Anybody, it is supposed, can say what he
means; and, in spite of their notorious experience to the
contrary, people so continue to suppose.
*
Even women, who understand men so well for practical
purposes, do not know them well enough for the purposes of
art. Take even the very best of their male creations, take
Tito Melema, for instance, and you will find he has an
equivocal air, and every now and again remembers he has a
comb in the back of his head. Of course, no woman will
believe this, and many men will be so polite as to humour
their incredulity.
*
A dogma learned is only a new error--the old one was
perhaps as good; but a spirit communicated is a perpetual
possession. These best teachers climb beyond teaching to
the plane of art; it is themselves, and what is best in
themselves, that they communicate.
*
In this world of imperfections we gladly welcome even
partial intimacies. And if we find but one to whom we can
speak out our heart freely, with whom we can walk in love
and simplicity without dissimulation, we have no ground of
quarrel with the world or God.
*
But we are all travellers in what John Bunyan calls the
wilderness of this world-all, too, travellers with a
donkey; and the best that we find in our travels is an
honest friend. He is a fortunate voyager who finds many.
We travel, indeed, to find them.
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