t h e c a n afford t o l i v e w i t h o u t t h e m . " L o o k i n g out f o r N u m b e r 1 " h a s b e e n g i v e n t h e for­ midable reinfor c e m e n t that o n e can t od a y live e n t irely b y , with , and for oneself, and even to oneself, s i n c e i t i s seldom anyone b u t oneself w h o m o n e i s addre s s i n g . " I a m I , you are y o u " o r ' ' I ' m O K , y o u're O K " are profoundly s e lf-cen tered and self-indulgent s t a t e m e n t s , which in effe c t t e l l t h e "you"-the Other-to g e t on b y it self and leave one t o get on b y oneself. Fifty y e ar s ago, W a l t e r Lippm ann s a id of t h e B ab b i t s , "they are u n g overned and yet u n fre e , " and if w e look now at the grandchildren of B a b b i t , h i s w o r d s ring yet m o r e true. "They are creatures of the p a s sing m o m e n t who are vaguel y unhappy i n a boring and s e n s e le s s e x i s t e n c e , " he went o n , and t o day we might say t h e same, except t h a t t h ey are n o t even vaguely unhap p y , b u t vaguely p e r s u ad e d t h a t t h e y are in fac t doing w h at they want and b e i n g wh at t h e y wish. All of t h e s e are d e s c ri p t i o n s of S l o t h . P e t e r V iereck o n c e d r e w a p ortrait of t he s o n of B ab b it , whom h e s a w about him in the 1 9 50s , acidly c al l i ng him G a y lord B a b b i t . I n t h e q u arter o f a century t h at has elapsed, a s t h e g r a n d c h i l dren of B a b bi t h av e grown u p , t h e s l i d e away from a n y i d e a o f p e r s o n a l g u i l t , or o f

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gravity in p u r s u i n g s o m e p u r p o s e in o n e ' s life, of c o m ­ m i t m e n t t o s om e o n e or s o m e t h in g o t h e r t h an o n e s elf, o f s ac rificing even one's pe ace of m i n d t o t h a t p u r p o s e , h a s c o n t i nued at a s p e e d t h a t even then c o u l d n o t be fore­ s e e n . I f one r e t u r n s n o w t o B a b b i t , he seems a m o re un­ d e r s t a n d a b l e c h a r a c t e r than befo r e , if not m ore s y m ­ p a t h e t i c . M any of h i s argument s w i t h h i s chil dren were b e t w e en one generat ion that had known w h e n money k e p t its v a l u e and another g e n e r a t i o n t h at sensed t h at the value of m o n e y h a d b e e n undermined fore v e r . B a b b i t h i m s e l f s e n s e d t h i s , which is one r e a s o n w h y he s p u t ­ tered and d e c l a imed. M a ny o f his defe n s e s o f h i s p o s i t i o n s now seem t r a g i c r a t h e r than p a t h e t i c , b e c a u s e he f e l t t h a t they had b e e n u n d e r m i n e d in their very c i t a d e l , as he b e ­ l i e v e d it t o b e , b y the fir st t a s t e of i n d i s c r i m i n a t e p l e n t y and by the f i r s t g e o l o g i c a l f a u l t in s o c i e t y that w a s c a u s ed by permanently inflat ion ary p r e s s u r e s . How t o preach t h e v i r t u e of t h rift , s a y , to t h o s e who k n o w it w i l l e a r n n o reward? H ow a l s o t o p r e a c h a g a i n st t h e v i c e s o f S l o t h to t h o s e t o w h o m p l e n t y i s r e a d i l y at h a n d ? T h e r e i s now n o " w e " in our v o c a b u lari e s . "We" i s p r e ­ c l uded f r o m s t at em e n t s like " I am I , y o u a r e y o u . " I t i s i m ­ p o s s ib le to t r a n s l a t e ' ' I 'm OK , you're OK " int o t h e p l u r a l . I t d e l i b e r a t e l y d o e s not s ay " W e ' r e OK , " or claim t o s a y it , b e c a u s e " w e " as a u n i t d o e s n o t c o m m a n d our a l l eg i a nc e , o n l y s e p arat e i d e n t i t i e s i n tran s ac t i o n w i t h e a c h other. I n t h i s way even t h e family i s n o l o n g e r a " w e " but an exer­ cise in mutual therapy for the s elf- c e n t ered e g o s o f its member s . I f a n y of t h e member s , p arent or c h i l d , fi n d s that the t h e r a p y i s i n s u ffic i e n t , t h at it w an t s more m a s s ag e , it i s free t o l e a v e , because t h e affl u e n c e of our s o c i e t i e s will, in o n e way or another, s u p p ort it i n t h i s c h o i c e . J o n at h a n L i v in g s t on S e ag u l l w a s again t h e s e n t i ­ mental i d e a l i z a t i o n of t h i s g r o s s ly d i s t orted in­ dividu a l i s m . But the very e ffort l e s s n e s s of t h e fre edom that he was s u p p o s e d t o e n j oy w a s a s y m b o l of S l o t h . F o r what we are t a l k ing a b o u t is a c o n d i t i o n i n which it is

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becoming i n c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t m o s t p e o p l e w i l l s u rrender them s e l v e s , willingly and with t h e i r o w n c o n s e nt , to s o m e cause or c a l ling or t o s o m e o n e else o n which or on whom they set a value beyond their o w n selfish gratifica­ tion. We may s ay t h i s o f t h e f a c e o f S l o t h : t h a t at any age it i s the f a c e of t h o s e w h o are already o l d b e y o n d t he i r y e a r s , who seem n e v e r t o h a v e k n own any s p r i n g t i m e , whether in t h e i r own l i v e s o r around t h e m each y e ar, in whom the s ap seems never to have r i s e n . ("The s ap of l ife d o e s not reach t h e m , " L i p p m a n n s ai d o f the B a b b i t s , "t heir t a p ­ r o o t s h aving b e e n cut . " ) Even in t h o s e w h o s h o u l d b e reaching t h e M a y D a y of their liv e s , if S l o t h h a s t aken r o o t , their e y e s are already d o w n c a s t with t heir own emptin e s s of s p irit , their mouth i s already s l a c k with lack o f purpose either t o s p e ak or t o e m b r a c e , and i n t h e ir fl e s h are already t h e i n t i m a t i o n s of fold u p o n fold of the worldwearin e s s t h a t t h e y s e e m t o have k n o w n s i n c e childh o o d . When w e c ome t o s p e a k o f t h e forms t h at L u s t t a k e s in our t im e , w e w i l l f i n d t h a t S l o t h i s deeply i n ­ grained in m any of t h e m , a n d e s p e c i ally i n t h e refu s a l t o get d e e p l y involved in a r e l a t i o n s h i p w it h a n y o n e . I t i s w h e n J o n a t h a n Livings t o n S e ag u l l e n d s h i s f i ..,; t giddy fl ight b y falling i n t o the void o f a s i n g l e s b a r t h at one s e e s how e arly S lo t h c a n w r e a k i t s d a m a g e in a dej e c t i o n o f the b o d y and m i n d and s p i r i t . T h e p ic t u r e i s overdrawn, it may b e s ai d . I t w i l l s e e m overdrawn o n l y if it i s t h o u ght t h a t S l o t h c a n n o t often t a k e the form of w h at D orthy Sayers s a i d was one of its fav orite tric k s , "to d i s s e m b l e i t s e lf under t h e cover o f a w h i ffl ing act ivity of t h e b ody . " The r e c e n t p op u l ar i t y of outdoor s p ort s - o n the t e n n i s c ourt or t he g o l f c o u r s e , c arrying s u rfb o a r d s t o t h e s e a and t h e n c arrying them b a c k again, marathon running or even j u s t j ogging, and a s c ore more t h a t are n o w p u r s u e d w i t h z e a l o t r y -'- i s evidence o f a s oc i e t y w h o s e m e m b e r s im agine t hat t hey

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are b e i n g s t re n u o u s when they are only e n g aging in a w h i ffl ing a c t i v i t y of the b o d y . There i s n o t h i n g agai n s t s u c h ac t i v i t i e s in them selve s . T h e r e i s everything again s t t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f them a s s o m e k in d o f strenu­ o u s s p ir i t u a l it y . W h e n runners o r j o g g e r s s a y t hat t he y experie n c e a "high"- a charact eri s t i c w o rd of our t ime­ they are talking p r e c i s e l y o f a w h i ffling s e n s a t i o n . A high i s w h i ffling by n a t u r e , t o b e enjoyed a s s u c h if t h at i s o n e ' s t a s t e , b u t hardly t o b e regarded a s an e n c o u n t e r with tru t h . T o improve one' s t e n n i s i s t o i m p r o v e o n e ' s ten n i s . I t is not t o i m p r o v e o n e ' s s o u l , e v e n if one h a s called Zen to one's aid. At t h i s p o i n t w e have arri v e d in C aliforni a , " t h e s t a t e o f fu lfillment" a s it m a y be c a l l e d , w h e r e t h e " S p o i l e d Child of t h e W e s t ern World" h a s c o m e t o r e s t . And o n e means , t o r e s t . I t i s t h ere that t h e h u m an p o t e n t i al m o v e ­ m e n t , as Cyril M cFadden h a s n i c e l y p u t it , " t ak e s the place of o t h e r light i n d u s t rie s , " t h e r e t h at b e i n g "laid b a c k " and " m e l l o w i n g o u t " are d ay - l o n g preoccupa­ t i o n s , a c c o m p a n i e d by the c h a t t e r of a self- c o ngratula­ tory and u n d i s t u r b i n g c on cern w i t h "life goals," t h e r e that b o d y language i s m o s t g e n erally a s s u m e d t o b e a s u p e rior alternative t o verbal langu ag e . A n d t here a l s o i s t h e gre a t e s t c on ce n t r a t i o n of i n s t i t u t e s a n d retreat s for s e lf-actu alizat i o n , whether b y " t r a n s ac t i o n a l analy s i s or Tran s c e n d e n t al M e d i t a t i o n , b i o e n erget i c s or biofeed­ back, S c ie n t ology or S i l v a M i n d Control, n u d e mara­ t h o n s or primal screaming, p s y c h o s y nt h e s i s o r Creative C o n s c i o u sn e s s , R olfing or t h e F e l d e nk r ai s M et ho d , y o g a o r lomi b o d y w o r k , " not t o m e n t i o n e s t or a c h allenger t o it k n o w n as A c t u a l i za t i o n s . T h e l i s t i s t ak e n f r o m a C a l i fo r n i a j o urnali s t , w h o s a y s of A c t u alizat i o n s t h a t it works m ir a c l e s on people through " a w a r e n e s s work­ s h o p s " that l a s t only four d ay s , which i s a s h ort r o a d to heaven. There is S lo t h in t h e m o t i v e s of all of t h e m : a n ex­ c e s s iv e interest in and love o f o n e ' s s e l f and a defici e n t in-

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t e r e s t in and love of o t h e r p e o p l e . B u t t h e r e i s S l o t h a l s o in the method s . I n s p i t e o f t h e a p p a r e n t e m p h as i s i n s o m e of t h e m on s elf-deve lo p m e n t d i s c i p l i ne s , t h e self-exami­ nation and s e lf- co r r ec t i o n t h a t are d e m a n d e d are paltry . The p r o m i s e in t h e t i t l e of Adelaide Bry' s b o o k , est : 60 Hou r s Th a t Tra n sform You r Life, is m u c h the p r o m i s e of t h e m all, give or t ak e an h o u r or t w o . W h a t t h e y p rovid e i s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o explore y e t again t h e c on d i t i o n o f o n e ' s e g o , under a g reater or l e s s er pret e n s e t h a t o n e i s b e n t on o n e ' s s e l f-im p r ove m en t . T h e r e m a y b e m a n y r e a s o n s why t h e s e g u r u s and ch arlat an s t hrive m o r e in C a l i forn ia than e l s ewhere , but it i s h ard n o t to t hi n k t h a t it i s m e r e l y a forerunner o f w h a t o u r s o ci e t i e s are t o b e , i n which a life of m a t e r i a l w e l l - b e i n g m u s t b e r e p r e s e n t e d a s o n e of i m m a t e r i a l b l e s s ed n e s s and , w i t h h e d o n i s m e le ­ vated t o a s p ir i t u a l e x e rc i s e , it can b e c l a i m e d t h at t h e union of b o d y a n d s p irit i s a t l a s t achieved . If y o u are driving along R o u t e 1 , t h e P acific C o a s t Highway , in a c o n v e r t i b l e w i t h t h e t o p d o w n , w i t h t h e s u r f break ing on t h e b e a c h e s t o y o u r left , w i t h t h e m o u n ­ tains s p illing down t o t h e road o n y o u r right , w i t h t h e b r i l l i a n t su n in a b l u e s k y , with a w o m a n b y y o u r s id e , with a d r e a m y v o i c e on y o u r c a r r a d i o s in g i n g "You are the honey s u c k l e , I am the b e e , " what c a n b e of much c o n ­ c e r n , except o n e ' s own s e lf-a c t u a l izat i o n ? T h i s i s o n l y the individ u a l i s m of our age t h a t h a s undergone a s e a change under t h e p a l m t r ee s . The s o c i ol o g i s t J am e s Q . W i l s o n , who w a s broug ht u p i n S outhern C al iforni a , h a s s aid of t h o s e w h o w ent there e arlier i n t h i s c e n t u r y : " T h e p e ople had n o i d e n t i t i e s e x c e p t t h e i r p er so n al i d e n t it i e s . T h e a b s e n c e o f s u c h g r o u p i d en t i t i e s a n d o f neighbor­ h o o d s a s s o c i a t e d w it h those i d en t i t i e s m a y b e o n e reason fo r t h e e n o r m o u s e m p h a s i s o n ' p e r s o n al­ ity' . . . . Every b o d y w a s c o mp ared i n t er m s o f h i s o r her p e r s onality . . . T o b e ' p o p u lar' and ' s in c ere' was vit a l . " B u t a l l o f t h i s w a s n ot i c e d a l m o s t a h u n dr e d y e a r s a g o b y J o s iah R o y c e , w h o w a s b o r n in C a lifornia a mere s ix

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ye ars after h i s p a r e n t s j ourneyed t h e r e d u r i n g the G o l d Rush, and who wrote what is still the one classic book a b o u t the s t at e . H e d e s c r i b e d t h e program for t h e B e ar Flag R e p u b l i c in 1 8 4 6 as "A government w h o s e s u b j e c t s w e r e fre e t o d o j u st a s t h e y l i k e d . . . . I n s h ort , a govern­ ment of g e n e r a l g o o d humor." H e fou n d i n C aliforni a , even w h i le h e loved i t , " a n extravagant t r u s t i n l u c k , a previously unknown b l i n d n e s s t o s oc i a l d u t i e s , . . . a l o n g - c o n t i n u e d c areer of s o c i a l a p a t h y , of t r e a s o n a b l e p u b l i c c ar e l e s s n e s s . . . . I n s h o r t , t h e C alifornian h a s t o o often c o m e t o l o v e t h e mere ful n e s s o f life and t o l a c k rev­ erence for t h e relations o f l i fe . " There t h e individual s t ruggles " t o e s c a p e , like a foo l , from his m o r a l o b l i g a ­ t i o n s t o s oc i e t y . " I n a p u n g e n t phra s e , h e found i n i t " a s o r t o f irreligi o u s liberty . " H o w e v e r o b v i o u s l y t h i s i s true o f C a lifornia then and n o w , i t s i n t e r e st t o u s h e r e i s that i t p o i n t s w h e r e all our s o c i e t i e s s e e m t o b e g o i n g . A c t u a l i z a t i o n s h a s n o m o n e y - b a c k g u arant e e , s a y s i t s founder S t e w art E m e r y . " I t d o e s , h o w e v e r , have w h a t S t e w art c al l s ' a s h i t - b a c k gu ara n t e e . ' A n y o n e w h o g e t s tired o f b e i n g h a p p y , who d o e s n 't w ant t o g o on ac ­ t u alizing , c a n have h i s ' s h i t ' b a c k - h i s ' s t u ff. ' " H e c a n revert to w h at h e w a s before h i s fou r d a y s at $ 2 5 0 , " w i t h a l l o f i t s b a d m e m o r i e s o f t h e p a s t and dread e x p e c t a t i o n s o f the fu t u r e . " T h e t r i v i a l i t y o f what i s b e i n g offered in the n a m e of " h a p p i n e s s " could h a r d l y be b e t t e r ex­ p r e s s e d . S lo t h has been d e s cr i b e d in t he ol ogy a s a " h atred of a l l s p i r i t u a l t h i n g s w h i c h e n t ail e ffort , " and " faintheart e d n e s s in m a t t e r s o f d i ffi c u l t y " in s t riving for perfe c tion . It w i l l " e n d u r e no hardship nor any p e n an c e , " s a y s t h e P ar s o n i n h i s t a l e . A l l o f t h i s s la c k n e s s a n d s e lf­ e x c u s i n g , s lo v e n l i n e s s and lack of e n d e a v o r, one finds in today's p r e s c r i p t i o n s for feel i n g good ab o ut o n e s e l f. B u t t h e " s h i t " o f w h i c h w e are· s o e a s i l y r e l i e v e d i s i n fac t needed i f w e are t o try t o d o w e l l . W e s h o u ld n o t b e s u r p r i s e d t h a t o n c e a g a i n i t i s p u t b e s t b y S t . J ohn o f t h e Cro s s : " A s t o s p i r it u al S lo t h , m a n y

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beginners shy away and fle e from t h i n g s of a s p i r i t u a l nature b e c a u s e t h e y d o n o t appeal t o their s e n s i b l e t a s t e . F o r , as t h e y h a v e found m u c h s w e et n e s s in s p i r i t u a l thing s , they are wearied b y t h i n g s in which t h e y find n o s u c h s w e et n e s s . S i n c e t h e y w a n t t o h a v e c o m p l e t e l y their own w a y in s p i r i t u a l t h i n g s and i n s i s t on following t h e inclination of their w i l l , i t i s with a d ej e c t ed s p i ri t and with great repugnance that they e n t e r u p o n t h e narrow way, which as Christ s ay s , i s the way o f life." H e s a y s that t o o m a n y p e o p l e are moved t o i n d u l g e in s p i ri t u al e x e r c i s e s and d e v o t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s b y t h e c o n s o lation and p l e a s u r e t h e y find in t h e m , and t h e m o r e w e l o o k at the p athetic l i t t l e o r t h o d o x i e s that attra ct us today, the m o re we find t h a t t h e y are n o m o r e t h an b a l m s t o sw e e te n o u r s elf- l o v e . W e will n o t c o m e t o grip s with t h e f a c t of e v i l , b u t we also exaggerate its p ower t o e x c u s e us from e n d e a v o r . B e h ind our S l o t h there lie a s e r i e s o f r a t i o n a l izat i o n s , o f which one of t h e m o s t alluring and d e s t ru c t i v e i s the b e l i e f, which our c u l t u r e has inculcated in us, t h a t the evil o f the world and o f our s oc i e t i e s i s s o great t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e that we c a n d o t o c o m b a t i t . The e v i l , it m u s t b e n o t i c e d , i s o u t there , n o t in o u r s e l v e s ; a n d o u t t h e r e i t i s s o all-e n c o m p a s s ing, s o cert ain t o bring everything t o d e s truction a n d d e a t h , s o without h o p e o f any redemp ­ t i o n , that we m a y e x c u s e o u r s e l v e s from any fru i t l e s s c oncern t o c om b a t i t , a n y trifling acknowledgment t h a t o u r o w n evil c o n t r i b u t e s t o i t , any fo o l i s h e ffort t o r e d u c e or c ontain or o v e r c o m e i t . W e r e t r e a t i n s t e a d i n t o o u r o w n p r i v a t e p u r s u it s , p e r s u ad e d that at l e a s t in them t h e h alf­ hearted effo r t s of our s p i n el e s s love will b e e n o u g h to g e t b y , the love that w e have made s p i ne l e s s b y o u r own trivialization o f it b y c e n t e ri n g i t o n o u r s e lv e s . T h e world is e v i l , filled with d e s t r u c t i o n . C r e a t i o n i s e v i l , c o n d emning u s t o d i e . Life i s an ab s u r d it y , s i n c e w e all end u n d e r g r o u n d . The e v i l o f our s o c i e t i e s , e m -

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bedded in i n s t i t u t i o n s s o b i g t h a t we c a n n o t h o p e t o c o n ­ trol t h e m , i s b e y o n d o u r c on c e r n o r c or re c t i o n . S o w e will r e t re a t t o o u r o a s e s , and cultivate o u r Sloth. W e have doubly armed i t , for n o t h i n g i s r e d e e m a b l e b u t o u r s e l v e s ; there is h e a lth i n u s , i f w e m a s s ag e o u r s e lv e s e n o u g h , b u t in n o t h i n g e ls e , in n othing o f w h i c h w e are p ar t . The ex­ cuse for S l o t h i s complete. To s a y t h a t o u r s o c ie t i e s s i n is not the s am e a s s ay ing that they are b e y o n d redemp t i o n . How m u c h greater a fault i t i s f o r u s t o l o o k u p o n t h e wonder and g o o dn e s s o f c r e a t i o n and b e o b s e s sed b y the fac t t h a t w e d e c a y in i t and s o m e d a y must leave i t . S o we whi ffl e away o u r liv e s , with n o r e a l p u r p o s e or s t r e n ­ u ou s n e s s . W h o ' s f o r t e n n i s ? I n at le a s t i t s c o u rt s , w e w i l l s e r v e . W e will ride t o p a r a d i s e on a g o lf c art . B u t S l o t h h a s not d o n e with i t s exempt i o n s . B y e x ­ aggerating t h e evil and fu t i l i t y of everything b u t o u r s e l v e s , we preten d t o an i n n o c e n c e t h a t h a s n o j u st i ­ fi c a t i o n in fac t , t h a t a g a i n s t i r s u s t o n o s t re n u o u s n e s s of endeavor. S u ch evil a s there i s in us i s s o c i e t y's doing and, in so far a s it troubles u s at all, we m a y exorci s e it b y our therap i e s . A l m o s t all t h e re c i p e s o f t h e " h u m a n p o t e n ti al" m o v e m e n t o ffer only a p p e a s e m e n t s . W e u s e tran s ce n d e n t a l m e d i t a t i o n a s w e o n c e u s e d c offe e break s . W e g a t h e r in g r o u p s that h a v e n o o t h e r life than themselv e s , n o a s s o c i ation with a n y o t h e r parts o f our live s , n o other p u rp o s e b u t t o g i v e u s a benevolent en­ dorsemen t . They a s k very l i t t l e o f us e x c e p t t h a t we s h o u ld ask l i t t l e o f o u r s e l v e s . W e reduce our desires t o the s h a l l o w e s t of l e v e l s , s o that w e c a n t h e n p e r s u a d e o u r s e l v e s that we have s at i s fied t h e m . O n e o f the m o s t b e g u i l i n g of t e m p t a t i on s , a s Spin oza s ai d , i s t o e n t e r t a i n d e s i r e s f o r only p a r t o f o u r n a t u r e s , and for o n l y the pres ­ ent and n o t t h e fu t u r e . O u r w i s h e s for o u r s e l v e s are now s o tri v i a l and fix ed on the presen t , t h at we h a ve in fac t reached t h e c o n d i t i o n of d e s ir e l e s s n e s s t h a t i s S l o t h . At the r o o t of it a l l , in t h e l a n g u age of t h e o l o g y , i s d e s p a i r o f t h e m ercy of G od , a n d therefore a d e s p a i r a l s o

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of h i s c re a t i o n . There is in i t an a l m o s t M an i c h e a n b e l i e f t h a t m a t ter and fl e s h fall i n t o the realm of d ar k ne s s , b u t of c o u r s e w i t h o u t t h e M anichean p r e s cr i p t ion for l e ading an a s c e t i c l ife . E v e n in s e c u l a r terms i t is a refu s a l t o b e m o v e d , and t o b e m o v e d e s p e c i a l l y t o any r e a l e nd e a v o r , b y t h e c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f t h e good a n d t h e b e a u t i f u l . Our art and our literat u r e t oday d o n o t t e ac h u s h ow t o p r a i s e and rej o i c e . T h e r e i s an e m p h a s i s on w h a t i s u g l y and c o r ­ r u p t and h a r s h , w h i c h i s j u s t a s s e n t i m e n t a l a s i f e v e r y ­ t h i n g i s p r e s e n t e d a s l ovely and i n n o c e n t a n d b e n i g n . I t l e a d s t o either d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t o r e s c a p i s m , even t o e s c a p i s m a s a flight fro m d i si l l u s i o n . W h a t i s n o t given i t s proper weight i s real ity . G . K . C h e s t e r t o n s ai d t h a t S t . T h o m a s Aq u i n a s , w h e n h e was t r o u b l e d b y d o u b t , c h o s e t o b e l i e v e in m o r e r e a l i t y a n d n o t in le s s . There are moments in a l l our lives when it seems t h e hardest o f pre­ s c rip t i on s , and there are some eras more than others that s e e m t o find it p art icu larly h a r d . Y e t as w e will see i n the last o f these e s s a y s , i t i s t h i s a t t en t i o n to r e a l i t y t h a t we need to c a ll u s back from our S l o t h . We will n o t b e c o m e p a s s i o n a t e and d e v o u t in our l i v e s a s l o n g a s w e a r e merely " k n o w ing" a b o u t t h e world . Anxi e t y i s a c l o s e c om p a n i o n o f fe ar, b u t w h e r e a s fe ar i s a l w a y s a fe ar of s o m e t h i n g , a s has often b ee n p o i n t e d o u t , anx iety i s e s s e n t i a l l y a d r e a d o f n o t h i n g . This i s one of the t h e m e s o f o u r " age o f anxie t y , " b u t , how e ve r m u c h t here m a y b e in t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f our t im e t o i n c i t e t h i s d r e a d , we m u s t recognize t h a t we are c a p a b le o f manu ­ facturing i t in our s e lv e s . K i e r k e g a ard a t l e a s t always wondered if h e m ig h t n o t be responsible for h i s o w n m e l ­ ancholy. " A n d w a s n o t t h i s s i c k ne s s h ar d enough f o r me to b e a r in tim e , that I not o n l y should su ffer but b e c o m e guilty t h r o u g h i t ? " h e a s k s . "The d e f o r m e d m a n h a s after all only to b e ar the pain o f being d eforme d , but how dreadful if being deformed made him g u i l t y ! " This c o m ­ p l e t e ly sincere m a n w a s n e v e r q u i t e s u r e o f t h e charac ­ t e r and s ign ific a n c e of h i s " m on s t r ou s m e l a n c h o l y , " as h e

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c alled i t , even as he s t ruggled w it h angu i s h , until h i s l o n e l y d e a t h , aga i n s t " th e p a l e , b l o od l e s s , hard- l i v e d , m idn igh t s h ap e s , " t o whom h e h i m s e l f , h e w a s n o t afraid t o say, gave their life . H e asked h i m s e l f again and again "whether in m y religious fee l i n g there i s n o t a certain pleasure in s e l f-t orture . " Kierk e g a ard's driving d o w n t o find t h e r o o t s o f h i s m e l a n ch o l y , t o b e c l e ar at l o n g l a s t a b o u t i t s religio u s , p o e t i c , or r o m a n t i c v a l u e , b e a r s s o m e c om p a r i s o n w i t h t h e c o u r a g e o f Freud in h i s own p r o l o n g e d s e lf-analy s i s . T o triv i a l i ze it b y i m i t a t ing i t , w it h o u t a n y o f t h e anguish, i s a charact eris t i c s in o f o u r t i m e . E s p e c i a l l y i n the l a t e 1 960s , o n e c o u l d s t and at t h e c h e c k - o u t c o u n t e r s in c o l l ege b o ok s t o r e s and w a t c h t h e s t u d e n t s p a y for Fea r and Trem bling or Th e S i c k n e s s Un t o Dea t h o r Th e Concept of Dread w i t h t h e i r c r e d i t c a r d s and p u t t h e m in their b a c k p ack s . One d o e s not k n o w h ow far they g o t with t h e m . B u t w h a t they were l o o k i n g for w a s a "trip , " and they reminded o n e of Kierkeg aard 's o w n remark, "Who in m odern t i m e s h a s b e e n s o m u c h used b y p a r s o n s and p r o fe s s o r s as P a s c a l ? H i s i d e a s are appropriated­ b u t P a s c a l ' s a s c e t i c i s m and h i s h a i r - s hi r t are omitt e d . " T h e o n e thing f o r w h i c h Kierk e g a ard d i d not u s e h i s demen t i a , a s h e c a l l e d i t , w a s a s a j u s t ifi c a t i o n f o r t h e d e ­ j ec t i o n o f S lo t h . H e m a y h a v e had a m o r b i d c o n s t i t u t i o n , and s u ffe red from a m anic-depre s s iv e p sy c h o s is , a s p s y ­ c h i a t ri s t s have h e l d . H e had a p h o b i a f o r t h e s u n a n d b ar­ ricaded his window s . H i s fe ar o f fire w a s h y s t er i c a l a n d , s w e ating and trembling, h e t o o k fr a n t i c p r e c a u t i o n s again s t i t . There w a s h i s mania for s p r i n k l ing e a u - d e ­ c o l ogne on t h e s t o v e b e fore working, a n d h i s c ol l e c t i o n o f c u p s from which a fre s h pair h a d t o b e c h o s e n every d a y . B u t he n ev er u s e d any o f it f o r the s e l f- e x c u s i n g f o r which h i s i d e a s are used t o d a y . S l o t h i s e a t i n g at u s , d e v o u r i n g a l l i n c l i n a t i o n t o c o n ­ t i n u e t h e h u m a n endeavor at e v e n t h e l e v e l t h a t h a s b e e n

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s u s t ained in t h e p a s t . F o r we are r e a c h i n g t h e s t age a t which we w i l l n o longer regard o u r s e l v e s a s p art o f t h a t endeavor. W e b arely k n o w our civilization any m o r e . W e d o n o t read the a n c i en t s . Even t h e c l a s s i c s o f o u r o w n literature are b e c o m ing c l o s ed b o o k s t o u s . W e m a k e l i t t l e or n o effort t o u n d e r s t and o u r s c i e n c e , w it h t h e i n s truc ­ t i o n s t h a t i t h a s to g i v e and t h e w o n d e r s it h a s t o s h o w . W e a l l o w n o authority t o t h e p a s t and e n t e r t a i n n o o b l i ­ g a t i o n t o the fu t u r e . W e d o n o t ob serve t h e rules of g r a m ­ m a r or s y n t ax . W e d i s d a i n our d i c t i o n a r i e s a n d l e t our v o c a b u l ary grow s l ac k . W e s e e m to t h i n k t h a t w e may c o mmuni c a t e without b o t hering to speak accurately t o each other, and even without speaking with the com­ plexity a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n o f language a t a l l . W e will rely on touch and feel ; and the human race will e n d its long trek acr o s s t h e centurie s , i t s o m e t i m e s s e e m s w e are bent on p r o v i n g , a s a s p e e c h l e s s race of t o u chy-feelie s . W e even think t h a t we c a n think w i t h o u t troubling t o think . A n d y e t w e l o o k s u r p r i s e d a n d h u r t if we a r e a c ­ c u s e d o f b e i n g s l o t h fu l . Children are t o o i d l e t o obey . Paren t s are t o o s l u g g i s h t o c o mmand . P u p i l s are t o o l a z y t o work . T e ac hers a r e t o o indolent t o t e a c h . P r ie s t s are t o o s l a c k t o believ e . P r o p h e t s a r e t o o m o r b i d t o i n s p ire . M en a r e t o o in­ d i fferent t o b e men. Women are t o o h e e d le s s t o be w o m e n . D o c t ors are t o o c arele s s t o c are w e l l . S h o e m a k e r s are t o o s l i p s h o d t o m a k e g o o d s h oe s . W r i t e r s a r e t o o inert t o w r i t e w e l l . S treet c le a n e r s a r e t o o b o r e d t o c l e a n s treet s . S h o p clerk s are t o o u n i n t e r e s t e d t o b e c ou r t e ou s . P ai n t ­ e r s a r e t o o fec k le s s t o m a k e p i c t u re s . P oe t s are t o o l azy t o be e x ac t . P h i l o s o p h e r s are t o o fa int h e ar t e d t o m a k e p h i l o s ophie s . B e lievers are t o o dej e c t ed t o b e a r w i t ­ ne s s . This m a y s e e m t o o s w e e p i n g a j u dg m e n t ; t h e r e are of c o u r s e i n d i v i d u a l excep t i o n s t o t h i s general apathy. B u t b e fore we d i s m i s s it a s too sweeping, we must ask t h e n why o u r s o c i e t i e s h a v e t o spend so m u c h t i m e trying t o c orrect u s .

