c.s. lewis - the_screwtape_letters

8/13/2019 C.S. Lewis - The_screwtape_letters

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THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS

by

C. S. LEWIS

Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford

TO

J. R. R. TOLKIEN

"Te be! way o dr#$e o% e de$#l, #f e w#ll no y#eld o ex! ofS&r#'%re, #! o (eer and flo% #), for e &anno bear !&orn."*L%er"Te de$#ll . . e 'rowde !'#r#e . . &anno end%re o be )o&+ed."*To)a! More

Conen!refa&e

I II III I- - -I -II -III I I II III I- - -I -II -III I I II III I- - -I -II -III I I

REF/CE

I 0/-E no #nen#on of ex'la#n#ng ow e &orre!'onden&e w#& I now offer oe '%bl#& fell #no )y and!.

Tere are wo e1%al and o''o!#e error! #no w#& o%r ra&e &an fall abo% e

de$#l!. One #! o d#!bel#e$e #n e#r ex#!en&e. Te oer #! o bel#e$e, and o

feel an ex&e!!#$e and %nealy #nere! #n e). Tey e)!el$e! are e1%ally'lea!ed by bo error! and a#l a )aer#al#! or a )ag#an w# e !a)edel#g. Te !or of !&r#' w#& #! %!ed #n #! boo+ &an be $ery ea!#lyoba#ned by anyone wo a! on&e learned e +na&+2 b% d#!'o!ed or exable'eo'le wo )#g )a+e a bad %!e of # !all no learn # fro) )e.

Reader! are ad$#!ed o re)e)ber a e de$#l #! a l#ar. No e$ery#ng aS&rewa'e !ay! !o%ld be a!!%)ed o be r%e e$en fro) #! own angle. I a$e )adeno ae)' o #den#fy any of e %)an be#ng! )en#oned #n e leer!2 b% I

#n+ # $ery %nl#+ely a e 'orra#!, !ay, of Fr. S'#+e or e 'a#en3!)oer, are wolly (%!.

Tere #! w#!f%l #n+#ng #n 0ell a! well a! on Ear.

In &on&l%!#on, I o%g o add a no effor a! been )ade o &lear %' e&ronology of e leer!. N%)ber -II a''ear! o a$e been &o)'o!ed beforera#on#ng be&a)e !er#o%!2 b% #n general e d#abol#&al )eod of da#ng !ee)!o bear no rela#on o erre!r#al #)e and I a$e no ae)'ed o re'rod%&e#. Te #!ory of e E%ro'ean War, ex&e' #n !o far a! # a''en! now and en

o #)'#nge %'on e !'#r#%al &ond##on of one %)an be#ng, wa! ob$#o%!ly of no#nere! o S&rewa'e.

C. S. LEWISM/45/LEN COLLE4E

J%ly 6, 7897



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I

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

I noe wa yo% !ay abo% g%#d#ng o%r 'a#en3! read#ng and a+#ng &are a e!ee! a good deal of #! )aer#al#! fr#end. ;% are yo% no be#ng a r#fle naen #n&o)'a#ble '#lo!o'#e! danng abo%ogeer #n!#de #! ead. 0e doe!n3 #n+ of do&r#ne! a! 'r#)ar#ly "r%e" of

"fal!e", b% a! "a&ade)#&" or "'ra&al", "o%worn" or "&one)'orary","&on$en#onal" or "r%le!!". Jargon, no arg%)en, #! yo%r be! ally #n +ee'#ng

#) fro) e C%r&. 5on3 wa!e #)e ry#ng o )a+e #) #n+ a )aer#al#!)#! r%e? Ma+e #) #n+ # #! !rong, or !ar+, or &o%rageo%!*a # #! e'#lo!o'y of e f%%re. Ta3! e !or of #ng e &are! abo%.

Te ro%ble abo% arg%)en #! a # )o$e! e wole !r%ggle ono e Ene)y3!own gro%nd. 0e &an arg%e oo2 werea! #n really 'ra&al 'ro'aganda of e +#ndI a) !%gge!#ng 0e a! been !own for &en%r#e! o be grealy e #nfer#or ofO%r Faer ;elow. ;y e $ery a& of arg%#ng, yo% awa+e e 'a#en3! rea!on2

and on&e # #! awa+e, wo &an fore!ee e re!%l= E$en #f a 'ar#&%lar ra#n ofo%g &an be w#!ed !o a! o end #n o%r fa$o%r, yo% w#ll f#nd a yo% a$e

been !rengen#ng #n yo%r 'a#en e faal ab# of aend#ng o %n#$er!al#!!%e! and w#draw#ng #! aen#on fro) e !rea) of #))ed#ae !en!e

ex'er#en&e!. :o%r b%!#ne!! #! o f#x #! aen#on on e !rea). Tea& #) o&all # "real l#fe" and don3 le #) a!+ wa e )ean! by "real".

Re)e)ber, e #! no, l#+e yo%, a '%re !'#r#. Ne$er a$#ng been a %)an @O aabo)#nable ad$anage of e Ene)y3!?A yo% don3 real#!e ow en!la$ed ey are oe 're!!%re of e ord#nary. I on&e ad a 'a#en, a !o%nd ae#!, wo %!ed o

read #n e ;r##! M%!e%). One day, a! e !a read#ng, I !aw a ra#n of o%g#n #! )#nd beg#nn#ng o go e wrong way. Te Ene)y, of &o%r!e, wa! a #!

elbow #n a )o)en. ;efore I +new were I wa! I !aw )y weny year!3 wor+beg#nn#ng o oer. If I ad lo! )y ead and beg%n o ae)' a defen&e by

arg%)en I !o%ld a$e been %ndone. ;% I wa! no !%& a fool. I !r%&+#n!anly a e 'ar of e )an w#& I ad be! %nder )y &onrol and !%gge!ed

a # wa! (%! abo% #)e e ad !o)e l%n&.

Te Ene)y 're!%)ably )ade e &o%nerB!%gge!#on @yo% +now ow one &an ne$er 1%#eo$erear Wa 0e !ay! o e)=A a #! wa! )ore #)'oran an l%n&. / lea! I #n+a )%! a$e been 0#! l#ne for wen I !a#d "%#e. In fa& )%& oo #)'oran o a&+le #e end of a )orn#ng", e 'a#en br#gened %' &on!#derably2 and by e #)e I

ad added "M%& beer &o)e ba&+ afer l%n& and go #no # w# a fre! )#nd",e wa! already alf way o e door. On&e e wa! #n e !ree e bale wa!

won. I !owed #) a new!boy !o%#ng e )#dday 'a'er, and a No. D b%! go#ng'a!, and before e rea&ed e boo) of e !e'! I ad go #no #) an%nalerable &on$#on a, wae$er odd #dea! )#g &o)e #no a )an3! eadwen e wa! !% %' alone w# #! boo+!, a ealy do!e of "real l#fe" @byw#& e )ean e b%! and e new!boyA wa! eno%g o !ow #) a all "a!or of #ng" (%! &o%ldn3 be r%e. 0e +new e3d ad a narrow e!&a'e and #n



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laer year! wa! fond of al+#ng abo% "a #nar#&%lae !en!e for a&%al#yw#& #! o%r %l#)ae !afeg%ard aga#n! e aberra#on! of )ere log#&". 0e #!now !afe #n O%r Faer3! o%!e.

:o% beg#n o !ee e 'o#n= Tan+! o 'ro&e!!e! w#& we !e a wor+ #n e)&en%r#e! ago, ey f#nd # all b% #)'o!!#ble o bel#e$e #n e %nfa)#l#ar

w#le e fa)#l#ar #! before e#r eye!. Kee' 're!!#ng o)e on #) eord#nar#ne!! of #ng!. /bo$e all, do no ae)' o %!e !en&e @I )ean, e

real !en&e!A a! a defen&e aga#n! Cr#!#an#y. Tey w#ll 'o!##$ely en&o%rage#) o #n+ abo% real##e! e &an3 o%& and !ee. Tere a$e been !ad &a!e!a)ong e )odern 'y!#!!. If e )%! dabble #n !en&e, +ee' #) on e&ono)#&!and !oology2 don3 le #) ge away fro) a #n$al%able "real l#fe". ;% ebe! of all #! o le #) read no !en&e b% o g#$e #) a grand general #deaa e +now! # all and a e$ery#ng e a''en! o a$e '#&+ed %' #n &a!%alal+ and read#ng #! "e re!%l! of )ode) #n$e!#ga#on". 5o re)e)ber yo% areere o f%ddle #). Fro) e way !o)e of yo% yo%ng f#end! al+, anyone wo%ld

!%''o!e # wa! o%r (ob o ea&?:o%r affeonae %n&le

SCREWT/E

II

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,I noe w# gra$e d#!'lea!%re a yo%r 'a#en a! be&o)e a Cr#!#an. 5o no#nd%lge e o'e a yo% w#ll e!&a'e e %!%al 'enal#e!2 #ndeed, #n yo%r

beer )o)en!, I r%! yo% wo%ld ardly e$en w#! o do !o. In e )ean#)e we)%! )a+e e be! of e !#%a#on. Tere #! no need o de!'a#r2 %ndred! of

e!e ad%l &on$er! a$e been re&la#)ed afer a I br#ef !o(o%rn #n e Ene)y3!&a)' and are now w# %!. /ll e ab#! of e 'a#en, bo )enal and bod#ly,

are !#ll #n o%r fa$o%r.

One of o%r grea all#e! a 're!en #! e C%r& #!elf. 5o no )#!%nder!and)e. I do r#o )ean e C%r& a! we !ee er !'read b% ro%g all #)e and!'a&e and rooed #n eern#y, err#ble a! an ar)y w# banner!. Ta, I &onfe!!,#! a !'e&a&le w#& )a+e! I o%r bolde! e)'er! %nea!y. ;% for%naely # #!

1%#e #n$#!#ble o e!e %)an!. /ll yo%r 'a#en !ee! #! e alfBf#n#!ed,!a) 4o#& ereon on e new b%#ld#ng e!ae. Wen e goe! #n!#de, e !ee!

e lo&al gro&er w# raer #n o#ly ex're!!#on on #! fa&e b%!l#ng %' o offer#) one !#ny l#le boo+ &ona#n#ng a l#%rgy w#& ne#er of e)

%nder!and!, and one !abby l#le boo+ &ona#n#ng &orr%' ex! of a n%)ber ofrel#g#o%! lyr#&!, )o!ly bad, and #n $ery !)all 'r#n. Wen e ge! o #! 'ew

and loo+! ro%nd #) e !ee! (%! a !eleon of #! ne#gbo%r! wo) e a!#ero a$o#ded.

:o% wan o lean 'rey ea$#ly on o!e ne#gbo%r!. Ma+e #! )#nd fl# o and fro beween anex're!!#on l#+e "e body of Cr#!" and e a&%al fa&e! #n e nex 'ew. I )aer! $ery l#le,of &o%r!e, wa +#nd of 'eo'le a nex 'ew really &ona#n!. :o% )ay +now one of e) o be

a grea warr#or on e Ene)y3! !#de. No )aer. :o%r 'a#en, an+! o O%r Faerbelow, #! a fool. ro$#ded a any of o!e ne#gbo%r! !#ng o% of %ne, or

a$e boo! a !1%ea+, or do%ble n!, or odd &loe!, e 'a#en w#ll 1%#eea!#ly bel#e$e a e#r rel#g#on )%! erefore be !o)eow r#d#&%lo%!. / #!'re!en !age, yo% !ee, e a! an #dea of "Cr#!#an!" #n #! )#nd w#& e!%''o!e! o be !'#r#%al b% w#&, #n fa&, #! largely '#&or#al. 0#! )#nd #!f%ll of oga! and !andal! and ar)o%r and bare leg! and e )ere fa& a eoer 'eo'le #n &%r& wear )odern &loe! #! a real*o%g of &o%r!e an



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%n&on!o%!*d#ff#&%ly o #). Ne$er le # &o)e o e !%rfa&e2 ne$er le #)a!+ wa e ex'e&ed e) o loo+ l#+e. Kee' e$ery#ng a>y #n #! )#nd now,and yo% w#ll a$e all eern#y were#n o a)%!e yo%r!elf by 'rod%ng #n #) e'e&%l#ar +#nd of &lar#y w#& 0ell afford!.

Wor+ ard, en, on e d#!a''o#n)en or an#&l#)ax w#& #! &era#nly &o)#ng

o e 'a#en d%r#ng #! f#r! few wee+! a! a &%r&)an. Te Ene)y allow! #!d#!a''o#n)en o o&&%r on e re!old of e$ery %)an endea$o%r. I o&&%r!

wen e boy wo a! been en&aned #n e n%r!ery by Sor#e! fro) e Ody!!eyb%&+le! down o really learn#ng 4ree+. I o&&%r! wen lo$er! a$e go )arr#edand beg#n e real a!+ of learn#ng o l#$e ogeer. In e$ery de'ar)en ofl#fe # )ar+! e ran!##on fro) drea)#ng a!'#ra#on o labor#o%! do#ng. TeEne)y a+e! #! r#!+ be&a%!e 0e a! a &%r#o%! fana!y of )a+#ng all e!ed#!g%!#ng l#le %)an $er)#n #no wa 0e &all! 0#! "free" lo$er! and!er$an!*"!on!" #! e word 0e %!e!, w# 0#! #n$eerae lo$e of degrad#ng ewole !'#r#%al world by %nna%ral l#a#!on! w# e woBlegged an#)al!.

