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rather than Society for Man。 There is a perpetual struggle going on
between the Individual and the Social system which insists on using
him； while he is endeavoring to use it to his own profit； whereas； in
former days； man； really more free； was also more loyal to the public
weal。 The round in which men struggle in these days has been
insensibly widened； the soul which can grasp it as a whole will ever
be a magnificent exception； for； as a general thing； in morals as in
physics； impulsion loses in intensity what it gains in extension。
Society can not be based on exceptions。 Man in the first instance was
purely and simply； father； his heart beat warmly； concentrated in the
one ray of Family。 Later； he lived for a clan； or a small community；
hence the great historical devotions of Greece and Rome。 After that he
was a man of caste or of a religion； to maintain the greatness of
which he often proved himself sublime； but by that time the field of
his interests became enlarged by many intellectual regions。 In our
day； his life is attached to that of a vast country； sooner or later
his family will be； it is predicted； the entire universe。
Will this moral cosmopolitanism； the hope of Christian Rome； prove to
be only a sublime error？ It is so natural to believe in the
realization of a noble vision； in the Brotherhood of Man。 But； alas！
the human machine does not have such divine proportions。 Souls that
are vast enough to grasp a range of feelings bestowed on great men
only will never belong to either fathers of families or simple
citizens。 Some physiologists have thought that as the brain enlarges
the heart narrows； but they are mistaken。 The apparent egotism of men
who bear a science； a nation； a code of laws in their bosom is the
noblest of passions； it is； as one may say； the maternity of the
masses； to give birth to new peoples； to produce new ideas they must
unite within their mighty brains the breasts of woman and the force of
God。 The history of such men as Innocent the Third and Peter the
Great； and all great leaders of their age and nation will show； if
need be； in the highest spheres the same vast thought of which
Troubert was made the representative in the quiet depths of the
Cloister of Saint…Gatien。
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy。
Birotteau； Abbe Francois Troubert； Abbe Hyacinthe
The Lily of the Valley The Member for Arcis
Cesar Birotteau
Villenoix； Pauline Salomon de
Bourbonne； De Louis Lambert
Madame Firmiani A Seaside Tragedy
Listomere； Baronne de
Cesar Birotteau
The Muse of the Department
End