40 The Spiritual Life.
power in us, and stands ever between the
thought and the action. Intellect sees, but it
doesnotmove,andamanwithout desiresand
emotions would be a mere spectator of life.
TheSelfmusthave evolved someofitsloftiest
powersere itcan foregotheuseof thedesires
andemotions; foraspirantsthequestionishow
tousetheminsteadofbeingusedbythem,how
to discipline them, not how to destroy. We
wouldfain "want" toreach thehighest,since
without thiswantingweshall makenoprogress
atall. Weare held backbywantingtounite
ourselves with objects transitory, mean and
narrow; cannotwepush ourselvesforward by
wantingtounite ourselveswith the permanent,
thenobleandthewide? Thusmusing,wesee
thatwhatweneedis tocultivatetheemotions,
anddirect themin a waythatwill purify and
ennoblethecharacter. Thebasisofallemotions
onthe sideof progressislove,and thisis the
powerwhichwemustcultivate. George Eliot
wellsaid: "Thefirstconditionofhumangood-
nessissomethingtolove;thesecond,something