5e!#r#ng e#r freedo), 0e erefore ref%!e! o &arry e), by e#r )ereaffeon! and ab#!, o any of e goal! w#& 0e !e! before e) 0e lea$e!

e) o "do # on e#r own". /nd ere l#e! o%r o''or%n#y. ;% al!o,re)e)ber, ere l#e! o%r danger. If on&e ey ge ro%g #! #n##al dryne!!!%&&e!!f%lly, ey be&o)e )%& le!! de'enden on e)o#on and erefore )%&arder o e)'.

I a$e been wr##ng #ero on e a!!%)'#on a e 'eo'le #n e nex 'ewafford no ra#onal gro%nd for d#!a''o#n)en. Of &o%r!e #f ey do*#f e'a#en +now! a e wo)an w# e ab!%rd a #! a fana#&al br#dgeB'layer or

e )an w# !1%ea+y boo! a )#!er and an exor#oner*en yo%r a!+ #! !o )%&e ea!#er. /ll yo% en a$e o do #! o +ee' o% of #! )#nd e 1%e!#on "If

I, be#ng wa I a), &an &on!#der a I a) #n !o)e !en!e a Cr#!#an, wy !o%lde d#fferen $#&e! of o!e 'eo'le #n e nex 'ew 'ro$e a e#r rel#g#on #!

)ere y'o&r#!y and &on$en#on=" :o% )ay a!+ weer # #! 'o!!#ble o +ee' !%&an ob$#o%! o%g fro) o&&%rr#ng e$en o a %)an )#nd. I #!, Wor)wood, # #!?0andle #) 'ro'erly and # !#)'ly won3 &o)e #no #! ead. 0e a! no beenany#ng l#+e long eno%g w# e Ene)y o a$e any real %)#l#y ye. Wa e!ay!, e$en on #! +nee!, abo% #! own !#nf%lne!! #! all 'arro al+. / boo),e !#ll bel#e$e! e a! r%n %' a $ery fa$o%rable &red#Bbalan&e #n e Ene)y3!

ledger by allow#ng #)!elf o be &on$ered, and #n+! a e #! !ow#ng grea%)#l#y and &onde!&en!#on #n go#ng o &%r& w# e!e "!)%g", &o))on'la&e

ne#gbo%r! a all. Kee' #) #n a !ae of )#nd a! long a! yo% &an.:o%r affeonae %n&le

SCREWT/E

IIIM: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

I a) $ery 'lea!ed by wa yo% ell )e abo% #! )an3! rela#on! w# #!)oer. ;% yo% )%! 're!! yo%r ad$anage. Te Ene)y w#ll be wor+#ng fro) e&enre o%ward!, grad%ally br#ng#ng )ore and )ore of e 'a#en3! &ond%& %nder

e new !andard, and )ay rea& #! bea$#o%r o e old lady a any )o)en. :o%wan o ge #n f#r!. Kee' #n &lo!e o%& w# o%r &olleag%e 4l%bo!e wo #! #n

&arge of e )oer, and b%#ld %' beween yo% #n a o%!e a good !eledab# of )%%al annoyan&e2 da#ly '#n'r#&+!. Te follow#ng )eod! are %!ef%l.

7. Kee' #! )#nd on e #nner l#fe. 0e #n+! #! &on$er!#on #! !o)e#ng #n!#de#) and #! aen#on #! erefore efly %rned a 're!en o e !ae! of#! own )#nd*or raer o a $ery ex'%rgaed $er!#on of e) w#& #! all yo%



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!o%ld allow #) o !ee. En&o%rage #!. Kee' #! )#nd off e )o! ele)enaryd%#e! by d#reng # o e )o! ad$an&ed and !'#r#%al one!. /ggra$ae a)o! %!ef%l %)an &ara&er#!#&, e orror and negle& of e ob$#o%!. :o%)%! br#ng #) o a &ond##on #n w#& e &an 'ra!e !elfBexa)#na#on for ano%r w#o% d#!&o$er#ng any of o!e fa&! abo% #)!elf ,w#& are 'erfe&ly&lear o anyone wo a! o$er l#$ed #n e !a)e o%!e w# #) or wor+ed e !a)e

off#&e.

G. I #!, no do%b, #)'o!!#ble o 're$en #! 'ray#ng for #! )oer, b% wea$e )ean! of render#ng e 'rayer! #nno&%o%!. Ma+e !%re a ey are alway!$ery "!'#r#%al", a e #! alway! &on&erned w# e !ae of er !o%l andne$er w# er re%)a#!). Two ad$anage! follow. In e f#r! 'la&e, #!aen#on w#ll be +e' on wa e regard! a! er !#n!, by w#&, w# a l#leg%#dan&e fro) yo%, e &an be #nd%&ed o )ean any of er aon! w#& are#n&on$en#en or #rr#a#ng o #)!elf. T%! yo% &an +ee' r%bb#ng e wo%nd! ofe day a l#le !orer e$en w#le e #! on #! +nee!2 e o'era#on #! no a

all d#ff#&%l and yo% w#ll f#nd # $ery enera#n#ng. In e !e&ond 'la&e, !#n&e#! #dea! abo% er !o%l w#ll be $ery &r%de and ofen erroneo%!, e w#ll, #n

!o)e degree, be 'ray#ng for an #)ag#nary 'er!on, and # w#ll be yo%r a!+ o)a+e a #)ag#nary 'er!on da#ly le!! and le!! l#+e e real )oer*e!ar'Bong%ed old lady a e brea+fa! able. In #)e, yo% )ay ge e &lea$age!o w#de a no o%g or feel#ng fro) #! 'rayer! for e #)ag#ned )oer w#lle$er flow o$er #no #! rea)en of e real one. I a$e ad 'a#en! of )y own!o well #n and a ey &o%ld be %rned a a )o)en3! no#&e fro) #)'a!!#oned'rayer for a w#fe3! or !on3! "!o%l" o bea#ng or #n!%l#ng e real w#fe or !onw#o% a 1%al).

. Wen wo %)an! a$e l#$ed ogeer for )any year! # %!%ally a''en! a

ea& a! one! of $o#&e and ex're!!#on! of fa&e w#& are al)o! %nend%rably#rr#a#ng o e oer. Wor+ on a. ;r#ng f%lly #no e &on!o%!ne!! of

yo%r 'a#en a 'ar#&%lar l#f of #! )oer3! eyebrow! w#& e learned od#!l#+e #n e n%r!ery, and le #) #n+ ow )%& e d#!l#+e! #. Le #)a!!%)e a !e +now! ow annoy#ng # #! and doe! # o annoy*#f yo% +now yo%r

(ob e w#ll no no#&e e #))en!e #)'robab#l#y of e a!!%)'#on. /nd, of&o%r!e, ne$er le #) !%!'e& a e a! one! and loo+! w#& !#)#larly annoyer. /! e &anno !ee or ear #)!elf, #! #! ea!#ly )anaged.

9. In $#l#!ed l#fe do)e!#& ared %!%ally ex're!!e! #!elf by !ay#ng #ng!

w#& wo%ld a''ear 1%#e ar)le!! on 'a'er @e word! are no offen!#$eA b% #n!%& a $o#&e, or a !%& a )o)en, a ey are no far !or of a blow #n e

fa&e. To +ee' #! ga)e %' yo% and 4l%bo!e )%! !ee o # a ea& of e!e wofool! a! a !or of do%ble !andard. :o%r 'a#en )%! de)and a all #! own

%eran&e! are o be a+en a e#r fa&e $al%e and (%dged !#)'ly on e a&%alword!, w#le a e !a)e #)e (%dg#ng all #! )oer3! %eran&e! w# ef%lle! and )o! o$er!en!##$e #ner'rea#on of e one and e &onex ande !%!'e&ed #nen#on. Se )%! be en&o%raged o do e !a)e o #). 0en&efro) e$ery 1%arrel ey &an bo go away &on$#n&ed, or $ery nearly &on$#n&ed,a ey are 1%#e #nno&en. :o% +now e +#nd of #ng "I !#)'ly a!+ er wa

#)e d#nner w#ll be and !e fl#e! #no a e)'er." On&e #! ab# #! welle!abl#!ed yo% a$e e del#gf%l !#%a#on of a %)an !ay#ng #ng! w# e

ex're!! '%r'o!e of offend#ng and ye a$#ng a gr#e$an&e wen offen&e #! a+en.F#nally, ell )e !o)e#ng abo% e old lady3! rel#g#o%! 'o!##on. I! !e aall (ealo%! of e new fa&or #n er !on3! l#fe=*a all '#1%ed a e !o%lda$e learned fro) oer!, and !o lae, wa !e &on!#der! !e ga$e #) !%& goodo''or%n#y of learn#ng #n ldood= 5oe! !e feel e #! )a+#ng a grea deal of"f%!!" abo% #*or a e3! ge#ng #n on $ery ea!y er)!= Re)e)ber e elder



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broer #n e Ene)y3! !ory,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

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M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

Te a)ae%r#! !%gge!#on! #n yo%r la! leer warn )e a # #! #g #)e for)e o wr#e o yo% f%lly on e 'a#nf%l !%b(e& of 'rayer. :o% )#g a$e !'arede &o))en a )y ad$#&e abo% #! 'rayer! for #! )oer # "'ro$ed!#ng%larly %nfor%nae". Ta #! no e !or of #ng a a ne'ew !o%ldwr#e o #! %n&le*nor a (%n#or e)'er o e %nderB!e&reary of a de'ar)en.I al!o re$eal! an %n'lea!an de!#re o !#f re!'on!#b#l#y2 yo% )%! learn o'ay for yo%r own bl%nder!.

Te be! #ng, were # #! 'o!!#ble, #! o +ee' e 'a#en fro) e !er#o%!#nen#on of 'ray#ng alogeer. Wen e 'a#en #! an ad%l re&enly

reB&on$ered o e Ene)y3! 'ary, l#+e yo%r )an, #! #! be! done byen&o%rag#ng #) o re)e)ber, or o #n+ e re)e)ber!, e 'arroBl#+e na%re of#! 'rayer! #n ldood. In reaon aga#n! a, e )ay be 'er!%aded o a#)a !o)e#ng en#rely !'onaneo%!, #nward, #nfor)al, and %nreg%lar#!ed2 and wa#! w#ll a&%ally )ean o a beg#nner w#ll be an effor o 'rod%&e #n #)!elf a$ag%ely de$o#onal )ood #n w#& real &on&enra#on of w#ll and #nell#gen&ea$e no 'ar. One of e#r 'oe!, Coler#dge, a! re&orded a e d#d no 'ray"w# )o$#ng l#'! and bended +nee!" b% )erely "&o)'o!ed #! !'#r# o lo$e" and

#nd%lged "a !en!e of !%''l#&a#on". Ta #! exa&ly e !or of 'rayer we wan2and !#n&e # bear! a !%'erf#al re!e)blan&e o e 'rayer of !#len&e a!

'ra!ed by o!e wo are $ery far ad$an&ed #n e Ene)y3! !er$#&e, &le$er andla>y 'a#en! &an be a+en #n by # for 1%#e a long #)e. / e $ery lea!,

ey &an be 'er!%aded a e bod#ly 'o!##on )a+e! no d#fferen&e o e#r'rayer!2 for ey &on!anly forge, wa yo% )%! alway! re)e)ber, a eyare an#)al! and a wae$er e#r bod#e! do affe&! e#r !o%l!. I #! f%nnyow )oral! alway! '#&%re %! a! '%#ng #ng! #no e#r )#nd! #n real#y o%rbe! wor+ #! done by +ee'#ng #ng! o%.

If #! fa#l!, yo% )%! fall ba&+ on a !%bler )#!d#reon of #! #nen#on.Wene$er ey are aend#ng o e Ene)y 0#)!elf we are defeaed, b% ere are

way! of 're$en#ng e) fro) do#ng !o. Te !#)'le! #! o %rn e#r ga>e awayfro) 0#) oward! e)!el$e!. Kee' e) wang e#r own )#nd! and ry#ng o

'rod%&e feel#ng! ere by e aon of e#r own w#ll!. Wen ey )ean o a!+0#) for &ar#y, le e), #n!ead, !ar ry#ng o )an%fa&%re &ar#able

feel#ng! for e)!el$e! and no no#&e a #! #! wa ey are do#ng. Weney )ean o 'ray for &o%rage, le e) really be ry#ng o feel bra$e. Weney !ay ey are 'ray#ng for forg#$ene!!, le e) be ry#ng o feel forg#$en.Tea& e) o e!#)ae e $al%e of ea& 'rayer by e#r !%&&e!! #n 'rod%nge de!#red feel#ng2 and ne$er le e) !%!'e& ow )%& !%&&e!! or fa#l%re ofa +#nd de'end! on weer ey are well or #ll, fre! or #red, a e

)o)en.

