because most divine, the form most profoundly human. Why should we
not say that wisdom is the triumph of reason divine over reason of
man?

30. We cannot cultivate reason too fully, but by wisdom only should
reason be guided. The man is not wise whose reason has not yet been
taught to obey the first signal of love. What would Christ, all the
heroes, have done had their reason not learned to submit? Is each
deed of the hero not always outside the boundary of reason? and yet,
who would venture to say that the hero is not wiser by far than the
sluggard who quits not his chair because reason forbids him to rise?
Let us say it once more--the vase wherein we should tend the true
wisdom is love, and not reason. Reason is found, it is true, at the
root-springs of wisdom, yet is wisdom not reason's flower. For we
speak not of logical wisdom here, but of wisdom quite other, the
favourite sister of love.

Reason and love battle fiercely at first in the soul that begins to
expand; but wisdom is born of the peace that at last comes to pass
between reason and love; and the peace becomes the profounder as
reason yields up still more of her rights to love.

31. Wisdom is the lamp of love, and love is the oil of the lamp.
Love, sinking deeper, grows wiser; and wisdom that springs up aloft
comes ever the nearer to love. If you love, you must needs become
wise; be wise, and you surely shall love. Nor can any one love with
the veritable love but his love must make him the better; and to
grow better is but to grow wiser. There is not a man in the world
but something improves in his soul from the moment he loves--and
that though his love be but vulgar; and those in whom love never