Page:The reflections of Lichtenberg.djvu/106

 The respice finem principle admits of a far more effective explanation than is usually given of it. Man, who invented Heaven, takes account of the future. Whoso in his every act considers the influence which that act may have upon his future, and in the event of its promising him no advantage in the future leaves it undone, will assuredly live a happy life. All great souls have undertaken the present merely for the sake of the future, while bad men, like brute beasts, always have the present alone in mind; nay, they lower themselves beneath the level of the beasts, as these by instinct provide in many ways for the futureNature in this to a certain extent undertaking their reasoning for them. I am myself a believer in Helvetius’ doctrine that “what we will we can do; but we do not will every thing which we dispassionately wish that we could do.” The kind of will here meant is irresistible passion, which hardly ever fails of the requisite capacity.

There is a certain virginity of soul in the case of girls, as also a moral defloration, which in many instances takes place very early. The term “divine service” ought to be applied no longer to church-going but exclusively to good deeds.

What can be the cause of man’s terrible disinclination to show himself as he is, whether in his bed-chamber or in his most secret thoughts? In the