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a vigorous creation； a religion destined to rule； a state that is sure
to endure。 The imagination of Man is limited to personal experiences；
and where in their experience； could individuals in this society have
found the material which would have allowed them to imagine the
convulsions of a delivery？ How could minds； as polished and as amiable
as these； fully adopt the sentiments of an apostle； of a monk； of a
barbarian or feudal founder； see these in the milieu which explains
and justifies them； picture to themselves the surrounding crowd； at
first souls in despair and haunted by mystic dreams； and next the rude
and violent intellects given up to instinct and imagery； thinking with
half…visions； their resolve consisting of irresistible impulses？ A
speculative reasoning of this stamp could not imagine figures like
these。 To bring them within its rectilinear limits they require to be
reduced and made over； the Macbeth of Shakespeare becomes that of
Ducis； and the Mahomet of the Koran that of Voltaire。 Consequently； as
they failed to see souls； they misconceived institutions。 The
suspicion that truth could have been conveyed only through the medium
of legends； that justice could have been established only by force；
that religion was obliged to assume the sacerdotal form； that the
State necessarily took a military form； and that the Gothic edifice
possessed； as well as other structures； its own architecture；
proportions； balance of parts； solidity； and even beauty； never
entered their heads。 Furthermore； unable to comprehend the past；
they could not comprehend the present。 They knew nothing about the
mechanic； the provincial bourgeois； or even the lesser nobility； these
were seen only far away in the distance； half…effaced； and wholly
transformed through philosophic theories and sentimental haze。 〃Two or
three thousand〃＇10＇ polished and cultivated individuals formed the
circle of ladies and gentlemen； the so…called honest folks； and they
never went outside of their own circle。 If they fleeting had a glimpse
of the people from their chateaux and on their journeys； it was in
passing； the same as of their post…horses； or of the cattle on their
farms； showing compassion undoubtedly； but never divining their
anxious thoughts and their obscure instincts。 The structure of the
still primitive mind of the people was never imagined； the paucity and
tenacity of their ideas； the narrowness of their mechanical； routine
existence； devoted to manual labor； absorbed with the anxieties for
daily bread； confined to the bounds of a visible horizon； their
attachment to the local saint； to rites； to the priest； their deep…
seated rancor； their inveterate distrust； their credulity growing out
of the imagination； their inability to comprehend abstract rights； the
law and public affairs； the hidden operation by which their brains
would transform political novelties into nursery fables or into ghost
stories； their contagious infatuations like those of sheep； their
blind fury like that of bulls； and all those traits of character the
Revolution was about to bring to light。 Twenty millions of men and
more had scarcely passed out of the mental condition of the middle
ages； hence； in its grand lines； the social edifice in which they
could dwell had necessarily to be mediaeval。 It had to be cleaned up；
windows put in and walls pulled down； but without disturbing the
foundations； or the main building and its general arrangement；
otherwise after demolishing it and living encamped for ten years in
the open air like savages； its inmates would have been obliged to
rebuild it on the same plan。 In uneducated minds； those having not yet
attained to reflection； faith attaches itself only to the corporeal
symbol； obedience being brought about only through physical restraint；
religion is upheld by the priest and the State by the policeman。
One writer only； Montesquieu； the best instructed； the most sagacious；
and the best balanced of all the spirits of the age； made these truths
apparent； because he was at once an erudite； an observer； a historian
and a jurisconsult。 He spoke； however； as an oracle； in maxims and
riddles； and every time he touched matters belonging to his country
and epoch he hopped about as if upon red hot coals。 That is why he
remained respected but isolated； his fame exercising no influence。 The
classic reason refused＇11＇ to go so far as to make a careful study of
both the ancient and the contemporary human being。 It found it easier
and more convenient to follow its original bent； to shut its eyes on
man as he is； to fall back on its stores of current notions； to derive
from these an idea of man in general； and build in empty space。
Through this natural and complete state of blindness it no longer
heeds the old and living roots of contemporary institutions； no longer
seeing them makes it deny their existence。 Custom now appears as pure
prejudice； the titles of tradition are lost； and royalty seems based
on robbery。 So from now on Reason is armed and at war with its
predecessor to wrench away its control over the minds and to replace a
rule of lies with a rule of truth。
IV。 CASTING OUT THE RESIDUE OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE。
Two stages in this operation。 … Voltaire； Montesquieu； the deists
and the reformers represent the first one。 … What they destroy and
what they respect。
In this great undertaking there are two stages。 Owing to common
sense or timidity many stop half…way。 Motivated by passion or logic
others go to the end。 A first campaign results in carrying the
enemy's out…works and his frontier fortresses； the philosophical army
being led by Voltaire。 To combat hereditary prejudice； other
prejudices are opposed to it whose empire is as extensive and whose
authority is not less recognized。 Montesquieu looks at France through
the eyes of a Persian； and Voltaire； on his return from England；
describes the English； an unknown species。 Confronting dogma and the
prevailing system of worship； accounts are given； either with open or
with disguised irony； of the various Christian sects； the Anglicans；
the Quakers； the Presbyterians； the Socinians； those of ancient or of
remote people； the Greeks； Romans； Egyptians； Muslims； and Guebers； of
the worshippers of Brahma； of the Chinese and of pure idolaters。 In
relation to established laws and customs； expositions are made； with
evident intentions； of other constitutions and other social habits； of
despotism； of limited monarchy； of a republic； here the church subject
to the state； there the church free of the state； in this country
castes； in another polygamy； and； from country to country； from
century to century； the diversity； contradiction and antagonism of
fundamental customs which； each on its own ground； are all equally
consecrated by tradition； all legitimately forming the system of
public rights。 From now on the charm is broken。 Ancient institutions
los