#kingsmill

Hamlet is egotism as it appears to itself, and Don Quixote is egotism as it appears to the detached observer.

Most of the avoidable suffering in life springs from our attempts to escape the unavoidable suffering inherent in the fragmentary nature of our present existence. We expect immortal satisfactions from mortal conditions, and lasting and perfect happiness in the midst of universal change. To encourage this expectation, to persuade mankind that the ideal is realisable in this world, after a few preliminary changes in external conditions, is the distinguishing mark of all charlatans, whether in thought or action. In the middle of the eighteenth century (Samuel) Johnson wrote: “We will not endeavour to fix the destiny of kingdoms: it is our business to consider what beings like us can perform.” A little later Rousseau wrote: “Man is born free and is everywhere in chains.” Rousseau’s seductive lie founded the secular religions which in various forms have dominated Europe since Rousseau’s death.