The Nuptial Flight 



who have in themselves the possibility of 

 attaining, in a short space of timcj the 

 degree of consciousness that we both en- 

 joy. One is often struck by the narrow- 

 ness of the dividing line between what we 

 regard as the unconsciousness of these 

 people and the consciousness that to us 

 is the highest of all 



" Besides, of what is this consciousness 

 composed, whereof we are so proud ? Of 

 far more shadow than light, of far more 

 acquired ignorance than knowledge ; of 

 far more things whose comprehension, we 

 are well aware, must ever elude us, than 

 of things that we actually know. And 

 yet in this consciousness lies all our dig- 

 nity, our most veritable greatness ; it is 

 probably the most surprising phenomenon 

 this world contains. It is this which per- 

 mits us to raise our head before the un- 

 known principle, and say to it : ' What 

 you are I know not; but there is some- 

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