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In s c h o o ls and t h e n a t work and in t h e c o ur s e o f our d ay - t o-day liv e s , t h e r e are a s c o r e of d e v ic e s t o t r y to " m o t i v ate" us. T h e p r e s c r ip t i on s for " s e lf-improve­ m e n t " are themselves a p a r t of this a t te m p t to supply us with m o t i v a t i o n . These art ifi c i a l recipes would n o t be n e c e s s ary if i t w a s n o t recognized t h a t we are now generally s l o t h fu l in t h e w a y s t h at h a v e b e e n de ­ s c ribed h e r e . O u r s o c i e t i e s r e d u c e u s t o a s l o t h fu l i n ­ t e re s t i n o u r s e l v e s and t he n have t o f i n d w ay s of t r y i n g t o m a k e u s a t t e n d t o our s o c i a l d u t i e s . O n c e again o n e c an s e e t h a t i t i s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of t h e i n d i v i d u a l w i t h h i s s o c i e t y t h a t t o d a y l i e s a t t h e c ore o f o u r t r o u b le s . O n e o f t h e c o rre c t i o n s o f S l o t h i s fort i t u d o, w h i c h i s p e r h a p s b e s t tran s l a t e d a s t h e s t rength of c o u rage. S u c h an i d e a l f o r t h e c i t izen w ou l d h a v e b e e n u n d er s t o o d in a l m o s t any other age but our o w n . O u r s o c i e t i e s s im p l y d o n o t ask this s t re n g t h o f c ourage fro m us, o r e v e n m u c h force o f c h a r a c t e r , and s o h a v e h e l d o u t c arro t s , t o m a k e u s d o sullenly what we ought t o do with devotion. F o r o n e h a s o n l y t o t h in k a b o u t i t a n d o n e r e a l i z e s t h a t S l o t h i s p r e e m i n e n t l y a s i n of o m i s s i o n . T o p u t i t m o r e p o s i t i v e l y , i t i s a s i n of n e g l e c t . W e n e g l e c t w h at w e ought t o d o , and e s p ec i a l l y w e n e g l e c t o u r n e i g h b or s . T h i s neglect may a m o u n t e v e n t o c a l l ou s n e s s . W e p a s s b y on the o t h e r side, p a r t l y o u t o f Prid e , o f w h i c h t h ere i s a lot i n Sloth, b u t p a r t l y o u t o f mere i n d o le n c e , a l a zi n e s s o f the spiri t as w e l l o f t h e fl e s h . I n c r e a s i n g l y i n o u r s oc ie t i e s , w e b arely l i ft a finger f o r t h e p o o r a n d t h e d o w n t rodd e n . O u r t e c hn o l o g y and o u r g a d g e t s h a v e fre ed u s from m o s t drudgery , and w h a t d o w e d o w i t h t h e t i m e t h a t i s now a v a i l a b l e t o u s ? W e t u r n i n w a r d a n d b e c ome u t terly a b s orbed in o u r s e l v e s , a n d o n c e again we s e e h o w a l l t h e sins, l e a s h e d t o g e t h er and p u l l i n g in harn e s s a t our inm o s t n a t u r e s , drag us in the same direc ­ tion. W e h a v e made a r e l i g i o n o f o u r s e l v e s a n d , of a l l t h e s i n s , we h a v e c om e n e a r e s t t o m a k i n g a r e l i g i o n o f S l o t h .

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We s e e m a c t u ally t o h a v e fai t h in i t . M in d o n e' s own b u s i n e s s , d o n o t g e t i n v o l v e d . Liv e and let l i v e , a s w e s ai d at the b eg i n n i n g . I n t h i s w a y , we w i l l n o t h u r t , and n o t b e h u r t . O f c o u r s e , t h e hurt i s d e e p , b o t h w ay s . I t s e p ar at e s u s from t h e r e s t of h u m a n i t y , a n d s o from o u r own h u m a n i t y , j u st a s in theological t e r m s it separates u s from G o d . There i s n o r o o m for c o n c e r n o r caring i n i t . B u t in s e p arating u s from everything t h a t i s other t h a n u s , i t s e p a r a t e s from m u c h o f what i s e s s en t i ally u s . Leaving u s fe ck le s s , we b e c o me more fec k le s s . A n d what i s m o s t terrible a b o u t it is t h a t , e v e n in o u r S l o t h , we m o v e a c r o s s o u r l a n d s c a p e , l i k e a c l o u d o f l o c u s t s , d e v o u ri n g every­ thing by d o i n g n o t h ing: s e e i n g n o t h i n g , h e aring nothing , telling n o t h i n g .

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AVARIC E

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W E TH INK O F t h e m i s e r , r e a c h i n g h i s a r m s round t h e p i le o f c o i n s on t h e t ab l e , u n t i l he e m b r a c e s it , running h i s h a n d s through t h e m , and feeling t h e g o l d as i t t r i c k l e s through h i s finge r s . S o in a t l e a s t one o f i t s a s p ec t s we t h i n k o f A v a r i c e : niggardly a n d p ar s i m on i ou s . Shu t away from life . " T h e u n s u n n ' d h e a p s / O f m i s e r ' s t re as u r e s , " s a y s M il t on in Com u s . I f t h e r e are any w i n ­ d o w s w h e r e t h e m i s e r c o u n t s h i s g o l d , t h e y are s h u t t e r e d , and b e f o r e h e e n j o y s t h e only t h i n g h e i s a b l e t o enj o y , h e b o l t s t h e d o o r . I t i s n o t an a c c i d e n t t h a t " m i s er" c o m e s from t h e s a m e r o o t a s " m i sery"- t h e L a t in m i se r - o r t h a t the fir s t m e a n i n g of " m i s e r a b l e " g i v e n i n t h e d i c t i o n ary i s " s t in g y , m i s erly , " a n d t h e firs t mean ing of " m i ser" i s " a wre t c h e d p e r s o n . " W e t h i n k o f A varic e a s p i n c h e d and t a l k o f p en n y - p i n c h i n g . The life o f t h e miser i s p i n c h e d . S c r o o ge s t a y s in our m i n d s a s t h e p o r t r a i t of a m i s e r a b l e m a n , and n o t e v e n t h e p o o r e s t m a n , t h o u g h h e m a y envy o t h e r rich men, will b e fou n d e n v y i n g t h e impoverished existence t o which the miser has r e d u c e d him self. " D i s q u i e t u d e a t t h e p o s s ib l e loss o f w e al t h" i s con­ demned a s o n e o f the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f Av aric e , because i t i s a sign t h a t t h e d e s ire for w e a l t h i s p r e s c r i b i n g o n e ' s l i f e , narrowing i t s b o u n d a ri e s . T h e p i le o f g ol d o n t h e t a b le i s a wall ag a in s t t h e w o r l d . The m is e r h i d e s behind i t , and a s h i s e y e s are fixed o n it, s o a r e a l l h i s feelin g s . He c a n think o f n o t h i n g else. H e t u r n s o v e r h i s coins a t nigh t , and i f h e fin d s o n e t h a t i s b r a s s , h e c r i e s o u t i n p a i n a n d m o r t i fi c a t i o n . H e m a y h av e a t h o u s and m o r e , b u t h e c a n ­ n o t g e t t h i s o n e c oi n o u t o f h i s m i n d . H e d o e s n o t e v e n u s e

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h i s wealth for p l e a s u r e . W i t h a l l h i s h o ard of g o l d , he m a k e s o n l y a poorhouse for h i m s elf. I f a l l s in i s a harden­ i n g o f t h e h eart against t h e fu ll n e s s o f l i f e , n o o n e ' s heart i s more s tringy t h a n h i s . W h e n the m i s e r fon d l e s h i s g o l d , he m a k e s an i d o l o f i t . He s e t s i t u p a s a g o d . "Thou s h a l t n o t m a k e u n t o t hee any graven image , " but that i s exac t l y what he d o e s . He gives a fa l s e value t o h i s wealth and so p l a c e s a m e an v a l u e o n h i m s e l f. This i s w h a t Scrooge a t l a s t d i s c overed: t h a t i t w a s h i s own n ature t h a t h e w a s deform i n g . I d o l at r y i s a form of s e lf-ab a s e m e n t , b efore a n obj ect t h a t i s u n ­ w o rthy o f s u c h vener a t i o n . W e t a l k o f t h e B i t c h G o d de s s S u c c e s s , for e x a m p l e , b e c a u s e w e give s u cc e s s a greater value t h a n it d e s erv e s . We s a y corre c t l y o f some p e o p l e t h a t they i d o l iz e s u c c e s s , b u t o u r s o c i e t i e s as a w h o l e a l s o worship i t , and again t h e c e l e b r i t y i s a s y m b o l . W e d o n o t a p p l a u d h i s t a l e n t s , e v e n if he s h ould h a v e a n y ; we applaud h i s s u cc e s s . S i n c e we h a v e s e t him u p a s a graven i m a g e , t h e s y m b o l of the s u c c e s s for w h i c h we are a v a ri c i ou s , w e can a s e a s i l y p u l l him down a n d set u p a n o t h e r i n h i s p l a c e . The emp h a s i s t h a t o u r s o c i e t i e s p l a c e o n s u c c e s s i s o n e o f t h e for m s o u r A v arice n o w takes. W e m u s t k e e p the m i s er in m i n d , b u t a t t h e s am e time we have t o a d m i t t h a t , a t least a t fir s t s i g h t , Av arice t o ­ day d oe s n o t s eem t o b e s h u t away . O n t h e c ontrary , our love o f p os se s s ing seems t o b e o u t i n t h e open, o n view to every o n e , e v en fl a u n t e d i n their face s . ("If y o u have it, fl a u n t i t , " i s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t a t e m e n t o f our time, again a way o f j u s t ifying a n y b e h av i or . ) I ns t e ad o f j us t coun­ t i n g o u r money, w e s e e m a t le a s t t o be s pe n d i ng it, a p ­ parently f o r our e n j o y m e n t . T h e d e p artm e n t s t o r e s ge t larger and larger e a c h y e ar and c a n h ar d l y b u i l d fas t enough t o k ee p u p w i t h a n i n s a t i ab le app e t it e . S h o p p i n g m a l l s spring u p acro s s t h e c o u n t ry alm o s t overnigh t , s o me w i th floor s p a c e of m o r e t h a n t w o m il l i o n s q u are fe e t . A new B l o o m ingdale's i s s e t d ow n next t o a new Saks F i fth A v e n u e , a n e w S a k s Fifth A v e n u e n e x t to a

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new Lord & T a y l o r . T h e r e i s s t i l l b u s i n e s s for t he m all. N e i man M a r c u s j um p s from D a l l a s t o H o u s t o n and t h e n l e a p s t o the E a s t C o a s t t o j oi n t h e re s t . S u r e l y we are n o t miserly, when w e s p e n d s o m u c h . Surely w e are n o t g u i l ­ ty o f Avarice , w h e n w e t h r o w a w a y o u r m o n e y s o fre e l y . S c r ooge g a v e n o t h i n g t o a n y b o d y for C h ri s t m a s , b u t we g o o n an orgy of spending. Are w e n o t d iffere n t , l i b eral with our money, liberated in o u r spending? B u t w e are n o t diffe r e n t , unless i t i s that we a r e w o r s e , that w e c a n ­ n o t n o w even s e e our c o n d i t i o n , o r how i n m u c h of w h a t w e are t od a y w illing t o applaud, i t i s A v a r i c e t h a t we are tolerating and c o n d o n i n g . A v a rice i s , n o t s o m u c h t h e love o f p o s s e s s i o n s , a s t h e love m e r e l y o f p o s s e s s i n g . To b u y w h a t w e do n o t n e e d , m o re e v e n t h a n w e n e e d for o u r p le a s u r e or e n t e r t a i n ­ m e n t , i s a love o f p o s s e s s i n g f o r i t s o w n s a k e . W e may t h i n k that w e d o not know a n y m i s e r s , since w e d o n o t c o me acro s s p e op l e fondling t h e i r c o i n s . B u t w e a l l k n o w p e o p l e wh o s e h o m e s a r e s o filled w i t h p o s s e s s i o n s t h a t t h e r e i s s c arcely r o o m t o t u r n i n t h e m . N o o ne c an n e e d s o many possessions or take any real ple asure in them. Our m a i n i mp r e s s i o n i n s u c h h o u s e s i s o f d i s t r a c t i o n . N o t only i s our attention distracted by s o many obj ects , s o is t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e i r o w n e r w h o s h o u l d b e a c t i n g a s our h o s t . H i s eyes dart around h i s r o o m , n o t i c i n g h i s p o s s e s s i on s , and he m u s t b r i n g t h e m t o o u r n o t i c e . H e m u s t l o o k c o n s t an t l y a t w h a t h e o wn s , b e c a u s e i t i s t h e mere fac t t h a t h e o w n s t h e m t h a t m a t t e r s t o h i m . H e d o e s n o t l o v e h i s p o s s e s s i o n s f o r w h a t t h e y are- n o o n e c an love s o m a n y obj e c t s - he lov e s t h e fac t t h a t he i s t h e i r p o s s e s s o r . H e i s , in s h o r t , a m i s e r . H e r u n s h i s e y e s and h i s hand s over t h em exactly a s t h e m i s e r does over hi s c o i n s . He m i g h t a s well live i n a v a u l t in a b a n k , w i t h h i s t r e a s u r e s d i s p layed around h i m , a n d l e t h i s fri e n d s v i s i t h i m t h e r e o n T u e s d a y s and T h u r s d a y s , b e t w e e n t h e hours o f t w o and f i v e p . m . T h i s diffe r e n c e b e t w e e n p o s s e s si o n s and t h e m e r e

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p o s s e s s i n g n e e d s u n d e r l i n i n g . The m a n w h o really l o v e s t h e good w i n e h e i s serving, a s h e t a s t e s it at h i s t ab l e , i f he m e n t i o n s it a t a l l , w i l l b e he ard t o m a k e o n l y t h e briefe s t c o m m en t , a l m o s t t o h i m s e l f: "M y , t h a t ' s rather g o o d , i s n ' t i t ? " T h e w i n e i s then l e ft alone , t o b e i t s elf and t o b e enj oyed by h i s g u e s t s . B u t t h e re i s another k in d o f m a n wh o p r a i s e s t h e l a b e l . Even at h i s o w n t ab l e , h e p r a i s e s t h e l a b e l a n d a s k s h i s gue s t s t o p r a i s e it . H e i s n o t i n t e r e s t e d in the w i n e . I t c o u l d h a r d l y m a t t e r le s s t o h i m . H e i s i n t e r e s t ed in t h e f a c t t h a t h e c a n afford t h e l a b e l . H e is not even a "wine snob"; he i s a "label snob." This i s Avarice: t h e l o v e o f p o s s e s s in g , r a t h e r t h a n t h e l o v e o f t h e p o s s e s s i o n . W h e t he r i t i s t r u e or n o t t h at " s n o b " i s derived from s i n e n o b i l i t a t e , t h i s i s i n fact i t s fir s t and real m e a n i n g : a vulgar person w h o is without n o b i lity and therefore t r i e s t o emulate it. T h e snob i s an e m b l e m a t ic figure o f Avarice, wearing a n Yves S t . Lau rent l a b e l o n h i s s h irt , e x a c t l y a s h e w e a r s t h e l a b e l on his wine. The m o s t i m p o r t a n t fac t a b o u t o u r s h o p p i n g m a l l s , as d i s t i n c t from t h e ordinary shopping c e n t e r s w h e r e w e go for o u r grocerie s , i s t h a t w e d o not n e ed m o st of w h a t they sell, n o t even for our pleasure o r e n t e r t a i n m e n t , n o t real­ ly even for a s e n s at i o n o f luxury. Li t t l e in t h e m i s e s s e n ­ t i a l t o our s u r v i v a l , o u r w o rk , o r o u r p l a y , and t h e s a m e i s t r u e o f t h e b ou t i q u e s t h a t m u l t i p l y o n o u r s tr e e t s . W h a t w e c all our c o n s u m e r s o c i e t i e s m a y b e g l u t t o n o u s- a n d t o t h a t w e will c o m e - b u t they are r i d d e n m o r e s u b t l y b y A v a r i c e . O u r app e t i t e s a r e s t i m u l a t e d s o t h a t t h e p r o d u c t w i ll b e c o n s u m e d , and thu s we a r e i n c i t e d t o p o s s e s s for the s a k e o f p o s s e s s i n g . W e " m u s t h a v e t h a t , " w h e n w e s e e i t , e v e n though w e d o n o t n e e d i t . W e b u y m ore c l o t h e s t h a n we n e ed , m o r e acce s s o r i e s ( h o w r e v e a l i n g t h e word is) than w e need, m o r e furn i t u r e t h a n w e need, more b r i c ­ a-brac than w e n e e d , more o b j e t s d 'a r t t h a n w e n e e d , m o re c o ok b o o k s t h a n w e n e e d , m o re k it ch e n e q u i p m e n t than we n e e d , a n d even more gifts for o u r frie n d s t h a n

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they n ee d . E v e n i n the a c t o f giv i n g , w e g i v e w h a t p l e a s e s the a p p e t i t e f o r p o s s e s s i n g , r a t h e r t h a n w h a t i s m e a n t t o be a p o s s e s s i on . "For the m an w h o h a s everything" h a s now b e e n d e m o c r a t i z e d and t r a n s l a t e d f o r t h e r e s t o f u s i n t o " F o r p e o p l e who n ee d n o t h in g . " All o f t h i s i s a d i s t r a c t i o n . W e are o u t of o u r m i n d s i n our s earch for p o s s e s s i o n s . W e s c o u r the w orld f o r t h e m . W e s p e n d h ou r s in b o u t i q u e s and d e p a r t m e n t s t o r e s , w o nd er i n g if w e w a n t s o m e t h i n g , w h e r e a s if w e r e a l ly needed or w a n t e d it , w e w o u l d have n o doub t s . What w e t o d a y edify w i t h t h e n a m e o f " d e s i g n , " from f a s h i o n t o i n t e r i o r d e c o r a t i o n , fr om a c o o k i n g p o t to a c a n d l e , may h a v e h a d s o m e g o o d i n t e n ­ t i o n and e v e n s o m e good effe c t . But i t i s fir st a n d l a s t a world w i d e e n t e r p r i s e o f en trepre n e u r s , t o p e r s u ad e u s t o b u y m o r e t h a n w e need a n d t o b u y it m o r e e x p e n s iv e l y than c a n b e m o r a l l y j u s t ifi e d . Avarice i s the inordin a t e love o f t e m p o r a l t h i ng s , u s u a l l y o f ric h e s , a n d i t i s inor­ dinate "if o n e i s n o t g u i d ed b y a r e a s o n a b l e end in view . " There i s n o r e a s o n a b l e p u rp o s e t o m u c h o f o u r s p e n d i n g t o d a y , b u t our s o c i e t i e s g o a d t h e Av arice t h a t i s a l r e a d y in us. It might a l l s eem trivial b u t h a r m le s s , u n t i l w e c o n ­ sider w h a t it d o e s t o u s . W e h a v e a l l m e t p e o p l e w h o h a v e become their p o s s e s s i o n s , who d o n o t p o s s e s s b u t a r e p o s s e s se d b y t h e m , a n d t h e y s e e m t o u s t o live in m u s eu m s . They have b e en t a k e n over b y the o b j e c t s around t h e m , w h i c h s e e m m o r e r e a l t h a n t h e m s e lv e s . T h i s m a y b e m o s t o b v i o u s in t h o s e w h o c a n afford t o s u r ­ r o u n d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h e x p e n s i v e a n d rare o b j e c t s . B u t it i s n o less true o f t h e s u b u r b a n h o u s e w ife w h o devotes her d ay t o her p o s s e s s i o n s , cleans and p o l i s h e s them and her h o u s e , more than a n y c l e aning or p o l i s h i n g i s n e c e s s ary , b e c a u s e i t i s in t h e m t h a t s h e b e l i e v e s t h a t s h e i s on s h o w a n d j u s t ified. S h e t r u s t s them t o s p e a k for h e r m o re than h er s e l f , and i n her a t t e n t i o n t o h e r fam i l y she often tre a t s her h u s b and and children a s her p o s s e s s i o n s ,

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s h o wing t h e m off a l s o as evidence of h er s e l f . W h a t e v e r the excu s e s f o r her-and t h e y may b e m a n y - h er l i fe i s neverthel e s s ruled b y Avarice. F o r o n e t h i n g t h a t we are t a l k i n g about i s a m i d d l e ­ c l a s s way o f life that derives i t s s t an d a r d s f r o m the emu l a t i on of an u p p e r middle-c l a s s w a y of life. W h e n t h e b o h e m i a n r e v o l t e d agai n s t the b o u r g e o i s i n t h e l a s t c e n ­ t ury, the m o s t s y m b o l i c t h i n g h e d id w a s d i s c ard t h e p o s s e s s i o n s o f t h e bourge o i s . ( S om e t i m e s h e did n o t , i t m u s t b e s a i d , d i s card t h e m f o r l o n g . T h e s p irit w a s w e a k , and the fle sh w a s s t r o ng . ) B u t t h e i d e n t ifi c a t i o n of the b ourge o i s w i t h t h e a n x iety t o p o s s e s s i s correc t . I t i s p e c u l i arly h i s mark , and s o the mark o f h i s s o c i e t y ; i t i s therefore t h e mark o f o u r s o c i e t i e s , which a r e bourge o i s , a n d t h i s anx iety i s s t r angling u s . P o s s e s s i n g f o r t h e s a k e o f p o s s e s s i n g i s s t ifling, i n u s and i n our s oc i e t i e s , im­ pulses that are m o r e generou s , more s t r en u o u s , a n d e v e n m o re adv e n t u r o u s ; i t d i s t r ac t s t h o s e w h o m i g h t d o m o r e s e ri o u s w ork , s u c h a s m a n y o f o u r art i s t s and writer s , i n t o t h e avaric i o u s p u r s u i t o f p o s s e s s io n s t h a t neither their work n or t h eir l i v e s in fact r e q u i r e , and i n t h e end pervert and d e s t r o y . I f w e n o w h a v e n o avant-garde i n o u r a r t , s t anding again s t the m o r e l a c k a d a i s i c a l value s o f our s o c i e t i e s , i t i s p a r t l y b ec a u s e t h e art mark e t i t s e l f i s b u il t on t h e avari c i o u s a p p e t i t e of a l l t h o s e c on cerned i n i t : the Avarice o f t h e d e a l e r , t h e gallery o w n e r , t h e art crit i c , the m u s e u m d ir e c t o r , the a r t i s t o f course, and n o t l e a s t the wealthy p u r c h a s e r o f art. Paintings h a n g o n t h e walls o f the rich as if they were certifi c a t e s o f s t o c k s and b o n d s . I t i s a l l v e ry w e l l t o l o ok f o r i n t e l le c t u a l or a e s t h e t i c reas o n s f o r the c o l l ap se o f the a v a n t -g a r d e , t h e s h a l l o wn e s s o f m u c h o f c o n temporary art and literature, b u t we need a l s o t o t h i n k in t e r m s sometimes o f t he m o s t o b v i ou s m o t i v e s , s u c h a s t h a t t o o m a n y of t h e p e o p l e c o n ­ cerned w i t h t h e m a k i n g o f art , n o t e x c l u d i n g t h e arti s t

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and the w r i t e r , h a v e s im p l y b e c o m e t o o g r e e d y t o p o s s e s s what they do not need. The p oor m a n d o e s not h a v e p o s s e s s i o n s , b e c a u s e h e c a n n o t afford them . The ari s t o crat d o e s n o t n e e d t h e m , b e c a u s e h i s s t an d i n g i s a s s u r e d w i t h o u t t h e m . N e i t h e r of t h e m h a s or needs p o s s e s si o n s t o e s t a b l i s h or i d e n t i fy him s e l f, in h i s own e y e s or in t h o s e of ot h er s . A d u k e i s s t i l l a duk e , h e s t i l l t a k e s p r e c e d e n c e , e v e n when h e i s p o o r , and there have been m a n y p o o r d uk e s . T h e true aristocrat m a y have a larg e and grand h o u s e , fil l e d w i t h rare and b e a u t i fu l t h i n g s , m o s t o f w h i c h h e w i l l h av e i n ­ heri t e d , b u t h e d o e s n o t d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o t he m . T h e y a r e even p l a c e d where o n e hardly n o t i c e s t h e m . O n e p e e r s i n t o a corner, and there i s a R u b en s . H e a l m o s t p o o h ­ p o o h s them . " N i c e l i t t l e thin g , " h e w i l l s a y o f a t r e a s u r e , and p as s on t o s omething e l s e . H e c e r t a i n l y d o e s n o t c o u n t h i s p o s s e s s i o n s - h e u s u ally d o e s n o t k n o w w h a t he h a s - for it i s n o t they t h a t e l e v a t e h i m . B u t if it i s n o t the p o s s e s s i on b u t the p o s s e s s i n g of it t h a t d efine s o n e ' s p o s i t i o n , and even t o s om e e x t e n t o n e ' s s e l f. then t h e c o u n t i n g i s n e c e s s ary and i s e v e n t h e m ai n p u r p o s e of t h e p o s s e s s i n g , and t h i s i s g e n e r a l l y t h e c o n d i t i o n of a n y middle c l a s s , u n l e s s it i s r u l e d b y other v a l u e s l i k e t h e p u r i t a n m i d d l e -c l a s s of t h e l a s t c en tury . Coun ting is t h e main p l e a s u r e o f t h e m i s e r , and c o u n ­ ting i s the main object of Avarice. "Money is the chief ob­ j e c t of Avaric e , n o t o n l y b e c a u s e i t p r o v i d e s f o r t h e c o n ­ t r o l o f m a n y o t h e r o b j e c t s , b u t b e c a u s e it o ffers the very s i mp l e s at i s fa c t i o n that i t c an be c o u n t e d , " s ay s W il l i a m F . M a y . The fact i s that we h a v e r e a c h e d t h e s t age at which most o f t h e o b j e c t s t h a t we b u y w it h o u r money have n o r e a l purpose b u t t o be c o u n t e d , e v e n w h e n we t o u c h o r look at t h e m with t h e s a m e p l e a s ur e a s the m i s e r at h i s g o l d . Every p o s s e s si o n t h a t i s b ou g h t a s a " s t a t u s s y m b o l " i s b ought primarily t o b e c ou n t e d , a n d t h e s t a t u s s y m b o l i s p e c u l i arly t h e brand o f a m i d d l e -c l a s s s o c i e t y .

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W e d e p e r s o n alize o u r own s e l v e s in o u r A v a r ic e , in the o b j e c t s that w e u s e to repre s e n t and a n n o u n c e o u r s t a t u s , a n d i n t h e end w e d e h umanize o u r s e l ve s . W e b e g i n t o treat O!l rselves a s o b j e c t s . Among a l l t h e o t h e r o b j e c t s b y which we a r e s u r r o u n d ed , we b e c o m e j u st o n e m o r e o b ­ j ec t . A w o m a n w h o h a s t o o m a n y c l o t he s , o r w h o i s h u n g with t o o m u c h j ewelry , s e e m s t o h a v e b e c o m e an o b j e c t , a n d in fac t w e s a y s o , c alling h e r in t h e fir st c a s e a c l o t h e s h o r s e , and in t h e s e c o n d a C h r i s t m a s t r e e . I t i s n o t o n l y o t h e r s who m a y t r e a t u s a s o b j e c t s , we are ac c o m p l i s h e d at doing it o u r s e lv e s . T h o s e who s u r r o u n d t h e m s e l v e s with things that t h e y d o n o t n e e d , a n d d o n o t even r e a l l y w a n t , soon c e a s e t o k n o w what t h e y d o n e e d o r w a n t ; a n d in a l i t t l e m o r e t i m e t h e y c e a s e a l s o t o k n o w or b e able t o b e them s e lv e s . Avarice l e a d s t o a f o r m o f s e l f ­ annihil a t i o n . P o s s e s s i o n s in a m o d e s t d e g r e e , and a c q u ir e d t o a r e a s o n a b le e n d , m a y b e a l e g i t i m a t e p le a s u r e : fit ting and pleasing t o o u r s e l v e s and to o th e r s , as an e x p r e s s i o n of o n e s e l f and o n e ' s i n t e re s t s . W e e n j o y t h e e v i d e n c e o f our friend s in t h e i r p o s s e s s i o n s , if it i s genuinel y the evidence of them, and t h e i r p o s s e s s i o n s d o not come between them and us. W e enj oy looking over s om e o n e ' s l i br a ry or h i s c ol l e c t i o n o f t o y s o l d i e r s , if t h e s e are really h i s i n t e r e s t s . But i f t h e l i b r ar y i s only of f i r s t editions or leather-bound e d i t i o n s t h a t seem n e v er to have been o p e n e d , or i f t h e lead s o l d i e r s h a v e been c o l l e c t e d only because their p r i c e h a s r i s en o n t h e antique m ar k e t , then far from e n j o y i n g them we are p u t o ff b y them. S o m e ex­ i s t e n t i ali s t s have set t h e " au t h e n t i c order" of being far t o o s ev erely against the " in a u t h e n t i c order" o f having. This i s t o o rigid a d i c h o t o my . M u c h that we are m a y be found in what w e h a v e . It i s pleasant t o s e e people with gardens they t e n d and k n o w t h e houses they l o o k aft e r , b u t only if they never s h o w them off a s p r o o f o f their p o s s e s s i n g . T h e y must l e t u s fin d them. To s t rive for m o r e p o s s e s s i o n s t h a n o n e n e e d s is, l i k e

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" b e i n g t o o s o l i c i t o u s in a c q u i r i n g w e a lt h , " a s i n t h a t d i s ­ trac t s and c orru p t s u s a t t h e c e n t e r o f our b e i n g . A v a ri ce i s high a m o n g t h e sin s, and w e c a n n o t d i s m i s s lightly t h e s e v erity of C h r i s t ' s w o r d s : " I t i s e a s ier for a c a m e l t o g o through the e y e o f a n e e d l e , t h a n f o r a r i c h m a n t o e n t e r i n t o t h e k ingdom o f G o d . " A v a r i c e m a k e s u s a s unfit f o r s alvation a s t h a t . I t s h o ld i s s o s t r o n g t h a t i t i s hard t o c o m b a t i t . " F o r t h o u g h an a v a ri c i o u s m a n s h o u l d , f o r t h e s ake o f avoiding d e a t h , " s a y s S p i n o z a , " c a s t his r i c h e s i n t o t h e s e a , h e w i l l n o n e t h el e s s r e m a i n a v a r i c i o u s " ; and fo r a rich man t o divest himself o f h i s w e al t h , t o fou n ­ d a t i o n s or m u s e u m s , c a n n o t b y i t s e lf s av e h i s s o u l . E v e n h i s d i v e s t i tu r e i s fals e ; h e s t i l l i s n o t h i m s e lf; he i s s t i l l d e fined b y h i s g o od s . H i s m o n u m e n t i s t o h i s m o n e y , n o t t o h i m s e lf. H i s f o r t u n e c l i n g s a b o u t h i s ne c k , e v e n a s h e d i e s , a n d again it i s w o r t h r e m e m b ering t h a t a " for t u n e , " me aning a large a m o u n t o f m o n e y , i s t h e s ame word a s " fortun e , " meaning an a c c i d e n t o f c h a n c e . I t i s only i n t h e fifth d efi n i t ion o f the w o r d i n We b s t e r 's t h a t one c o m e s t o : " a c o n d i t i o n in life a s d e t ermined b y m a t erial p o s s e s s i o n s . " Following the four previous defini t i o n s ­ w h i c h c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e e l e m e n t s o f chanc e and fate­ the word that m a t t e r s in this fifth d e fi n i t i o n i s " d e t e r ­ m i n ed . " I f one i s t o o r i c h , o n e i s never really i n charge o f one's life ; t h e p o s s e s s i n g h a s t a k e n o v e r . " P o o r l i t t le rich girl" i s n o t a s n e e r . I t i s a prayer f o r t h e rich. They are n ever fre e . They c a n n o t g e t a w a y from their p o s s es s i o n s . There i s v e ry l i t t l e t h at t he y can b e l i e v e in o t h er s , b e c a u s e there i s v e ry l i t t l e that they can b e l i e v e in even t h e m s e lv e s . They are never sure that they are behaving as they really w o u l d l i k e t o behave, b e c a u s e the app ar e n t fre e d o m o f c h o i c e t h a t t h e i r w e a lth g i v e s t h e m i s a fr e e d o m t h e y h a v e n o t had t o m a k e t h e m s e lv e s . I t i s n o t t h a t t h e i r w ealth m a k e s l i f e t o o e a s y , b u t t h a t i t m a k e s it t o o d iffi c u l t t o fin d . T h i s i s w h y s o m a n y e x ­ c e s s iv ely r i c h p e op l e a r e rec l u s e s . There i s n ot hing t h e y c a n tru s t , b e c a u s e t h e y c a n n o t t r u s t t h e m s e l v e s . Thi s

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p a t h e t i c q u a l i t y of t h e rich s h o u l d m a k e u s c o n s ider w h a t even our p e t t y Avarice d o e s t o u s . I n t r e a t i n g o u r s e l v e s a s o b j e c t s , i n t h e p ur su i t o f m e r e o b j e c t s , we are again in t h e rat r a c e . I t d i s t r a c t s u s . I t m a k e s u s d i s t r a c t e d on o u r w ay t o work , at our w o r k , o n t h e w a y h o m e from work , a n d e v e n w h e n w e a r e n o t at w o rk . T o b e d i s t r a c t e d i s n o t j u s t t o b e o u t of one's m i n d , it i s n o t to b e in p o s s e s s i o n o f o n e s e lf. W e h a v e a l l t h o s e other p o s s e s s i on s , b u t w e d o n o t p o s s e s s o u r s e lv e s . The word comes fro m t h e Latin di stract u s , which m e a n s " t o rn apart , " and t h i s i s t h e p o w e r o f A v a r i c e a s a s i n . I t d o e s n o t l e a v e u s w h o l e . W e d o n o t e n g ag e in t h e c o m ­ p e t i t iv e n e s s of o u r s o c i e t i e s a s w h o l e p e o p l e . " Lat e and soon, G e t t ing and s p e n d i n g , we l a y w a s t e o u r p o w e r s , " as Wordsworth s a y s , and o u r s o c i e t i e s i n c i t e u s day b y day to t h i s d e v a s t a t i o n . A s it i s in o u r s e lv e s , A v a r i c e in o u r s o c i e t i e s i s a haras s m e n t , d i fficult t o p u s h a s i d e . W e are h a r a s s e d i n t o w o r k i n g in w a y s t h a t are u n s a t i s fy i n g , s o t h a t w e m a y b u y t h i n g s t h a t w e h a v e b e e n h ara s s e d int o believing will s a t i s fy us. W h a t we c o mp l a i n a b o u t t o d ay i n t h e in­ c r e a s e d t e m p o of life i s i t s h a ra s s me n t , a n d it i s c au s e d in part by t h e A v a r i c e that i s naturally in o u r s e lv e s , but also in the incitement t o Avarice t h a t our s o c i e t i e s e m p l o y a t every hour. Thi s i s the l o g i c o f t h e e c o n o m i c s y s t e m that w e have c r e a t e d . W e k no w n o other w a y , with the e x c e p t i o n o f w a r , o r t h e threat of w a r , of k e e p i n g it going. W e t ol e r a t e it b e c au s e we are avariciou s for what it s p r e a d s b efore u s , temptingly and w i t h c u n n i n g ; and d ay by d a y , we r e a d , mark , l e a r n , a n d inwardly digest the hymns t o it that are chanted b y its prie s t s . H o s annah! H o s an n a h ! T h i s i s p r i v a t e ent erpri s e ! B u t a s o c i e t y that is s o m o t iv a t e d c a n n o t e x p e c t to have any m o ral s a n c t i o n , or hope t o e n c ou r a g e p e op l e t o b e vir­ t u o u s c i t iz e n s . A s w e k n o w i n t h e c a s e o f the m i s e r , Avarice i s a form o f s o l i t u d e . We are w a l l e d fro m our n e i g h b o r s b y our

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p o s s e s s i o n s , s o t h a t they a l s o find u s a s o n l y one obj e c t among all the o t h e r s . B u t we t h e n treat o u r neighbors as mere o b j ec t s . I t has b e e n s a i d b y a n American s oc i o l o g i s t that Americ a n s d o n o t u s u a l l y m a k e fri e n d s or a c q u a i n ­ t a n c e s b u t i n s t e a d m a k e only alli e s , and i t i s hard t o deny the truth in t h e observation. W h e n w e s e e k p e o p le as allie s , we are u si n g them a s a s s e t s . I n o t h er w or d s , we are tre a t i n g them a s ob j ec t s . O u r s o ci e t i e s are m o r e and more organized, n o t merely t o e n c o u rage t h i s , but t o make it all but i n e v i t a b l e and i t i s yet again the r a t r a c e . W e now take it a l m o s t for g ranted that we must claw and c l a m b er our way t o the t o p , s c aling a py ramid of b o d i e s over which we h av e trampled, a c c e p t in g a h elping hand from tho s e who are our a l l i e s for the time b e i n g , but ready at last t o let g o even o f them and climb on their s ho u lders , as we give ourselves o n e mo r e push t o take t h e final s tep ahead o f them . I t i s o u r Avarice that drives u s t o b e s o in­ human. I t i s a l s o our A v a r i c e t h a t l e a v e s us n o t ime or energy to c are for our neighbors in o u r s o c ie t y , not j u s t our neighbors b u t our fe l l o w - c i t i z e n s a s well. W e hear of their woes a n d ills; we would like t o d o s o m e t h i n g , but we d o not h ave t h e time; we are tired at the end of t h e d a y ; we d o n o t w i s h t o g o o u t again ; w e have o t h er t h i n g s o n our mind s . T h e r e i s t oday m u c h t a l k o f t h e d e c l i n i n g p ar­ t i c i p a t i o n in t h e p u b l i c life and p o l i t i c s o f our s oc i e t ie s . We s ay that it is alie n a t i o n , b u t t h a t i s a fr audulent word, a mere excu s e . W h a t we call o u r alienation i s our ennui. To every t h i n g ab out u s we respond w i t h Sloth, unles s i t i s t o our g e t t i n g and s p e n d i n g , and p a r t of our Sloth h a s i t s s ource s in our A v a r i c e . When w e are a s a v a r i c i o u s a s we n o w are- w a n t ing t h i n g s we d o n ot n eed-we a r e r e a l l y alive t o very l i t t l e e l s e . A v a r i c e is o n e c a u s e of the d e j e c t i o n that leads t o Sloth. W e d o n o t k n ow how t o think o f o u r s e l v e s e x c ept a s a s se t s we c a n u s e , a n d s o w e t h i n k of o t h e r s a n d the re s t o f t he w o r l d . W e a n d t he y b e c o m e o b j e c t s t o b e manipul a t e d , w i t h n o g o a l b u t the posses sing.

