Albert Schweitzer: An Anthology

ALBERT SCHWEITZER

AN ANTHOLOGY

ALBERT SCHWEITZER

An Anthology Edited

by

CHARLES

R.

JOY

Enlarged edition

THE BEACON PRESS

-

BOSTON

COPYRIGHT, 1947

THE BEACON PRESS

First

Beacon Paperback edition published 1955 Second Printing, 1955 Enlarged edition published 1956 Second Printing, 1957 Third Printing, 1959 Fourth Printing, 1960

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To

FREDERICK MAY ELIOT faithful counsellor

friend

and comrade

CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION KEY TO THE SOURCES

ix

XUl

The Sanctuary of Thought ........................ The Struggle for Truth ........................... The Search for Beauty ............................. The Altars of the World .......................... The Timelessness of Jesus .......................... The Humanity of Paul ............................. The Strength of Christianity ........................ God and His Kingdom ............................. Affirmation and Negation .......................... The Dignity of the Individual ...................... The Transformation of Society .....................

The The The

3

30 37

59 76 89

94 108 117

129 165

Ideals of Civilization ...........................

197

Religion of the Spirit .......................... Mystical World- View ......................... Living Ethics ..................................... The Will-to-Live .................................. Reverence for Life ................................ The Sacredness of All that Lives .................... Bear the Mark of Pain The Fellowship of Those

209

Who

222

236 248 259 269 283

Continuing Convictions ............................

290

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF TITLES SUBJECT INDEX

315 335 343 351

PREFACE

Albert Schweitzer is considered by hundreds of thousands of people in many countries to be one of the foremost spiritual and ethical figures of our time. Indeed, there are many for whom there is no other of equal eminence. As one who has given to his simple creed supreme expression in his deed, he is more and more commanding the thought and arousing the interest of mankind. It is a pity, therefore, that the books and articles which he has found time in the midst of the exhausting burdens of his life to write, covering now almost threescore years of fruitful thinking and courageous living, should be so

hard to

find.

Many

of his books are

no longer

in print,

some have never been translated from the French and the German which he uses with equal facility. They cover a wide range of subjects: philosophical, theological, ethical, biographical, autobiographical, musical, medical. Whatever the subject, they are all alike interpenetrated by the beauty of years well-spent, a mind well-stored, a spirit enriched and beautified by renunciation, dedication, and a boundless loyalty to life. This anthology represents an effort to make available much that is now scattered and hidden, to gather together those passages from published books and ephemeral writings which have meaning and inspiration for us today, to intro-

duce to a world careless of human, ethical, and spiritual values a man for whom only these values exist. His message of mystical, reverent, life-affirmation is a tonic word for this age, so recklessly eager to

squander

its

heritage.

PREFACE

In most cases the passages brought together here appear as they have been translated in editions approved by Dr. Schweitzer, In those cases, however, where his writings have not yet appeared in English, there are a number of passages translated directly

from the French or the German.

Grateful acknowledgment lishers for permission to print

is

made

to the following

copyrighted material

pub-

from the

books and periodicals used. A. & C. Black, London, England, for excerpts from The Quest of the Historical Jesus, Paul and His Interpreters, The Decay and Restoration of Civilization (Part I of The Philosophy of Civilization), and Civilization and Ethics (Part

II

of

The Philosophy

of Civilization)

The Macmillan Company, New York, N.

Y., for excerpts

from Memoirs of Childhood and Youth, and Edge of the Primeval Forest

Henry Holt and Company,

Inc.,

New

On

the

York, N. Y., for

Out of excerpts from African Notebook,

My

Life and

Thought, and The Mysticism of foul the Apostle

George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., London, England, for excerpts from Christianity md the Religions of the World Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., for excerpts from The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

The Contemporary Review, London, England, for excerpts from "The Relations of the White and Colored Races" (Vol. 133,

No. 745)

The Clmstian Century,

Chicago,

Illinois,

for excerpts

from "Busy Days in Lambaren 72, 74 f., 91, 94-107, 109 f., 114, 192 f., 203 f., 210 f., 224, 230-232 Chuang-tze, 21, 73 Church, io5f., 212, 213

Animals, 60, 269-271, 273282 Ant, Traveler, i9of.

Art, Art, Art, Art,

Cantatas, 53 f., 233 f. Caste, 64-66 Catholicism, 105 f., 161, 212, 213 Character, 120-134, 136, 138-151, 159, 162 f., 1851".

Courage, 289 Creation, 40

f.

f.

Bach, 44 f., 47, 50-58, 233 f. Bachgesellschaft, 53 f. Barth, Karl, 3, 14!., 114, 241 Beauty, 37-58

Death, 233 f., 2551*. Decadence, 52, 262 f.

