Character: Humphrey Van Weyden (Hamp)
"I could extract this person from the works of Spencer?" - I thought. Well enough remembering the teachings of this philosopher, I know that altruism is the basis of his ideal of human behavior. Obviously, Wolf Larsen took from his teachings that met his own needs and desires and rejecting everything that seemed to him superfluous.
_ What else you've learned? - I asked.
He frowned, apparently choosing his words to Express his thoughts, remaining still not expressed. I felt uplifted. Now I tried to penetrate to his soul, just as he was accustomed to penetrate into the souls of others. I researched a virgin area. And strange - strange and frightening - sight has opened my eyes.
- In short, "he began," Spencer says, first of all a man should care about their own welfare. To do so morally good. Then, he must act for the benefit of their children. And third, it needs to take care of the welfare of mankind.
- But the highest, the most reasonable and correct course of action, 'said I,' will be when people care of themselves and their children, and all mankind.
I would not say, he replied. - I do not see any need or common sense. I rule mankind and children. For their sake, I no received would. This is all slobbery nonsense - at least for someone who doesn't believe in an afterlife, and you owe it to yourself to understand. I believe in immortality, altruism would have been for me a profitable occupation. I would God knows how to exalt his soul. But, not seeing ahead nothing is eternal except death, and having at its disposal only a short time while I move and roam the yeast called life, I would do immoral, bringing any kind of sacrifice. Every sacrifice. which would deprive me of a moment of fermentation, would be not only stupid, but immoral in itself. I should not lose anything, must the best possible use of leaven. Will I have to sacrifice or will to care only about themselves at that period I measured while I make a particle of yeast and crawling on the ground after waiting for me an eternal immobility would be neither easier nor harder.
In this case, you are an individualist, a materialist, and hedonist.
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MegaMozg 17-07-2017 / 09:02
Anyway, I ran to his cabin for a book and read him the "cloak of Caliban" aloud. He was delighted. This simplistic view of things and the primitive mode of reasoning was quite accessible to his understanding. From time to time he inserted comments and criticized the shortcomings of the poem. When I finished, he made me count his poem a second and third time, and then we got into a dispute about philosophy, science, evolution, religion. His reasoning was distinguished by the inaccuracy inherent in the self-taught, and peremptory directness inherent in the primitive mind. But in the most primitive of its judgments was a force and its primitive materialism was far more convincing than the subtle and intricate materialist constructions of Charlie Paraceta. This I do not say that he persuaded me, or hardened, as expressed Farasat, "natural born" idealist. But Wolf Larsen stormed the foundations of my faith with such force, which involuntarily inspired respect, though I could not shake.
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MegaMozg 17-07-2017 / 09:02
The wind fanned the fire, and he flashes a hot flame. Desire like fire. The contemplation of the object of desire, the new alluring description of his new comprehension of this subject incite desire, just as the wind blows the fire. And herein lies the temptation. This is the wind that blows the desire until it breaks out in flames and not consumed with the person. That's what seduction! Sometimes he's not strong enough to make the desire of devouring, but if it is at least to some extent, fueling desire, it's still a temptation. And, as you say, it may tempt for good as well as evil.
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 15:05
- They are swarming, moving, but because the jellyfish move. Move to eat and eat in order to keep moving. That's the whole thing! They live for their belly, and the belly is keeping them alive. It is a vicious circle; moving it will not come. So with them happens. Sooner or later the movement stops. They are no longer crawling. They're dead.
They have dreams, interrupted I, - glittering, radiant dreams of...
- On the grub, resolutely he interrupted.
- No more...
- More about the grub. About you - as if more and more sweet to eat. His voice sounded sharply. It was not a shadow of a joke. Sure, they dream about the successful voyages that will give them more money; to become captains of the ships or find treasure - in short, about how to get better and be able to suck the juices from their neighbors to themselves all night to sleep under a roof and eat well, and all the dirty work to pass on to others. You and I are the same. There is no difference, except for the fact that we eat more and better. Now I devour them and you too. But in the past you have eaten more than I do. You have slept in soft beds, wore good clothes and ate delicious food. And who made this bed, these clothes, and these dishes? Not you. You never did anything in the sweat of his brow. You live on the income left you by the father. You, as the frigate bird, thrown from the height of the cormorants and kidnap they caught their fish. You are "one with the handful of people that created what they call government" and ruling over all other people and devouring the food which they produce themselves were not averse to eat. You wear warm clothes, and those who made the clothes, shivering in rags and still have to beg you work - you or your attorney or Trustee - in short, those who dispose of your money.
