OF THE FLIES OF THE MARKET 69
They flatter thee like a God or devil ; they whimper before thee as before a God or devil. What matter ? Flatterers they are and whimperers, that is all.
They also frequently present themselves unto thee as amiable. But that hath ever been the prudence of cowards. Ay, cowards are prudent.
They think much about thee with their narrow souls, thou art ever suspected of them ! Whatever is much reflected upon, becometh suspected.
They punish thee for all thy virtues. From the heart of their heart they only pardon thee thy mis- takes.
Because thou art tender and of a just mind thou sayest : ' Their small existence is not their fault.' But their narrow soul thinketh : ' Guilty is all great existence.'
Even if thou art tender unto them they think that thou despisest them ; and they return thy benefits with secret harms.
Thy unspoken pride is ever against their taste; they exult, when once thou art modest enough to be idle.
Whatever we recognise in a man, we inflame hi him. Therefore beware of the small.
They feel themselves to be small before thee, and their lowness glimmereth and gloweth in invisible revenge against thee.
Sawest thou not how often they were silent when
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