;% of &o%r!e e Ene)y w#ll no )ean#)e be #dle. Were$er ere #! 'rayer,ere #! danger of 0#! own #))ed#ae aon. 0e #! &yn#&ally #nd#fferen o ed#gn#y of 0#! 'o!##on, and o%r!, a! '%re !'#r#!, and o %)an an#)al! one#r +nee! 0e 'o%r! o% !elfB+nowledge #n a 1%#e !a)ele!! fa!#on. ;% e$en#f 0e defea! yo%r f#r! ae)' a )#!d#reon, we a$e a !%bler wea'on. Te%)an! do no !ar fro) a d#re& 'er&e'#on of 0#) w#& we, %na''#ly,



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&anno a$o#d. Tey a$e ne$er +nown a ga!ly l%)#no!#y, a !abb#ng and!ear#ng glare w#& )a+e! e ba&+gro%nd of 'er)anen 'a#n o o%r l#$e!. If yo%loo+ #no yo%r 'a#en3! )#nd wen e #! 'ray#ng, yo% w#ll no f#nd a. If yo%exa)#ne e ob(e& o w#& e #! aend#ng, yo% w#ll f#nd a # #! a&o)'o!#e ob(e& &ona#n#ng )any 1%#e r#d#&%lo%! #ngred#en!. Tere w#ll be#)age! der#$ed fro) '#&%re! of e Ene)y a! 0e a''eared d%r#ng e

d#!&red#able e'#!ode +nown a! e In&arna#on ere w#ll be $ag%er*'era'!1%#e !a$age and '%er#le*#)age! a!!oaed w# e oer wo er!on!. Tere

w#ll e$en be !o)e of #! own re$eren&e @and of bod#ly !en!a#on! a&&o)'any#ng#A ob(ef#ed and ar#b%ed o e ob(e& re$ered. I a$e +nown &a!e! werewa e 'a#en &alled #! "4od" wa! a&%ally lo&aed*%' and o e lef a e&orner of e bedroo) &e#l#ng, or #n!#de #! own ead, or #n a &r%f#x on ewall. ;% wae$er e na%re of e &o)'o!#e ob(e&, yo% )%! +ee' #) 'ray#ngo #*o e #ng a e a! )ade, no o e er!on wo a! )ade #). :o% )aye$en en&o%rage #) o aa& grea #)'oran&e o e &orreon and #)'ro$e)enof #! &o)'o!#e ob(e&, and o +ee'#ng # !ead#ly before #! #)ag#na#on

d%r#ng e wole 'rayer. For #f e e$er &o)e! o )a+e e d#!#non, #f e$ere &on!o%!ly d#re&! #! 'rayer! "No o wa I #n+ o% ar b% o wa

o% +nowe! y!elf o be", o%r !#%a#on #!, for e )o)en, de!'erae.

On&e all #! o%g! and #)age! a$e been fl%ng a!#de or, #f rea#ned, rea#ned w#a f%ll re&ogn##on of e#r )erely !%b(e$e na%re, and e )an r%!! #)!elfo e &o)'leely real, exernal, #n$#!#ble re!en&e, ere w# #) #n e roo)and ne$er +nowable by #) a! e #! +nown by #*wy, en # #! a e#n&al&%lable )ay o&&%r. In a$o#d#ng #! !#%a#on*#! real na+edne!! of e!o%l #n 'rayer*yo% w#ll be el'ed by e fa& a e %)an! e)!el$e! do no

de!#re # a! )%& a! ey !%''o!e. Tere3! !%& a #ng a! ge#ng )ore aney barga#ned for?

:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

-M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,I #! a l#le b# d#!a''o#n#ng o ex'e& a dea#led re'or on yo%r wor+ and ore&e#$e #n!ead !%& a $ag%e ra'!ody a! yo%r la! leer. :o% !ay yo% are

"del#r#o%! w# (oy" be&a%!e e E%ro'ean %)an! a$e !ared anoer of e#rwar!. I !ee $ery well wa a! a''ened o yo%. :o% are no del#r#o%!2 yo% are

only dr%n+. Read#ng beween e l#ne! #n yo%r $ery %nbalan&ed a&&o%n of e'a#en3! !lee'le!! n#g, I &an re&on!r%& yo%r !ae of )#nd fa#rly

a&&%raely.

For e f#r! #)e #n yo%r &areer yo% a$e a!ed a w#ne w#& #!e reward of all o%r labo%r!*e ang%#! and bew#lder)en of a %)an !o%l*and# a! gone o yo%r ead. I &an ardly bla)e yo%. I do no ex'e& old ead! onyo%ng !o%lder!. 5#d e 'a#en re!'ond o !o)e of yo%r errorB'#&%re! of ef%%re= 5#d yo% wor+ #n !o)e good !elfB'#y#ng glan&e! a e a''y 'a!=*!o)ef#ne r#ll! #n e '# of #! !o)a&, were ere= :o% 'layed yo%r $#ol#n

're#ly d#d yo%= Well, well, #3! all $ery na%ral. ;% do re)e)ber, Wor)wood,a d%y &o)e! before 'lea!%re. If any 're!en !elfB#nd%lgen&e on yo%r 'ar lead! o e

%l#)ae lo!! of e 'rey, yo% w#ll be lef eernally #r!#ng for a dra%g of w#& yo% arenow !o )%& en(oy#ng yo%r f#r! !#'. If, on e oer and, by !eady and &oolBeadeda''l#&a#on ere and now yo% &an f#nally !e&%re #! !o%l, e w#ll en be yo%r! fore$er*abr#)Bf%ll l#$#ng &al#&e of de!'a#r and orror and a!on#!)en w#& yo% &anra#!e o yo%r l#'! a! ofen a! yo% 'lea!e. So do no allow any e)'oraryexe)en o d#!ra& yo% fro) e real b%!#ne!! of %nder)#n#ng fa# and




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're$en#ng e for)a#on of $#r%e!. 4#$e )e w#o% fa#l #n yo%r nex leer af%ll a&&o%n of e 'a#en3! reaon! o e war, !o a we &an &on!#derweer yo% are l#+ely o do )ore good by )a+#ng #) an exre)e 'ar#o or anarden 'af#!. Tere are all !or! of 'o!!#b#l##e!. In e )ean#)e, I )%!warn yo% no o o'e oo )%& fro) a war.

Of &o%r!e a war #! enera#n#ng. Te #))ed#ae fear and !%ffer#ng of e %)an!#! a leg##)ae and 'lea!#ng refre!)en for o%r )yr#ad! of o#l#ng wor+er!. ;%

wa 'er)anen good doe! # do %! %nle!! we )a+e %!e of # for br#ng#ng !o%l! oO%r Faer ;elow= Wen I !ee e e)'oral !%ffer#ng of %)an! wo f#nally e!&a'e%!, I feel a! #f I ad been allowed o a!e e f#r! &o%r!e of a r#& ban1%eand en den#ed e re!. I #! wor!e an no o a$e a!ed # a all. TeEne)y, r%e o 0#! barbaro%! )eod! of warfare, allow! %! o !ee e !or)#!ery of 0#! fa$o%r#e! only o anal#!e and or)en %!*o )o&+ e #n&e!!an%nger w#&, d%r#ng #! 're!en 'a!e of e grea &onfl#&, 0#! blo&+ade #!ad)#edly #)'o!#ng. Le %! erefore #n+ raer ow o %!e, an ow o

en(oy, #! E%ro'ean war. For # a! &era#n endene! #neren #n # w#&are, #n e)!el$e!, by no )ean! #n o%r fa$o%r. We )ay o'e for a good deal of

&r%ely and %n&a!#y. ;%, #f we are no &aref%l, we !all !ee o%!and!%rn#ng #n #! r#b%la#on o e Ene)y, w#le en! of o%!and! wo do no go!o far a! a w#ll ne$erele!! a$e e#r aen#on d#$ered fro) e)!el$e!o $al%e! and &a%!e! w#& ey bel#e$e o be #ger an e !elf. I +now ae Ene)y d#!a''ro$e! )any of e!e &a%!e!.

;% a #! were 0e #! !o %nfa#r.0e ofen )a+e! 'r#>e! of %)an! wo a$e g#$en e#r l#$e! for &a%!e! 0e #n+!

bad on e )on!ro%!ly !o'#!#&al gro%nd a e %)an! o%g e) good andwere follow#ng e be! ey +new. Con!#der oo wa %nde!#rable dea! o&&%r #n

war#)e. Men are +#lled #n 'la&e! were ey +new ey )#g be +#lled and ow#& ey go, #f ey are a all of e Ene)y3! 'ary, 're'ared. 0ow )%&

beer for %! #f all %)an! d#ed #n &o!ly n%r!#ng o)e! a)#d do&or! wo l#e,n%r!e! wo l#e, fr#end! wo l#e, a! we a$e ra#ned e), 'ro)#!#ng l#fe o edy#ng, en&o%rag#ng e bel#ef a !#&+ne!! ex&%!e! e$ery #nd%lgen&e, and e$en,#f o%r wor+er! +now e#r (ob, w#old#ng all !%gge!#on of a 'r#e! le! #!o%ld beray o e !#&+ )an #! r%e &ond##on? /nd ow d#!a!ro%! for %! #!e &on#n%al re)e)bran&e of dea w#& war enfor&e!. One of o%r be! wea'on!,

&onened worldl#ne!!, #! rendered %!ele!!. In war#)e no e$en a %)an &anbel#e$e a e #! go#ng o l#$e fore$er.

I +now a S&abree and oer! a$e !een #n war! a grea o''or%n#y for

aa&+! on fa#, b% I #n+ a $#ew wa! exaggeraed. Te Ene)y3! %)an'ar#!an! a$e all been 'la#nly old by 0#) a !%ffer#ng #! an e!!en#al 'ar

of wa 0e &all! Rede)'#on2 !o a a fa# w#& #! de!royed by a war or a'e!#len&e &anno really a$e been wor e ro%ble of de!roy#ng. I a)!'ea+#ng now of d#ff%!ed !%ffer#ng o$er a long 'er#od !%& a! e war w#ll'rod%&e. Of &o%r!e, a e 're!e )o)en of error, berea$e)en, or 'y!#&al'a#n, yo% )ay &a& yo%r )an wen #! rea!on #! e)'orar#ly !%!'ended. ;% e$enen, #f e a''l#e! o Ene)y ead1%arer!, I a$e fo%nd a e 'o! #! nearly

alway! defended,:o%r affeonae %n&le

SCREWT/E

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I a) del#ged o ear a yo%r 'a#en3! age and 'rofe!!#on )a+e # 'o!!#ble,b% by no )ean! &era#n, a e w#ll be &alled %' for )#l#ary !er$#&e. We wan#) o be #n e )ax#)%) %n&era#ny, !o a #! )#nd w#ll be f#lled w#&onrad#&ory '#&%re! of e f%%re, e$ery one of w#& aro%!e! o'e or fear.Tere #! no#ng l#+e !%!'en!e and anx#ey for barr#&ad#ng a %)an3! )#nd

aga#n! e Ene)y. 0e wan! )en o be &on&erned w# wa ey do2 o%r b%!#ne!!#! o +ee' e) #n+#ng abo% wa w#ll a''en o e).

:o%r 'a#en w#ll, of &o%r!e, a$e '#&+ed %' e no#on a e )%! !%b)# w#'a#en&e o e Ene)y3! w#ll. Wa e Ene)y )ean! by #! #! 'r#)ar#ly a e!o%ld a&&e' w# 'a#en&e e r#b%la#on w#& a! a&%ally been deal o% o#)*e 're!en anx#ey and !%!'en!e. I #! abo% #! a e #! o !ay "Tyw#ll be done", and for e da#ly a!+ of bear#ng #! a e da#ly bread w#llbe 'ro$#ded. I #! yo%r b%!#ne!! o !ee a e 'a#en ne$er #n+! of e're!en fear a! #! a''o#ned &ro!! b% only of e #ng! e #! afra#d of.Le #) regard e) a! #! &ro!!e! le #) forge a, !#n&e ey are

#n&o)'a#ble, ey &anno all a''en o #), and le #) ry o 'ra!efor#%de and 'a#en&e o e) all #n ad$an&e. For real re!#gna#on, a e !a)e

)o)en, o a do>en d#fferen and y'oe#&al fae!, #! al)o! #)'o!!#ble, ande Ene)y doe! no grealy a!!#! o!e wo are ry#ng o aa#n # re!#gna#ono 're!en and a&%al !%ffer#ng, e$en were a !%ffer#ng &on!#!! of fear, #!far ea!#er and #! %!%ally el'ed by #! d#re& aon.