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O n e of the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f A v a r i c e t h a t i s m o s t s t rongly condemned in t h e ology i s " h ar d ne s s of heart t o w ard the p o or , w h e t h e r in n o t g i v i n g alm s t o those in n e e d or h arshly e x a c t i n g p ay m e n t of d e b t s . " I n a p r o c l a m a t i o n t h a t w a s i s s u e d b y t h e C an ad i a n C at h o l i c C o nference o f B i s h o p s in 1 9 72 , i t w a s s ai d : " T h e r i c h e s o f C anada a r e u n e q u ally s h a r e d . Th i s i n e q u a l i t y , which k e ep s s o m any people p o o r , i s a s oc i a l s in . " The o p p re s ­ s i o n o f t h e p o or i s c o u n t e d a s o n e o f t h e sin s t h a t cries o u t t o heaven for vengeanc e , a s a l s o i s t h e defrauding o f l a borers o f t h e ir wage s . T h e n e g l e c t o f our neighbors and t h e poor is, in the phrase from t h e Middle Age s , an i n s e n ­ s i b i l i t y t o m e r c y . " S i n s agai n s t t h e n e e d y ar e , in an im­ p o r t a n t sense, t h e e x a c t op p o s i t e o f those a g a i n s t t h e enemy," says William F. May. "The enemy occupies the c e n t e r o f a t t e n t i o n . B u t t h e n e e d y , a t t h e o t h e r extreme, b arely e x i s t s . " These sins o f Avarice are s i n s of o m i s s i o n , a n d t h e y are n o u r i s h e d in u s b y o u r s oc i e t ie s . M ore a n d m o re , the p o or are t u c k e d a w a y w h e r e w e c a n n o t s e e t h e m . M ore a n d m o r e , we w i t h draw from t h e m . W e o m i t t o remember t h e m , e v e n in our p r ay e r s . M i d d l e - c l a s s l i fe in our s o c i e t i e s t o d a y i s increas ingly i s o l a t e d fr om what i s the s e v e r e s t r e b u k e t o i t : t h a t it tolerates the per­ s i s te n c e of a v o id able p overty in s oc i e t i e s t h a t it b o a s t s are n ow m ar v e l o u s l y affl u e n t . S t . P au l s aid that Avarice i s t h e s o u r c e o f all e v i l s , f o r b y r i c h e s m a n acqu ire s t h e m e a n s o f c o m m i t t ing any s i n whatever and o f s a t i s fying h i s d e s i r e t o s i n . W e will c o m e to t h e more p r e c i s e m e aning o f t h i s s t a t e m e n t , b u t there i s a general s en s e in w h i c h i t i s t r u e , i n w h i c h one feel s Avarice creeping a l l over o n e ' s n a t u r e , a m i a b l y t olerated b y o n e s e l f and b y o t h er s , and over t h e whole of our s oc i e t ie s . I t i s s o e a s y t o think that o n e "must have that" and forge t t h e o t h e r s who n e e d s o m e t h i n g m u c h m o r e , p e ople t o whom o n e c o u l d g i v e in p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e i r n e e d s and o n e ' s o w n r e s o u r c e s . N o o ne a c c u s e s u s of b e ­ i n g s e l fish when w e w a l k into N e i m a n M a r c u s and b u y a

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s u i t or a d r e s s that w e d o n o t n e e d , y e t a c al l o u s n e s s b e g i n s t o g r o w in u s w h e n o u r appe t it e s a r e n o t c h a l ­ l e n g e d . W h y s h ould o n e n o t dre s s b e aut ifu ll y ? A n d i n ­ d e e d why s h o u l d o n e n ot ? B u t then s o m e t h i n g e l s e b e g i n s t o h a p p e n : O n e g e t s tired o f g i v i n g a q u ar t e r t o a beggar. O r o n e forg e t s o r s i m p l y d o e s n ot n o t i c e . M u ch w o r s e t h a n t h a t , o n e g e t s t i red o f s u pp o r t i n g , w i t h o n e ' s o w n e n e r g y and s k i ll s , t h e program s t h a t might m a k e t h e beggar n o t a b e g g a r . The d i s p arity b e t ween t h e "haves" and t h e " h a v e nots" i n o u r s oc i e t i e s , and b e t w e e n t h e rich and t h e p o o r n a t i o n s , i s c e a s ing t o t r o u b l e o u r c o n s cien c e s , a n d we a r e far l e s s e a s i l y r o u s e d t o moral i n d i g n a t i o n at t h e e x i s t e n c e o f p ov e r t y i n our mid s t t h a n w e used t o be. W e seem t o h a v e decided that the p oo r are a l w a y s w i t h us, t h a t we m a y p a l l i a t e t h e i r c o n d i t i o n a l i t t le , e n o u gh at l e a s t t o p r e v e n t any u n ­ s e e m li n e s s of b e h a v i o r on t h e i r p art t h at m i g h t e m ­ b a rr a s s u s . M e an w h i l e we and our s o c i e t i e s m ay j u s t g o on getting m o r e and more a ffl u e n t , and w e are s a t i sfied that e n o u gh o f t h e wealth will t r i c k l e down to t h o s e who need it. O u r affluent s o ci e t i e s have done w h a t c ou l d have been pred i c t e d ; b y appealing to our Avarice t h e y h a v e c u t s u s off fr om our n e i g h b o r s w h o n ee d u s . If w e w e r e n o t s o driven a n d d i s t r a c t e d b y our covetou s n e s s , w e might c o n s i d e r that t h e poor are always w i t h u s in a special sense. N o n e of the e ffo r t s that we have m a d e t o r e d u c e t h e n u m b e r o f p o o r and ameliorate their condition seems i n t h e end t o h a v e had much effe c t . Y e a r after year, there t h ey still a r e . T h i s i n t u r n b e c o m e s a c o n v e n i e n t r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n for doing l i t t l e or n othing a b o u t them . S i n c e t h e program s t o a s s i s t them did n o t work in the p a s t , why c o n t in u e t h e s ame or e q u i v a l e n t p r o g r a m s i n t h e fu t u r e ? B u t w h at w e d o not t a k e into a c c o u n t i s t h a t , a s the c o n d i t i o n of the poor is alleviated t o s ome ex t e n t , t h e d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n them and t h e w e l l - o ff rem a i n s . They are s t i l l p o or even if the criteria o f poverty have been redefin ed . The deprival i s

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s t i l l as gre a t , even if the c o n d i t i o n s have b e e n improved a l i t t l e , for the deprival o f p overty i s r e l a t i v e as w e l l a s a b ­ s o l u t e . T h a t w e d o n o t recognize t h i s , and d o n o t fee l moved to d o s o m ething a b o u t i t , i s t h e r e s u l t of a m o r a l o b t u s e n e s s in u s , which i s in turn a r e s u l t of our Avarice. Among the e v i l s o f Avarice t h a t are c on d e m n e d b y theology i s : " D e c e i t in c o m p a s s i ng w e a l t h , c om m e r c i a l d i s h one s t y , o v e r r e a c h i n g o t h e r s i n trade b y u n j u s t methods , a n d violation of inconvenient contract s . " I t s o u n d s v ery l i k e t h e c ommercial s y s t e m under w h i c h w e l i v e . " I t ' s a t i m e o f corrupt i o n , " s a i d a m o v ie director i n H o l l y w o o d , when t h e " irregulari t i e s " in t h e film b u s i n e s s c a m e t o l i g h t . I t i s charac t e r i s t i c t h a t w e s h o u l d c a l l them " irre g u l ari t ie s , " which presumably mean s that they do not happen regularly, even in s u c h a head line as t h a t in the New York Tim e s : "Crit i c s o f t h e M ovie B u s i n e s s Find P a t t e rn o f F i n a n c i a l Irregulari t ie s . " A p a t t ern o f fin a n ­ c i a l irregu l a r i t i e s i s a s y s t e m , a n d w e a l l k n o w t h a t i t i s a s y s t e m that is general in o u r c o m m e r c e . Yet t h e w o r d s that a r e u se d t o d e s c r i b e i t a r e m o llifying. The h a b i t s that are t olerated b y o u r e c o n o m ic s y s t e m , i n d e e d o n w h i c h i t i s b a s e d , in t h e e n d s p r e a d t o t h e r e s t o f u s . I f the whole o f the c o mmercial s y s tem i s perceived to b e a series o f gigan t i c rip - offs , we c a n hardly b e sur­ p r i s e d i f t h e rip-off i s accepted a s t h e n o rm e l s ewhere in our s o c i e t ie s . This i s again e s p e c ially true o f the profe s s i o n a l middle c l a s s , which used t o b e an exemplar of integrity and a l s o o f mode s t y i n the material p o s s e s s i o n s t o which i t aspired. Perhap s the lawyer h a s never been r e g a r d e d a s a model o f p r o fe s s i o n a l vi rtu e ; he has u s u ally been regarded b y o t h e r s a s a s h y s t er or worse. B u t with individual e x c ep t i o n s of c o u r s e , d o c t o r s did n o t as a c l a s s u s e d t o b e s o avari c i o u s . T h e r e i s n o w n o j u s t ifi c a t i o n for t h e i r fee s , ex c e p t that o f an A v a r i c e t h a t has n o b o u n d a r y . The academic and t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l are n o t f a r b e h i n d ; t h e fou n d a t i o n s and fede r a l fun d s a r e

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b o t h ready s u p p l i e r s of t h e i r A v ar i c e . T h e c o r ­ r e s p o n d ence o f w r i t e r s u s e d t o b e f i l l e d w i t h t al k of money b e c a u s e they were p o o r . Their c o n v e r s a t i o n i s n o w filled w i t h t a lk o f it b e c a u s e t h e y w a n t t o b e very rich. There i s a world o f d iffe r e n c e . M o s t c l e r g y m e n may s t il l b e p oorly p a i d , but even they wear the h a b i t o f povert y l es s willingly than b e f o r e and are n o t a b o v e c o n ­ t r a s t i n g t h e i r l o t w i t h t h a t of o t he r s . There i s h ardly an i n s t it u t i o n i n o u r s o c i e t i e s n o w , a body o f m e n and w o m e n , l e a d e r s o f o p i n i o n and e x ­ emplars o f s t an d a rd s , who sugge s t t h a t p o v e r t y m a y b e t h e p r o p er way o f l i fe t o choo s e , n o t o n l y fit t i n g b u t rewarding and fu l fi l l i n g , p e r h a p s t h e o n l y v i r t u o u s w a y t h e re i s . T h e v o w o f poverty i s n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t w e n o w under s t an d , y e t if p ov e rty c an b e a c o n d i t i o n o f being a prie s t , t here i s n o r e a s o n w h y i t s h o u l d n o t b e a c c e p t e d a l s o b y o t he r s who a d m i n i s t e r t o u s . T h e r e i s s omething s er i o u s l y a t fault w i t h a s o c ie t y , s o m e t h i n g t h a t w i l l i n t h e e n d d e s t roy u s , if p o v e r t y t h a t i s v o l u n ­ tarily chosen is nowhere celebrated as a good. No other s t andard i s t oday s e t again s t t h e p u r s u i t of w e a l t h a n d p o s s e s s i on s . From t h e m o m e n t a t which t h e c h i l d b e g i n s t o r e c e i v e t h e m e s s ag e s f r o m t h e s o c ie t y around i t , i t i s s u b j ec t t o t h e c o n t i n u a l p r e s s ure o f g r o u p a t t i t u d e s t h a t tell it that i t will be j udged only by succes s , and that i t s s u c c e s s w i l l b e m e a s ured l argely b y i t s a c q u i s i t ivene s s . N o o t h e r m o d e l i s s e t b efore i t . T h e c a l l t o a l i fe o f p o v e r t y in t h e N e w T e s t am e n t i s p a s s e d over in s i l e n c e and e m ­ barras s m en t . This p u r s u i t o f w e a l t h and p o s s e s s i o n s , w h e n c o n ­ d u c t e d w i t h s u c h s i ng l e m i n d e d n e s s a s i t i s i n o u r s oc i e t i e s , c o n s t a n t l y d i s t r ac t s u s f r o m s p ir i t u a l t h i n g s a n d n o t l e a s t from t h e s p i r i t u a l s i d e o f o u r n a t u r e s . There i s n o t o n e p e r s on w h o sets too high a s t ore b y w e a l t h and p o s s e s s i o n s w h o i s n o t c o ar se n e d b y t h em . We use words t h a t m a k e this Avarice s e e m n e c e s s ary and even laudable. W h a t c a n b e wrong w i t h earn i n g s , w i t h wages

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and s a l a ri es , with profi t s and w i n n in g s , w i t h m a k i n g money l e g i t i m a t e l y ? A n d o f c o u r s e there i s nothing wrong w i t h t h e m , as l o n g a s w e d o n o t a l l o w t h e m to p r e o c c u p y us. T h i s i s t h e s in t h a t t h e avaric i o u s c o n fe s s t o D a n t e . " O u r e y e s w o u l d never s e e k t h e h e i g h t , I B e i n g b e n t on e a r t h l y m a t t e r s , " s o t h a t " l o v e of a l l true g o o d w a s q u en c h e d in u s I B y avari c e , a n d o u r w o r k s w e r e l e ft undone . " Their p u n i s h m e n t in p u r g a t o ry is t h a t t h e y m u s t remain p r o s t r a t e w i t h t h e i r e y e s b e n t t o t h e e a r t h . " He aven h a s t u r n e d o u r b a c k s t o H ea v e n , " t h e y cry . Adh a e s i t p a v i m en t o a n i m a m e a , they p r a y , " M y s ou l cleaveth to t h e dust." W e a r e in d anger in o u r affl u e n t s o c i e t i e s o f d e s t roying our h u m an i t y a s Midas c a m e n e a r t o d o i n g . W h e n h e was granted o n e w i s h b y B ac c h u s w h o m he h a d p l e a s e d , h e a s k e d t h a t everything t h a t h e t o u c h e d m i g h t b e t urned t o g o l d . B u t finding t h a t t h i s m a d e h i s food u n e a t a b l e , h e had t o a s k t h a t t h e g i ft b e t a k e n a w a y . I t i s n o t f o o d t h a t we t u r n t o g o l d , b u t m u c h e l s e t h a t we n e e d t o n o u r i s h o u r h u m a n i t y ; our p u n i s h m e n t m a y indeed b e t h e o p p o s i t e o f that o f M i d a s , t h a t it i s o n l y our w e a l t h t h a t w e are at l a s t a b l e t o s w a l l o w . C r a s s u s " t h e R i c h " w a s k i l l e d in a b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e P art h i a n s , in which t h e ir k i n g Hyrode s , k n o w i n g o f t h e n o t o r i o u s avarice o f C r a s s u s , ordered that m o l te n g o l d b e p o u re d down h i s t h r o a t . W e fe e l that there i s n othing t o b e s aid for M i d as in myth, or for C r a s s u s in h i s t or y , that there was a p r of o u n d inhumani­ t y in t h e ir A v a r i c e ; y e t i f only w e would l o o k a t o u r s e l v e s , w e w o u l d f i n d t h a t w e are n o t f a r fro m their condition. The i m age s of A v a r i c e , pagan o r Chri s t i a n , are n e v e r a t t rac t i v e . F o r w h a t we f i n d in Avarice- and w h y s h o u l d we think t h a t w e m a y e s c ap e i t ? - i s s e l f- l o v e i n o n e of i t s m o s t perverted form s . B eing in l o v e w i t h o u r s e l ve s , we s e e o t h er p eo p l e a n d thing s , n o t a s t r u l y themselves and o t h e r than u s , b u t a s o b j e c t s that w e a b s orb into o u r own p e r s o n a l i t i e s . W e in fact k i l l t h e life in everything we

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t o u c h , j u st a s M i d a s a s k ed the p o w e r t o d o . I t s h o u l d n o t b e forg o t t e n t h a t we c a n b e avaric i o u s f o r p e o p l e , m ak i n g t h e m re fle c t i o n s o f ourselve s , w i s h i n g t o a b s orb t h e m i n t o our e m p i r e , forcing t h e m t o a c k n o w le d g e t h e i r d e p e n d e n c e , m a k i n g p o s s e s s i o n s a l s o o f t h e m . A s often a s n o t this is d o n e b y apparent acts o f k i n d n e s s , b y b e i n g t o o s ol i c i t o u s o f the w e l l - b e i n g o f a n o t h e r , a s i f he or s h e i s i n c a p a b l e o f s u r v i v i n g or even o f b ei n g w i t h o u t o n e ' s i n t e r e s t and s u p p o r t . T h e t e l e p h o n e c an b e a n i n s t r u m e n t o f t h i s A v a r i c e f o r o t h e r s : " I am j u st c al l i n g t o s e e h o w y o u are g e t t i n g o n . " B u t t h e y are n o t c al l i n g t o s e e h o w o n e i s g e t t i n g o n , t h e y a r e c a l l i n g t o s ay t h a t one c a n n o t g e t on w i t h o u t t h e m . T h e y are s e arching f o r o b j e c t s , s omething e l s e t o add t o their h o a r d . I n the s e l a s t few paragrap h s , m o v i n g f r o m the deceit o f merchan t s , a s t h e P a r s o n c a l l e d i t , t o t h e d e c e i t o f fri e n d s , w e c a n s e e h o w all-encomp a s s in g A v a r i c e i s a s a s i n . T h i s o u g h t n o t t o s u r p r i s e u s . A s in all o f the s i n s , t h e s e lf-love o f P r i d e i s n e v er f a r t o t r a c e , d r a w i n g e v e r y t h i n g round i t s elf, and in Avarice t h i s s e l f-love tak e s a p ec u liarly o d i o u s and perverted for m , s o t h a t we m a k e o b j e c t s of all w e touch. This i s t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n i t s m at e r i a l and e m o t i o n a l a c q u i s it i v e n e s s . " I f you exalt t h e o b j e c t s o f y o u r l o v e u n t i l y o u r p i c t u r e i s a fal s e one; if you i d e a lize them , " s a i d G e r a l d V an n ; " i f y o u p r o j e c t u p o n them y o u r own ideal s e l f , t h e n y o u are lov­ ing n o t a r e a l p e r s o n b u t a dre a m . " The dream of c o u r s e is o f and for o n e s e l f, t h e fan t a s y o f o n e ' s o w n e g o t i s m , and this i s n o less the way in which t h e a v a ri c i o u s p e r s o n p r o j e c t s h i m s e l f on h i s p o s s e s s i o n s . At t h e he art o f A v a r i c e i s the e v i l o f w a s t e . M o s t o b ­ v i o u s l y t h e r e i s t h e s q u andering o f the P r o d i g a l S o n . W e feverishly p u r s u e w e alth t o d a y , d e s t r o y i n g o u r own l i v e s and those o f o t h e r s in t h e p r oc e s s , o n l y t h e n t o w a s t e i t . I n s ay ing things l i k e t h i s , o n e i s n o t b e i n g a niggard. T h e r e are p l e a s a n t t h i n g s t h a t are n a t u r ally

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d e s irable , as Aris t o t le s a y s , and there are o t h e r s t h a t are n o t . B u t there are m a n y that are i n t e r m e d i a t e between these two, and we are n o t t o b e blamed for l i k i ng o r d e s ir­ i n g t h e m , b u t o n l y for liking t h e m t o exce s s . I t i s n o t only o u r own resources t h a t we waste, w h e n we p u r s u e them b e y ond a reasonable e n d , we w a s t e also t h e r e s ou r c e s o f o u r s o c ie t i e s and o f c o u r s e of n a t u r e . We t u r n even t h e b o u n t i fu l g o o dn e s s o f c r e a t i o n , a s it i s given t o u s in n a t u re , into a mere o b j e c t t o s e rv e u s , an a s se t t o feed our i l l u s i o n s o f se lf-im p o r t a n c e . F o r t h ere is, a s has often b e e n said, something i l l u s ory i n p o s s e s si o n s them s e l v e s . W h a t i s i t t h a t w e p o s s e s s i n p o s s e s si o n s? "You can't t a k e it w i t h you," a s t h e s aying g oe s , and u n l e s s it i s s o m e t h i n g o f p e c u liarly p e r s o n a l v a l u e t o o n e s e l f and t o h i m , w h a t d o e s i t r e a l l y m e a n t o p a s s i t on t o a n heir? A l l t h a t o n e p o s s e s s e s in a p o s s e s s i o n i s s e c u r i t y o r s t a t u s o r p r e s t i g e , a n d although they m a y i n d ifferent degrees c o u n t for something, t h e p u r s u i t of t h e m through p o s s e s s i o n s i s usually s elf-defe a t i n g . T h o s e w h o too o b s e s s iv e l y s e e k s e cu r i t y , for ex a m p l e , w i l l usually b e m o re i n s e cu r e than m o s t . I t i s i n d e e d a v a i n s o l a c e t h a t w e l o o k f o r in worldly things. Bu t l e t u s t u rn t h e idea o f waste on i t s h e a d . The P a r s o n in h i s t a l e points o u t t h a t J u d a s complained o f w a s t e when J e s u s a n n o i n t e d M a g d a l e n . H er e i s w h a t might at firs t s e e m t h e sharp e s t c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e Prodigal S o n , t h e o n e i n t e n t o n s q u andering h i s p o s s e s s i o n s , t h e o t h e r i n t e n t on h o arding t h e m . B u t j us t a s t h e y are t h e o p p o s i t e e v i l s o f Av aric e , p r o d i g a l i t y and illiberality, s o here they are t h e reverse sides o f t h e s ame c o i n . Nei t h er of t h e m gives. The Prodigal Son does n o t g i v e b u t w a s t e s . J u d a s i s u n w i l l i n g t o g i v e at a l l . Ari s t o ­ t l e i s q u i t e c l e a r t h a t t h e prodigality i s a l e s s er e v i l t h a n the il lib erality , b e c a u s e t h e fir s t i n c l u d e s at l e a s t s o m e g e n e r o u s imp u l s e and n e e d s o n l y t o b e b r o u g h t under c o n t rol and d ir e c t e d t o proper e n d s , w h e r e a s t h e il-

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l i b e r a l i t y i s e v i d e n c e of a s t i n g in e s s of heart t h a t is h ard to c o rrec t . The fac t remain s that in both of them i s a lack o f givin g . There i s n o giving i f o n e d o e s n o t l o v e t o w h o m o n e give s , and only s o d o e s one l o v e w h a t o n e giv e s . B u t h o w can s u c h l o v e g r o w if what o n e h a s t o g i v e i s a c q u ired b y A v a r i c e ? P au l's s t a t e m e n t t h a t "The l o v e o f m o n e y i s t h e root o f a l l e v i l " is u s ua l l y t a k e n t o o l i gh t l y . H e i s warning against t h e t w o fu n d a m e n t a l evils of Avarice: t h a t the means t h a t o n e uses t o acquire o n e ' s p o s s es s i o n s are all t o o l i k e l y t o b e s i n fu l in t h e m s e lv e s , a n d t h a t when the p o s s e s s i o n s are o n c e a c q u ired t h e y become t h e means t o c o m m i t e v e r y other s i n . Between t h e s e t w o t e m p t a t i o n s and c o m p u l s i o n s t h e r e i s very l i t t l e t i m e or r o o m t o l o v e what i s other than o n e s elf. I t h a s b e e n s aid b y s ome s c h o l a r s that the true tran s l a t i o n o f the text s h o u ld be: " I t i s e a s ie r for a r o p e t o g o through t h e e y e of a needle t h a n f o r a rich m a n t o enter i n t o t h e k i n g d o m of G o d . " Whatever i t s t e x t u a l a c c u r a c y , the i m a g e i s s t r o n g . For i n order t o g o through the eye o f the n e e d l e , t h e s t r a n d s o f the r o p e w o u l d h a v e t o b e frayed a w a y , u n t i l t h e r e i s n o m o re t h a n a thread , a n d i t i s t h i s fray ing t h a t A v a ri ce c a u s e s in us. There i s n o t h i n g o f us left t o g i v e , j u st a s w e have l e ft n o t h ing o f t h e g o o d s w e h a v e t o giv e , and n o one whom w e h a v e left w h o l e t o whom t o g i v e . Avarice lays waste o u r ent ire w o r l d . J u s t a s he s aid t h a t an avaricio u s m a n w o u l d remain a v a ri c i o u s even if h e cast h i s r ic h e s into t h e sea, s o S p i ­ noza added t h a t " i f a l u s tful m a n i s d o w n c a s t , b e c a u s e h e c ann o t f o l l o w h i s b e n t , h e d o e s n o t , o n t h e g r o u n d s o f a b s t en t i o n , c e a s e t o b e l u st fu l . " T h e trap c l o s e s t i g h t , in e i t h e r c a s e , because l o v e h a s b e e n cast out, and without love n o m a n i s free . " O n l y free m e n are t h oroughly g r a t e fu l one t o another," s ay s S p in o za a g a i n , and his words d r i v e h o m e , for what w e h a v e b e e n d e sc r i bing all along in Av arice i s b ondage, i n w h i c h o u r h u m a n i t y i s so

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reduced that w e might a s well b e in t h e t o m b . T h o s e w h o h a v e s e e n t h e e x h i b i t i o n of T u t an k h am e n ' s t re a s u r e s m u s t in t h e end f i n d s o m e t h ing g h a s t l y i n i t . W e t h i n k o f t h e b o d y o f the k i n g sealed w i t h h i s r i c h e s f o r a l l t h o s e c e n t u r i e s i n a d ark and airl e s s c h a m b e r . W h e n it i s opened , h i s b o d y h a s d e c o mp o s e d , b u t t h e g o l d a n d the a l a b a s t e r have k e p t their s u b s t a n c e and form , a n d g l i t t e r a s b r i g h t l y a s e v e r . W h a t i s a b s e n t f r o m t he m i s the k i n g h i m s e l f. T h e y t e l l u s of h i s maj e s ty - i n o t h e r w o r d s , of h i s s t a t u s - b u t t h e y tell us n o t h i n g o f t h e m an . They are r e l i c s o f a c iv i l i z a t i o n in w h i c h , under the s w ay of i t s c o s mol ogy and b e l iefs , the k i n g w a s a s d e p e r s o n a l i ze d a n d dehum anized a s h i s s u b j e ct s . W e l o o k b a c k at t h e t re a s u r e s ; w i t h a l l t h e i r b r i l l i a n c e a n d a r t t h e y a r e d e c a ­ d e n t a n d m e an ingle s s . W e t h i n k a g a i n o f t h e k i n g among h i s t re a s u r e s - an obj e c t o n l y , b u r i e d a m o n g o t h e r ob­ j ec t s . I t w a s they t h a t survived. Perhap s w e h a ve g o n e to the exh i b i t i o n in s u c h large numbers b e c a u s e w e are l o o k i n g at s om e t h ing we c a n u n d er s t an d : at the c o n t e n t s o f a tomb from w h i c h , w h e n the s t o n e w a s r o l l e d away , i t w a s the o b j e c t s and n o t t h e m a n t h a t r o s e a g a i n , in which the man h ad b e c o m e t h e m o s t l i fe l e s s of a l l t h e o b j e c t s . If w e l o o k s tr aightforwardly at o u r s o c i e t i e s now, h o w c a n w e deny t h a t t h i s i s an image o f u s ?