Beethoven, 4447 Berlioz, 44 f. Bhagavad-Gita, 69 Biography, 77 f .

Deeds, 60 f., 2441*. Degeneration, 201 Demoralization, 137!:., 186-189

Blessing, 288

Denial, 117-119

Bocklin, 38 Boehme, 224

Dependence,

Decision,

Brahmanism, 50-63, 67-70, 228, 234, 243

Cruelty, 203

74, 96-98,

f.

Brandenburg Concertos, 57 Brotherhood, 73

f.,

Buddhism, 59-68, 243

f.

Burden, 288

1841".,

74,

286

96-98,

f.

228,

1561*.,

246

131".,

271

Descartes, 9 Destruction, 252

Detachment, u8f. Devotion, 212 f. Disappointment, 162 Discipline, i34f.

Dives, 245

Dogma, no,

216

f.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS

352

Detachment, u8f.

of,

Devotion, 212

195

f.

Disappointment, 162

Good,

216

Handel, George Frideric, 293 f Happiness, i54f., 163, 267

Harmony,

iiof.

f.,

Eternity, 92 Ethics, 3, iff., 21, 29, 59-61, 63, 65, 73, 84 f., 94 f., 100 f., 107 f., 119, 137, 1941"., 199, 2O6 f., 210 f., 216,

2131*.,

259

255,

f.,

223,

225

269,

272,

234-247,

f.,

279!,,

309,

312; absolute, 240 f., 270; social, Z46f.; universal, 269-282 Evil, 59, 102, 114, 120

237, 262

.,

.

219, 252

3,

Harzreise, 142

Epictetus, 239 95

262

f.,

Habitation, 166

Eckhart, Meister, 224, 225 Education, 169 f., lyyf., 290, 296 Emigration, i66f., 298 Enlightenment, 23, 203 f. Enthusiasm, 29, 129!"., 132, 291 f.,

i59f., 236

f.,

Gothic, 57 Gratitude, 151-153, 289 Guilt, 252, 299, 304

59, ioof., 21 if.

Eschatology, 88-91

108-116,

310

59, 262

Goodness, 149

Dogmatism, 305 Drama, 252 Dualism, 34 f.,

98,

96,

95,

214, 29*?, 307,

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 33, 38, 42 f., 46 f., 136, 142-148, 293

Discipline, i34f. Dives, 245

Dogma, no,

84-86, f.,

f.

Hase, Karl August, 33 Hate, 77 f

f.

.

Heaven, 72 Hegel, G. W. F., 198 234 Heine, Heinrich, 38 Heroism, 157

Hinduism, 67 History,

f.,

215

f.,

f.

iif., 3 2f,, 76-83,

8,

228,

SjL,

136, 221, 298

Honesty, 33?. of St. Victor, 224 Humanitarianism, 60, 245-247, 274 f., 276 f.

Hugo Faith, 100, 1621"., 210

Faust, 46

f.,

144, 146 f .,

Fellowship, 287

f.,

f.

290

202, 293

f.,

289

Humanity,

"Figured bass," 56 Finite, 212

Force, 94, 108 Forgiveness, i5of., 16 1 f., 304, 307 Francis of Assisi, 224, 269 Frederick the Great, 214

220

f.,

French:

5f.,

19 f., 98,

163,

254, 255, 301, 311 art, 39; culture,

f.

165,

f.

292

Gandhi, Mohandas K., 68-70 art, 39; culture,

292; re-

ligion, 80; research, 34

Ghose, Aurobindo, 71 Gnostics, 86

God,

72, 74,

102, 108-116, 125

216, 229

f.,

48

Idealism,

129-132, 215-217, 288

141,

160,

232

f.,

f,,

162

f.,

f.

Ideals, 15

f.,

41, 48

f.

Ignatius, 224

Ignorance, 203 f., 214, 226, 304 Immigration, i66f. Immorality, 181-183 Immortality, 94-96, 234 Imperfection, 49 f., 183 f ., 297 religion of, 59-75, 99,

Independence, 170 f.,

f.,

Imports, i78f.

f.

59, 61, 67

Hymns,

Ideas, 31

Friendliness, 185

German:

132-134, 136, 154

Hume, David, 34 f. Humility, 98, 192 f.

Free Christianity, 306, 307

Freedom,

92,

214, 302

96!, 99-

195, 210-212,

235;

Kingdom

India, 70

248

f.;

f.

Individual, 129-164, 300, 306

INDEX OF SUBJECTS

353

Individuality, 220

Luther, Martin, 47, 66

f.

Industry, 177-179 Infinite, 212

Machine, 193 f.

