tly works on, in spite of
their criticism, on his side despising what they praise. No one
becomes great without arrogance of this sort. Should his life and work
fall upon a time which cannot recognize and appreciate him, he is at
any rate true to himself; like some noble traveler forced to pass the
night in a miserable inn; when morning comes, he contentedly goes his
way.

A poet or philosopher should have no fault to find with his age if it
only permits him to do his work undisturbed in his own corner; nor
with his fate if the corner granted him allows of his following his
vocation without having to think about other people.

For the brain to be a mere laborer in the service of the belly, is
indeed the common lot of almost all those who do not live on the work
of their hands; and they are far from being discontented with
their lot. But it strikes despair into a man of great mind, whose
brain-power goes beyond the measure necessary for the service of
the will; and he prefers, if need be, to live in the narrowest
circumstances, so long as they afford him the free use of his time for
the development and application of his faculties; in other words, if
they give him the leisure which is invaluable to him.

It is otherwise with ordinary people: for them leisure has no value in
itself, nor is it, indeed, without its dangers, as these people
seem to know. The technical work of our time, which is done to an
unprecedented perfection, has, by increasing and multiplying objects
of luxury, given the favorites of fortune a choice between more
leisure and culture upon the one side, and additional luxury and good
living, but with increased activity, upon the other; and, true to
their character, they choose the latter, and prefer champagne to
freedom. And they are consistent in their choice; for, to them, every
exertion of the mind which does not serve the aims of the will is
folly. Intellectual effort for its own sake, they call eccentricity.
Therefore, persistence in the aims of the will and the belly will be
concentricity; and, to be sure, the will is the centre, the kernel of
the world.

But in general it is very seldom that any such alternative is
presented. For as with money, most men have no superfluity, but only
just enough for their needs, so with intelligence; they possess just
what will suffice for the service of the will, that is, for the
carrying on of their business. Having made their fortune, they are
content to g