220 



DISCOVERY 



" it runs in the family. " And we can even catch the 

 note of tendoTness in the speaker's voice when he 

 instances tiiat " tliere is something splendid about a 

 beautiful mug or ball as a gift for a child, though the 

 actual cost may be paltry " ; or when he drops such a 

 remark as this: "Children think those things best 

 which arc precious in their e\'es." 



The illustrations of the Ethics, then, reflect its setting 

 in a peculiarly vivid way, both in particular — the 

 actual scene of the discourses — and as regards the 

 whole life and interests of the teacher and his disciples. 

 The same light, in fact, is thrown on the Ethics by its 

 illustrations as is thrown on the Gospels by the Parables, 

 which not only reflect the general life of the day, but 

 also bear, in almost every instance, the stamp of their 

 origin, whether in Galilee or in Jerusalem. And a 

 further parallel may be drawn between the Ethics 

 and the Gospels. While making full allowance for the 

 difference of sanction, we may venture to claim that 

 the teaching of the Gentile philosopher also is of per- 

 manent value— that he still has a message for us to-day. 

 Grounds for this claim will have appeared in some of 

 the extracts already given ; let me conclude with a 

 few passages — some of which, indeed, approximate 

 very closely, in content if not in form, to familiar 

 sayings of the New Testament — in which more 

 abundant justification may be found : 



Friendship requires what is possible, and not what 

 is strictly due ; for this is not possible in every 

 case — for instance, in the honours paid to gods and 

 parents : to these no man can ever make a full re- 

 turn." ... " Itis true of the good man, also, that he 

 acts in many ways for the benefit of his friends and 

 his country, and will even, if need be, lay down his 

 life for them ; for he will throw away money and 

 honours and all the good things for which men contend, 

 claiming for himself that which is noble and right ; 

 and he will prefer a great and short-lived joy to one 

 that is tame and lasting, and a single great and noble 

 action to many that are of small account." . . 

 " No honour is given to the man who makes no contri- 

 bution to the common stock." ..." An evil man can 

 do ten thousand times as much harm as an evil brute." 

 ... "A man whose sickness is produced by reckless 

 living and disregard of the doctors miglit have avoided 

 that sickness at the outset, but now he has lost control 

 he cannot help it any longer — just as he who has let 

 a stone fly from his hand cannot recall it, and yet the 

 throwing of it depended upon him." ..." The training 

 in definite habits from earliest years makes not a little 

 difference, but a great deal — in fact, all the difference." 

 ..." Rest is not an end in itself, but only a means 

 to renewed activity." ..." Enjoj'ment is found in the 

 activity of the present, the hope of the future, and 

 the mcmorj' of the past." ..." He who, loving the 



truth, speaks it in indifferent matters, will speak it 

 still more in matters that are not indifferent." . . . 

 " We must not listen to those who would have us as 

 man care only for man's affairs, or as mortal only for 

 such things as are mortal ; rather should we, as far as 

 we are able, make ourselves like immortals, and use 

 every endeavour to act according to the highest that 

 is in us." . . . 



Let so much have been said (as he would put it) 

 concerning Aristotle and his Ethics. 



There is a translation of the Ethics, by Chase, in the " Every- 

 man's " Library (2s.) ; this has a useful bibliography, and an 

 introduction by J. A. Smith — to the last paragraph of which 

 special attention may be drawn. There arc other modem 

 translations by Peters (6s. bd.) and WcUdon (8s. bd.). The 

 " Ixjeb " edition (parallel text and translation) is, unfortunately, 

 not yet out, though it is in preparation. The best plain text 

 is By water's (Oxford), with its instructive index. Burnet's 

 edition (15s.) has commentary. Mention may also be made 

 of Muirhead's Chapters from Aristotle's Ethics (9s.), and Stock's 

 Aristotle's Ethics for English Readers (6s.). 



Reviews of Books 



Psycho-Analysis. B3' Miss B.\rb.\r.-v Low, B..\. 

 (George Allen <& Unwin, 5s. net.) 



The publisher kindly sent me two copies of this work 

 (one of which, may I say ? I returned), and perhaps Miss 

 Low, by the methods of psycho-analysis, can explain why 

 the former of these phenomena occurred. The book 

 contains an account of the gist of Freud's work on the 

 psychology' of the unconscious as described in his books 

 on Dreams and on the pyscho-pathology of everyday life. 

 This account is given in a plain and understandable way, 

 and, without sacrificing any salient points of the theory, 

 by omitting the unnecessaril)' objectionable illustrations 

 which occur in Freud's books. The chapters deal with 

 the scope and significance of pyscho-analysis, mental_life — 

 conscious and unconscious, repressions, the role of the 

 dream, treatment by psycho-analysis, and probable 

 social and educational results. 



A list of authoritative books on the subject is appended, 

 and Dr. Ernest Jones, the President of the British Psycho- 

 Analytical Society, contributes an introduction. A book 

 to read in commencing a study of this subject. 



Popular Chemical Dictionary. By C. T. Kingzett, 

 F.LC. (Bailliere, 15s. net.) 

 A dictionary- of this kind should be scientific yet simple, 

 comprehensive yet concise, and as free from errors as 

 human nature and the printers allow. To write it, the 

 compiler must be a member of the overworking classes 

 with a passion for explanation and a manner that never 

 bores. Also he should avoid subscribing to a press-cutting 



