We’re collaborating with some folk at Ave Satanas Podcast (ASP) and Free Society Satanists to bring you a miniseries looking at Might Is Right — ur-text of Satanism and an infamous work of proto-fascism first published in 1896 by Arthur Desmond a.k.a. “Ragnar Redbeard”.

To be clear: Might Is Right sucks, both as a book and ideology. It’s full of doggerel, bigotry, and contradictions. But we’re gonna talk about it, chapter-by-chapter, from the perspective of modern, anarchist Satanists who feel that racism, misogyny, antisemitism, and tyranny are “bad, actually”.

Livestreams (mostly) take place alternating weeks 9 p.m Eastern / 6 p.m. Pacific, including Friday, Sep. 5 (0100 UTC Sep. 6), with podcasts released the following Saturday (Sep. 13), and new recordings taking place every two weeks:

RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2383108.rss

(copy and paste the URL into the podcast app of your choice)

Folk who have thoughts on MIR and want to weigh in are welcome to join us on Twitch.

Assuming we can make the technical stuff work, the idea is for us to talk this week about the background of Arthur Desmond and Might Is Right, and why a piece of shit book like that is even worth investigating almost 130 years later.

(Spoiler: Anton LaVey plagiarized it for The Satanic Bible.)

Since we’re springing this on you suddenly, the chapter-by-chapter stuff won’t start until Friday Aug. 22, giving people time to do their reading and weigh-in. The first one will prolly be messy, but also to do some open table-setting about why we are bothering with this project now.

We’re using the mechanically impressive “Authoritative Edition” that Trevor Blake put together and published in 2019, harmonizing and annotating various versions, but nobody else ought to feel obligated to use that one rather than any of the free versions you can find floating around on the Web.

Frankly, if you follow along reading the 1910 edition published by “14 Words Press”, you are in some ways getting the more genuine and relevant version of this rancid fucking text, what it is all about, and it’s cultural significance than Blake’s version which falls all over itself in apologism.

This is not really a fun book to read, and if you haven’t read it before, maybe it’s not worth your while.

However, the fact that is bad actually helps to explain a lot of the stuff you see around you today, and the continuity of shit like incels and “anti-theist” antisemitism is also useful.

* * *

Book editions

• 1896: [Link]
• 1910 (by 14 words Press): [Link]
• 1927: [Link] [Plagiarism Highlighted]

Ep. 2: Chapter 2 “Iconoclastic” (pages 49-82)

Section 1

This is territory we have covered before, esp. in Chapter I, where Ragnar disparages Jesus and Christianity in antisemitic (among other things) terms, but can’t explain why Anglo-Saxondom failing to it is a failure of Christ rather than of Ragnar’s favored whites.

As far as Sociology is concerned, we must either abandon our reason, or abandon Christ

…

The sickly humanitarian ethics, so eloquently rayed forth by Jesus Christ and his superstitious successors, in ancient Judea, and throughout the moribund Roman empire, are generally accepted in Anglo-Saxondom as the very elixir of immortal wisdom, the purest, wisest, grandest, most incontrovertible of all ‘divine revelations,’ or occult thaumauturgies. And yet when closely examined, they are found to be neither divine, occult, reasonable, nor even honest; but composed, almost exclusively of the stuff that nightmares are made of; together with a strong dash of oriental legerdermain.

Through a thousand different channels, current politico-economic belief is dominated by the base communistic caballa of the ‘man of many sorrows;’ yet as a practical theorem, it is hardly ever critically  examined. 

There is a Trevor Blake footnote about the “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng Bunker mentioning that they were fairly wealthy slavers till the American Civil War impoverished them, but it has nothing to do with the text itself, and would only be useful for setting up discussion of the next section about the complexities of systems of oppression.

Section 2

This chapter is titled “Iconoclastic”. Anti-Christian material wasn’t mainstream, sure. But in the context of late 19th century America, when Southern U.S. states are literally re-writing their state constitutions to formally establish white supremacy (e.g. Louisiana 1898), what exactly is going against the grain here about claiming that races are different and Anglo-Saxon white men are superior?

