Listen , Little Man !

By Wilhelm Reich

IntroductioN :
Listen,LittleMan!Isahumanandnotascientificdocument.Itwaswritteninthesummerof1945for theArchivesoftheOrgoneInstitutewithouttheintentionofpublishingit.Itwastheresultoftheinner stormsandconflictsofanaturalscientistandphysicianwhowatched,overdecadefirstnaively,then withamazementandfinallywithhorror,whattheLittleManinthestreetdoestohimself;howhe suffersandrebels,howheesteemshisenemiesandmurdershisfriends;how,whereverhegainspower asarepresentativeofthepeoplehemisusesthispowerandmakesitintosomethingmorecruelthan thepowerwhichpreviouslyhehadtosufferatthehandsofindividualsadistsoftheupperclasses. ThisTalktotheLittleManwasthequietanswertogossipanddefamation.Fordecades,the emotionalplaguehastriedagainandagaintokillorgoneresearch(notewell:nottoproveitincorrect, buttokillitbydefamation).Orgoneresearchcarriesaveryheavyresponsibilityforhumanlifeand health.ThefactjustifiesthepublicationofthisTalkorahistoricaldocument.Itseemednecessaryfor themaninthestreettolearnwhatgoesoninascientificworkshopandalsotolearnwhathelooks liketoanexperiencedpsychiatrist.Hemustlearntoknowreality,whichalonecancounteracthis disastrouscravingforauthority.Hemustbetoldclearlywhatresponsibilityhecarries,whetherhe works,loves,hatesorgossips.HemustlearnhowhebecomesaFascist,beittheblackorredvariety. Hewhofightsforthesafeguardingofthelivingandtheprotectionofourchildrenmustneedsbe againsttheredaswellastheblackFascist.NotbecausetodaytheredFascist,liketheblackFascist beforehim,hasamurderousideology,butbecauseheturnslivelyandhealthychildrenintocripples, robotsandmoralidiots;becausewithhim,thestatecomesbeforeright,theliebeforetruth,warbefore life;becausethechild,andthesafeguardingofthelivinginthechild,remainsouronlyhope.Thereis onlyoneloyaltyfortheeducatorandphysician:thattothelivinginthechildandthepatient.Ifthis loyaltyisstrictlyadheredto,thegreatquestionsofforeignpoliticsalsofindtheirsimplesolution. ThisTalkdoesnotimplythatoneshouldmakeitthepatternofonesexistence.Itdescribesstormsin theemotionallifeofaproductive,happyindividual.Itdoesnotwanta,convinceorwinanybody.It picturesexperienceasapaintingpicturesathunderstorm.Thereaderisnotaskedtolikeit.Hemay readitornot.Itdoesnotcontainanyintentionsorprogrammes.Allitwantstodoistowinforthe researcherandthinkertherighttopersonalreaction,whichonehasneverdenied,tothepoetor philosopher.Itisaprotestagainstthesecretandunrecognizedintentionoftheemotionalplagueto shootitspoisonarrowsatthehardworkingresearcher,fromasafeambush.Itshowswhatthe emotionalplagueis,howitfunctionsandretardsprogress.Italsoatteststotheconfidenceinthe tremendousunminedtreasures,whichlieinthedepthofhumannature:readytobeputintheservice offulfillinghumanhopes. Theliving,initssocialandhumaninterrelationship,isnaivelykindlyandthus,underprevailing conditions,endangered.Itassumesthatthefellowhumanalsofollowsthelawsofthelivingandis kindly,helpfulandgiving.Aslonga.thenistheemotionalplague,thisnaturalbasicattitudethatofthe healthychildortheprimitive,becomesthegreatestdangerinthestruggleforarationalorderoflife. Fortheplagueindividualalsoascribestohisfellowbeingsthecharacteristicsofhisownthinkingand acting.Thekindlyindividualbelievesthatallpeoplearekindlyandactaccordingly.Theplague individualbelievesthatallpeoplelie,swindle,stealandcravepower.Clearly,then,thelivingisata disadvantageandindanger.Whereitgivestotheplagueindividualitissuckeddryandthenderidedor betrayed;andwhereittrustsitischeated. Thatsthewayithasalwaysbeen.Itistimeforthelivinga,becomehardwhenhardnessisneededin

thestruggleforitssafeguardinganddevelopment;indoingso,itwillnotloseitskindnessifitsticksto thetruthcourageously.Thereishopeinthefactthat,amongmillionsofindustrious,decentindividuals thenanalwaysonlyjustafewpestilentialindividualswhocausemurderousmischiefbyappealingto thedarknoddangerousimpulsesinthestructureofthearmoredmassindividualandlendthemto organizedpoliticalmurder.Thereisonlyoneantidotetothegermsoftheemotionalplagueinthemass individual:hisownfeelingoflivinglife.Thelivingdotsnotaskforpowerbutforitsproperrolein humanlife.Itisbasedonthethreepillarsoflove,workandknowledgeHewhohastoprotecttheliving againsttheemotionalplaguehastoleantousetherighttofreespeechasweenjoyitinAmericaatleast aswellforthegoodastheemotionalplaguemisusesitforthebad.Grantedequalrightinthe depressionofopinion,therationalfinallymustwinout.Thisisanimportanthope.

Listen, Little Man!

TheycallyouLittleMan,CommonMan;theysayanewerahasbegun,theEraoftheCommon Man.Itisntyouwhosaysso,LittleMan.Itisthey,theVicePresidentsofgreatnations,promoted laborleaders,repentantsonsofbourgeoisfamilies,statesmenandphilosophers.Theygiveyouyour futurebutdontaskaboutyourpast. Youareheirtoadreadfulpast.Yourheritageisaburningdiamondinyourhand.ThatswhatItellyou. Everyphysician,shoemaker,mechanicoreducatormustknowhisshortcomingsifheistodohiswork andmakehisliving.Forsomedecades,youhavebeguntoplayagoverningroleonthisearth.Itison yourthinkingandyouractionsthatthefutureofhumanitydepends.Butyourteachersandmastersdo nottellyouhowyoureadythinkendare;nobodydamntovoicetheonecriticismofyouwhichcould makeyoucapableofgoverningyourownfate.Youarefreeonlyinonesensefreefromeducationin governingyourlifeyourself,freefromselfcriticism. Ihaveneverheardyoucomplain:Youpromotemetobethefuturemasterofmyselfandmyworld,but youdonttellhowoneistobethemasteroveroneself,andyoudonttellmethemistakesinmy thinkingandmyactions. YouletmeninpowerassumepowerfortheLittleMan.Butyouyourselfremainsilent.Yougivemen inpowerorimpotentpeoplewithevilintentionsthepowertorepresentyou.Onlytoolatedoyou realizethatagainandagainyouarebeingdefrauded. Iunderstandyou.For,manythousandsoftimes,Ihaveseenyounaked,physicallyandpsychically, withoutamask,withoutapartycardwithoutyourpopularity.Nakedlikeanewborn,nakedlikea FieldMarshalinhisunderpants.Youhavecomplainedandcriedbeforeme,havetalkedaboutyour longings,andhavedisclosedyourloveandyourgrief.IknowyouandIunderstandyou.Iamgoingto tellyouhowyouare,LittleMan,forIhonestlybelieveinyourgreatfuture.Thereisnodoubt,it belongstoyou.So,firstofall,havealookatyourselfseeyourselfasyoureallyare.Listentowhatnone ofyourFuhrersandrepresentativesdarestellyou: YouarealittleCommonMan.Understandthedoublemeaningofthesewords:little:andcommon. Dontrun.Havethecouragetolookatyourself! Whatrightdoyouhavetotellmethings?Icanseequestioninyourapprehensivelook.Ihearthis questionfromyourimpertinentmouth,LittleMan.Youareafraidtolookatyourself,youareafraidof criticism,LittleMan,justasyouareafraidofthepowertheypromiseyou.Youwouldknowhowtouse thispower.Youdarenotthinkthatyouevermightexperienceyourselfdifferently:freeinstead;open insteadoftactical;lovingopenlyinsteadoflikeathiefinthenight. Youdespiseyourself,LittleMan.Youtoy:WhoamItohaveanopinionofmyowntodeterminemy ownlifeandtodeclaretheworldtobemine?Youareright:Whoareyoutomakeaclaimtoyourlife? Ishalltellyouwhoyouare: Youaredifferentfromthereallygreatmaninonlyonething:Thegreatman,atonetime,alsowasa verylittlemanbuthedevelopedoneimportantability:helearnedtoseewherehewassmallinhis thinkingandactions.Underthepressureofsometask,whichwasdeartohim,helearnedbetterand bettertosensethethreatthatcamefromhissmallnessnodpettiness.Thegreatman,then,knowswhen andinwhatheisalittleman.TheLittleMandoesnotknowthatheislittle,andheisafraidofknowing it.Hecoversuphissmallnessandnarrownesswithillusionsofstrengthandgreatness,ofothers

strengthandgreatness.Heisproudofhisgreatgeneralsbutnotproudofhimself.Headmiresthe thoughtwhichhedidnorhaveandnotthethoughthedidhave.Hebelievesinthingsallthemore thoroughlythelesshecomprehendsthem,anddoesnorbelieveinthecorrectnessofthoseideas,which hecomprehendsmosteasily. IshallbeginwiththeLittleManinmyself: Fortwentyfiveyears,inthewrittenandspokenword,Ihaveadvocatedyourrighttohappinessinthe world;haveaccusedyouofyourinabilitytotakewhatbelongstoyou,tosecurewhatyouhadgainedin thebloodybattlesofthePadsandViennabarricades,intheAmericanemancipationorintheRussian revolution.YourParisendedinPetainandLavalyourViennainHitler;yourRussiainStalin,andyour AmericacouldendintheregimeofaKKK.Youknewbetterhowtowinyourfreedomthanhowto safeguarditforyourselfandothers.Ihaveknownthisforalongtime.WhatIcouldunderstandwas why,everytimeyouhadfoughtyourwaylaboriouslyoutofonemorass,yougotintoaworseone. Then,slowlyandgropingly,Ifoundwhatmakesyouaslave:YOUAREYOUROWNSLAVE DRIVER.Nobodyelsenobodyexceptyouyourselfcarriestheresponsibilityyoureyourslavery. Nobodyelse. Thatisnotnew,isntit?YourliberatorstellyouthatyoursuppressorsareWilhelms,Nikolaus,Pope GregorytheTwentyeight,Morgan,KrupporFord.AndyourliberatorsarecalledMussolini, Napoleon,Hitler,andStalin. Itellyou:Onlyyouyourselfcanbeyourliberator! Thissentencemakesmehesitate.Icontendtoheafighterforpurenessandtruth.Andnowwhenitisa matteroftellingyouthetruthaboutyourself,Ihesitate,becauseIamafraidofyouandyourattitude towardsthetruth.Tosaythetruthaboutyouisdangeroustolife.Thetruthalsoislifesaving,butit becomesthelootofeverygang.Ifthatwerenotsowouldnotbewhatyouareandwhereyouare. Myintellecttellsme:Tellthetruthatanycost.TheLittleManinmesaysItisstupidtoexpose oneselftotheLittleMan,toputoneselfathismercy.TheLittleMandoesnotwanttohearthetruth abouthimselfHedoesnotwantthegreatresponsibilitywhichishis.HewantstoremainaLittleMan, orwantstobecomealittlegreatman.Hewantstobecomerich,orapartyleader,orcommanderofthe legion,orsecretaryofthesocietyfortheabolitionofvice.Buthedoesnotwanttoassumethe responsibilityforhiswork,for;foodprovisionhousing,traffic,education,research,administration,or whateveritmaybe. TheLittleManinmesays:YouhavebecomeagreatmanknowninGermany,Austria,Scandinavia, England,America,Palestine,etc.TheCommunistsfightyou.The"saviorsofculturalvalues"hateyou. Yourstudentsloveyou.Yourformerpatientsadmireyou.Thoseafflictedwiththeemotionalplagueare afteryou.Youhavewrittentwelvebooksand150articlesaboutthemiseryoflife,themiseryofthe LittleMan.Yourfindingsandtheoriesarebeingtaughtatuniversities;othergreatandlonelymensay thatyouareaverygreatman.Youarelikenedtotheintellectualgiantsinthehistoryofscience.You havemadethegreatestdiscoveryincenturies,foryouhavediscoveredthecosmiclifeenergyandthe lawsoflivingfunctioning.Youhavemadecancercomprehensible.Youwentfromcountrytocountry, becauseyoutoldthetruth.Now,takeiteasy.Enjoythefruitsofyourefforts;enjoyyourfame.Inafew years,yournamewillbeheardeverywhere.Youhavedoneenough.Nowquit,andwithdrawtoyour studytoworkonthefunctionallawofnature! ThusspeakstheLittleManinmewhoisafraidofyou,theLittleMan. Foralongtime,IwasinclosecontactwithyoubecauseIknewyourlifefrommyownexperienceand