/n #)'oran !'#r#%al law #! ere #n$ol$ed. I a$e ex'la#ned a yo% &anwea+en #! 'rayer! by d#$er#ng #! aen#on fro) e Ene)y 0#)!elf o #! own!ae! of )#nd abo% e Ene)y. On e oer and fear be&o)e! ea!#er o )a!er

wen e 'a#en3! )#nd #! d#$ered fro) e #ng feared o e fear #!elf,&on!#dered a! a 're!en and %nde!#rable !ae of #! own )#nd2 and wen e

regard! e fear a! #! a''o#ned &ro!! e w#ll #ne$#ably #n+ of # a! a!ae of )#nd. One &an erefore for)%lae e general r%le2 #n all a$##e!

of )#nd w#& fa$o%r o%r &a%!e, en&o%rage e 'a#en o be %nB!elf&on!o%! ando &on&enrae on e ob(e&, b% #n all a$##e! fa$o%rable o e Ene)y bend#! )#nd ba&+ on #!elf. Le an #n!%l or a wo)an3! body !o f#x #! aen#ono%ward a e doe! no refle& "I a) now ener#ng #no e !ae &alled/nger*or e !ae &alled L%!". Conrar#w#!e le e refleon "My feel#ng!are now grow#ng )ore de$o%, or )ore &ar#able" !o f#x #! aen#on #nward

a e no longer loo+! beyond #)!elf o !ee o%r Ene)y or #! own ne#gbo%r!./! regard! #! )ore general a#%de o e war, yo% )%! no rely oo )%& on

o!e feel#ng! of ared w#& e %)an! are !o fond of d#!&%!!#ng #nCr#!#an, or an#BCr#!#an, 'er#od#&al!. In #! ang%#!, e 'a#en &an, of

&o%r!e, be en&o%raged o re$enge #)!elf by !o)e $#nd#$e feel#ng! d#re&edoward! e 4er)an leader!, and a #! good !o far a! # goe!. ;% # #!

%!%ally a !or of )elodra)a#& or )y#&al ared d#re&ed aga#n! #)ag#nary!&a'egoa!. 0e a! ne$er )e e!e 'eo'le #n real l#fe*ey are lay f#g%re!)odelled on wa e ge! fro) new!'a'er!. Te re!%l! of !%& fanf%l aredare ofen )o! d#!a''o#n#ng, and of all %)an! e Engl#! are #n #! re!'e&e )o! de'lorable )#l+!o'!.

Tey are &rea%re! of a )#!erable !or wo lo%dly 'ro&la#) a or%re #! oo good for e#rene)#e! and en g#$e ea and garee! o e f#r! wo%nded 4er)an '#lo wo %rn! %' a

e ba&+ door. 5o wa yo% w#ll, ere #! go#ng o be !o)e bene$olen&e, a! well a! !o)e)al#&e, #n yo%r 'a#en3! !o%l. Te grea #ng #! o d#re& e )al#&e o #! #))ed#aene#gbo%r! wo) e )ee! e$ery day and o r%! #! bene$olen&e o% o ere)oe r&%)feren&e, o 'eo'le e doe! no +now. Te )al#&e %! be&o)e! wollyreal and e bene$olen&e largely #)ag#nary. Tere #! no good a all #n #nfla)#ng#! ared of 4er)an! #f, a e !a)e #)e, a 'ern#o%! ab# of &ar#y #!



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grow#ng %' beween #) and #! )oer, #! e)'loyer, and e )an e )ee! #n era#n. T#n+ of yo%r )an a! a !er#e! of &on&enr#& r&le!, #! w#ll be#ng e#nner)o!, #! #nelle& &o)#ng nex, and f#nally #! fana!y. :o% &an ardlyo'e, a on&e, o ex&l%de fro) all e r&le! e$ery#ng a !)ell! of eEne)y b% yo% )%! +ee' on !o$#ng all e $#r%e! o%ward #ll ey aref#nally lo&aed #n e r&le of fana!y, and all e de!#rable 1%al##e! #nward

#no e W#ll. I #! only #n !o far a! ey rea& e w#ll and are eree)bod#ed #n ab#! a e $#r%e! are really faal o %!. @I don3, of &o%r!e,

)ean wa e 'a#en )#!a+e! for #! w#ll, e &on!o%! f%)e and fre ofre!ol%#on! and &len&ed ee, b% e real &enre, wa e Ene)y &all! e0ear.A /ll !or! of $#r%e! 'a#ned #n e fana!y or a''ro$ed by e #nelle&or e$en, #n !o)e )ea!%re, lo$ed and ad)#red, w#ll no +ee' a )an fro) o%rFaer3! o%!e #ndeed ey )ay )a+e #) )ore a)%!#ng wen e ge! ere,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

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I wonder yo% !o%ld a!+ )e weer # #! e!!en#al o +ee' e 'a#en #n#gnoran&e of yo%r own ex#!en&e. Ta 1%e!#on, a lea! for e 're!en 'a!eof e !r%ggle, a! been an!wered for %! by e 0#g Co))and. O%r 'ol#&y, fore )o)en, #! o &on&eal o%r!el$e!. Of &o%r!e #! a! no alway! been !o. Weare really fa&ed w# a &r%el d#le))a. Wen e %)an! d#!bel#e$e #n o%r

ex#!en&e we lo!e all e 'lea!#ng re!%l! of d#re& error#!) and we )a+e no)ag#an!. On e oer and, wen ey bel#e$e #n %!, we &anno )a+e e)

)aer#al#!! and !&e'#&!. / lea!, no ye. I a$e grea o'e! a we !alllearn #n d%e #)e ow o e)o#onal#!e and )yolog#!e e#r !en&e o !%& an

exen a wa #!, #n effe&, bel#ef #n %!, @o%g no %nder a na)eA w#ll&ree' #n w#le e %)an )#nd re)a#n! &lo!ed o bel#ef #n e Ene)y. Te "L#feFor&e", e wor!#' of !ex, and !o)e a!'e&! of !y&oanaly!#!, )ay ere 'ro$e%!ef%l. If on&e we &an 'rod%&e o%r 'erfe& wor+*e Maer#al#! Mag#an, e)an, no %!#ng, b% $er#ably wor!#''#ng, wa e $ag%ely &all! "For&e!" w#ledeny#ng e ex#!en&e of "!'#r#!"*en e end of e war w#ll be #n !#g. ;%

#n e )ean#)e we )%! obey o%r order!. I do no #n+ yo% w#ll a$e )%&d#ff#&%ly #n +ee'#ng e 'a#en #n e dar+. Te fa& a "de$#l!" are

'redo)#nanly &o)#& f#g%re! #n e )odern #)ag#na#on w#ll el' yo%. If anyfa#n !%!'#on of yo%r ex#!en&e beg#n! o ar#!e #n #! )#nd, !%gge! o #) a

'#&%re of !o)e#ng #n red #g!, and 'er!%ade #) a !#n&e e &annobel#e$e #n a @# #! an old exboo+ )eod of &onf%!#ng e)A e erefore

&anno bel#e$e #n yo%.

I ad no forgoen )y 'ro)#!e o &on!#der weer we !o%ld )a+e e 'a#en anexre)e 'ar#o or an exre)e 'af#!. /ll exre)e!, ex&e' exre)e de$o#on oe Ene)y, are o be en&o%raged. No alway!, of &o%r!e, b% a #! 'er#od. So)eage! are l%+ewar) and &o)'la&en, and en # #! o%r b%!#ne!! o !ooe e) ye

fa!er a!lee'. Oer age!, of w#& e 're!en #! one, are %nbalan&ed and 'roneo faon, and # #! o%r b%!#ne!! o #nfla)e e). /ny !)all &oer#e, bo%nd

ogeer by !o)e #nere! w#& oer )en d#!l#+e or #gnore, end! o de$elo'#n!#de #!elf a oo%!e )%%al ad)#ra#on, and oward! e o%er world, a greadeal of 'r#de and ared w#& #! enera#ned w#o% !a)e be&a%!e e "Ca%!e"#! #! !'on!or and # #! o%g o be #)'er!onal. E$en wen e l#le gro%'ex#!! or#g#nally for e Ene)y3! own '%r'o!e!, #! re)a#n! r%e. We wan eC%r& o be !)all no only a fewer )en )ay +now e Ene)y b% al!o a



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o!e wo do )ay a&1%#re e %nea!y #nen!#y and e defen!#$e!elfBr#go%!ne!! of a !e&re !oey or a &l#1%e. Te C%r& er!elf #!, of&o%r!e, ea$#ly defended and we a$e ne$er ye 1%#e !%&&eeded #n g#$#ng er alle &ara&er#!#&! of a faon2 b% !%bord#nae faon! w##n er a$e ofen'rod%&ed ad)#rable re!%l!, fro) e 'ar#e! of a%l and of /'ollo! a Cor#ndown o e 0#g and Low 'ar#e! #n e C%r& of England.

If yo%r 'a#en &an be #nd%&ed o be&o)e a &on!en#o%! ob(e&or e w#ll

a%o)a#&ally f#nd #)!elf one of a !)all, $o&al, organ#!ed, %n'o'%lar !oey,and e effe&! of #!, on one !o new o Cr#!#an#y, w#ll al)o! &era#nly begood. ;% only al)o! &era#nly. 0a! e ad !er#o%! do%b! abo% e lawf%lne!!!er$#ng #n a (%! war before #! 're!en war of !er$#ng began= I! e a )an ofgrea 'y!#&al &o%rage*!o grea a e w#ll a$e no alfB&on!o%! )#!g#$#ng!abo% e real )o#$e! of #! 'af#!)= Can e, wen neare! o one!y @no%)an #! e$er $ery nearA, feel f%lly &on$#n&ed a e a&%aed wolly by ede!#re o obey e Ene)y= If e #! a !or of )an, #! 'af#!) w#ll 'robably

no do %! )%& good, and e Ene)y w#ll 'robably 'roe& #) fro) e %!%al&on!e1%en&e! of belong#ng o a !e&. :o%r be! 'lan, #n a &a!e, wo%ld be o

ae)' a !%dden, &onf%!ed, e)o#onal &r#!#! fro) w#& e )#g e)erge a! an%nea!y &on$er o 'ar#o#!). S%& #ng! &an ofen be )anaged. ;% #f e #! e)an I a+e #) o be, ry af#!).

W#&e$er e ado'!, yo%r )a#n a!+ w#ll be e !a)e. Le #) beg#n by rea#nge ar#o#!) or e af#!) a! a 'ar of #! rel#g#on. Ten le #), %ndere #nfl%en&e of 'ar#!an !'#r#, &o)e o regard # a! e )o! #)'oran 'ar.Ten 1%#ely and grad%ally n%r!e #) on o e !age a w#& e rel#g#on

be&o)e! )erely 'ar of e "&a%!e", #n w#& Cr#!#an#y #! $al%ed eflybe&a%!e of e ex&ellen arg%)en! # &an 'rod%&e #n fa$o%r of e ;r##!

warBeffor or of af#!). Te a#%de w#& yo% wan o g%ard aga#n! #! a#n w#& e)'oral affa#r! are reaed 'r#)ar#ly a! )aer#al for obed#en&e. On&e

yo% a$e )ade e World an end, and fa# a )ean!, yo% a$e al)o! won yo%r )an,and # )a+e! $ery l#le d#fferen&e wa +#nd of worldly end e #! '%r!%#ng.ro$#ded a )ee#ng!, 'a)'le!, 'ol#e!, )o$e)en!, &a%!e!, and &r%!ade!,)aer )ore o #) an 'rayer! and !a&ra)en! and &ar#y, e #! o%r!*and e)ore "rel#g#o%!" @on o!e er)!A e )ore !e&%rely o%r!. I &o%ld !ow yo% a'rey &agef%l down ere,




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-III

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,So yo% "a$e grea o'e! a e 'a#en3! rel#g#o%! 'a!e #! dy#ng away", a$eyo%= I alway! o%g e Tra#n#ng College ad gone o '#e&e! !#n&e ey '% oldSl%bgob a e ead of #, and now I a) !%re. 0a! no one e$er old yo% abo% e

law of Hnd%la#on=

0%)an! are a)'#b#an!*alf !'#r# and alf an#)al. @Te Ene)y3! deer)#na#on o'rod%&e !%& a re$ol#ng ybr#d wa! one of e #ng! a deer)#ned O%r Faero w#draw #! !%''or fro) 0#).A /! !'#r#! ey belong o e eernal world,b% a! an#)al! ey #nab# #)e. T#! )ean! a w#le e#r !'#r# &an bed#re&ed o an eernal ob(e&, e#r bod#e!, 'a!!#on!, and #)ag#na#on! are #n&on#n%al &ange, for o be #n #)e )ean! o &ange. Te#r neare! a''roa& o&on!an&y, erefore, #! %nd%la#on*e re'eaed re%rn o a le$el fro) w#&ey re'eaedly fall ba&+, a !er#e! of ro%g! and 'ea+!. If yo% ad wa&ed

yo%r 'a#en &aref%lly yo% wo%ld a$e !een #! %nd%la#on #n e$ery de'ar)enof #! l#fe*#! #nere! #n #! wor+, #! affeon for #! fr#end!, #!

'y!#&al a''e#e!, all go %' and down. /! long a! e l#$e! on ear 'er#od! ofe)o#onal and bod#ly r#&ne!! and l#$el#ne!! w#ll alernae w# 'er#od! ofn%)bne!! and 'o$ery.

Te dryne!! and d%lne!! ro%g w#& yo%r 'a#en #! nowgo#ng are no, a! yo% fondly !%''o!e, yo%r wor+)an!#'2 ey are )erely ana%ral 'eno)enon w#& w#ll do %! no good %nle!! yo% )a+e a good %!e of #.To dede wa e be! %!e of # #!, yo% )%! a!+ wa %!e e Ene)y wan! o

)a+e of #, and en do e o''o!#e. Now # )ay !%r'r#!e yo% o learn a #n0#! effor! o ge 'er)anen 'o!!e!!#on of a !o%l, 0e rel#e! on e ro%g! e$en

)ore an on e 'ea+!2 !o)e of 0#! !'eal fa$o%r#e! a$e gone ro%g longerand dee'er ro%g! an anyone el!e. Te rea!on #! #!. To %! a %)an #!

