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！
ourselves； there is a love of order by which we subordinate ourselves
to the whole。 Alongside of egoism； by which Man seeks happiness even
at the expense of others； is sympathy； by which he seeks the happiness
of others even at the expense of his own。 Personal enjoyment does not
suffice him； he still needs tranquillity of conscience and the
effusions of the heart。 Such is Man as God designed and created
him； in his organization there is no defect。 Inferior elements are as
serviceable as the superior elements； all are essential；
proportionate； in proper place； not only the heart； the conscience；
the intellect； and the faculties by which we surpass brutes； but again
the inclinations in common with animals； the instinct of self…
preservation and of self…defense； the need of physical activity；
sexual appetite； and other primitive impulses as we observe them in
the child； the savage and the uncultivated Man。＇31＇ None of these in
themselves are either vicious or injurious。 None are too strong； even
the love of self。 None come into play out of season。 If we would not
interfere with them； if we would impose no constraint on them； if we
would permit these sparkling fountains to flow according to their
bent； if we would not confine them to our artificial and foul
channels； we should never see them boiling over and becoming turbid。
We look with wonder on their ravages and on their stains； we forget
that； in the beginning； they were pure and undefiled。 The fault is
with us； in our social arrangements； in our encrusted and formal
channels whereby we cause deviations and windings； and make them heave
and bound。 〃Your very governments are the cause of the evils which
they pretend to remedy。 Ye scepters of iron！ ye absurd laws； ye we
reproach for our inability to fulfill our duties on earth！〃 Away with
these dikes； the work of tyranny and routine！ An emancipated nature
will at once resume a direct and healthy course and man； without
effort； will find himself not only happy but virtuous as well。＇32＇ On
this principle the attack begins： there is none that is pushed
further； nor conducted with more bitter hostility。 Thus far existing
institutions are described simply as oppressive and unreasonable； but
now they are now they are accused of being unjust and corrupting as
well。 Reason and the natural desires were the only insurgents；
conscience and pride are now in rebellion。 With Voltaire and
Montesquieu all I might hope for is that fewer evils might be
anticipated。 With Diderot and d'Holbach the horizon discloses only a
glowing El Dorado or a comfortable Cythera。 With Rousseau I behold
within reach an Eden where I shall immediately recover a nobility
inseparable from my happiness。 It is my right； nature and Providence
summon me to it； it is my heritage。 One arbitrary institution alone
keeps me away from it； the creator of my vices as of my misery。 With
what rage and fury I will overthrow this ancient barrier！ We
detect this in the vehement tone； in the embittered style； and in the
sombre eloquence of the new doctrine。 Fun and games are no longer in
vogue； a serious tone is maintained； people become exasperated； while
the powerful voice now heard penetrates beyond the drawing…room； to
the rude and suffering crowd to which no word had yet been spoken；
whose mute resentment for the first time finds an interpreter； and
whose destructive instincts are soon to be set in motion at the
summons of its herald。 Rousseau is a man of the people； and not a
man of high society。 He feels awkward in a drawing…room。＇33＇ He is not
capable of conversing and of appearing amiable； the nice expressions
only come into his head too late； on the staircase as he leaves the
house； he keeps silent with a sulky air or utters stupidities；
redeeming his awkwardness with the sallies of a clown or with the
phrases of a vulgar pedant。 Elegance annoys him； luxury makes him
uncomfortable； politeness is a lie； conversation mere prattle； ease of
manner a grimace； gaiety a convention； wit a parade； science so much
charlatanry； philosophy an affection and morals utter corruption。 All
is factitious； false and unwholesome；＇34＇ from the make…up； toilet and
beauty of women to the atmosphere of the apartments and the ragouts on
the dinner…table； in sentiment as in amusement； in literature as in
music； in government as in religion。 This civilization； which boasts
of its splendor； is simply the restlessness of over…excited； servile
monkeys each imitating the other； and each corrupting the other to；
through sophistication； end up in worry and boredom。 Human culture；
accordingly； is in itself bad； while the fruit it produces is merely
excrescence or poison。 Of what use are the sciences？ Uncertain
and useless； they afford merely a pasture…ground for idlers and
wranglers。＇35＇
〃 Who would want to pass a lifetime in sterile observation； if
they； apart from their duties and nature's demands； had had to bestow
their time on their country； on the unfortunate and on their friends！〃
Of what use are the fine arts？ They serve only as public flattery
of dominant passions。 〃The more pleasing and the more perfect the
drama； the more baneful its influence；〃 the theater； even with
Molière； is a school of bad morals； 〃inasmuch as it excites deceitful
souls to ridicule； in the name of comedy； the candor of artless
people。〃 Tragedy； said to be moralizing； wastes in counterfeit
effusions the little virtue that still remains。 〃 When a man has been
admiring the noble feats in the fables what more is expected of him？
After paying homage to virtue is he not discharged from all that he
owes to it？ What more would they have him do？ Must he practice it
himself？ He has no part to play； he is not a comedian。〃 The
sciences； the fine arts； the arts of luxury； philosophy； literature；
all this serve only to effeminate and distract the mind； all that is
only made for the small crowd of brilliant and noisy insects buzzing
around the summits of society and sucking away all public substance。
As regards the sciences； but one is important； that of our duties；
and； without so many subtleties and so much study； our innermost
conscience suffice to show us the way。 As regards the arts and
the skills； only those should be tolerated which； ministering to our
prime necessities； provide us with bread to feed us； with a roof to
shelter us； clothing to cover us； and arms with which to defend
ourselves。 In the way of existence that only is healthy which
enables us to live in the country； artlessly； without display； in
family union； devoted to cultivation； living on the products of the
soil and among neighbors that are equals and with servants that one
trusts as friends。＇36＇ As for the classes； but one is
respectable； that of laboring men； especially that of men working with
their own hands； artisans and mechanics； only these being really of
service； the only ones who； through their sit