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G L UT T O NY

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WATCH A G L UTTO N O U S m a n a t h i s food . H i s napkin i s t u c k ed i n h i s c o l l a r a n d s p r e a d a c r o s s h i s p a u n c h , a n n o u n c i n g t h e s eriou s n e s s of t h e b u s i n e s s in which h e i s engaged . Hi s bulging fa ce and p o p p i n g e y e s a r e fix ed on h i s p l a t e . O n l y o c c a s i on a l l y d o e s he look u p at h i s c o m p a n i o n s w i t h a g l a z e d l o o k . H i s m o u t h h a s o n l y one fun c t i o n , a s an orifi c e i n t o which to p u s h h i s fo o d . N o w a n d t h e n h e may g r u n t at w h a t s om e o n e has s a i d . O t h e r w i s e h e s t u ffs . H e i s l i k e a hog at i t s s w i l l . H e m a y ignore h i s c ompan ion s ; b u t t h e y c a n n o t ignore him . Even if they c a n avert their e y e s from the s p e c t ac l e - t h e s w a mp in h i s m o u t h , where the t i d e e b b s and flo w s , t h e s e e p age f r o m i t s c or n e r s - t h ey are un able t o b lock their ears to the noise. H e sucks each s p o onfu l through his teeth a s if it were t h e S a rg a s s o Sea. H e d o e s n o t chew his meat b u t champs and chomp s , c r u n c h e s and craunche s . He c r a m s , gorge s , w o l fs . a n d b o l t s . H e m ight a s well b e a l o n e . As w i t h a l l t h e s i n s , G l u t tony m ak e s u s s o l i t ary. We place ourselves a p a r t , even at a table of s haring. T h i s solitude t o w h i c h t h e sins c on d e m n u s i s partly a r e s u l t o f t a k i n g s om e t h i ng in our l i v e s , w h i c h h a s it s a p ­ propriate p l a c e and v a l u e , and then l i f t i n g it out of p l a c e and exaggerating i t s i m p o r t a n c e t o u s . I n t h e e n d , i t i s n o l o n g e r a p a r t of our l i v e s b u t t a k e s t h e p l a c e of l i v i n g . A v a r i c e d o e s this with p o s s e s s i o n s , L u s t w i t h s e x , and G l u t t ony does it with food. B u t in t h e p r o c e s s a d i s t o rt i o n t a k e s p l a c e . A v a r i c e i s more i n t e r e s t e d in p o s s e s s ing than in t h e p o s s e s s io n , L u s t in s e x u a l a c t i v i t y t h a n i n s e x u a l fe e l i n g , and G l u t t o n y i s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in eating

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than in the fo o d . I t i s t h e a p p e t i t e s in them selve s , and their n ee d for gratific a t i o n , that t ak e over one's life , and t h e o b j e c t of each a p p e t i t e , which might in i t s e l f b e p l e as ­ i n g , i s s u b m erged in the inordinate d e s ire for i t . The food on t h e p l a t e o f t h e glutton i s n o t really t h e s o u r c e o f pleasure to him. J o hn M a s e field p l a c e d t h e g l u t t o n w it h t h e i d l e r a n d the f o o l a n d s aid t h a t t h e charact e r i s t ic o f a l l t h r e e i s a " c a re l e s sn e s s o f l i fe and b e a u t y . " G l u t t ony d o e s n o t find any b e a u ty in foo d . I t s t a s t e and c o l o r d o not i n t e r e s t h i m . H e d o e s n o t c ar e h o w i t i s arranged a n d not v e r y m u c h h o w it i s c o o k e d . F o o d can a n d s o m e t i m e s o u ght t o b e a n e n c h a n t m en t . I t c a n p l e a s e o u r eye s , b efore it p l e a s e s o u r t a s t e , a n d it m a y p l e a s e u s even i n m e m o r y . F o r n o n e o f t h i s d o e s t h e g l u t t o n c a r e . I f a d i s h t h a t is a s b e a u tifully arranged as it h a s been e x c e l l e n t l y c o o k e d is brought t o t h e t a b l e-p erhap s with i t s s a u c e b r o w n e d s o d e l i c a t e l y , a s Virginia W o olf o n c e d e s cr i b e d a s u c c u l e n t m e a l , t h a t i t i s fle c k e d l i k e t h e s i d e o f a d o e - t h e g l u t t o n d o e s n o t e x ­ c l a i m t h a t it a l m o s t s e e m s a p i t y t o s p o il i t . H e w a n t s only t o g e t h i s hands o n i t ; i f h e c o u l d have h i s own way, probably t o g e t them i n t o it. The ridge of grape s d o w n the b a c k o f a s ole v e r o n i q u e u n d e r t h e i r c o v erlet of d ap p led s a u c e m e a n as little t o h i m a s t h e s u b t l e fl avor o f the s h a l l o t s and t h e white w i n e in which t h e fi sh w a s c o o k e d and f r o m which t h e s a u c e h a s b e e n m a d e . H e m i g h t a s well eat at a t r o u g h . T h e r e i s a sinfulne s s in a l l o w i n g an appe t i t e t o m a k e o n e s o i n d i ffere n t t o b e a u t y , t o give n o t h o u g h t t o d e l i c a c y a n d graci o u s n e s s ; a n d e v e n a w a y from t h e t a b l e , t h e g l u t t o n i s s t ill a b o o r , a s unappreci at ive of a p a i n t i n g o r a p i e c e o f m u s i c , a p o e m o r s i m p l y a j ew e l , a s h e i s o f h i s fo o d . H e w o u l d g r u n t i f s h o w n a G r e c i an u r n . H e h a s n o s e n s e o f w h a t i s only i t s el f and s o i s irrep l a c e a b l e . N o t even h i s f o o d i s p r e c i o u s t o h i m . W h e n w e s ay t h a t t h e g l u t t o n m ak e s a p i g o f h i m s elf, we d o n o t m e an o n l y t h a t he h a s h i s t r o t t e r s in h i s s l o p , b u t t h a t t h e r are s t delicacy

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c a n b e s e t b e fo r e h i m , and i t w i l l s t i l l be t o him o n l y s l o p . G l u t t ony d o e s n o t g i v e a p ar t i c u l a r v a l u e t o anything i t c o n s u me s . I t d o e s n o t s a v o r . I t o n l y d e v o u r s . A l t h o ugh the g l u t t o n eats v or a c i o u s l y , he does n o t even e a t with g u s t o . One would never s a y o f him t h at h e has a h e a l t h y app e t i t e . J u s t a s e ach o f the s i n s i s l e a s h e d w i t h o t h er s , s o o u r k no wledge of o n e i n f o r m s o u r k n o w ledge of the r e s t . There i s a d i sregard o f b e a u t y in a l l o f the s i n s . T h i s m a y b e o n l y a n o ther w a y o f s ay i ng t h a t t h e y a r e a l l l o v e l e s s . N o t s e e i n g wh at i s t h e O t h e r , w i t h o p e n e y e s a n d o p e n h e a r t , they d o n o t s e e what i s b e au t i fu l in i t . M o r e o f u s are b linder than w e think . B u t i t i s worth s t i c k ing f o r the m o m e n t t o the p r e c i s e point. T h e sins d o n o t l e t u s s e e and appreciate what i s b e au t i fu l . Pride i s offe n d e d b y b e a u t y i n a n y t h i n g b u t i t s e l f. Envy c a n n o t b e a r t h e s ight o f i t . A n g e r w i l l d e s t ro y it if i t c a n n o t p o s s e s s i t . S lo t h s im p l y d o e s n o t h av e the s p i ri t or the en ergy t o e n j o y b e a u t y . A v a r i c e s e e s in t h e Other's b ea u t y only i t s own refl e c ­ t i o n . Lu s t think s that i t s e e k s and fin d s b e a u t y b u t n e v e r k n o w s how t o b e p l e a s e d b y i t . G l u t t o n y a l s o h a s t h i s failing, a n d the u g l in e s s o f o u r p i c t u r e of t h e g l u t t o n i s o n l y a mirror o f the u g l i n e s s t o w h i c h he r e d u c e s a l l t h a t he t o u c h e s . A g l u t t o n d o e s n o t e v e n k n o w h o w t o l i c k a n ice c ream c o n e a n d l e a v e it t o t h e v e r y end s t i l l an i c e cream cone. I f f o o d a n d d r i n k c a n and s o m e t i m e s s h o u l d b e a n e n c h a n t m e n t , t h e y are a l s o n ec e s s ary t o our e x i s t e n c e . G l u t t o n y and Lu s t are the o n l y s i n s t h a t a b u s e s om e thi n g that is e s s en t i a l t o o u r s u r v i v a l . I t seems right that they s t and t ogether. A d i s r e s p e c t for food is a d i s r e s p e c t for creation, for the g o o d n e s s and bounty of it , for w h a t h a s b e e n p r o v i d e d t o s u s t ain u s a s a p a r t o f i t - n o t o n l y a s a part of i t , b u t a s the only s p e c i e s w i t h s o m e degree o f m a s tery ov er i t , and s o with a s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o i t . N o n e o f t h i s c r o s s e s the m i n d o f the g l ut t o n . H e d o e s n o t

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r e s p e c t h i s food; h e is n o t even grat eful for it . O n e c a n n o t i m a g i n e him s aying g r a c e b e f o r e a m e a l , w h i c h i s a prayer of t h a n k fu ln e s s for life and n o t m e r e l y for t h e food w e are about to eat. G l u t t ony i s p articu larly a sin agains t t h e re s t o f c r e a t e d t h i n g s , again s t w h at w e n o w r a t h e r fee b l y call our environm e n t . B u t f e w o f u s t od ay s a y g r ac e . W e t ak e for gran t e d , n o t merely a s u ffic iency o f foo d , b u t a p le n i t u d e of i t : w h a t n o t s o l o n g ago , in t h e lifetime o f many , w a s c o u n t e d a s a b l e s s i n g . A grace w a s n o t only a prayer of t h an k fu l n e s s . I t b e s t ow e d o n o u r f o o d s o u r s e n s e that t h e s e a l s o are a part of cre a t i o n , t h a t they are G o d ' s t h i n g s t h a t w e e a t , o u t o f h i s b o u n d le s s g o o d n e s s t o u s , and t herefore w i t h all the m o re r e a s o n t o b e t h a n k fu l and for us to h o n o r t h e m . O n e m i g h t s m i l e at t h e E n g l i s h h e adm a s t e r w h o , w h i l e the B a t t l e of t h e A t l a n t i c w a s ragin g , p r o n o u n c e d t h e benediction b e f o r e l u n c h : " F o r w h a t w e are a b o u t t o receiv e , t h a n k G o d and t h e B r i t i s h M e r c h a n t N a v y . " B u t t h e incongruity m a d e i t s p o i n t . T h a t t h eir fo o d w a s preci o u s , t h a t it c a m e t o t h e m , n o t as a right , b u t as a privilege, t h i s e v e r y s ch o o l b o y c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d , e v e n though t h e r a t i o n s w e r e s cant and u n ap p e t iz i n g , and t h e h e a d m a s t e r w a s c e r t ainly e ating b e t t er b e hind t h e i r backs. The a m o u n t and v a r i e t y o f foo d s t h a t w e n o w e x p ec t t o find , at all t i m e s of day and night , i n our s upermarket s and go urmet s h o p s , r e s t au r a n t s and c a fe t e r i a s , and e v e n in o u r health food s t o r e s , i s w h a t w o u l d in t h e O l d T e s t a ­ m e n t have b e e n c alled an a b o m i n a t i o n u n t o t h e Lo r d . In s aying s o , o n e is n o t being an a s c e t i c , and c er t a i n l y n o t highmindedly rec ommending a s c e t i c i s m t o o t h e r s , e s ­ p e c i ally w h e n it i s n o t o n e ' s o w n b e n t . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g depraved in i t s e l f in h aving s u c h an a m o u n t and variety o f food availab le t o a l arge n u m b e r o f p e o p l e , a n d w e c a n ­ n o t n o w m a k e it u n av a i l ab l e , u n l e s s w e c h o o s e t o m anage o u r s o c i e t i e s l i k e East Berlin. I f fru i t s a n d vegetables can b e fl o w n from coast t o coast, even c o n t in e n t t o c o n t i ne n t ,

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all the y e ar r o u n d , at p r i c e s that enough p e op l e c a n af­ ford, they will be flown fro m c o a s t to c o a s t , c ontinent to continen t , all t h e year round. Li fe ought n ot t o be k e p t drab a n d g r a y , i f it c a n b e m a d e varied a n d c o l orfu l . B u t we n e e d t o b e on g u ard. W e enj o y n o t j u s t an abundance o f foo d s in o u r affl u e n t s o c i e t i e s , b u t a s u p e r abundance o f them, wh a t S h a k e s p e are in Coriolan u s c a l l e d "enough, with over-m e a s u r e . " Waste is a s i n a n d , in s o m e ways, i s a branch o f all t h e s in s . There i s i n G l u t t ony a w a s t e , n o t o n l y o f w h a t w e c o n s u m e , b u t o f our e n e r g y in c o n s u mi n g it. The p r o b l e m with this overm e a s u r e , a s with all exce s s , i s that i t m a y e n s lave u s , t h a t i t i s a l m o s t c er t ain t o d o s o . Here w e n o w a r e , released from t h e p r e o c c u p a t i o n o f wondering whether w e will e a t t o m orrow , fro m t h e m o n o t ony o f d i e t s that will n o t v a r y m u c h fro m day t o d a y for m o s t o f o u r live s , r e l e a s e d even from t h e b o n d a g e o f t h e p e as an t woman t o h e r s t o c k p o t , and what d o w e d o ? We r e t u rn t o the s l avery o f t h e k i t c h e n , b u t n o w t o m a k e a fe t i s h o f i t . We have b e c o m e a b s u r d l y i n t e r e s t e d in o u r food . W e think , read, w o rry , t alk a b o u t i t . W e e x ­ p e c t i t t o b e t o o f o o l p r o o f a n ou r i s h m e n t - o f o u r s p i r i t s a� w e l l as o u r b od i e s - t o enc hant u s t o o c o n t i n u o u s l y . O u r a t t i t u d e t o it i s a l s o i d o l a t ro u s . W e h ave m ad e o f o u r food a g o l d en c a l f. " W e a r e w h a t w e e a t , " w e u s e d t o s a y g l i b l y , b u t n o w w e s e e m t o b e l i eve i t . F o o d is t h e miracle drug b y which we set most s t ore. There i s m o r e addi c t i o n to the i c e b o x than t o the m e d i c i n e c h es t . This i d o latry h a s i t s s c r i p t u r e . F o r e s t s m u s t die t o p r ovide p a p e r for t h e c o o k e r y b o o k s t h a t s p i ll endle s s ly fro m the p u b lishing hou s e s each y e a r . The 1 9 74 - 7 5 S u p p l e m e n t t o Books in Prin t had 1 9 3 e n t r i e s u n d e r C o o k e r y ; in t h e 1 9 7 5 - 76 v o l u m e t h e re w e r e 208; and 1 9 7 fol l owed the n e x t y e a r . Even allowing f o r t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f a f e w t i t le s , t h e f i g u r e s are h ard t o b e l ieve , for t h e s e are new b o o k s that w e r e p u b l i s h e d or announced in t h e years in q ue s t i o n . S at iated b y Th e Ea t i n g Rich Cook book we

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may turn t o S t a p le s , Delicacies & Curios i t ies from t h e Earth 's Hum ble K i t c h en s . There i s Th e Pre s byterian Lad i e s Cook book and the l o f t i e r We G a t h er Toge t h e r : A

Coo k Book of Men u s & Di s h e s by t h e Wi ves of B i s h o p s of the Episcop a l Ch u rch , and in t h e s a m e r e l ig i o u s v e i n , there i s als o the u n a b a s h e d Coo k i n g w i t h G o d , a c o l l e c ­ tion o f r ec i p e s f r o m t h e N e a r E a s t . When w e h av e h a d our fill o f Love a t First Bite - t h e r e i s c l e arly s ome s t r a i n o n a u t h o r s and p u b l i s h e r s t o f i n d t i t l e s for s o m any w o r k s in the s ame limited fi e l d - w e c a n move on t o Th e Art of Coo k i n g w i t h Love a n d Wh e a tgerm . And of course t h e r e are t h e g u i d e s t o e ating p l a c e s . Tho s e w h o have e x ­ h a u s t e d Th e Und ergrou n d Gou rmet can g r a d u a t e t o Th e San Fra ncisco Un dergr o u n d Gourme t . W he the r or n o t o u r t ab l e s g r o a n with fo o d , o u r k i t c h e n s h e l v e s groan with b ook s a b o u t it. They are often now the only l i b r ary in a h ou s e . I n t h e p a s t d e c a d e and a half, Craig C la iborne h a s p r e s ented u s with h i s old t e s t am e n t , h i s new t e s t am e n t , h i s a p o c ry p h a , and h i s exege s e s and commen tarie s on h i s original t ex t s . From Th e New York Tim e s C o o k B o o k in 1 96 1 , to Th e New York Ti mes Men u Cook Book in 1 96 6 , to Cra ig Cla i born e 's Kitchen Pri mer in 1 96 9 , t o Coo k i n g w i t h Her b s & Spices in 1 9 70 , t o Cla s s i ca l French Coo k i n g in the s a m e y e a r , t o Th e New York Times Intern a t io n a l Coo k Book in 1 9 7 1 , t o Th e Ch i n e s e Cook book i n 1 9 7 2 , and at last t o Cra ig Cla i born e 's Fa vorites from the New York Ti m e s in 1 9 7 5 , which he t o p p ed w i t h Cra ig Cla i borne 's Not e books from t h e New Yor k Ti mes a y e ar l a t e r . M u s t o n e not marvel at the indu s t ry and t h e ing e n u i t y ? W e cannot b e t o o s olemn a b o u t i t . But w h e n we think of t h e g e n e r a t i o n s t h a t w e r e c o n t e n t w i t h a s ingle b o o k from M r s . Beeton, o u r i n t e r e s t t od a y in what w e p u t in our s t o mach s seems e x c e s s i v e , even t o t h e p o i n t of lunacy. An inv i t a t ion to dinner has, in m a n y cases, b e c o m e a hazard. W h a t u s e d t o b e a s o c i a b l e o c c a s i o n h a s b e e n t u r n e d i n t o a f o r m of sol i t u d e . The hos t e s s o r h o st- for

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when t h e y t ak e u p c o o k i n g a s a fin e art , m e n are t h e w o r s t offe n d e r s - w i l l h a r d l y b e with t h e i r g u e s t s . T h e y will b e in t h e k i t c h en . B u t that i s n o t al l . T h e g ue s t s in turn are h ardly p e r m i t t e d t o be with each other. A s each c o u r s e is b r ought to t h e table, it m u st b e t as t e d , d i s c u s s e d , e a c h ingredient t ol d , t h e m e t h o d o f p r e p ar a ­ t i o n rec o u n t e d at lengt h , p r a i s e d , v a u n t e d : l i t e r a l l y a d n a u s ea m , w h i c h i s n o t the effect t h at g o o d e a t i n g is m e a n t t o p r o d u c e , except in some d i s t ant c u l t u re s . All other c onversation i s merely an entract e as t h e r e a l drama unfolds with each d i s h . T h i s i s n o l e s s a f o r m of s olitude than t h a t of the glutton at his trough. A l l com­ panionship i s destroyed. T h e g u e s t s might a s well h ave s t ayed at h o m e and read The Art of Fren ch Cooking, or w a t ched J u l i a C h i l d whip u p a s ouffl e on t el e vi s i o n . At l e a s t they w o u l d not have had to a p p l a u d h e r . In the dep artment s t ores , the c ooking ware u s e d t o b e in t h e b a s em en t , a f e w n e c e s sary i t e m s o f k i t c he n e q uip­ men t , b u t n o w it spills over o n e o f the m a i n floors, t aking u p more and m or e r o o m e a c h year, e v e r m o r e elaborately d e s igned and ever m ore e x p e n s i v e . I t i s n o w a l m o s t im­ p o s s ib le t o buy a r o l l ing pin t h a t i s j u s t a rolling p i n ; and if one is l u c k y enough t o find o n e , it will b e in an antique s h o p for t h irty-five dollars a s an o bjet d 'a r t for one's m a n t e lpiece or b o o k shelv e s . (The b o o k s are i n the kitchen, t h e kitchen e q u ip m e n t i s on t h e b o o k s h e l v e s . ) There i s n o t h ing wrong w i t h t h e d e signing o f functional things s o t h at t h e y will a l s o b e b e a u t i fu l , but there is s om e t h ing very wrong in the exaltation of merely u s efu l things t o o b j e ct s o f f a l s e vener a t i o n . T h e k i n d o f c o ok in g w are t h a t i s n o w a v a i l a b l e in s uc h profu s i o n i s again an e x p re s s i o n of i d o l a t ry : These are the b e a u t iful t hings with which w e w il l reverence t h e g o l d e n c al f of our food . For it is not t h e food it s e l f , a fit and e st i m a b l e t hing in i t s p l ac e , t h a t intere s t s t h o s e w h o e x a l t it . T h ey turn it i n t o s omething t h a t it i s not and rep l a c e o t h er w o rt hwhile t h i n g s w ith it.

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It may be agreed t h a t our o b s e s s ion w i t h e ating i s one of the m o s t wide spread expres s i o n s of idolatry in our age , but w e u su a l l y think of gluttony a s so u nsightl y and bloated t h at few of u s t oday may seem guilty of i t . O n the o n e hand, there are t h e d i e ters a n d calorie c o u n t ers ; on the o t h er , t h e addict s o f health foo d s . N o o n e now s e e m s able t o r i s e in t h e m orning and g o out t o m e e t t h e w orld without stepping on t h e b athroom s c a l e s . These may seem t o reflect a s el f- denying ab s t em i o u s n e s s , but there i s G l u t t ony in a l l of them. [ F a s t i d i o us n e s s in eating is regarded in t h e o l o g y as j u s t as much a fault of t h e sin as excess in it . ) E ac h of t h e m s h o w s an inordinat e int ere s t in e a t i n g , even t h ough i t m ay a p p e ar to be in not eating. They make t h eir own fet i s h of e a t i n g , n o less t h an the g l u t t o n with w h om w e are more familiar. They are j u s t as o b s e s s e d with t heir foo d , even if their a t t ention i s fixed only on a raw c arrot and a prune; and t h e i r r efrigerators and t h e ir l arders t e l l , n o t merely o f t h e t im e , b u t of the energy and t h e anxiety t h a t they g ive to t h e most natural of fun c t i o n s . I t is w o r t h w a t c hing t h e o b s e s s ive d i e t er s . T h e y are c o n s t an t l y going to t h eir refrigerat o r s , p e r h a p s more than any one else, even when it i s not y e t t i m e for their ration s , c ou n t ing w h a t i s there, making s u r e t h at n o t one item is m i s sing of w h a t h a s b e c ome s o precious to them. They gaze on the m o r s e l s , fondle them , even rearrange them, each in its sack , all lovingly known and enumerat e d . From hour t o hour t h ey return to make an in­ ven t ory . When i n extre m i s , they c o u n t t h e s p i n ac h leave s . B u t at l a s t t h e b e l l ring s . It i s m e a l t i m e . S alivating like P avlov's d o g s , they s c u rry t o t h e kitchen t able with a s t i c k o f c elery , a r a d i s h , a s p o onful of c o t t age chee s e , and a dried apricot for d e s sert . Watch t h e m a s they eat . They devour their delicacies j u s t as t h e c onve n t i o n a l g l u t t o n s u c k s u p h i s b ou i l l ab a i s s e . T h e i r e y e s a l s o are fix e d on their p l at es . They o c c u p y t h e rest o f their d a y s b y reading and

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thinking a b o u t f o o d . There m u s t b e s o m e n e w regimen t h a t they should b e following, o n e m o r e impurity that h a s b e e n d i s c overed in t h e endive . W h e t h e r t h e y are e at i n g or n o t , their m i n d s are o n their f o o d and w h a t t h e ir fo o d is d oing t o t h eir b o d ie s . (Their o b s e s si o n w i t h it i s d e s t r oying t h eir mind s , b u t t h a t d o e s n o t b ot h e r t h em . ] W h a t i s t h e r e t o s a y about s i x seg ment s o f orange on a bed o f dandelion leave s , o n e m a y a s k , b u t o n e s h o u l d n o t undere s t i m a t e t h e inventiv e n e s s of an a b s orbing i n ­ tere s t . F r o m s o unpromising a beginn ing , an entire d i s ­ c o ur s e w ill b e d eveloped o n t h e r e l a t i v e d angers and b e n e fi t s o f c y a n o c o b alamin, t h i am in e , p an t o t henic a c i d , rib o flavin, g l u c o s e , dextro s e , dextro-glu c o s e , s u c r o s e , g a l a c t o s e , m e l ib i o s e , h emoglobin, lecithoprotein, c y t og l o b i n , and ( fo r it m u s t n o t b e for g o t t e n ] p h o s p h o am in o l i p i d e . T h e r e i s n e i t h e r t im e nor n e e d t o t a lk of anything e l s e . The i n t e r e s t i s gl u t t o n o u s a n d , as with all for m s o f G l u t t on y , the end i s s o l i t u d e . For n o n e o f t h e ac tivity n e e d s a c o mp anion . T h e d r i v i n g m o t i v e o f the d i e t e r i s again a n inordin a t e self-l o v e . T h i s is n o l e s s t r u e of t h e addic t s of h e al t h fo o d s , a s t h e y e x c laim at t h e w h o le so m e n e s s o f a s a s s afras n u t or hymn e c s t at i c al l y t h e savor o f a s u nfl o w e r s e e d . They a l s o may n o t s e e m to be g l u t t o n s in t h e c o m m o n s e n s e , yet their int e r e s t in t h e i r e a t in g i s again a form o f G l u t ­ t o n y . I t is d i s p r o p ortionate a n d u n n a t u r a l . T h e r e i s a great d e a l o f t h e fas tidiou s n e s s of self-love in i t . A c r e a t urely thing i s m agnified b e y o n d i t s a c t u a l s ign ific ance and m ad e s om e kind o f expre s s i o n o f o n e s e lf . O n e of t h e p l e a s u r e s of foo d , a s e v e n t he o l og y a d ­ m i t s , i s t h at it offers o c c a s i o n s f o r s o ci al i n t e r c o u r s e . B u t i t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s t h at is r e fu s ed b y t h e d i e t e r s a n d a d ­ dict s o f health f o od s . Eating i s their o n e s t ap l e o f i n t e r e s t and c onver s a t i o n . B y g i v i n g t o food a fal s e v a lu e , they a l s o rob it o f it s r e al value . In c on t r a s t to t h e m and t o the m o re fam il i ar glutton, the gourmet t h i n k s and t al k s very little a b o u t h i s food , e x c e p t a t t h e m oment of p r e p aration

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or appr e c i at i o n . At t h e g o u r m e t ' s t a b l e o n e n o t i c e s the fo o d , e x p re s s e s a brief a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e s a v o r , and e x ­ pands a b o u t o t h e r things . This o b s e s s i o n w i t h one's food is a refl ec t i o n of a n o b s e s s ion with o u r b o d i e s . I t i s a n o t h er k i n d o f whiffling activity , a way of filling in t h e time for p e o p l e who now have m o r e l e i s u r e t h a n t h e y k n o w h o w t o use, an ar­ t i fi c i al interest for t h o s e with too few real int ere s t s . C o n ­ versation about dieting has merely taken the place of c o ffee k la t c h e s , which anyh ow c a n n o longer b e held u n ­ l e s s the c offee i s caffe i n e - fre e . O n e k n o w s f r o m o n e ' s own e x p e r i e n c e t h at t h o s e w h o t a k e t o o f a s t i d i o u s an i n ­ tere s t in t h e m s e l v e s s e l d o m have t h e t i m e or the inclina­ t i o n t o t a k e m u c h i n t e r e s t in any o n e else. T h e y are c o n ­ s u m ed w i t h s e lf- l o v e . W h e n their e y e s are n o t o n the bathroom scales, t h e y are on the mirror. They s e e m t o c arry inv i s ib l e m irrors w i t h t h e m , a n d c o n s t antly t o b e c o n s u lt i n g t h em e v e n as t h e y l o o k s t raight at o n e self. The o l d a d a g e , " A little o f what y o u fancy d o e s y o u g o o d , " m e ant t h a t o n e a t e w i t h o u t fu s s , a n d h a d d o n e w i t h it . Eating w as put in i t s p l ac e . O n e inhab i t s one's b o d y , w i t h o u t it s b e i n g a p r i s o n , and t u r n s t o t h e world. We c an b e glut t o n s for p u n ishment , a s w e s a y , and w e c a n b e g l ut t o n s for w o r k . W e c a n a l s o b e g l u t t o n s for y o u t h fu lnes s , and at the root of the e x c e s s i v e i n t e r e s t in dieting there i s a fear of aging . There is in fact a fear o f dying. W e can b e g l u t t o n s for life . W e s h o u l d of c o u r s e l o v e life , b u t i t a l s o m u st b e given i t s a p p r o p r i a t e valu e . W e m u s t b e prepared t o s ac rifice i t f o r s o m e purp o s e s , which d o e s not m e a n only in a h e r o i c deed , b u t b y a s k i n g our b o d i e s s o m e t i m e s t o a c c e p t an u n u s u a l s t r a i n , for which they w ill have to p ay a p r i c e . The p e ople w h o s e fac e s are u n l ined aft e r a c e r t ain age are p e o p l e whom we d i s tru s t . T h e y have done nothing t h at cost them anythin g , suffered n o t h i n g , and w e s u sp e c t t h a t in t h e end they are n o t h i n g . The b e au t y t h at t h e y have s o c arefully p r e s e r v e d w o u l d c r u m b le at a t ou c h . I t h a s n o t

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been m a d e w i t h o t h e r s or for o t h er s . T h e face lift is a m a s k , p e r h a p s t h e m o s t grote s q u e of a l l ; age i s t o b e denied , e v e n w h i l e t h e grave w a it s . O u r age i s glu t t o n o u s for drugs . " T o u s e narc o t i c s i n s m a l l d o s e s and only o c c a s ionally i s a v e n i al s i n i f d o n e w i t h o u t suffi c i e n t r e a s o n . . . . T o u s e d r u g s i n greater q ua n t i t i e s so a s t o lose the u s e o f o n e ' s reason i s i n i t s e l f a m o rt a l s i n ; but f o r a g o o d r e a s o n [ a s in t he c a s e o f a n operat ion] it i s p e rm i s s i b l e . " T h i s i s t h e d i s criminating language of theology. I t i s a s a form o f G lu t t o n y that drug-taking i s c o n d e m n e d , and o u r t o le r a n c e of it i s a part o f our t olerance of G l u t t o n y . O u r affl u e n t s o c i e t i e s m a k e t h e m m o r e a v a i l a b l e t o u s t h a n e v e r b e fore , and we s n a t c h them u p l i k e t h e fo o d s at the s u pe r m a r k e t . Taking drugs in e x c e s s i s regarded a s a g r i e v o u s s i n , b e c a u s e t h e y m a y c a u s e s e r i o u s h a r m t o o n e ' s h e a l t h and b e c a u s e t h e y a r e l i k e l y t o d e p r i v e o n e o f t h e u s e o f o n e ' s reas o n . W h e n e v e r y experiment h a s b e e n t ri e d , a n d e ve r y apologia h a s b e e n offe r e d , t h e r e i s n o way of denying that drugs , a s t h e y are t o d a y used i n o u r s o c i e t i e s , are damag­ ing on b o t h c o u n t s ; only a society t h at h a s grown l i s t le s s a b o u t i t s m e m b e r s , abo u t i t s o w n fut u r e , a n d a b o u t the c o n t in u an c e of t h e h u m an e n d e av o r , could b e s o i d l y ac ­ q u i e s c e n t in their w i d e s p r e ad and m a lign ant u s e . The y ou n g d r u g- t ak e r s in t h e 1 96 0 s h a d a p o i n t w h e n t h e y s ai d that t h e y h a d t a k e n t h e i r fir s t l e s s o n s fro m their p ar en t s ' m e d i c i n e c a b i n e t s . P ill-p o p p i n g t o d ay i s a part of t h e m id d l e - c l a s s w a y o f l i fe , and b efore t h o s e w h o i n d u lge in it p r o c e e d t o a daily s e r i e s of " u p p e r s " a n d "downer s , " t h e y h a v e already a c q u ir e d t h e habit f r o m the i n d i s c r i m i n at e p r e s cr i p t i o n o f drug s , oft e n for t h e m o s t m i n o r a n d e v e n imagin ary o f a i l m en t s . There i s a l e v e l o f p a i n t h at w e ought t o b e able a n d w i l l i n g t o e n d u r e , if the only a l l e v i a t i o n i s t h e t o o-re a d y use o f dru g s , which either reduce our v i t al i t y o r artificially s t i m u lat e i n w a y s t h a t a l s o lead t o p h y s i c a l a n d n e r v o u s p r o s t r a t i o n . W e

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may le arn fr om p e o p l e w h o are s u fferin g from t e r m i n a l c ancer. T h e y oft en d e c i d e t h a t s o m e of t h e p ai n i s w o r t h e n d u r i n g , r a t h e r t h a n s u rr e n d e r wh at p r e c i o u sly r e m a i n s o f t h e i r l i v e s t o s o c om a t o s e and i n s e n s ib l e a s t at e t h a t even t h e y d o not k n o w t h e m s e l v e s a n y l on g e r and i n fac t m ig h t j u s t a s w e l l not b e l i v i n g . I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e m , t h e r e are n ormally h e a l t hy p e o p l e w h o d e a d e n t h e m s e l v e s w i t h m e r e a s p i r i n , r a t h e r t h a n l e t a h e ad a c h e t a k e it s c o u r s e , and w h o m o n e s u s p e c t s o f s o m e t i m e s i n d u c i n g h e a d a c h e s in t h em s e l v e s a s an e x c u s e for t ak i n g yet m o r e a s p irin . T h i s i s G l u t t o n y , and i t i s w h o l l y r e a s o n a b l e tha t , a m o n g t h e foods a t o u r s u p e r m ark et s , t h er e s h o u l d b e a n a r r a y o f n o n p r e s crip t i o n drug s , merely for t h e p i c k ­ i n g . W e w r i t e o u r o w n Rx f o r the d r u g s w e w ant a n d p a y for them with the Rice Krispies . O f a l l t h e glutt o n s , perhap s t h e m o s t evident i s , a n d a l w a y s h a s b e e n , t h e h a b i t u a l drunk ard . P a u l s a y s i n h i s e p i s t l e t o the G al a t i a n s t h a t d r u n k e n n e s s i s n u m b e r e d a m o n g t h e s i n s t h a t e x c l u d e f r o m h e a v e n , a w arning t h a t o n e i s u nfort u n at el y apt t o overlook at t h e very m o m e n t when it i s m o st n e e d e d . The d r u n k ard i s condemned because h e also " d e p r i v e s h i m s e l f o f t h e use o f r e a s o n , " a n d b e c au s e h e " m a k e s h i m s e l f r e s e m b l e t h e irr a t i o n a l b r u t e b e as t , d e s t r o y i n g i n h i m s e l f t h e l i k e n e s s t o G o d . " For t h e s i n t o b e g r i e v o u s t h e d ru n k e n n e s s m u s t b e h a b i t u a l , a n d t h e l o s s o f r e a s o n " sh o u l d b e t ot a l a n d c o n ­ tinuous for some time." These discriminations draw a t t e n t i o n , not only t o t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a w h ol e h u m a n n a t u re t h at t a k e s p l a c e , b u t t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s i n of Gluttony i s w il l e d , a s are all t h e s i n s , t h a t when w e t a lk of h a b i t u a l d r u n k e n n e s s w e are n o t t a l k i n g of in­ advert e n c e , o f s om e t h i n g we c a n n o t h e l p d o i n g . W e o u gh t n o t t o s p e a k t o o e asily o f drun k e n n e s s , or o f any o f t h e o t h e r form s of G l u t t ony , a s o n ly or always a s i c k ne s s . There m a y b e p h y s i c a l and e v e n p s y c h o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s t h at m ak e s om e p e o p l e m o r e liable t h a n others t o take drink or drugs too heavily, or be more

