“It would be impossible,” said Henry; “one has to live first for one’s self.”
“And last for one’s self,” I went on, “for that biggest self which is our own life in relation with all that we know. If we lived only for others, others would still live for others, and so on, with no end and no sense. It is like that idea of living for future generations.”
“What of it?” asked Marian. “I am particularly interested.”
“That we shall live for future generations, and the future generations shall live also for future generations, and so on forever and ever!”
“Unless it were all for the last generation,” said Henry.
“But that will never come,” I answered, “or, if it does, it will surely not be worth while. I believe that whoever lives the best life for himself, and does the thing he is most impelled to do, for his whole big self, is also best for all others. He must be, since they are a part of him.”
“It seems to me,” said Marian, who had been dreaming, “that there is no absolute truth. When people claim that they have found the whole truth, and try to explain it to me, I never feel convinced.”
“Does our idea strike you so, Marian?” I asked.
“Oh, no,” she said, “not at all. You never make positive statements.”
“No,” I answered, “I am willing to grant that what seems true to me now may one day be included in a larger truth.”