‘All ye are brethren.’ / Are all men really brethren?—Negro and Indian, Blackfellow, Kalmuck, and Coolie—the well-born, and the base-bred, —beer-soaked loafer, and hero-hearted patriot—belted chieftain and ignoble mechanic-slave,—pot of iron and pot of clay?

What proof is there that the brotherhood-of-man hypothesis is in accordance with nature? On what trustworthy biologic, historic or other evidence does it rest? If it is natural, then rivalry, competition, and strife are unnatural. (And it is proposed to prove in this book, that strife, competition, rivalry, and the wholesale destruction of feeble types of men, is not only natural, but highly neccessary.) Has ‘brotherhood’ ever been tried upon earth? 

…

After permitting Christ to be butchered, the mob thereupon set him up as their Divinity, and erected altars to his renown. Slaves, women, madmen, lepers, magdalenes, were the earliest Christians, and to this hour, women, children, slaves and lunatics are the raw material of the Christian Church.

Primitive Christianity cunningly appealed to the imagination of a world of superstitious slaves. (Eager for some mode of escape that meant not the giving and receiving of battle-strokes.) It organized them for the overthrow of Heroic Principles; and substituted, for a genuine nobility based on battle-selection, a crafty theocracy founded upon priest-craft, hell-craft, alms-giving, politicalisms, and all that is impure and subterrenean. It is a doctrine at once disgraceful in

its antecedents, its teachers, and in itself. Truly has it been called ‘the fatal dower of Constantine,’ for it has suffocated, or is suffocating the seeds of Heroism.

Both ancient and modern Christianism and all that has its root therein, is the negation of everything grand, noble, generous, heroic, and- the glorification of everything feeble, atrocious, dishonorable, dastardly. The cross is now, and ever has been, an escutcheon of shame. It represents a gallows, and a Semite slave swinging thereon. For two thousand years it has absolutely overturned human reason; overthrown common sense, infected the world with madness, submissiveness, degeneracy.

(Jack) this section right off the rip gets into both the Republican mindset as well as slamming god as he does so well. A few passages that I can think of would be where he describes Christ taking care of the poorer followers. Basically, the whole of Section 2. He starts to lay the groundwork of “do for me but not for thee” and why should I look out for others when I’m dutybound to look out for myself.

Section 3

This is about how the Golden Rule (treat others how you’d like to be treated) is a bad rule — except that it is a rule that he complains achieved dominance and simultaneously is not followed. By Ragnar’s standards, it’s much more powerful than the open-Heroism ideals he pines for, and whether it’s actually embodied by people or hypocritical.

Is the Golden Rule a rational rule—Is it not rather a menial rule—a coward rule—a best-policy rule?

…

Is it reasonable to ask preying animals, to do unto others as they would be done by—If they acted accordingly would they, could they survive? If some only, accepted the Golden Rule as their guiding moral maxim, would they not become a prey to those who refused to abide thereby?

…

Also how many of his modern lip-servants actually practice it in their daily business intercourse with each other. How many?

These questions require no formal answering. They answer themselves in the asking. And here it must; be remembered that the best test of a witness, is cross-examination, ‘Do unto others as you would have others do to you,’ No baser precept ever fell from the lips of a feeble Jew.

It is from alleged moralisms of this sort, and fabulous ‘principles’ that our mob orators, our communards, revivalists, anarchists, red-republicans, democrats, and other mob-worshippers in general derive the infernal inspiration that they are perpetually hissing forth. Even the subversive pyrotechnic watchwords of their mephisto-millenuim, are to be found in the ‘holy gospels.’ Is it not written, ‘and

God sendeth angels to destroy the people?’—Behold! these men are the ‘angels’ that He sends: — politicians and reformers!

(Jack) He definitely read the golden rule like its a bad thing. I feel like he wished it said, Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you! The premise of looking out for the downtrodden, showing TRUE strength, is such a foreign concept to him. 

Section 4

Without repeating ourselves too much from the previous section, or from past conversations about solidarity of shared vulnerability, this is another opportunity to compare the standards for living that Ragnar Redbeard (and Anton LaVey) give for others to live according to, but Arthur Desmond and Howard Levey failed to live up to themselves.

