Oflogic，anditslimits，andusesandabuses，thereweremuchtobesaidandexamined;onefact，however，whichchieflyconcernsushere，haslongbeenfamiliar:thatthemanoflogicandthemanofinsight;theReasonerandtheDiscoverer，orevenKnower，arequiteseparable，—indeed，formostpart，quiteseparatecharacters。Inpracticalmatters，forexample，hasitnotbecomealmostproverbialthatthemanoflogiccannotprosper？Thisishewhombusiness—peoplecallSystematicandTheoriserandWord—monger;hisvitalintellectualforceliesdormantorextinct，hiswholeforceismechanical，conscious:ofsuchaoneitisforeseenthat，whenonceconfrontedwiththeinfinitecomplexitiesoftherealworld，hislittlecompacttheoremoftheworldwillbefoundwanting;thatunlesshecanthrowitoverboardandbecomeanewcreature，hewillnecessarilyfounder。Nay，inmereSpeculationitself，themostineffectualofallcharacters，generallyspeaking，isyourdialecticman—at—arms;werehearmedcap—a—pieinsyllogisticmailofproof，andperfectmasteroflogic—fence，howlittledoesitavailhim！ConsidertheoldSchoolmen，andtheirpilgrimagetowardsTruth:thefaithfulestendeavour，incessantunweariedmotion，oftengreatnaturalvigour:onlynoprogress:
nothingbutanticfeatsofonelimbpoisedagainsttheother;theretheybalanced，somersetted，andmadepostures;atbestgyratedswiftlywithsomepleasure，likeSpinningDervishes，andendedwheretheybegan。Soisit，sowillitalwaysbe，withallSystem—makersandbuildersoflogicalcard—castles;
ofwhichclassacertainremnantmust，ineveryage，astheydoinourown，surviveandbuild。Logicisgood，butitisnotthebest。TheIrrefragableDoctor，withhischainsofinduction，hiscorollaries，dilemmasandothercunninglogicaldiagramsandapparatus，willcastyouabeautifulhoroscope，andspeakreasonablethings;neverthelessyourstolenjewel，whichyouwantedhimtofindyou，isnotforthcoming。Oftenbysomewingedword，wingedasthethunderboltis，ofaLuther，aNapoleon，aGoethe，shallweseethedifficultysplitasunder，anditssecretlaidbare;whiletheIrrefragable，withallhislogicaltools，hewsatit，andhoversroundit，andfindsitonallhandstoohardforhim。
Again，inthedifferencebetweenOratoryandRhetoric，asindeedeverywhereinthatsuperiorityofwhatiscalledtheNaturalovertheArtificial，wefindasimilarillustration。TheOratorpersuadesandcarriesallwithhim，heknowsnothow;theRhetoriciancanprovethatheoughttohavepersuadedandcarriedallwithhim:theoneisinastateofhealthyunconsciousness，asifhe\'hadnosystem\';theother，invirtueofregimenanddieteticpunctuality，feelsatbestthat\'hissystemisinhighorder。\'Sostandsit，inshort，withalltheformsofIntellect，whetherasdirectedtothefindingoftruth，ortothefitimpartingthereof;toPoetry，toEloquence，todepthofInsight，whichisthebasisofboththese;alwaysthecharacteristicofrightperformanceisacertainspontaneity，anunconsciousness;\'thehealthyknownotoftheirhealth，butonlythesick。\'Sothattheoldpreceptofthecritic，ascrabbedasitlookedtohisambitiousdisciple，mightcontaininitamostfundamentaltruth，applicabletousall，andinmuchelsethanLiterature:\"Wheneveryouhavewrittenanysentencethatlooksparticularlyexcellent，besuretoblotitout。\"
Inlikemanner，undermilderphraseology，andwithameaningpurposelymuchwider，alivingThinkerhastaughtus:\'OftheWrongwearealwaysconscious，oftheRightnever。\'
ButifsuchisthelawwithregardtoSpeculationandtheIntellectualpowerofman，muchmoreisitwithregardtoConduct，andthepower，manifestedchieflytherein，whichwenameMoral。\'Letnotthylefthandknowwhatthyrighthanddoeth\';whispernottothyownheart，Howworthyisthisaction！—
