Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 8.djvu/343

 beautiful speech lacks the best of its means of expression. Where nevertheless such speech is to serve for permanent record, hence for the understanding of later generations, it has recourse, partly to short comprehensive formulae and to “symbolic actions,” the meaning of which is more easily comprehensible and preserves its meaning better; partly to diffuse “circumlocutions”. Hence we get the brevity of the lapidary style side by side with the breadth of the legal style—both aim at a deep impression of the meanings of their words. The language of writing is considerably influenced by these styles, and still more by all artistic styles in the use of words; and thus its reaction upon the oral use of language is increased.

59. The following stages correspond in a certain degree, as we have already noticed, to the three first; but they stand also in a social connexion, in such a way that the fourth in the whole series attaches itself to the third, the fifth to the fourth, etc. All three of the later stages presuppose in general a high culture, a language elaborated to a manifold use, hence also a written language. We have already said that they make free use of language as of an instrument; the word is consciously formed as a means to the end of communication. Hence all unessential “accessories” fall away, which express feelings and excite feelings; language becomes prosaic, and the “dry” written expression is therefore adequate; the individual element is submerged, and definite social styles, forms, and methods rule as patterns—and this all the more in proportion as what corresponds to these ideas presents itself clearly in reality. On the other hand we find just here a basis of developed individualism or egoism—endeavours which will succeed at any cost, hence also at the expense of others, and which regard even social ordinances and rules only as means to their ends, and subordinate themselves to them only unwillingly and conditionally. Thus the social and individual principles balance and struggle against each other, the sharp accentuation of both leading to antagonism. From this it follows for communication in words that here again understanding is only easy for one who knows the “language,” but also the ideas; often indeed it is only possible through a process of “initiation”. For the rest, it is to a large extent further conditioned by knowledge of the personality of the man who is uttering his will or his thoughts. It is from his trustworthiness that we must know whether he is concerned to communicate something real, or whether he desires only to reiterate meaningless conventional phrases, if not actually to