哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第9部分 (第1/7頁)

inconsistent　features　in　their　career；　for　it　was　they　who　best　understood　affairs；　from　whom

others　learned；　and　approved；　or　at　least　acquiesced　in　their　policy。　For　that　Spirit　which　had

taken　this　fresh　step　in　history　is　the　inmost　soul　of　all　individuals；　but　in　a　state　of　unconsciousness

which　the　great　men　in　question　aroused。　Their　fellows；　therefore；　follow　these　soul…leaders；　for

they　feel　the　irresistible　power　of　their　own　inner　Spirit　thus　embodied。　If　we　go　on　to　cast　a　look

at　the　fate　of　these　World…Historical　persons；　whose　vocation　it　was　to　be　the　agents　of　the

World…Spirit；　—　we　shall　find　it　to　have　been　no　happy　one。　They　attained　no　calm　enjoyment；

their　whole　life　was　labour　and　trouble；　their　whole　nature　was　nought　else　but　their

master…passion。　When　their　object　is　attained　they　fall　off　like　empty　hulls　from　the　kernel。　They

die　early；　like　Alexander；　they　are　murdered；　like　Caesar；　transported　to　St。　Helena。；　like

Napoleon。　This　fearful　consolation　—　that　historical　men　have　not　enjoyed　what　is　called

happiness；　and　of　which　only　private　life　（and　this　may　be　passed　under　very　various　external

circumstances）　is　capable；　—　this　consolation　those　may　draw　from　history；　who　stand　in　need　of

it；　and　it　is　craved　by　Envy　—　vexed　at　what　is　great　and　transcendent；　—　striving；　therefore；　to

depreciate　it；　and　to　find　some　flaw　in　it。　Thus　in　modern　times　it　has　been　demonstrated　ad

nauseam　that　princes　are　generally　unhappy　on　their　thrones；　in　consideration　of　which　the

possession　of　a　throne　is　tolerated；　and　men　acquiesce　in　the　fact　that　not　themselves　but　the

personages　in　question　are　its　occupants。　The　Free　Man；　we　may