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glory becomes his torment； his imagination is his cruelest enemy。
The injured workman； the poor mother in childbed； the prostitute
who has fallen ill； the foundling； the infirm and agedeven vice
and crime here find a refuge and charity； but the world is
merciless to the inventor； to the man who thinks。 Here everything
must show an immediate and practical result。 Fruitless attempts
are mocked at； though they may lead to the greatest discoveries；
the deep and untiring study that demands long concentrations of
every faculty is not valued here。 The State might pay talent as it
pays the bayonet； but it is afraid of being taken in by mere
cleverness； as if genius could be counterfeited for any length of
time。
〃Ah； my dear uncle； when monastic solitude was destroyed； uprooted
from its home at the foot of mountains； under green and silent
shade； asylums ought to have been provided for those suffering
souls who； by an idea； promote the progress of nations or prepare
some new and fruitful development of science。
〃September 20th。
〃The love of study brought me hither； as you know。 I have met
really learned men； amazing for the most part； but the lack of
unity in scientific work almost nullifies their efforts。 There is
no Head of instruction or of scientific research。 At the Museum a
professor argues to prove that another in the Rue Saint…Jacques
talks nonsense。 The lecturer at the College of Medicine abuses him
of the College de France。 When I first arrived； I went to hear an
old Academician who taught five hundred youths that Corneille was
a haughty and powerful genius； Racine； elegiac and graceful；
Moliere； inimitable； Voltaire； supremely witty； Bossuet and
Pascal； incomparable in argument。 A professor of philosophy may
make a name by explaining how Plato is Platonic。 Another
discourses on the history of words； without troubling himself
about ideas。 One explains Aeschylus； another tells you that
communes were communes； and neither more nor less。 These original
and brilliant discoveries； diluted to last several hours；
constitute the higher education which is to lead to giant strides
in human knowledge。
〃If the Government could have an idea； I should suspect it of
being afraid of any real superiority； which； once roused； might
bring Society under the yoke of an intelligent rule。 Then nations
would go too far and too fast； so professors are appointed to
produce simpletons。 How else can we account for a scheme devoid of
method or any notion of the future？
〃The /Institut/ might be the central government of the moral and
intellectual world； but it has been ruined lately by its
subdivision into separate academies。 So human science marches on；
without a guide； without a system； and floats haphazard with no
road traced out。
〃This vagueness and uncertainty prevails in politics as well as in
science。 In the order of nature means are simple； the end is grand
and marvelous； here in science as in government； the means are
stupendous； the end is mean。 The force which in nature proceeds at
an equal pace； and of which the sum is constantly being added to
itselfthe A ＋ A from which everything is producedis
destructive in society。 Politics； at the present time； place human
forces in antagonism to neutralize each other； instead of
combining them to promote their action to some definite end。
〃Looking at Europe alone； from Caesar to Constantine； from the
puny Constantine to the great Attila； from the Huns to
Charlemagne； from Charlemagne to Leo X。； from Leo X。； to Philip
II。； from Philip II。 to Louis XIV。； from Venice to England； from
England to Napoleon； from Napoleon to England； I see no fixed
purpose in politics； its constant agitation has led to no
progress。
〃Nations leave witnesses to their greatness in monuments； and to
their happiness in the welfare of individuals。 Are modern
monuments as fine as those of the ancients？ I doubt it。 The arts；
which are the direct outcome of the individual； the products of
genius or of handicraft； have not advanced much。 The pleasures of
Lucullus were as good as those of Samuel Bernard； of Beaujon； or
of the King of Bavaria。 And then human longevity has diminished。
〃Thus； to those who will be candid； man is still the same； might
is his only law； and success his only wisdom。
〃Jesus Christ； Mahomet； and Luther only lent a different hue to
the arena in which youthful nations disport themselves。
〃No development of politics has hindered civilization； with its
riches； its manners； its alliance of the strong against the weak；
its ideas； and its delights； from moving from Memphis to Tyre；
from Tyre to Baalbek； from Tadmor to Carthage； from Carthage to
Rome； from Rome to Constantinople； from Constantinople to Venice；
from Venice to Spain； from Spain to Englandwhile no trace is
left of Memphis； of Tyre； of Carthage； of Rome； of Venice； or
Madrid。 The soul of those great bodies has fled。 Not one of them
has preserved itself from destruction； nor formulated this axiom：
When the effect produced ceases to be in a ratio to its cause；
disorganization follows。
〃The most subtle genius can discover no common bond between great
social facts。 No political theory has ever lasted。 Governments
pass away； as men do； without handing down any lesson； and no
system gives birth to a system better than that which came before
it。 What can we say about politics when a Government directly
referred to God perished in India and Egypt； when the rule of the
Sword and of the Tiara are past； when Monarchy is dying； when the
Government of the People has never been alive； when no scheme of
intellectual power as applied to material interests has ever
proved durable； and everything at this day remains to be done all
over again； as it has been at every period when man has turned to
cry out； 'I am in torment！'
〃The code； which is considered Napoleon's greatest achievement； is
the most Draconian work I know of。 Territorial subdivision carried
out to the uttermost； and its principle confirmed by the equal
division of property generally； must result in the degeneracy of
the nation and the death of the Arts and Sciences。 The land； too
much broken up； is cultivated only with cereals and small crops；
the forests； and consequently the rivers； are disappearing； oxen
and horses are no longer bred。 Means are lacking both for attack
and for resistance。 If we should be invaded； the people must be
crushed； it has lost its mainspring its leaders。 This is the
history of deserts！
〃Thus the science of politics has no definite principles； and it
can have no fixity； it is the spirit of the hour； the perpetual
application of strength proportioned to the necessities of the
moment。 The man who should foresee two centuries ahead would die
on the place of execution； loaded with the imprecations of the
mob； or elsewhich seems worsewould be lashed with the myriad
whips of ridicule。 Nations are but individuals； neither wiser nor