But it
is still more serious that this marking- time should reach the point of entirely
demoralising the European himself. I do not say this because I am a European or
something of the sort. I am not saying "If the European is not to rule in
the immediate future, I am not interested in the life of the world."
Europe's loss of command would not worry me if there were in existence another
group of countries capable of taking its place in power and in the direction of
the planet. I should not even ask so much. I should be content that no one rule,
were it not that this would bring in its train the volatilisation of all the
virtues and quahties of European man. Well,
this is what would inevitably happen. If the European grows accustomed not to
rule, a generation and a half will be sufficient to bring the old continent, and
the whole world along with it, into moral inertia, intellectual sterility,
universal barbarism. It is only the illusion of rule, and the discipline of
responsibility which it entails, that can keep Western minds in tension.
Science, art, technique, and all the rest live on the tonic atmosphere created
by the consciousness of authority. If this is lacking, the European will
gradually become degraded. Minds will no longer have that radical faith in
themselves which impels them, energetic, daring, tenacious, towards the capture
of great new ideas in every order of life. The European will inevitably become a
day-to-day man. Incapable of creative, specialised effort, he will be always
falling back on yesterday, on custom, on routine. He will turn into a
commonplace, conventional, empty creature, like the Greeks of the decadence and
those of the Byzantine epoch. A
creative life implies a regime of strict mental health, of high conduct, of
constant stimulus, which keep active the consciousness of man's dignity. A
creative life is energetic life, and this is only possible in one or other of
these two situations: either being the one who rules, or finding oneself placed
in a world which is ruled by someone in whom we recognise full right to such a
function: either I rule or I obey. By obedience I do not mean mere submission-
this is degradation- but on the contrary, respect for the ruler and acceptance
of his leadership, solidarity with him, an enthusiastic enrolment under his
banner. -