'r#)ar#ly good2 o%r a#) #! e ab!or'#on of #! w#ll #no o%r!, e #n&rea!e ofo%r own area of !elfood a #! ex'en!e.

;% e obed#en&e w#& e Ene)y de)and! of )en #! 1%#e a d#fferen #ng. One )%! fa&ee fa& a all e al+ abo% 0#! lo$e for )en, and 0#! !er$#&e be#ng 'erfe& freedo), #! no@a! one wo%ld gladly bel#e$eA )ere 'ro'aganda, b% an a''all#ng r%. 0e really

doe! wan o f#ll e %n#$er!e w# a lo of loa!o)e l#le re'l#&a! of0#)!elf*&rea%re!, wo!e l#fe, on #! )#n#a%re !&ale, w#ll be 1%al#a#$ely

l#+e 0#! own, no be&a%!e 0e a! ab!orbed e) b% be&a%!e e#r w#ll! freely&onfor) o 0#!. We wan &ale wo &an f#nally be&o)e food2 0e wan! !er$an!

wo &an f#nally be&o)e !on!. We wan o !%&+ #n, 0e wan! o g#$e o%. We aree)'y and wo%ld be f#lled2 0e #! f%ll and flow! o$er. O%r war a#) #! a world #n

w#& O%r Faer ;elow a! drawn all oer be#ng! #no #)!elf e Ene)y wan!a world f%ll of be#ng! %n#ed o 0#) b% !#ll d#!#n&.

/nd a #! were e ro%g! &o)e #n. :o% )%! a$e ofen wondered wy eEne)y doe! no )a+e )ore %!e of 0#! 'ower o be !en!#bly 're!en o %)an !o%l!#n any degree 0e &oo!e! and a any )o)en. ;% yo% now !ee a e

Irre!#!#ble and e Ind#!'%able are e wo wea'on! w#& e $ery na%re of0#! !&e)e forb#d! 0#) o %!e. Merely o o$erBr#de a %)an w#ll @a! 0#! fel

're!en&e #n any b% e fa#ne! and )o! )##gaed degree wo%ld &era#nly doAwo%ld be for 0#) %!ele!!. 0e &anno ra$#!. 0e &an only woo. For 0#! #gnoble#dea #! o ea e &a+e and a$e #2 e &rea%re! are o be one w# 0#), b%ye e)!el$e!2 )erely o &an&el e), or a!!#)#lae e), w#ll no !er$e. 0e #!'re'ared o do a l#le o$err#d#ng a e beg#nn#ng. 0e w#ll !e e) off w#&o))%n#&a#on! of 0#! 're!en&e w#&, o%g fa#n, !ee) grea o e), w#



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e)o#onal !weene!!, and ea!y &on1%e! o$er e)'a#on. ;% 0e ne$er allow! #!!ae of affa#r! o la! long.

Sooner or laer 0e w#draw!, #f no #n fa&, a lea! fro) e#r &on!o%! ex'er#en&e, all o!e!%''or! and #n&en#$e!. 0e lea$e! e &rea%re o !and %' on #! own leg!*o &arry o% fro)e w#ll alone d%#e! w#& a$e lo! all rel#!. I #! d%r#ng !%& ro%g 'er#od!, )%& )ore

an d%r#ng e 'ea+ 'er#od!, a # #! grow#ng #no e !or of &rea%re 0ewan! # o be. 0en&e e 'rayer! offered #n e !ae of dryne!! are o!e

w#& 'lea!e 0#) be!. We &an drag o%r 'a#en! along by &on#n%al e)'#ng,be&a%!e we de!#gn e) only for e able, and e )ore e#r w#ll #! #nerferedw# e beer. 0e &anno "e)'" o $#r%e a! we do o $#&e. 0e wan! e) olearn o wal+ and )%! erefore a+e away 0#! and2 and #f only e w#ll owal+ #! really ere 0e #! 'lea!ed e$en w# e#r !%)ble!. 5o no be de&e#$ed,Wor)wood. O%r &a%!e #! ne$er )ore #n danger, an wen a %)an, no longerde!#r#ng, b% #nend#ng, o do o%r Ene)y3! w#ll, loo+! ro%nd %'on a %n#$er!efro) w#& e$ery ra&e of 0#) !ee)! o a$e $an#!ed, and a!+! wy e a! been

for!a+en, and !#ll obey!.;% of &o%r!e e ro%g! afford o''or%n##e! o o%r !#de al!o. Nex wee+ I

w#ll g#$e yo% !o)e #n! on ow o ex'lo# e),:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

IM: 5E/R WORMWOO5,I o'e )y la! leer a! &on$#n&ed yo% a e ro%g of d%lne!! or "dryne!!"

ro%g w#& yo%r 'a#en #! go#ng a 're!en w#ll no, of #!elf, g#$e yo% #!!o%l, b% need! o be 'ro'erly ex'lo#ed. Wa for)! e ex'lo#a#on !o%ld

a+e I w#ll now &on!#der.

In e f#r! 'la&e I a$e alway! fo%nd a e Tro%g 'er#od! of e %)an%nd%la#on 'ro$#de ex&ellen o''or%n#y for all !en!%al e)'a#on!,'ar#&%larly o!e of !ex. T#! )ay !%r'r#!e yo%, be&a%!e, of &o%r!e, ere #!)ore 'y!#&al energy, and erefore )ore 'oen#al a''e#e, a e ea+'er#od!2 b% yo% )%! re)e)ber a e 'ower! of re!#!an&e are en al!o a

e#r #ge!. Te eal and !'#r#! w#& yo% wan o %!e #n 'rod%ng l%!&an al!o, ala!, be $ery ea!#ly %!ed for wor+ or 'lay or o%g or #nno&%o%!

)err#)en. Te aa&+ a! a )%& beer &an&e of !%&&e!! wen e )an3! wole#nner world #! drab and &old and e)'y. /nd # #! al!o o be noed a e

Tro%g !ex%al#y #! !%bly d#fferen #n 1%al#y fro) a of e ea+*)%& le!!l#+ely o lead o e )#l+ and waer 'eno)enon w#& e %)an! &all "be#ng #n

lo$e", )%& )ore ea!#ly drawn #no 'er$er!#on!, )%& le!! &ona)#naed by o!egenero%! and #)ag#na#$e and e$en !'#r#%al &on&o)#an! w#& ofen render%)an !ex%al#y !o d#!a''o#n#ng. I #! e !a)e w# oer de!#re! of efle!.

:o% are )%& )ore l#+ely o )a+e yo%r )an a !o%nd dr%n+ard by 're!!#ng

dr#n+ on #) a! an anodyne wen e #! d%ll and weary an by en&o%rag#ng #) o%!e # a! a )ean! of )err#)en a)ong #! fr#end! wen e #! a''y and ex'an!#$e.

Ne$er forge a wen we are deal#ng w# any 'lea!%re #n #! ealy andnor)al and !a#!fy#ng for), we are, #n a !en!e, on e Ene)y3! gro%nd. I +now wea$e won )any a !o%l ro%g 'lea!%re. /ll e !a)e, # #! 0#! #n$en#on, noo%r!. 0e )ade e 'lea!%re! all o%r re!ear& !o far a! no enabled %! o'rod%&e one. /ll we &an do #! o en&o%rage e %)an! o a+e e 'lea!%re!w#& o%r Ene)y a! 'rod%&ed, a #)e!, or #n way!, or #n degree!, w#& 0e a!



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forb#dden. 0en&e we alway! ry o wor+ away fro) e na%ral &ond##on of any'lea!%re o a #n w#& # #! lea! na%ral, lea! redolen of #! Ma+er, andlea! 'lea!%rable. /n e$er #n&rea!#ng &ra$#ng for an e$er d#)#n#!#ng 'lea!%re#! e for)%la. I #! )ore &era#n2 and #3! beer !yle. To ge e )an3! !o%land g#$e #) no#ng #n re%rn*a #! wa really gladden! o%r Faer3! ear./nd e ro%g! are e #)e for beg#nn#ng e 'ro&e!!.

;% ere #! an e$en beer way of ex'lo##ng e Tro%g2 I )ean ro%g e

'a#en3! own o%g! abo% #. /! alway!, e f#r! !e' #! o +ee' +nowledgeo% of #! )#nd. 5o no le #) !%!'e& e law of %nd%la#on. Le #) a!!%)ea e f#r! ardo%r! of #! &on$er!#on )#g a$e been ex'e&ed o la!, ando%g o a$e la!ed, fore$er, and a #! 're!en dryne!! #! an e1%ally'er)anen &ond##on. 0a$#ng on&e go #! )#!&on&e'#on well f#xed #n #! ead,yo% )ay en 'ro&eed #n $ar#o%! way!. I all de'end! on weer yo%r )an #! ofe de!'ond#ng y'e wo &an be e)'ed o de!'a#r, or of e w#!f%lB#n+#ngy'e wo &an be a!!%red a all #! well. Te for)er y'e #! ge#ng rare a)ong

e %)an!. If yo%r 'a#en !o%ld a''en o belong o #, e$ery#ng #! ea!y.:o% a$e only go o +ee' #) o% of e way of ex'er#en&ed Cr#!#an! @an ea!y

a!+ nowBaBday!A, o d#re& #! aen#on o e a''ro'r#ae 'a!!age! #n!&r#'%re, and en o !e #) o wor+ on e de!'erae de!#gn of re&o$er#ng #!old feel#ng! by !eer w#llB'ower, and e ga)e #! o%r!.

If e #! of e )ore o'ef%l y'e, yo%r (ob #! o )a+e #) a&1%#e!&e #n e 're!en lowe)'era%re of #! !'#r# and grad%ally be&o)e &onen w# #, 'er!%ad#ng #)!elf a ##! no !o low afer all. In a wee+ or wo yo% w#ll be )a+#ng #) do%b weere f#r! day! of #! Cr#!#an#y were no, 'era'!, a l#le ex&e!!#$e. Tal+

o #) abo% ")odera#on #n all #ng!". If yo% &an on&e ge #) o e 'o#n of#n+#ng a "rel#g#on #! all $ery well %' o a 'o#n", yo% &an feel 1%#e

a''y abo% #! !o%l. / )oderaed rel#g#on #! a! good for %! a! no rel#g#on aall*and )ore a)%!#ng.

/noer 'o!!#b#l#y #! a of d#re& aa&+ on #! fa#. Wen yo% a$e &a%!ed#) o a!!%)e a e ro%g #! 'er)anen, &an yo% no 'er!%ade #) a "#!rel#g#o%! 'a!e" #! (%! go#ng o d#e away l#+e all #! 're$#o%! 'a!e!= Of&o%r!e ere #! no &on&e#$able way of ge#ng by rea!on fro) e 'ro'o!##on "Ia) lo!#ng #nere! #n #!" o e 'ro'o!##on "T#! #! fal!e". ;%, a! I !a#d

before, # #! (argon, no rea!on, yo% )%! rely on. Te )ere word 'a!e w#ll$ery l#+ely do e r#&+. I a!!%)e a e &rea%re a! been ro%g !e$eral of

e) before*ey all a$e*and a e alway! feel! !%'er#or and 'aron#!#ng oe one! e a! e)erged fro), no be&a%!e e a! really &r##!ed e) b%

!#)'ly be&a%!e ey are #n e 'a!. @:o% +ee' #) well fed on a>y #dea! ofrogre!! and 5e$elo')en and e 0#!or#&al o#n of -#ew, I r%!, and g#$e #)

lo! of )odern ;#ogra'#e! o read= Te 'eo'le #n e) are alway! e)erg#ng fro)a!e!, aren3 ey=A

:o% !ee e #dea= Kee' #! )#nd off e 'la#n an#e!#! beween Tr%e and Fal!e.N#&e !adowy ex're!!#on!*"I wa! a 'a!e"*"I3$e been ro%g all a"*and don3forge e ble!!ed word "/dole!&en",


M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,



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I wa! del#ged o ear fro) Tr#'wee>e a yo%r 'a#en a! )ade !o)e $eryde!#rable new a&1%a#nan&e! and a yo% !ee) o a$e %!ed #! e$en #n areally 'ro)#!#ng )anner. I gaer a e )#ddleBaged )arr#ed &o%'le wo &alleda #! off#&e are (%! e !or of 'eo'le we wan #) o +now*r#&, !)ar,!%'erf#ally #nelle&%al, and br#gly !&e'#&al abo% e$ery#ng #n eworld. I gaer ey ore e$en $ag%ely 'af#!, no on )oral gro%nd! b% fro) an

#ngra#ned ab# of bel#l#ng any#ng a &on&ern! e grea )a!! of e#rfellow )en and fro) a da! of '%rely fa!#onable and l#erary &o))%n#!). T#! #!

ex&ellen. /nd yo% !ee) o a$e )ade good %!e of all #! !oal, !ex%al, and#nelle&%al $an#y. Tell )e )ore. 5#d e &o))# #)!elf dee'ly= I don3 )ean #nword!. Tere #! a !%ble 'lay of loo+! and one! and la%g! by w#& a Moral&an #)'ly a e #! of e !a)e 'ary #! o!e o wo) e #! !'ea+#ng. Ta #!e +#nd of berayal yo% !o%ld !'eally en&o%rage, be&a%!e e )an doe! nof%lly real#!e # #)!elf2 and by e #)e e doe! yo% w#ll a$e )ade w#drawald#ff#&%l.

