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ven be unconscious of the source of his energy。 This type of adjustment is thus a form of compensation and is seen everywhere。 In the case of many a woman who gives herself over to her children without stint you may find this sublimation against the disappearance of romance； even if no actual unhappiness exists。 Where a woman is childless； perforce and not per will； an intense communal activity often develops； leading to good if that activity is intelligent； leading to harm if it is not。 For sublimation develops the crank and pest as well as the reformer。 In every half…baked reform movement you find those who are striving to sublimate for a thwarted instinct or purpose。＇1＇ ＇1＇ The historian； Higginson； put it well when he said substantially； 〃There is a fringe of insanity around all reform。〃
Sublimation is the mark of the personality that will not admit defeat even to itself。 The one who does admit defeat becomes resigned or seeks illicit compensation；other men； other women； drink。 Freud and his followers believe that the neurasthenic or hysteric is striving to find compensation through his symptoms or that he seeks to fly from the situation that way。 I believe that the symptoms of the neurasthenic and hysteric often find a use in this way； but are not caused by an effort for compensation。 That is； a neurasthenic may learn that his or her pains or aches give advantages in sympathy； relief from hard tasks or disagreeable situations； that they cover up or are an excuse for failure and inferiority；but the symptoms arise originally from defects in character or because of the physical and social situation。 Nevertheless； it is well to keep in mind； when dealing with the 〃nervous；〃 that often enough their weaknesses are related to something they may gain through them。 This I have called elsewhere 〃Will to power through weakness；〃 and it is as old as Adam and Eve。 The weak have their wills and their weapons as have the strong。 The highest sublimation； in the face of an insuperable obstacle to purpose or an inescapable life situation； finds a socially useful substitute in philanthropy； kindness； charity； achievement of all sorts； the lowest seeks it in a direct but illicit compensation for the self and in a way that merely increases the social and personal confusion； and a pathological sublimation in part； at least； manifests itself iii sickness。 These are the three leading forms； but it must be remembered that there are no pure types in character； a man may sublimate nobly when his domestic happiness is threatened but cheat when his business purposes are blocked； a woman may compensate finely for childlessness but 〃go all to pieces〃 because hair is growing on her face and the beauty she cherishes must go。 Contradictions of all sorts exist； and he is wise who does not expect too great consistency from himself or others。 3。 〃Man；〃 says Hocking； 〃can prolong the vestibule of his desire through infinity。〃 By the vestibule of desire this philosopher means the deferring of satisfaction for any impulse or desire。 We love； but we can wait for love's fulfillment； we desire achievement； but we can work and watch the approach of our goal。 Something we desire is directly ahead； almost in our reach； fame； love； riches； vindication； anything you please from the sensuous to the sublime satisfaction； and then an obstacle； a delay； appears； and the vestibule is lengthened out。 A man may even plan for the satisfaction he can never hope to have； and in his greatest ideal that vestibule reaches through eternity。 That quality which enables a man to work and wait； to stand the deferring of hope and desire； is patience。 The classic figure of patience sitting on a monument is wrong； for she must sit on the eager desires of man。 Nor is patience only the virtue of the good and farseeing； for we find patience in the rogue and schemer。 Altruists may be patient or impatient； and so may be the selfish。 Like most of the qualities； patience is to be judged by the company it keeps。 Nevertheless； the impatient are very often those of small purposes and are rarely those of great achievement。 For all great purposes have to be spread over time； have to overcome obstacles； and these must be met with courage and patience。 Impatience is fussiness； fretfulness and a prime breeder of neurasthenia。 Patience is realistic； and though it may seek perfection it puts up with imperfection as a part of human life。 But here I am drifting into an error against which I warned the reader；of making an entity of a conception。 People are patient or impatient； but not necessarily throughout。 There are men and women who fuss and fume over trifles who never falter or fret when their larger purposes are blocked or deferred。 Some cannot stand detail who plan wisely and with patience。 Vice versa； there are meticulous folk； little people； whose petty obstacles are met with patience and cheerfulness； who revel in minute detail； but who want returns soon and cannot wait a long time。 We are not to ask of any man whether he is patient but rather what does he stand or do patiently？ What renders him impatient？ A form of impatience of enormous social importance is that which manifests itself in cure…alls。 A man finds that his will overcomes some obstacles。 Eager to apply this； he announces that will cures all ills。 Impatient of evil； men seek to annihilate it by denying its existence or by loudly chanting that good thoughts will destroy it。 These are typical impatient solutions in the sphere of religion； in the sphere of economics men urge nationalization； free trade； socialism or laissez faire； or some law or other to change social structure and human nature。 War itself is the most impatient and consequently most socially destructive method of the methods of the treatment of evil。 While patience is a virtue； it may also be a vice。 One may bear wrongs too patiently or defer satisfaction too long。 One meets every day men and women who help injustice and iniquity by their patience。 We are too patient； at least with the wrongs of others； perhaps we really do not feel this intensely or for any length of time。 In fact； the difficulty with most of the preaching of life is its essential insincerity； for it counsels patience for that which it feels but little。 We bear the troubles of others； on the whole； very well。 Nevertheless； there are Griseldas everywhere whom one would respect far more if they rebelled against their tyrants and taskmasters。 Organized wrong and oppression owe their existence mainly to the habitual patience of the oppressed。 To be meek and mild and long…suffering in a world containing plenty of egoists and cannibalistic types is to give them supremacy。＇1＇ We admire patience only when it is part of a plan of action； not when it is the mark of a passive nature。 ＇1＇ Here the ideals of East and West clash。 The East； bearing a huge burden of misery and essentially pessimistic； exhorts patience。 The West； eager and full of hope； is impatient。
4。 Because man foresees he wishes。 Rather than the reasoning animal； we might speak of the human being as the wishing animal。 An automatically working instinct would produce no wish。 The image of something which has been experienced arouses an excitement akin to the secretion of saliva at the thought of food。 The wish which accompanies the excitement is a dissatisfaction； a tingling； an incomplete pleasurable emotional state which presses to action。 Sensuous pleasure； power； conformity to the ideal； whatever direction the wish takes； are sought because of the wish。 Right education is to train towards right wishing。 Because the wish is the prelude to action； it became all powerful in mythology and superstition。 Certain things would help you get your wishes； others would obstruct them。 Wishes became animate and had power；power to destroy an enemy； power to help a friend； power to bring good to yourself。 But certain ceremonies had to be observed； and certain people； magicians and priests had to be utilized in order to give the wish its power。 Wisdom and magic were mainly the ways of obtaining wishes。 Childhood still holds to this； and prayer is a faith that your wish； if placed before the All…Mighty； will be fulfilled。 Since wishing brings a pleasurable excitement