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s u s c e p t ible t o t h e m , b u t b y far t h e g r e a t e r p art of G l u t ­ t o n y among u s i s w illful. T h e w o r d " al c o h o l i c " s h o u l d b e r e served f o r t h o s e w h o , l i k e t h e k le p t o m a n i a c , are p o w erle s s to refrain from what they are d o i n g . By t h i s t e s t we are n o t j u s t ified in regarding e v e n all h a b i t u a l d r u n k a r d s a s alcoholic s . The maj o ri t y o f glut t o n s , in­ c l uding the h a b i t u a l d ru g - t ak e r s and drunk ard s , meet the definit ion of sinning: t h a t "there m u st b e b o t h advertence t o t h e e v i l and free c o n s e n t t o i t . " W e t oday h a v e t o o m any p sy c h o l o g i c a l e x p l a n a t i o n s t hat d e s t r o y t h e very i d e a of o u r w i l l , and i t i s o n e o f t h e v a l u e s o f t h e i d e a of s in t h a t it e m p h a s ize s , in t h e w o r d s of H e nr y C ar ­ d i n a l M anning, t h a t t h e r e i s " t h e k n o w le d g e o f t h e i n ­ t e l l e c t o f w h a t w e a r e d o i n g , [ and] t h e c o n s e n t of t h e will in d o i n g i t . " "Gluttony t e n d s t o b e , on t h e whole , a w arm- h earted and companionable s in , " s ay s Dorothy S ayer s , " often r esulting from , and in, a m i s t aken notion of g o od­ fellowship . " O n e o f course knows what she means and d o e s not wish t o come down w i t h a heavy h a n d o n any e n j o y m e n t . B u t i t m u s t b e remembered t h at she h e r s e l f s a y s t h a t t h e n o t i on f r o m which G l u t t ony s p r i n g s i s m i s ­ t a k e n , and in t al k i n g o f t h e s i n w e are ( as w i t h all of them) talking of e x c e s s . A s w e h a v e s ee n , G l u t t o n y may m a k e use of t h e o c c a s i o n s of c o m p ani o n s h i p , b u t i t d e s tr o y s t h e m . T h e g l u t t o n o u s m a n at h i s s w i l l , t h e d i e t e r s w h o are fretful a b o u t t h e i r e a t i n g , t h e p e r s o n w h o i s s t o ne d , t h e drunkard w h o d i s ap p e ar s i n t h e b o t t le­ t h e y are all people w h o r e m o v e t h e m s e l v e s fr o m any c ar ­ ing for o t h er s , e v e n f r o m t h e i r c o m p a n i o n s at t h e m o ­ m e n t , a n d w h o in f a c t r e m o v e them s e l v e s from t h e c o n ­ c e r n t h a t o t h e r s f e e l f o r t h e m . I t i s b e c a u s e it s o m i s u s e s w h a t o u g h t t o b e e n c h a n t m en t s t h at G l u t t ony s e e m s s o perverted a n d d i s g u s t ing a form o f s elf-l o v e . We h a v e s ai d t h a t i t i s p articu larly t h e s i n a g a i n s t the rest o f c r e a t ed th ings . I t i s o u t o f G l u t t o n y , which i s in-

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t e n t on c o n s u m i n g , m ore t h a n o u t of A v a r ic e , w h i c h i s m a i n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n p o s s e s s i n g , t h a t w e e a t u p t h e raw m a te r i a ls and natural resources of t h e e a rt h . The glut­ t o n ' s c o n t e m p t for the bounty o f c r e at ion is refle c t e d i n e a c h o f u s and in o u r s oc i e t ie s , in t h e i n s at i ab le a p p e t i t e w i t h which w e b urn u p " all t h i n g s bright and b e a u t iful" that have been p r o v i d e d for o u r w e l l - b e i n g . " O nly i n s o far a s a m a n r e m a i n s fully s e n s i t ive , o p e n , receptive , a n d , indee d , v u l n e r a b l e t o h i s environmen t , " s a y s W i l l i a m F . M a y , " d o e s h e r e c k o n with it i n i t s fu l l d i v e r s i t y a n d s p l e n d o r . " It i s t r u e t h at we n o w s e e m t o b e alert t o t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f our e v il - d o i n g i n t hi s r e s p e c t , b u t it i s o n l y w h e n s om e p a r t icularly v i l e d e s ec r a t i o n of cre a te d t h i n g s c an n o longer b e ignore d , or w h en w e are abruptly c onfron t e d w i t h t h e imminent s h o r t a g e of s o m e raw material o n which w e have relied, in other words when our o w n s t an d ard of living i s threat e n e d . Our e s s en t i a l d e p r a v i t y remain s . E n c o u r ag e d a n d p r o v o k e d b y our s oc i e t i e s , we s t ill wish t o consume a s if t h e y are n e c e s s i t ie s , n o t o n l y more and m o r e l u x u r ie s , b u t more and more elaborate ones, each o f which c a n i n t h e e n d b e e n j o y e d o n l y b y r e c k l e s s l y d e p l e t i n g t h e natural resources of o u r w orld . What is m o r e , w e c on s u m e m o s t , p er h ap s , s im p l y b y o u r w a s tefulne s s . I f w a s t e i s at t h e h e art of S l o t h , it i s a t t h e h e a r t a l s o of G l u t t o n y . W e d i s c a r d c l o t h i n g b e fore i t i s worn o u t . O u r d r a w e r s are fu ll o f s w e at er s and s h irt s , our c l o s e t s o f s u i t s and d re s s e s , w o r n for a s e as o n , i f at all, and then a s for g o t t en a s i f they had never b e e n b o u gh t . O f all t h e food t h a t i s s e t b efore u s , i n s t o r e s and r e s t aurant s , and w h i c h we b u y for o u r o w n use a t home , an u n t h i n k a b l e a m o u n t g o e s i n t o t h e t r a s h c a n or d o w n t h e garbage d i s p o s a l . The p ackaging i s i t s e l f a f o r m o f w a s t e . B u t t er c o m e s t o u s i n r e s t auran t s a n d cafeterias w i t h a p i e c e of c a r d b o ard beneath the slice and a p i e c e o f p a p e r on t o p of i t . B o t h t h e c a r d b o a r d a n d t h e p a p e r a r e m a d e from s o m e t h in g t h a t h a s i t s o w n v al u e . S u g a r i s n o t

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s erved t o u s in b o w l s b u t in p a p e r s at c h e l s . Cream d o e s not c o m e in j ug s b u t i n p l as t ic t ub s . J el l y is not in a b o w l b u t in a p l a s t i c c o n t ai n e r . A f t e r a fam i l y o f f o u r h a s breakfast at a r e s t au r an t , t h e t ab l e i s a l i t t e r of e m p t y a n d half-emp t y c o n t a i n e r s o f p a p e r and p l a s t i c t h at , m u l ­ tip lied s everal m i l l i o n t i m e s a d ay , amount t o a v i c i o u s w a s te of t h e r e s ou r c e s f r o m w h i c h t h e y are manufac­ tured. The p a c k a g i n g in turn m a k e s it m ore and m or e diffi c u l t t o b u y the e x a c t a m o u n t or q u an t i t y o f w h at ever w e w a n t . I f w e n e e d s e v e n one-inch n ai l s , w e have t o purchas e a p a c k e t of three d o z e n , t w o d ozen o f which are o f l e n gt h s for which w e have n o u s e , and five of t h e o n e ­ inch n a i l s w e d o n o t n e e d . Strawberries are i n b a s k e t s wrapped in c e l l o p h a n e , s o t h a t w e c an n o t w ei g h t h e e x ­ act amount t h a t w e w an t . W e m ay w ant t h r e e h a n d k e r c h ie f s ; w e h ave t o b u y a p a c k e t of s ix . Eve n t h e c h i l d c an n o t g o i n w i t h i t s n i c k e l a n d b u y a n i c k e l ' s w o r t h o f c andy . I t m u s t b u y as much a s t h e m anufacturer h a s d e c i d e d is c on v e n i e n t and profitab l e t o p a c k age a n d s e l l . There w a s f a r l e s s w a s t e in t h e old g ro ce ry , hardw are s t ore , h a b erd a s h e r y . and of course t h e general store. But o u r w a s tefuln e s s h a s b e c o m e a w ay of life . I f our Avarice m a k e s us b u y w h a t w e d o n o t need, w e are forced b y our o w n G l u t t o n y and b y our glu t t o n o u s societies t o buy m ore t h an w e w a n t , e ven o f wh at w e d o need, a n d a w h o l e p s y c h ology o f p l e n t y s e t t l e s w i t h o u t any challenge i n t o our de e p e s t b e i n g . W e begin n o t t o t h i n k what w e m e a n b y a high s t andard o f living . There is n ot h i n g in itself w r o n g w i t h a high s t andard of l ivin g . The most urgent t as k that fac e s u s i s t o e n s u r e that m o r e p e o p l e throughou t t h e w orld and i n o u r o w n s oc ie t i e s are a b l e t o e n j o y o n e . B u t i t b e c o m e s t o o e a s y t o c onfu s e a h igh s t an d ard o f l iving w i t h a m e r e g r e e d f o r t h e g o o d t h ings o f l i fe , and ab ove all a n ex­ c e s s ive i n d u lgen c e in b odily c omfort s . We c an n o t b u t be damaged b y o u r t olerance o f t h i s greed . U n c o n s c i o u s l y ,

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we b e g i n t o p u t first what ought t o b e l a st . La b i a m ea Dom i n e . . . is t h e prayer of t h e g l u t t o n o u s in purgat ory: "0 Lor d , open t h o u m y lip s , and m y m o u t h s h a l l show forth Thy prais e . " T h e appropriaten e s s of t h e prayer i s t h a t i t r e m i n d s t h e m t h a t the m o u t h w a s m a de f o r other things than eat ing and d r i n k i n g . W h e n w e l e t G l u t t on y grow in u s , it i s t h e s e other things t h at w e forget . D ante m a k e s a t el l i n g leap fro m o u r everyd ay G lu t t o n y to Adam's and Eve's e at i n g o f t h e a p pl e . F o r there i s s om et hing e l s e in it a l l . T h e r e i s i n t h e s i n o f G l u t t o n y , not l e a s t i n i t s w a s t e fu l n e s s , t h e s i n o f in­ gratitude . T h e praise t h a t we should show forth t o G o d s h o u l d i n p a r t b e a p r a i s e o f t h a n k fu l n e s s . B u t , a s w e h a v e s ai d , t h e g l u t t o n d o e s n o t s ay g r a c e , a n d neither d o many of us. Nor does the glutton show much thanks at t h e tab le o f h i s h o s t or h o s t e s s . Ing r a t i t u d e i s o n e of t h e m o s t mean-minded c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s e l f- love . I t m a k e s life charmle s s . I t w it h h o l d s r e c o g n i t i o n f r o m o t h e r s a n d what they d o u s u ally s elfle s sl y t o p le a s e . I f one s t o p s t o think for a m o m e n t , o n e realizes t h a t t h e r e i s ingratit ude in all the s i n s . P r i d e c a n n o t see anyt h i n g for w h i c h i t o u g h t t o b e grat e fu l . Envy i s u n a b l e t o b e grateful for w h a t i t h a s . A n g e r never s t o p s to t h i n k t h at p e rha p s i t h a s r e a s o n f o r grat i t u d e rather t h a n f o r i r e . Avarice i s never g r a t e fu l for h av i n g j u s t w h a t i t n e e d s . S lo t h h a s n o t t h e e n e r g y t o b e g r a t e fu l . Lu s t fee l s n o g r a t i t u d e t o t h o s e w i t h w h o m it l ie s . B u t i t i s i n G l u t t o n y t h at w e c a n m o s t c le arly find t h i s m e a n n e s s o f s p ir i t , a n d f e e l m o s t i m ­ mediately t h e c u t t in g o f f o f a l l c o m m u n it y , s i m p l y b y t h e i n a b i l i t y t o b e t h ankful t o o t h er s . I t is t o o e a s y t o d i s m i s s G l u t t o n y i n a l l i t s forms a s n o more than a r e l a t i v e l y harmles s o v e r i n d u l g e n c e i n w h a tever w e c t·av e . It s origin s a n d it s effe c t s a r e f a r m o r e s e r i o u s t h a n t h a t , otherwis e i t w o u l d n o t b e included among t h e d e ad l y s in s . W h e n w e t h i n k i n t he e n d o f the g l u t t o n , o n e o f o u r s t r o n ge s t impre s s i o n s i s of h i s t e d i u m . He d o e s n o t j u s t l a p s e i n t o t o r p o r a t t h e m o m e n t o f h i s

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gro s s s at i a t i o n ; h i s l ife i s i t s e l f one of t or p o r from which h i s indulge n c e i s an e s ca p e . The a t m o s ph e r e at a Roman banq u e t w a s o n e of b o r e d o m and t h e attempt t o e s c ap e from i t , of a l a s s i t u d e t h a t n e v e rt h e l e s s h a d s o m e t h i n g d e sp e r a t e about it , a n d the s am e i s h ar d l y le s s true o f t h o s e whom w e m a y s e e t od a y d i n i n g extravagantly night after n ight . A l l h a s p al l e d ; all is j a d e d . But if we think that t h i s t e d i u m t ou ch e s o n l y t h e wealthy, w e are guilty of the s in of thinking t h a t w e d o not sin. There i s a general tedium in t h e p rofu s i o n of our affl u e n t s oc i e t ie s . We may n o t all h a v e o u r faces b uried i n o u r s w il l t o e s ­ c ap e i t , b u t w e all have t h e m b u r i e d in s o m e overri c h n e s s o f indulge n c e , s o m e a c t i v i t y t h a t w i l l merely t ak e our m i n d s o ff our e m p t i n e s s . The Glut t on y o f o u r own age-including t h e drug­ takers w it h t h e i r " u p p e r s " and "d own er s , " a n d t h e inor­ dinate interest o f t h e dieters in w h a t t h ey eat-has a t le a s t a p art of i t s c a u s e , p e r h a p s e v e n t h e m a i n part , in the boredom o f o u r s oc i e t i e s . W h e n t h er e i s so much t o d o , when s o m u c h i s s p r e a d before u s f o r o u r t i t i l l a t i o n , s u r e ­ ly we s h ou ld n o t b e b o r e d . Yet it i s a l l s o d i s s a t isfying, with n e i t h e r purp o s e n o r d e e p rew ard . G l ut t o n y i s a grie v o u s s i n , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o logy , if it i n d u c e s u s t o find all our c o n t e n t m e n t i n t h e gratifying o f o u r app e t i t e s . B u t t h i s i s t od a y a l m o s t all t h at o u r s o c i e t i e s offer u s , t h e o n l y s t r e n u o u s ne s s o f a c t i v i t y t o w h i c h we are e x c i te d . We a r e l e ft w i t h a hollow at o u r c or e , a sink­ ing feeling in o u r s p i r i t s from d ay t o d a y , and w e r e s o r t to the device o f t h e g l u t t o n in h i s p r i v a t e lif e , o n e w h i c h i s well k n o w n t o t h e p sy c h i a t r i s t in t h e p at ie n t w h o over­ eats a s a c om p e n s a t i o n for s om e e m o t i o n al lac k . W e will fill and s tuff o u r e m p t i n e s s , even if it is o n l y b y che w i n g r a v e n o u s l y o n a r a w c arro t . W e a r e b e c o m i n g a breed o f j un k ie s . I f o u r s oc i e t i e s a r e fou n d e d o n Avarice , t h e s t at e t o which t h e y r e d u c e us i s G l u t t o n y . W i t h t h e s in already in u s , we d o n ot s t ir ourselves t o r e s i st .

G LU T T O N Y

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L U S T oR LUX URIA

LUST I S N O T i n t e r e s t e d in i t s p ar t n e r s , b u t o n l y i n t h e grat ific ation of i t s o w n craving, n o t i n t h e s at i s fa c t i o n o f o u r whole n at ur e s , b u t o n l y in t h e a p p e a se m e n t o f a n a p p e t i t e t h a t w e a r e u n ab l e t o s u b d u e . I t i s therefore a form o f s elf-s u b j e c t i o n , in fac t , of s e l f- e m p t y i n g . The s i g n it wears is: "This property is v a c an t . " Anyone m a y t a k e p o s se s s io n o f it for a while . Lu st ful p e o p l e m a y think that they c a n c h o o s e a p artner at will f o r s ex u a l gratific a t i o n . B u t t h e y d o n o t r e a l l y c h o o s e . They a c c e p t what i s availab le . Lu s t a c c e p t s any p ar t n e r fo r a m o m e n ­ t a r y s e r v ic e ; a n y o n e m a y s q u a t in i t s g r o i n . I t h a s n o t h i n g t o give , and s o i t h a s n o t h i n g t o a s k . Love h a s m e aning o n l y i n s ofar a s it i n c l u de s t h e i d e a o f i t s c on t i n u ance . E v e n w h a t we r a t h e r g li b l y c al l a l o v e af­ fai r , if it c o m e s t o an e n d , m a y c o n t i n u e a s a memory t h a t i s p l e a s ing in o u r l i ve s ; we c a n renew t h e s e n se o f privilege a n d reward o f having b e e n all ow e d t o k n o w s o meone w i t h s u c h i n t i m a c y a n d sharing. B u t Lus t die s at the n e x t d a w n , a n d when it r e t u r n s in the e v e n i n g , t o s earch where i t m a y , i t i s w i t h i t s o w n p a s t e r a s e d . Love wants to e n j o y in o t h e r ways the h u m a n being whom it has enj o y e d in b e d ; i t l o o k s forward to having breakfa s t . B u t in t h e morning Lus t i s always fur t iv e . I t dre s s e s a s mechanically as it u n d re s s e d and h e a d s s t raight for t h e d o o r , t o re t u rn t o i t '> own s o l i t u d e . Lik e all t h e s i n s , i t a l s o m a k e s u s s o litary . I t i s s e l f- a b d i c a t i o n at t h e v e r y c o re o f one's own b e i n g , a s urrender o f o u r n e e d and a b i l i t y t o g i v e a n d re ce ive . Lu s t d o e s n o t c o m e w i t h o p e n h a n d s , c e rt ainly n o t w i t h an o p e n h e a r t . It c o m e s o n l y w i t h o p e n

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l eg s . Perhaps a b o v e everything-fo r it s e e m s t o s u m ­ marize i t all- L u s t is c h armles s . I t i s c harmle s s w i t h what s h o u l d h av e m o s t charm . Love is involve m e n t as w e l l a s c o n t in u a n c e , b u t L u s t w i l l n o t g e t involve d . T h i s i s o n e o f t h e for m s i n w h i c h w e m a y s e e it t o d ay . I f p e o p l e n o w e n g a g e in i n d i s c r i m i n a t e and short-lived r e l a t i o n s h i p s m o r e t h an i n the p a s t , i t i s not really f o r s om e e x q u i s i t e s e x u a l p le a s ure t h at i s t h u s g a i n e d b u t b e c a u s e t h e y refu s e t o b e c o m e involved and t o m e e t t h e d e m a n d s t h a t love w i l l m ak e . T h e y are a s k i n g fo r l i t tle m o r e t h a n s e r v i c i n g , s u c h a s t h e y m i g h t g e t a t a g a s s t a t i o n . The fac t t h a t o n e may go t o b e d w i t h a l o t o f p e o p l e i s , in i t s elf, l e s s L u s t ' s offe n s e t h a n t h e f a c t t h a t one g o e s t o b e d w i t h p e o p le for w h o m o n e d o e s n o t care , fo r w h o m there is n e v e r any i n t e n t i o n t h a t o n e w i l l care . The charac t e r i s t ic of t h e " s ingles" tod ay i s n o t t h e s e x ­ u a l fre e d o m t h a t t h e y a r e s u p p o s e d t o e n j o y , b u t t h e fac t that t h i s fre e d o m is a d e c e p t i o n . They are free w i t h only a frac tion of their n a t u r e s . T h e fu ll array o f human emotions is h ardly i n v o l ve d . The " s ingl e s bar" d o e s not h a v e an obnoxious odor b e c a u s e i t s c l i e n t s , b e fore the n i g h t i s over, m a y h o p into bed w i t h s om e o n e w h o m t h e y have j us t me t , b u t b e c a u s e they d o n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t , b e y o n d the m orning , e i t h e r of t h e m m a y c are for t h e o t h e r . As they have m a d e d e s e r t s o f t h e m s e l v e s , s o t h e y m a k e d e s e r t s o f t h e i r b e d s . This i s the s in o f L u s t . J u s t a s it dries u p h u m a n beings , s o i t dri e s up h u m a n relationship s . The a t m o s phere in a s ingle s b a r i s o f d r i e d ­ u p , s t ale , uninteres t e d , l e t h argi c , m e c h a n i c a l , u n fe e l i n g , uninvolv e d , u n r e w a r d i n g , t e d i o u s , b oring , l e t ' s - g e t - i t ­ o v e r- w i t h , t o morro w le s s , dull , e m p t y , s e lf- e m p t y i n g sex. The word t h at c o m e s t o m i n d , when o n e t h i n k s o f L u s t , i s " p arche d . " Everyone in a s ingles b ar s ee m s t o h a v e l o s t m o i s t u r e . The one o d o r that i s a b s e n t fro m i t , i n fac t , i s t h e o d o r o f s e x , j u s t a s it i s a b s e n t from a s trip - t e a s e . "Ex­ o t i c n u de s ! " s ay s t h e s i g n outside the shabby b a r . I f o n l y

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t h e y w e r e ! T h i s is p e c uliarly t h e a c h i e v e m e n t of L u s t : t o m a k e t h e fle s h s e e m p arc h e d , t o d e p r i v e i t of a l l r e a l v o l u p t u o u s n e s s of fe e l i n g . Puri t a n s t o o often w o rry about the w r o n g t h i n g s . The o ffe n s e of o u r age is n o t that it excites s e x , b u t t h a t it withers it, takes away all d e w i ne s s fro m i t , s hrivels it t o a h u s k . T h e r e a s o n w h y L u s t often t u r n s t o pervers i o n s i s t h a t t h e fle s h i t s e l f h a s ceased to please it. L u s t is n o t a s in of t h e fle s h s o m u c h a s a s i n a ga i n s t i t . I t i s i n o u r fle s h t h a t w e a r e p r e s e n t t o t he r e s t o f c r e a t i o n , and p a r t ic u l arly w e are p re s e n t i n i t t o e ac h o t h e r , r e v e a l ­ ing and e x p o s i n g , s e n s i t ive t o o t hers and e v e n vulnerable to t h e m , o p e n t o h u r t . When o n e h e a r s p e o p le t alk t o d ay of t h e s e x u a l a c t as if it were rather l i k e e m p t ying one's b l a d d e r , one wishes t o remind t h e m t h a t p e o p l e s t ill g e t hurt . They g e t hurt in t h e i r b o d ie s , n o t m e r e l y from s l a p ­ p i n g s a n d b e at ings , but fro m more s u b t l e h u m i l i a t i o n s o f w h i c h our s e x u al fe elings a r e reg i s t er s . L u s t i s a h u m i l i a ­ t i o n o f the fle s h , of ano t her's and o f o n e ' s o w n ; and i t i s a pervers i t y o f o u r t i m e s t h a t , in t h e n a m e of a fre e d o m t h a t i s d e l u s i v e , we not o n l y tolerate t h i s h u m il i a t i o n , b u t e x ­ alt i t a s a w o nder o f t h e modern age , l i k e t h e light h o u s e at Pharos . A s t u d e n t w h o s ub m i t t e d h i m s e l f t o t he inquiries of Alfred K i n s e y s a i d afterward th at , n o m a t t e r w h a t a n s we r s h e g a ve t o t h e q u e s t i on s , K i n s e y j u s t k e p t o n a s k i n g h i m , " B u t h o w m a n y t i m e s ? " M u c h i n the s a me w a y , we h a v e r e d u c e d l o v e t o s e x , s e x t o the a c t , and the a c t t o a me r e l y q u a n t i t ative m e a s u r e m e n t of it . S e x u a l l o ve can h ave infinite e x p re s s i o n s , n ot a l l of w h i c h n e e d t o b e c o n s u m m a t e d in the a c t , and i t i s t h i s variety of ex­ pre s s i o n t h a t L u s t must a l w a y s d i m i n i s h . It i s n o t o n l y s o l i tary b u t u n i n v e n t i v e in t h e s l a k ing o f it s t h i r s t . Whatever m a y b e s ai d for the s e x u a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t h a t w e n o w p u r s u e a n d read s o avidly , i t c an n o t be d e n i e d t h a t they are rather one-dime n s i o n a l i n t h e i r a p p r o a c h t o

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t h e q u e s tions they r a i s e . "People n o w s e em t o have s e x on their minds , " M alcolm Muggeridge once s a i d , "which i s a peculiar p l a c e t o h ave i t . " Our o b s e s s i o n with s e x is in a fact a misp lacing and trivialization of i t . O u r preoccupa­ tion is s u c h t h at i t h a s n o association w it h t he r e s t o f o u r live s . More than w e c are t o admit, w e have a l l become voyeurs . "We live in an age in which voyeurism is no longer the s ide line o f t h e s o l i t ary d e v i a t e , " write s William F . M a y , " b u t rather a national p a s t im e , fully in­ s t i t u t ionalized and naturalized in t h e mass m e d i a . " Once again the p u r i t an makes t h e m i s t ake of t hink ing t ha t to have s e x c ontinually on view i s an inc i t ement t o it . I t in fact weakens the fe e l ings and passions t h at s e x c a n and should arouse. Pornographic literature and movies d o not incite u s t o s trenuous emulation. O n the contrary, they are s u b s t itut e s , evidence n o t o f the s t r ength of o u r s e x u a l fe elings , b u t of their enfe e b le m e n t . W e can and u s ually d o indulge in p ornography by o u r s e l v e s ; no one e l s e has t o be t h e r e , and w e h ave t o d o n o t hing w i t h even our o wn s ex u al it y , except p o s s ibly t o manipulate o u rselve s . It is a substitute again for involvement w i t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n . I f it m a k e s u s l u s t at a l l , it is not for s e x ­ u a l experience with s o m e o n e else , b u t merely f o r t h e e m p t y cravings and gratific ations of L u s t i t s elf. W e reduce o u r s e lves t o t h e final absurdity: t h at w e will l u s t after Lu s t . Pornography i s another w a y o f c ondemning ourselves t o s o l i t arine s s . I t i s a s such t h a t i t i s a form o f Lust, and as s u c h t h a t i t may be regarded as s inful . But like other forms of Lu s t , it is s inful also because it i s a n atrophying. (Theology condemns w h a t it calls sexu al ane s t h e s ia . } In other word s , it is a form of dying. W h a t is left t o L u s t w h e n i t s cravings at l a s t sub side, as s u b s ide in t h e e n d t h e y w i l l ? I t is alone . I t has d i e d . I t h as made no bonds a n d i s in the d e s e r t t h a t i t h a s made , w it h no l o nger even a craving. I t is in i t s o w n black h o l e , where n o voice can

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reach i t , and fr om which i t s o w n voice c an n o t be heard. I t h a s c o l l ap s e d i n t o nothingne s s . It h a s b u r n e d i t s e l f out . O u r e x c e s s i v e fe ar of o l d age is the fear that m u s t b e e x ­ p e c t e d in a s oc i e t y i n which L u s t h a s b e e n m a d e a dominating m o t iv e . We w o u l d n o t fe ar it s o much if we did n o t fe ar that it would b e emp t y ; and we would not fe ar so much that it will b e empty if we h a d n o t emptied o u r live s alre ady in the p u r s u i t of m e r e cravin g s . I t i s s ign i fic ant t h a t w e s a y we l u s t a fter a p e r s o n or o b ­ j e c t . L u s t is a l w a y s in p u r s u it and e n d s a s empty-handed a s it began. T h i s i s why we have t o c ondemn the character of D o n Juan, even if, again, n o t for the r e a s o n s of the puritan s . T o be intere s t e d o n l y in p u r s u i t and n o t i n the attainme n t , to give s o much of o n e ' s e nergy t o the practice only o f s e d u c t i o n , i s a p r e s c r ip t i o n for making a d e s ert of one's world a n d o n e s e l f . "Promis c u o u s love necessitates hypocri s y , " Chri s t opher Sykes h a s said. " T o p l a y t h e p art o f D o n J u a n , you have t o b e w ard-perfect i n t h a t of Tartu ffe as well . " S u c h h y p o c r i s y is a g a i n a fo rm of s e l f-emp t y i n g . W e b e c o m e o n l y the w o r d s and roles in which we are so ver s e d , a n d at last w e c a n n o t find who we are behind t h e m . We b e c ome only o u r fr o nt s , h ardly more than c ar d b o ard fig u re s . The p l ay o f s e d u c t i o n , i f it i s to be rewarding t o the s e d u c e r as w e l l as the s e d u c e d , r e q u ire s that the whole personalities of each be engaged. I f love is a j ourney into another l an d , a s R e b e c c a West o n c e c alled i t , then s e d u c t i o n ought t o b e p art of a mutual exploratio n , t o s e e if the l a n d may b e entered and enjoyed togethe r . L u s t is incapable o f this p l a y , it i s not intere s t e d in exploring, it d o e s not w a n t to e n t e r any l a n d . Perhaps most te rrib le , it has n o person ality o f i t s own t o b ring to the e n c o u n t e r , w i t h which it may b r i n g i n t o p l a y the p e r ­ s o nality of t h e o t h e r and r e s p o n d fu lly i t s e l f. I f love is c on t in u a n c e and involvement , perhaps i t i s n o l e s s attention , a c o n s t a ncy of g aze o n t h e o b j e c t o f one;s love , s o that one grows to know i t , as other than o n e s e l f ,

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in a l l t h e richne s s and variety o f i t s o w n c haracter. L u s t i s incapable of t h i s c on st an c y ; it h a s n o a t t e n t i o n t o g i v e . The t i me - s p a n o f i t s i n t e re s t i s d e t ermined b y the c l o c k wo rk to w h i c h i t h a s reduced i t s de s ire s . W e s e e m t o b e e m b a rr a s s e d t o t alk t o d a y o f fid e l i t y , t o give i t m u c h o f a preceden c e , e v e n t h ough w e m a y o b s erve a l l around u s t h a t p e ople s t i l l g e t hurt b y u n faithfulne s s . I f w e will n o t s p e a k o f fide l i t y , t h e n perhaps w e c a n t alk of c o n s t a n c y . T h e t r o u b l e w i t h s ex u a l infidel i t y i s t h a t it dire c t s t h e c o n s t a n c y o f our a t t e n t i o n t o s o m e o n e e l s e . W e r e m o v e a part o f o u r g aze , a n d t urn it e l s e where . I n fact we remove a p art o f ourselves a n d give i t elsewhere. What c o m e s b e t w e e n a c ou p le w h e n o n e o f them is u nfaithfu l i s , n o t the o t h e r w o m a n or t h e o t h e r m a n , b u t w h a t n o w c a n n o t b e s hared b y the m . T h i s i s why a n y s e n s itive p e r s o n is i n t u i t ively aware when the other i s being u n faithfu l . He o r she k n o w s a l m o s t at o n c e t h at s omething h a s b e e n w it h d r a w n , t h a t there is s o mething t h a t the o t h e r i s u n a b le t o b r i n g and s h a r e . I f a mere s e x u al a c t were all t h a t is i n v o l v e d , u n ­ fa ithful n e s s w o u l d n o t b e s u c h an e v e r l a s t i ng p r o b l e m . But even i f it is p o s s ib l e t o " h a v e s ex " ( t he phrase i s re vealing ] with s om e o ne e l s e w i t h o u t l oving that pers o n , t h e fact t h a t n o l o v e h a s b e e n b e s t o w e d e l s ewhere d o e s not mean t h a t n o n e h a s b e e n withdrawn . I t is r a r e l y that unfaithfulne s s d o e s i t s d a m age in a s i n g le affair . Its danger i s t h a t it erod e s . Piecemeal it c h i p s away at a rela t i o n s h i p , n o t o n l y at the c o n s t an c y o f o u r l o v e , b u t a t l a s t a t o u r c a p a c i t y t o l o v e . I f not in t h e b e ginning, in t h e e n d it i s a form of L u s t : n o t s o much fo r the o b v i o u s r e a s o n t h a t we w i s h t o engage in s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r p e o p le , b u t b e c a u s e it finally is a n o t h e r w a y o f e m p t ying o u r s e l v e s o f our a b i l i t y t o e x p r e s s and u s e our w h o le n a t u r e s in a relation ship that c om m a n d s our allegi ance . I t e m p t i e s u s o f o u r c ap a c i t y for l o y a lt y , u n t i i we

