danger — get an idea of WHAT people actually take an interest in, and what are the things generally which fundamentally and profoundly concern ordinary men — including the cultured, even the learned, and perhaps philosophers also, if appearances do not deceive.

The fact thereby becomes obvious that the greater part of what interests and charms higher natures, and more refined and fastidious tastes, seems absolutely “uninteresting” to the average man — if, notwithstanding, he perceive devotion to these interests, he calls it desinteresse, and wonders how it is possible to act “disinterestedly.” There have been philosophers who could give this popular astonishment a seductive and mystical, other-worldly expression (perhaps because they did not know the higher nature by