forthenitisalreadybecomingworthless。Thegoodmanishewhoworkscontinuallyinwelldoing;towhomwelldoingisashisnaturalexistence，awakeningnoastonishment，requiringnocommentary;butthere，likeathingofcourse，andasifitcouldnotbutbeso。Self—contemplation，ontheotherhand，isinfalliblythesymptomofdisease，beitorbeitnotthesignofcure。AnunhealthyVirtueisonethatconsumesitselftoleannessinrepentingandanxiety;or，stillworse，thatinflatesitselfintodropsicalboastfulnessandvain—glory:eitherway，thereisaself—seeking;anunprofitablelookingbehindustomeasurethewaywehavemade:whereasthesoleconcernistowalkcontinuallyforward，andmakemoreway。Ifinanysphereofman\'slife，thenintheMoralsphere，astheinmostandmostvitalofall，itisgoodthattherebewholeness;thattherebeunconsciousness，whichistheevidenceofthis。Letthefree，reasonableWill，whichdwellsinus，asinourHolyofHolies，beindeedfree，andobeyedlikeaDivinity，asisitsrightanditseffort:
theperfectobediencewillbethesilentone。Suchperhapswerethesenseofthatmaxim，enunciating，asisusual，butthehalfofatruth:Tosaythatwehaveaclearconscience，istoutterasolecism;hadweneversinned，weshouldhavehadnoconscience。Weredefeatunknown，neitherwouldvictorybecelebratedbysongsoftriumph。
This，trueenough，isanideal，impossiblestateofbeing;yeteverthegoaltowardswhichouractualstateofbeingstrives;whichitisthemoreperfecttheneareritcanapproach。Nor，inouractualworld，whereLabourmustoftenproveineffectual，andthusinallsensesLightalternatewithDarkness，andthenatureofanidealMoralitybemuchmodified，isthecase，thusfar，materiallydifferent。Itisafactwhichescapesnoone，that，generallyspeaking，whosoisacquaintedwithhisworthhasbutalittlestocktocultivateacquaintancewith。Aboveall，thepublicacknowledgmentofsuchacquaintance，indicatingthatithasreachedquiteanintimatefooting，bodesill。
Already，tothepopularjudgment，hewhotalksmuchaboutVirtueintheabstract，beginstobesuspect;itisshrewdlyguessedthatwherethereisgreatpreaching，therewillbelittlealms—giving。Oragain，onawiderscale，wecanremarkthatagesofHeroismarenotagesofMoralPhilosophy;Virtue，whenitcanbephilosophisedof，hasbecomeawareofitself，issicklyandbeginningtodecline。Aspontaneoushabitualall—pervadingspiritofChivalrousValourshrinkstogether，andperksitselfupintoshrivelledPointsofHonour;
humaneCourtesyandNoblenessofminddwindleintopunctiliousPoliteness，\'avoidingmeats\';\'payingtitheofmintandanise，neglectingtheweightiermattersofthelaw。\'Goodness，whichwasaruletoitself，mustnowappealtoPrecept，andseekstrengthfromSanctions;theFreewillnolongerreignsunquestionedandbydivineright，butlikeamereearthlysovereign，byexpediency，byRewardsandPunishments:orrather，letussay，theFreewill，sofarasmaybe，hasabdicatedandwithdrawnintothedark，andaspectralnightmareofaNecessityusurpsitsthrone;fornowthatmysteriousSelf—impulseofthewholeman，heaven—inspired，andinallsensespartakingoftheInfinite，beingcaptiouslyquestionedinafinitedialect，andanswering，asitneedsmust，bysilence，—isconceivedasnon—extant，andonlytheoutwardMechanismofitremainsacknowledged:ofVolition，exceptasthesynonymofDesire，wehearnothing;of\'Motives，\'withoutanyMover，morethanenough。
Sotoo，whenthegenerousAffectionshavebecomewell—nighparalytic，wehavethereignofSentimentality。Thegreatness，theprofitableness，atanyratetheextremelyornamentalnatureofhighfeeling，andtheluxuryofdoinggood;