becauseIwantedtohelpyou.IkeptupthecontactbecauseIsawthatIreallyhelpedyouandthatyou wantedmyhelp,oftenenoughwithtearsinyoureyes.Verygradually,Ibegantoseethatyouwere willingtotakemyhelpbutincapableofdefendingit.Ididdefenditandfoughthardforyouinyour stead.ThencameyourFuhrersandsmashedmywork.Youremainedsilentandfollowedthem.NowI keptupthecontactinordertolearnhowonecouldhelpyouwithoutperishing,eitherasyourFuhreror yourvictim.TheLittleManinmewantedtowinyou,tosaveyou,hewantedtoberegardedbyyou withthesamereverence,whichyouhaveforhighermathematicsbecauseyouhavenotthefaintest ideawhatitisallabout.Thelessyouunderstand,themorereadyyouaretogivereverence.Youknow HitlerbetterthanNietzsche,NapoleonbetterthanPestalozzi.Akingmeansmoretoyouthana SigmundFreud.TheLittleManinmewouldliketowinyouasitiscommonlydone,withthemeansof theFuhrer.IbecomeafraidofyouwhenitistheLittleManinmewhowouldleadyoutofreedom. Youmightdiscoveryourselfinmeandmeinyoumightgetscaredandkillyouinme.ForthisreasonI haveceasedtobewillingtodieforyourfreedomtobeanybodysslave. IknowyoucannotunderstandwhatIjustsaid:tobeanybodysslaveisnotasimplematter. Inordernolongertobetheslaveofoneindividualmaster,ordertobecomeanybodysslave,onefirst hastoeliminatethisoneindividualoppressor,say,theTsar.Thispoliticalmurderonecannotcommit withouthavinghighidealsoffreedomandrevolutionarymotives.Onethenfoundsarevolutionary freedompartyundertheleadershipofatrulygreatman;sayJesus,Marx,LincolnorLenin.Thetruly greatmantakesfreedomdeadlyseriously.Inordertoestablishitinapracticalway,hehastosurround himselfwithmanylittlemen,helpersanderrandboys,becausehecannotdothegiganticjobhimself. Furthermore,youwouldnotunderstandhim;lethimfallbythewayside,ifhehadnorsurrounded himselfwithlittlegreatpersons.Surroundedbymanylittlegreatpersons,heconquerspowerforyou, orapieceoftruth,oranew,betterbelief.Hewritesgospels,freedomlaws,etc.,andcountsonyour helpandseriousness.Hepullsyououtofyoursocialmorass.Inordertokeeptogetherthemanylittle greatpersons,inordernottolooseyourconfidencethe,thetrulygreatmanhasmsacrificepieceafter nieceofhisgreatnesswhichhewasabletoattainonlyinthedeepestintellectualloneliness,farfrom youandyoureverydaynoiseandyetinclosecontactwithyourlife.Inordertobeabletoleadyouhe hastotolerateyourtransforminghimintoaninaccessibleGod.Youwouldhavenoconfidenceinhimif hehadremainedthesimplemanthathewas,amanwho,say,canlovewomaneventhoughhehasno marriagecertificate.Inthisway,youyourselfproduceyournewmaster.Promotedtotheroleofnew master,thegreatmanloseshisgreatnessbecausethisgreatnessconsistedinhisstraightforwardness, simplicity,courageandrealcontactwithlife.Thelittlegnatpersons,whoderivedtheirgreatnessfrom thegnatman,assumethehighpostsoffinance,diplomacy,government,sciencesandartsandyou remainwhereyouwere:inthemorass.YoucontinuetogoinragsforthesakeofaSocialistfutureor aThirdReich.Youcontinuetoliveindirthouseswithstrawroofs,thewallsofwhicharecovered withmanure.Butyouareproudofyourpalaceofculture.Youaresatisfiedwiththeillusionthatyou governuntilthenextwarandthedownfallofthenewmasters. Indistantnations,littlemenhaveindustriouslystudiedyourcravingforbeinganybodysslaveandhave thuslearnedhow,withlittleintellectualeffort,onecanbecomealittlegreatman.Theselittlegreatmen comefromyourranks,notfrompalacesandmansions.Theyhavehungeredandsufferedlikeyou.They shortentheprocessofchangingmasters.Theyhavelearnedthatahundredyearsofhardintellectual workonyourfreedom,ofpersonalsacrificeforyourhappiness,evenof;sacrificinglifeforyour freedom,wasmuchmahighapriceforyourenslavement.Whatreallygreatthinkersforfreedomhad elaboratedandhadsufferedin100yearscouldbedestroyedinlessthanfiveyears.Thelittlemenfrom yourranksthenshortentheprocess:theydoitmoreopenlyandmorebrutally.Morethanthat,theytell

youinsomanywordsthatyouandyourlife,yourfamilyandyourchildren,amounttonothing,thatyou arestupidandsubservient,thatonecandowithyouwhatonepleases.Theydonotpromiseyou personalfreedom,butnationalfreedom.Theydonotpromiseyouselfconfidencebutrespectforthe statenotpersonalgreatness,butnationalgreatness.Sincepersonalfreedomandpersonalgreatness arenothingtoyoubutvagueconcepts,whilenationalfreedomandtheinterestsofthestatemake yourmouthwaterlikeabonethatofadog,youloudlyacclaimthem.Noneoftheselittlemenpaysthe priceforgenuinefreedom,asdidJesus,KarlMarxorLincoln.Theydonotloveyou;theydespiseyou, sinceyoudespiseyourself,LittleMan.Theyknowyouwell;farbetterthanaRockefellerortheTories knowyou.Theyknowyourworstweaknessesmawayinwhichonlyyoushouldknowthem.Theyhave sacrificedyoutoasymbol,andyoucarrythemtopoweroveryourself.Yourmastershavebeenelevated byyou,yourself,andarenurturedbyyou,inspiteofthefactor,rather,becauseofthefactthatthey droppedallmasks.Indeed,theytoldyouinsomanywords:Youareaninferiorbeingwithoutany responsibility,andyouaregoingtoremainso.AndyoucallthemSaviors,NewLiberatorsandyell: Heil,Heil!,andViva,Viva! ThisiswhyIamafraidofyouLittleMan,deadlyafraid.ForonyoudependsthefateofhumanityIam afraidofyoubecausethereisnothingyoufleeasmuchfromasyourself.Youaresick,verysick,Little Man.Itisnotyourfault.Butitisyourresponsibilitytoridyourselfofthissickness.Youwouldhave longsinceshakenoffyouroppressorshadyounottoleratedoppressionandoftenactivelysupportedit. Nopoliceforceintheworldwouldbepowerfulenoughtosuppressyouifyouhadonlyamiteofself respectinpracticaleverydayliving,ifyouknew,deepdown,thatwithoutyoulifewouldnotgoonfor evenanhour.Didyourliberatortellyouthat?No.HecalledyoutheProletarianoftheWorld,buthe didnottellyouthatyou,andonlyyou,areresponsibleforyourlife(insteadofbeingresponsibleforthe honorofthefatherland) Youmustcometorealizethatyoumadeyourlittlemenyourownoppressors,andthatyoumade martyrsoutofyourtrulygreatmen;thatyoucrucifiedandmurderedthemandletthemstarve;thatyou didnotgiveathoughttothemandtheirlaborsforyou;thatyouhavenoideatowhomyouowewhatever fulfillmentsthereareinyourlife. Yousay,BeforeItrustyou,Iwanttoknowyourphilosophyoflife.Whenyouhearmyphilosophyof life,youwillruntoyourDistrictAttorney,ortotheCommitteeagainstUnAmericanActivities,orto theFBI,theGPUortheYellowPress,ortheKuKluxKlanortheLeadersoftheProletariansofthe World,or,finally,youwillsimplyrun: IamnotaRedoraBlackoraWhiteoraYellow. IamnotaChristianoraJeworaMohammedan,aMormon,Polygamist,Homosexual,Anarchistor Boxer. IembracemywifebecauseIloveheranddesireherandnotbecauseIhappentohaveamarriage certificateorbecauseIamsexuallystarved. Idonotbeatchildren;Idonotfishanddonotshootdeerorrabbits.ButIamagoodshotandliketohit thebullseye.Idonotplaybridgeanddonorgivepartiesinordertospreadmytheories.Ifmy teachingsarecorrecttheywillspreadbythemselves. IdonotsubmitmyworktoanyhealthofficialunlesshehasmastereditbetterthanIhave.AndI determinewhohasmasteredtheknowledgeandtheintricaciesofmydiscovery. Istrictlyobserveeverylawwhenitmakessense,butIfightitwhenitisobsoleteorsenseless.(Dont runtotheDistrictAttorney,LittleMan,forhedoesthesameifheisadecentindividual.)

Iwantchildrenandadolescentstoexperiencetheirbodilyhappinessinloveandtoenjoyitwithout danger. Idonotbelievethat,inordertobereligiousinthegoodandgenuinesenseoftheword,onehastoruin oneslovelifeandhastobecomerigidandshrunkeninbodyandsoul. IknowthatwhatyoucallGodactuallyexists,butinadifferentwayfromwhatyouthink:asthe primalcosmicenergyintheuniverse,asyourloveinyourbody,asyourhonestyandyourfeelingof natureinyouandaroundyou. Iwouldshowthedoortoanybodywho,underwhateverflimsypretext,weretotrytointerferewithmy medicalandeducationalworkwithpatientorchild.Inanyopencourt,Iwouldaskhimsomevery simpleandclearquestions,whichhecouldnotanswerwithoutbeingashamedeverafter.ForIama workingmanwhoknowswhatamanreallyisinside,whoknowsthatheamountstosomething,and whowantsworktogoverntheworld,andnotopinionsaboutwork.Ihavemyownopinion,andIcan distinguishaliefromthetruth,which,everyhouroftheday,Iuselikeatoolandwhichafteruse,I keepclean. Iamverydeeplyafraidofyou,LittleMan.Thathasnotalwaysbeenso.ImyselfwasaLittleMan, amongmillionsofLittleMen.ThenIbecomeanaturalscientistandapsychiatrist,andIlearnedtosee howverysickyouareandhowdangerousyouareinyoursickness.Ilearnedtoseethefactthatitis yourownemotionalsickness,andnotanexternalpower,whicheveryhourandeveryminute, suppressesyou,eventhoughtheremaybenoexternalpressure.Youwouldhaveovercomethetyrants longagohadyoubeenaliveinsideandhealthy.Youroppressorscomefromyourownranksasinthe pasttheycamefromtheupperstrataofsociety.Theyareevenlittlerthanyouare,LittleMan.Forit takesagooddoseoflittlenesstoknowyourmiseryfromexperienceandthentousethisknowledgeto suppressyoustillbetter,stillharder. Youhavenosenseorganforthetrulygreatman.Hiswayofbeinghissuffering,hislonging,hisraging, hisfightforyouarealientoyou.Youcannotunderstandthattherearemenandwomenwhoare incapableofsuppressingorexploitingyou,andwhoreallywantyoutobefree,realandhonest.Youdo notlikethesemenandwomenfortheyarealientoyourbeing.Theyaresimpleandstraight;tothem, truthiswhattacticsistoyou.Theylookthroughyou,notwithderision,butpainedatthefateof humans;butyoufeellookedthroughandsensedanger.Youacclaimthemonly,Man,whenmanyother LittleMentellyouthatthatthesemenaregreat.Youareafraidofthegreatman,ofhisclosenesstolife andhisloveforlife.Thegreatmanlovesyousimplyasalivinganimal,asalivingbeing.Hedoesnot wanttoseeyou,sufferasyouhavesufferedforthousandsofyears.Hedoesnotwanttohearyoubabble asyouhavebabbledforthousandsofyears.Hedoesnotwanttoseeyouasabeastofburdenbecausehe loveslifeandwouldliketoseeitfreefromsufferingandignominy. Youdrivereallygreatmentothepointwheretheydespiseyou,where,painedbyyouandyour pettinesses,theywithdraw,wheretheyavoidyouand,worstofall,begintopityyou.Ifyou,LittleMan, happentobeapsychiatrist,say,aLombroso,youstampthegreatmanasakindofcriminal,ora criminalwhohasfailedtomakegood,orapsychotic.Forthegreatman,unlikeyou,doesnotseethe goaloflifeinamassingmoney,orinthesociallypropermarriageofhisdaughters,orinapolitical career,orinacademictitlesortheNobelPrize.Forthisreasonsbecauseheisnotlikeyou,youcallhim geniusorqueer.He,ontheotherhand,iswillingtostatethatheisnogenius,butsimplyaliving being.Youcallhimasocialbecauseheprefersthestudy,withhisthoughts,orthelaboratory,withhis work,toyourempty,babblingsocialparties.Youcallhimcrazybecausehespendshismoneyfor scientificresearchinsteadofbuyingbondsandstocks,asyoudo.Youpresume,LittleMan,inyour

bottomlessdegeneration,tocallthesimple,straightforwardmanabnormal:ascomparedwithyou,the prototypeofnormality,thehomonormalis.Youmeasurehimwithyourpettyyardsticksandfind thathedoesnotmeetthedemandsofyournormality,Youcannotsee,LittleMan,thatitisyouwho drivehim,whoisfullofloveforyouandreadinesstohelpyou,fromsociallifebecauseyouhavemade itinsufferable,beitintavernorinthepalace.Whohadmadehimintowhatheseemstobeaftermany decadesofheartbreakingsuffering?Itisyou,withyourirresponsibility,yournarrowness;yourfalse thinkingyourunshakeableaxiomsthatcannotsurvivetenyearsofsocialdevelopment.Justthinkof allthethings,whichyousworetobecorrectinasfewyearsashaveelapsedbetweentheFirstandthe SecondWorldWar.Howmuchofthathaveyouhonestlyrecognizedtobeerroneous,howmuchofit haveyouretracted?Absolutelynothing,LittleMan.Thetrulygreatmanthinkscautiously,butoncehe hasgottenholdofanimportantidea,hethinksinlongrangeterms.Itisyou,LittleMan,whomakera pariahoutofthegreatmanwhenhisthoughtiscorrectandlastingandyourthoughtispettyand ephemeral.Inmakinghimapariah,youplantthedreadfulseedoflonelinessinhim.Nottheseedof loneliness,whichproducesgreatdeeds,buttheseedofthefearofbeingmisunderstoodandmaltreated byyou.Foryouarethepeople,publicopinionandsocialconscience.Haveyou,LittleMan,ever honestlythoughtaboutthegiganticresponsibilityinvolvedinthis?Haveyoueverhonestlyasked yourselfwhetheryouthinkcorrectlyornot,fromthestandpointoflongtermsocialhappenings,orof nature,orofgreathumandeeds,say,ofaJesus?No,youdidnotaskyourselfwhetheryourthinking waserroneous.Instead,youaskedyourselfwhatyourneighborwasgoingtosayaboutit,orwhether yourhonestymightcostyoumoney.This,LittleMan,andnothingelse,iswhatyouaskedyourself. Afterthushavingdriventhegreatmanintoloneliness,youforgotwhatyoudidtohim.Allyoudidwas toutterothernonsense,tocommitanotherlittlemeanness,toadministeranotherdeephurt.Youforget. Butitisofthenatureofthegreatmennottoforget,butalsonottotakerevenge,but,instead,totryto UNDERSTANDWHYYOUACTSOSHABBILY.Iknowthatthisalsoisalientoyourthinkingand feeling.Butbelieveme:ifyouindictpainahundred,athousand,amilliontimes,ifyouinflictwounds thatcannothealeventhoughthenextmomentyounolongerknowwhatyoudidthegreatman suffersforyourmisdeedsinyourplace,notbecausethesemisdeedsaregreat,butbecausetheyare petty.Hewouldliketoknowwhatmovesyoutodothingslikethesetosmearyourmaritalpartner becauseheorshehasdisappointedyou:totortureyourchildbecausehedoesnotpleaseavicious neighbor;tolookwithscornonakindpersonandtoexploithim;totakewhereyouaregivenandto givewhereitisdemandedofyou,butnevertogivewhereyouaregivenwithlove;togiveanotherkick toafellowwhoisdownorabouttogodown;toliewheretruthisrequired,andalwaystopersecute truthinsteadofthelie.Youarealwaysonthesideoftheprosecutors,LittleMan. Inordertogainyourfavor,LittleMan,inordertogainyouruselessfriendship,thegreatmanwould havetoadjusthimselftoyou,wouldhavetotalkthewayyoudo,wouldhavetoadornhimselfwithyour virtues.Butifhehadyourvirtues,yourlanguageandyourfriendship,hewouldnolongerbegreatand trueandsimple.Theproof:yourfriendswhotalkedthewayyouwantedthemtotalkhaveneverbeen greatmen. Youdonotbelievethatyourfriendcoulddosomethinggreat.Secretly,youdespiseyourself,evenwhen orparticularlywhenyoumakethegreatestdisplayofyourdignity;andsinceyoudespiseyourself youcannotrespecthimwhoisyourfriend.Youcannotbelievethatsomebodywhosatatthetablewith youorlivedinthesamehousewithyoucouldachieveanythinggreat.Inyourproximity,LittleManitis difficulttothink.Onecanonlythinkaboutyou,notwithyou.Foryouchokeanygreatsweeping thought.Asamotheryousaytoyourchild,whichexploresitsworld:Thatsnotathingforchildren. Asaprofessorofbiologyyousay:Thatsnothingfordecentstudents.What,doubtthetheoryoftheair