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become i n c a p a b l e of forming an e n d u r i n g relationship with any o n e individual . O u r rela t i o n s h i p s are frayed from the s t art , l i k e c u t - o ff j e a n s , because we are n o longer a b l e t o d i s c over the u n c o n d i t i o n a l w o r t h o f another h u m a n b e i n g , o r ultimately of o n e s e l f . L o v e re ­ quires s ome e ffort , b u t o u r age e n c o u r a g e s u s t o avoid i t , b y refu s i n g t o g e t involved and w h e n i n v o l v e d t o e s c ape from i t . At the fir s t i t c h o f d i s s a t i s fact i o n , the first rankle o f di fficu l t y , w e c a n s e v e r the knot, w i t h a s l i t t le a d o as p o s s ib l e , and g o to t h e other s i d e o f the fen c e where we know that it will b e greener. This w e a k n e s s o f our a l l e g i a n c e d o e s n o t a f f e c t o n l y our p e r s o na l relation s h i p s . It b e g i n s t o run t h r o u g h all that w e d o . We find that we b e c o m e inc a p a b l e o f giving loyalty to anything. If w e do n o t s e t much s t o r e by being l o y al to those w h o are c l o s e s t t o us, how will w e b e loyal t o the neighbors in o u r s oc ie t i e s for whom w e are also r e s p o n ­ s i b l e ? When p e o p le s a y t o d a y t h a t t h e y are not their brot her's keeper, it i s n o t all c a l l ou s ne s s as such that they are reveali n g , so m u c h as a dimin i s h i n g o f their capacity for l o y al t y , the refu s al t o b e c ommitted t o and re s p o n s i ­ ble f o r o t he r s . T h e y k e e p themselv e s free t o go from whim t o whim , a n s werable to n o b o d y and nothing b u t themselve s . The q u e s t i o n o f a t t e n t i o n i s import ant . W e c an n o t h o p e t o l o v e a p i c t u r e , o r a p i e c e o f mu s ic , o r a p o e m , w i t h o u t g i v i n g it o u r a t t e n t i o n . We n ee d t o "gaze" o n i t , n o t o n c e but again ; t o ret urn t o i t , in d ifferent m o o d s , for different reas o n s ; to let it speak to u s , t o learn how to hear it; to n o t ic e that it h a s m a n y a s p e c t s , that i t is n ev e r quite the s ame , t h at it h a s new t h i n g s t o t e l l . O n ly i n this w a y d o we get t o k n o w it and s o t o l o v e i t f o r w h a t it i s , n o t t o im­ pose o u r s e l v e s on it, t aking from it only w h at we w a n t . T h i s a t t e n t i o n n e e d s n o l e s s t o b e g i v e n t o s om e o n e w e l o v e . T h e g a z e d oe s n ot p e e r , it l e a r n s h o w t o l o o k a n d , learning h o w t o l o o k , learns h o w t o l o v e . K n o w i ng the o b -

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j ec t well, it l e a v e s it s t ill i t s elf. This k i n d of a t t e n t i o n , a b o v e all the g i f t s o f love , n e e d s a c on s t an c y o f s p irit . A s all the s in s fee d e a c h o t h e r , L u s t is fed b y the cravings o f Envy. W e have s aid that Envy believes that everyone s h o u ld be able t o d o and enjoy and experience whatever a n y o n e e l s e c a n do a n d e n j o y a n d experie n c e , a n d perhaps there are a fe w things aft er w h i c h we l u s t m o re t o d a y t h a n the experie n c e s t h at w e h a v e n o t s o far e n j o ye d or e n d u r e d . S in c e L u s t will n ot t ake the time or trouble t o e x p lore o r develop any re l a t i o n s hip t o t h e ful l , n o n e c a n s at i s fy i t ; it w i l l w h i p i t s e l f ( p er h a p s an a p ­ propriate term i n the c on t ex t ) t o t ry a n y t h i n g t h a t w i l l r e ­ v i v e i t s j ad e d feelings . I t i s t i re d o f fe l l a t i o . T h e n it w i l l t r y its h a n d ( h ardly t h e appropriate p h r a s e i n t h e c on t e x t ) at a little s odomy . W e ary o f only one p ar t n e r , it w i l l a d ­ vance t o group s e x . U n sure at l a s t o f it s o w n s exualit y , i t w i l l h a v e rec o u r s e t o b i s e x u a l i t y . W e a r i e d a n d b o r e d b y t h e fle s h , it w i l l c all fo r c h a i n s a n d le ather j a c k e t s . W h o k n o w s whe n , a b a n d o n in g t h e l a s t s hr e d o f it s human i t y , it will turn t o b e s t ia l i t y ? All of t h i s is again often inter­ preted as proof t h a t o u r age i s m o r e s e xu a l l y a c t i v e t h an a n y b e fore , whereas i t is evidence r at her t h a t t h e l u s t ­ fu lne s s o f our t i m e h a s redu c e d o u r s ex u al i t y almo s t t o impotenc e . E v e n i n t h e m o r e restrained w o rk o u t s t h at a r e o u t li n e d in The Joy of Sex , w e r e a d i n s truction s for t h o s e w h o live in a time in which t h e t heme a n d fear o f sexual i m p o t e n c e d o m i n a t e our l i v e s a n d m u c h o f o u r literat u r e . Our s e x ­ u a l i t y h a s b e e n anim alize d , s t ripped o f t h e i ntricacy o f fee ling with w h i c h human b e i n g s h ave e n d o w e d it , leav­ ing u s t o contemplate o n l y t h e a c t , and to fear o u r im­ potence in it . It i s this animalization from which t h e s e x ­ ual manu a l s c an n o t e sc a p e , even w h e n t h e y t r y t o d o s o , b e c a u s e they are refl e c t i o n s o f i t . They m ight b e t e x t ­ b o o k s f o r v e t erinarian s . A l l o f this le a d s i n t h e e n d t o a d e j e c t i o n or s lo t h fu l n e s s o f fee l i n g . W h a t ought t o b e a

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m u t u a l e n c h an t m e n t , s omething n ot on o u r m i n d s b u t springing in o u r w h o l e b e i n g s , i s d r a i n e d of i t s g l a d ne s s . T o s ay t h a t s e x h a s b e e n m a d e h u m o r l e s s i s t o s a y m o r e than m a y at first b e apparent . O u r h u m o r t ow ard e ac h other is o n e of t h e m o s t preci o u s gift s o f o u r humanity , and never s h o u l d it p l a y m o r e delightfully t h a n w h e n w e lie w ith e ac h o t h e r , exp o s e d a n d vulnerabl e , y e t never m ore a t ease than i n t h e c om p l e t e exchange of int eres t and fam i l i arit y . S u c h a p l a y of h u m o r i s s e l d o m t o b e fou n d w ith a stranger, a n d never w i l l i t b e found i f s t ranger merely foll o w s s t ranger t o o n e ' s b e d . I t requires affe c t i o n , fam i l i a r i t y , and u n s p o k e n c o nfide n c e . T h i s h u m o r a n d p layfu l n e s s have e v a p o r a t e d f r o m Lust , a n d t h e s e x u a l m an u a l s m ak e of s e x a w o r k e t h i c . L a b o r at i t , they say. S e x u a l p ar at h e s i a i s a term u s e d b y t h e o lo g y t o d e n o t e various k i n d s of perver s i o n , in w h i c h " se x l ife i s n o t affe c t e d b y v e n e r e a l m a t t er s , b u t b y o b j e c t s altogether foreign t o s ex l ife": s ad i s m and m a s o c h i s m , fet i s h i s m and h o m o s e x u a l it y , t h e l a s t o f which i s also condemned a s the s in of s od o m y . O n e d o e s n o t h a v e t o agree wi t h t h e Church in c o n d e m n i n g h o m o s e x u a li t y a s a s i n , t o s ay t h a t much of t h e a t t r a c t i o n t o i t t o d a y s e e m s t o derive fro m s om e t h i n g t h a t w e have a lre ady o b s erv e d : the w i d e s pread d i s in c l i n a t i o n t o become i n v o l v e d , e s p e cial­ ly i n w h at is i n t e n d e d t o b e a l o n g s t a n d i n g if n o t life l o n g relationship in w h i c h t h e d e m a n d s m a y b e m a n y and s u b s t an t i a l . H om o s e x u a l relationships are i n genera l , a n d generally b y t h e i r n a t u r e , imperm a n e n t a n d do n o t m a k e as m a n y d e m a n d s a s a heteros e x u al r e l a t i o n s hip t h a t exists in t h e c o n t e x t o f r a i s i n g a fam i l y . They in­ e v i t ably bring i n t o p l a y few e r expre s si o n s of o u r per­ s on a l i t i e s than do relationships w i t h t h o se o f t h e other sex. H o m o s e x u a l i t y c arrie s w i t h it s om e of t h e s y m p t o m s o f L u s t a s it h a s b e e n d e s cribed here . I t s r e l at i o n s h i p s a r e n o t n o t ably m a r k e d b y the expectation of i n v o l vement o r c on t i n u a nc e , and there i s e s p e c i a l l y n o t t h e i nvolvement

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that is i n t e n d e d in s h aring t h e t a s k of r a i s i n g a fam i l y . Wha t is inter e s t i n g a b o u t t h e word " g a y " i s t hat i t c e l e b r a t e s a g e n e r a l l a c k o f i n v o l v e m e nt a s w e l l as homosexuality as such . B u t s ad i s m , m a s oc h i s m , and fet i s h i s m are in a diffe r e n t r ealm , and t h e fa s c i n a t i o n w i t h t h e m t oday s u g g e s t s that, j u s t a s t h ey refle c t a h i de o u s e m p t i n e s s in t h e ind i v id u a l s who p r a c t i c e t h e m , they r e fl e c t a n o le s s terrible e m p t in e s s i n o u r s o c i e t i e s . W e h ave s a i d t h a t L u s t is a f o r m o f s e lf-emp t y i n g , b u t t h e r e h a s b e e n an e m p t i n e s s there already . I n n o other s in d o e s o n e fee l s o m u c h o f a v o i d , a n d t h i s void i s n o t only i n s i d e , i t i s a l s o o u t s ide i n the s oc i e t y . T h e r e i s a profo u n d fail ure of our s oc ie t i e s t o m a k e c o n t inuing i n d i v id u al rel a t i o n s h i p s s e e m p art of t h e m u c h wider s oc i a l b o n d s that t i e u s t o t h e m . M arriage and f a m i l y are s t i l l t h e b a s i c u n i t s o f our s oc i e t y , b u t t h e y are weakened, and w e tend t o regard t h e m t od a y a s a m a t t e r only of i n t erpers o n a l rela t i o n s h ip s , r a t h e r t h an as fun d am e n t a l elements o f the s o c i al orde r . T h i s c h a n g e d a t t i t u d e t o m arriage h a s r e s u l te d inevit ably in a c h a n g e d a t t i t u d e t o other p e r ­ s o n a l re lat i o n s h ip s . O u r fa s c i n a t i o n w i t h v a r i o u s forms of sexual p e rv e r s i o n is a direc t r e s u lt of the fact t h at our personal relat i o n s h i p s n o w r e s t only on t heir own s elf­ j u s t ific a t i o n . It i s n ot surprising t h a t , in s u c h a s i t u a t i o n , when it is only o u r e n j o y m e n t t h a t c a n p l e a s e u s , we s a y that " anythin g g o e s . " There is n o m o r e p a t s h i b b o l e t h of o u r t i m e t h a n t h e i d e a t h a t w h at c o n s e n t ing a d u l t s d o i n priv at e i s s olely their own b u s in e s s . T h i s i s fal s e . W h at w e d o i n private h a s reper c u s s i o n s o n o u r s e lv e s , and w h a t we are and b el ieve h a s reperc u s s i o n s o n others. W h a t w e d o in our own h o m e s w ill i n e v i t a b l y affec t , n ot o n l y our own behavior o u t s i d e them, b u t w h a t w e expect and t o lerate in t h e behavior of o t h er s , and what w e e x p e c t t h e rulers o f o u r s oc i e t i e s to t o le r a t e . A c h an g e in m a n ne r s or d i s ­ c i p l in e in the fami l y w i l l n o t l e a v e u n c h anged t h e

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m a n n e r s and d i s c i p li n e in the w i der s oc i et y . I f we blaspheme in privat e , w e w i l l b l a s p h e m e i n p u b l ic . It m a y n o t b e for society t o intervene and punish u s for w h a t w e d o in p r i v a t e - a l t h o u g h it does int erfere if t w o c o n s en t i n g a d u lt s a r e t o be f o u n d m i s t r e a t i n g t heir c h i l d in their own h o m e - b u t t h e idea t h a t w h a t we d o in private is n o t it s c on c ern i s n o n s e n s e a n d danger o u s . S o m e o f the e v i l s t o which t h e o l o g y s a y s t h a t L u s t will give rise are: b l i n d n e s s o f i n t e l l e c t i n r e s p e c t of divine t h i n g s ; prec i p i t a n c y in a c t ing without j u d gme n t ; want of regard for w h at b efit s o n e ' s s t a t e or person; i n c o n st ancy in good; hatred of G od a s an Avenger of s u c h sins; l o v e o f t h i s w orld and i t s p l e a s u r e s ; inordinat e fe ar of d e a t h . Even if we s e t a s i d e t h o s e t h a t are d i r e c t l y c oncerned with our relat i o n s h i p w i t h God, we are still left with the fac t that Lust, n o l e s s t h a n the o t h e r sins, affe c t s our con­ d u c t and at t i t u d e s t o life in ways beyond it s o w n im­ mediate intere s t s . When we remind o u r s e l v e s h o w deep­ ly o u r s ex u a l feelings are regi s t e r s o f o u r w h o l e beings , it is m ere trifling to s ay that o u r s o c i e t i e s ought n o t t o be alert t o the way in which w e enj o y them. "Lust i s a c a p i t a l v i c e , b e c a u s e t h e c arnal p l e a s u r e o f w h i ch w e are s p e a k ­ i n g i s s o a t t r a c t i v e t o t h e maj ority o f m a n k i n d t hat man is led into a l l kinds of d i s ord e r s , in order t o grat ify his fle s h ly d e s ire s . " Which of u s w i l l d e n y it? Our o b s e s s i o n w i t h our sexuality has l ed u s t o deve lop a w h o l l y fal s e , rather s i l l y , and in t h e e n d o b j e c t i o n a b le view o f o u r n a t u r e s . O u r s e x u a l l ife is t a k e n t o b e the measure o f our e n t ire l i fe . I f we are what o u r age c h o o s e s t o d e fine as " s exually irre sp o n s i v e , " w e a r e s ai d t o b e " frigid" or at least a b n o r m a l . Elaine M organ h a d t h e c o urage to w r i t e in t h e New York Tim e s recently- s o u n ­ u s u a l w a s it t o read s u c h v i e w s t h e s e d a y s it s e e m e d like c ourage ! - ab o u t w h a t s he c alled t h e " su b m erged m i n or i ­ ty" of t h o s e w h o are n o t p a r t i c u l arly interest ed in se xu a l a c t i v i t y and may e v e n ( Lord h a v e mercy u pon u s ! ) n o t b e

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interested in it at a l l . " W h a t few p e o p l e [ in t h e s e d a y s ] are gullible enough t o b e lieve in i s virgi n s . W e l l , I believe in them , " s h e said. "They are s t il l arou n d , among b o t h s e x e s , and they are n o t all under t h e age o f fourt e e n . " She reminded us how m a n y p e o p l e in t h e p as t sublimated their s e x u a l energies i n t o work s o f c o n s id e r a b l e achieve­ m e n t o f b e n efit t o o t h e r s a s well a s t h e m s elve s . "Today w e would n o t s a y t h a t t h e s e energies h a d b e e n s u b ­ lim a t e d ; w e w o u l d s ay t h a t they have b e e n inhibite d . W e h a v e t h i s arbitrary c o n v i c t i o n t h a t , i f y o u have the b i o l ogic al c ap a c i t y t o d o s omething a n d y et don't w an t to d o i t , then you are 'inhibiting' y o u r deepest i n s t inct s , and t h i s m u s t b e bad." S h e u n d erlined her p oi n t : "There is no evidence t h a t s e x i s a c a t egorical imperative like food and oxyge n ; and there i s n o evidence that v o l u n t ary a b stentio n from it leads to n e u r o s i s or e m o t i o n a l d i s t u r ­ b a n ce . " T h e m o s t telling thing a b o u t her article w a s the s h o c k o f reading it in t he New York Tim e s under the headline "In D efen s e o f Virgi n s . " S o far h av e w e c o m e . F o r the m ark o f her argument w a s i t s c o m m o n s e n s e . S h e w e l c o m e d t h e i n c r e a s e d s e x u a l t olerance i n o u r age but merely a s k e d that it s hould be ext ended to " b o t h e n d s o f t h e s p e c t ru m , " t o t h o s e w h o prefer n o t t o engage i n s e x u a l ac tivity a s w e l l a s t o t h o s e w h o w i s h t o d o s o . I t i s t h i s gen u i n e t oleran c e and c o m m o n s e n s e t h a t h a v e b e e n v i r t u a l l y ruled out b y t he s e x u a l p rop a g a n d a t o which w e are today s u b j e c t e d , and against w h i c h a l m o s t n o o n e s e e m s t o d are t o r a i s e a voice o u t o f f e a r o f t h e r e t o r t s and even ( as E l aine M organ s ai d ) t h e hilarit y t h at might b e provok e d . I t i s a l w a y s in the p ow e r of p r o p a g a n d a t o c a u s e fe ar a n d anxiety in t h o s e a t w h o m it i s aimed, a n d i t i s fe ar a n d anxiety in t h o s e w h o a r e n or m a l a n d b al an c e d and even innocent t h a t it c a u s e s in t hi s c a s e . There is s o m e thing d e s p ic ab l e a n d cheap , a demeaning o f all real h u m a n i t y , in t h e w a y in which this p r o p a g a n d a h a s been used. O n e c an only s u p p o se t h a t t h e r e i s a c a u s e for i t a l l

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b e y o n d mere p r u r i e n c e a n d l a c k of carin g . I f o u r s o c i e t i e s have g o o d r e a s on t o b e intere s te d in o u r s e x u al at t i t u d e s and b e h a v i o r , we h a v e n o le s s r e a s o n t o b e i n t e r e s t e d in w h y o u r s oc i e t i e s h a v e e n c o u raged u s t o look t o sex for such m o r b id d e l e c t a t i o n . The l u s t fu l person w il l u s ually be fou n d to have a terrible h o l l o wn e s s at t h e center o f his life, and h e is agitated t o fi ll it, n o t d aring to d e s i s t , lest he s h ould have t o c o nfront t h e d e s ert h e h a s made of h im se l f and h i s life . H e h a s n o s p i ri t u a l r e s o urce t o w h i c h t o t u r n . B u t is t h i s n o t t h e c o n d i tion o f o u r s o c i e t i e s a s w e l l ? M oral t h e o l o g y h a s a p l e a s i n g and u seful p h r a s e : I n t h e d i s c u s s io n o f " n o n - c o n s u m m a t e d s i n s o f i m p u r i t y , " A r t i ­ cle I is addre s s e d t o " S e x u a l C o m m ot ion , " w h i c h i s d e ­ fi n e d a s " t h e p l e a s u r a b l e d i s t u rb a n c e o r e x c i t em e n t o f the ge n i t a l o r g a n s a n d t h e fl u i d s t h a t s e r v e t he p u r p o s e of generation . " ( I t a s s u res u s in p a s s i n g t h a t " i t i s h e s t n o t to b o t her a b o u t s ligh t and q u ick ly pa s s i n g c arnal c o m ­ m o t i on s , " alt h ough " s ome p o s i t i v e r e s i s t ance i s general­ ly nece s s ary in case of v e h e m e n t c a r n a l c o mm o t io n . " ) W e s e e m t h e s e d a y s t o b e in a c o n t in u al s t a t e of c o m m o t i o n about our s e x , and it i s hard t o r e s i s t t h e c on c l u s i o n t h a t t h i s is p artly b e c a u s e o u r s o c i e t i e s t h e m s el v e s a r e in a c o m m o t i o n , t h a t they h a v e t h e m s e l v e s n o s p i ri t u a l r e source s o n w h i c h t o c all t h a t e n a b l e s e i t h e r t h e m o r ourselve s as i n d i v i d u a l s t o b e c a lm . Our s oc i e t i e s d o n o t k n o w why t h e y are t h e r e , e x c e p t t o c ontinu e ; w e hardly k n o w w h y we a r e m e m b e r s of t h e m , e x c e p t t o surv i v e . I t i s all b u t i n e v i t able i n s u c h a c o n d i ­ t i o n , with n o t h ing v e r y m u c h o u t s ide o u r s e l v e s t o h o l d o u r a t t e n t i o n f o r l o n g , that we sh ould a gi t at e t h e m o s t e a s ily ar o u s e d a n d placable o f o u r p h y s i c a l and e m o t i o n a l urge s , if only t o r e a s s u re o u r s e l v e s t h at w e are s t il l alive a n d s en t i e n t b e in g s . When o u r s o c i e t i e s a s s i s t in red u c i n g m o s t o f t h e r e s t o f life t o l it t le m o r e t h a n a series o f d i s c o n n e c t e d e p i s o d e s , c o m m o t i o n s that o n l y d i s t rac t u s , t h e y c an n ot b e surpri s e d t h a t t h e i r member s reduce their own lives t o a series of d i s c on n e c t e d e n -

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c o u n t e r s , t o fi n d d i s t r a c t i o n in t h e everyday c o m m o t i o n of t h e i r s ex u a l orga n s . L u s t is a l w a y s the s y m p t o m o f a much d e e p e r d i s or d e r , in s o c i e t y a s in t h e individu a l , t h a n the as s u aging o f its dreary a p p et i t e m ight a t fir s t s u g g e s t . A g a i n t h ere is s om e t h i n g i n t h e individual's r e l a t i o n s h i p with s oc i e t y that i s terribly awry. W e d o n o t s e e how parc hed o u r s oc i a l l a n d s c ape h a s b e c o m e , b e c a u s e it i s s t u d d e d w i t h g a u d y a n d e r o t o g e n i c allureme n t s t o w h a t w e c on c e i v e t o b e a p l e a s ure t h a t i s w i t h in t h e e a s y reach o f u s a l l . The m anagers of our s oc i e t ie s m u c h prefer t h a t we are infa t u a t e d w i t h our s e x u a l i t y , than that we look l o n g and s t e ad i l y at w h a t t h e y c o n trive fr om day t o d a y . They have l i t t l e t o fe ar a s long as we define o u r s e l v e s b y the m e a s urem e n t s o f M a s t ers and J o h n s o n , and s e e m t o f i n d our m o s t r e v o l u t i o n ary tract i n Th e Joy of Sex. T h e y h a v e d i s ­ c overed that , n o w that r e l i g i o n h a s b e e n d i s p l a c e d , s e x can be made the opium of the masses . When the entire s o c i e t y is at l a s t t r a n q u i l l y p r e o c c u p i e d i n t h e morbid p r a c t i c e s o f onanism, there w i l l b e n o t h i n g m ore for t h e m t o do b u t reign f o r e v e r over a k i n g d o m of t h e d e a d . It i s worth leaving t h e l a s t o f the s i n s w i t h D a n t e a s h e l e a v e s the l a s t c or n i c e o f t h e B l e s s e d M o u n t ai n , w h e r e the l u s tful have b e e n purge d , t o e n t e r at l a s t t h e m e a d o w s o f the Earthly P ar a d i s e , w i t h t h e b e n e d i c t i o n of t h e Ange l of C h a s t i t y s i n g i n g in h i s e ar s : Bea t i m u n do cord e : b l e s s e d are t h e p u r e in he art-" a s o u n d / m ore t h a n all earthly m u s ic s w e e t and ringing . " A n d again the glad angel s i ngs Ven i t e bened i c t i p a t r i : "C ome y e b l e s s e d , in­ herit the k i n g d o m prep ared for y o u from the fou n d a t i o n of t h e world . " W he n t h e s ev e n t h and l a s t s t air h a s b e e n c l i m b e d , V irgil s e n d s h i m forward on h i s o w n , " M a k e p l e a s ure n o w t h y guide . " S i n c e t h e s t a in of s i n h a s b e e n p u r g e d a n d l o v e h a s b e e n s e t a g a i n i n orde r , t h e a i d o f h u m a n re a s o n is n e c e s s ary no m o r e a n d h i s o w n p l e a ­ s u re c an b e tru s t e d . L o v e i t s e l f h a s b e c o m e w h at it o u g h t

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a l w ays t o h ave b e e n , t h e o n l y n ee d fu l g u i d e t o r i g h t c o n ­ d u c t . " L o v e , a n d d o as y o u l i k e " as S t . A u g u s t i n e s a i d , b e ­ c a u s e , s o lovi n g , w e w i l l d o w h a t w e o u g h t . Virgil p o i n t s in farew e l l t o t h e m e ad o w s t h at l i e before them and leaves D a n t e w i t h t h e l a s t promise t h a t s o o n h e w i l l s e t his e y e s on B e atrice again:

See h ow the sun s h i n e s h ere upon t h y h e a d ; S e e the green s w a r d , t h e flowe r s , t h e bos kages Th a t from the s o i l 's own virtue h er e are bred . Wh ile t h o s e fair eyes a re coming, bright w i t h b l i s s , Wh o s e tears s e n t m e to t h ee, t h ou m a y 's t prospect A t large , or s i t a t ease to view a li t h i s . N o word from m e , n o fu t h er sign expect; Free, uprigh t , whole, t h y w i l i hencefort h l a y s d o wn G u i d a nce t h a t i t were error t o n eglect , When ce o 'er t h yself I m i t re t h ee a n d crow n . T h e s o u l h a s b e e n p urified i n i t s l o n g a s c e n t , a n d , h a v i n g n o w m a s tery of i t s e lf, b e i n g " fr e e , uprigh t , w h o l e , " V i r g i l i n v e s t s it w i t h t h e s y m b o l s o f e a r t h l y p o w e r . W h o d o e s not catch his breath at this moment? T h e p e n a n c e of the l u s t fu l h a s b e e n fir e . I t i s t h e o n l y t i m e that the t r a d i t i o n a l " P u r g a t o r y F i r e " i s fo u n d i n t h e p o e m , but n o w a s D or o t h y S a y e r s s a y s , t h e i m a g e b l az e s o u t w i t h a s u d d e n s p l e n d i d l u c i d it y . F i r e i s t h e image of L u s t , b u t it is also t h e image o f P u r i t y . L o ve m u s t e n dure a g a i n t h e fl a m e s of i t s o w n p a s s i o n , but i t i s also the fl ame o f love t h a t b u r n s t o purge it . In t h is t r e m e n d o u s i m a g e at t h e m o m e n t o f the triumph a n t a s c e n t , D a n t e p r o c l a i m s again t h e t r u t h t o w h i c h t h e idea of sin d r a w s a t t e n t i o n : t h a t love i s at t h e r o o t of b o t h o u r v i r t u e a n d o u r e v i l . A s the l u s t ful r u n r o u n d t h e B l e s s e d M ou n t a i n i n o p p o s ite dire c t i o n s , t h e y embrac e o n e a n o t h e r s w if t l y as they p a s s , "not pausing, w i t h t h i s b r i e f s al u t e c o n t e n t , " and t h e i r k i s s is again t h e i m a g e b o t h o f t h eir s in n i n g a n d

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o f i t s remed y . T h e power of t h i s a c c u m l a t e d im agery i s n o t e a s i l y r e s i s t e d . Even t h o s e w h o , a l t h o u gh d e t a i n e d on the seventh c o r n i c e , are n o t d e t ained to purge t h e sin of l u s t , must s t il l pass through i t s fire . S i n c e every s i n i s a s i n of l o v e , m i s d ir e c t e d or perverte d , t h e l o v e in each o f u s m u s t i t s e l f b e purge d . I t i s with t h i s affirm a t i o n that t h e a s c e n t of p u rgat ory i s brought t o an e n d , and the meaning o f o u r s inning s t an d s for t h w i t h a l l its c om p l e x ­ i t y and s earching , and with a p o i n t i n g t o h o p e and life.

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T H E PATH S O F L O V E

S I N I S N O T j u s t lovele s s n e s s , t h e a b s e n ce o f l o v e . I t s terrib le n e s s i s t h a t love h a s b e e n p r e s e nt , o n l y t o b e re ­ j ec t e d ; e v e n m ore b l e a k l y , love is t h e r a w m aterial o n w h i c h s i n work s . S i n is the wreck age of t h e l o v e o f w h i c h w e a r e c a p a ble . T o a c k n o w ledge it i n o u r s e l v e s i s t o reco gnize w h at l o v i n g c re a t u r e s we might h a v e b e e n , t o real ize h o w p it ifully w e d i m i n i s h o u r c ap ac i t y t o love . Eve ryone w h o l o v e s k n o w s h o w i n a d e q u a t e h i s love is , h o w h i s own s e lfis h w a n t s get in t h e w ay . Every s o u l t h a t D a n t e m e e t s i n p urgatory h a s c om e t o t h i s k n o w ledge , m o u rning w h a t it h a s m a de of i t s life , s orrowing t h a t i t s h o u l d h a ve s o m i s u s e d G o d ' s gift o f love t o i t . They m a y have t o e n d u r e t he p e n a n c e o f e a c h s i n - t h e h e a v y s t o n e s of P r i de , the s e al e d e y e s o f E n v y , t h e s m o k e o f Anger, t h e r u n n i ng o f S lo t h , t h e p r o s t r a t i o n of A v ari c e , t h e s t a r v a ­ t i o n of G l u t t o n y , t h e f i r e o f L u s t - b u t t h e s c ourge o f e a c h s i n c o n s i s t s of e x a m p l e s o f t h e o p p o s i n g virt u e s , a n d e a c h of them- h u m i l i t y , g e n e ro s i t y , m e e k ne s s , z e a l , liberality, temperanc e , c h a s t i t y - i s an example o f l o v e t h a t i s in ord e r . A g r e a t p a r t of our living m u s t b e the a t t e m p t t o p u t o u r o w n love in orde r . I n terms t h a t a r e a s c on c r e t e a s p o s s i­ b l e , and a t t h e r i s k of s i m p lifying i t s c h a r a c t e r , w e m u s t c o n s ider love in s o m e o f i t s a s p e c t s . F e w t h in g s c o u l d h a v e b e e n m ore m i s le ading t h a n t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e flo w e r c hildren and t h e i r l i k e s p o k e of l o v e a f e w y e a r s a g o . They s e e m e d t o think t h a t love i s a m at t e r o f n o m o r e t h a n dem o n s t rat ing o n e ' s o w n fee l i n g s . For all t h e a p ­ parent s we e t ne s s of t h e i r o ffe r i n g s , t h er e w as i n fact a

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great d e a l of s e l f- a ggrandizement i n it . I l o v e y o u ; m y love w i l l b le s s y o u ; b e t h a n k fu l f o r it ; s ee h o w l o v i n g I a m . Even when t he y greeted s t rang e r s on t h e s t re e t s , for­ cing the s trangers into a t t i t u d e s o f r e j e c t i o n , t h e y t u r n e d away w i t h a s im p e r ing l o o k o f s u p e r i o r it y . T h e s t rangers were u p t ig h t ; but t h e y of course were loving. I t never oc­ curred t o them t h a t t h e s trangers merely d i s t r u s t e d s u c h i n d i s c riminate and meaningle s s a p p r o a c h e s a n d r e ­ s e rv e d t h e r i g h t t o c h o o s e b y w h o s e l ov e t h e y w o u l d b e b l e s s e d and o n w h o m t h e y w o u l d b e s t o w t he i r o w n . Y e t t h e s e y o u n g p e o p l e w e r e often e n c o u r a g e d in their s im p l e m i n de d n e s s b y t h e i r elders , u n t i l o n e began to believe t h a t t h e love s h own in t h e i r h o m e s h a d also b e e n fal s e . One addre s s e d a u d i e n c e s o f s t u d e n t s at t h e t i m e a n d s a i d l o v e w a s d i ffic ult . I n t h e language of t h e i r l o v e , " B u l l s h i t ! B u l l s h i t ! " c ame t h e reply. O n e s ai d t h a t l o ve c o u l d e a s i l y be s e l fi s h , t h a t c e r t a inly i t c ou l d b e m i s ­ dire c t e d o r d i s t or t e d , and t h a t t h e n i t c o u ld t hr e a t e n a n d w o u n d . " M a k e L o v e N o t W a r " was t h e m e s s ag e o n their but t o n s ; then let t h e m k n o w t h a t a too-easy l o v e c a n hurt a s well. They s t irred still p r o t e s t ing i n t h e i r s e at s ; they d i d n o t w i s h t o b e told s u c h t hi n g s . Y e t a l l o ne was s aying w a s that love c an be d i s ordere d , a fac t t h a t a l l human e x ­ p e r i e n c e and m u c h o f o u r l i t e r a t ure s e e m s t o confirm; t h a t i t may s pr i n g from the w r o n g m o t i v e s a n d b e d i re c t e d in w r o n g w a y s t o i t s o b j ec t , t h a t i t c a n i n d e e d b e the s o urce o f our e v i l a s w e l l a s o f o u r virtue . W e are e n ­ t i t l e d t o t a k e t h e s e y o u n g a s repre s e n t at ive of m o r e g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e s t h a t a r e s t i l l around u s , b e c a u s e o n c e again they s e e m e d t o have l e a rn e d l i t t le o f t h e nature o f l o v e f r o m t h e i r b ac kground: n o t h i n g o f it s c o m p l e x i t y , f r o m p aren t s or t e a c he r s , l i t e r a t u r e or r e l i g i o n . There w a s simply t h i s love, free l y given, a n d a l l w o u l d be har­ mony. The i d e a of t h e "war of t he s e x e s , " b e s id e t h i s flumme r y , h a s at le a s t s ome hard t r u t h i n i t . T h e e s s e n t i a l q u a l i t y o f h u m a n l o v e i s i t s incorrigible

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ambition to transcend whatever is its immediate obj ect. There are n o t t w o l o v e r s w h o d o n o t b e li e v e t h a t t h e i r love will c on q u e r t i m e - n o t merely t i m e here , b u t e v e n t h e grave:_ and t h e w o n d e r i s t h a t w e s t i l l prefer t o leave u n a n s w e r e d t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r it c an . W h e n t h e l o v e r s i n Auden's b a ll a d , "When I W e n t O u t O n e Evening , " p r o t e s t t h e ir undying l o v e f o r e a c h o t h e r , a l l t h e c l o c k s i n t h e c i t y b e g i n t o whir, w i t h t h e i r mes s ag e t h a t l o v e c a n ­ n o t c o n q u e r t i m e , b u t w h e n t h e c l o c k s g o s il e n t a g a i n , a n d the l o v e r s h a v e l e ft , t h e r i v e r r u n s o n , and t h e q u e s ­ t i o n s t i l l h a n g s i n t h e a i r . E v e n i n t h is m o s t c o m m o n o f cases, the belief that there is something transcendent in h u m a n love i s there , t e l l i n g u s o f i t s n a t u r e a s w e p e r c e i v e i t , o f the p o w e r o f which we are aware w h e n t h i s d e e pe s t o f o u r fe e l i n g s is arou s e d , s o t h a t t h e w or l d i t s e l f can s e e m change d . When o u r e y e s fall w i t h l o v e o n s o m e p e r s o n o r o b j e c t , t h e y t h e n t u r n o u t to fin d m o r e i n t h e w o r l d t h a t d e s e r v e s o u r fondne s s , a n d t h a t we a r e a b le t o l ov e b e t t e r t h a n b e fo r e . When we have firs t t a k e n t h e t r o u b l e t o l e a r n h o w really to love a p a i n t i n g , we d o n o t t h e n s i t i n fro n t of i t a l o n e f o r t h e r e s t of o u r live s . O u r a b i l i t y t o l o v e one p a int ing has opened a n e n t ir e n e w world t o us, which we a r e n o w able t o e n t e r w i t h t h e capacity t o d i s c ri m i n a t e and love o t he r s . T h i s i s aga i n a f o r m o f t r a n s c e n d e n c e . I f i t truly i s love , it e x t e n d s o u r l i v e s and w i d e n s o u r v i s i o n , the w o r l d is n o t t he s am e . L o v e r s are not o n l y intere s ting t o t h e m s e l ve s ; e v e ry t h i ng i s m o re i n t e r e s t ing t o them. We think o f t h e true s t marriages that w e k n o w a s partners h ip s . The m u t u al fondne s s a n d s u p p ort i s u s e d t o t u r n t h e i r l i v e s o u t , t o a c t u p o n a w o r l d t hat i s other t h a n themselves a n d i n v i t e i t t o a c t u p o n them. All true love h a s s o me o b j e c t o t h e r t h a n i t s e lf a n d can point to s o me achievement beyond its o w n e x i s t e n c e . Love c a n ­ n o t b e the o n l y s ou r c e a n d i n t i m a t i o n o f i t s o w n reality a n d c an n o t k e e p i n touch w i t h the r e s t o f r e a l i t y b y ad­ m iring i t s elf.