Inhumanity, 132!., 299

Materialism, 137, 160, 241 Meaning, 209 Medicine, 244 f. Meditation, 30 f. Mendelssohn, Felix, 57 f

143-145, 149

f.,

Interpretation, 291

Inwardness, 99 Isaiah,

1

10 f ., 243 f .

Islam, 74

f.

.

Meng-tse,

21, 72 f.

Mercy, 305

Jainism, 63, 279

James, William, 35 33-35, 62

Jesus, 8,

f.

Man, 62, 165-169, 172, 248-252 Marcus Aurelius, 239

Influence, 151, 153, 164 Intellect, 59

Michelangelo, 38 65, 69, 72

f.,

115, 132, 164, 210

f.,

no, 113-

76-90, 94-101, 104-107,

216, 228-232,

f.,

Joy, 255, 284 f. Judaism, nof., 243 f. Justice, 146 f., 168, 194

Miracle, 295 Missions, io5f., i56f., 244 f., 296 Mithras cult, 94 f .

Modernity, 84 f. Modesty, 139

237, 239-243, 264, 307

Mohammedanism, 74 f. f.,

241

f.,

Monasticism, 61

Monism,

298, 308

f.

59, 73, roof., 211

Monogamy,

179!?.

Kant, Immanuel, 214, 223

Morality, 104

Keller, Gottfried, 38

Mortification, 63, 117

Killing, 279 f. Kindness, 141

Mosewius, 57

f.,

137^, 185-189, 273

f.

Music,

.

Knowledge,

iof., 7, io8f., 132, 163, 218

32,

73,

102,

251, 252

f.,

263, 290, 299, 304; mutual, 138

f.,

f.,

37-41, 43-46, 48 f., 52-58, 233 f., 291, 292 Mystery, 57, 227, 262 f., 302, 304; iiof. religions, 94 f.,

222Mysticism, iof., 70 f., 109^,

163, 251

Koran, 27

f.

f.

Kung-fu-tse, 21, 243

f.

Labor, 159 Land, 167

i73- J 77

Naivete, io2f., 2 iof. f.,

169

f.,

Napoleon

Language, 17 Lao-tse, 21, 27, 72 Law, 189 Lazarus, 245

Lepers, 152 f. Liberalism, 80 Life, 124

f.,

f.,

f.

f.

28, 103-105, 189, 283 f.

Negro,

306

282; inner, nyf., i38f.; spiritual,

209-221

Logic, 100

215

f.,

211,

Necessity, 302, 305 Negation, 29, 61, 63-67, 83-85, 117128, 210

209, 219, 226, 237, 248-

Life-View, 20

I,

Nationalism, 137^, 194 Nature, 74, 125, 172, 193 248, 252, 303, 304

148-151, 171-

Neighborliness, 296 Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 3 Novak's, 224

f.

f.

Loneliness, 310 Love, 26, 65, 68 89, 94, 95,

f.,

70, 72-74,

io6f., 115, 163

f.

84 f., 190,

211, 237, 241-243, 272, 309-311

Obstacles, 164 f. Opinion, public, 32, 137 Optimism, 59, 96 f., no, 119-123, 201

INDEX OF SUBJECTS

354 f., i34f., i68f. fantasies for, 293; playing

Organization, 19

Organ:

294

of, 292,

8

Orthodoxy,

302

Pacifism, 68 f ., 73 f., 142 Pain, 96 f., 154, 255, 264 286-289, 3 O2 > 35

283

f.,

f.,

Painting, 37-47, 291

Giovanni Pierluigi

Palestrina,

Reality, 33, 92, 144 f., 202, 213 f., 221, 298 Reason, 15, 22 f., 31 f., 224, 236, 299,

da,

Recognition, 53 f. Recollectedness, 99 Reconstruction, 8 f., 207 f. Redemption, 66 f., 96, 99 111-113 Reflection,

1

no,

25 f .

Reform, 214

37 f-.

Pantheism,

98, 99,

in

f.,

f.,

89-93,

f.,

115, 164, 195

228-232, 234, 242

Peace, 73

Reformation, 47, 112 f Refugees, 189

101, 211

Passions, 53 f., 293 Patriotism, 219^, 302 Paul, 24-26, 32, 34, 65

f.,

216,

f.

Renunciation, 63, 66,

214, 290, 300, 302

Reserve, 139-141 Resignation, 3, 267 Resistance, 142

123, 126

f.,

Piety, 32, 72 Plants, 270 f.

