A mature perception arrives at this
idea of the duty which one must fulfill, and in no hope of the
gratification of individual vanity or self-seeking. Recognition!
Does the wind hope for recognition from the ships it helps to sail?
Is it blamed if it dashes the ship to pieces? It blows, as it must,
and is perfectly indifferent about what men say, and as to its
effect on trees, and chimney-pots, and ships. My brain is now
thinking just as the wind blows. There is no difference between my
organism and what goes on in the atmosphere. Both obey the laws of
nature, and I merely fulfill these when I write a book."
"I quite agree with you," said Wilhelm.
The oysters had been eaten, and some wonderful Markobrunner drunk.
The waiter now brought some Printaniere soup. The conversation
halted, as everyone had involuntarily opened his copy of the book,
some of them perhaps really curious to read, the others out of
sympathy for the writer.
"Please don't read it now," said Dorfling, "the book will be just
the same to-morrow, but the soup will be cold."
"That is the remark of a philosopher," said Barinskoi, and poked his
pointed red nose in the savory steam from his soup.
"It is difficult to tear oneself away," said Schrotter; "it would be
very friendly of you to give an idea of the thoughts at the
foundation of your thesis.
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