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Our chief impression of long ages of mankind
comes from its cemeteries. And this is the life of man, as the
common man conceives and lives it. Beyond that he does not go, he
never comprehends himself collectively at all, the state happens
about him; his passion for security, his gregarious self-
defensiveness, makes him accumulate upon himself until he congests
in cities that have no sense of citizenship and states that have no
structure; the clumsy, inconsecutive lying and chatter of his
newspapers, his hoardings and music-halls gives the measure of his
congested intelligences, the confusion of ugly, half empty churches
and chapels and meeting-halls gauge the intensity of his congested
souls, the tricks and slow blundering dishonesties of Diet and
Congress and Parliament are his statecraft and his wisdom. . . .
"I do not care if this instant I am stricken dead for pride. I say
here now to you and to High Heaven that THIS LIFE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
FOR ME. I know there is a better life than this muddle about us, a
better life possible now.


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