按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Yonder that of Hindostan or of the Mongolian； here that of the Semite
or the European； in our Europe that of the German； the Latin or the
Slave； in such a way that its contradictions； instead of condemning
it； justify it； its diversity producing its adaptation and its
adaptation producing benefits。 This is no barren formula。 A
sentiment of such grandeur； of such comprehensive and penetrating
insight； an idea by which Man； compassing the vastness and depth of
things； so greatly oversteps the ordinary limits of his mortal
condition； resembles an illumination； it is easily transformed into a
vision； it is never remote from ecstasy； it can express itself only
through symbols； it evokes divine figures。＇8＇Religion in its nature is
a metaphysical poem accompanied by faith。 Under this title it is
popular and efficacious； for； apart from an invisible select few； a
pure abstract idea is only an empty term； and truth； to be apparent；
must be clothed with a body。 It requires a form of worship； a legend；
and ceremonies in order to address the people； women； children； the
credulous； every one absorbed by daily cares； any understanding in
which ideas involuntarily translate themselves through imagery。 Owing
to this palpable form it is able to give its weighty support to the
conscience； to counterbalance natural egoism； to curb the mad onset of
brutal passions； to lead the will to abnegation and devotion； to tear
Man away from himself and place him wholly in the service of truth； or
of his kind； to form ascetics； martyrs； sisters of charity and
missionaries。 Thus； throughout society； religion becomes at once a
natural and precious instrumentality。 On the one hand men require it
for the contemplation of infinity and to live properly ； if it were
suddenly to be taken away from them their souls would be a mournful
void； and they would do greater injury to their neighbors。 Besides； it
would be vain to attempt to take it away from them； the hand raised
against it would encounter only its envelope； it would be repelled
after a sanguinary struggle； its germ lying too deep to be extirpated。
And when； at length； after religion and custom； we regard the
State； that is to say； the armed power possessing both physical force
and moral authority； we find for it an almost equally noble origin。 It
has； in Europe at least； from Russia to Portugal and from Norway to
the two Sicilies； in its origin and essence； a military foundation in
which heroism constitutes itself the champion of right。 Here and there
in the chaos of tribes and crumbling societies； some man has arisen
who； through his ascendancy； rallies around him a loyal band； driving
out intruders； overcoming brigands； re…establishing order； reviving
agriculture； founding a patrimony； and transmitting as property to his
descendants his office of hereditary justiciary and born general。
Through this permanent delegation a great public office is removed
from competition； fixed in one family； sequestered in safe hands；
thenceforth the nation possesses a vital center and each right obtains
a visible protector。 If the sovereign confines himself to his
traditional responsibilities； is restrained in despotic tendencies；
and avoids falling into egoism； he provides the country with the best
government of which the world has any knowledge。 Not alone is it the
most stable； capable of continuation； and the most suitable for
maintaining together a body of 20 or 30 million people； but again one
of the most noble because devotion dignifies both command and
obedience and； through the prolongation of military tradition；
fidelity and honor； from grade to grade； attaches the leader to his
duty and the soldier to his commander。 Such are the strikingly
valid claims of social traditions which we may； similar to an
instinct； consider as being a blind form of reason。 That which makes
it fully legitimate is that reason herself； to become efficient； is
obliged to borrow its form。 A doctrine becomes inspiring only through
a blind medium。 To become of practical use； to take upon itself the
government of souls； to be transformed into a spring of action； it
must be deposited in minds given up to systematic belief； of fixed
habits； of established tendencies； of domestic traditions and
prejudice； and that it； from the agitated heights of the intellect；
descends into and become amalgamated with the passive forces of the
will； then only does it form a part of the character and become a
social force。 At the same time； however； it ceases to be critical and
clairvoyant； it no longer tolerates doubt and contradiction； nor
admits further restrictions or nice distinctions； it is either no
longer cognizant of； or badly appreciates； its own evidences。 We of
the present day believe in infinite progress about the same as people
once believed in original sin； we still receive ready…made opinions
from above； the Academy of Sciences occupying in many respects the
place of the ancient councils。 Except with a few special savants；
belief and obedience will always be unthinking； while Reason would
wrongfully resent the leadership of prejudice in human affairs； since；
to lead； it must itself become prejudiced。
III。 REASON AT WAR WITH ILLUSION。
The classic intellect incapable of accepting this point of view。 …
… The past and present usefulness of tradition are misunderstood。
Reason undertakes to set them aside。
Unfortunately； in the eighteenth century； reason was classic； not
only the aptitude but the documents which enable it to comprehend
tradition were absent。 In the first place； there was no knowledge of
history； learning was； due to its dullness and tediousness； refused；
learned compilations； vast collections of extracts and the slow work
of criticism were held in disdain。 Voltaire made fun of the
Benedictines。 Montesquieu； to ensure the acceptance of his 〃Esprit des
lois；〃 indulged in wit about laws。 Reynal； to give an impetus to his
history of commerce in the Indies； welded to it the declamation of
Diderot。 The Abbé Barthélemy covered over the realities of Greek
manners and customs with his literary varnish。 Science was expected to
be either epigrammatic or oratorical； crude or technical details would
have been objectionable to a public composed of people of the good
society； correctness of style therefore drove out or falsified those
small significant facts which give a peculiar sense and their original
relief to ancient personalities。 Even if writers had dared to
note them； their sense and bearing would not have been understood。 The
sympathetic imagination did not exist＇9＇； people were incapable of
going out of themselves； of betaking themselves to distant points of
view； of conjecturing the peculiar and violent states of the human
brain； the decisive and fruitful moment during which it gives birth to
a vigorous creation； a religion destined to rule； a state that is sure
to endure。 Th