The Life of the Bee 
judicious examination his convictions, his 
principles, and his dreams. 
Once more, he has not the slightest de- 
sire to abandon his human ideal. That 
even which at first diverts him from this 
ideal teaches him to return to it. It 
were impossible for nature to give ill 
advice to a man who declines to include 
in the great scheme he is endeavouring 
to grasp, who declines to regard as suffi- 
ciently lofty to be definitive, any truth 
that is not at least as lofty as the truth he 
himself desires. Nothing shifts its place 
in his life save only to rise with him; 
and he knows he is rising when he finds 
himself drawing near to his ancient image 
of good. But all things transform them- 
selves more freely in his thoughts; and 
he can descend with impunity, for he has 
the presentiment that numbers of succes- 
sive valleys will lead him to the plateau 
that he expects. And, while he thus 
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