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you into the abyss of Motion； the force that organizes Number。 If I
tell you that the Universe is naught else than Number and Motion； you
would see at once that we speak two different languages。 I understand
them both； you understand neither。
〃Suppose I add that Motion and Number are engendered by the Word；
namely the supreme Reason of Seers and Prophets who in the olden time
heard the Breath of God beneath which Saul fell to the earth。 That
Word； you scoff at it； you men； although you well know that all
visible works； societies； monuments； deeds； passions； proceed from the
breath of your own feeble word； and that without that word you would
resemble the African gorilla； the nearest approach to man； the Negro。
You believe firmly in Number and in Motion； a force and a result both
inexplicable； incomprehensible； to the existence of which I may apply
the logical dilemma which； as we have seen； prevents you from
believing in God。 Powerful reasoner that you are； you do not need that
I should prove to you that the Infinite must everywhere be like unto
Itself； and that； necessarily； it is One。 God alone is Infinite； for
surely there cannot be two Infinities； two Ones。 If； to make use of
human terms； anything demonstrated to you here below seems to you
infinite； be sure that within it you will find some one aspect of God。
But to continue。
〃You have appropriated to yourself a place in the Infinite of Number；
you have fitted it to your own proportions by creating （if indeed you
did create） arithmetic； the basis on which all things rest； even your
societies。 Just as Numberthe only thing in which your self…styled
atheists believeorganized physical creations； so arithmetic； in the
employ of Number； organized the moral world。 This numeration must be
absolute； like all else that is true in itself； but it is purely
relative； it does not exist absolutely； and no proof can be given of
its reality。 In the first place； though Numeration is able to take
account of organized substances； it is powerless in relation to
unorganized forces； the ones being finite and the others infinite。 The
man who can conceive the Infinite by his intelligence cannot deal with
it in its entirety； if he could； he would be God。 Your Numeration；
applying to things finite and not to the Infinite； is therefore true
in relation to the details which you are able to perceive； and false
in relation to the Whole； which you are unable to perceive。 Though
Nature is like unto herself in the organizing force or in her
principles which are infinite； she is not so in her finite effects。
Thus you will never find in Nature two objects identically alike。 In
the Natural Order two and two never make four； to do so； four exactly
similar units must be had； and you know how impossible it is to find
two leaves alike on the same tree； or two trees alike of the same
species。 This axiom of your numeration； false in visible nature； is
equally false in the invisible universe of your abstractions； where
the same variance takes place in your ideas； which are the things of
the visible world extended by means of their relations； so that the
variations here are even more marked than elsewhere。 In fact； all
being relative to the temperament； strength； habits； and customs of
individuals； who never resemble each other； the smallest objects take
the color of personal feelings。 For instance； man has been able to
create units and to give an equal weight and value to bits of gold。
Well； take the ducat of the rich man and the ducat of the poor man to
a money…changer and they are rated exactly equal； but to the mind of
the thinker one is of greater importance than the other； one
represents a month of comfort； the other an ephemeral caprice。 Two and
two； therefore； only make four through a false conception。
〃Again： fraction does not exist in Nature； where what you call a
fragment is a finished whole。 Does it not often happen （have you not
many proofs of it？） that the hundredth part of a substance is stronger
than what you term the whole of it？ If fraction does not exist in the
Natural Order； still less shall we find it in the Moral Order； where
ideas and sentiments may be as varied as the species of the Vegetable
kingdom and yet be always whole。 The theory of fractions is therefore
another signal instance of the servility of your mind。
〃Thus Number； with its infinite minuteness and its infinite expansion；
is a power whose weakest side is known to you； but whose real import
escapes your perception。 You have built yourself a hut in the Infinite
of numbers； you have adorned it with hieroglyphics scientifically
arranged and painted； and you cry out； 'All is here！'
〃Let us pass from pure； unmingled Number to corporate Number。 Your
geometry establishes that a straight line is the shortest way from one
point to another； but your astronomy proves that God has proceeded by
curves。 Here； then； we find two truths equally proved by the same
science；one by the testimony of your senses reinforced by the
telescope； the other by the testimony of your mind； and yet the one
contradicts the other。 Man； liable to err； affirms one； and the Maker
of the worlds； whom； so far； you have not detected in error；
contradicts it。 Who shall decide between rectalinear and curvilinear
geometry？ between the theory of the straight line and that of the
curve？ If； in His vast work； the mysterious Artificer； who knows how
to reach His ends miraculously fast； never employs a straight line
except to cut off an angle and so obtain a curve； neither does man
himself always rely upon it。 The bullet which he aims direct proceeds
by a curve； and when you wish to strike a certain point in space； you
impel your bombshell along its cruel parabola。 None of your men of
science have drawn from this fact the simple deduction that the Curve
is the law of the material worlds and the Straight line that of the
Spiritual worlds； one is the theory of finite creations； the other the
theory of the infinite。 Man； who alone in the world has a knowledge of
the Infinite； can alone know the straight line； he alone has the sense
of verticality placed in a special organ。 A fondness for the creations
of the curve would seem to be in certain men an indication of the
impurity of their nature still conjoined to the material substances
which engender us； and the love of great souls for the straight line
seems to show in them an intuition of heaven。 Between these two lines
there is a gulf fixed like that between the finite and the infinite；
between matter and spirit； between man and the idea； between motion
and the object moved； between the creature and God。 Ask Love the
Divine to grant you his wings and you can cross that gulf。 Beyond it
begins the revelation of the Word。
〃No part of those things which you call material is without its own
meaning； lines are the boundaries of solid parts and imply a force of
action which you suppress in your formulas；thus rende