ABSTRACT
This chapter reproduces the text from Chapter XIII of Ada Reis, Volume II. Ada Reis threw down in disgust the sceptre, which had just been placed within his grasp. ‘By the prophet,’ he wondered whether man can condescend to become the instrument thus of deception and superstition. Ada Reis thought that he is neither good enough to give up his own passions and love of independence for the benefit of others, nor weak enough to conceive myself great. He emphasized that distinction must be an acknowledged superiority over creatures like himself, and not over those blinded by bigotry and ignorance.