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Love is not a m a t t e r of l o o k ing i n t o e a c h o t her's e y e s , i t h a s b e e n s a i d , b u t of l o o k in g i n the s a m e direc t i o n . O f c o u r s e i t is b o t h . B u t t h e l o o k w i t h w h i c h it s h o u l d be turned o u t needs to b e e m p h a s i ze d . I f a l l l o v e i s a j ou r n e y i n t o another l a n d , it w i l l t o some e x t e n t b e a l a n d t h a t i t i t s e l f c r e a t e s and t h e n c u l t i v a t e s and e v e n p e o p le s , b u t i t w i l l a l s o be a l a n d t h a t h a s it s o w n e x i s t e n c e and t h a t l o v e d o e s not m ak e a refl e c t i o n of i t s e l f , j us t a s it d o e s n o t f i n d a m e re refle c t i o n in t h e p e r s o n it l o ve s . The l o v e r s will t o g e t her be t u r n e d o u t t o t h e s u b s t a n t i al world t h a t l i e s b e y o n d the c ir c u mference o f t h e i r o w n fee l i n g s for each o t h e r . If l o v e r s look a t t h e s t a r s , their i n s t i n c t is right . They are l o o k i n g o u t w ard for t h e full m e a n i n g , a s they should also look out together t o their society. Their love w i l l o t h e r w is e b e o n l y a n o t h e r form o f s e l f-l o v e . They will h ave m ade e v e n i t n a rc is s is t i c , a n d it w i l l peris h . We s t art o u r l i v e s w i t h w h a t is o fte n g i v e n t h e name o f need-love . B u t t h e t e r m h a s i t s d i s a d v an t a ge s . I t c a n sugge s t t o o p a s s ive a relat i o n s h i p , in w h i c h t h e p e r s o n who i s l o v e d is u s e d merely to s u p p l y o n e ' s w a nt s , and it e m p h a s izes t oo m u c h t h e e l e m e n t of d e p e n d e nc e . Of c o u rs e , there are n e e d and d e p e n d e n c e w h e n the infant w a n t s t o b e fe d and w h e n o u t of fe ar or fru s t r a t i o n or hurt a c h i l d runs t o i t s m o t h e r for protection and c o m fo r t . But a s infancy passes into c h i l d h oo d , the r e l at i o n s hip grows m ore c o m p le x . T h e child will s t i l l rely o n i t s p a re n t , but not s i m p l y to s u pply the n e e d s that i t fe e l s . The mother may i n fac t refu s e t o meet the c h i l d ' s n e e d s to t h e e x t e n t it w o u l d l i k e , b e l i e v i n g t h a t i n some s it u at io n s the child m u s t i t s e l f c ope with i t s fe ars and h u r t s . A n d t h e parent a l s o b e g i n s t o rely on t h e child for s o m e t h in g s . The r e l a t i o n s h i p i s n o t e q u a l , but at le ast i t i s t w o - s i d e d . D e p e n d e n t or n e e d - l o v e i s giving w a y t o w h a t w e may c all relia n t lov � . Reliant love d o e s n o t j u s t s e e k l o v e , it is a w ay of giving

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love as w e l l , b e c a u s e it g r a n t s the o t he r a n a c t i v e r o l e , t he fre e d o m to c h o o s e how t o love in r e t u r n . The infant w h o w a n t s f o o d or w ar m t h , o r m e r e l y t o b e h e l d b y i t s m o t h e r , h a s only t o be s u p p l ie d w i t h t h e s e , and it w i l l c o o i n r e t u r n . The m o t h e r m a y t a k e p l e a s ure i n i t , but the i n fa n t d o e s n o t y e t give p l e a s u r e . This c o m e s o n l y a s it c r o s s e s from infancy i n t o c h i l dh o o d , when the r e l a t i o n s h i p i s perhaps m o s t c r u c i al , for the child w h o is t h e n n o u r i s h e d t o feel re l i a n t rat h e r t h a n dependent l o v e will k n o w how t o feel it later . D e pendent love in t h e adult i s weak and will make the other weak. Reliant love c a n b e s t ro n g and m a k e the o t h e r strong. I n reliant love one asks t o b e n o t so m u c h a s s u ag e d a s known; o n e s e e k s le s s a re a c t i o n from than a n interac t i o n with s o m e o n e e l s e . O n e ' s felt n e e d s c a n be an e x p r e s s i o n o f the merest s elf-indulgence a n d m a y well n o t refle c t o n e ' s real n e e d s at a l l . T h e refore o n e d o e s not a s k that they b e m e t s i m p l y b e c a u s e o n e fee l s t h e m ; o n e a s k s r a t h e r t o expre s s the w h o l e of o n e ' s p e r ­ s o nality t o s om e o n e w h o i s o t h e r and di s t in c t and w h o b r i n g s h i s o r her own i n s i g h t s a n d e v e n n e e d s i n t o p l a y against one's o w n . It is i m p o r t a n t t o emphasize t h i s at t h e beginning. There i s a great d e al o f c o n fu s i o n t o day a b o u t the role o f dependence i n love , a b o u t t h e k i n d of n e e d s we are e n ­ t i t le d to bring t o a rel a t i o n s h i p , a n d h o w far a n d i n w h a t w a y s we may e x p e c t that rel a t i o n s h i p t o s u p p l y t h e m . I n the absence o f any s trong c o n c e p t o f l o v e , the pre s c r i p ­ t i o n s a r e little m ore , a s we have s e e n , t h a n for m a s s age and manipulat i o n , which are u s ually the reverse s i d e s of the s ame c o i n . O ne c o m e s t o a relat i o n s hip with needs b e fore o ne c om e s w i t h anything e l s e , a n d t he y will be m a s s aged or m a n i p u l a t e d . (It d o e s not m u c h m a t t e r which , f o r if t here i s o p e n aggre s s ion i n t he m a n i p u l a ­ t i o n , in t he mas s age t h e re is the guile o f w h at is k n o w n t o p s y c h i a t ry a s p a s s ive aggre s s i on . ) W h a t is a l w a y s a b ­ sent i s e v e n the p o s s ib i l i t y that t w o p e o p l e m a y trus t each other t o p lace o n their re l a t i o n s h i p a n e q u al v a l u e

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for t h e i r own s ak e s and e v e n fo r i t s o w n s ake-for w h a t t h e y h a v e m a d e h a s i t s o w n w o r t h - a n d it i s hard t o r e s i s t t h e i m p re s s io n t h a t t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n s a r e m a d e for and b y people w h o were not n o u r i s h e d i n their c h i l dh o o d t o c r o s s from n e e d - l o v e t o reliant l o v e . T h e i r l o v e i s t h a t of infa n t s . I t i s n e e d n o n e t h e l e s s t h a t largely d e t e r m i n e s t h e child's re l a t i o n s h ip s , n o t o n l y w i t h i t s p are n t s b u t w i t h o t h e r s w h o m it s e l e c t s t o l o v e . T h i s is t r u e e v e n of fri e n d s of i t s own age , f o r m o s t o f the frien d s h i p s of s c h o o l a n d c h i l d h o o d are allianc e s . They are for m e d a g a i n s t a n u n ­ k n o w n and t h r e a t e n i n g w o r l d . T h e r e i s n o t h i ng wrong with such alliances then, o r with relian t love a s one ele­ ment i n a re l a t i o n s h i p l a t e r . B u t no s o o n e r h a s t h e child learned that reliant l o v e i s n o t t h e old need-love, when all i t s w a n t s were m e t apparently o n demand, t h a n a new fee l i n g begins t o s t ir in i t w i t h the fir s t aro u s al s of puber­ t y . For it is not only s e x t h a t r o u s e s it; a n d i t i s perhaps not e v e n primarily sex. I n fac t there i s c o n s iderable e v i d e n c e that, if left t o i t s e l f, e arly a d o l e s c e n c e m a y b e a time o f s e x u al i n t e r e s t but n o t o f a p r e s s i n g n e e d for much a c t i v i t y . What p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s are rather the i n t i m a t i o n s o f what used t o b e k n o w n a s fir s t l o v e . The importance o f fir s t l o v e w a s that i t w a s a fir s t t e n t a t i v e and w o n d e r i n g , e c s t at i c a n d p a i n fu l , brave and a d v e n ­ turing, s h ar e d e x p l o r a t i o n o f s o m e one w h o m o n e h a d c h o s e n o n e s e l f o u t o f n o t h i n g but one's o w n l o v e . Reliance is h a r d l y a p a r t o f s u c h l o v e , f o r one k n o w s l i t t l e on which t o r e l y . O n e i s n o t needing or d e p e n d i n g ; one is risking and daring. R e l i a n t love h a s b ee n overtaken by the firs t c a l l s t o w h a t m a y b e de s c r i b e d a s bestowing love. One b e s t o w s all one h a s and i s o n s o m e o n e e l s e . One c r o w n s the m . A d u l t s will l o o k o n w i t h t he k n o w ing o f t h e i r years , b u t if t h e y are t r u l y w i s e t h e y w i ll b e s i l e n t , a n d l e t t h e v o y ag e r s go fo rward with t h e p r a y e r , " B e h a p ­ p y , be hurt , " and be t h e re t o c a t c h t h e t e ars .

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We s o me t imes s e e m t o h a v e bred a g e n e r a t i o n - a n d many o f t h e i r n u m b e r agree - t h a t h a s n e v e r k n o w n the e x p l or a t i o n s o f firs t love. They are alrea d y s o w o rldly w i s e , e v e n as t h e y enter their t e e n s , unable t o believe the improba ble or dream t h e impo s s ible , unwilling t o t r y and risk, afraid t o g e t involved w i t h a l l t h e i r fe e l i n g s . Y e t t h e re i s m u c h in fir s t love t h a t t e a c h e s o f l o v i n g . There is u s u ally an awkwardne s s in i t s firs t s e x ua l a p p ro a c h e s ­ o r r a t h e r not an a w k w ardne s s , s i n c e it is a t t r a c t i v e - b u t at l e a s t a fu m b l i n g w i t h n o s e x u a l m an u al f o r i n s truc ­ t i o n . The wondering y o u n g lovers d o n o t g r o p e merely t o find o u t h o w t o pe rfo rm w h a t i s , b y a n y r e c k o n i n g , a r a t h e r e c c e n t ric a c t o f c o u p ling if v i e w e d o b j e c t i v e l y , but t o d i s cover h o w they m a y t e l l , t h r o ug h their bodies a s t h e y have not k n o w n t h e m b e fore , t h e s we e p o f t h e i r new feelings for e ac h o t h e r , which they h a v e not k n o w n for anyone e l s e . E v e n t h e i r first "fore ve r s , " a l t h o u g h t h e y will be d i s a p p o i n t e d , d o not in t h e end d e c e i v e . W h a t t h e y meant b y t h a t " forever" will r e m a i n in t h e i r live s , a s will t h e s e n s e of d i s covery o f another b e i n g w h o m they later t u rn to love. I t i s a l s o o n e o f the v irtues o f fir st l o v e t h a t i t i n ­ t r o d u c e s o n e t o t h e p a i n o f rej ec t i o n . I t s a vors e v e n the heartb re a k s . There is a p e c u l i a r quality in t h e breaking u p o f a firs t love. T h e re may b e a g r e a t d e a l of m i s ery; t h e re is rare ly m u c h a c c u s a t i o n . T h e r e j e c t e d o n e may p i n e , a s k p l a int ively i f t h i s had n o t b e e n " t he fl o w e r o f t h e age s , a n d t h e firs t love o f the w orld , " a s of c o u r s e it h a d been, sob that it had been meant for e v e r , cry that life ( e v e n s o e a rl y ! ) h a s l o s t i t s m e a n i n g . B u t he or s h e d o e s not much b l a m e . I t i s a l m o s t a s if t h e u n h a p p in e s s i s t o o g r e a t f o r ac c u s a t i o n . A f i n e d i s c ri m i n a t i o n i s being made . There is a world of d iffe r e n c e b e t w e e n p ain and s o rrow . P ai n is t u r n e d in t o feel for o n e s e l f; s orrow i s s t i ll t urned out t o the o t h e r , e v e n t h ough t h e o t h e r i s n o w lost. T h o s e w h o s e p a i n at t h e e n d i n g of a love is g r e a t e r t h a n t h e ir s orrow h a ve n ot truly l o v e d . H e a r t s c a n be b r o k e n . A n d

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perhaps w h a t we m e a n b y a b r o k e n h e art is n o t only the all-but-unbe arable s orrow at losing t h e p r e s e n c e o f s o m e o n e m u c h l o v e d , b u t a s light t i g h t e n i n g of the h e a r t a g a i n s t r i s k i n g any f u r t h e r d i s a p p o i n t m en t . The d a n g e r t o a broken heart i s a fe ar t h a t t h e world in the e n d h a s n o place f o r w h a t is e s p e c i ally l o v e l y and t h a t t ime will i n ­ e x o r a b l y w e a r a w a y e v e n t h e brigh t e s t p r o m i s e of any love in i t s b e g i n n i n g . F i r s t love h e l p s one t o b u il d a guard a g a i n s t such d i s illus i o n . Sighing for a l o v e line s s that s t il l e x i s t s , s orr owing at t h e loss of w h at h a s not lost i t s b e a u t y , the h e a r t m e n d s w i t h i t s o w n l o v e in g o o d order. T h o s e who h a v e a b an d o n e d them s e l v e s t o fir s t love seem l a t e r t o have a g r e a t e m o t i onal r e s o u rc e . S o m e will s ay t h a t t h i s i s a r o m a n t i c d e s c r i p t i o n o f fir s t l o v e and p e r h a p s a l s o b y i m p l ic a t i o n o f a n y l o v e b e t w e e n a m a n a n d a w o m a n . M ayb e , b u t it i s r o o t e d where a l l true r o m a n t i c i s m i s r o o t e d , i n r e a l i t y . R o m a n ­ t i c i s m m u s t be r e a d y t o c onfron t re ality fro m day t o d a y . I t c a n n o t afford t o t u r n a s ide f r o m the e n c o u n t e r , n e i t h e r t o d i s illus ion n o r t o s e n t i m e n t a l i t y . S u c h v i c t o r i e s a s r o m a n t ic i s m c a n e v e r c l a i m a r e w r u ng fro m a be d roc k o f r e a l i t y , from the h ard and u n g i v i n g fac t s of w h a t is a c ­ t u ally s o i n the w o r l d and i n l i fe . W h at i s important i n fir s t love i s n o t t h at i t i s s w e e t and c h ar m i n g , b u t t h a t i t i s a fir s t e x p lo r a t i o n o f reality t h a t i s m a d e e s s e nt i ally b y o n e s e l f , e v e n it if i s m a d e a l s o in the c om p a n y of s om e o n e e l s e whom one h a s c h o s e n t o s h are it . O n e m a y g o t o e x ­ treme s , fa l l h e a d over heels i n l o v e , g i v e all t h at one h a s ­ only t o fin d in the e n d , t h e m o s t c r u s h i n g o f l e s s o n s , t h a t one's giving i s n o t e n o u g h . F i r s t l o v e h a s run u p a g a i n s t the limits of b e s t owing l o v e ! A l l of a d ol es c e n c e i s t h i s fir s t e x p l o r a t i o n o f r e a l i t y by o n e s e lf , of o n e ' s o w n limit s , and o f the b o u n d ar i e s o f the a c t u a l w o r l d , a n d first l o v e c a n be among t h e m o s t telling o f i t s e n c o u n t e r s . B u t o u r s o c i e t i e s a n d t h e i r c u l t u re h ave b li g h t e d b o t h adoles c e n c e and fir s t l o v e . They h a v e i n s t r u c t e d t h e y o u n g t o le arn t o o e a rly and f r o m o t h e r s w h a t t h e y

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s h o u l d d i s c o ver in t h e i r o w n t i m e b y t h e m s e l ve s , fin d i n g i n their rapture a n d first i n t i m a t i o n s o f s orrow t h a t life is infinitely forgiv ing t o t h o s e who m e e t it without fe a r . I f adole s c e n c e i n c l u d e s t h e e x p l o r a t i o n of first l o v e , it a l s o i n c l u d e s the fir s t real exploration o f fri e n d s h i p . I t is a t c o llege or whe n one goes t o work that one feels for the fi rst t i m e that o n e t r u l y chooses one's o w n fri e n d s a n d e v e n t h i n k s s e r i o u s l y of t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t fri e n d s h i p s are meant t o l a s t f o r a life t i m e . T h e y a r e not a l l i e s found i n the are a defined b y one's school and one's p a r e n t s ' h o m e . One a l s o f i n d s s om e t h i n g e l s e : t h a t " fr i e n d s hip i s an e d u c a t i o n i n c om p l e x i t y , " a s H i laire B e l l o c o n c e wrote t o a fri e n d o f a mutual frien d , w h o at t h e t im e w a s being diffi c u l t t o them b o t h . Frie n d s h i p i s n o t t h e o n l y , a n d c e r ­ t a i n l y n o t the g r e at e s t , love t h a t i s u n p o s s e s s i v e . B u t t h a t it i s u n p o s s e s s iv e i s t h e m o s t o b v i o u s of i t s c harac t e r i s ­ t i c s . T h e r e a r e n o t i e s or vows or p r o m i s e s t h a t b i n d i t , and y e t s o m e t i m e s it s b o n d s s e e m s t ronger t h a n a n y o t h e rs . A fri e n d m a y u p r o o t h i s life a n d g o t o T i m b u k t u , w i t h o u t s o m u c h a s a b y o n e ' s l e a v e , and i t i s wholly i n h i s right t o d o s b . Y e t e v e n a c r o s s the d is t an c e h e remains o n e ' s frie n d . H e m a y b e h a v e a s one did not e x p e c t him to d o , p e r h a p s cause one b e wilderment a n d e v e n p a i n , but s t ill one w i l l k n o w him a s o n e ' s fri e n d . T h i s i s i n d e e d a n e d u c a t i o n in c om p l e x it y . W i t h frie n d s h i p o n e i s i n t r o d u c e d t o d i s i n terested love . F o r what is a fr i e n d m e a n t t o g i v e o n e ? N o t hing r e al l y , e x c e p t hims e lf . Frie n d s drop o u t of o n e ' s l ife a n d t h e n drop b a c k i n a g a i n , u n b i d d e n a n d u n an n o u n c e d , and s t i l l t h e y a r e w e lc om e . F r i e n d s c o m e e ar l y a n d s t a y l a t e ; or t h e y c o m e late and s t ay t o m a k e up for it . F r i e n d s are fre ­ q u e n t l y outr age o u s in t h e i r b e h a v i o r , r e l y ing o n one t o understand w h e n a m e re a c q u a i n t a n c e w o u l d n o t ; a n d t h e y are in fac t o ft e n m o re outrage o u s t h a n w e n o t i c e , s imply be c a u s e w e d o not q ue s t i o n t h e i r c o n d u c t or s e e i t a s a s l i gh t . Frie n d s d o n o t t h i n k o f forgi v i n g e a c h other .

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They d o not a s k e a c h o t h e r t o change . I f t h e y h a p p e n t o q uarrel , t h e y h a v e f e w q u e s t i o n s t o p u t a n d n o n e t h a t c a l l s f o r e x p l a n a t i o n or j u s t i fic a t i o n . T h e y o n l y w a n t t o e n j o y again w h a t d e l i g h t s t h e m , n o t o n ly i n e a c h o t h e r , b u t in the u n i q u e n e s s o f t h e c o m p a n y t h e y m a k e . The English p h i l o s o p h e r M i c h a e l O ak e s h o t t h a s s ai d t h a t one may l e a v e o n e ' s b u t c h e r f o r a n o t h e r if h e g i v e s one b a d me a t , o n e ' s t a i l o r f o r a n o t h e r i f he m ak e s one a n i l l - f i t t i n g s u i t , b u t o n e d o e s n o t r e p l a c e a frie n d by another just because he turns out t o b e n o t altogether what one thought a n d d o e s not give one a l l t h a t one w a n t s o r has b e e n used t o receiving. We m a y b e fo rtunate t o fi n d new frie n d s o v e r t h e years , b u t n o new frie n d can t a k e the p l a c e o f another. What w e a s k fro m fri e n d s i s n o t a s e r v ic e , b u t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n j o y e a c h of t h e m a s t h e y are , a n d t o e n j o y o n e s e l f with t h e m as w i t h n o one e l s e , n o t e v e n w i t h another fri e n d w h o also i s irre p l a c e ­ a b l e . Even in a b s e n c e o v e r t i m e and d i s t a n c e , t h e fri e n d s m a y c hange , b u t t h e i r appre h e n s i o n of e a c h o t h e r d o e s n o t . A f t e r a l o n g s ep a r a t i o n t h e y p i c k u p w h e r e t h e y h a d l e ft o ff, a l m o s t a s if i t were y e s t e r d a y . T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f this love c an n ot b e o v e re s t i m a t e d . O n e ' s c a p a c i t y fo r it will i n fo r m e ve r y o t h e r l o v e . I t i s p o s s i b l e t o form a g r e a t frie n d s h i p w i t h s om e o n e o f the o p p o s i t e s e x , w i t h o u t r o m a n t i c a t t a c h m e n t o r s e x u a l e x c h a n g e ; not o n l y c a n s u c h a frie n d s h i p be a s rewarding a s a n y , but the p e r s o n who i s i n c ap able of i t w i l l b e a p o o r l o v e r of any i n ­ d i v i d u a l m e m b e r o f t h e o p p o s i t e s e x . A n d e q u a l l y , the w o m a n w h o i s c ap a b le o f r e a l frie n d s h i p with w o m e n w i l l a l s o be a b e t t e r fri e n d o f m e n , a n d v i c e v e r s a . B u t frie n d s a r e t o t urn t o , i t w i l l b e s ai d ; t h e y a r e for s u p p o rt and advic e , h e l p and re a s s ur a n c e . One can c a l l on a frie n d . A l l o f w h i c h i s t r u e i n a w a y , a n d y e t n o t ex ­ a c t l y true , f o r t h i s i s n o t w h y he or s he i s a frie n d . There i s n o o b l i g a t i o n in fri e n d s h i p , s o if h e i s n ot t h e r e when one needs h i m , t h e fr ie n d s h i p will n o t b e al t e r e d . H e i s l i k e l y t o b e there if he c a n , b u t that i s n o t t h e t e s t o f t h e

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frien d s h ip . W h e n o n e o f t h e m needs h e l p or a d v i c e , t w o friends w i l l meet , d i s c u s s the d iffic u l t y , d e c i d e w h a t s h o u ld and may b e d o n e , a n d then p u s h it a s i d e , the helper and t h e h e l p e d , t o get b a c k t o w h a t t heir fri e n d s h ip really means t o them, t h e i r m u t u al e n j o yment in it and in e a c h o t h e r . There i s an endless c u r i o s i t y i n frien d s h i p , and t h i s i s p e r h a p s t h e r o o t o f i t s lov e . One s i m p l y w a n t s t o know w h a t h e i s up t o n o w , where he t h i n k s he i s g o i n g n e x t , a n d why he h a s t a k e n t o s t anding o n h i s head. Frie n d s h i p i s anecdo te . T h e best o f anec­ dotes are told b y fri e n d s a b o u t frien d s : T h e y s pring from a delighting o b s e r v a t i o n o f the o t h e r . W h a t i s e n j oyed in fri e n d s h i p is the narrative of s o me o n e e l s e ' s life , in w h i c h o n e s h ares t o s ome e x t e n t , b u t l i v e d as he or s h e c h o o s e s t o l i v e it t o h i s or her own e nd s . A s a frie n d o n e i s not s o m u c h in t h e other's life a s a l o n g s i d e it , a n d there one s t ay s even when a p a r t . E a c h o f t h e s e i s a n ordinary form o f h u m an love a s w e l e a r n t o e x p r e s s a n d r e c e i v e i t i n our e v e r y d a y live s . E a c h h a s i t s virtue s . N o ne o f t h e m , e s p e c ially i n t h e adult , i s c o mplete i n it s e lf. Reliant l o v e b y it s e lf i s l o v e h alf­ g r o w n . I n s p ite o f all its enchantment s and its readine s s t o g ive everything it h a s , b e s t owing l o v e b y i t s e l f i s t o o h e e d le s s o f t h e real c h aracter of t h e o t h e r ; i t ought t o m a k e a demand on t h e o t h e r t o b e c r e d i b le , a n d t o lift the s u s p ic i o n t h a t it i s n o t " i n love w i t h l o v e " a n d w i t h i t s o w n a b i l i t y t o l o v e . Friend s h i p b y it s e l f i s c o m m i t t e d , perhaps a s m u c h as a n y o t h e r f o r m o f l o v e , b u t w h a t i s its s t re n g t h is a l s o i t s limitation, t h a t i t i s not closely i n ­ v o l v e d fro m d a y t o d a y . The three nee d t o c ol l a b o r a t e , t o c h e c k and e n h a n c e e a c h o t h e r . W h e n one finds t h e m c o m ­ bined in a re lat ion s h i p , a n d t h e p o w e r ful i m p e t u s o f s e x ­ ual p l e a s u r e is a d de d , o n e i s c l o s e t o t h e m a t u r e love b e t ween a m a n a n d w o m a n , which grows and flo u r i s h e s e v e n i n diffic u lt y . Let t h e re liance grow t o o rou t i n e , t h e b e s t owing w ill b e t here w i t h i t s g i ft s ; l e t t he b e s t ow i n g

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grow s l a c k for a while , t h e reliance w ill hold the ground ; l e t one of them be out o f love or s i m p l y out o f s o rt s , fri e n d s h i p is there w i t h t h e p a t i e n c e of i t s a p ­ p r e c i a t ivene s s . W h e n the young p e r s o n i s firs t i n t r o d u c e d t o them and h a s b e e n n o u r i s h e d t o r e s p o n d t o t h e i r p r o m p t i ng s , w h a t h e a n d s h e are feeling i s t h e p u l l of t h e i r m oral n at u r e s and the need t o give t h e m e x p re s s i o n : t h e i r n e e d t o turn o u t and b e committed t o w h a t i s n o t t h e m s e lv e s ; t h e i r n e e d to be l o y a l t o s om e o n e or e v e n s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s other. The young would not go on trying from generation t o generat i o n , i n s p i t e o f a l l t h a t hum an e x p e r i e n c e h a s t o t e l l , if the u r g e w a s n o t deep and a w a k e n i n g and irre s i s t i ­ b l e . W e m a y s e e e v i d e n c e of t h i s a r o u n d u s t o d a y . After all t h e tawdry experiments i n h u m a n r e l a t i o n s h i p s a d e c a d e a g o , t h e r e i s a s ignific ant n u m b e r among the y o u ng re s p o n d i n g again t o the n e e d for c o m m i t m e n t , w i t h the u n d e r s t anding t h a t t h i s c o m m i tm e n t m u s t e s ­ s e nt i a l l y b e t h at of o n e p e r s o n t o a s e c o n d i n d i v i d u a l . They have r e a l ized t h a t , without t h i s e x p r e s s i o n of t h e i r n a t u re s , t h e y d o not k n o w t h e m s e lve s . W e s ai d at the beginning t h a t s i n i s b e t r a y a l , j u s t a s t h e most o b v i o u s q u a l i t y o f love is l o y a l t y . B u t i t i s a b e t r a y al n o t o n l y o f o t h e r s b u t o f o n e s e lf, a re fu s a l t o b e l o y al t o e v e n t h e d e e p e s t part o f o n e ' s own b e i n g . We have a l l b u t a b a n d o n e d t h e b i g w o r d s t o t a l k o f t h e b i g t h i n g s . L o y a l t y - C o m r a d e s h i p - P at r i ot i s m ­ Fidelity: We w in c e w h e n we try t o u t t e r t h e m . T h e y d i e on o u r lip s . W h i c h o f u s n o w think s o f G l o r y in h i s l i fe , s t rives for o r e v e n t h i n k s t o a t t a i n i t ? Bravery a n d Cowardic e : D o w e a n y longer k n o w the diffe r e n c e ? W e p r a i s e the d e s e r t e r , and d i s d a i n t h e c o m r a d e , at l e a s t u n ­ til we look c l o s e r . F o r t h e t r o u b l e w i t h the d e s e r t e r i s t h a t , e v e n a s one a p p l a u d s h i m f o r defe c t ing in a g o o d c a u s e , he w i l l u s u a l l y t h e n b e f o u n d r e a d y t o d e f e c t i n a b a d o ne , and n o t l e a s t t o d e s e r t o n e s e lf at h i s whim ; whereas the t r u t h a b o u t t h e comrade is t h a t , although