No do%b e )%! $ery !oon real#!e a #! own fa# #! #n d#re& o''o!##on oe a!!%)'#on! on w#& all e &on$er!a#on of #! new fr#end! #! ba!ed. I

don3 #n+ a )aer! )%& 'ro$#ded a yo% &an 'er!%ade #) o 'o!'one anyo'en a&+nowledg)en of e fa&, and #!, w# e a#d of !a)e, 'r#de, )ode!yand $an#y, w#ll be ea!y o do. /! long a! e 'o!'one)en la!! e w#ll be #na fal!e 'o!##on. 0e w#ll be !#len wen e o%g o !'ea+ and la%g wen eo%g o be !#len.

0e w#ll a!!%)e, a f#r! only by #! )anner, b% 're!enly by #! word!, all !or! of &yn#&al and!&e'#&al a#%de! w#& are no really #!. ;% #f yo% 'lay #) well, ey )ay be&o)e #!. /ll

)oral! end o %rn #no e #ng ey are 'reend#ng o be. T#! #! ele)enary. Te real1%e!#on #! ow o 're'are for e Ene)y3! &o%ner aa&+.

Te f#r! #ng #! o delay a! long a! 'o!!#ble e )o)en a w#& e real#!e!

#! new 'lea!%re a! a e)'a#on. S#n&e e Ene)y3! !er$an! a$e been'reang abo% "e World" a! one of e grea !andard e)'a#on! for woo%!and year!, #! )#g !ee) d#ff#&%l o do. ;% for%naely ey a$e !a#d$ery l#le abo% # for e la! few de&ade!. In )odern Cr#!#an wr##ng!,o%g I !ee )%& @#ndeed )ore an I l#+eA abo% Ma))on, I !ee few of e oldwarn#ng! abo% Worldly -an##e!, e Co#&e of Fr#end!, and e -al%e of T#)e.

/ll a, yo%r 'a#en wo%ld 'robably &la!!#fy a! "%r#an#!)"*and )ay I re)ar+#n 'a!!#ng a e $al%e we a$e g#$en o a word #! one of e really !ol#d

r#%)'! of e la! %ndred year!= ;y # we re!&%e ann%ally o%!and! of %)an!fro) e)'eran&e, &a!#y, and !obr#ey of l#fe.

Sooner or laer, owe$er, e real na%re of #! new fr#end! )%! be&o)e &lear

o #), and en yo%r a&! )%! de'end on e 'a#en3! #nell#gen&e. If e#! a b#g eno%g fool yo% &an ge #) o real#!e e &ara&er of e fr#end!only w#le ey are ab!en2 e#r 're!en&e &an be )ade o !wee' away all&r##!). If #! !%&&eed!, e &an be #nd%&ed o l#$e, a! I a$e +nown )any%)an! l#$e, for 1%#e long 'er#od!, wo 'arallel l#$e!2 e w#ll no only a''earo be, b% a&%ally be, a d#fferen )an #n ea& of e r&le! e fre1%en!.

Fa#l#ng #!, ere #! a !%bler and )ore enera#n#ng )eod. 0e &an be )ade oa+e a 'o!##$e 'lea!%re #n e 'er&e'#on a e wo !#de! of #! l#fe are

#n&on!#!en.

T#! #! done by ex'lo##ng #! $an#y. 0e &an be a%g o en(oy +neel#ng be!#de e gro&er onS%nday (%! be&a%!e e re)e)ber! a e gro&er &o%ld no 'o!!#bly %nder!and e %rbaneand )o&+#ng world w#& e #nab#ed on Sa%rday e$en#ng2 and &onrar#w#!e, o en(oy e



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bawdy and bla!'e)y o$er e &offee w# e!e ad)#rable fr#end! all e )ore be&a%!e e #!aware of a "dee'er", "!'#r#%al" world w##n #) w#& ey &anno %nder!and. :o% !ee e#dea*e worldly fr#end! o%& #) on one !#de and e gro&er on e oer, ande #! e &o)'lee, balan&ed, &o)'lex )an wo !ee! ro%nd e) all. T%!, w#lebe#ng 'er)anenly rea&ero%! o a lea! wo !e! of 'eo'le, e w#ll feel,#n!ead of !a)e, a &on#n%al %nder&%rren of !elfB!a#!faon. F#nally, #f all

el!e fa#l!, yo% &an 'er!%ade #), #n def#an&e of &on!en&e, o &on#n%e e newa&1%a#nan&e on e gro%nd a e #!, #n !o)e %n!'ef#ed way, do#ng e!e

'eo'le "good" by e )ere fa& of dr#n+#ng e#r &o&+a#l! and la%g#ng a e#r(o+e!, and a o &ea!e o do !o wo%ld be "'r#gg#!", "#noleran", and @of&o%r!eA "%r#an#&al".

Meanw#le yo% w#ll of &o%r!e a+e e ob$#o%! 're&a%#on of !ee#ng a #! newde$elo')en #nd%&e! #) o !'end )ore an e &an afford and o negle& #! wor+and #! )oer. 0er (ealo%!y, and alar), and #! #n&rea!#ng e$a!#$ene!! orr%dene!!, w#ll be #n$al%able for e aggra$a#on of e do)e!#& en!#on,




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I

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

E$ery#ng #! &learly go#ng $ery well. a) !'eally glad o ear a e wo

new fr#end! a$e now )ade #) a&1%a#ned w# e#r wole !e. /ll e!e, a! If#nd fro) e re&ord off#&e, are oro%gly rel#able 'eo'le2 !eady, &on!#!en

!&offer! and worldl#ng! wo w#o% any !'e&a&%lar &r#)e! are 'rogre!!#ng1%#ely and &o)forably oward! o%r Faer3! o%!e. :o% !'ea+ of e#r be#nggrea la%ger!. I r%! #! doe! no )ean a yo% are %nder e #)'re!!#ona la%ger a! !%& #! alway! #n o%r fa$o%r. Te 'o#n #! wor !o)eaen#on.

I d#$#de e &a%!e! of %)an la%ger #no Joy, F%n, e Jo+e ro'er, andFl#''an&y. :o% w#ll !ee e f#r! a)ong fr#end! and lo$er! re%n#ed on e e$e

of a ol#day. /)ong ad%l! !o)e 'reex #n e way of Jo+e! #! %!%ally 'ro$#ded,b% e fal#y w# w#& e !)alle! w##!)! 'rod%&e la%ger a !%& a

#)e !ow! a ey are no e real &a%!e. Wa a real &a%!e #! we do no+now. So)e#ng l#+e # #! ex're!!ed #n )%& of a dee!able ar w#& e%)an! &all M%!#&, and !o)e#ng l#+e # o&&%r! #n 0ea$en*a )ean#ngle!!a&&elera#on #n e ry) of &ele!#al ex'er#en&e, 1%#e o'a1%e o %!. La%gerof #! +#nd doe! %! no good and !o%ld alway! be d#!&o%raged. ;e!#de!, e'eno)enon #! of #!elf d#!g%!#ng and a d#re& #n!%l o e real#!), d#gn#y,and a%!er#y of 0ell.

F%n #! &lo!ely relaed o Joy*a !or of e)o#onal fro ar#!#ng fro) e 'lay#n!#n&. I #! $ery l#le %!e o %!. I &an !o)e#)e! be %!ed, of &o%r!e, o

d#$er %)an! fro) !o)e#ng el!e w#& e Ene)y wo%ld l#+e e) o be feel#ngor do#ng b% #n #!elf # a! wolly %nde!#rable endene!2 # 'ro)oe!

&ar#y, &o%rage, &onen)en, and )any oer e$#l!.

Te Jo+e ro'er, w#& %rn! on !%dden 'er&e'#on of #n&ongr%#y, #! a )%& )ore'ro)#!#ng f#eld. I a) no #n+#ng 'r#)ar#ly of #nde&en or bawdy %)o%r, w#&,o%g )%& rel#ed %'on by !e&ondBrae e)'er!, #! ofen d#!a''o#n#ng #n #!re!%l!. Te r% #! a %)an! are 'rey &learly d#$#ded on #! )aer #no

wo &la!!e!. Tere are !o)e o wo) "no 'a!!#on #! a! !er#o%! a! l%!" and forwo) an #nde&en !ory &ea!e! o 'rod%&e la!$#o%!ne!! 're!ely #n !o far a!

# be&o)e! f%nny ere are oer! #n wo) la%ger and l%! are exed a e!a)e )o)en and by e !a)e #ng!. Te f#r! !or (o+e abo% !ex be&a%!e #

g#$e! r#!e o )any #n&ongr%##e! e !e&ond &%l#$ae #n&ongr%##e! be&a%!eey afford a 'reex for al+#ng abo% !ex. If yo%r )an #! of e f#r! y'e,

bawdy %)o%r w#ll no el' yo%*I !all ne$er forge e o%r! w#& I wa!ed@o%r! o )e of %nbearable ed#%)A w# one of )y early 'a#en! #n bar! and!)o+#ngBroo)! before I learned #! r%le. F#nd o% w#& gro%' e 'a#enbelong! o*and !ee a e doe! no f#nd o%.

Te real %!e of Jo+e! or 0%)o%r #! #n 1%#e a d#fferen d#reon, and # #!

!'eally 'ro)#!#ng a)ong e Engl#! wo a+e e#r "!en!e of %)o%r" !o!er#o%!ly a a def#en&y #n #! !en!e #! al)o! e only def#en&y a w#&

ey feel !a)e. 0%)o%r #! for e) e allB&on!ol#ng and @)ar+ #!A eallBex&%!#ng, gra&e of l#fe. 0en&e # #! #n$al%able a! a )ean! of de!roy#ng!a)e. If a )an !#)'ly le! oer! 'ay for #), e #! ")ean"2 #f e boa!! of ##n a (o&%lar )anner and w#! #! fellow! w# a$#ng been !&ored off, e #! nolonger ")ean" b% a &o)#&al fellow. Mere &oward#&e #! !a)ef%l2 &oward#&eboa!ed of w# %)oro%! exaggera#on! and groe!1%e ge!%re! &an 'a!!ed off a!



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f%nny. Cr%ely #! !a)ef%l*%nle!! e &r%el )an &an re're!en # a! a 'ra&al(o+e. / o%!and bawdy, or e$en bla!'e)o%!, (o+e! do no el' oward! a )an3!da)na#on !o )%& a! #! d#!&o$ery a al)o! any#ng e wan! o do &an bedone, no only w#o% e d#!a''ro$al b% w# e ad)#ra#on of #! fellow!,#f only # &an ge #!elf reaed a! a Jo+e. /nd #! e)'a#on &an be al)o!en#rely #dden fro) yo%r 'a#en by a Engl#! !er#o%!ne!! abo% 0%)o%r. /ny

!%gge!#on a ere )#g be oo )%& of # &an be re're!ened o #) a!"%r#an#&al" or a! beray#ng a "la&+ of %)o%r".

;% fl#''an&y #! e be! of all. In e f#r! 'la&e # #! $ery e&ono)#&al. Onlya &le$er %)an &an )a+e a real Jo+e abo% $#r%e, or #ndeed abo% any#ng el!e2any of e) &an be ra#ned o al+ a! #f $#r%e were f%nny. /)ong fl#''an'eo'le e Jo+e #! alway! a!!%)ed o a$e been )ade. No one a&%ally )a+e! #2b% e$ery !er#o%! !%b(e& #! d#!&%!!ed #n a )anner w#& #)'l#e! a ey a$ealready fo%nd a r#d#&%lo%! !#de o #. If 'rolonged, e ab# of Fl#''an&yb%#ld! %' aro%nd a )an e f#ne! ar)o%rB'la#ng aga#n! e Ene)y a I +now,

and # #! 1%#e free fro) e danger! #neren #n e oer !o%r&e! of la%ger.I #! a o%!and )#le! away fro) (oy # deaden!, #n!ead of !ar'en#ng, e

#nelle&2 and # exe! no affeon beween o!e wo 'ra&e #,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

II

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

Ob$#o%!ly yo% are )a+#ng ex&ellen 'rogre!!. My only fear #! le! #n ae)'#ng

o %rry e 'a#en yo% awa+en #) o a !en!e of #! real 'o!##on. For yo% andI, wo !ee a 'o!##on a! # really #!, )%! ne$er forge ow oally

d#fferen # o%g o a''ear o #). We +now a we a$e #nrod%&ed a &ange ofd#reon #n #! &o%r!e w#& #! already &arry#ng #) o% of #! orb# aro%nd eEne)y2 b% e )%! be )ade o #)ag#ne a all e &o#&e! w#& a$e effe&ed#! &ange of &o%r!e are r#$#al and re$o&able. 0e )%! no be allowed o!%!'e& a e #! now, owe$er !lowly, ead#ng r#g away fro) e !%n on al#ne w#& w#ll &arry #) #no e &old and dar+ of %)o! !'a&e.

