After David comes Job, and after Job, Ecclesiastes.” At last men begin to doubt the gods they mourn the tragedy of knowledge, and seek refuge in every passing delight.Īchilles is at the beginning, Epicurus at the end. If victory comes, if war is forgotten in security and peace, then wealth grows the life of the body gives way, in the dominant classes, to the life of the senses and the mind toil and suffering are replaced by pleasure and ease science weakens faith even while thought and comfort weaken virility and fortitude. Even then a firm faith will explain that it was the sins of the people that turned their gods to an avenging wrath evil does not destroy faith, but strengthens it. In the beginning of all cultures a strong religious faith conceals and softens the nature of things, and gives men courage to bear pain and hardship patiently at every step the gods are with them, and will not let them perish, until they do. At its cradle (to repeat a thoughtful adage) religion stands, and philosophy accompanies it to the grave. “A nation is born stoic, and dies epicurean.
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