germs?Asateacheryousay:Childrenaretobeseenandnottobeheard.Asawifeyousay:Ha! Discovery!Youwithyourdiscovery!Whydontyougototheofficelikeeverybodyelseandmakea decentliving?Butwhatissaidinthenewspaperyoubelieve,whetheryouunderstanditornot. Itellyou,LittleMan:Youhavelostthefeelingforthebestthatisinyou.Youhavestrangledit,andyou murderitwhereveryoudetectitinothers,inyourchildren,yourwife,yourhusband,yourfatherand yourmother.Youarelittleandyouwanttoremainlittle. YouaskhowIknowallthis?Illtellyou: Ihaveexperiencedyou,Ihaveexperiencedmyselfinyou,Ihave,asatherapistfreedyoufromyour pettinesses,Ihave,asaneducator,oftenledyoutostraightforwardnessandopenness.Iknowhowyou defendyourselfagainststraightforwardness;Iknowtheterrorthatstrikesyouwhenyouareaskedto followyourtrue,genuinebeing. Youarenotonlylittle,LittleMan.Iknowyouhaveyourbigmomentsinlife,momentsofrapture andelation,ofsoaringup.Butyoudonthavethestaminatosoarhigherandhigher,toletyour elationcarryyouupandup.Youareafraidofsoaring,afraidofheightanddepth.Nietzschehastold youthismuchbetter,longago.Buthedidnottellyouwhyyouarethatway.Hetriedtomakeyouinto asuperman,anUbermench;inordertoovercomethehumaninyou.HisUbermenchbecameyour FuhrerHitler.AndyouremainedtheUbermench. IwantyoutostopbeinganUbermenchandwantyoutobecomeyourself.Yourself,insteadofthe newspaperyoureadorthepooropinionthatyouhearfromyourviciousneighbor.Iknowthatyoudo notknowwhatandhearyoureallypredeepdown.Inthedepth,youarewhatadeeris,oryourGod, yourpoetoryourwiseman.ButyoubelievethatyouareamemberoftheLegion,thebowlingclubor theKuKluxKlan.Andsinceyoubelievethis,youactasyoudo.This,too,youhavebeentoldby others:byHeinrichManninGermanyaslongastwentyfiveyearsago,andinAmericabyUpton Sinclair,DosPassesandothers.ButyoudidntknowofMannorSinclair.Youknowonlythechampion AlCapone.Facedwiththechoicebetweenalibraryandabrawl,youwillunquestionablychoosethe brawl. Youbegforhappinessinlife,butsecurityismoreimportanttoyou,evenifitcostsyouyourspineor yourlife.Sinceyouhaveneverlearnedtocreatehappiness,orenjoyandprotectit,youdonotknowthe courageoftheuprightindividual.YouwanttoknowLittleMan,howyouare?Youlistenontheradioto theannouncementsoflaxatives,dentalcreamsanddeodorants.Butyoufailtohearthemusicof propaganda.Youfailtoperceivethebottomlessstupidityandthedisgustinglybadtasteofthesethings, whicharedesignedtocatchyourear.Haveyoueverpaidcloseattentiontothejokes,whichamasterof ceremoniesmakesaboutyouinthenightclub?Jokesaboutyou,abouthimself,aboutyourwholesmall miserableworld.Listentoyourlaxativespropagandaandyoulearnwhoandhowyouare. Listen,LittleMan:Themiseryofhumanexistencebecomesspotlightedbyeveryoneofthesepetty misdeeds.Everyoneofyourpettinessesmakesthehopeforanimprovementofyourlotrecedefarther. Thisiscauseforgrieving,LittleMan,deep,heartbreakinggrieving.Inordernottofeelthisgrief,you makebadlittlejokes,andcallitfolkhumor.Youhearthejokeaboutyourself,andyoulaughheartily withtheothers. Youdonotlaughbecauseyoumakefunofyourself.YoulaughattheLittleMan,butyoudontknow thatyoulaughatyourself,thatonelaughatyou.MillionsofLittleMendonotknowthatonelaughsat them.Whydoesonelaughatyou,LittleMan,soopenly,soheartily,withsuchmaliciousjoy,all throughthecenturies!Hasiteverstruckyouashearridiculousthepeoplearepresentedinthe

movies?Iwilltellyouwhyonelaughsatyou,becauseItakeyouvery,veryseriously. Withthegreatestconsistency,yourthinkingalwaysmissesthetruth,justasaplayfulsharpshooteris ableconsistentlya,hitrightbesidesthebullseye.Youdontthinkso?Illshowyou.Youcouldhave longsincebecomethemasterofyourexistence,ifonlyyourthinkingwereinthedirectionofthetruth. Butyouthinklikethis: ItsallthefaultoftheJews.WhatsaJew?Iask.PeoplewithJewishblood,isyouranswer. WhatsthedifferencebetweenJewishbloodandotherblood?Thisquestionstumpsyou;youhesitate, becomeconfused,andanswer:ImeantheJewishrace.Whatisrace?Iask.Race?Why,thats simple;justasthereisaGermanrace,sothereisaJewishrace.WhatcharacterizestheJewishrace? Well,aJewisdarkhaired,hasalonghooknoseandsharpeyes.TheJewsareavariciousand capitalistic.HaveyoueverseenaMediterraneanFrenchmanorItaliantogetherwithaJew?Canyou distinguishthem?Well,notreally.What,then,isaJew?Thebloodpictureshowsnodifference;he doesnotlookdifferentfromaFrenchmanorItalian.AndhaveyoueverseenGermanJews?Sure,they looklikeGermans.AndwhatisaGerman?AGermanbelongstotheNordicAryanrace.Arethe IndiansAryans?Sure.AretheyNordic?No.Aretheyblond?No.Soyousee,youdontknow whatisaGermanandwhatisaJew.ButthereareJews.CertainlythereareJews,justasthereare ChristiansandMohammedans.ImeantheJewishreligion.WasRooseveltaDutchman?No.Why doyoucalladescendantofDavidaJewifyoudontcallRooseveltaDutchman?WiththeJewsits different.Whatsdifferent?Idontknow. Thatsthewayyoudrive,LittleMan.Fromyourdrivelyoucreatearmedformationsandtheseslayten millionpeopleasJewsthoughyoucannoteventellwhataJewis.Thatswhyonelaughsatyou,why oneavoidsyouwhenonehasseriousworktodo,thatswhyyoustickinthemorass.Whenyousay Jewyoumakeyourselffeelsuperior.Youhavetodothatbecauseyoureallyfeelmiserable.Andyou feelmiserablebecauseyouarepreciselythatwhichyoumurderintheallegedJew.Thisisonlyatiny bitofthetruthaboutyou,LittleMan. YoufeelyourpettinesslesswhenyousayJew,arrogantlyorcontemptuously.ItisonlyrecentlythatI havefoundthatout.YoucallsomebodyaJewifhearousestoolittleortoomuchrespectinyou.You setoutarbitrarilytodeterminewhoisaJew.ButIdonotconcedethisrighttoyou,beyoualittle AryanoralittleJew.OnlyIandnobodyelseinthisworldhastherighttodeterminewhoIam.Iam, biologicallyandculturally,amongrel,andIamproudofbeingtheintellectualandphysicalresultofall classesandracesandnations,proudofnotbeingofapureraceorbelongingtoapureclasslikeyou, ofnotbeingchauvinisticlikeyou,thelittleFascistofallnations,racesandclasses.Ihearthatin PalestineyoudidnotwantaJewishtechnicianbecauseheisnotcircumcised.Ihavenothingmorein commonwithJewishFasciststhanwithanyothers.Why,LittleJew,doyougobackonlytoSem,and nottotheprotoplasm?Tome,thelivingbeginsintheplasmaticcontraction,andnotinarabbisoffice. Ittookmanymillionyearstodevelopyoufromajellyfishtoaterrestrialbiped.Yourbiological aberration,intheformofrigidity,haslastedonlysixthousandyears.Itwilltakeahundredorfive hundredormaybefivethousandyearsbeforeyourediscovernatureinyou,beforeyoufindthejellyfish inyourselfagain.Idiscoveredthejellyfishinyouanddescribedittoyouindearlanguage.Whenyou heardaboutitthefirsttime,youcalledmeanewgenius.Youwillremember,itwasinScandinavia;ata timeyouwerelookingforanewLenin.ButIhadmoreimportantthingstodoanddeclinedthisrole. YouhavealsoproclaimedmetobeanewDarwin,orMaryorPasteur,orFreud.Itoldyoulongagothat youtoowouldbeabletotalkandwritelikeme,ifyouonlywouldnotalwaysyell,Hail,Hail,Messiah! Forthisvictoriousyellingdeadensyourmindandparalysesyourcreativenature.

Doyounotpersecutetheillegitimatemotherasanimmoralbeing,LittleMan?Dontyoumakea strictdistinctionbetweenchildrenborninwedlockwhoarelegitimateandchildrenbornoutof wedlockwhoareillegitimate?Ohyoupoorcreature,youdontunderstandyourownwords:You veneratethechildChrist.ThechildChristwasbornbyamotherwhohadnomarriagecertificate.Thus, withouthavinganyideaofit,youvenerateinthechildChristyourlongingforsexualfreedom,you LittleHenpeckedMan.YoumadetheillegitimatelybornchildChristtheSonofGod,whodidnot knowillegitimatechildren.Butthen,astheApostlePaul,youbegantopersecutethechildrenoftrue loveandtogivethechildrenoftruehatredtheprotectionofyourreligiouslaws.Youareamiserable LittleMan! Yourunyourautomobilesandtrainsoverthebridges,whichthegreatGalileoinvented.Doyouknow, LittleMan,thatthegreatGalileohadthreechildren,withoutamarriagelicense?Thatyoudonttell yourschoolchildren.AnddidyounottortureGalileoforthisreasonalso? Andyouknow,LittleManinthefatherlandofSlavicPeoples,thatyourgreatLenin,thegreatest fatherofallproletariansoftheworld,abolishedyourcompulsivemarriagewhenhecametopower? Anddoyouknowthathehimselfhadlivedwithhiswifewithoutamarriagelicense?Anddidyounot have,throughyourFuhrerofallSlavs,theoldlawsofcompulsivemarriagereestablished,becauseyou didnotknowthatyoushouldletLeninsbigdeedlive? Ofallthisyouknownothingatall,forwhatistruthtoyouorhistory,orthefightforyourfreedom,and whoareyou,anyhow,tohaveanopinionofyourown? Youhavenoinklingofthefactthatitisyourpornographicmindandyoursexualirresponsibility,which putyouintheshacklesofyourmarriagelaws. Youfeelyourselfmiserableandsmall,stinking,impotent,rigid,lifelessandempty.Youhaveno woman,orifyouhaveone,youonlywanttolayherinordera,provethemaninyou.Youdont knowwhatloveis.Youareconstipatedandtakelaxatives.Yousmellbad,yourskinisclammy;you dontfeelyourchildinyourarmandsoyoutreatitasapuppythatcanbebeatenup. Allyourlifeyouwerebotheredbyyourimpotence.Itinvadedeverythoughtofyours.Itinterferedwith yourwork.Yourwifeleftyoubecauseyouwereunabletogiveherlove.Yousufferfromphobias, nervousnessandpalpitations.Yourthoughtsrevolvearoundsexuality.Somebodytellsyouofsex economy,whichunderstandsyouandwouldliketohelpyou.Itwouldliketomakeyouliveyour sexualityatnightsothatduringthedayyouwouldbefreeofsexualthoughtsandcapableofdoingyour work.Itwouldliketoseeyourwifehappyinyourarmsinsteadofdesperate.Itwouldliketoseeyour childrenrosyinsteadofpale,lovinginsteadofcruel.Butyou,hearingofsexeconomy,say:Sexisnt everything.Thereareotherimportantthingsinlife.Thatsthewayyouare,LittleMan. OryouareaMarxist:aprofessionalrevolutionary,awouldbeFuhreroftheproletariansofthe world.Youwanttofreetheworldfromitssufferings.Thedeceivedmassesrunawayfromyou,and yourunafterthem,yelling:Stop,stop,youproletarianmasses!YoujustcantseeyetthatIamyour liberator!Downwithcapitalism!Italktoyourmasses,LittleRevolutionary;Ishowthemthemiseryof theirsmalllives.Theylisten,fullofenthusiasmandhope.Theycrowdintoyourorganizationsbecause theyexpecttofindmethere.Butwhatdoyoudo?Yousay:Sexualityisapetitbourgeoisinvention.Itis theeconomicfactorsthatcount.AndyoureadVandeVeldesbookonlovetechniques. Whenagreatmansetouttogiveyoureconomicemancipationascientificbasisyoulethimstarve.You killedthefirstinroadoftruthagainstyourdeviationfromthelawsoflife.Whenthisfirstattemptofhis wassuccessful,youtookoveritsadministrationandthuskilleditasecondtime.Thefirsttimethegreat

mandissolvedyourorganization.Thesecondtime,hehaddiedinthemeantimeandcouldnolongerdo anythingagainstyou.Youdidnotunderstandthathefound,inyourwork,thelivingpower,which createsvalues.Youdidnotunderstandthathissociologywantedtoprotectyoursocietyagainstyour state.Youdontunderstandanythingatall. Andevenwithyoureconomicfactorsyoudontgetanywhere.Agreat,wisemanworkedhimselfto deathtoshowyouthatyouhavetoimproveeconomicconditionsifyouwanttoenjoyyourlife;that hungryindividualsareunabletofurtherculture;thatallconditionsoflife,withoutexception,belong here;thatyouhavetoemancipateyourselfandyoursocietyfromalltyranny.Thistrue,greatmanmade onlyonemistakewhenhetriedtoenlightenyou:hebelievedinyourcapacityforemancipation.He believedyouwerecapableofsecuringyourfreedomonceyouhadconqueredit.Andmadeanother mistake:thatoflettingyou,theproletarian,beadictator. Andwhatdidyou,LittleMan,dowiththewealthofknowledgeandideascomingfromthisgreatman? Ofallofit,onlyonewordkeptringinginyourears:dictatorship!Ofallthatagreatmindandabig warmhearthadpouredout,awordremained:dictatorship.Everythingelseyouthrewoverboard, freedom,clarityandtruth,thesolutionoftheproblemsofeconomicslavery,themethodofthinking ahead;everything,buteverything,wentoverboard.Onlyoneword,whichhadbeenunhappilychosen thoughwellmeant,stuckyou:dictatorship! Fromthissmallnegligenceofagreatmanyouhavebuiltagiantsystemoflies,persecution,torture, goalers,hangmen,secretpolice,espionageanddenunciation,uniforms,Marshalsandmedalsbut everythingelseyouhavethrownoverboard.Doyoubegintounderstandalittlebetterhowyouare, LittleMan?Notyet?Well,letstryagain:economicconditionsofyourhappinessinlifeandloveyou confusedwithmachinery;theemancipationofhumanbeingswiththegreatnessofthestate;the risingofmillionswiththeparadeofcannons;theliberationoflovewiththerapeofeverywomanyou couldlayyourhandsonwhenyoucametoGermany;theeliminationofpovertywiththeeradicationof thepoor,weakandhelpless;infantcarewiththebreedingofpatriots;birthcontrolwithmedalsfor motherswithtenchildren.Haveyounotsufferedityourself,thisideaofyoursofthemotherwithten children? Inothercountries,too,theunfortunatelittleword,dictatorship,ranginyourears.There,youputit intoresplendentuniformsandyoucreatedfromyourmidstthelittle,impotent,mysticalandsadistic officialwholedyouintotheThirdReichandledsixtymillionofyourkindtothegrave.Andyoukeep yelling,Hail,HailHail! Thatsthewayyouare,LittleMan.Butnobodydarestellyouwhatyouarelike.Foroneisafraidofyou andwantsyoutobesmall,LittleMan. Youdevouryourhappiness.Neverhaveyouenjoyedhappinessinfullfreedom.Thatswhyyougreedily devourhappiness,withouttakingresponsibilityforsecuringhappiness.Youwerekeptfromlearningto takecareofyourhappiness,tonurtureitasagardenernurtureshisflowersandthefarmshiscrops.The greatsearchersandpoetsandsagesfledfromyoubecausetheywantedtotakecareoftheirhappiness. Inyourproximity,LittleMan,itiseasytodevourhappinessbutdifficulttoprotectit. YoudontknowwhatIamtalkingabout,LittleMan?Illtellyou:Thediscovererworkshard,forten, twentyorthirtyyears,withoutletup,onhisscience,ormachine,orsocialidea.Hehastocarrythe heavyburdenofwhatisnewallbyhimself.Hehastosufferyourstupidities,yourerroneouslittleideas andideals,hehastocomprehendandanalyzethem,and,finally,hastoreplacethembyhisdeeds.Inall this,youdonothelphim,LittleMan.Notintheleast.Onthecontrary,Youdontcomeandsay: Listen,fellow,IseehowhardyouworkIalsorealizethatyouworkonmymachine,mychild,mywife,

