Oh, tell me, who was it first announced, who first proclaimed, that man only does nasty things because he does not know his own interests; and that if he were enlightened, if his eyes were opened to his real normal interests, man would at once cease to do nasty things and immediately become good and noble?
Because, forsooth, no man can knowingly act against his own interests. Science would teach him that his interests consist in virtue and happiness.
But man is stupid, phenomenally stupid. Or rather, he is not stupid at all, but he is monstrously ungrateful. In fact, I believe the best definition of man is: a creature that can get used to anything.
And furthermore, perhaps man’s greatest desire is not for happiness or advantage at all, but simply to prove to himself that he is free — even if that freedom destroys him.
couch
