virtue be destroyed? virtue that is happy because it is noble and
pure, that is noble and pure because it desires no reward? There may
be human joy in doing good with definite purpose, but they who do
good expecting nothing in return know a joy that is divine. Where we
do evil our reasons mostly are known to us, but our good deed
becomes the purer for our ignorance of its motive. Would we know how
to value the righteous man, we have but to question him as to the
motives of his righteousness. He will probably be the most truly
righteous who is least ready with his answer. Some may suppose that
as intellect widens many a motive for heroism will be lost to the
soul; but it should be borne in mind that the wider intellect brings
with it an ideal of heroism loftier and more disinterested still.
And this much at least is certain: he who thinks that virtue stands
in need of the approval of destiny or of worlds, has not yet within
him the veritable sense of virtue. Truly to act well we must do good
because of our craving for good, a more intimate knowledge of
goodness being all we expect in return. "With no witness save his
heart alone," said St. Just. In the eyes of a God there must surely
be marked distinction between the soul of the man who believes that
the rays of a virtuous deed shall shine through furthest space, and
the soul of the other who knows they illumine his heart alone. There
may be greater momentary strength in the overambitious truth, but
the strength that is brought by the humble human truth is far more
earnest and patient. Is it wiser to be as the soldier who imagines
that each blow he strikes brings victory nearer, or as the other who
knows his little account in the combat but still fights sturdily on?
The upright man would scorn to deceive his neighbour, but is ever
unduly inclined to regard some measure of self-deception as
inseparable from his ideal.