myfriend,myhouse,myfields,inordertoimprovethings.ForalongtimeIhavesufferedfromthis andthat,butIcouldnothelpmyself.Now,canIhelpyoutohelpme?No,LittleMan,younevercome toyourhelpertohelp.Youplaycards,oryouyellyourselfhoarseataprizefight,oryouslaveaway dullyinanofficeoramine.Butneverdoyoucometohelpyourhelper.Youknowwhy?Becausethe discoverer,tobeginwithhasnothingtoofferbutthoughts.Noprofit,nohigherwages,nounion contract,noChristmasbonusandnoeasywayofliving.Allhehastogiveoutarecares,andyoudont wantanycares,youhavemorethanenoughalready. Butifyoujuststayedaway,notofferingorgivinghelp,thediscovererwouldnotfeelunhappyabout you.Afterall,hedoesnotthinkandworryanddiscoverforyou.Hedoesallthisbecausehisliving functioningdriveshimtodoit.Thetakingcareofyouandthepityingyouheleavestothepartyleaders andthechurchmen.Whathewouldliketoseeisthatyoufinallybecomecapableoftakingcareof yourself. Butyouarenotcontentwithnothelping;youdisruptandspit.Whenthediscovererfinally,afterlong andhardworkhascometounderstandwhyyouareincapableofgivingyourwifehappinessinlove, youcomeandsaythatheisasexualswine.Youhavenoinklingofthefactthatyousaythisbecause youhavetokeepdownthesexualswineinyourselfandthatiswhyyouareincapableoflove.Or,when thediscovererhasjustfoundoutwhypeopledieofcancer,enmasse,andifyou,LittleMan,happento beaProfessorofCancerpathology,withasteadysalary,yousaythatthediscovererisafaker;orthat hedoesnotunderstandanythingabouttheairgerms;orthathespendsorgetstoomuchmoneyforhis research;oryouaskwhetherheisaJeworaforeigner;oryouinsistthatyouhavearighttoexamine him,inordertofindoutwhetherheisqualifiedtoworkonyourcancerproblem,theproblemyou cannotsolve;oryouprefertoseemany,manycancerpatientsdieratherthantoadmitthathehasfound whatyousobadlyneedifyouaretosaveyourpatients.Toyou,yourprofessoria1dignity,oryourbank accountoryourconnectionwiththeradiumindustrymeansmorethantruthandlearning.Andthats whyyouaresmallandmiserable,LittleMan. Thatis,notonlydoyounothelp,butyoudisturbmaliciouslyworkthatisdoneforyouorinyourstead. Doyouunderstandnowwhyhappinessescapesyou?Itwantstobeworkedforandwantstobeearned. Butyouonlywanttodevourhappiness,thatswhyitescapesyou;itdoesnotwanttobedevouredby you. Inthecourseoftime,thediscoverersucceedsinconvincingmanypeoplethathisdiscoveryhas practicalvalue,that,itmakesitpossibletotreatcertaindiseases,ortoliftaweight,ortoblastrocks,or topenetratematterwithrayssothattheinsidebecomesvisible.Youdonotbelieveituntilyoureaditin thenewspapers,foryoudonttrustyourownsenses.Yourespecttheone,whodespisesyou,andyou despiseyourself;thatiswhyyoucannottrustyourownsenses.Butwhenthediscoveryiswrittenupin thenewspapers,thenyoucome,notwalking,butrunning.Youdeclarethediscoverertobeagenius thesamemanwhomyesterdayyoucalledfaker,asexualswine,acharlatanoradangerousmanwho underminedpublicmorals.Nowyoucallhimagenius.Youdontknowwhatageniusis,asyoudont knowwhatJewis,ortruthorhappiness?Illtellyou,LittleMan,JackLondonhastoldyouinhis MARTINEDEN.Iknowyouhavereaditthousandsoftimes,butyouhavenotgraspedit:Geniusis thetrademarkyouputonyourproductswhenyouputthemonsale.Ifthediscoverer(whoonly yesterdaywasasexswineorcrazy)isagenius,thenitiseasierforyoutodevourthehappiness, whichhehasputintheworld.Fornowtherecomeverymanylittlemenandcry,inunisonwith Genius,genius.Andpeoplecomeindrovesandeatproductsfromyourhand.Ifyouareaphysician, youwillmanymorepatients;youcanhelpthemmuchbetterthanpreviouslyandcanmakemuchmore money.Well,yousayLittleMan,nothingbadaboutthat.No,thereiscertainlynothingbadabout

earningmoneywithhonestandgoodwork.Butitisbadnottogivebackanythingtothediscovery,not totakecareofit,butonlytoexploitit.Andthatispreciselywhatyouaredoing.Youdonothingto furtherthedevelopmentofthediscovery.Youtakeitovermechanically,greedily,stupidly.Youdonot seeitspossibilitiesoritslimitations.Astothepossibilities,youdonthavethevisionandastothe limitations,youdontrecognizethemandgobeyondthem.If,asaphysicianorbacteriologistyouknow typhoidacholeratobeinfectiousdiseases,youlookforamicroorganisminthecancerdiseaseand. thusstultifydecadesofresearch.Onceagreatmanshowedyouthatmachinesfollowcertainlaws;then youbuildmachinesforkilling,andyoutakethelivingtobeamachinealso.Inthis,youmadeamistake notforthreedecades,butforthreecenturies;erroneousconceptsbecameinextricablyanchoredin hundredsofthousandsofscientificworkers;more,lifeitselfwasseverelydamaged;forfromthispoint onbecauseofyourdignity,oryourprofessorship,yourreligion,yourbankaccountoryourcharacter amouryoupersecuted,slanderedandotherwisedamagedanyonewhoreallywasonthetrackofthe livingfunction. Trueenough,youwanttohavegeniusesandyouarewillingtopaythemhomage.Butyouwanta goodgenius,onewithmoderationanddecorum,onewithoutfolly,inbrief,aseemly,measuredand adjustedgenius,notanunruly,untamedgeniuswhichbreaksdownallyourbarriersandlimitationsYou wantalimited,wingclippedanddressedupgeniuswhomwithoutblushing,youcantriumphantly paradethroughthestreetsofyourtowns. Thatsthewayyouare,LittleMan.Youaregoodatscoopingupandladlingin,butyoucannotcreate. Andthatswhyyouarewhatyouare,allyourlifeinaboringofficeoratthedesigningboardorinthe maritalstraitjacketorateacherwhohateschildren.Youhavenodevelopmentandnochanceforanew thought,becauseyouhavealwaysonlytaken,onlyladledinwhatsomebodyelsehaspresentedtoyou onasilverplatter.Youdontseewhythisisso,whyitcannotbeotherwise?Illtellyou,LittleMan,for Ihavecometoknowyouasananimalbecomerigidwhenyoucametomewithyourinneremptinessor yourimpotenceoryourmentaldisorder.Youcanonlyladleinandonlytake,andcannotcreateand cannotgive,becauseyourbasicbodilyattitudeisthatofholdingbackandofspite;becausepanic strikesyouwhentheprimordialmovementofLOVEandofGIVINGstirsinyou.Thisiswhyyouare afraidofgiving.Yourtaking,basically,hasonlyonemeaning:Youareforcedcontinuouslytogorge yourselfwithmoney,withhappiness,withknowledge,becauseyoufeelyourselftobeempty,starved, unhappy,notgenuinelyknowingnordesirousofknowledge.Forthesamereasonyoukeeprunning awayfromthetruth,LittleMan:itmightreleasethelovereflexinyou.Itwouldinevitablyshowyou whatI,inadequately,amtryingtoshowyouhere.Andthatyoudonotwant,LittleMan.Youonlywant tobeaconsumerandapatriot.Listentothat!Hedeniespatriotism,thebulwarkofthestateandofits germ,thefamily!Somethinghastobedoneaboutit!Thatsthewayyouyell,LittleMan,whenone remindsyouofyourpsychicconstipation.Youdontwanttolistentoitorknowit.Youwanttoyell, Hurrah!Allright,butwhydontyouletmetellyouquietlywhyyouareincapableofhappiness?Isee fearinyoureyes;thisquestionseemstoconcernyoudeeply.Youareforreligioustolerance.Youwant tobefreetolikeyourownreligion.Wellandgood.Butyouwantmorethanthat:youwantyour religiontobetheonlyone.Youaretolerantastoyourreligion,butnottolerantastoothers.You becomerabidwhensomebody,insteadofapersonalGod,adoresnatureandtriestounderstandit.You wantamaritalpartnertosuetheother,toaccusehimorherofimmoralityorbrutalitywhentheyno longercanlivetogether.Divorceonthebasisofmutualagreementyoudonotrecognize,youlittle descendantofgreatrebels.Foryouarefrightenedbyyourownlascivity.Youwantthetruthinamirror, whereyoucantgraspit.Yourchauvinismderivesfromyourbodilyrigidity,yourpsychicconstipation, LittleMan.Idontsaythisderisively,butbecauseIamyourfriend;eventhoughyouslayyourfriends whentheytellyouthetruth.Takealookatyourpatriots:Theydonotwalk;theymarch.Theydonot

hatetheenemy;instead,theyhavehereditaryenemieswhomtheyexchangeeverytenyearsorso makingthemhereditaryfriends,andbackintohereditaryenemies.Theydonotsingsongs;theyyell martialairs.Theydonotembracetheirwomen;theylaythemanddosoandsomanynumbersa night.Thereisnothingyoucanundertakeagainstmytruth,LittleMan.Allyoucandoistoslayme,as youhaveslainsomanyothersofyourtruefriends:Jesus,Rathenau,KarlLiebknecht,Lincoln,and manyothers.InGermany,youusedtocallitputtingdown.Inthelongrun,ithasputyoudown,bythe millions.Butyoucontinuetobeapatriot.Youlongforlove,youloveyourworkandmakealiving fromit,andyourworklivesonmyknowledgeandthatofothers.Love,workandknowledgeknowno fatherlands,nocustomsbarriers,andnouniforms.Theyareinternationalandcompriseallhumanity. Butyouwanttobealittlepatriot,becauseyouareafraidofgenuinelove,afraidofyourresponsibility foryourownwork,afraidofknowledge.Thisiswhyyoucanonlyexploitthelove,workandknowledge ofothersbutcannevercreateyourself.Thisiswhyyoustealyourhappinesslikeathiefinthenight; thisiswhyyoucannotseehappinessinotherswithoutgettinggreenwithenvy.Stopthief!Heisa foreigner,animmigrant.ButIamaGermananAmerican,aDane,aNorwegian!Ah,stopit,Little Man!Youareandremaintheeternalimmigrantandemigrant.Youhaveenteredthisworldquite accidentallyandwillsilentlyleaveitagain.Youyellbecauseyouareafraid.Youfeelyourbodygorigid andgraduallydryup.Thatswhyyouareafraidandcallforyourpolice.Butyourpolicehasnopower overmytrutheither.Evenyourpolicemancomestome,complainingabouthiswifeandhissick children.Whenhedonshisuniformhehidesthemaninhimself;buthecannothidefromme;Ihave seenhimnakedtoo.Isheregisteredwiththepolice?Arehispapersinorder?Hashepaidhistaxes? Investigatehim.Heisadangertothestateandthehonorofthenation!Yes,LittleMan,Ihavealways beenproperlyregistered,mypapersareinorderandIhavealwayspaidmytaxes.Whatyouworry aboutisnotthestateorthehonorofthenation.YoutremblewithfearlestIdiscloseyournaturein publicasIhavesentitinmymedicaloffice.Thatswhyyoulookforwaysofconvictingmeofa politicalcrime,whichwouldputmeinjailforyears.Iknowyou,LittleMan.Ifyouhappentobean AssistantDistrictAttorney,youarenotinterestedinprotectingthelaworthecitizen;whatyouneedis awhackingcaseinordertoadvancemorequicklytothepostofDistrictAttorney.Thatswhatthe littleAssistantDistrictAttorneyswant.TheydidthesamethingwithSocrates.Butyouneverlearn fromhistory.YoumurderedSocrates,andbecauseyoustilldonotknowthatyoudid,youcontinueto remaininthemorass.Youaccusedhimofunderminingyourgoodmorals.Hestillunderminesthem, poorLittleMan.Youmurderedhisbodybutyoucouldnotmurderhismind.Youcontinuetomurder,in theinterestoforder;butyoumurderinacowardly,cunningway.Youcouldnotlookmeintheeyes whenyouaccusemepubliclyofimmorality.Foryouknowwhichoneofusisimmoral,lasciviousand pornographic.Somebodyoncesaidthatamonghisnumerousacquaintancestherewasonlyonehehad neverheardtelladirtyjoke;Iwastheone.LittleMan,whetheryoubeaDistrictAttorney,ajudgeora chiefofpolice,IknowyourlittledirtyjokesandIknowthesourcefromwhichtheystem.So,better keepquiet.Well,youmightsucceedinshowingthatmyincometaxpaymentwasahundreddollars short;orthatIdroveacrossastatelinewithawoman;orthatItalkednicelywithachildinthestreet. Butitisinyourmouththateachofthesethreesentencesassumesitsspecialtimbre,theslippery, equivocal,meansoundofvileaction.Andsinceyouknowofnothingelse,youthinkthatIamlikeyou. No,LittleMan,Iamnotlikeyouandneverwaslikeyouinthesethings.Itdoesnotmatterwhetheryou believeitornot.True,youhavearevolverandIhaveknowledge.Therolesaredivided.Youruinyour ownexistence,LittleMan,inthefollowingmanner:In1924Isuggestedascientificstudyofthehuman character.Youwereenthusiastic.In1928ourworkachieveditsfirsttangibleresults.Youwere enthusiasticandcalledmeaspiritusrector.In1933Iwastopublishtheseresultsinbookform,in yourpublishinghouse.Hitlerhadjustcometopower.IhadlearnedtounderstandthefactthatHitler

