19.

MORALITY AND STUPEFACTION.—Custom represents the experiences of men of earlier times in

regard to what they considered as useful and harmful; but the feeling of custom (morality) does
not relate to these feelings as such, but to the age, the sanctity, and the unquestioned authority
of the custom. Hence this feeling hinders our acquiring new experiences and amending
morals: i.e. morality is opposed to the formation of new and better morals: it stupefies.
[pg 028]
20.

FREE-DOERS AND FREE-THINKERS.—Compared with free-thinkers, free-doers are at a

disadvantage, because it is evident that men suffer more from the consequences of actions than
of thoughts. If we remember, however, that both seek their own satisfaction, and that free-
thinkers have already found their satisfaction in reflection upon and utterance of forbidden
things, there is no difference in the motives; but in respect of the consequences the issue will
be decided against the free-thinker, provided that it be not judged from the most superficial and
vulgar external appearance, i.e. not as every one would judge it. We must make up for a good
deal of the calumny with which men have covered all those who have, by their actions, broken
away from the authority of some custom—they are generally called criminals. Every one who
has hitherto overthrown a law of established morality has always at first been considered as
a wicked man: but when it was afterwards found impossible to re-establish the law, and people
gradually became accustomed to the change, the epithet was changed by slow degrees. History
deals almost exclusively with these wicked men, who later on came to be recognised as good
men.