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 13:08
- I read immortality in your eyes, - I answered and for the experience
missed "sir"; known the intimacy of our conversation, it seemed to me,
let it go. Larsen didn't really pay attention to it.
- I suppose you want to say that I see in them something living. But is the living will not live forever.
- I read in them much more - I boldly continued.
- Well, Yes - consciousness. Consciousness, comprehension of life. But not anymore, not the infinity of life.
He was thinking clearly and well expressed thoughts. Not without a curious glance at me, he turned and set his sights on the lead sea. His eyes darkened, and his mouth emerged a sharp, harsh line. He clearly was grimly set.
- What's the point? sharply he asked, again turning to me. - If I am endowed with immortality, why?
I was silent. How could I explain to this man your idealism? How to describe something uncertain, like the music I hear in my sleep? Something quite compelling for me, but not determinable.
- What do you believe? - in turn I asked.
- I believe that life is an absurd vanity, - he said quickly. - She is like a leaven that ferments minutes, hours, years or centuries, but sooner or later ceases to wander. The big devour the small to support your fermentation. The strong devour the weak to preserve their strength. Lucky,
he eats more and walking longer than others that's all!
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 13:08
- What are you today so pathetic? - he began. - What's the matter?
I saw that he understands why I feel almost the same
bad as Harrison, but he wants to call me to be honest, and answered:
- I was upset with the mistreatment of this kid.
He grinned.
- Have you got something like seasickness. Some are affected, others
no.
- What is there in common? - I said.
- A lot in common, he continued. - The land are also full
cruelty, as the sea - traffic. Some do not tolerate first, others
second. That's the whole reason.
- You scoff at the human life, do not you give
her worthless? - I asked.
- The price! What is the price? He looked at me, and I read cynical
the smile in his harsh gaze. - What kind of price are you talking about? As
you define? Who appreciates life?
'I do,' I replied.
- How did you appreciate her? I mean someone else's life. What is
you expect to pay?
The price of life! How could I define it? Accustomed to clearly and freely Express
your thoughts, I'm in the presence of the Larsen somehow didn't find the right words.
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 13:08
- Where is your brother? What is he doing?
- He is the master of the fishing steamer "Macedonia" and preys on seals. We will probably see him off the coast of Japan. It is called the Death of Larsen.
Death Larsen? - involuntarily escaped from me. - He like you?
- Not really. He's just a dumb brute. In this, as in me, a lot... a lot...
Brutal? - I prompted.
- That's it, thank you. It less brutal than me, but he barely knows how to read and write.
Never philosophizes about life? - I added.
'No,' replied the Wolf Larsen bitterly. - And this is his happiness. He's too busy living to think about it. I made the mistake when I first opened the book.
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 13:08
But it is quite another matter! - I exclaimed.
- Not at all! The captain spoke quickly, and his eyes sparkled. - It's disgusting, and it... life. What is the meaning of the immortality of piggishness? What does all this lead? Why is all this necessary? You do not create food, and yet food eaten or thrown away you could save the lives of dozens of unfortunate people who create this food, but not eating. What you deserve immortality? Or are they? Take us with you. What is your vaunted immortality, when your life collided with mine? You want to go back to the land, as there is freedom for the usual beastliness. On a whim I got you on the boat, where flourishes my disgusting. And I'll keep. I'll either break you, or be undone. You can die here today, after a week, a month. I could one punch to kill you because you are a pathetic worm. But if we are immortal, then what is the point of all this? To behave life like a pig, like you, is it to face immortal? So what is all this? Why am I holding you here?
- Because you are stronger - I blurted out.
- But why am I stronger? - he persisted. Because I have more this stuff than you. Don't you understand? Do you not understand?
- But to live - it's hopeless! - I exclaimed.
- I agree with you, ' he replied. And why is it necessary at all, is fermentation, which is the essence of life? Not to move, not to be a part of life of the leaven, then will not hopelessness. But that's the point: we want to live and move, despite the futility of this, I want to, because it's in our nature - the desire to live and move, to wander. Without it, life would stop. There's a life inside you and makes you dream of immortality. The life within you seeking to be forever. Oh! An eternity of piggishness!
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MegaMozg 12-01-2017 / 13:08