‘Love one another’ you say is the supreme law, but what power made it so—Upon what rational authority does the Gospel of Love rest—Is it even possible of practice, and what would result from its universal application to active affairs? 

…

He who turns the ‘other cheek’ is a cowardly dog—a Christian dog.

Give blow for blow, scorn for scorn, doom for doom; with compound interest liberally added thereunto. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, aye four-fold, a hundredfold. Make yourself a Terror to your adversary, and when he goeth his way, he will possess much additional wisdom to ruminate over. Thus shall you make yourself respected in all the walks of life, and your spirit —your immortal spirit—shall live, not in an intangible paradise but in the brains and thews of your aggressive and unconquerable sons. After all, the true proof of manhood is a splendid progeny; and it is a scientific axiom that the timid animal transmits timidity to its descendents.

Section 5

American Christianity would be a lot cooler if this was actually how people acted.

Reverend Ferdinand M. Sprague, of Chicago, (who may be taken as a common specimen of the priest-politician,) in a little pamphlet lately published, entitled ‘The Laws of Social Evolution’ writes thus: ‘The sheet anchor of Socialism according to its ablest exponents, is the Holy Christian religion. Its motto founded on the precept ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’ is — ‘each for all, and all for each.’ Its working principle for the present is altruism. ’ *

…

* ‘The ethics of Socialism are identical with the teachings of Christianty (sic).’ Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Section 6*

Just more antisemitic anti-Christianity, but “Divine Democrat” calls back to Desmond’s plagiarism of the pro-Christian article he got caught out on back in Australia(?).

(Jack) The entirety of Section 6 is just another useless section that almost lends nothing to the progression of the book. It reads like a cutaway that gives audience to the insane ramblings of a madman. It also seems as if this is gonna be a repeating trend as we dig deeper in the chapters. There will be one (or more) sections that have nothing to do with the movement of the book. 

A god begging his bread from door to door!—A god without a place to lay his head!—A god spiked to two pieces of crossed scantling!—A god stabbed to death by an hired officer!—A god executed by order of a stipendary magistrate!—What an insane Idea— Is it an idea, or rather a wasting cranial disease? …  Why it is as childplay to the hysteric Idolatry of to-day—the deification of a Jew. The ‘Divine Democrat’ was executed upon a government gibbet, because the Rulers of Imperial Rome were more powerful men than he was. His strength, and that of his followers was not equal to theirs.

Section 7

This is mostly focused on why democracy is bad and doesn’t work. But Ragnar shows absolutely no understanding of the state, how it functions, or who it serves.

Reverting however, to Chicago’s reverened Utopia-constructor. Thus waileth he with cajoling crudity: “The laws of social evolution, far from being the blind, barbarous, and brutal struggle for organic existence, consists in the physical, intellectual, and moral well being of all the members of society, so constituted that the politico-ethical principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity shall have the largest possible realization throughout the social organism. The main features of the condition of progress are Christian churches, Christian schools, Christian governments, Christian ethics and economics.”

Another seductive but most malignent State Socialist, (Henry George) roundly proclaims that ‘The salvation of society, the hope of the free, and full developement of Humanity, is in the gospel of brotherhood, the gospel of Christ,’ and thereupon he proposes to make politicians the national rent-tax collectors, Administrators of everything in general, and all-round Distributors of State Pensions to ‘the poor and needy.’

…

The ‘Church’ is the idol of the priestly parasite—The ‘State’ is the idol of the political parasite. Beware, O, America! that in escaping from the holy trickery of the monk, you fall not an easy prey to ‘the loving kindness’ of the politician. Even if the ‘reformer’ succeeds in re-establishing upon majority-votes, the dark tyranny of ‘the greatest number;’ we have this consolation to fall back upon. Such organization must ultimately tumble down of its own weight, and then re-divide up into warring fragments. Nothing that is unnatural can last for long.

Section 8

Ragnar, as a reactionary, is utterly opposed to the ideals of the French Revolution. But his idea that “hogs” can’t in some way become great seems refuted by his own examples (e.g. Napoleon). Also, reminds of longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer’s own statement: “Elitists never tire of repeating that only the chosen few matter; the majority are pigs. Yet it does happen that a he pig marries a she pig, and a Leonardo is born.”

‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,’ those three great lights of Modern Democracies are three colossal Falsehoods,-ignoble slave-shibboleths; impossible of actualization even if proclaimed by some superhuman Satan, followed by armed hosts of un-killable demons, all armed to the teeth with flaming swords, greek-fire, and dynamite cannon.

…

Can you build up a marble palace with mud and slime, O! ye drivelling bedlamites? Can you raise up a conqueror from the dunghill, or make the stupid great? Can you manufacture heros out of hogs, O! Ye snuffling ‘Educated’ swine?

Section 9

Ragnar does not like altruism and thinks it’s impossible to widen empathy that far. Which is basically just the same thing fascists are saying now (e.g. “highest moral allocation by ideology”).

Man is part and parcel of the animal kingdom and (notwithstanding Jefferson, Franklin, and Lincoln—Karl Marx, La Salle, and Liebknecht—Christ, Robespierre, and Rousseau—Hyndman, Tennyson, and Mazzini—Hr. Adler, Bebel, George, and Isaiah—Bellamy, Gronlund, and W. T. Stead ) he cannot escape from the draconic ordinances that despotically govern that kingdom and environ his being. like an atmosphere on every side.

Altruism, meek and lowly self-abiegation, upon any extended scale is, among predatory organisms (and all organisms are predatory ) impossible of practice on pain of wholesale felo-de-se.

…

Does not simple business acumen whisper to us, that every mans chief occupation upon earth is to sustain himself.

Section 10

Ragnar pokes at Russian Christian anarcho-pacific Leo Tolstoy, who did indeed read at least part of this when it was sent to him, replying in 1897’s “What Is Art”.

Count Leo Tolstoi, undoubtably the ablest modern expounder of primitive Christliness, in a much translated volume, entitled:-“Work While Ye Have Light,” writes thus;- ‘Our Faith tells us that bliss is to be found, not in resistance, but in submission; not in riches, but in giving everything away; * * * * we have not quite succeeded in casting off every habit of violence and property.”

…

The bliss of a sheep! How superlatively delightful? How divinely glorious? And a Jew as the Good Shepherd, who leadeth his lambs “to green pastures, and quiet resting places, the pleasant waters by’ ’. For two thousand years, or so, His fleecy flock have been fattening themselves up with commendable diligence—for the shearing-shed and the butchers-block.

…

Let any man abandon all property, also all overt resistance to aggression and behold, the first sun will scarcely have sank down in the west, before he is a bondservant, a tributary, a beggar, or—a corpse.

…

Obedience you see is of God ‘who so loveth the world’ but Disobediance is horrible, and of the Devil, and the Devil is a frightful rascal, who has not the slightest respect for anybody or anything: not even the American Constitution. Let us curse the Devil then, and, obey—the Law.

…

During the whole course of human history, there is not upon record, one authenetic instance wherein a subjugated people has ever regained property-holding Liberty, without first butchering its tyrants (or its tyrants armed slaves, in battle ) thereafter confiscating to its own use, the lands and realized property that previously had been in the possession of its defeated foes and masters. This statement is made with cool deliberation and aforethought. Let it be disproved by any one creditable example to the contrary and the Author is prepared to forfeit 50,000 ounces of pure gold…

Section 11

More criticism of Jesus, and being generous enough to “steelman” a Christ as a miracle-worker. But the impact does not seem to actually follow from the argument.

During the three years of Christ Jesus’ peripatetic trampings, he never said anything that had not been better said a thousand times before, by Dervishes, Spell-binders, and Mahatmas. 

…

‘He raised the dead’, you indignantly protest: and even supposing that he did, wherein is the positive advantage? What is gained by restoring vitality to the decomposing corpse of an animal that may be so easily duplicated — an animal that is a positive nuisance, numerically. What is the “good” of breathing the ‘breath of life’ into an odorous winding-sheet-full of maggots and mouldy bones? Are there not plenty of animalculae on earth, without dragging them out of tombs? (Especially are there not plenty of leprous Asiatics?) 