cametopowerbecauseyourcharacterisarmored.Yourefusedtopublishthebookinyourpublishing house,thebookwhichshowedyouhowyouproduceaHitler.Thebookappearednonetheless,andyou continuedtobeenthusiastic.Butyoutriedtokillitbysilence,foryourPresidenthaddeclaredhimself againstit.Hehadalsoadvisedmotherstosuppressthegenitalexcitationsofinfantsbymeansof holdingthebreath.Fortwelveyears,then,youkeptsilentaboutthebook,whicharousedyour enthusiasm.In1946itwasreissued.Youacclaimeditasaclassic.Youstillareenthusiasticaboutmy book.Twentytwolong,anxious,eventfulyearshavepassedsinceIbegantoteachyouthatwhatis importantisnotindividualtreatmentbutthepreventionofmentaldisorders.Fortwentytwolongyears Itaughtyouthatpeoplegetintothisorthatfrenzy,orremainstuckinthisorthatlamentationbecause theirmindsandbodieshavebecomerigidandbecausetheycanneithergivelovenorenjoyit.This, becausetheirbodies,unlikethatofotheranimals,cannotcontractandexpandintheloveact.Twenty twoyearsafterIhadfirstsaidthis,younowsaytoyourfriendsthatwhatisimportantisnotindividual treatmentbutthepreventionofmentaldisorders.Andyouactagainyouhaveactedforthousandsof years:youmentionthebiggoalwithoutsayinghowitcouldbereached.Youfailtomentionthelove lifeofthemassesofthepeople.Youwanttoprevent,mentaldisorders.Thatyoucansay;itis harmlessanddignified.Butyouwanttodoitwithouttacklingtheprevailingsexualmisery.Youdonot evenmentionit;thatisnotallowed.Andasaphysician,youremainstuckinthemorass.Whatwould youthinkofatechnicianwhorevealsthetechniqueofflyingbutfailstodisclosethesecretsofmotor andthepropeller.Thatsthewayyouact,thetechnicianofpsychotherapy.Youareacoward.Youwant topickupthecherriesoutofmypie,butyoudontwantthethornsofmyroses.Dontyou,too,crack dirtyjokesaboutme,theprophetofthebetterorgasm?Dontyou,littlepsychiatrist?Haveyounever heardtheplaintsofyoungbrideswhosebodieshadbeenviolatedbyimpotenthusbands?Orthe anguishofadolescentswhoburstwithunfulfilledlove?Isyoursecuritystillmoreimportanttoyouthan yourpatient?Howlongareyougoingtocontinueputtingyourdignityintheplaceofyourmedical task?Howlongareyougoingtooverlookthefactthatyourtacticscostthelifeofmillions?Youset securitybeforethetruth.Whenyouhearoftheorgone,whichIdiscoveredyoudonotask:Whatcanit do?Howcanitcurepatients.No,youask:IshelicensedtopracticemedicineinthestateofMaine. Youdontknowthatyourlittlelicensescandonomorethandisturbmywork,alittle;theycannot preventit.YoudontknowthatIhavewortheverywhereonthisearth,asthediscovererofyour emotionalplagueandofyourlifeenergy;thatnobodycanexaminemewhodoesnotknowmorethanI. Nowastoyourfreedomgiddiness.Nobody,LittleMan,haseveraskedyouwhyyouhavenotbeenable togetfreedomforyourself,orwhy,ifyoudid,youimmediatelysurrenderedittosomenewmaster. Listentothat!Hedarestodoubttherevolutionaryupsurgeoftheproletariansoftheworld,hedaresto doubtdemocracy!Downwiththecounterrevolutionary!Down!Dontgetexcited,littleFuhrerofall democratsandallproletariansoftheworld.Ibelievethatyourrealfreedomofthefuturedependsmore ontheanswertothisonequestionthenontensofthousandsofresolutionsofyourPartyCongresses. Downwithhim!Hesulliesthehonorofthenationandoftheavantgardeoftherevolutionary proletariat!Down!Againstthewall!YouryellingViva!andDown!isnotonestepclosertoyour goal,LittleMan.Youhavebeenbelievingthatyourfreedomissecuredwhenyouputpeopleagainst thewall.Foronce,putyourselfinfrontofamirror.Down,down!Stopaminute,LittleManIdonot wanttobelittleyouIonlywanttoshowyouwhyuptonowyouhavenotbeenabletogetfreedomorto holdit.Arentyouinterestedinthatatall?Down,down,down!Allright,Ishallbebrief:Ishalltell youhowtheLittleManinyoubehavesifyouhappentofindyourselfinasituationoffreedom.Lets assumeyouareastudentatanInstitute,whichstandsforsexualhealthinchildrenandadolescents.You areenthusiasticoverthesplendidideaandwanttoparticipatethefight.Thisiswhathappenedinmy house:Mystudentssatattheirmicroscopes,observingearthbions.Youweresittingintheorgone

accumulator,naked.Icalledtoyoutotakepartintheobservations.Whereuponyoujumpedoutofthe accumulatornaked,amidstthegirlsandwomen,exposingyourself.Ireprimandedyouimmediately,but youdidnotseewhyIshouldhave.I,onmypart,couldnotunderstandwhyyoudidnotsee.Later,inan extendeddiscussionyouadmittedthatthathadbeenpreciselyyourconceptoffreedominanInstitute, whichadvocatessexualhealth.YousoonfoundoutthatyouhadthedeepestcontemptfortheInstitute anditsbasicidea,andthatwaswhyyouhadbehavedindecently.Anotherexample,toshowhowagain andagainyougambleawayyourfreedom.YouknowandIknow,andeverybodyknows,thatyougo aroundinaperpetualstateofsexualstarvation;thatyoulookgreedilyateverymemberoftheothersex; thatyoutalkwithyourfriendsaboutloveintermsofdirtyjokes;inbrief,thatyouhaveadirty, pornographicfantasy.Onenight,Iheardyouandyourfriendswalkalongthestreet,yellinginunison: Wewantwomen!Wewantwomen!Concernedwithyourfuture,Ibuiltuporganizationsinwhichyou mightlearnbettertounderstandyourmiseryinlifeandtodosomethingaboutit.Youandyourfriends cametothesemeetingsindroves.Whywasthat,LittleMan?AtfirstIthoughtitwasbecauseofan honest,burninginterestinimprovingyourlife.OnlymuchlaterdidIrecognizewhatreallymotivated you.Youthoughtthatherewasanewkindofbrothel,whereonecouldgetagirleasilyandwithout shellingoutmoney.Realizingthat,Ismashedtheseorganizations,whichweredesignedtohelpyou withyourlife.NotbecauseIthinkitisbadtofindagirlinameetingofsuchanorganization,but becauseyouapproacheditwithafilthymind.Thatswhytheseorganizationsweredestroyed,and, againyouremainedstuckinthemorass...Youwantedtosaysomething?Theproletariathasbeen spoiledbythebourgeoisie.TheFuhrersoftheproletariatwillhelp.Theyaregoingtocleanupthemess withamailedfist.Apartfromthat,thesexualproblemoftheproletariatisgoingtosolveitself.Iknow whatyoumean,LittleMan.Thatsexactlywhattheydidinyourfatherlandofproletarians:toletthe sexualproblemsolveitself.TheresultwasshowninBerlin,whentheproletariansoldiersrapedwomen allnightlong.Youknowthatasafact.Yourchampionsoftherevolutionaryhonor,thesoldiersofthe proletariansoftheworldhavesulliedyouforcenturiestocome.Yousaysuchthingshappenedonlyin thewar?ThenImgoingtotellyouanothertruestory:AwouldbeFuhrer,fullofenthusiasmforthe dictatorshipoftheproletariat,wasalsoenthusiasticaboutsexeconomy.Hecametomeandsaid:you arewonderful.KarlMarxhasshownthepeoplehowtheycanbefreeeconomically.Youhaveshown thepeoplehowtheycanbefreesexually:youhavetoldthem:"Gooutandfuckasmuchasyoulike. Inyourhead,everythingbecomesaperversion.WhatIcallthelovingembracebecomes,inyourlife,a pornographicact.YoudontevenknowwhatImtalkingabout,LittleMan.Thisiswhy,againand again,yousinkbackintothemorass.Ifyou,LittleWoman,bymerechance,withoutanyspecial qualifications,havebecomeateacher,simplybecauseyoudidnothavechildrenofyourown,youdo untolddamage.Yourjobistohandleandeducatechildren.Ineducation,ifonetakesitseriously,this meanscorrectlytomanagethechildrenssexuality.Inordertohandlethechildrenssexuality,onemust, oneselfhaveexperiencedwhatloveit.Butyouarefat,awkwardandunattractive.Thataloneisenough tomakeyouhateeverycharming,alivebodywithdeepandbitterhatred.WhatIamblamingyouforis notthatyouarefatandunattractive;notthatyouhaveneverenjoyedlove(nohealthymanwouldgiveit toyou);notthatyoudonotunderstandloveinthechildren.WhatIamblamingyouforisthatyoumake avirtueoutofyourunattractivenessandyourincapacityforlove,andthat,withyourbitterhatred,you strangletheloveinthechildren,ifyouhappentoworkinaprogressiveschool.Thisisacrime,ugly LittleWoman.Theharmfulnessofyourexistenceconsistsinyouralienatingtheaffectionofhealthy childrenfromtheirhealthyfathers;inourconsideringthehealthyloveofachildapathological symptom.Itconsistsinyourbeingbarrelshaped,yourgoingaroundlikeabarrel,yourthinkinglikea barrel,youreducatinglikeabarrel;inyournotmodestlyretiringtoasmallcorneroflife,but,instead, tryingtoimposeuponthislifeyourbarrelshape,yourfalseness,andyourbitterhatredhiddenbehind

yourfalsesmile.And,LittleMan,becauseyouletsuchwomenhandleyourhealthychildren,letthem driptheirbitternessandtheirpoisonintohealthysouls,areyouwhatyouare,liveasyoulive,thinkas youthink,andistheworldasitis.Again,thisiswhatyouarelike,LittleMan:Youcometomeinorder tolearnwhatI,inhardwork,hadfoundoutandhadfoughtfor.Withoutme,youwouldhavebecomea small,unknowngeneralpractitionerinsomesmalltownorvillage.Imadeyougreatbygivingyoumy knowledgeandmytherapeutictechnique.Itaughtyoutoseethemannerinwhichfreedomis suppressed,everyminuteoftheday,andhowlackoffreedomisnurtured.Thenyouassumea responsiblepositionastheexponentofmyworkinsomeothercountry.Youarefreeinthefullsenseof theword.Itrustyourhonesty.Butyoufeelinwardlydependantonmebecameyouareunableto developmuchoutofyourself.Youneedmeinordertodrinkknowledgefromme,togetself confidence,visionintothefuture,and,morethananythingelse,development.AllthisIgivetoyou gladly,LittleMan.Iasknothinginreturn.ButthenyoudeclarethatIrapedyou.Youbecomefresh,in thebeliefofbeingfree.Buttoconfuseimpudencewithfreedomhasalwaysbeenthesignoftheslave. Pointingtoyourfreedom,yourefusetosendreportsaboutyourwork.Youfeelyourselffreefreefrom cooperationandresponsibility.Andthatswhy,LittleMan,youarewhatyouare,andthatswhythe worldiswhatitis.Doyouknow,LittleMan,howaneaglewouldfeelifhewerehatchingchickens eggs?Atfirsttheeaglethinksthathewillhatchlittleeagleswhomheisgoingtobringuptobebig eagles.Butwhatcomesoutoftheeggsisalwaysnothingbutlittlechicks.Desperately,theeaglekeeps hopingthatthechickswillturnintoeaglesafterall.Butno,attheendtheyarenothingbutcackling hens.Whentheeaglefoundoutthis,hehadahardtimesuppressinghisimpulsetoeatupallthechicks andcacklinghens.Whatkepthimfromdoingsowasasmallhope.Thehope,namely,thatamongthe manycacklingchickstheremightbe,oneday,alittleeaglecapableofgrowingupintoabigeagle, capablelikehimself,tolookfromhisloftyperchintothefardistance,inordertodetectnewworlds, newthoughtsandnewformsofliving.Itwasonlythissmallhopethatkeptthesad,lonelyeaglefrom eatingupallthecacklingchicksandhens.Theydidnotseethattheywerebeinghatchedbyaneagle. Theydidnotseethattheylivedonahigh,steeprock,farabovethedamp,darkvalleys.Theydidnot lookintothedistancelikethelonelyeagle.Theyonlygobbledandgobbledandgobbledwhateverthe eaglebroughthometothem.Theylethimwarmthemunderhispowerfulwingswhenitrainedand stormedoutside,whenhewithstoodthestormwithoutanyprotection.Or,ifthingsgottougher,they threwsharplittlerocksathimfromambush,inordertohitandhurthim.Whenherealizedthis maliciousnesshisfirstimpulsewastotearthemtoshreds.Buthethoughtaboutitandbegantopity them.Sometime,hehoped,therewouldbe,therewouldhavetobe,amongthemanycackling,gobbling andshortsightedchickens,alittleeaglecapableofbecominglikehimself.Thelonelyeagle,tothisday, hasnotgivenupthishope.Andsohecontinuestohatchlittlechickens.Youdonotwanttobecomean eagle,LittleMan,andthatiswhyyougeteatenbythevultures.Youareafraidoftheeagles,andsoyou livetogetheringreatherds,andarebeingeatenupinbigherds.Forsomeofyourchickenshave hatchedtheeggsofvultures.AndthevultureshavebecomeyourFuhrersagainsttheeagles,theeagles whowantedtoleadyouintofarther,betterdistances.Thevulturetaughtyoutoeatcarrionandtobe contentwithjustafewgrainsofwheat.Inaddition,theytaughtyoutoyell,Hail,Hail,GreatVulture! Nowyoustarveanddie,ingreatmasses,andyoustillareafraidoftheeagleswhohatchyourchickens. Allthesethings,LittleMan,youhavebuiltonsand:yourhouse,yourlife,yourcultureandcivilization, yourscienceandtechnic,yourloveandyoureducationofchildren.Youdontknowit,youdontwantto knowit,andyouslaythegreatmanwhotellsittoyou.Youcome,ingreatdistress,askingagainand againthesamequestions:Mychildisstubborn,hesmasheseverything,hecriesoutinnightmares,he cantconcentrateonhisschoolwork,hesuffersfromconstipation,heispale,heiscruel.WhatshouldI do?Helpme!Or:Mywifeisfrigid,shedoesntgivemeanylove.Shetorturesme,shehashysterical

