Page:Path of Vision; pocket essays of East and West.djvu/42

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THE PATH OF VISION

self. The human personality, you tell me, is a bundle of intellections and emotions. Granted. But this is true, you will concede, of both primitive and civilized man. And some primitive men, you will also concede, I hope, are more attractive to us than the most developed specimen of civilization. I offer you this explanation, therefore, which you may accept or reject as you list. Your bundle of intellections and emotions,—your intelligence, your highly developed mind,—your passion for truth and justice,—these are cold and chilling and unfructifying, if they are not illumined and warmed by that innate, inherent flame, which is as evident at times in primitive man as well as in you and me. This innate light is the spirituality which is manifest in lesser or greater degree in individuals as in nations, according to the recognition it receives,—according to the ideal of it that is cheriched and upheld.

And this, I maintain, is the highest ideal of an individual or a nation. Complete victory in the struggle to attain it, is not

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