At this point I reveal myself in my
true colours, as a stick-in-the-mud. I hold a number of beliefs
that have been repudiated by the liveliest intellects of our time.
I believe that order is better than chaos, creation better than
destruction. I prefer gentleness to violence, forgiveness to vendetta.
On the whole I think that knowledge is preferable to ignorance,
and I am sure that human sympathy is more valuable than ideology.
I believe that in spite of the recent triumphs of science, men
haven't changed much in the last two thousand years; and in consequence
we must still try to learn from history. History is ourselves.
I also hold one or two beliefs that are more difficult to put
shortly. For example, I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which
we avoid hurting other people's feelings by satisfying our own
egos. And I think we should remember that we are part of a great
whole, which for convenience we call nature. All living things
are our brothers and sisters. Above all, I believe in the God-given
genius of certain individuals, and I value a society that makes
their existence possible.
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