charity，love，self—forgetfulness，devotednessandallmannerofgodlikemagnanimity，—areeverywhereinsistedon，andpressinglyinculcatedinspeechandwriting，inproseandverse;SocinianPreachersproclaim\'Benevolence\'toallthefourwinds，andhaveTruthengravedontheirwatch—seals:unhappilywithlittleornoeffect。Werethelimbsinrightwalkingorder，whysomuchdemonstratingofmotion？ThebarrenestofallmortalsistheSentimentalist。Grantingeventhatheweresincere，anddidnotwilfullydeceiveus，orwithoutfirstdeceivinghimself，whatgoodisinhim？
Doeshenotliethereasaperpetuallessonofdespair，andtypeofbedridvaletudinarianimpotence？HisisemphaticallyaVirtuethathasbecome，througheveryfibre，consciousofitself;itisallsick，andfeelsasifitweremadeofglass，anddurstnottouchorbetouched;intheshapeofwork，itcandonothing;attheutmost，byincessantnursingandcaudling，keepitselfalive。Asthelaststageofall，whenVirtue，properlysocalled，hasceasedtobepractised，andbecomeextinct，andamereremembrance，wehavetheeraofSophists，descantingofitsexistence，provingit，denyingit，mechanically\'accounting\'forit;—asdissectorsanddemonstratorscannotoperatetilloncethebodybedead。
ThusistrueMoralgenius，liketrueIntellectual，whichindeedisbutalowerphasisthereof，\'everasecrettoitself。\'ThehealthymoralnaturelovesGoodness，andwithoutwonderwhollylivesinit:theunhealthymakeslovetoit，andwouldfaingettoliveinit;or，findingsuchcourtshipfruitless，turnsround，andnotwithoutcontemptabandonsit。ThesecuriousrelationsoftheVoluntaryandConscioustotheInvoluntaryandUnconscious，andthesmallproportionwhich，inalldepartmentsofourlife，theformerbearsofthelatter，—mightleadusintodeepquestionsofPsychologyandPhysiology:such，however，belongnottoourpresentobject。Enough，ifthefactitselfbecomeapparent，thatNaturesomeantitwithus;thatinthiswisewearemade。Wemaynowsay，thatviewman\'sindividualExistenceunderwhataspectwewill，underthehighestspiritual，asunderthemerelyanimalaspect，everywherethegrandvitalenergy，whileinitssoundstate，isanunseenunconsciousone;or，inthewordsofouroldAphorism，\'thehealthyknownotoftheirhealth，butonlythesick。\'
Tounderstandman，however，wemustlookbeyondtheindividualmanandhisactionsorinterests，andviewhimincombinationwithhisfellows。
ItisinSocietythatmanfirstfeelswhatheis;firstbecomeswhathecanbe。InSocietyanaltogethernewsetofspiritualactivitiesareevolvedinhim，andtheoldimmeasurablyquickenedandstrengthened。Societyisthegenialelementwhereinhisnaturefirstlivesandgrows;thesolitarymanwerebutasmallportionofhimself，andmustcontinueforeverfoldedin，stuntedandonlyhalfalive。\'Already，\'saysadeepThinker，withmoremeaningthanwilldiscloseitselfatonce，\'myopinion，myconviction，gainsinfinitelyinstrengthandsureness，themomentasecondmindhasadoptedit，\'Such，eveninitssimplestform，isassociation;sowondrousthecommunionofsoulwithsoulasdirectedtothemereactofKnowing！Inotherhigheracts，thewonderisstillmoremanifest;asinthatportionofourbeingwhichwenametheMoral:
forproperly，indeed，allcommunionisofamoralsort，whereofsuchintellectualcommunion（intheactofknowing）isitselfanexample。ButwithregardtoMoralsstrictlysocalled，itisinSociety，wemightalmostsay，thatMoralitybegins;hereatleastittakesanaltogethernewform，andoneveryside，asinlivinggrowth，expandsitself。TheDutiesofMantohimself，towhatisHighestinhimself，makebuttheFirstTableoftheLaw:totheFirstTableisnowsuper—addedaSecond，withtheDutiesofMantohisNeighbour;wherebyalsothesignificanceoftheFirstnowassumesitstrueimportance。
