THE NEW WINE
205
chain
of events , which may
be expressed
under
the
symbolization
of A , B , A , B , A , B , the ultimate
issue
being the triumph
of Agnosticism .
All the wisest from
all
ages with
all
their
wisdom
finally have had
to
utter
“
We Know Not
,"
and write
"
ignoramus
"
across
their
life's work
.
Yet
is
not this
infallibly
as
it
must
be
,
if
we
search
for
an
absolute
truth
by
relative
means
;
we cannot
prove
that
it
does
not exist
,
any more
than
we can
prove
that
it
does
;
for
if
we
dare
to
attempt
to
tread
so
thorny
a
path
with the utmost
success
the land we reach
is
but
the
land
of
Weissnichtwo
.
The world
does
not
exist
outside
me
.
I
am
the
world
;
but what am
I
?
Herein
lies
the greatest
of
riddles
.
This question
,
this gigantic
“
What
?"
Crowley sets
forth lucidly enough
in
“
Pentecost
”
and
“
Ascension
Day
."
He writes
:
To calculate
one hour's
result
I
find surpassing
difficult
;
One year's
effect
,
one moment's
cause
;
What mind could
estimate
such laws
?
Who then
(
much more
!)
may act aright
Judged
by
and
in
ten centuries
'
sight
?!
He shows
us
how utterly inadequate
are our powers
,
how utterly absurd
it
is
of
us
to
hanker after infinite
ideals with our finite
minds
.
As
a
child
cries for the
moon
,
so
do
we cry
for our ideal
,
ultimate
,
absolute
,
call
it
what you will
;
the First
Cause
in
Philosophy
,
the God
of
Religion
.
In
the end our finite understand
ings burst like bubbles
.
The
rampant
positivism
of
to
-
day
is
so
drunk
on
I
Sword
of
Song
,
Ascension
Day
,
vol
.
ii,
p
.
155
.