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one may w o n d e r a b o u t h i s l o y a l t y to a b a d c a u s e , he w i l l be fo u n d t o remain loyal t o w h a t e v e r c a u s e he e m b r a c e s a n d n o t le a s t t o p r o v e h i s c o m r a de s hi p w i t h o n e s e lf. " L o y a l t y ? " H a r o l d M ac millan once s a i d i n a n s w e r to a q u e s t i o n . " L o y a l t y ? . . . I t is k n o w ing t ha t t h e m a n o n your le ft , a n d t h e m a n on your right , w i l l n o t let y o u d o w n . " I t w a s an image f r o m t h e t r e n c h e s o f W orld W a r I , b u t a l s o fro m a g e n e r a t i o n t h a t k n e w w h a t c o m r a d e s h i p i s , s e t gre at s t ore by i t , and had a s t rong w o r d f o r it in i t s v o c a b u lary, b e c a u s e it had m e a n i n g . W h a t has b e e n t a k e n f r o m u s i s t h e a b i l i t y t o s e t a n un­ c o n d i t i onal v a l u e on t h i n g s or p e o p l e o t h e r t h a n ours elve s : t o s a y t h a t fo r t h e s e a t lea s t , t o p u t it at t h e e x ­ t r e m e , we w ould lay down our liv e s . E v e n if t here w e r e no people or t h i n g s t h a t a c t u a l l y h a v e s u c h a v a l u e , w e a r e b o u n d as h u m a n b e i n g s t o g i v e a n a b s o l u t e w o r t h t o s o m e t h i n g . W e n e e d t h e i d e a l ; w e n e e d it t o i n s p i re a n d c o rrect u s ; we n e e d i t t o pra i s e . M o s t o f t h e b i g w o r d s a r e w o r d s o f p r a i s e o f t h e ideal or o f our refu s a l o f i t . B u t o u r c u l t u re w i l l not s p e a k t o u s of t h e i d e a l or e v e n a d m i t t h a t s o m e t h ing w o r t h w h ile i s b eing d e n i e d , and s o i t i s u n a b le t o t e a c h u s h o w t o prai s e . When w a s t h e l a s t t i m e t h a t a n o v e l , a p l a y , o r a m o v i e s ho w e d u s a n i d e a l frien d s h i p , r o o t e d in the h e ar t , in t h e c a p a c i t y for l o yalt y , and in t h e l o n g i ng to adm ire w h a t we l o v e ? W h e n i n d e e d w a s t he l a s t t i me t h a t it s h o w e d us our i d e a l s e l v e s , w h i c h we are u n a b le t o be , but held b e fore us a s a lamp of what we s till may s trive t o b e ? W h a t e l s e i s our humanity b u t t h i s s triv­ ing, the awarene s s of our b a c k s l i d i n g , but t h e n with t h e heart and w i l l renewed t o try ag ain? T h e human race s o m e t i m e s seems to h a v e a p e c u liar w a y o f a d v a n c i n g . I t falt e ringly t ak e s o n e s tep forward , t h e n s l i p s t w o b a c k , b u t d o e s n o t q u i t e l o s e all t h e g r o u n d . The ground h a s been o c c u p i e d by our v o c a bu lary . W e l e a v e our w o r d s t h e re t o hold it , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f w h e r e we y e t m ay g o , and may h o p e s o me d a y a t l a s t t o b e . B u t s o m e t hing h a s s e e p e d i n t o o u r s o c i e t i e s t h a t b e l it t le s t h e s e i d e a l

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repres e n t a t i on s , a n d w e are more at a lo s s without them than we k n o w . T h e re l i g i o u s w o u l d s a y t h a t i t i s o u r rej e c t ion o f G o d , a n d their c a s e i s n o t e a s i l y m e t o r d i s m i s s e d . D o e s it not seem t h a t , s in c e t h e "death o f G o d , " m a n h a s him s e l f b e c o m e a b l a c k h o l e , c o l l a p s i n g i n t o h i m s e l f? B u t t h o s e o f u s w h o are u n b e l i e v e r s m a y s t ill p o i n t t o s om e t hing more i m m e d i ate . O u r s oc i e t i e s h a v e s y s t e m a t i c a l l y under­ mined our c o n s c i e nc e s , t h e place where our i d e a l s e l v e s are rooted a n d a d m o n i s h u s . There is not o n e o f u s w h o d o e s n o t fe e l the b i d d ing o f c o n s c ie n c e , k n o w that it i s a c ommanding v o i c e in u s to b e o b e y e d or d i s o b e y e d at ri s k , and y e t find ourselves deafened t o i t b y voices that t e l l u s that w e m ay painlessly d i s r egard it . C al l t h e con­ s c ie n c e the s uperego , i f o n e w i l l , o r merely t h e warning v o i c e of the superego, i t d o e s n o t m a t t e r . There it s i t s ; there i t s t a n d s . I n t e r m s m o r e t r a d i t i o n a l , it t e l l s u s h o w t o b e human , a n d s o h o w t o b e o u r s e lv e s . T h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h i s humanne s s i s the work o f o u r s oc i e t ie s . I f w e dis ­ regard our c o n s c i e n c e s and l i s t e n i n s t e ad t o f a l s e prophets , it is o u r s o c i e t i e s that h a v e r a i s e d them , s o many and t o s u c h prominen c e , n o t only i n the m arketplace where we might expect them b u t i n t h e m o s t s ac r e d o f o u r grov e s . E v e n o u r c ap a c i t y fo r s e l f- l o v e i s corrupt e d . T h o s e w h o love thems e l v e s w e l l - a s w e need and ought t o do­ will regard what t h e y l o v e a s g i ft s to them. It w o u l d be s i m p le s t t o s ay t h a t w e love what i s g o o d i n o u r s e l v e s b e c a u s e it i s a g ift from G o d . B u t e v e n i f w e d o not b e l i e ve that there i s a G o d w h o w o r k s i n u s in t h i s w ay , w e c an s t il l a c k n ow l edge that w h a t w e righ tly l o v e in o u r s e l v e s , what we m o s t love o u r s e l v e s for , i s at le a s t partly o w e d t o the w o r k i n g o f o t h e r s i n o u r live s : n o t o n l y o f o u r parents and t e ac h e r s a n d frie n d s and ne i g hb o r s , n o t only o f t h o s e b o n d s t o o u r s o c ie t y t h a t b r o ad e n o u r sense o f o u r s e l v e s , but t h e w or k i n g a l s o o f o u r f a u l t y b u t striving civilization, even o f what we c all t h e folk m e m ory o f the

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human rac e d o w n t h e e o n s . To love o u r s e l v e s w e l l is partly t o love these in us, w h a t we have m a d e o f them and they o f u s . B u t o u r s oc i e t i e s have more and m o re s e v e re d o u r s e n s e of them . N o t o n l y h a v e t h e y w ithered o u r c ap a c i t y to love . T h e y have left u s l i t t le t o l o v e a t a l l . We c annot h o p e t o love o u r world t o day i f we d o n o t m a k e the a t t e m p t t o love it t h r o u g h o u r s c i e n c e . M o dern s c ie n c e has radically altered how w e both e x p erience and p e r c e ive re alit y . I t t h e refore alters i n t u r n o u r sense of ourselves a n d o u r val u e s . W e l o o k t o o much to our a r t to­ day for our p e r c e p t i o n s and t o o little t o t h e revelations of our s c i e nc e . W h a t does it mean t o u s i n d i v i d u a lly that we may be a not very s p e c t ac u l a r s t ar in a not very im­ pre s s ive g a l a x y , o n l y one s t a r a m o n g b i l l i o n s i n one galaxy among m i l l i o n s , o u r own galaxy some 1 0 0 , 00 0 l i g h t years in d i a m e t e r , o t h e r galax ie s m o r e t h a n 1 0 billion light ye a r s a w a y ? W h a t d o e s i t m e a n t o us w h e n we gaze i n t o the n o l e s s a s t o n i s h in g s u b m i c r o s c o p i c w o rld with i t s m ar v e l o u s l y o r g a n i z e d arrang e m e n t of rank upon rank o f t hings s o minute that t h e y are no m o re e a s i l y imagined t h a n t h e great d i s t a n c e s of s p a c e that s t re t c h b e y o n d us? I t i s not o n l y t h a t we k n o w d i fferent t hi n g s t h an b e fore about t he u n i ve r s e , and therefore o f our place in i t ; a b o u t our environmen t , a n d t h e refore o f h o w w e m o v e a b o u t a n d i n t e r a c t with i t . O u r i d e a s o f what w e c a n k n o w , a n d how we m a y k n o w i t , o f our opp ort u n i t i e s and o u r l i m i t a t i o n s , have a l s o a l t e re d . W h a t d o e s it m e a n t o u s that o u r s c i e n c e n o l o n g e r p r e s e n t s t o us a w o r l d o f fix e d laws as in a p i e c e o f c l o c k work , but l a w s o n l y o f p r o b a b i l i t y and c h an c e t h a t at l e a s t s e em t o c onfo r m t o w h a t we a t p r e s e n t b e l ie v e we a r e a b l e t o e x p l a i n ? W h a t does it mean t o u s t h a t o u r s c i e n c e i s n o longer j u s t the o b s e rver and recorder o f what i s taken t o b e reality but is now a c t i v e a s a p a r t i c i p a t o r in i t s o w n o b s er v a t i o n s and e x p e rime n t s b y w h i c h i t defines t h a t reality? W h a t does

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it mean t h a t our s c ience n o w m o v e s b a c k w a r d a n d fo r w a rd b e t w e e n the t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l s t h a t it b u i l d s a n d the prac t i c a l e x p e rime n t s t o w hi ch it then s u b j e c t s t h e m , s o t h a t t he experiment i s c o n t i n u a l ly a ltering the model and the m o d e l i n t u rn i s c o n t i n u a l l y redefining the e x p e riment? W h at does it m e a n when s o m u c h o f our s c i e n c e has t o b e c o mm u n i c a t e d in it s o w n l a ngu age , w h o s e s y m b o ls are u n t r a n s l at a b l e i n t o t h o s e which we use in d a i l y l i fe ? W h a t i s it that w e k n o w when we say we know? W h a t doe s it m e a n t o us when the i n q u irie s of s c i e n c e are now s o i n v o l v e d in what u s e d t o b e t h e c o n c e r n s of p h i l o s ophy-the n at u r e o f t i m e a n d space a n d m a t ter­ and when they m a k e u s e o f s o m a n y d i s c ip li n e s t h a t it p r e v i o u s l y h e l d a l o o f fro m i t ? W h a t d o e s i t m e a n t h a t o u r v i e w o f the universe t a k e s on s o me o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s e v e n of his t ory, s i n c e we d o n o t n o w o b s e rve an i m ­ m u t a b l e c r e a t i o n b u t c o s mic e v e n t s t h a t o c c urred in t i me a n d w i l l not h a p p e n a g a i n ? W h a t d o e s i t m e a n t h a t , bereft of o u r s c ie n c e , w e w o u l d n o longer k n o w h o w t o l o o k ? W h a t doe s it m e a n t h a t s o a w e s o m e a universe i s r e v e a l e d t o u s by a m e t h o d t h a t t e l l s u s no les s a w e s o m e ­ l y o f the re ach of the human m i n d , a n d t h a t w e l i v e at t h e brink of k nowing s t i l l s o much m o r e ? I t m e a n s t h at we s h o u l d le arn t o l o v e the c reat i o n o f which we a r e p ar t e v e n m o re than b e fo r e , to p r a i s e e v e n m o re wonderingly the a m azing c o mp le xi t y and b e a u t y t h a t we are be ing s h o w n , t o m a r v e l with e v e n m ore g r a v i ­ t y , b u t a l s o j o y , at the s t i l l incomprehen s ib l e p h e n o m e ­ n o n o f our o w n p l a c e i n i t , t o k n o w t h a t t h i s a b o v e a l l i s o f unconditio n al v a l ue a n d worth e v e r y e ffort of k n o w i n g and under s t a n d i n g . I f we l o o k s m a l l a g a i n s t the b a c k d rop o f the unive r s e , little more than s p i n - offs from the laws of chance a s t h e y have w o rk e d , w e are not s m a l l i n o u r e n d le s s e n d e a v o r to s c a n the w h o l e u n i v e rs e , t h e s t ronge s t of o u r m o t i v e s simp ly t o k n o w it fro m every v i e w p o i n t i n which we c a n place o u r s e l v e s . Even i f it

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m e a n s t a k i n g o u r s e l v e s o u t of t h e c e nt er of the u n i v e rs e , m a k i ng o u r s e l v e s s e e m adrift in b o t h t im e a n d s p a c e , w e do n o t halt o u r e ffort or b u ry o u r k n o w ledge . I n n o t h i n g h a s our s c i e n c e m ade u s m ore fre e t h an i n t h e fe arle s s n e s s o f i t s s e arch for truth and it s w i l l i ngne s s t o c onfront i t . There is s om e t h ing e l s e t o w h i c h w e d o n o t a t t e n d e n o u g h , e v e n t h o u g h it c o u l d h a r d l y b e m o r e important and even s urpris i n g . There i s now i n our s c ie n c e i t s e l f a transcending o f o u r s e l v e s t h a t c o u l d n o t b e m o re firmly grounded in re a l i t y , fo r i t l i e s in our o w n attempts t o un­ derst and the re alit y b y which we a r e s ur r o u n d e d from day t o d a y . I t forc e s u s t o rec ognize our l i m i t s but t h e n p u s h e s us b e y o n d t h e m , t o c o n t e m p l a t e a s never before the v a s t ne s s , t h e c om p l e x i t y , and the e n d u r a n c e of the c r e a t i o n o f w h i c h we are p a r t , and t h e e x t e n t o f our o w n reach i n t o i t . B u t n o t only t h e s e . M od e r n s c ience h a s p r e s e n t e d us w i t h a p i c t u re o f c re a t i o n t h a t h a s an u n ­ u t t e rable b e a u t y . Even l i t e r a l l y , i t s p ic t u r e s are e x ­ q u i s ite , whe ther t h e y a r e o f s o me d i s t ant s t a r or of the s m a l le s t p a r t ic le that it c a n repre s e n t . T h e r e i s no n e e d to add fic t i o n t o t h i s s c i e n c e . We can s e e our u n i v e r s e and our world, and t h e c re a t u r e s in i t , a s only o u r c en t u ry h a s had the chanc e . W e c a n s e e i t , we c an fe el it . The infinite richness of the t e x t ure of all that forms c r e at i o n i s m o re at o u r finge r t i p s t h a n e v e r in the p a s t . A t n o t i m e before h a s our s c ie n c e so o b v i o u s l y touched a n d enriched our a e s t h e t i c s e n s e . At n o t i m e be fore h as it c o m e s o near t o appealing fr om i t s own illumin a t i o n s t o our re l i g i o u s s e n s e . More t h a n anything that is n o w a v a i l a b l e t o u s , it can help to t a k e us o u t of ourselv e s . I f w e d o not learn how t o love this well, we will love le s s w e l l ourselves and others . At the very m o m e n t at which s c i e n ce h a s freed i t s e l f from t o o d e t e r m i n i s t i c a n d ra t i o n a l a p i c t ure of t h e w o r l d , w e s e e m u n w i l l i n g t o m a k e the e ffort t o bring i t p e r s i s t e n t l y t o b e a r on our s e n s e s and v a l u e s . W e w i l l n o t

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u s e i t s v i s i o n . There is perhaps n o d e e p e r re a s o n for our egocen tric and s t u n t e d image o f o u r s e lve s . W e prefer the t rifling o f a n art a n d literat u re that arr o g a n t l y refu s e the intimations that science c ou l d bring t h e m a n d t h a t prefer t o c e l e b rate only t h e m s e l v e s and n o t t h e wonder o f crea­ t i o n and life . W h e n w e t u r n t o reli g i o n i t i s a g a i n t o forms that h a v e t u rn e d their b a c k s on t h e r e a l i t y that our s c i e n c e has revealed s o i n t ri c a t el y . W e c an n o t hope t o set o u r love i n order, t o b e fre ed again t o l o v e o t h e r s a n d ourselve s as we s h o u l d , i f we d o n o t t r o u b le t o l o v e the world i n which w e l i v e . F o r if one t h i ng is clear, it i s that our human l o v e s need, if t h e y are t o b e s t r o n g , s om e s e n s e o f m e a n i n g in the u n i v e r s e in which t h e y are e n a c t e d . To love o t h e r s f o r their o w n s a k e s i s n o t t o l o v e them o n l y for t h e m s e l v e s . I f t h a t were t h e c a s e , i t would b e t o o e a s y to love t h e m o n l y f o r w h a t t h e y h a v e t o g i v e , f o r the reward, so that one l o v e s only one's o w n needs, which t h e y supply. T h e y must b e loved as p e o p l e who expre s s to u s i n their o w n w a y s t h e g o o d n e s s o f a l l c r e a t e d t h i ng s ; t h i s i s t he only w ay in w h i c h w e c a n b e s ure t h a t we love t h e m s t an d i n g ap art from u s in a w or l d t h a t i s s e c urely t h e i rs ; t h e y are n ot j u s t there fo r the taking b e c a u s e t h e i r o w n selve s are r o o t e d in t h e i r own relat i o n s h i p t o what i s real , l a s t i n g , and b e y o n d them. C a n n o t w e j u s t love s o me o ne because w e love t h a t p e r s o n ? The a n s w e r i s y e s - b u t n o t e n t i r e l y . We s h o uld n o t h a v e t o b e reminded that love can b e treacherou s ; e v e n w h e n i t i s not treacherous it w i l l from t i m e t o t i m e b e c l u m s y . O u r love needs c orrec t i o n a n d protection. The most complete l o v e m u s t be an e x p r e s s io n o f o u r c a re for the p r e c i o u s n e s s o f ano ther b e i n g . B u t if t h i s p rec i o u s o t h e r n e s s i s t o b e left i n t a c t , i t m u s t be allowed i t s own s e t t ing in a w o r l d w i t h which we c an n o t w i l l f u l l y interfere ; the o t h e r m u s t b e l o v e d among w h a t a l s o i s o t h e r . The l o v e of a m a n a n d woman m u s t b e informed b y a love a l s o o f o t h er s . T h i s i s w h a t d i s t i n g u i s h e s it fro m all

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o t h e r forms of l o v e . R e l i a n t love d o e s n ot s e e k t o e x t e n d i t s e l f t o o t h er s . B e s t o wing love h a s n o i n t e r e s t i n o t h e r s . Frie n d s h i p is c u r i o u s a b o u t o t h e r s b u t t a k e s i t s m a i n p l e a s u re in i t s e l f . T h i s i s n o t t h e c a s e of t h e l o v e o f m a n a n d w o m a n , and it i s w h a t m ak e s it u n i q u e a n d s o c h a l l e n g i n g . What s ee m s to be t h e m o s t s e l f - s u ffic i e n t l o v e i s m o s t n eed in g o f re s o u r c e s o u t s i de i t s e l f . The l o v e d o n e c annot be i s o l a t e d b u t m u s t b e l o v e d a s an e x i s t e n c e t h a t has i t s own l i f e among o t h e r e x i s t e n c e s and d r a w s s o me of its o w n liveline s s a n d worth fro m t h e m . O u r g a z e will turn c o n s t an t l y fro m t h e b e l o v e d t o t h e o t he r h u m a n b e i ng s who are a r o u n d u s fro m day t o d a y , and f r o m t hem b a c k t o the beloved, s o t h a t e a c h enric he n s t h e o t h e r , a n d n o t l e a s t o u r s e l v e s and the s h a red l o v e w h i c h then e x ­ p a n d s . Our c e n tral a t t a c h m e n t t o the p e r s o n whom w e h a v e s i n g l e d o u t b e c o m e s t h e c e n t e r i t s e l f o f an ever­ w i d ening c ir c le of h u m a n relat i o n s , in w h i c h t h e p e r ­ s o n a l i t y o f the other i s brought f u l l y i n t o p l a y a n d t h e n i s turned b a c k t o u s w i t h e v e n m o r e t o offer a n d of which t o t e l l . W e h a v e o n l y t o t h i n k o f t h i s o u t t ur n e d r e l a t i o n s h i p i n t h e mo s t o b v i o u s o f i t s e x p re s s i on s . T w o g o o u t i n the e v e n ing and one notices the o t h e r ac r o s s t h e r o o m , ex­ p re s s ing h e r s e l f in w a y s d i fferent from those which she uses t o h i m , and h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n of her m a n ifoldne s s is o n l y deepened and more delighted . W h e n t h e y return h o m e , t h e i r g o s s i p o f the evening i s ful l , as t he y talk as w i t h n o o n e e l s e . A l w a y s t h i s most i nt i m at e of r e l a t i o n ­ s h i p s i s e m b e d d e d i n s o c i a l re l a t i o n s hip s t h a t c o n s t a n t ­ ly g i v e i t m u c h o f i t s reinforc e m e n t a n d refre s h m e n t . I f o u r p e r s o n al r e l a t i o n s h i p s t o d a y c au se u s s o m u c h a n x i e t y , it i s p artly b e c a u s e o u r s oc i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s h a v e b e c o m e s o p a t h e t i c ally a t t e n t u a t e d . W e d e m a n d s a t i s fac ­ t i o n s of our p e r s o n a l r e l at i o n s h i p s t h a t n o t e v e n the s t ronge s t c an b e s e n s ib l y expected t o s u p p l y , and a s k o f o u r s o c i e tie s only t h a t t h e y s h o u l d r e i nforce u s s t il l further in o u r p e r s o n a l l i ve s , where we w h i m p e r o u r d i s ­ c o nt e n t s . S e l f i s l o c k e d o n l y w i t h s e l f . I t i s n o t o n l y o u r

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m o s t immediate s oc ial relation s h i p s t h a t n e e d t o be s t rengthe n e d ; w e must bring back o u r s o c i e t i e s t o the c e n t e r of our p e r s o n a l l i ve s . T h e l o v e t h a t i s not u l t i m a t e ­ ly i n formed b y a c o n c ern for the w i d e r s oc i e t y , for t h e e n ­ d u r a n c e o f our c i v ilizat i o n , for the long t r a r a i l o f t h e human r ac e , and at l a s t fo r the u n k n o w able w o n d e r a n d m y s tery o f the c r e a t e d universe , w i l l i t s e l f t ur n i n t o o n l y ano ther fo rm o f e g o c e n t ri c i t y t h a t i s b o l s tered b y s omeone e l s e . O n e c annot e m p h a s ize t o o o ft e n , s i n c e the mores of our t i m e are all a g a i n s t i t , t h a t the unique q u a l i ­ ty o f the love of m a n a n d w o m a n , s i nce t h e y s hare t h e i r lives s o fu lly , i s t h a t it re a c h e s fa r b e y o n d it self, in e v e n the m o s t o r d i n a r y o f i t s daily rou n d s . I n t h e d a y s be fore affluence w a s w i d e s p r e a d , we c o u l d n o t t u rn our b a c k s o n our s o c i e t i e s , p e r h a p s e sp e c i ally i n t h i s relat ions h i p . T o o m u c h depended n o t o n l y o n t h e employment o f t h e h u s b a n d b u t o n t h e h o u s e k e e p i ng of the wife , and e ve n o n t h e work o f t h e c h il d r e n . Through all o f them the d a i l y needs o f t h e h o m e extended it i n t o a s e r i e s of i n t r i c a t e rel a t i o n s h i p s w i t h rel a t i v e s a n d neighbor s . The fam i l y w a s alway s g o i n g out i n t o t h e s o c i e t y ; the s oc ie t y w a s a l w a y s c o m i n g t o t h e d o o r . There was n o way o f im agining that what h a p p e n e d i n the wider s o c ie t y did n o t touch one's own life, a n d there was no way o f de c e i v i n g o n e s e l f t h a t p e o p le s h o u l d b e j udged b y their inner fee l i n g s and not b y their overt acts. W h a t o u r affluent s oc ie t i e s have done i s b r e a k the t i e s o f m a t e rial nece s s it y , w i t h o u t rep l a c i n g t he m b y o t h e r s t h a t compel u s t o t a k e re s p o n s ib i l i t y for o u r s e l v e s and fo r others as s oc i al b e i ng s . I t i s all very w e l l t o s a y w i t h R o b e r t J . H e n l e , a J e s u i t , t h a t " s tructures c an n o t b e t r u l y s i n ful , " t h at " s in l i e s i n t h e h u m a n w i l l , and not i n a n y t h i ng o u t s ide t h e s o u l , " and t o q u o te t h e r e p l y o f St . Francis B or g i a , t o a S p a n i s h n o b leman w h o w a s lamenting the c or r u p t i o n of the t i m e s : " I have a plan o f reform . I w i ll reform m y s e lf, and t h e n y o u r e fo r m yourself, and s o on." W e l l , yes! O f

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c o u r s e ! We n e e d t o reform o u r s e l v e s a n d n o t b e m i s l e d b y the recipe s f o r " s e l f- i mprovemen t . " B u t e v e n if o u r s o c ie t i e s w e r e r i c h in " t h e m o r e v i r t u o u s men a n d w o m e n " w h o a r e h e l d o u t as t h e ir o n l y h o p e , w h a t evidence is there in t h e w h o l e of his t ory and i n t h e world n o w that t h e y w o u l d gain authority? W e c an n o t w a i t for t h e improvement o f o u r s o c ie t i e s o n t h e redemption o f ourselve s . J u s t a s t h e re i s s i n in u s b e fo r e w e p e rform a n y s i nfu l acts , s o there i s a n i n c l i n a t i o n t o i n j u s t ic e i n our societies b e fore t h e y pe rfor m t h e i r u n j u s t dee d s . T h e re treat i n t o o u r s e l v e s h a s b l i n d e d u s t o t h i s fac t , a n d t h a t is w h y our s o c ie t i e s are c o n t e n t t o e n c ourage i t . The a c t i v i t y o f t h e moral imagin a t i o n t h a t i s n o w n e e d e d i s t o re ac q u ire t h e u n d e r s t a nding t h a t , in o u r s e l v e s a n d in t h e re l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t c a n all t o o e as il y b e c o m e l i t t l e m o re than e x t e n s i o n s o f ourselv e s , o n l y a fra c t i o n of o u r whole natures i s brought i n t o p la y a n d g i v e n e x p re s s i o n . I t i s our longing and o u r c a p a c i t y t o e x t e n d t h e working o f our love- s o that we c a n see i t operating i n our s o c i e t ie s and s tr e n g t h e n i ng o u r allegiance t o them­ against which w e s i n t o d a y more r e c k l e s s l y t h a n ever b e fore . Whichever w a y we turn for t h e rem e d y , we w i l l f i n d o u r s i n in c om b a t w i t h our love . W e w i l l fin d o u r P r i d e , our E n v y , o u r Anger, o u r S l o t h , o u r A v aric e , o u r G l u t t on y, a n d of c ou r s e o u r L u s t , a t w ar w i t h o u r h u m a n yearning t o love t h e o t h e r c h ildren o f o u r c o m m o n b i r t h . S i n c e our s o c ie t i e s have in e ffe c t surrendered a n y pre t e n s e t o virtue , they a r e c o n t e n t t h a t w e s h o u l d a b a n ­ d o n any c l a i m t o i t a s w e l l . They h a v e n o n e e d f o r o u r v ir ­ t u e , s in c e they c a n g e t along b y m a n ip u l a t i n g o u r d i s ­ p o s i t i o n to s i n , a n d w e a c q u i e s c e in t h i s d e m e a n i n g . Y e t all t h e time t h e r e l i e s largely u n t a p p e d i n us t h e wanting of o u r natures t o love w h a t will n o t n e ce s s ari ly bring a n y o t h e r gratific a t i o n . W h a t that r e ac h i n g out w i l l bring i s the b le s s in g o f fe eling whole and alive t o t h e w orld a g a i n . The paths o f our l o v e s w i l l once more c r o s s e a c h o t h e r , c o n v e rg i n g and d i v e rg i n g , a s they l e a d u s out o f

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o u rselve s : in d i r e c t i o n s of which we w o u l d n o t o t h e r w i s e h a v e tho ught , t o e n c o u n t e r s of w h i c h w e now d o n o t dream.

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A C H E C KLIS T O F S OM E B O O K S

BEFORE THE G REAT C h r i s t ian t h e o l o g i a n s w a s Arist otle . Th e Nicom achean Eth ics c annot b e i g n o r e d . I t i s available in several e d i t i on s , but p e r h a p s the b e s t t ra n s l a t ion t h a t i s m o s t a c c e s s i b le t o t he g e n e r a l reader i s Th e Ethics of Aristotle, t r a n s l a t e d b y J . A . K . Tho m s o n ( P e nguin B o o k s ) . S t . Thomas A q u i n a s s h o u l d b e re a d , and S t . J e rome and S t . Ambro s e , b u t t h e great t h e o l o g i a n on t h i s s u b j e c t i s o f c o u r s e St . A u g u s t i n e . T h e Ci ty o f God i s available a s a Modern L i b r a r y G i a n t , b u t o n c e a g a i n Penguin h as d o n e a remarkable j o b in producing it as a o n e - v o l u m e paperbac k . A s i s s aid in the t e x t , on t h e s u b j e c t of sin h i s Con fes s io n s are vital re a d i n g . T h e r e are s o m an y trans ­ l a t i o n s a n d e d i t i o n s available t h a t there is n o n e e d t o pick o n e out. If one r e a lly w i s h e s t o fe el the angu i s h caused b y s i n and t h e wre s t ling against i t , there i s o f c ou r s e the s u b ­ l i m e w o r k of S t . J o h n o f t h e Cro s s , Th e Dark N i g h t of t h e S o u l , tran s la t e d b y K u r t F . Reinhardt (Frederick U n g ar ) . The Di v i n e Comedy o f D a n t e is of c ou r s e a key w o rk , e s pe c i a l l y the s ec o n d b o o k Pu rga tory . I t h a s n e v e r been translated a l t o g e t h e r s a t i s fa c t o r i l y , b u t Dorothy L. Sayers's translation ( Pengui n ] i s m o re than a d e q u a t e , and her i n t r o d u c t i o n s to t h e three v o l u m e s and her e l a b o rate notes are j u st what m o s t readers n e e d . Th e E t h i c s of S p i n oza h a s b e e n e d i t e d b y D a g o b e rt D . Runes a n d is p u b l i s h e d by C i t a d e l P re s s . F o r a n e x p o s i t ion of t h e s i n s i n moral t h e o l o g y , I fou n d m o s t u s e ful the f o u r v o l u m e s of H e n r y D a v i s , S . J . 's , Mora l a n d Pas t o r a l Theology ( S h e e d and W a rd ) . But n o

A C H EC K I.IST

215

r e c e n t w o r k w a s m o r e s t i mu l a t i n g , a s I b e g a n t o t h i n k o f t h i s b o o k , t h an A

Ca t a lo g u e of S i n s

by William F. May,

a n d m y o b l i g a t i o n t o i t e x t e n d s m u c h f a r t h e r t h a n t h e few q u o t a t i o n s i n the t e x t . I t is i n t e r e s t i n g a l s o a s t h e w o r k of

The Ch r i s t i a n Idea of Sin and Orig i n a l Sin i n t h e Lig h t of Modern K n o w ledge [ L o n g m a n , G r e e n & C o . ) , N o e l H a l l ' s Th e Seven R o o t S i n s [ O x fo rd U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ) , a n d E . L a s B . C h e r b o n n i e r ' s Ha rd n e s s o f H e a rt : A Con t e m p o ­ ra ry In terpret a t io n of t h e Doc t r i n e o f S i n [ D o u b l e d a y ) . a P ro t e s t an t t h e o l o g i a n . There a r e a l s o E . J . B i c k n e l l ' s

B u t e v e r y o n e c a n f i n d h i s o w n fa v o r i t e s . No o n e w h o writes on t h e subject c a n withhold a word o f g r a t i t u d e a n d a d m i r a t i o n for D o r o t h y Sayers's l e c t ure ,

Th e O t h e r S i x D e a d l y S i n s

[Methue n ) . There have been

other books that have simply been p art of my general reading over the years , o f which I will mention only

De v i l 's S h a re

Th e

b y D e n i s de R o u g e m e n t , w h i c h p e r h a p s

o n l y a F re n c h m a n c o u l d h a v e w r i t t e n . T o t h o s e w h o w i s h t o e n t e r the p h i l o s o p h i c a l a s p ec t s o f t h e s u b j e c t , a s t h e y a re d e b a t e d t o d a y , o n e c a n h i g h l y re c om m e n d

Ch ri s t i a n i t y

E t h ics a n d

b y K e i t h W a r d [ G e o rg e A l l e n & U n w i n ) , a n d

a t o u g h l i t t le b o o k , A

Defe nce o f Th eologi c a l E t h i c s

by

G . F.Woods [Cambridge University Pres s ) . I deliberately d i d n o t read

Wh a t e ver H a p p e n ed t o S i n ?

b y K a r l M e n n i n g e r [ H a w t h o r n ) b e fo r e I f i n i s h e d m y o w n m a n u s c r i p t , b e c a u s e i t s e e m e d b e t t e r n o t t o b e i n fl u ­ e n c e d b y w h a t I k n e w t o b e a p o w e r fu l a rg u m e n t f r o m a distinguished

clinical

psychiatrist .

I

read

it

after­

wards-he in fact c o u r t e o u s l y s e n t m e an i n s c ribed copy a f t e r m y o w n e s s a y s h a d a p p e a r e d i n s e r i a l form - a n d I fo u n d i t c o m p e l l i n g . B u t s i n c e we a p p r o a c h t h e s u b j e c t fro m a n g l e s s o d i ffe re n t , o u r b o o k s c o m p l e m e n t [ r a t h e r t h a n e c h o ) e ac h o t h e r . I would add only o n e last work. Everyone should s till read John Bunyan's

216

Pilgri m 's Progres s .

SEVEN DEADLY S I N S TODAY

Fairlie Cover 2010_Layout 1 9/14/10 1:40 PM Page 1

“. . . a biting critique of the hocum, the sleazy, self-deluding arrogance of much pop culture.” —Christian Century “. . . a thoughtful and brave analysis, argued with subtlety and insight.” —Library Journal “. . . remarkably absorbing.” —The Atlantic Monthly Fairlie’s forthright opinions make this book useful material for class discussion. The late Henry Fairlie, a British-born political journalist and social critic, was a frequent contributor to British and American publications, including The New Republic and The Washington Post. Among his many acclaimed books are The Spoiled Child of the Western World and The Kennedy Promise.

Henry Fairlie THE

“. . . depressingly accurate about many of our malaises.” —New York Review of Books

HENRY FAIRLIE

Critics say that Henry Fairlie’s The Seven Deadly Sins Today is . . .

The Seven Deadly Sins Today

Sin, like death, is an unassailable fact of life. It is also one of the last great taboos for public debate. In this compelling book, Henry Fairlie shows that it is possible and necessary to talk about sin in ways that enrich our societies and our personal lives. Throughout his book, Fairlie relates these ancient sins to the central issues of contemporary life: liberal vs. conservative politics, discrimination, pornography, abortion, the vistas of modern science, and especially the pop psychologies that confirm the narcissism of our age.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS TODAY With Drawings by Vint Lawrence

University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana 46556