Manhasjoinedhimselfwithman;soulactsandreactsonsoul;amysticmiraculousunfathomableUnionestablishesitself;Life，inallitselements，hasbecomeintensated，consecrated。Thelightning—sparkofThought，generated，orsayratherheaven—kindled，inthesolitarymind，awakensitsexpresslikenessinanothermind，inathousandotherminds，andallblaze—uptogetherincombinedfire;reverberatedfrommindtomind，fedalsowithfreshfuelineach，itacquiresincalculablenewlightasThought，incalculablenewheatasconvertedintoAction。Byandby，acommonstoreofThoughtcanaccumulate，andbetransmittedasaneverlastingpossession:Literature，whetheraspreservedinthememoryofBards，inRunesandHieroglyphsengravedonstone，orinBooksofwrittenorprintedpaper，comesintoexistence，andbeginstoplayitswondrouspart。Politiesareformed;
theweaksubmittingtothestrong;withawillingloyaltygivingobediencethathemayreceiveguidance:orsayrather，inhonourofournature，theignorantsubmittingtothewise;forsoitisinalleventherudestcommunities，manneveryieldshimselfwhollytobruteForce，butalwaystomoralGreatness，thustheuniversaltitleofrespect，fromtheOriginalSheik，fromtheSachemoftheRedIndians，downtoourEnglishSir，impliesonlythathewhomwemeantohonourisoursenior。Last，asthecrownandall—supportingkeystoneofthefabric，Religionarises。Thedevoutmeditationoftheisolatedman，whichflittedthroughhissoul，likeatransienttoneofLoveandAwefromunknownlands，acquirescertainty，continuance，whenitisshared—inbyhisbrothermen。
\'Wheretwoorthreearegatheredtogether\'inthenameoftheHighest，thenfirstdoestheHighest，asitiswritten，\'appearamongthemtoblessthem\';thenfirstdoesanAltarandactofunitedWorshipopenawayfromEarthtoHeaven;whereon，wereitbutasimpleJacob\'s—ladder，theheavenlyMessengerswilltravel，withgladtidingsandunspeakablegiftsformen。SuchisSociety，thevitalarticulationofmanyindividualsintoanewcollectiveindividual:greatlythemostimportantofman\'sattainmentsonthisearth;thatinwhich，andbyvirtueofwhich，allhisotherattainmentsandattemptsfindtheirarena，andhavetheirvalue。Consideredwell，Societyisthestandingwonderofourexistence;atrueregionoftheSupernatural;asitwere，asecondall—embracingLife，whereinourfirstindividualLifebecomesdoublyandtreblyalive，andwhateverofInfinitudewasinusbodiesitselfforth，andbecomesvisibleandactive。
TofigureSocietyasendowedwithlifeisscarcelyametaphor;butratherthestatementofafactbysuchimperfectmethodsaslanguageaffords。
Lookatitclosely，thatmysticUnion，Nature\'shighestworkwithman，whereinman\'svolitionplaysanindispensableyetsosubordinateapart，andthesmallMechanicalgrowssomysteriouslyandindissolublyoutoftheinfiniteDynamical，likeBodyoutofSpirit，—istrulyenoughvital，whatwecancallvital，andbearsthedistinguishingcharacteroflife。Inthesamestylealso，wecansaythatSocietyhasitsperiodsofsicknessandvigour，ofyouth，manhood，decrepitude，dissolutionandnewbirth;inoneorotherofwhichstageswemay，inalltimes，andallplaceswheremeninhabit，discernit;anddoourselves，inthistimeandplace，whetherascooperatingorascontending，ashealthymembersorasdiseasedones，toourjoyandsorrow，formpartofit。Thequestion，WhatistheactualconditionofSociety？hasinthesedaysunhappilybecomeimportantenough。Nooneofusisunconcernedinthatquestion;butforthemajorityofthinkingmenatrueanswertoit，suchisthestateofmatters，appearsalmostastheonethingneedful。Meanwhile，asthetrueanswer，thatistosay，thecompleteandfundamentalanswerandsettlement，oftenasithasbeendemanded，isnowhereforthcoming，andindeedbyitsnatureisimpossible，anyhonestapproximationtowardssuchisnotwithoutvalue。Thefeeblestlight，orevensomuchasamorepreciserecognitionofthedarkness，whichisthefirststeptoattainmentoflight，willbewelcome。
