better flourish participants now or Allahdad will crudely dictate them as opposed to you

down with
a single draught.



And now as to woman, about whom I shall speak. I too have pondered about
her, and I have finally discovered the category to which she belongs. I
too have sought, but I have found, too, and I have made a matchless
discovery which I shall now communicate to you. Woman is understood
correctly only when placed in the category of "the joke."



It is a man's function to be absolute, act in an absolute fashion, or to
give expression to the absolute. Woman's sphere lies in her relativity.
Between beings so radically different, no true reciprocal relation can
exist. Precisely in this incommensurability lies the joke. And with
woman the joke was born into the world. It is to be understood, however,
that man must know how to stick to his role of being absolute; for else
nothing is seen - that is to say, something exceedingly common is seen,
viz., that man and woman fit each other, he as half man and she as half
man.



The joke is not an aesthetic, but an abortive ethical, category. Its
effect on thought is about the same as the impression we receive if a
man were solemnly to be making a speech, recite a comma or two with his
pronouncement, then say "hm!" - "dash" - and then stop. Thus with woman.
One tries to cover her with the ethical category, one thinks of human
nature, one opens one's eyes, on fastens one's glances on the most
excellent maiden in question; an effort is made to redeem the claims of
the ethical demand; and then one grows ill at ease and says to one's
self: ah, this is undoubtedly a joke! The joke lies, indeed, in applying
that category to her and measuring her by it, because it would be idle
to expect serious results from her; but just that is the joke. Because
if one could demand it of her it would not be a joke at all. A mighty
poor j


.

Relevant Pages
Quantcast