BENEDICT DE SPINOZA: Theological-Political Treatise

chapter 3
On the vocation of the Hebrews, and whether the
prophetic gift was peculiar to them
[1] True joy and happiness lie in the simple enjoyment of what is good
and not in the kind of false pride that enjoys happiness because others are
excluded from it. Anyone who thinks that he is happy because his situation
is better than other people’s or because he is happier and more fortunate
than they, knows nothing of true happiness and joy, and the pleasure he
derives from his attitude is either plain silly or spiteful and malicious. For
example, a person’s true joy and felicity lie solely in his wisdom and
knowledge of truth, not in being wiser than others or in others’ being
without knowledge of truth, since this does not increase his own wisdom
which is his true felicity. Anyone therefore who takes pleasure in that way is
enjoying another’s misfortune, and to that extent is envious and malign,
and does not know true wisdom or the peace of the true life.
When therefore Scripture states that God chose the Hebrews for
himself above other nations (see Deuteronomy 10.15) so as to encourage
them to obey the law, and is near to them and not to others (Deuteronomy
4.4^7), and has laid down good laws solely for them and not for
others (Deuteronomy 4.2), and has made himself known to them alone,
in preference to others (see Deuteronomy 4.32), and so on, Scripture is
merely speaking according to their understanding. As we showed in the
last chapter,andasMosesalsotesti¢es(see Deuteronomy 9.6^7), they did 45
not know true happiness. They would certainly have been no less felicitous
if God had called all men equally to salvation; and God would not be
less gracious to them for being equally good to others.Their laws would
not have been less just, nor they themselves less wise, even if those laws
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