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entirely； it gives itself up to the reader and hence it takes
possession of him。 Resistance is impossible； the contagion is too
overpowering。 A creature of air and flame； the most excitable that
ever lived； composed of more ethereal and more throbbing atoms than
those of other men； none is there whose mental machinery is more
delicate； nor whose equilibrium is at the same time more shifting and
more exact。 He may be compared to those accurate scales that are
affected by a breath； but alongside of which every other measuring
apparatus is incorrect and clumsy。 … But； in this delicate balance
only the lightest weights； the finest specimen must be placed； on this
condition only it rigorously weighs all substances； such is Voltaire；
involuntarily； through the demands of his intellect； and in his own
behalf as much as in that of his readers。 An entire philosophy； ten
volumes of theology； an abstract science； a special library； an
important branch of erudition； of human experience and invention； is
thus reduced in his hands to a phrase or to a stanza。 From the
enormous mass of riven or compact scorioe he extracts whatever is
essential； a grain of gold or of copper as a specimen of the rest；
presenting this to us in its most convenient and most manageable form；
in a simile； in a metaphor； in an epigram that becomes a proverb。 In
this no ancient or modern writer approaches him； in simplification and
in popularization he has not his equal in the world。 Without
departing from the usual conversational tone； and as if in sport； he
puts into little portable phrases the greatest discoveries and
hypotheses of the human mind； the theories of Descartes； Malebranche；
Leibnitz； Locke and Newton； the diverse religions of antiquity and of
modern times； every known system of physics； physiology； geology；
morality； natural law； and political economy；＇21＇ in short； all the
generalized conceptions in every order of knowledge to which humanity
had attained in the eighteenth century。 … Voltaire's inclination
is so strong that it carries him too far； he belittles great things by
rendering them accessible。 Religion； legend； ancient popular poesy；
the spontaneous creations of instinct； the vague visions of primitive
tunes are not thus to be converted into small current coin； they are
not subjects of amusing and lively conversation。 A piquant witticism
is not an expression of all this； but simply a travesty。 But how
charming to Frenchmen； and to people of the world！ And what reader can
abstain from a book containing all human knowledge summed up in
piquant witticisms？ For it is really a summary of human knowledge； no
important idea； as far as I can see； being wanting to a man whose
breviary consisted of the 〃Dialogues；〃 the 〃Dictionary；〃 and the
〃Novels。〃 Read them over and over five or six times； and we then form
some idea of their vast contents。 Not only do views of the world and
of man abound in them； but again they swarm with positive and even
technical details； thousands of little facts scattered throughout；
multiplied and precise details on astronomy； physics； geography；
physiology； statistics； and on the history of all nations； the
innumerable and personal experiences of a man who has himself read the
texts； handled the instruments； visited the countries； taken part in
the industries； and associated with the persons； and who； in the
precision of his marvelous memory； in the liveliness of his ever…
blazing imagination； revives or sees； as with the eye itself；
everything that he states and as he states it。 It is a unique talent；
the rarest in a classic era； the most precious of all； since it
consists in the display of actual beings； not through the gray veil of
abstractions； but in themselves； as they are in nature and in history；
with their visible color and forms； with their accessories and
surroundings in time and space； a peasant at his cart； a Quaker in his
meeting…house； a German baron in his castle； Dutchmen； Englishmen；
Spaniards； Italians； Frenchmen； in their homes；＇22＇ a great lady； a
designing woman； provincials； soldiers； prostitutes；＇23＇ and the rest
of the human medley； on every step of the social ladder； each an
abridgment of his kind and in the passing light of a sudden flash。
For； the most striking feature of this style is the prodigious
rapidity； the dazzling and bewildering stream of novelties； ideas；
images； events； landscapes； narratives； dialogues； brief little
pictures； following each other rapidly as if in a magic…lantern；
withdrawn almost as soon as presented by the impatient magician who；
in the twinkling of an eye； girdles the world and； constantly
accumulating one on top of the other； history； fable； truth and fancy；
the present time and times past； frames his work now with a parade as
absurd as that of a country fair； and now with a fairy scene more
magnificent than all those of the opera。 To amuse and be amused； 〃to
diffuse his spirit in every imaginable mode； like a glowing furnace
into which all substances are thrown by turns to evolve every species
of flame； sparkle and odor；〃 is his first instinct。 〃Life；〃 he says
again； 〃is an infant to be rocked until it goes to sleep。〃 Never was a
mortal more excited and more exciting； more incapable of silence and
more hostile to ennui；＇24＇ better endowed for conversation； more
evidently destined to become the king of a sociable century in which；
with six pretty stories； thirty witticisms and some confidence in
himself； a man could obtain a social passport and the certainty of
being everywhere welcome。 Never was there a writer possessing to so
high a degree and in such abundance every qualification of the
conversationalist； the art of animating and of enlivening discourse；
the talent for giving pleasure to people of society。 Perfectly
refined when he chose to be； confining himself without inconvenience
to strict decorum； of finished politeness； of exquisite gallantry；
deferential without being servile； fond without being mawkish；＇25＇ and
always at his ease； it suffices that he should be before the public；
to fall naturally into the proper tone； the discreet ways； the winning
half…smile of the well…bred man who； introducing his readers into his
mind； does them the honors of the place。 Are you on familiar terms
with him； and of the small private circle in which he freely unbends
himself； with closed doors？ You never tire of laughing。 With a sure
hand and without seeming to touch it； he abruptly tears aside the veil
hiding a wrong； a prejudice； a folly； in short； any human idolatry。
The real figure； misshapen； odious or dull； suddenly appears in this
instantaneous flash； we shrug our shoulders。 This is the risibility
of an agile； triumphant reason。 We have another in that of the gay
temperament； of the droll improvisator； of the man keeping youthful； a
child； a boy even to the day of his death； and who 〃gambols on his own
tombstone。〃 He is fond of caricat