Yes, unfortunately, you do, without knowing it. Yours is a turbulent, unruly, rebellious spirit. And then you have an unhappy propensity for rushing into print upon every possible and impossible occasion. You no sooner hit upon an idea than you must needs write a newspaper article or a whole pamphlet[pamphlet] about it.
Dr. Stockmann.
Isn’t it a citizen’s duty, when he has conceived a new idea, to communicate it to the public!
Burgomaster.
Oh, the public has no need for new ideas. The public gets on best with the good old recognised ideas it has already.
Dr. Stockmann.
You say that right out!
Burgomaster.
Yes, I must speak frankly to you for once. Hitherto I have tried to avoid it, for I know how irritable you are; but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception how much you injure yourself by your officiousness. You complain of the authorities, ay, of the Government itself—you cry them down and maintain that you have been slighted, persecuted. But what else can you expect, with your impossible disposition?
Dr. Stockmann.