what each is. But a cultivated man becomes ashamed of his

property, out of new respect for his nature. Especially he hates what he has, if he see that it is accidental,- came to him by inheritance, or gift, or crime; then he feels that it is not having;

5 it does not belong to him, has no root in him, and merely lies there, because no revolution or no robber takes it away. But that which a man is does always by necessity acquire,1 and what the man acquires is living property, which does not wait the beck of rulers, or mobs, or revolutions, or fire, or storm, or 10 bankruptcies, but perpetually renews itself wherever the man breathes. "Thy lot or portion of life," said the Caliph Ali,2 "is seeking after thee; therefore be at rest from seeking after it.” Our dependence on these foreign goods leads us to our slavish respect for numbers. The political parties meet in numerous 15 conventions; the greater the concourse, and with each new uproar of announcement, The delegation from Essex! The Democrats from New Hampshire! The Whigs of Maine! The young patriot feels himself stronger than before by a new thousand of eyes and arms. In like manner the reformers summon 20 conventions, and vote and resolve in multitude. Not so, O friends! will the God deign to enter and inhabit you, but by a method precisely the reverse. It is only as a man puts off all foreign support, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and to prevail. He is weaker by every recruit to his banner. 25 not a man better than a town? Ask nothing of men, and in the endless mutation, thou only firm column must presently appear the upholder of all that surrounds thee. He who knows that power is inborn, that he is weak because he has looked for good out of him and elsewhere, and so perceiving, throws him30 self unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights himself, stands in the erect position, commands his limbs, works miracles; just

1 Become his own.

Is

2 An Arabian caliph, surnamed the "Lion of God," a cousin and follower of Mohammed. He is distinguished as an author of many maxims and proverbs which have been handed down and published.

as a man who stands on his feet is stronger than a man who stands on his head.

So use all that is called Fortune. Most men gamble with her, and gain all, and lose all, as her wheel rolls. But do thou leave as unlawful these winnings, and deal with Cause and Effect, the s chancellors of God. In the Will work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance,1 and shalt sit hereafter out of fear from her rotations. A political victory, a rise of rents, the recovery of your sick, or the return of your absent friend, or some other favorable event, raises your spirits, and you think 10 good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

1 Fortuna, the goddess of fortune or chance in Roman mythology, was represented with her eyes bound, standing on a ball or wheel to indicate that luck rolls, like a ball, without choice.

Man's the elm, and Wealth the vine,
Stanch and strong the tendrils twine:
Though the frail ringlets thee deceive,
None from its stock that vine can reave.1
Fear not, then, thou child infirm,
There's no god dare wrong a worm.
Laurel crowns 2 cleave to deserts,

1 Take away.

And power to him who power exerts ;
Hast not thy share? On winged feet,
Lo! it rushes thee to meet;

And all that Nature made thy own,
Floating in air or pent 3 in stone,
Will rive the hills and swim the sea,

And, like thy shadow, follow thee.

2 Honors, from the custom of the ancient Greeks to use laurel crowns as