{"id":"01KG8AKQ1A66ENFECN6YABWYCF","cid":"bafkreihmwctgatwm2fdgkx6wv5vt73r73papb3j7wkc7ok5fk3rvkec54m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4180,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:09.927Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","start_line":4130,"text":"faculties, high Oro is but what a man would be, infinitely magnified.\r\nLet us aspire to all things. Are we babes in the woods, to be scared by\r\nthe shadows of the trees? What shall appall us? If eagles gaze at the\r\nsun, may not men at the gods?”\r\n\r\n“For one,” said Media, “you may gaze at me freely. Gaze on. But talk\r\nnot of my kinsmen so fluently, Babbalanja. Return to your argument.”\r\n\r\n“I go back then, my lord. By implication, you have granted, that in\r\ntimes past the future was foreknown of Oro; hence, in times past, the\r\nfuture must have been foreordained. But in all things Oro is immutable.\r\nWherefore our own future is foreknown and foreordained. Now, if things\r\nforeordained concerning nations have in times past been revealed to\r\nthem previous to their taking place, then something similar may be\r\npresumable concerning individual men now living. That is to say, out of\r\nall the events destined to befall any one man, it is not impossible\r\nthat previous knowledge of some one of these events might\r\nsupernaturally come to him. Say, then, it is revealed to me, that ten\r\ndays hence I shall, of my own choice, fall upon my javelin; when the\r\ntime comes round, could I refrain from suicide? Grant the strongest\r\npresumable motives to the act; grant that, unforewarned, I would slay\r\nmyself outright at the time appointed: yet, foretold of it, and\r\nresolved to test the decree to the uttermost, under such circumstances,\r\nI say, would it be possible for me not to kill myself? If possible,\r\nthen predestination is not a thing absolute; and Heaven is wise to keep\r\nsecret from us those decrees, whose virtue consists in secrecy. But if\r\nnot possible, then that suicide would not be mine, but Oro’s. And, by\r\nconsequence, not only that act, but all my acts, are Oro’s. In sum, my\r\nlord, he who believes that in times past, prophets have prophesied, and\r\ntheir prophecies have been fulfilled; when put to it, inevitably must\r\nallow that every man now living is an irresponsible being.”\r\n\r\n“In sooth, a very fine argument very finely argued,” said Media. “You\r\nhave done marvels, Babbalanja. But hark ye, were I so disposed, I could\r\ndeny you all over, premises and conclusions alike. And furthermore, my\r\ncogent philosopher, had you published that anarchical dogma among my\r\nsubjects in Oro, I had silenced you by my spear-headed scepter, instead\r\nof my uplifted finger.”\r\n\r\n“Then, all thanks and all honor to your generosity, my lord, in\r\ngranting us the immunities you did at the outset of this voyage. But,\r\nmy lord, permit me one word more. Is not Oro omnipresent—absolutely\r\nevery where?”\r\n\r\n“So you mortals teach, Babbalanja.”\r\n\r\n“But so do they _mean_, my lord. Often do we Mardians stick to terms\r\nfor ages, yet truly apply not their meanings.”\r\n\r\n“Well, Oro is every where. What now?”\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJRBVMTTT67SE8KFJCTVQ","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKPBK3HFXAH0Q7SE6N6SJ","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKQ1A7NM4HNADA90AHQSM","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:13.354Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:21.967Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}