201 17, 290, f.,

86

f.,

99, 211, 307

Pragmatism,

237

f,,

253

265-

f.,

97, 162-164, 218

248

f.,

257-282, 266-268

Rights, 165-169 Romans, Epistle to the, 242 Rousseau, Jean Jacques, 149 Rule, white, 183 f., 297

Poetry, 37-40, 42-45, 48, 291 Polygamy, 179-183 Poverty, 300 f.,

157,

Responsibility, i86ff., 272, 309 Reverence for Life, 24, 193, 218,

309

Plato, 86 f., 239 Platonism, 228

15

n8f.,

163, 246, 267

Personality, 74, 108, 136, 140, 159 f., 210 Pessimism, 59, 67, 96 f., no, 120-

Philosophy,

.

Religion, 3, 13-15, 55 f., 61, 91, 106, 113-115, 120, 137, 209-221, 241, 306 Renaissance, 203 f.

People, primitive, i83f. Perfection, 49 f., 117, 119, 128, 250

Power,

f.,

f.

127^, 154-156, 158, 240 244 f ., 267 f Schelble, 57 f Schleiermacher, F. D. E., 224 Schopenhauer, Arthur, 228 Sacrifice,

f.,

299

f.,

.

.

35

Prayer, 274 Preaching, 192 f., 195, 235 Preparation, 244 f Problems, social, 165-196 Progress, 5, 11, 22, 34, 36, 52 f., 117-119, 197-199, 203-207, 214220, 237 f., 302 Propaganda, 19, 32, 219 f,, 302

Service, i54f., i59f., 246, 311

Property, 193 Prophets, 239

Silesius,

Protestantism, 105^, 161, 213

Sin,

Psalter, 47, 48

Sincerity, 6, 20, 34, 254 Skepticism, 12-14, 19, 21

.

f.,

f.

Science, 17 f., 223, 290, 302, 304 Self-confidence, 14 Seneca, 239

Sermon, 213

Shadows, 262

Purpose, i24f., 209, 239 Rationalism, 5-8, 29, 80 Realism, 215-217

Schubert, Franz, 44

i

f.

Angelus, 224

02 f.

Slavery, 65 f., 183^, 214 Society, 135-138, 165-199,

246

f.

241

f.,

INDEX OF SUBJECTS

353

Universe,

Socrates, 78!.

209, 222

Sorrow, iz6f. Soul, 57 f

8f., 102

41".,

109,

f.,

225 f., 248, 251, 304 Utilitarianism, 85, 240

Soil, 167

f.,

.

Speech, 41 f. Spencer, Herbert, 137 Spinoza, Baruch, 228,

Values, 34 f., 209 Victory, 298 Violence, 113 f., 141

Spirit, 209-221, 295, 302

Vivekananda, 70 f. Vocation, i56f., i59f., 305

Spirituality, 60

f.,

89, 119, 2i8f.

State, 2191".

Volition, 7

Stoicism, 26 f ., 228, 232

f.

Strength, 164 Strife, 252 Success, 132

Wagner, Richard, War, 106, 132!.,

Suffering, i2of., 286

Sufism, 74

Superman,

f,,

304

298 f .

Well-Tempered Clavichord, The, 55

60, 63

f.,

154, 285 f.

Will, 85, 96 f., 205 f. Will-to-Live, 7, iof., 20 f., 1231"., 126 f., 225 f., 232, 237 f., 248-261

Tauler, Johannes, 224

Tersteegen, Gerhard, 224

Theism, 101, 211 f. Theology, 19, 79-81 Theosophy, 72 Thought, 3-29, 30, 35

Withdrawal,

Work, 284 f.,

70

f.,

135

f.,

Timelessness, 88

Tolerance, 161 Tolstoi, Leo, 69 Torture, 214 Trade, 171 f., 183 f. Tradition, 24 f. Truth, 12, 14 f., 20, 24-25, f.,

inf., ii7f.

62,

Words, 60 f., 244 f.

224, 259, 306, 307, 312

121, 192

f.

Widor, Charles Marie, 294 Wilhelm Meister, 144

.

f.,

199 f.,

189-193,

Wealth, hidden, 160 Welfare work, 309

f.

Suso, Heinrich, 224 Symbols, 42 f

210

44-45, 46, 47, 50

215-219, 260

Superstition, 214

Sympathy,

f.

66

f.,

167

f.,

Worship,

I,

II,

301, 306 298, 209, 301

56, 213

Youth, 129-131

290, 302, 305

Zarathustra, 95, nof., 243

Unity, 161, 222

f.,

225

170,

210 f., 241, 7, 59, 73, 97, 102, IJ 9 263; religions of the, 59-75* World-View, 17 f., 20-22, 123, 290

World,

World War World War

26, 30-36,

143-146,

f.

Zoroastrianism, 74

f.

f.