28 
THE BEST BOOK I READ IN 1901, AND 
WHY I THINK SO. 
By Four Members. 25th March, 1902. 
1. Txsomas Crossuanp. B.Sc. 
MAETERLINCK’S ‘‘ WISDOM AND DESTINY.” 
. “Wisdom: Its Influence on Destiny,’ was the problem 
M. Maurice Maeterlinck, the Belgian Poet and Philosopher, set 
himself to solve in this book. But as he searched further and 
deeper into his subject, he was led on and on, until the book, that 
«‘ was to have been the work of a fortnight ’’ was only completed 
after two years’ labour. From his original project of finding 
out, by purely introspective effort, the control exercised by 
Wisdom over Destiny, he extended his investigation to every 
phase of human life. ‘“ Morality, conduct, life are surveyed,” 
says Mr. Sutro, his English translator, ‘‘ from every point of the 
compass, but from an eminence always.” 
The chief subjects around which his thoughts cluster are 
Wisdom, Destiny, Happiness, Justice, Love. But these words, 
to our author, mean very much more than they do to the 
ordinary man or woman. Feeling, as he does, the utter in- 
adequacy of speech for the conveyance of thought, and the many- 
sided aspect of truth, Maeterlinck never imprisons his thoughts 
within the compass of a few words, by attempting to give what 
we call definitions. Thus speaking of Wisdom he says, ‘‘ Let us 
not seek to define it too closely, that were but to enchain it. If 
a man were desirous to study the nature of light, and began by 
extinguishing all the lights that were near, would not a few 
cinders, a smouldering wick, be all that he would ever discover ? 
And so has it been with those who essayed definition.” 
“Destiny,” says the Dictionary, ‘is unavoidable fate ; 
necessity.” 
“Fate: Inevitable destiny ; ill fortune ; appointed doom.” 
