[BNP/E3, 13A – 34]
I noticed within myself the gradual and awful differentiation of the world and of myself; the difference between men and me was greater than ever. Family affections – my family’s to me – took a cold look, a painful appearance before my warmth of affection to all mankind. A disgust of living invaded my soul; I grew inimical to men’s opinions, loving mankind deeply all the while. Every day that saw me older saw the widening of the fearful gulf. I was a genius, I realized the truth, and saw also this other, that being a genius I was a madman.
[34v]
To succeed, says Dr. Reich, a young man needs 3 things: geography, history and religion. For “religion” I should substitute “faith,” meaning by this sincerity.
But to succeed in the world, if that be what Dr. Reich means, then I shall assert that to succeed in the world 3 things are required: lack of conscientiousness, of scruple; brutality; interest. They follow so easily upon one another, are so logically connected, that we may unite them all in one word: criminality, or a tendency thither.
Charles Robert Anon.
