1817 Dec 31

Not Paul

III. Doctrine

Ch. Asceticism

Well but however The pleasure is impure impure—viz. in your

eyes, for as much as so you say it is. Impure: but in what sense? impure in a moral

sense? Oh yes to be sure impure in a moral sense. But why and whence impure in a

moral sense? Let the question be answered truly it will be—because in my eyes it is,

if you will force upon me this declaration,—impure in a physical

sense. Well the being in that sense impure, it is in your eyes to such a degree

impure that you could never endure to make any such attempt as that of reaping it.

What I? forbid it heaven! Well then you never will: nor is it any body’s wish that

you should. But those who are in the practice of giving it to themselves, in their

eyes it is not so much as physically impure; or if it be, it

is not in such a degree impure as to put away /extinguish/ the desire, and do away

/exclude/ the pleasure: in their instance therefore that reason which in your

instance is so good and sufficient an one has no place: and for foregoing /losing/ or

so much as [...?] any other person to abstain from /forego/ /lose/ it, no other

reason have you found or can you find.

To do this /To me, doing this/ act would not afford me a pleasure: therefore I will

do my utmost to torment and destroy /afflict to the very death/ every one to whom it

is /it is/ or would be a pleasure. Such is the logic which has given birth to this

article of morality and to the legislation which has been grounded on it.

I should not like to do this—therefore I will punish you if you do it—such is the

logic which has given birth to this article of morality, and to the legislation that

has been grounded on /sprung out of/ it. And of this logic, this morality and this

legislation, the word of Paul, it will be seen and of Paul only, has been the

ground.