For #! rea!on I a) al)o! glad o ear a e #! !#ll a &%r&goer and a&o))%n#&an. I +now ere are danger! #n #!2 b% any#ng #! beer an a

e !o%ld real#!e e brea+ # a! )ade w# e f#r! )on! of #! Cr#!#anl#fe. /! long a! e rea#n! exernally e ab#! of a Cr#!#an e &an !#ll be

)ade o #n+ of #)!elf a! one wo a! ado'ed a few new fr#end! and a)%!e)en!b% wo!e !'#r#%al !ae #! )%& e !a)e a! # wa! !#x wee+! ago. /nd w#le e

#n+! a, we do no a$e o &onend w# e ex'l# re'enan&e of adef#n#e, f%lly re&ogn#!ed, !#n, b% only w# #! $ag%e, o%g %nea!y, feel#nga e a!n3 been do#ng $ery well laely.

T#! d#) %nea!#ne!! need! &aref%l andl#ng. If # ge! oo !rong # )ay wa+e#) %' and !'o#l e wole ga)e. On e oer and, #f yo% !%''re!! #

en#rely*w#&, by e by, e Ene)y w#ll 'robably no allow yo% o do*we lo!ean ele)en #n e !#%a#on w#& &an be %rned o good a&&o%n. If !%& a

feel#ng #! allowed o l#$e, b% no allowed o be&o)e #rre!#!#ble and flower#no real re'enan&e, # a! one #n$al%able enden&y. I #n&rea!e! e 'a#en3!rel%&an&e o #n+ abo% e Ene)y. /ll %)an! a nearly all #)e! a$e !o)e!%& rel%&an&e2 b% wen #n+#ng of 0#) #n$ol$e! fang and #nen!#fy#ng awole $ag%e &lo%d of alfB&on!o%! g%#l, #! rel%&an&e #! #n&rea!ed enfold.Tey ae e$ery #dea a !%gge!! 0#), (%! a! )en #n f#nanal e)barra!!)en



1!


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ae e $ery !#g of a 'a!!Bboo+. In #! !ae yo%r 'a#en w#ll no o)#,b% e w#ll #n&rea!#ngly d#!l#+e, #! rel#g#o%! d%#e!. 0e w#ll #n+ abo% e)a! l#le a! e feel! e de&enly &an beforeand, and forge e) a! !oon a!'o!!#ble wen ey are o$er. / few wee+! ago yo% ad o e)' #) o %nreal#yand #naen#on #n #! 'rayer! b% now yo% w#ll f#nd #) o'en#ng #! ar)! oyo% and al)o! begg#ng yo% o d#!ra& #! '%r'o!e and ben%)b #! ear. 0e w#ll

wan #! 'rayer! o be %nreal, for e w#ll dread no#ng !o )%& a! effe$e&ona& w# e Ene)y. 0#! a#) w#ll be o le !lee'#ng wor)! l#e.

/! #! &ond##on be&o)e! )ore f%lly e!abl#!ed, yo% w#ll be grad%ally freedfro) e #re!o)e b%!#ne!! of 'ro$#d#ng lea!%re! a! e)'a#on!. /! e%nea!#ne!! and #! rel%&an&e o fa&e # &% #) off )ore and )ore fro) all reala''#ne!!, and a! ab# render! e 'lea!%re! of $an#y and exe)en andfl#''an&y a on&e le!! 'lea!an and arder o forgo @for a #! wa ab#for%naely doe! o a 'lea!%reA yo% w#ll f#nd a any#ng or no#ng #!!%ff#en o ara& #! wander#ng aen#on. :o% no longer need a good boo+,

w#& e really l#+e!, o +ee' #) fro) #! 'rayer! or #! wor+ or #! !lee'2 a&ol%)n of ad$er#!e)en! #n ye!erday3! 'a'er w#ll do. :o% &an )a+e #) wa!e

#! #)e no only #n &on$er!a#on e en(oy! w# 'eo'le wo) e l#+e!, b% #n&on$er!a#on! w# o!e e &are! no#ng abo% on !%b(e&! a bore #). :o%&an )a+e #) do no#ng a all for long 'er#od!.

:o% &an +ee' #) %' lae a n#g, no ro#!er#ng, b% !ar#ng a a dead f#re #n a &old roo). /lle ealy and o%go#ng a$##e! w#& we wan #) o a$o#d &an be #n#b#ed andno#ng g#$en #n re%rn, !o a a la! e )ay !ay, a! one of )y own 'a#en!!a#d on #! arr#$al down ere, "I now !ee a I !'en )o! of )y l#fe #n do#ng

ne#er wa I o%g nor wa I l#+ed". Te Cr#!#an! de!&r#be e Ene)y a! one"w#o% wo) No#ng #! !rong". /nd No#ng #! $ery !rong !rong eno%g o

!eal away a )an3! be! year! no #n !wee !#n! b% #n a dreary fl#&+er#ng ofe )#nd o$er # +now! no wa and +now! no wy, #n e gra#f#&a#on of

&%r#o!##e! !o feeble a e )an #! only alf aware of e), #n dr%))#ng off#nger! and +#&+#ng of eel!, #n w#!l#ng %ne! a e doe! no l#+e, or #ne long, d#) labyr#n of re$er#e! a a$e no e$en l%! or a)b##on o g#$ee) a rel#!, b% w#&, on&e &an&e a!!oa#on a! !ared e), e &rea%re#! oo wea+ and f%ddled o !a+e off.

:o% w#ll !ay a e!e are $ery !)all !#n!2 and do%ble!!, l#+e all yo%nge)'er!, yo% are anx#o%! o be able o re'or !'e&a&%lar w#&+edne!!. ;% do

re)e)ber, e only #ng a )aer! #! e exen o w#& yo% !e'arae e)an fro) e Ene)y. I doe! no )aer ow !)all e !#n! are 'ro$#ded a

e#r &%)%la#$e effe& #! o edge e )an away fro) e L#g and o% #no eNo#ng. M%rder #! no beer an &ard! #f &ard! &an do e r#&+. Indeed e

!afe! road o 0ell #! e grad%al one*e genle !lo'e, !of %nderfoo, w#o%!%dden %rn#ng!, w#o% )#le!one!, w#o% !#gn'o!!,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

III

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

I !ee)! o )e a yo% a+e a grea )any 'age! o ell a $ery !#)'le !ory. Telong and e !or of # #! a yo% a$e le e )an !l#' ro%g yo%r f#nger!.Te !#%a#on #! $ery gra$e, and I really !ee no rea!on wy I !o%ld ry o!#eld yo% fro) e &on!e1%en&e! or yo%r #neff#en&y. / re'enan&e and renewal



1"


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of wa e oer !#de &all "gra&e" on e !&ale w#& yo% de!&r#be #! a defeaof e f#r! order. I a)o%n! o a !e&ond &on$er!#on*and 'robably on a dee'erle$el an e f#r!.

/! yo% o%g o a$e +nown, e a!'yx#a#ng &lo%d w#& 're$ened yo%raa&+#ng e 'a#en on #! wal+ ba&+ fro) e old )#ll, #! a wellB+nown

'eno)enon. I #! e Ene)y3! )o! barbaro%! wea'on, and generally a''ear! wen0e #! d#re&ly 're!en o e 'a#en %nder &era#n )ode! no ye f%lly

&la!!#f#ed. So)e %)an! are 'er)anenly !%rro%nded by # and erefore#na&&e!!#ble o %!.

/nd now for yo%r bl%nder!. On yo%r own !ow#ng yo% f#r! of all allowed e'a#en o read a boo+ e really en(oyed, be&a%!e e en(oyed # and no #n ordero )a+e &le$er re)ar+! abo% # o #! new fr#end!. In e !e&ond 'la&e, yo%allowed #) o wal+ down o e old )#ll and a$e ea ere*a wal+ ro%g&o%nry e really l#+e!, and a+en alone. In oer word! yo% allowed #) wo

real 'o!##$e lea!%re!. Were yo% !o #gnoran a! no o !ee e danger of #!=Te &ara&er#!#& of a#n! and lea!%re! #! a ey are %n)#!a+ably real,

and erefore, a! far a! ey go, g#$e e )an wo feel! e) a o%&!one ofreal#y. T%! #f yo% ad been ry#ng o da)n yo%r )an by e Ro)an#& )eod*by)a+#ng #) a +#nd of C#lde 0arold or Werer !%b)erged #n !elfB'#y for#)ag#nary d#!re!!e!*yo% wo%ld ry o 'roe& #) a all &o!! fro) any real'a#n2 be&a%!e, of &o%r!e, f#$e )#n%e!3 gen%#ne ooa&e wo%ld re$eal ero)an#& !orrow! for e non!en!e ey were and %n)a!+ yo%r wole !raage). ;%yo% were ry#ng o da)n yo%r 'a#en by e World, a #! by 'al)#ng off$an#y, b%!le, #rony, and ex'en!#$e ed#%) a! 'lea!%re!.

0ow &an yo% a$e fa#led o !ee a a real 'lea!%re wa! e la! #ng yo% o%g o a$e le

#) )ee= 5#dn3 yo% fore!ee a # wo%ld (%! +#ll by &onra! all e r%)'eryw#& yo% a$e been !o labor#o%!ly eang #) o $al%e= /nd a e !or of

'lea!%re w#& e boo+ and e wal+ ga$e #) wa! e )o! dangero%! of all=Ta # wo%ld 'eel off fro) #! !en!#b#l#y e +#nd of &r%! yo% a$e beenfor)#ng on #, and )a+e #) feel a e wa! &o)#ng o)e, re&o$er#ng #)!elf=

/! a 'rel#)#nary o deang #) fro) e Ene)y, yo% waned o dea& #) fro)#)!elf, and ad )ade !o)e 'rogre!! #n do#ng !o. Now, all a #! %ndone.

Of &o%r!e I +now a e Ene)y al!o wan! o dea& )en fro) e)!el$e!, b% #na d#fferen way. Re)e)ber alway!, a 0e really l#+e! e l#le $er)#n, and

!e! an ab!%rd $al%e on e d#!#n&ne!! of e$ery one of e). Wen 0e al+! ofe#r lo!#ng e#r !el$e!, 0e only )ean! abandon#ng e &la)o%r of !elfBw#ll2

on&e ey a$e done a, 0e really g#$e! e) ba&+ all e#r 'er!onal#y, andboa!! @I a) afra#d, !#n&erelyA a wen ey are wolly 0#! ey w#ll be )ore

e)!el$e! an e$er. 0en&e, w#le 0e #! del#ged o !ee e) !a&r#f#ng e$ene#r #nno&en w#ll! o 0#!, 0e ae! o !ee e) dr#f#ng away fro) e#r ownna%re for any oer rea!on. /nd we !o%ld alway! en&o%rage e) o do !o.

Te dee'e! l#+#ng! and #)'%l!e! of any )an are e raw )aer#al, e!ar#ngB'o#n, w# w#& e Ene)y a! f%rn#!ed #). To ge #) away fro)

o!e #! erefore alway! a 'o#n ga#ned2 e$en #n #ng! #nd#fferen # #!alway! de!#rable !%b!#%e e !andard! of e World, or &on$en#on, or

fa!#on, for a %)an3! own real l#+#ng! and d#!l#+#ng!. I )y!elf wo%ld &arry#! $ery far. I wo%ld )a+e # a r%le o erad#&ae fro) )y 'a#en any !rong'er!onal a!e w#& #! no a&%ally a !#n, e$en #f # #! !o)e#ng 1%#er#$#al !%& a! a fondne!! for &o%ny &r#&+e or &olleng !a)'! or dr#n+#ng&o&oa. S%& #ng!, I gran yo%, a$e no#ng of $#r%e e)2 b% ere #! a!or of #nno&en&e and %)#l#y and !elfBforgef%lne!! abo% e) w#& I



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d#!r%!. Te )an wo r%ly and d#!#nere!edly en(oy! any one #ng #n eworld, for #! own !a+e, and w#o% &ar#ng wo'en&e wa oer 'eo'le !ay abo%#, #! by a $ery fa& foreBar)ed aga#n! !o)e of o%r !%ble! )ode! ofaa&+. :o% !o%ld alway! ry o )a+e e 'a#en abandon e 'eo'le or food orboo+! e really l#+e! #n fa$o%r of e "be!" 'eo'le, e "r#g" food, e"#)'oran" boo+!. I a$e +nown a %)an defended fro) !rong e)'a#on! o

!oal a)b##on by a !#ll !ronger a!e for r#'e and on#on!.

I re)a#n! o &on!#der ow we &an rer#e$e #! d#!a!er. Te grea #ng #! o're$en #! do#ng any#ng. /! long a! e doe! no &on$er # #no aon, #doe! no )aer ow )%& e #n+! abo% #! new re'enan&e. Le e l#lebr%e wallow #n #. Le #), #f e a! any ben a way, wr#e a boo+ abo% #2a #! ofen an ex&ellen way of !er#l#!#ng e !eed! w#& e Ene)y 'lan!#n a %)an !o%l. Le #) do any#ng b% a&. No a)o%n of '#ey #n #!#)ag#na#on and affeon! w#ll ar) %! #f we &an +ee' # o% of #! w#ll. /!one of e %)an! a! !a#d, a$e ab#! are !rengened by re'e##on b%

'a!!#$e one! are wea+ened. Te )ore ofen e feel! w#o% ang, e le!! ew#ll be able e$er o a&, and, #n e long r%n, e le!! e w#ll be able o

feel,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

I-

M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

Te )o! alar)#ng #ng #n yo%r la! a&&o%n of e 'a#en #! a e #! )a+#ng

none of o!e &onf#den re!ol%#on! w#& )ar+ed #! or#g#nal &on$er!#on. No)ore la$#! 'ro)#!e! of 'er'e%al $#r%e, I gaer2 no e$en e ex'e&a#on of

an endow)en of "gra&e" for l#fe, b% only a o'e for e da#ly and o%rly'#an&e o )ee e da#ly and o%rly e)'a#on? T#! #! $ery bad.