fits,andsherunsaroundwithadozenmen.WhatshallIdo?Tellme!Or:Anew,evenmoredreadful warhasbrokenout,andthisafterwehadfoughtthewartoendallwars.Whatshouldwedo?Or:The civilizationofwhichIamsoproudiscollapsing,asaresultofthisinflation.Millionsofpeoplehave nothingtoeat,theystarve,andtheymurder,steal,deteriorate,andgiveupallhope.Whatshouldare do?WhatshouldIdo?Whatshouldonedo?Thisisyoureternalquestionthroughthecenturies. Thefateofgreatachievement,bornfromawayoflivingwhichsetstruthbeforesecurity,isthis:tobe greedilydevouredbyyouandtobeshitoutagainbyyou.Agreatmanygreat,courageousandlonely menhavetoldyoulongsincewhatyoushoulddo.Againandagainyouhavetwistedtheirteachings, tornthemapartanddestroyedthem.Againandagainyoutackledthemfromthewrongend,madethe smallerrorinsteadofthegreattruththeguidinglineofyourlife,inChristianity,intheteachingof socialism,intheteachingofthesovereigntyofthepeople,inabsolutelyeverythingyoutouched,Little Man.Whydoyoudothis,youask?Idontbelievethatyourquestionisseriouslymeant.Youwillfeel murderouswhenyouhearthetruth:Youbuiltyourhouseonsandandyoudidallthisbecauseyouare incapableoffeelinglifeinyourself,becauseyoukillloveinyourchildevenbeforeitisborn;because youcannottolerateanyaliveexpression,anyfree,naturalmovement,becauseyoucannottolerateit, yougetscaredandask:WhatisMr.Jones,andwhatisJudgeSmithgoingtosay?Youarecowardlyin yourthinking,LittleManbecauserealthinkingisaccompaniedbybodilyfeelings,andyouareafraidof yourbody.Manygreatmenhavetoldyou:Gobacktoyouroriginlistentoyourinnervoicefollow yourtruefeelingscherishlove.Butyouweredeaftowhattheysaid,foryouhadlostyourearforsuch words.Theywerelostinvastdeserts,andthelonelycriersperishinyourdreadfuldesertemptiness, LittleMan.YouhadthechoicebetweenNietzscheselevationtotheUmbermenschandHitlers degradationintotheUmbermensch.Youcried,Heil!andchosetheUmbermensch.Youhadthechoice betweenthegenuinelydemocraticconstitutionofLeninandthedictatorshipofStalin.Youchosethe dictatorshipofStalin.YouhadthechoicebetweenFreudselucidationofthesexualcoreofyour emotionaldiseaseandhistheoryofculturaladaptation.Youchosehisculturalphilosophy,whichdid notgiveyoualegtostandon,andforgotaboutthetheoryofsex.Youhadthechoicebetweenthe majesticsimplicityofJesusandthecelibacyofPaulforhispriestsandlifelongcompulsivemarriage foryourself.Youchosecelibacyandcompulsivemarriage,forgettingaboutJesussimplemotherwho boreherchildChristoutofloveonly.YouhadthechoicebetweenMarxsrealizationofthe productivityofyourlivingworkingpower,whichaloneproducesthevalueofgoods,ontheonehand, andtheideaofthestateontheother.Youforgotaboutthelivinginyourworkandchosetheideaofthe state.DuringtheFrenchRevolution,youhadthechoicebetweenthecruelRobespierreandthegreat Danton.Youchosecrueltyandsentgreatnessandkindnesstothegallows.InGermany,youhadthe choicebetweenGoeringandHimmlerontheonehandandLiebknecht,LandauandMuhsamonthe other.YoumadeHimmleryourchiefofpolice,andyoumurderedyourtruefriends.Youhadthechoice betweenJuliusStreicherandWaiterRathenau.YoumurderedRathenau.Youhadthechoicebetween LodgeandWilson.YoumurderedWilson.YouhadthechoicebetweenthecruelInquisitionandthe truthofGalileo.YoutorturedtodeaththegreatGalileo,fromwhosediscoveriesyouareprofiting,by submittinghimtoutterhumiliation.Inthistwentiethcentury,youhaveagainbroughttoflowerthe methodsoftheInquisition.Youhadthechoicebetweenanunderstandingofmentaldiseaseandshock therapy.Youchoseshocktherapy,inordernottohavetorealizethegiganticdimensionsofyourown misery,inordertocontinuetoremainblindwhereonlyopen,deareyescanhelp.Youhavethechoice betweenignoranceofthecancercellandmydisclosureofitssecrets,whichcouldandwillsave millionsofhumanlives.Youkeeprepeatingthesamestupiditiesaboutcancerinperiodicalsand newspapersandkeepsilentabouttheknowledge,whichmightsaveyourchild,yourwifeoryour mother.Youstarveanddiebythemillion,butyoufighttheMohammedansaboutthesacrednessof

cows,LittleIndianMan.Yougoinrags,LittleItalianandLittleSlavofTrieste,butyouhavenoother worrythanwhetherTriesteisItalianorSlavic.IthoughtTriestewasaharborforshipsfromallover theworld.YouhangtheHitleritesaftertheyhavemurderedmillionsofpeople.Whatwereyouthinking beforetheyhadkilledmillions?Arentdozensofcorpsesenoughtomakeyouthink?Doesittake millionsofcorpsestostiryourhumanity?Eachoneofthesepettinesseselucidatesthegiganticmisery oftheanimal,man.Yousay:Whydoyoutakeallthissodamnseriously?Doyoufeelresponsiblefor allandeveryevil?Insayingthis,youcondemnyourself.Ifyou,LittleManoutofmillions,carried evenamiteofyourresponsibility,theworldwouldlookdifferent,andyourgreatfriendswouldnotdie ofyourpettinesses.Itisbecauseyoudonttakeanyresponsibilitythatyourhousestandsonsand.The ceilingcollapsesoveryou,butyouhaveaproletarianoranationalhonor.Thefloorcollapsesunder you,butgoingdownyoustillyell,Heil,greatFuhrer,longliveGerman,Russian,Jewishhonor!The waterpipesbreak,yourchildisdrowning;butyoucontinuetoadvocatedisciplineandorderwhich youreachyourchildwithbeatings.Yourwifeliesinbedwithpneumonia,butyou,LittleMan,consider whatisafoundationofrocktheproductofaJewishfantasy.Youcomerunningtomeandaskme: Mygood,dear,greatDoctor!WhatshouldIdo?Myhouseiscollapsing,thewindblowsthroughit, mychildandmywifearesick,andsoamI.WhatshouldIdo?Theansweris:Buildyourhouseon rock.Therockisyourownnature,whichyoukillinyourself,thebodilyloveofyourchild,thedreamof loveofyourwife,yourowndreamoflifeattheageofsixteen.Exchangeyourillusionsforabitoftruth. Sendyourpoliticiansanddiplomatspacking.Forgetaboutyourneighborandlistentowhatisinyou; yourneighbortoowillbegrateful.Tellyourfellowsinworkallovertheworldthatyouarewillingto workforlifeonly,andnolongerfordeath.Insteadofrunningtotheexecutionsofyourhangmenand hanged,createalawfortheprotectionofhumanlifeandgoods.Suchalawwillbepartoftherock underyourhouse.Protecttheloveofyoursmallchildrenagainsttheattacksoflascivious,ungratified womenandmen.Prosecutethegossipingspinster;exposeherpubliclyorputherinareformschool insteadoftheadolescentswholongforlove.Donolongertrytooutdoyourexploiterinexploitation whenyouareinapositiontoguidework.Throwawayyourstripedpantsandyourhighhatanddont askforalicensetoembraceyourwife.Makecontactwithpeopleinothercountries,fortheyarelike you,intheirgoodqualitiesandbad.Letyourchildgrowupasnature(orGod)hasmadeit.Donttry toimprovenature.Try,insteadtounderstandandprotectit.Gotoalibraryinsteadofaprizefightto foreigncountriesinsteadofConeyIsland.And,mostimportantTHINKCORRECTLY,listentoyour innervoicewhichnudgesyougently.Youhaveyourlifeinyourownhand.Donotentrustittoanybody else,leastofalltotheFuhrersyouelected.BEYOURSELF!Manygreatmenhavetoldyouso.Listen tothisreactionarypetitbourgeoisindividualist!Hedoesnotknowtheinexorablecourseofhistory. "Knowthyself,"hesays.Whatbourgeoisnonsense!Therevolutionaryproletariatoftheworld,ledby itsbelovedFuhrer,thefatherofallpeoples,ofalltheRussians,ofalltheSlavs,willfreethepeopleI Downwiththeindividualistsandanarchists!AndlonglivetheFathersofallpeoplesandallSlavs, LittleMan!Listen,LittleMan,Ihavesomeseriouspredictionstomake:Youaretakingovertheruleof theworld,anditmakesyoutremblewithfear.Forcenturiestocome,youwillmurderyourfriendsand willhailasyourmasterstheFuhrersofallpeoples,proletariansandalltheRussians.Dayafterday, weekafterweek,decadeafterdecade,youwillpraiseonemasteraftertheother;andatthesametime youwillnotheartheplaintsofyourbabies,themiseryofyouradolescents,thelongingsofyourmen andwomen,or,ifyouhearthem,youwillcallthembourgeoisindividualism.Throughthecenturies, youwillshedbloodwherelifeshouldbeprotectedandwillbelievethatyouwillachievefreedomwith thehelpofthehangman;thus,youwillfindyourselfagainandagaininthesamemorass.Throughthe centuries,youwillfollowthebraggartsandwillbedeafandblindwhenLIFE,YOURLIFE,callsto you.Foryouareafraidoflife,LittleMan,deadlyafraid.Youwillmurderit,inthebeliefofdoingitfor

thesakeofsocialism,orthestate,ornationalhonor,orthegloryofGod.Thereisonethingyou dontknownorwanttoknow:Thatyouyourselfcreateallyourmisery,hourafterhour,dayafterday; thatyoudonotunderstandyourchildren,thatyoubreaktheirspinesbeforetheyhavehadachance reallytodevelopthem;thatyousteallove;thatyouareavariciousandcrazyforpower;thatyoukeepa doginorderalsotobeamasterThroughthecenturiesyouwillmissyourway,untilyouandyourlike willdiethemassdeathofthegeneralsocialmisery;untiltheawfulnessofyourexistencewillsparkin youafirstweakglimmerofinsightintoyourself.Then,graduallyandgropingly,youwilllearntolook foryourfriend,themanoflove,workandknowledge,willlearnunderstandandrespecthim.Thenyou willbegintounderstandthatthelibraryismoreimportantforyourlifethantheprizefight;athoughtful walkinthewoodsbetterthanparading;healingbetterthankilling;healthyselfconfidencebetterthan nationalconsciousness,andmodestybetterthanpatrioticandotheryelling.Youthinkthegoaljustifies themeans,eventhevilemeans.Youarewrong:Thegoalisinthepathonwhichyouarriveatit.Every stepoftodayisyourlifeoftomorrow.Nogreatgoalcanbereachedbyvilemeans.Thatyouhave provenineverysocialrevolution.Thevilenessorinhumanityofthepathtothegoalmakesyouvileor inhuman,andthegoalunattainable.Buthow,then,shallIreachmygoalofChristianlove,of socialism,oftheAmericanconstitution?YourChristianlove,yoursocialism,yourAmerican constitutionlieinwhatyoudoeveryday,whatyouthinkeveryhour,inhowyouembraceyourmate andhowyouexperienceyourchild,inhowyoulookatyourworkasYOURSOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY,inhowyouavoidbecominglikethesuppressorofyourlife.Butyou,LittleMan, misusethefreedomsgivenyouintheconstitutioninordertooverthrow,it,insteadofmakingittake rootineverydaylife.IsawyouasaGermanrefugeemisuseSwedishhospitality.Atthattime,youwere awouldbeFuhrerofallthesuppressedpeopleonearth.YouremembertheSwedishinstitutionof smorgasbord.Manyfoodsanddelicaciesarespreadout,anditislefttotheguestwhatandhowmuch hewilltake.Toyouthisinstitutionwasnewandalien;youcouldnotunderstandhowonecantrust humandecency.Youtoldmewithmaliciousjoyhowyoudidnoteatalldayinordertogorgeyourself onthefreefoodintheevening.Ihavestarvedasachild,yousay.Iknow,LittleMan,forIhaveseen youstarve,andIknowwhathungeris.Butyoudontknowthatyouperpetuatethehungerofyour childrenamilliontimeswhenyoustealsmorgasbord,youcouldbesaviorofallthehungry.Thereare certainthingsonejustdoesnotdo:suchasstealingsilverspoons,orthewoman,orsmorgasbordina hospitablehome.AftertheGermancatastropheIfoundyouhalfstarvedinapark.Youtoldmethatthe RedHelpofyourpartyhadrefusedtohelpyoubecauseyoucouldnotshowyourparrymembership, havinglostyourpartybook.YourFuhrersofallthehungrydistinguishred,whiteandblackhungry people.Butweknowonlyonestarvingorganism.Thisisthewayyouareinsmallmatters.Andthisis themayyouareinbigmatters:Yousetouttoabolishtheexploitationofthecapitalisteraandthe disdainforhumanlife,andtogetrecognitionofyourrights.Fortherewas,ahundredyearsago, exploitationandcontemptforhumanlife,andthanklessness.Buttherealsowasrespectforgreat achievements,andloyaltyforthegiverofgreatthings,andrecognitionofgifts.Andwhathaveyou done,LittleMan?WhereveryouenthronedyourownlittleFuhrers,theexploitationofyourstrengthis moreacutethanahundredyearsago,thedisdainforyourlifeismorebrutal,andthereisnorecognition ofyourrightsatall.AndwhereyouarestilltryingtoenthroneyourownFuhrer,everyrespectfor achievementhasdisappearedandbeenreplacedbystealingthefruitsofthehardworkdonebyyour greatfriends.Youdontknowwhatrecognitionofagiftis,foryouthinkyouwouldnolongerbeafree AmericanorRussianorChinese,ifyouweretorespectandrecognizethings.Whatyousetoutto destroyflourishesmorevigorouslythanever;andwhatyoushouldsafeguardandprotectlikeyourown life,youhavedestroyed.Loyaltyyouconsidersentimentalityorapettybourgeoishabit,respectfor achievementslavishbootlicking.Youdonotseethatyouarebootlickingwhereyoushouldbe