…

He fed the hungry—but to what end, I say? Why should a famishing multitude be fed by a god? And that too, in a land said to be flowing with milk and honey! Would not such a mob be far better dead? Would not Napoleon with his cosmic ‘whiff of grape-shot’ be just the right man for such an occassion?

…

Physical distortion and mental malformation, are the direct result of two thousand years of bad-breeding: that is to say, of Mongrelism, of Democracy, of Equality, of Moody-and-Sankeyism. Christianism, originating in the despairful and fallacious philosophy of a Crucified Wanderer (suffering from acute morbus sacer) is now developed into an organized and worldwide conspiracy of Clercals, Politicals, and Decadents directed en-masse; with Jesuitic cunning against all the primitive and Heroic Virtues.

Our clean-skinned ‘heathenish’ ancestors with all their vital forces unimpaired, were really the nobler type of animal. We on the other hand, with our corrupt, irresolute, civilized hearts, our trembling nerves, our fragile anaemic constitutions, are actually the lower, theviler type —notwithstanding the baseless optimism that courtly rhymers drivel into their “Heirs of all the ages,” etc., etc.

No People can long retain hardihood and independence, whose minds become submissive to a False Ideal.

Section 12

Anton LaVey and Diane Hegarty ransack this section because it definitely has some solid lines worth stealing. (But William Blake still did it better.)

Blessed are the Strong for they shall possess the earth—Cursed are the Weak for they shall inherit the yoke. Blessed are the Powerful for they shall be reverenced among men—Cursed are the Feeble for they shall be blotted out.

…

Blessed are the sires of Noble Maidens, they are the alt of the earth-Cursed the mothers of strumous Tenderlings. for they shall be ashamed. Blessed are the Mighty-minded for they shall ride the whirlwinds— Cursed are they who teach Lies for Truth, and Truth for Lies, for they are—abomination.

Christ! The True Prince of Evil

Just another lil’ Judenhass poem:

Blonde prince of all Evil, / In the garb of a Saint: / A weaving, a weaving: / Thy magical Feint.

Boldly Stand Erect

Well…

Jewish books are for the Jews, / And Jew Messiahs too. / But if you’re not of Jewish blood, / How can they be for you?

David

• One intentionally good thing from this chapter (can include half-sentence): 
  • Section 7:  The Universal Church is no more; all we see of it now is jealous remnants.
• Weirdest thing from this chapter (good or bad):
  • Section 4: After all, the true proof of manhood is a splendid progeny; and it is a scientific axiom that the timid animal transmits timidity to its descendents.
    • Lamarckian evolution reference?
      
• OK, the really bad one
  • Section 2: Are all men really brethren?—Negro and Indian…
    • Section 3: “ ‘Do unto others as you would have others do to you,’ / No baser precept ever fell from the lips of a feeble Jew” and ending poem “Jewish books are for the Jews, / And Jew Messiahs too” are also strong contenders.

Jack

• One intentionally good thing from this chapter (can include half-sentence)
  • Section 1: As far as Sociology is concerned, We must abandon our reason, or abandon Christ. 
    • Mine is actually the first sentence in Chapter 2. I mean, once again, on its face it is what every Satanist thinks. We live by science and reason. And reason dictates you must abandon the concept of god. 
• Weirdest thing from this chapter (good or bad)
  • Section 4: If men lived “like brothers” and had no powerful enemies (neighbors) to contend with…truly what a festering ‘hell fenced in’ globe this world would be”
    • This one bothered me because it is the exact opposite of reality. Without wars, rivalry, competition and conflict with your neighbors, that sounds like nirvana! Having to need all that to feel important is just a sad, miserable existence. 
• OK, the really bad one
  • [empty]

