The Suffering Of Man

Ossein

Compositor: Matt Noojin

With the animal, present suffering, even if repeated countless times,
remains what it was the first time: it cannot sum itself up.
Hence the enviable composure and unconcern which characterizes
the animal. With man, on the other hand, there evolves out of those
elements of pleasure and suffering which he has in common
with the animals an intensification of his sensations of happiness
with the animal an intensification of his sensations of happiness
and misery which can lead to momentary transports which may
sometimes even prove fatal, or to suicidal despair. More closely
considered, what happens is this: he deliberately intensifies
his needs, which are originally scarcely harder to satisfy than those
of the animal, so as to intensify his pleasure: hence luxury,
confectionery, tobacco, opium, alcoholic drinks, finery, and all that pertains
to them. To these is then added, also as a result of reflection