I !ee only one #ng o do a e )o)en. :o%r 'a#en a! be&o)e %)ble2 a$eyo% drawn #! aen#on o e fa&= /ll $#r%e! are le!! for)#dable o %! on&ee )an #! aware a e a! e), b% #! #! !'eally r%e of %)#l#y. Ca) a e )o)en wen e #! really 'oor #n !'#r# and !)%ggle #no #! )#nd egra#fy#ng refleon, ";y (o$e? I3) be#ng %)ble", and al)o! #))ed#aely'r#de*'r#de a #! own %)#l#y*w#ll a''ear. If e awa+e! o e danger and

r#e! o !)oer #! new for) of 'r#de, )a+e #) 'ro%d of #! ae)'*and !oon, ro%g a! )any !age! a! yo% 'lea!e. ;% don3 ry #! oo long, for fear

yo% awa+e #! !en!e of %)o%r and 'ro'or#on, #n w#& &a!e e w#ll )erely la%ga yo% and go o bed.

;% ere are oer 'rof#able way! of f#x#ng #! aen#on on e $#r%e of

0%)#l#y. ;y #! $#r%e, a! by all e oer!, o%r Ene)y wan! o %rn e)an3! aen#on away fro) !elf o 0#), and o e )an3! ne#gbo%r!. /ll eab(eon and !elfBared are de!#gned, #n e long r%n, !olely for #! end2%nle!! ey aa#n #! end ey do %! l#le ar)2 and ey )ay e$en do %! good#f ey +ee' e )an &on&erned w# #)!elf, and, abo$e all, #f !elfB&one)'&an be )ade e !ar#ngB'o#n for &one)' of oer !el$e!, and %! for gloo),

&yn#!), and &r%ely.

:o% )%! erefore &on&eal fro) e 'a#en e r%e end of 0%)#l#y. Le #)#n+ of # no a! !elfBforgef%lne!! b% a! a &era#n +#nd of o'#n#on @na)ely,a low o'#n#onA of #! own alen! and &ara&er. So)e alen!, I gaer, ereally a!. F#x #n #! )#nd e #dea a %)#l#y &on!#!! #n ry#ng o bel#e$eo!e alen! o be le!! $al%able an e bel#e$e! e) o be. No do%b ey are#n fa& le!! $al%able an e bel#e$e!, b% a #! no e 'o#n. Te grea



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#ng #! o )a+e #) $al%e an o'#n#on for !o)e 1%al#y oer an r%, %!#nrod%ng an ele)en of d#!one!y and )a+eBbel#e$e #no e ear of waoerw#!e reaen! o be&o)e a $#r%e. ;y #! )eod o%!and! of %)an! a$ebeen bro%g o #n+ a %)#l#y )ean! 'rey wo)en ry#ng o bel#e$e eyare %gly and &le$er )en ry#ng o bel#e$e ey are fool!. /nd !#n&e wa eyare ry#ng o bel#e$e )ay, #n !o)e &a!e!, be )an#fe! non!en!e, ey &anno

!%&&eed #n bel#e$#ng # and we a$e e &an&e of +ee'#ng e#r )#nd! endle!!lyre$ol$#ng on e)!el$e! #n an effor o ae$e e #)'o!!#ble.

To an#'ae e Ene)y3! !raegy, we )%! &on!#der 0#! a#)!. Te Ene)y wan! o br#ng e)an o a !ae of )#nd #n w#& e &o%ld de!#gn e be! &aedral #n e world,and +now # o be e be!, and re(o#&e #n e, fa&, w#o% be#ng any )ore @orle!!A or oerw#!e glad a a$#ng done # an e wo%ld be #f # ad been doneby anoer. Te Ene)y wan! #), #n e end, o be !o free fro) any b#a! #n #!own fa$o%r a e &an re(o#&e #n #! own alen! a! fran+ly and graef%lly a!#n #! ne#gbo%r3! alen!*or #n a !%nr#!e, an ele'an, or a waerfall. 0e

wan! ea& )an, #n e long r%n, o be able o re&ogn#!e all &rea%re! @e$en#)!elfA a! glor#o%! and ex&ellen #ng!.

0e wan! o +#ll e#r an#)al !elfBlo$e a! !oon a! 'o!!#ble2 b% # #! 0#! longBer) 'ol#&y, I fear,o re!ore o e) a new +#nd of !elfBlo$e*a &ar#y and gra#%de for all !el$e!,#n&l%d#ng e#r own2 wen ey a$e really learned o lo$e e#r ne#gbo%r! a!e)!el$e!, ey w#ll be allowed o lo$e e)!el$e! a! e#r ne#gbo%r!. For we)%! ne$er forge wa #! e )o! re'ellen and #nex'l#&able ra# #n o%rEne)y2 0e really lo$e! e a#rle!! b#'ed! 0e a! &reaed and alway! g#$e! ba&+o e) w# 0#! r#g and wa 0e a! a+en away w# 0#! lef.

0#! wole effor, erefore, w#ll be o ge e )an3! )#nd off e !%b(e& of#! own $al%e alogeer.

0e wo%ld raer e )an o%g #)!elf a grea are& or a grea 'oe and en forgo

abo% #, an a e !o%ld !'end )%& #)e and 'a#n! ry#ng o #n+ #)!elf a bad one.:o%r effor! o #n!#l e#er $a#nglory or fal!e )ode!y #no e 'a#en w#ll erefore be )efro) e Ene)y3! !#de w# e ob$#o%! re)#nder a a )an #! no %!%ally &alled %'ono a$e an o'#n#on of #! own alen! a all, !#n&e e &an $ery well go on#)'ro$#ng e) o e be! of #! ab#l#y w#o% ded#ng on #! own 're!en#&e #n e e)'le of Fa)e. :o% )%! ry o ex&l%de #! re)#nder fro) e

'a#en3! &on!o%!ne!! a all &o!!.

Te Ene)y w#ll al!o ry o render real #n e 'a#en3! )#nd a do&r#ne w#& ey all 'rofe!!b% f#nd # d#ff#&%l o br#ng o)e o e#r feel#ng!*e do&r#ne a ey d#d no &reae

e)!el$e!, a e#r alen! were g#$en e), and a ey )#g a! well be 'ro%d of e&olo%r of e#r a#r. ;% alway! and by all )eod! e Ene)y3! a#) w#ll be o

ge e 'a#en3! )#nd off !%& 1%e!#on!, and yo%r! w#ll be o f#x # on e).E$en of #! !#n! e Ene)y doe! no wan #) o #n+ oo )%& on&e ey arere'ened, e !ooner e )an %rn! #! aen#on o%ward, e beer e Ene)y#! 'lea!ed,:o%r affeonae %n&leSCREWT/E

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M: 5E/R WORMWOO5,

I ad no#&ed, of &o%r!e, a e %)an! were a$#ng a l%ll #n e#r E%ro'eanwar*wa ey na


23/51



&orre!'ond#ng l%ll #n e 'a#en3! anx#e#e!. 5o we wan o en&o%rage #!, oro +ee' #) worr#ed= Tor%red fear and !%'#d &onf#den&e are bo de!#rable!ae! of )#nd. O%r &o#&e beween e) ra#!e! #)'oran 1%e!#on!.Te %)an! l#$e #n #)e b% o%r Ene)y de!#ne! e) o eern#y. 0e erefore, Ibel#e$e, wan! e) o aend efly o wo #ng!, o eern#y #!elf, and oa 'o#n of #)e w#& ey &all e re!en. For e re!en #! e 'o#n a

w#& #)e o%&e! eern#y.

Of e 're!en )o)en, and of # only, %)an! a$e an ex'er#en&e analogo%! o eex'er#en&e w#& o%r Ene)y a! of real#y a! a wole2 #n # alone freedo) and a&%al#y areoffered e). 0e wo%ld erefore a$e e) &on#n%ally &on&erned e#er w# eern#y @w#&)ean! be#ng &on&erned w# 0#)A or w# e re!en*e#er )ed#a#ng on e#r eernal %n#onw#, or !e'ara#on fro), 0#)!elf, or el!e obey#ng e 're!en $o#&e of&on!en&e, bear#ng e 're!en &ro!!, re&e#$#ng e 're!en gra&e, g#$#ngan+! for e 're!en 'lea!%re.

O%r b%!#ne!! #! o ge e) away fro) e eernal, and fro) e re!en. W##! #n $#ew, we !o)e#)e! e)' a %)an @!ay a w#dow or a !&olarA o l#$e #n

e a!. ;% #! #! of l#)#ed $al%e, for ey a$e !o)e real +nowledge of e'a! and # a! a deer)#nae na%re and, o a exen, re!e)ble! eern#y..I #! far beer o )a+e e) l#$e #n e F%%re. ;#olog#&al ne&e!!#y )a+e!all e#r 'a!!#on! 'o#n #n a d#reon already, !o a o%g abo% eF%%re #nfla)e! o'e and fear. /l!o, # #! %n+nown o e), !o a #n )a+#nge) #n+ abo% # we )a+e e) #n+ of %nreal##e!. In a word, e F%%re #!,of all #ng!, e #ng lea! l#+e eern#y. I #! e )o! &o)'leely e)'oral'ar of #)e*for e a! #! fro>en and no longer flow!, and e re!en #! all

l# %' w# eernal ray!. 0en&e e en&o%rage)en we a$e g#$en o all o!e!&e)e! of o%g !%& a! Crea#$e E$ol%#on, Sen#f#& 0%)an#!), or

Co))%n#!), w#& f#x )en3! affeon! on e F%%re, on e $ery &ore ofe)'oral#y.

0en&e nearly all $#&e! are rooed #n e f%%re. 4ra#%de loo+! oe 'a! and lo$e o e 're!en2 fear, a$ar#&e, l%!, and a)b##on loo+ aead.5o no #n+ l%! an ex&e'#on. Wen e 're!en 'lea!%re arr#$e!, e !#n@w#& alone #nere!! %!A #! already o$er. Te 'lea!%re #! (%! e 'ar of e'ro&e!! w#& we regre and wo%ld ex&l%de #f we &o%ld do !o w#o% lo!#ng e

!#n2 # #! e 'ar &onr#b%ed by e Ene)y, and erefore ex'er#en&ed #n are!en. Te !#n, w#& #! o%r &onr#b%#on, loo+ed forward.

To be !%re, e Ene)y wan! )en o #n+ of e F%%re oo*(%! !o )%& a! #!

ne&e!!ary for now 'lann#ng e a&! of (%!#&e or &ar#y w#& w#ll 'robably bee#r d%y o)orrow. Te d%y of 'lann#ng e )orrow3! wor+ #! oday3! d%y2

o%g #! )aer#al #! borrowed fro) e f%%re, e d%y, l#+e all d%#e!, #!#n e re!en. T#! #! no !raw !'l##ng. 0e doe! no wan )en o g#$e eF%%re e#r ear!, o 'la&e e#r rea!%re #n #. We do. 0#! #deal #! a )anwo, a$#ng wor+ed all day for e good of 'o!er#y @#f a #! #! $o&a#onA,wa!e! #! )#nd of e wole !%b(e&, &o))#! e #!!%e o 0ea$en, and re%rn!a on&e o e 'a#en&e or gra#%de de)anded by e )o)en a #! 'a!!#ng o$er

#). ;% we wan a )an agBr#dden by e F%%re*a%ned by $#!#on! of an#))#nen ea$en or ell %'on ear*ready o brea+ e Ene)y3! &o))and! #n e

're!en #f by !o do#ng we )a+e #) #n+ e &an aa#n e one or a$er eoer*de'enden for #! fa# on e !%&&e!! or fa#l%re of !&e)e! wo!e end ew#ll no l#$e o !ee. We wan a wole ra&e 'er'e%ally #n '%r!%# of era#nbow3! end, ne$er one!, nor +#nd, nor a''y now, b% alway! %!#ng a! )eref%el werew# o ea' e alar of e f%%re e$ery real g#f w#& #! offerede) #n e re!en.



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I follow! en, #n general, and oer #ng! be#ng e1%al, a # #! beer foryo%r 'a#en o be f#lled w# anx#ey or o'e @# doe!n3 )%& )aer w#&Aabo% #! war an for #) o be l#$#ng #n e 're!en. ;% e 'ra!e "l#$#ng#n e 're!en" #! a)b#g%o%!. I )ay de!&r#be a 'ro&e!! w#& #! really (%! a!)%& &on&erned w# e F%%re a! anx#ey #!elf. :o%r )an )ay be %nro%bled

abo% e F%%re, no be&a%!e e #! &on&erned w# e re!en, b% be&a%!e ea! 'er!%aded #)!elf a e F%%re #!,

c.s. lewis - the_screwtape_letters

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