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representative。
And so have not only outward circumstances changed； but the very human
attitudes are now different。 In the mind of modern man a feeling；
distasteful to the antique pact； has evolved。 … Undoubtedly； in
extreme cases and under the pressure of brutal necessity I may；
momentarily； sign a blank check。 But； never； if I understand what I
am doing； will I sign away in good faith the complete and permanent
abandonment of myself： it would be against conscience and against
honor； which two possessions are not to be alienated。 My honor and my
conscience are not to go out of my keeping； I am their sole guardian
and depositary； I would not even entrust them to my father。 … Both
these terms are recent and express two conceptions unknown to the
ancients；＇6＇ both being of profound import and of infinite reach。
Through them； like a bud separated from its stem and taking root
apart； the individual has separated himself from the primitive body；
clan； family； caste or city in which he has lived indistinguishable
and lost in the crowd； he has ceased to be an organ and appendage； he
has become a personality。 … The first of these concepts is of
Christian origin the second of feudal origin； both； following each
other and conjoined； measure the enormous distance which separates an
antique soul from a modern soul。＇7＇
Alone； in the presence of God； the Christian has felt melting； like
wax； all the ties binding him to his group； this because he is in
front of the Great Judge； and because this infallible judge sees all
souls as they are； not confusedly and in masses； but clearly； each by
itself。 At the bar of His tribunal no one is answerable for another；
each answers for himself alone； one is responsible only for one's own
acts。 But those acts are of infinite consequence； for the soul；
redeemed by the blood of a God； is of immeasurable value； hence；
according as it has or has not profited by the divine sacrifice； so
will the reward or punishment be infinite； at the final judgment； an
eternity of torment or bliss opens before it。 All other interests
vanish alongside of a vision of such vastness。 Thenceforth；
righteousness is the most serious of all aims； not in the eyes of man；
but of God and again； day after day； the soul renews within itself
that tragic questioning in which the Judge interrogates and the sinner
responds。… Through this dialogue； which has been going on for eighteen
centuries； and which is yet to continue； conscience has grown more and
more sensitive； and man has conceived the idea of absolute justice。
Whether this is vested in an all…powerful master； or whether it is a
self…existent truth； like mathematical truths； in no way diminishes
its sacredness nor； consequently； from its authority。 It commands
with a superior voice and its commands must be obeyed； irrespective of
cost： there are strict duties to which every man is rigorously bound。
No pledge may relieve him of these duties； if not fulfilled because he
has given contrary pledges he is no less culpable on this account； and
besides； he is culpable for having pledged himself； the pledging of
himself to crimes was in itself a crime。 His fault thus appears to
himself twofold； and the inward prick galls him twice instead of once。
Hence； the more sensitive the conscience； the more loath it is to give
up； it rejects any promise which may lead to wrong…doing； and refuses
to give to give others any right of imposing remorse。
At the same time another sentiment has arisen； not less valuable； but
hardier； more energetic； more human and more effective。 On his own in
his stronghold； the feudal chieftain； at the head of his band； could
depend on nobody but himself； for a public force did not then exist。
It was necessary that he should protect himself； and； indeed； over…
protect himself。 Whoever； in the anarchical and military society in
which he lived； allowed the slightest encroachment； or left unpunished
the slightest approach to insult； was regarded as weak or craven and
at once became a prey； one had to be proud…spirited； if not； one
risked death。 This was not difficult either。 Sole proprietor and
nearly absolute sovereign； with neither equals or peers on his domain；
here he was unique being； superior and incomparable to every one
else。＇8＇ On that subject revolved his long monologue during his hours
of gloomy solitude； which soliloquy has lasted for nine centuries。＇9＇
Thus in his own eyes； his person and all that depends on him are
inviolable； rather than tolerate the slightest infringement on his
prerogatives he will dare all and sacrifice all。＇10＇ A sensitive pride
（orgueil exalté） is the best of sentinels to protect a right； for； not
only does it mount guard over the right to preserve it； but； again；
and especially； for its own satisfaction； the imagination has
conceived a personality appropriate for his rank； and this character
the man imposes on himself as his role。 Henceforth； he not only
forces the respect of others； but he respects himself； he possesses
the sentiment of honor； a generous self…esteem which makes him regard
himself as noble and incapable of doing anything mean。 In
discriminating between his actions； he may err； fashion or vanity may
sometimes lead him too far； or lead him astray； either on the path of
recklessness or on that of puerility； his point of honor may be fixed
in the wrong direction。 But； in sum； and thanks to this being a fixed
point； he will maintain himself erect even under an absolute monarchy；
under a Philip II。 in Spain； under a Louis XIV。 in France； under a
Frederick II。 in Prussia。 From the feudal baron or gentleman of the
court to the modern gentleman； this tradition persists and descends
from story to story down to lowest social substratum： to…day； every
man of spirit； the bourgeois； the peasant； the workman； has his point
of honor like the noble。 He likewise； in spite of the social
encroachments that gain on him； reserves to himself his private nook；
a sort of moral stronghold wherein he preserves his faiths； his
opinions； his affections； his obligations as son； husband and father；
it is the sacred treasury of his innermost being。 This stronghold
belongs to him alone； no one； even in the name of the public； has a
right to enter it； to surrender it would be cowardice； rather than
give up its keys he would die in the breach；＇11＇ when this militant
sentiment of honor is enlisted on the side of conscience it becomes
virtue itself。＇12＇ … Such are； in these days； （1870） the two central
themes of our European morality。＇13＇ Through the former the
individual recognizes duties from which nothing can exempt him；
through the latter； he claims rights of which nothing can deprive him：
our civilization has vegetated from these two roots； and still
vegetates。 Consider the depth and the extent of the historical soil
in which they penetrate； and you may judge of their vigor。 Consider
the height and unlimited gr