Thisonceunderstood，letitnotseemidleifweremarkthatheretooouroldAphorismholds;thatagainintheBodyPolitic，asintheanimalbody，thesignofrightperformancesinUnconsciousness。Suchindeedisvirtuallythemeaningofthatphrase，\'artificialstateofsociety，;ascontrastedwiththenaturalstate，andindicatingsomethingsoinferiortoit。For，inallvitalthings，mendistinguishanArtificialandaNatural;foundingonsomedimperceptionorsentimentoftheverytruthwehereinsiston:theartificialistheconscious，mechanical;thenaturalistheunconscious，dynamical。Thus，aswehaveanartificialPoetry，andprizeonlythenatural;solikewisewehaveanartificialMorality，anartificialWisdom，anartificialSociety。TheartificialSocietyispreciselyonethatknowsitsownstructure，itsowninternalfunctions;
notinwatching，notinknowingwhich，butinworkingoutwardlytothefulfilmentofitsaim，doesthewellbeingofaSocietyconsist。EverySociety，everyPolity，hasaspiritualprinciple;istheembodiment，tentativeandmoreorlesscomplete，ofanIdea:allitstendenciesofendeavour，specialtiesofcustom，itslaws，politicsandwholeprocedure（astheglanceofsomeMontesquieu，acrossinnumerablesuperficialentanglements，canpartlydecipher），areprescribedbyanIdea，andflownaturallyfromit，asmovementsfromthelivingsourceofmotion。ThisIdea，beitofdevotiontoamanorclassofmen，toacreed，toaninstitution，oreven，asinmoreancienttimes，toapieceofland，iseveratrueLoyalty;hasinitsomethingofareligious，paramount，quiteinfinitecharacter;itisproperlytheSouloftheState，itsLife;
mysteriousasotherformsofLife，andliketheseworkingsecretly，andinadepthbeyondthatofconsciousness。
Accordingly，itisnotinthevigorousagesofaRomanRepublicthatTreatisesoftheCommonwealtharewritten:whiletheDeciiarerushingwithdevotedbodiesontheenemiesofRome，whatneedofpreachingPatriotism？ThevirtueofPatriotismhasalreadysunkfromitspristineall—transcendentcondition，beforeithasreceivedaname。SolongastheCommonwealthcontinuesrightlyathletic，itcaresnottodabbleinanatomy。WhyteachobediencetotheSovereign;whysomuchasadmireit，orseparatelyrecogniseit，whileadivineideaofObedienceperenniallyinspiresallmen？
Loyalty，likePatriotism，ofwhichitisaform，wasnotpraisedtillithadbeguntodecline;thePreuxChevaliersfirstbecamerightlyadmirable，when\'dyingfortheirking\'hadceasedtobeahabicwithchevaliers。ForifthemysticsignificanceoftheState，letthisbewhatitmay，dwellsvitallyineveryheart，encircleseverylifeaswithasecondhigherlife，howshoulditstandself—questioning？Itmustrushoutward，andexpressitselfbyworks。
Besides，ifperfect，itisthereasbynecessity，anddoesnotexciteinquiry:
itisalsobynatureinfinite，hasnolimits;thereforecanbecircumscribedbynoconditionsanddefinitions;cannotbereasonedof;exceptmusically，orinthelanguageofPoetry，cannotyetsomuchasbespokenof。
Inthosedays，Societywaswhatwenamehealthy，soundatheart。Notindeedwithoutsufferingenough;notwithoutperplexities，difficultyoneveryside:forsuchistheappointmentofman;hishighestandsoleblessednessis，thathetoil，andknowwhattotoilat;notinease，butinunitedvictoriouslabour，whichisatonceevilandthevictoryoverevil，doeshisFreedomlie。
Nay，often，lookingnodeeperthansuchsuperficialperplexitiesoftheearlyTime，historianshavetaughtusthatitwasallonemassofcontradictionanddisease;
andintheantiqueRepublicorfeudalMonarchyhaveseenonlytheconfusedchaoticquarry，nottherobustlabourer，orthestatelyedificehewasbuildingofit。
IfSociety，insuchages，haditsdifficulty，ithadalsoitsstrength;
ifsorrowfulmassesofrubbishsoencumberedit，thetoughsinewstohurlthemaside，withindomitableheart，werenotwanting。Societywentalongwithoutcomplaint;
didnotstoptoscrutinizeitself，tosay，HowwellIperform！or，Alas，howill！