teachers and artists and learned men； the purveyors of spiritual
nourishment； are rare。 And it is not without reason that mankind
has valued and still values them so highly。
But it now appears； that all these great factors in the science and
art of the past are no longer of use to us。 Nowadays； scientific
and artistic authorities can； in accordance with the law of division
of labor； be turned out by factory methods； and； in one decade； more
great men have been manufactured in art and science； than have ever
been born of such among all nations； since the foundation of the
world。 Nowadays there is a guild of learned men and artists； and
they prepare； by perfected methods； all that spiritual food which
man requires。 And they have prepared so much of it； that it is no
longer necessary to refer to the elder authorities； who have
preceded them；not only to the ancients； but to those much nearer
to us。 All that was the activity of the theological and
metaphysical period；all that must be wiped out： but the true； the
rational activity began； say； fifty years ago； and in the course of
those fifty years we have made so many great men； that there are
about ten great men to every branch of science。 And there have come
to be so many sciences； that； fortunately； it is easy to make them。
All that is required is to add the Greek word 〃logy〃 to the name；
and force them to conform to a set rubric； and the science is all
complete。 They have created so many sciences； that not only can no
one man know them all； but not a single individual can remember all
the titles of all the existing sciences； the titles alone form a
thick lexicon； and new sciences are manufactured every day。 They
have been manufactured on the pattern of that Finnish teacher who
taught the landed proprietor's children Finnish instead of French。
Every thing has been excellently inculcated； but there is one
objection；that no one except ourselves can understand any thing of
it； and all this is reckoned as utterly useless nonsense。 However；
there is an explanation even for this。 People do not appreciate the
full value of scientific science； because they are under the
influence of the theological period； that profound period when all
the people； both among the Hebrews； and the Chinese； and the
Indians； and the Greeks； understood every thing that their great
teachers said to them。
But； from whatever cause this has come about； the fact remains； that
sciences and arts have always existed among mankind； and； when they
really did exist； they were useful and intelligible to all the
people。 But we practise something which we call science and art；
but it appears that what we do is unnecessary and unintelligible to
man。 And hence； however beautiful may be the things that we
accomplish； we have no right to call them arts and sciences。
CHAPTER VI。
〃But you only furnish a different definition of arts and sciences；
which is stricter； and is incompatible with science；〃 I shall be
told in answer to this； 〃nevertheless； scientific and artistic
activity does still exist。 There are the Galileos； Brunos； Homers；
Michael Angelos； Beethovens； and all the lesser learned men and
artists； who have consecrated their entire lives to the service of
science and art； and who were； and will remain； the benefactors of
mankind。〃
Generally this is what people say； striving to forget that new
principle of the division of labor； on the basis of which science
and art now occupy their privileged position； and on whose basis we
are now enabled to decide without grounds； but by a given standard：
Is there； or is there not； any foundation for that activity which
calls itself science and art； to so magnify itself？
When the Egyptian or the Grecian priests produced their mysteries；
which were unintelligible to any one； and stated concerning these
mysteries that all science and all art were contained in them； I
could not verify the reality of their science on the basis of the
benefit procured by them to the people； because science； according
to their assertions； was supernatural。 But now we all possess a
very simple and clear definition of the activity of art and science；
which excludes every thing supernatural： science and art promise to
carry out the mental activity of mankind； for the welfare of
society； or of all the human race。
The definition of scientific science and art is entirely correct；
but； unfortunately； the activity of the present arts and sciences
does not come under this head。 Some of them are directly injurious；
others are useless； others still are worthless；good only for the
wealthy。 They do not fulfil that which； by their own definition；
they have undertaken to accomplish； and hence they have as little
right to regard themselves as men of art and science； as a corrupt
priesthood； which does not fulfil the obligations which it has
assumed； has the right to regard itself as the bearer of divine
truth。
And it can be understood why the makers of the present arts and
sciences have not fulfilled； and cannot fulfil； their vocation。
