Strona 171 z 490

"To be good is to be in harmony with one's self," he replied,

touching the thin stem of his glass with his pale, fine-pointed

fingers. "Discord is to be forced to be in harmony with others.

One's own life-that is the important thing. As for the lives of

one's neighbours, if one wishes to be a prig or a Puritan, one

can flaunt one's moral views about them, but they are not one's

concern. Besides, individualism has really the higher aim. Modern

morality consists in accepting the standard of one's age. I

consider that for any man of culture to accept the standard of

his age is a form of the grossest immorality."

"But, surely, if one lives merely for one's self, Harry, one pays

a terrible price for doing so?" suggested the painter.

"Yes, we are overcharged for everything nowadays. I should fancy

that the real tragedy of the poor is that they can afford nothing

but self-denial. Beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the

privilege of the rich."

"One has to pay in other ways but money."