The Idea of Freedom 151intuitively; it is united withlove for the goal that I wish to
realize through my action. I do not consult any person or
code with the question, “Should I perform this action?” —
I perform the action as soon as I have grasped the idea.
Only in this way is itmy action.
The actions of those who act only because they recog-
nize particular ethical norms result from the principles
present in their moral code. They are mere executors, a
higher form of robot. Toss an opportunity to act into their
awareness and, right away, the clockwork of their moral
principles sets itself in motion and runs its course in a
lawful fashion to produce a Christian, humane, or appar-
ently selfless action or one for the sake of the progress of
civilization. Only when I follow my love for an object is
it I myself who act. At this level of morality, I do not act
because I acknowledge a lord over me or an external au-
thority or a so-called inner voice. I acknowledge no outer
principle for my action, because I have found within my-
self the basis of my acting—love for the action. I do not
check rationally whether the action is good or evil; I do it
because Iloveit. My action becomes “good” if my intu-
ition, steeped in love, stands in the right way in the intu-
itively experienceable world continuum; it becomes
“bad” if that is not the case. I do not ask myself, “How
would another person act in my situation?” Rather, I act
as I, this particular individuality, want (or will). What di-
rects me is not common usage, not general custom, not a
universal human principle, and not an ethical norm, but
my love for the deed. I feel no compulsion, neither the
compulsion of nature, which guides me in my drives, nor