They do not fulfil it； because out of their obligations they have
erected a right。
Scientific and artistic activity； in its real sense； is only
fruitful when it knows no rights； but recognizes only obligations。
Only because it is its property to be always thus； does mankind so
highly prize this activity。 If men really were called to the
service of others through artistic work； they would see in that work
only obligation； and they would fulfil it with toil； with
privations； and with self…abnegation。
The thinker or the artist will never sit calmly on Olympian heights；
as we have become accustomed to represent them to ourselves。 The
thinker or the artist should suffer in company with the people； in
order that he may find salvation or consolation。 Besides this； he
will suffer because he is always and eternally in turmoil and
agitation： he might decide and say that that which would confer
welfare on men； would free them from suffering； would afford them
consolation； but he has not said so； and has not presented it as he
should have done； he has not decided； and he has not spoken； and to…
morrow； possibly； it will be too late；he will die。 And therefore
suffering and self…sacrifice will always be the lot of the thinker
and the artist。
Not of this description will be the thinker and artist who is reared
in an establishment where； apparently； they manufacture the learned
man or the artist （but in point of fact； they manufacture destroyers
of science and of art）； who receives a diploma and a certificate；
who would be glad not to think and not to express that which is
imposed on his soul； but who cannot avoid doing that to which two
irresistible forces draw him；an inward prompting； and the demand
of men。
There will be no sleek； plump； self…satisfied thinkers and artists。
Spiritual activity； and its expression； which are actually necessary
to others； are the most burdensome of all man's avocations； a cross；
as the Gospels phrase it。 And the sole indubitable sign of the
presence of a vocation is self…devotion； the sacrifice of self for
the manifestation of the power that is imposed upon man for the
benefit of others。
It is possible to study out how many beetles there are in the world；
to view the spots on the sun； to write romances and operas； without
suffering； but it is impossible； without self…sacrifice； to instruct
people in their true happiness； which consists solely in
renunciation of self and the service of others； and to give strong
expression to this doctrine； without self…sacrifice。
Christ did not die on the cross in vain； not in vain does the
sacrifice of suffering conquer all things。
But our art and science are provided with certificates and diplomas；
and the only anxiety of all men is； how to still better guarantee
them； i。e。； how to render the service of the people impracticable
for them。
True art and true science possess two unmistakable marks： the
first； an inward mark； which is this； that the servitor of art and
science will fulfil his vocation； not for profit but with self…
sacrifice； and the second； an external sign；his productions will
be intelligible to all the people whose welfare he has in view。
No matter what people have fixed upon as their vocation and their
welfare； science will be the doctrine of this vocation and welfare；
and art will be the expression of that doctrine。 That which is
called science and art； among us； is the product of idle minds and
feelings； which have for their object to tickle similar idle minds
and feelings。 Our arts and sciences are incomprehensible； and say
nothing to the people； for they have not the welfare of the common
people in view。
Ever since the life of men has been known to us； we find； always and
everywhere； the reigning doctrine falsely designating itself as
science； not manifesting itself to the common people； but obscuring
for them the meaning of life。 Thus it was among the Greeks the
sophists； then among the Christians the mystics； gnostics；
scholastics； among the Hebrews the Talmudists and Cabalists； and so
on everywhere； down to our own times。
How fortunate it is for us that we live in so peculiar an age； when
that mental activity which calls itself science； not only does not
err； but finds itself； as we are assured； in a remarkably
flourishing condition！ Does not this peculiar good fortune arise
from the fact that man can not and will not see his own hideousness？
Why is there nothing left of those sciences； and sophists； and
Cabalists； and Talmudists； but words； while we are so exceptionally
happy？ Surely the signs are identical。 There is the same self…
satisfaction and blind confidence that we； precisely we； and only
we； are on the right path； and that the real thing is only beginning
with us。 There is the same expectation that we shall discover
something remarkable； and that chief sign which leads us astray
convicts us of our error： all our wisdom remains with us； and the
common people do not understand； and do not accept； and do not need
it。
Our position is a very difficult one； but why not look at it
square