irreverentandthatyouanungratefulwhenyoushouldbeloyal.Youstandonyourheadandyoubelieve yourselfdancingintotherealmoffreedom.Youwillwakeupfromyournightmare,LittleMan,finding yourselfhelplesslylyingontheground.Foryoustealwhereyouarebeinggiven,andyougivewhere youarebeingrobbed.Youconfusetherighttofreespeechandtocriticismwithirresponsibletalkand poorjokes.Youwanttocriticizebutyoudontwanttobecriticized,andforthisreasonyougettorn apart.Youalwayswanttoattackwithoutexposingyourselftoattack.Thatswhyyoualwaysshootfrom ambush.Police!Police!Ishispassportinorder?IshereallyaDoctorofMedicine?Hisnameisnotin WHOISWHO,andtheMedicalAssociationfightshim.Thepolicewonthelphere,LittleMan.They cancatchthievesandcanregulatetraffic,buttheycannotgetfreedomforyou.Youhavedestroyedyour freedomyourself,andgoondestroyingit,withaninexorableconsistency.BeforethefirstWorldWar, therewerenopassportsininternationaltravel;youcouldtravelwhereveryouwished.Thewarfor freedomandpeacebroughtthepassportcontrols,andtheystucktoyoulikelice.Whenyouwantedto travelsome300kilometersinEurope,youfirsthadtoaskforpermissionintheconsulatesofsometen differentnations.Andsoitstillis,yearsaftertheterminationofthesecondwartoendallwars.Andso itwillremainafterthethirdandnthwartoendallwars.Listen!Hesulliesmypatriotism,thehonor andthegloryofthenation!Oh,bequietLittleMan.Thenaretwokindsoftones:thehowlingofa stormaboutmountaintops,andyourfart.Youareafart,andyoubelievetosmellofviolets.Icure yourneuroticmiseryandyouaskwhetherIaminWHOISWHO?Iunderstandyourcancer,andyour littleCommissionerofHealthprohibitsmyexperimentingwithmice.Itaughtyourphysiciansto understandyoumedically,andyourMedicalAssociationdenouncesmetothepolice.Youarementally ill,andtheyadministerelectricshockstoyoujustasintheMiddleAgestheyusedthechainorthe whip.Bequiet,DearLittleMan.Yourlieisalltoomiserable.Idonotwanttosaveyou,butIshall finishmytalktoyou,evenifyoushouldcomearoundinawhitenightshirtandamask,witharopein yourcruel,bloodyhand,tohangme.Youcannothangme,LittleMan,withoutstringingupyourself. ForIrepresentyourlife,yourfeelingoftheworld,yourhumanity,yourloveandyourjoyincreating. No,youcannotmurderme,LittleMan.OnceIwasafraidofyou,justasbeforeIhadbelievedinyou toomuch.ButIhavegonebeyondyou,andnowIseeyouintheperspectiveofthousandsofyears, forwardsandbackwardsintime.Iwantyoutoloseyourfearofyourself.Iwantyoutolivemore happilyandmoredecently.Iwantyoutohaveabodywhichisaliveinsteadofrigid,Iwantyoutolove yourchildreninsteadofhatingthem,tomakeyourwifehappyinsteadofmaritallytorturingher.Iam yourphysician,andsinceyouinhabitthisplanet,Iamaplanetaryphysician;IamnotaGerman,ora Jew,oraChristianoranItalian,Iamacitizenoftheearth.Foryou,ontheotherhand,thereexistonly angelicalAmericansandbeastlyJapanese.Grabhim!Examinehim!Doeshehavealicenseto practicemedicine?ProclaimaRoyaldecreethathecannotpracticewithouttheconsentofthekingof ourfreecountry!Hedoesexperimentsaboutmypleasurefunctions!Jailhim!Throwhimoutofthe country!Ihavemyselfacquiredthepermissiontoengageinmyactivities.Nobodycangiveittome.I havefoundedanewscience,whichfinallyunderstandsyourlife.Youwillavailyourselfofitinten,a hundredorathousandyearsasinthepastyouhavegobbledupotherteachingswhenyouwereatthe endofyourrope.YourMinisterofHealthhasnopoweroverme,LittleMan.Hewouldhaveinfluence onlyifhehadthecouragetoknowmytruth.SohegoesbacktohiscountryandtellspeoplethatIam internedinanAmericanmentalhospital,andheappointsasInspectorGeneralofHospitalsamediocre manwho,inanattempttodenythepleasurefunction,hadfalsifiedexperiments.I,ontheotherhand, writethistalktoyou,LittleMan.Doyouwantmoreproofoftheimpotenceofyourpowersthatbe? Yourauthorities,CommissionersofHealthandProfessorscouldnotenforcetheirprohibitionsagainst understandingyourcancer.Ididmydissectingandmicroscopicworkagainsttheirexplicitprohibition. TheirtravelstoEnglandandFrancetounderminemyworkweretonoavail.Theyremainedstuck

wheretheyhadalwaysbeen,inpathology.I,ontheotherhand,havesavedyourlifemorethanonce, LittleMan.WhenIbringmyFuhrerofallproletarianstopowerinGermany,weshallputhimagainst thewall!Hespoilsourproletarianyouth!Hecontendsthattheproletariatsuffersfromincapacityfor lovejustasdoesthebourgeoisie!Hemakesbrothelsoutofouryouthorganizations.HecontendsthatI amananimal!Hedestroysmyclassconsciousness!Yes,Idestroyyourideals,whichcostyouyour goodsenseandyourhead,LittleMan.Youwanttoseeyourgreateternalhopeinthemirroronly, whereyoucantgraspit.Butonlythetruthinyourownfistwillmakeyouthemasterofthisearth. Throwhimoutofthecountry!Heunderminesquietandorder.Heisaspyofmyeternalenemies.He hasboughtahousewithmoneyfromMoscow(orisitBerlin?)Youdontunderstand,LittleMan.A littleoldwomanwasafraidofmice.ShewasmyneighborandknewthatIkeptexperimentalmicein mybasement.Shewasafraidthemicemightcrawlunderherskirtandbetweenherlegs.Shewouldnot havethisfearifshehadeverenjoyedlove.ItwasinthesemicethatIlearnedtounderstandyour cancerousputrefaction,LittleMan.Youhappenedtobemylandlord,andthepoorlittlewomanasked youtoevictme.Andyou,withallyourcourage,yourwealthofidealsandethics,evictedme.Ihadto buyahouseinordertocontinuetoexaminethemiceforyou,undisturbedbyyouandyourcowardice. Afterthis,whatdidyoudo,LittleMan?AsanambitiouslittleDistrictAttorneyyouwantedtousethe famousdangerousmantofurtheryourcareer.YousaidIwasaGerman,or,againaRussianspy.You hadmejailed.Butitwasworthit,seeingyousittingthenatmyhearing,blushingallover.Ifeltsorry foryoulittleservantofthestate,somiserablewereyou.Andyoursecretagentsdidnotspeakatallwell ofyouwhentheysearchedmyhouseforespionagematerial.Later,Imetyouagain,thistimeinthe personofasmallJudgefromtheBronx,withtheunfulfilledambitionforaseatonahigherbench.You accusedmeofhavingbooksofLeninandTrotskyinmylibrary.YoudidnotknowLittleMan,whata libraryisfor.ItoldyouthatIalsohadHitlerandBuddhaandJesusandGoetheandNapoleonand Casanovainmylibrary.For,soItoldyou,inordertounderstandtheemotionalplague,onehadtoknow itintimatelyfromallsides.Thiswasnewtoyou,LittleJudge.Jailhim!HeisaFascist!Hedespises thepeople!Youdespisethepeople,LittleJudge.Youdespisethepeople,foryoudonotadminister theirrights,butinstead,furtheryourcareer.This,too,youhavebeentoldbymanygreatmen;but,of courseyouneverreadthem.IhaverespectforthepeoplewhenIexposemyselftothegreatdangerof tellingthemthetruth.Imightplaybridgewithyouandjokewithyou.ButIdonotsitatthesametable withyou.ForyouareapooradvocateoftheBillofRights.HeisaTrotskyite!Jailhim!Heincitesthe people,theRedDog!Idonotincitethepeople,butyourselfconfidence,yourhumanity,andyoucant standit.Forwhatyouwantistogetvotesandadvanceinposition,youwanttobeJudgeoftheSuperior CourtorFuhrerofallproletarians.YourjusticeandyourFuhrermentalityistheropearoundtheneck oftheworld.WhatdidyoudowithWilson,thisgreat,warmperson?Toyou,theJudgefromtheBronx, hewasadreamer;toyou,thewouldbeFuhrerofallproletarians,hewasanexploiterofthepeople. Youmurderedhim,LittleMan,withyourindolence,youremptytalk,yourfearofyourownhope.You almostmurderedme,too,LittleMan.Doyouremembermylaboratory,tenyearsago?Youwere technicalAssistant.Youhadbeenoutofworkandhadbeenrecommendedtome,asanoutstanding Socialist,memberofagovernmentparty.Youreceivedagoodsalaryandwerefreeinthefullsenseof theword.Iincludedyouinalldeliberations,forIbelievedinyouandyourmission.Doyouremember whathappened?Youwentcrazywithfreedom.FordaysIsawyouwalkaroundwithyourpipeinyour mouth,doingnothing.Ididnotunderstandwhyyoudidnotwork.WhenIcameintothelaboratoryin themorning,youwaitedprovocativelyformetogreetyoufirst.Iliketogreetpeoplefirst,LittleMan. Butifonewaitsformetodoso,IgetangrybecauseIam,inyoursense,yourseniorandBoss.Ilet youmisuseyourfreedomforafewdays,andthenhadatalkwithyou.Withtearsinyoureyes,you admittedthatyoudidnotknowwhattodowiththisnewkindofregime.Youwerenotusedtofreedom.

Inyourpreviousposition,youhadnotbeenallowedtosmokeinthepresenceofyourchiefyouwere supposedonlytospeakwhenspokento,youwouldbeFuhrerofallproletarians.Butnow,whenyou hadgenuinefreedom,youbehavedimpertinentlyandprovocatively.Iunderstoodyouanddidnotfire you.Thenyouleftandtoldsomeabstinentcourtpsychiatristaboutmyexperiments.Youwerethe secretinformer,oneofthehypocritesandplotterswhoinstigatedthenewspapercampaignagainstme. Thatsthewayyouare,LittleMan,whenyouenjoyfreedom.Contrarytoyourintentions,your campaignsetmyworkaheadbytenyears.SoItakeleaveofyou,LittleMan.Iamnolongergoingto serveyou,andIdonotwanttobeslowlytorturedtodeathbymyconcernforyou.Youcannotfollow meintothefardistancesintowhichImove.Youwouldbeterrifiedifyouhadaninklingofwhatawaits youinthefuture.Foryouaretakingovertheruleoftheworld.Mylonelyreachesareapartofyour future.ButasyetIdonotwantyouasatravelingcompanion.Asatravelingcompanion,youare harmlessonlyinthetavern,notwhereIamgoing.Downwithhim!Hederidesthecivilization,which I,theManIntheStreet,havebuiltup.Iamafreemaninafreedemocracy.Hurrah!Youarenothing, LittleMan,nothingatall.Itisnotyouwhohasbuiltupthiscivilization,butaveryfewofyourdecent masters.Youhaventanyideawhatyouarebuildingwhenyouareonabuildingjob.Andwhen somebodytellsyoutotakeresponsibilityforthebuildingyoucallhimatraitortotheproletariatand runtotheFatherofallProletarianswhodoesnottellyouso.Norareyoufree,LittleMan.Youhaveno ideawhatfreedomis.Youwouldnotknowhowtoliveinfreedom.Whohascarriedtheemotional plaguetovictoryinEurope?You,LittleMan.AndinAmerica?ThinkofWilson.Listen,heaccuses me,theLittleMan!WhoamI,whatpowerhaveI,toinfluencethePresidentoftheUnitedStates?Ido myduty,Idowhatmybosstellsme,andIdonotmeddleinhighpolitics.Andwhenyoudrag thousandsofmen,womenandchildrentothegaschambers,youalsojustdowhatyouamtoldtodo,is thatit,LittleMan?Youaresoharmlessthatyoudontevenknowwhatsgoingon.Youareonlyapoor devilwhohasnothingtosay,whohasnoopinionofhisown,andwhoareyouanyhowtomeddlein politics?Iknow;Ihavehearditoftenenough.ButIaskyou:Whydontyoudoyourdutywhen somebodytellsyouthatyouareresponsibleforyourwork,ortellsyounottobeatyourchildren,ornot tofollowmydictators?Whereisyourduty,yourharmlessobedience,then?No,LittleMan,youdonot listenwhentruthspeaks,youlistenonlywhennoisesarebeingmade.Andthenyouyell,Heil!Youare cowardlyandcruelwithoutanysenseofyourtrueduty,thatofbeinghumanandofsafeguarding humanity.Youarepooratimitatingthemanwhoknowsandsogoodatimitatingtherobber.Your films,radioprogrammesandcomicbooksarefullofmurder.Youwillhavetodragyourselfandyour pettinessesthroughthecenturiesbeforeyoucanbecomeyourownmaster.Iseparatefromyouinorder bettertoserveyourfuture.Forinthedistanceyoucannotslayme,andyouhavemorerespectformy workwhenitisatadistance.Youhavecontemptforthatwhichisclosetoyou.YouputyourGeneralor FieldMarshalonapedestalinordertobeabletorespecthim,eventhoughheiscontemptible.Thats whythegreatmanhaskeptatadistancefromyoueversincetheworldhasbeenwritingitshistory.He isamegalomaniac!Hesgonecrazy,absolutelycrazy!Iknow,LittleMan,youarequickwiththe diagnosisofcrazinesswhenyoumeetatruthyoudontlike.Andyoufeelyourselfasthehomo normalis.Youhavelockedupcrazypeople,andthenormalpeoplemanagethisworld.Whothenisto blameforallthemisery?Notyou,ofcourse,youonlydoyourduty,andwhoareyoutohaveanopinion ofyourown?Iknow,youdonthavetorepeatit.Itisntyouthatmatters,LittleMan.ButwhenIthink ofyournewbornchildren,ofhowyoutorturetheminordertomakethemintonormalhumanbeings afteryourimage,thenIamtemptedtocomeclosetoyouagain,inordertopreventyourcrime.ButI alsoknowthatyouhavetakencaretoprotectyourselfwellbyyourinstitutionofaDepartmentof Education.Iwanttotakeyouforawalkthroughthisworld,LittleManandshowyouwhatyouareand whatyouwere,inthepresentandinthepastinVienna,LondonandBerlin,asthebearerofthe

