Book Description

Every mental activity is dominated by the law of "bipolarity": to every instinct there corresponds a counter-instinct; to every virtue, a vice; to every manifestation of strength, some weakness. One can never understand the nature of man so long as one fails to take into consideration this fact. My work treats of the secrets of the human soul. It would be unfair to appraise humanity on the basis of the results of these investigations. For this work deals specifically with the evil in human nature, and only with the evil. But we must not forget that there is also another side. Perhaps I can make myself clear best through an example: A stranger comes into some town unfamiliar to him; he looks over very thoroughly and with great enthusiasm its monuments of art; he is charmed by the beautiful sights which culture has provided. He then departs believing he has become thoroughly acquainted with the town. Another traveller says to himself, - after having gone through the program suggested by the usual traveller's guide: Now I want to look into the reverse side of the life of this place! He knows that the pompous formal life has its seamy side, and he discovers once more that only he is able truly to appraise the light side of the picture who has familiarized himself also with its shadows