In every one of the higher religions there is a strain of infinite optimism on the one hand,and on t
he other,of a profound pessimism.In the depths of our being,they all teach,there is an inner high--b
ut an inner Light which our egotism keeps,for most of the time,in a state of more of less eclipse.If
,however,it so desires,the ego can get out of the way,so to speak,can dis--eclipse the Light and bec
ome identified wiht its divine source.Hence the unlimited optimmism of the traditional religions.The
re pessinism springs from the observed fact that,though all are called,few are chosen--for the suffi
cient reason that few choose to be chosen.
To me,this older conception of man's nature and destiny seems more realistic,more nearly in accord w
ith the given facts,than any form of modern utopianism.
In the Lord's Prayer we are taught to ask for the blessing which consists in not being led into temp
tation.The reason is only too obvious.Whe temptations are very great or unduly prolonged,most person
s succumb on them.To devise a perfect social order is probably beyond our powers,but I believe that
it is perfectly possible for us to reduce the number of dangerous temptations to a level far below t
hat which is tolerated at the present time.
A society so arranged that there shall be a minimum of dangerous temptations--this is the end toward
s which,as a citizen,I have to strive.In my efforts to that end,I can make use of a great variety of
means.Do good ends justify the use of intrinsically bad means?On the level of theory,the point can
be argued indefinitely.In practice,meanwhile,I find that the means employed invariably determine the
nature of the end achieved.Indeed,as Mahatma Gandhi was never tired of insisting,the means are the
end in its preliminary stages.Men have put forth enoumous efforts to make their world a better place
to live in;but except in regard to gadgets,plumbing and hygiene,their sussess has been pathetically
small."hell,"as the proverb has it,"is paved with good intentions."And so long as we go on trying t
o realize our ideals by bad or merely inappropriate means,our good intentions will come to the same
bad ends.In this consists the tragedy and the irony of history.