[Footnote 1:  This Introduction was published in the Swiss newspapers in December, 1917, with an episode of the novel and a note explaining the original title, L’Un contre Tous.  “This somewhat ironical name was suggested—­with a difference—­by La Boetie’s Le Contr’ Un; but it must not be supposed that the author entertained the extravagant idea of setting one man in opposition to all others; he only wishes to summon the personal conscience to the most urgent conflict of our time, the struggle against the herd-spirit.”]

This book is not written about the war, though the shadow of the war lies over it.  My theme is that the individual soul has been swallowed up and submerged in the soul of the multitude; and in my opinion such an event is of far greater importance to the future of the race than the passing supremacy of one nation.

I have left questions of policy in the background intentionally, as I think they should be reserved for special study.  No matter what causes may be assigned as the origins of the war, no matter what theses support them, nothing in the world can excuse the abdication of individual judgment before general opinion.

The universal development of democracies, vitiated by a fossilized survival, the outrageous “reason of State,” has led the mind of Europe to hold as an article of faith that there can be no higher ideal than to serve the community.  This community is then defined as the State.

I venture to say that he who makes himself the servant of a blind or blinded nation,—­and most of the states are in this condition at the present day,—­does not truly serve it but lowers both it and himself; for in general a few men, incapable of understanding the complexities of the people, force thoughts and acts upon them in harmony with their own passions and interests by means of the falsehoods of the press and the implacable machinery of a centralised government.  He who would be useful to others must first be free himself; for love itself has no value coming from a slave.

Independent minds and firm characters are what the world needs most today.  The death-like submission of the churches, the stifling intolerance of nations, the stupid unitarianism of socialists,—­by all these different roads we are returning to the gregarious life.  Man has slowly dragged himself out of the warm slime, but it seems as if the long effort has exhausted him; he is letting himself slip backward into the collective mind, and the choking breath of the pit already rises about him.  You who do not believe that the cycle of man is accomplished, you must rouse yourselves and dare to separate yourselves from the herd in which you are dragged along.  Every man worthy of the name should learn to stand alone, and do his own thinking, even in conflict with the whole world.  Sincere thought, even if it does run counter to that of others, is still a service to mankind; for humanity demands that those who love her should oppose, or if necessary rebel against her.  You will not serve her by flattery, by debasing your conscience and intelligence, but rather by defending their integrity from the abuse of power.  For these are some of her voices, and if you betray yourself you betray her also.