Page:Tolstoy - Essays and Letters.djvu/118

 102 ESSAYS AND LEITEKS

' I,' which consiflera itsolf a centre and does not wish to take its jilace in the ranks ?

From the time one accepts tliat task, and from the time one begins to fulfil it, it seems to me tninquillity should come even to those most tormented. I know tiiat there are minds tortured by thouglits of the Infinite, minds that suffer from the presence of mystery, and it is to them I address myself as a brother, advisintj thom to occupy thoir lives with some immense labour, of which it were even well that thoy should never see the completion. It will bo the balance enabling them to march straight ; it will be a con- tinual diversion — grain thrown to tlieir intelligence, that it may grind and convert it into daily broad, with the satis- faction that comes of duty accomjtlished.

It is true this solvt-s no metaphysical problems ; it is but an cmj)irical recij>o enabling one to live one's life honestly and more or less tranquillv ; V>ut is it a small thing to obtain a sound state of moral and physical health, and to escape the danger of droams, wiiilc solving by work tlie question of finding ihe greatest happiness possible on this earth ?

I have always, I admit, distrusted chimeras. Nothing ia less wholesome for men and nations than illusion ; it stifles effort, it blinds, it is the vanity of the weak. To repose on legends, to be mistaken about all realities, to believe that it is enough to dream of force in order to be strong — we have seen well enough to what terrible disasters such things lead. The people are told to look on high, to believe in a Higher Power, and to exalt themselves to the ideal. No, no ! That is language which at times seems to me impious. The only strong people are those who work, and it is only work that gives courage and faith. To conquer it is neces- sary that tlie arsenals should bo full, that one should have the strongest and the moat perfect armament, that the army should be trained, should have confidence in its chiefs and in itself. All this can be acquired ; it nee<is but the will and the right method. You may be well assured that the coming century and the illimitable future belong to work. And, in the rising force of Socialism, does one not already see the rough sketch of the social law of to-morrow, the law of work for all — liberating and pacifying work ?

Young men, young men, take up your duties ! Let each one accept his task, a task which should till his life. It