But I found the whole modern world running like a high tide against both my tendernesses; and the shock of that collision created two sudden and spontaneous sentiments, which I have had ever since and which, crude as they were, have since hardened into convictions.
First, I found the whole modern world talking scientific fatalism; saying that everything is as it must always have been, being unfolded without fault from the beginning.

The leaf on the tree is green because it could never have been anything else.

Now, the fairy-tale philosopher is glad that the leaf is green precisely because it might have been scarlet.

He feels as if it had turned green an instant before he looked at it.

He is pleased that snow is white on the strictly reasonable ground that it might have been black.