Page:The Relations Tolstoy.pdf/80

 her possibility of serving humanity in the same aspects of her being, is by her structure called -inevitably destined -to that service which alone is excluded from the sphere of man's activities. The service of mankind is naturally divided into two parts: one -the increase of the welfare of existing humanity, the other -the continuation of humanity itself. To the former men are called chiefly, as they are bereft of the possibility of serving the latter. Women are called to the latter as they alone are capable of it. This distinction one cannot, and should not, it is sinful (i.e., an error) to forget, and to wipe out, as people try to do. From this distinction ensues the duties of both sexes, duties not invented by men, but which lie in the nature of things. From the same distinction ensues the duties of both sexes, duties not invented by men, but which lie in the nature of things. From the same distinction follows also the estimation of the virtue and vice of woman and man, -a valuation which has existed in all ages, and exists now, and which will never cease to exist so long as men possess reason. And the man who has passed his life in masculine, varied work, and the woman who has passed hers in giving birth to nursing and rearing her children, -will always feel, also, that they have done what was right; and they will elicit the respect and affection of mankind because both have fulfilled their indubitable calling. The calling of man is more varied and broad, the calling of woman is less varied and narrower, but deeper. Therefore it has always been and ever will be the opinion that man, having broken one or ten of his hundreds of duties, has yet fulfilled nine-tenths of his calling, and remains not a bad not a harmful man. Whereas woman, having three duties, and broken one, fulfills only two-thirds; -having broken two, becomes negative, harmful. This has always been the general opinion, and so it will always remain, because it is the pith of the matter. Man must