Sai

• One intentionally good thing from this chapter (can include half-sentence)
  • Section7 : “ Has not mankind, had sufficient experience of what politicians are? – Those black hearted creeping thieves and frauds…Curses be upon you, o ye politicians, and upon all those who advocate increasing your prerogatives!”
    • A BANGER
• Weirdest thing from this chapter (good or bad)
  • Section1 : “He (Christ) glorifies – all that is self-reliant and heroic
    • Uhhhh…. Isn’t that what Desmond is about?
• “During the three years of Christ Jesus’ peripatetic trampings he never SAID anything that had not been better said a thousand times before by dervishes, spell-binders and Mahatmas. Neither did He DO anything that had not previously been done better by the jugglers and wonder-workers of Egypt, India and Assyria.”
  • So this harping on Indians is interesting because I’ve heard this weird obsession with some Nazis and Indians before in informal contexts and…it’s jarring bc they hate us, but admire us. Also is this establishing Jewish people and/or Christians as lower than CERTAIN POC…???
• OK, the really bad one
  • Section 2: “ all ye are bred the room“ are all men really brethren? Negro and Indian, blackfellows, Kalmuck, and Coolie, the well-born and the base-bred…’ goes on with slurs…
    • There’s too much in my notes to even put here….

Felo

• One intentionally good thing from this chapter (can include half-sentence)
  • “To make an idol of a book, / Is poison for the brain”
  • Section 4: “The Executive who sells his people into bondage is a Public Enemy, whether he be an elective Monarch or a hereditary King… Therefore, every man’s hand should be uplifted against him.”
• Weirdest thing from this chapter (good or bad)
  • Section 1: “Like the Siamese twins, Gods and Governments are inextricably bound together; so much so indeed, that if you kill one, the other cannot live. Hence the open or secret alliance, that has always existed between the politician and the priest.”

Diderot said it better. “Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”

• The bit in section 11 where he rages against having to wear clothes. I don’t know whether I even necessarily disagree with his point, but it’s just so silly
• OK, the really bad one
  • Section 2: “Are all men really brethren?” This might be the most “mask off” he’s been so far. …untill we get to the end of Section 4

Stuff plagiarized for The Satanic Bible

MIR 1927 Chapter / Section #

Might Is Right

The Satanic Bible

TSB Book of Satan

Chapter II Section 4	‘Love one another’ you say is the supreme law, but what power made it so? — Upon what rational authority does the Gospel of Love rest? — Is it even possible to practice, and what would result from its universal application to active affairs? Why should I not hate mine enemies, and hunt them down like the wild beasts that they are? Again I ask, why? If I ‘love’ them does that not place me at their mercy?	“Love one another” it has been said is the supreme law, but what power made it so? Upon what rational authority does the gospel of love rest? Why should I not hate mine enemies – if I “love” them does that not place me at their mercy?	Book III No. 1
Chapter II Section 4	Is it natural for enemies to ‘do good’ unto each other and, what is ‘good’?	Is it natural for enemies to do good unto each other – and WHAT IS GOOD?	Book III No. 2
Chapter II Section 4	Can the torn and bloody victim ‘love’ the blood-splashed jaws that rend it limb from limb?	Can the torn and bloody victim “love” the blood-splashed jaws that rend him limb from limb?	Book III No. 3
Chapter II Section 4	Are we not all predatory animals by instinct? If humans ceased wholly from preying upon each other, could they continue to exist?	Are we not all predatory animals by instinct? If humans ceased wholly from preying upon each other, could they continue to exist?	Book III No. 4
–	not found	Is not “lust and carnal desire” a more truthful term to describe “love” when applied to the continuance of the race? Is not the “love” of the fawning scriptures simply a euphemism for sexual activity, or was the “great teacher” a glorifier of eunuchs?	Book III No. 5
Chapter II Section 4	‘Love your enemies and do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you,’ is the despicable philosophy of the spaniel that rolls upon its back, when kicked.	Love your enemies and do good to them that hate and use you – is this not the despicable philosophy of the spaniel that rolls upon its back when kicked?	Book III No. 6
Chapter II Section 4	But hate your enemies with a whole heart, and if a man smite you on one cheek, smash him down; smite him hip and thigh, for self-preservation is the highest law.	Hate your enemies with a whole heart, and if a man smite you on one cheek, SMASH him on the other!; smite him hip and thigh, for self-preservation is the highest law!	Book III No. 7
Chapter II Section 4	He who turns the ‘other cheek’ is a cowardly dog — a Christian dog.	He who turns the other cheek is a cowardly dog!	Book III No. 8
Chapter II Section 4	Give blow for blow, scorn for scorn, doom for doom, with compound interest liberally added thereunto. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, aye four-fold, a hundredfold. Make yourself a Terror to your adversary and when he goeth his way, he will possess much additional wisdom to ruminate over. Thus shall you make yourself respected in all the walks of life, and your spirit — your immortal spirit — shall live, not in an intangible paradise, but in the brains and thews of your aggressive and unconquerable sons.	Give blow for blow, scorn for scorn, doom for doom – with compound interest liberally added thereunto! Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, aye four-fold, a hundred-fold! Make yourself a Terror to your adversary, and when he goeth his way, he will possess much additional wisdom to ruminate over. Thus shall you make yourself respected in all the walks of life, and your spirit – your immortal spirit – shall live, not in an intangible paradise, but in the brains and sinews of those whose respect you have gained.	Book III No. 9

Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Strong for they shall possess the earth — Cursed are the weak for they shall inherit the yoke.	Blessed are the strong, for they shall possess the earth – Cursed are the weak, for they shall inherit the yoke!	Book V No. 1
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Powerful for they shall be reverenced among men — Cursed are the Feeble for they shall be blotted out.	Blessed are the powerful, for they shall be reverenced among men – Cursed are the feeble, for they shall be blotted out!	Book V No. 2
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Bold for they shall be masters of the world — Cursed are the Humble for they shall be trodden under hoofs.	Blessed are the bold, for they shall be masters of the world – Cursed are the righteously humble, for they shall be trodden under cloven hoofs!	Book V No. 3
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Victorious for victory is the basis of Right — Cursed are the vanquished for they shall be vassals for ever.	Blessed are the victorious, for victory is the basis of right – Cursed are the vanquished, for they shall be vassals forever!	Book V No. 4
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the iron-handed, the unfit shall flee before them — Cursed are the haters of battle, subjugation is their portion.	Blessed are the iron-handed, for the unfit shall flee before them – Cursed are the poor in spirit, for they shall be spat upon!	Book V No. 5
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Death-defiant, their days shall be long in the land — Cursed are the Feeble-brained, for they shall perish amidst plenty.	Blessed are the death-defiant, for their days shall be long in the land – Cursed are the gazers toward a richer life beyond the grave, for they shall perish amidst plenty!	Book V No. 6
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the destroyers of False-hope, they are true Messiahs — Cursed are the God- adorers, they shall be as shorn sheep.	Blessed are the destroyers of false hope, for they are the true Messiahs – Cursed are the god-adorers, for they shall be shorn sheep!	Book V No. 7
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the Valiant for they shall obtain great treasure — Cursed are the believers in Good and Evil for they are frightened by shadows.	Blessed are the valiant, for they shall obtain great treasure – Cursed are the believers in good and evil, for they are frightened by shadows!	Book V No. 8
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are they who believe in Nothing — never shall it terrorize their minds — Cursed are the ‘lambs of God,’ they shall be bled ‘whiter than snow’.	Blessed are those that believe in what is best for them, for never shall their minds be terrorized – Cursed are the “lambs of God”, for they shall be bled whiter than snow!	Book V No. 9
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed is the man who hath powerful enemies, they shall make him a hero — Cursed is he who “doeth good” unto others, he shall be despised.	Blessed is the man who has a sprinkling of enemies, for they shall make him a hero – Cursed is he who doeth good unto others who sneer upon him in return, for he shall be despised!	Book V No. 10
Chapter II Section 12	Blessed are the mighty-minded for they shall ride the whirl-winds — Cursed are they who teach Lies for Truth, and Truth for Lies, for they are — abomination.	Blessed are the mighty-minded, for they shall ride the whirlwinds – Cursed are they who teach lies for truth and truth for lies, for they are an abomination!	Book V No. 11
Chapter II Section 12	Thrice cursed are the Vile for they shall serve and suffer.	Thrice cursed are the weak whose insecurity makes them vile, for they shall serve and suffer!	Book V No. 12