What I Believe

Chapter 7

Why does man not do the things that Christ enjoins and that can give him the highest earthly felicity – the felicity he has ever longed to attain?  The answer as usually given, with slight variations of expression, is that the doctrine of Christ is indeed sublime, and its fulfillment would establish the kingdom of God on earth, but it is difficult and therefore impracticable.

It is in the nature of man to strive after what is best.  Each doctrine of life is but a doctrine of what is best for man.  If men have pointed out to them what is really best for them, how do they come to answer that they wish to do what is best, but cannot?

Human intellect, ever since man has existed, has been directed toward discovering what is best among all the demands that are made both in individual and in social life.  Men struggle for land, for any object that they may want, and then end by dividing all among themselves, each calling what he may get his ‘personal property.’  They find that though difficult of adjustment, it is better arranged thus, and they keep to their own property.  Men fight to get wives for themselves, and then come to the conclusion that it is better for each to have his own family; and though it may be hard to maintain a family, men keep to their property, their families, and all else they are said to possess.  No sooner do men find it best for themselves to act in a particular way, than they proceed to act in that way, however hard it may be.  Then what do we mean by saying the doctrine of Christ is sublime, a life in accordance with His doctrine would be a better one than the one we now lead, but we cannot lead the life that would be best for us because it is hard to do so?

If ‘hard’ means that it is hard to give up the momentary satisfaction of our desires for some great and good end, why do we not say, as well, that it is hard to plough the ground in order to have bread; to plant apple trees in order to have apples?  Every being endowed with the least germ of reason knows that no great good can be attained without trouble and difficulty.  And now we say that though Christ’s doctrine is sublime, we can never put it into practice because it is hard to do so.  Hard, because its observance would deprive us of what we have always possessed.  Have we never heard that it may be better for us to suffer and to lose, than never to suffer and always to have our desires satisfied?

Man may be but an animal, and nobody will find fault with him for being such; but a man cannot reason that he chooses to be only an animal; no sooner does he reason than he admits himself to be a rational being, and, making this admission, he cannot help recognizing a distinction between what is rational and what is irrational.  Reason does not command, it only enlightens.

While groping about in the darkness in search of the door, I bruise my hands and knees.  A man comes with a light, and I see the door.  I can no longer bruise myself against the wa…