popularwill,asthememberofsomecreed.Youcanfindyourselfeverywhere,andyourecognize yourselfwhetheryouareaFrenchman,aGermanoraHottentot,ifyouhadthecouragetolookat yourself.Listen!Heoffendsmyhonor!Hesulliesmymission!Idontdoanysuchthing,littleMan.I shallbeverygladifyousetmeright,ifyouprovethatyouareabletolookatandtorecognizeyourself. Youhavetogiveproofthesamewayacontractorwhobuildsahousehasto.Thehousemustbethere anditmustbelivable.Thecontractorhasnorighttoyell,Heoffendsmyhonor,whenIshowhimthat heonlytalksaboutthemissionofhousingconstructioninsteadofactuallybuildinghouses.Inthe samewayyouhavetoprovethatyouarethebearerofthefutureofhumanity.Youcannolongerhide,a coward,behindyourhonorofthenationoroftheproletariat.Foryouhavedisclosedtoomuchof yourself,LittleMan.AsIsay,Iamtakingleaveofyou.Ittookmanyyearsanditcostmanypainful sleeplessnightstodoso.YourwouldbeFuhrerofallproletariansarenotsocomplicatedTodaythey areyourFuhrerandtomorrowtheydohackwritingforalittlepaper.Theychangetheirconvictionsas onechangesshirts.Idonot.Icontinuetocareforyouandyourfate.Butsinceyouareincapableof respectinganyonewhoisclosetoyou,Ihavetoputsomedistancebetweenus.Yourgreatgrandchild willbetheheirofmylabors.IwaitforhimtoenjoymyfruitsasIhavebeenwaitingforthirtyyearsfor youtodoso.You,insteadkeptyelling,Downwithcapitalismor,DownwiththeAmerican Constitution!Followme,LittleMan,Iwanttoshowyousomesnapshotsofyourself.Dontrun.Itis ugly,butsalutary,andnotsoterriblydangerous.Aboutahundredyearsagoyoulearnedtoparrotthe physicistswhobuiltmachinesandsaidtherewasnosoul.Thencameagreatmanandshowedyouyour soul,onlyhedidnotknowtheconnectionbetweenyoursoulandyourbody.Yousaid,Ridiculous! "Psychoanalysis!"Charlatanry!Youcananalyzeurine,butyoucannotanalyzethepsyche.Yousaid thisbecauseinmedicineyouknewnothingbuturineanalysis.Thefightforyourmindlastedsomeforty years.Iknowthishardfight,becauseI,too,foughtitforyou.Onedayyoudiscoveredthatonecan makealotofmoneywiththesickhumanmind.Allonehastodoistoletapatientcomedailyforan houroveraperiodofsomeyearsandhavehimpayacertainfeeforeveryhour.Then,andnotuntil then,didyoubegintobelieveintheexistenceofthemind.Inthemeantime,knowledgeofyourbody hasquietlygrown.Ifoundthatyourmindisafunctionofyourlifeenergy,that,in,otherwords,thereis aunitybetweenbodyandmind.Ifollowedthistrack,andIfoundthatyoureachoutwithyourlife energywhenyoufeelwellandloving,andthatyouretractittothecenterofthebodywhenyouare afraid.Forfifteenyearsyoukeptsilentaboutthesediscoveries.ButIcontinuedonthesametrackand foundthatthislifeenergy,whichItermedorgone,isalsofoundintheatmosphere,outsideofyour body.Isucceededinseeingitinthedarkandtodeviseapparatus,whichmagnifieditandmadeitlight up.Whileyouwereplayingatcardsorweretorturingyourwifeandruiningyourchild,Isatina darkroom,manyhoursaday,overtwolongyears,tomakesurethatIhaddiscoveredyourlifeenergy. Gradually,Ilearnedtodemonstrateittootherpeople,andIfoundthattheysawthesamethingIsaw.If youareadoctorwhobelievesthatthemindisasecretionoftheendocrineglands,youtelloneofmy curedpatientsthatmytherapeuticsuccesswastheresultofsuggestion.Ifyousufferfromobsessive doubtsandfearofthedark,yousayaboutthephenomena,whichyoujustobservedthattheyweredue tosuggestionandthatyoufeelasifinaspiritualistsession.Thatsthewayyouare,LittleMan.You blabberjustashopelesslyaboutthesoulin1945asyoudenieditsexistencein1920.Youhave remainedthesameLittleMan.In1984youwilljustasunconcernedlymakealotofmoneywiththe orgone,andwilljustasunconcernedlysully,doubt,defame,killbysilenceandruinanothertruthas youdidwiththediscoveryofthemindandwiththatofthecosmicenergy.Andyouremainthe criticalLittleManwhoyells,Heil!hereandHeil!there.Yourememberwhatyousaidaboutthe discoverythattheearthdoesnotstandstillbutrotatesandmovesinthespace?Youranswerwasthe sillyjokethatnowtheglasseswouldfalloffawaiterstray.Thatwasafewcenturiesbackand,of

course,youhaveforgotten,LittleMan.AllyouknowofNewtonisthathesawanapplefallfroma tree,andallyouknowofRousseauisthathewantedtogobacktonature.Whatyoulearnedfrom Darwinisonlythesurvivalofthefittest:butnotyouroriginfromtheapes.OfGoethesFaust,thatyou liketoquotesofreely,youhaveunderstoodasmuchasacatunderstandsofmathematics.Youare stupidandvain,emptyandapish,LittleMan.Youalwaysknowtoevadetheessentialandtotakeover whatiserroneous.YourNapoleon,thislittlemanwiththegoldbraid,ofwhomnothingremainedbut compulsorymilitarytrainingisdisplayedinyourbookshopsinlargegoldenletters,butmyKepler,who foresawyourcosmicorigin,cannotbefoundinanybookstore.Thatswhyyoudontgetoutofthe morass,LittleMan.ThatswhyIhavetotellyouoffwhenyoubelievethatIhaveworkedandworried fortwentyyearsandsacrificedafortuneinordertosuggesttheexistenceofthecosmicorgoneenergy toyou.No,LittleManbymakingallthissacrifice,Ihavereallylearnedtocuretheplagueinyourbody. Youdontbelievethat.ForIheardyousayinNorwaythatifanybodyspendsthatmuchmoneyforhis experimentshemustbeliterallycrazy.Iunderstandthis:youjudgebyyourself.Youcanonlytake,you cannotgive.Thatswhyitisinconceivabletoyouthatsomeonecouldhavehisjoyinlifeingiving,just asitisinconceivabletoyouthatonecouldbetogetherwithamemberoftheothersexwithout immediatelywantingtolay.Icouldrespectyouifyouwerebiginstealingyourhappiness.Butyou arealittle,cowardlythief.Youarecleverbut;psychicallyconstipated,youareunabletocreate.Thus, youstealaboneandcrawlintoaholetochewitup,asFreudtoldyouonce.Youcongregatearoundthe voluntarygiver,thecheerfulspender,andsuckhimdry.Youarethesuckerand,perversely,youcall himthesucker.Yougorgeyourselfwithhisknowledge,hishappiness,hisgreatness,butyoucannot digestwhatyouhaveswallowed.Youshititoutagainrightaway,anditstinksfrightfully.Or,inorderto maintainyourdignityafterhavingcommittedthetheft,yousullyyourgiver,callhimcrazyora charlatanoraseducerofchildren.Oh,thereweare:Seducerofchildren.Doyouremember,Little Man(youwerethenthepresidentofascientificsociety)howyouspreadtherumorthatIhadmy childrenwitnessthesexualact?ThiswasafterIhadpublishedmyfirstarticleonthegenitalrightsof infants.Andtheothertime(youthenhappenedtobethetemporarypresidentofsomecultural associationinBerlin)whenyouspreadtherumorthatItookadolescentgirlsforautomobileridesinto thewoodsandseducedthem?Ihaveneverseducedadolescentgirls,LittleMan.Thatsyourdirty fantasy,notmine,Ilovemygirlormywife;Iamnotlikeyouwhoareincapableoflovingyourwife endthereforewouldliketoseducelittlegirlsinthewoods.Andyou,adolescentgirl,dontyoudreamof yourfilmstar?Dontyoutakehispicturetobedwithyou?Dontyouapproachhimandseducehim, pretendingtobeovereighteenyearsold?Andthen?Dontyougotocourtandaccusehimofrape?He isacquitted,orfoundguilty,andyourgrandmotherskissthehandsofthegreatfilmstar.Youwantedto sleepwiththefilmstar,butyoudidnothavethecouragetotaketheresponsibility.Soyouaccusehim, poor,violatedgirl.Oryoupoor,rapedwomanwhoexperiencedmoresexualpleasurewithher chauffeurthanwithherhusband.Didyounotseduceyourcoloredchauffeurwhohadkepthissexuality morenearlyhealthy,littlewhitewoman?Anddidntyouthenaccusehimofrape,poorhelpless creature,thevictimofaninferiorrace?No;ofcourseyouwerepure,andwhite,yourancestorscame overontheMayflower,youareaDaughterofThisorThatRevolution,aNortherneroraSoutherner whosegrandfathergrewrichbydraggingAfricanNegroestoAmericainchains.Howharmless,how pure,howwhite,howlittledesirousoftheNegroyouarepoorlittlewoman.Youmiserablecoward, descendantofasickraceofslavehunters,ofacruelCortezwholuredthousandsoftrustingAztecsinto atrapinordertoshootthemfromambush.Youpoordaughtersofthisorthatrevolution.Whathave yougraspedabouttheemancipation?WhatofthestrivingsoftheAmericanrevolutionaries,whatof Lincolnwhofreedtheslavesforyouwhomyouthenturnedovertothefreemarketofcompetition? Lookinthemirror,daughtersofrevolutions.YouwillrecognizetheretheDaughtersoftheRussian

Revolution,youharmless,chastegirls.Ifyouhadbeenabletogivelovetoamanasingletime,thelife ofmanyaNegroJeworworkerwouldhavebeensaved.Justasyoukillyourlifeinyourchildrensoyou killintheNegroesyourinklingoflove,yourfrivolouspornographicfantasyoflust.Iknowyou,you girlsandwomenoftherich.Whatabysmalvilenessyoubreedinyourrigidgenitals!No,youdaughter ofthisorthatrevolution,IhavenointentionofbecominganLLD.oraCommissar..ThatIleaveto yourstiffcreaturesinrobesanduniforms.Ilovethebirdsanddeerandchipmunkswhoareclosetothe Negroes.ImeantheNegroesfromthejungle,nottheonesfromHarlem,instiffcollarsandzootsuits.I dontmeanthefatNegrowomenwithearringswhoseinhibitedpleasureturnedintothefatoftheir hips.Imeanthesvelte,softbodiesofthegirlsoftheSouthSeawhomyou,thesexualswineofthisor thatArmy,lay;girlswhodonotknowthatyoutaketheirpureloveasyouwouldinaDenverbrothel. No,daughter,youlongfortheliving,whichasyethasnotunderstoodthatitisexploitedanddespised. Butyourtimehascome.YouhaveceasedtofunctionastheGermanracialvirgin.Youcontinuetolive astheRussianclassvirginorastheUniversaldaughteroftheRevolution.In500or1,000years,when healthyboysandgirlswillenjoyandprotectlove,nothingwillbeleftofyoubutaridiculousmemory. DidyounotrefuseyourauditoriumstoMarianAnderson,thisvoiceoftheliving,Little,Cancerous Woman?Hernamewillsingintothecenturieswhennotracewillbeleftofyou.Iaskmyselfwhether MarianAndersonalsothinksintothecenturies,orwhethershe,too,prohibitsherchildslove.Idont know;thelivingswingsinbigandsmallleaps.Itissatisfiedwithlifeitself.Itdoesnotliveinyou, LittleCancerousWoman.Youhavespreadthefairytale,andyourLittleManhasswallowedit,line, hookandsinker,thatyouareTHESOCIETYLittleWoman.Youarenot.True,youannounceevery day,intheJewishandChristianpapers,thatandwhenyourdaughterwillembraceaman;butthisdoes notinterestanyseriousindividual.SocietyisIandthecarpenterandthegardenerandtheteacherand thephysicianandthefactoryworker.Thatissociety,andnotyou,thelittle,cancerous,stiff,maskfaced woman.Youarenotlife,youareitsdistortion.Butunderstandwhyyouwithdrewintoyourwealthy fortress.Itwastheonlythingyoucoulddo,inthefaceofthepettinessofthecarpentersandthe gardenersandthephysicians,teachersandfactoryworkers.Intheframeworkofthisplague,itwasyour wisestdeed.Butyoursmallnessandpettinessisinyourbones,withyourconstipation,your rheumatism,yourmasks,yourdenialoflife.Youareunhappy,poorlittlewoman,becauseyoursonsgo toruin,yourdaughtersbecomewhores,yourhusbandsdryup,andyourlifeputrefies,andwithityour tissues.Youcanttellmeanystories,LittleDaughteroftheRevolution;Ihaveseenyounaked.Youare cowardlyandalwayshavebeen.Youhadthehappinessofhumanityinyourhands,andyouhave gambleditaway.YouhaveborePresidents,andhaveendowedthemwithpettiness.Theyget photographedpinningmedalsonpeople;theysmileeternallyanddonordaretocallaspadeaspade, LittleDaughteroftheRevolution!Youhadtheworldinyourhands,andattheendyoudroppedyour atombombsonHiroshimaandNagasaki;yourson,Imean,droppedthem.Youdroppedyour tombstone,LittleCancerousWoman.Withthisonebomb,youbombedyourwholeclass,yourwhole race,intothesilentgraveforever.Foryoudidnothavethehumanitytowarnthemen,womenand childreninHiroshimaandNagasaki.Youdidnotmanagethegreatnesstobehuman.Forthisreason, youwillsilentlydisappearlikeastoneinthesea.Itdoesnotmatterwhatyounowthinkorsay,you LittleWomanwhoproducedidioticgenerals.Fivehundredyearsfromnow,onewilllaughandmarvel atyou.Thatonedoesnotdosoalreadyispartandparcelofthemiseryoftheworld.Iknowwhatyou aregoingtosay,LittleWoman.Allappearancesareinyourfavor;defenseofthecountry,etc.Ive heardthatwaybackintheOldAustria.HaveyoueverheardaViennesecoachdriveryell,Hurrah, meinKaiser?No?Well,youonlyhavetolistentoyourself;itisthesamemusic.No,LittleWoman,I amnotafraidofyou;thereisnothingyoucandotome.True,yoursoninlawistheDistrictAttorney, oryournephewistheAssistantTaxCollector.Youinvitehimtoteaanddropafewwordsaboutme.He

wantstobecomeDistrictAttorneyorChiefTaxCollector,andlooksforavictimoflawandorder.I knowhowthesethingsaredone.Butthatsortofthingisnotgoingtosaveyourneck,LittleWoman. Mytruthisstrongerthanyou.Heisaonesidedfanatic!DontIhaveanyfunctioninsociety?Ihave onlyshownyouinwhatwayyouaresmallandvileLittleManandLittleWoman.Ihavenoteven mentionedyetyourusefulnessandimportance.DoyouthinkIwouldgiveyouatalkfraughtwith dangertolifeifyouwerenotimportant?Yourpettinessandmeannessseemallthemoreterribleifseen inthelightofyourimportanceandgiantresponsibility.Theysayyouarestupid.Isayyouarecleverbut cowardly.Theysayyouaretheoffalofhumansociety.Isayyouareitsseed.Theysaycultureneeds slaves.Isaynoculturecanbebuiltwithslaves.Thisdreadfultwentiethcenturyhasmaderidiculous everyculturaltheoryevolvedsincePlato.Humanculturedoesnotevenexistyet,LittleMan!Weare onlyjustbeginningtocomprehendthedreadfuldeviationandpathologicaldegenerationoftheanimal, man.ThisTalktotheLittleManoranyotherdecentwritingoftodayistothecultureof1000or5000 yearshenceaswasthefirstwheelofthousandsofyearsagototheDiesellocomotiveoftoday.You alwaysthinkintooshortterms,LittleManjustfrombreakfasttolunch.Youmustlearntothinkbackin termsofcenturiesandforwardintermsofthousandsofyears.Youhavetolearntothinkinthetermsof livinglife,intermsofyourdevelopmentfromthefirstplasmaticflaketotheanimalman,whichwalks erectbutcannotyetthinkstraight.Youhavenomemoryevenforthingsthathappenedtenortwenty yearsago,andsoyoukeeprepeatingthesamestupiditiesyousai Iplantedtheseedofholywordsinthisworld.Whenlongsincethepalmtreewillhavedied,therock decayed;Whenlongsincetheshiningmonarchshavebeenblownawaylikerottedleaves:Through everydelugeathousandarkswillcarrymyword:Itwillprevail!