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guests； on Greeks； Englishmen； barbarians； peasants and savages；
however different from each other and however different they may be
amongst themselves。 In Buffon； the first man； on narrating the first
hours of his being； analyses his sensations； emotions and impulses；
with as much subtlety as Condillac himself。 With Diderot； Otou the
Tahitian； with Bernardin de St。 Pierre； a semi…savage Hindu and an old
colonist of the Ile…de…France； with Rousseau a country vicar； a
gardener and a juggler； are all accomplished conversationalists and
moralists。 In Marmontel and in Florian； in all the literature of
inferior rank preceding or accompanying the Revolution； also in the
tragic or comic drama； the chief talent of the personage； whoever he
may be； whether an uncultivated rustic； tattooed barbarian or naked
savage； consists in being able to explain himself； in arguing and in
following an abstract discourse with intelligence and attention； in
tracing for himself； or in the footsteps of a guide； the rectilinear
pathway of general ideas。 Thus； to the spectators of the eighteenth
century； Reason is everywhere and she stands alone in the world。 A
form of intellect so universal necessarily strikes them as natural；
they resemble people who； speaking but one language； and one they have
always spoken with facility； cannot imagine another language being
spoken； or that they may be surrounded by the deaf and the dumb。 And
so much the more in as much as their theory authorizes this prejudice。
According to the new ideology all minds are within reach of all
truths。 If the mind does not grasp them the fault is ours in not being
properly prepared； it will comprehend if we take the trouble to guide
it properly。 For it has senses the same as our own； and sensations；
revived； combined and noted by signs； suffice to form 〃not only all
our conceptions but again all our faculties。〃＇6＇ An exact and constant
relationship of ideas attaches our simplest perceptions to the most
complex sciences； and； from the lowest to the highest degree； a scale
is practicable； if the scholar stops on the way it is owing to our
having left too great an interval between two degrees of the scale；
let no intermediary degrees be omitted and he will mount to the top of
it。 To this exalted idea of the faculties of man is added a no less
exalted idea of his heart。 Rousseau having declared this to be
naturally good； the refined class plunge into the belief with all the
exaggerations of fashion and all the sentimentality of the drawing…
room。 The conviction is widespread that man； and especially the man of
the people； is sensitive and affectionate by nature； that he is
immediately impressed by benefactions and disposed to be grateful for
them； that he softens at the slightest sign of interest in him； and
that he is capable of every refinement。 A series of engravings
represents two children in a dilapidated cottage；＇7＇ one five and the
other three years old； by the side of an infirm grandmother； one
supporting her head and the other giving her drink； the father and
mother enter and； on seeing this touching incident； 〃these good people
find themselves so happy in possessing such children they forget they
are poor。〃 〃Oh； my father；〃 cries a shepherd youth of the Pyrénées；＇8＇
〃accept this faithful dog； so true to me for seven years； in future
let him follow and defend you； thus serving me better than in any
other manner。〃 It would require too much space to follow in the
literature of the end of the century； from Marmontel to Bernardin de
Saint…Pierre； and from Florian to Berquin and Bitaubé； the
interminable repetition of these sweet insipidities。 The illusion even
reaches statesmen。 〃Sire；〃 says Turgot； on presenting the king with a
plan of political education；＇9＇ 〃I venture to assert that in ten years
your nation will no longer be recognizable； and through enlightenment
and good morals； in intelligent zeal for your service and for the
country； it will rise above all other nations。 Children who are now
ten years of age will then be men prepared for the state； loving their
country； submissive to authority； not through fear but through Reason；
aiding their fellow…citizens； and accustomed to recognizing and
respecting justice。〃 … In the months of January； 1789；＇10＇ Necker； to
whom M。 de Bouillé pointed out the imminent danger arising from the
unswerving efforts of the Third…Estate ； 〃coldly replied； turning his
eyes upward； 'reliance must be placed on the moral virtues of man。' 〃
… In the main； on the imagination forming any conception of human
society； this consists of a vague； semi…bucolic； semi…theatrical
scene； somewhat resembling those displayed on the frontispieces of
illustrated works on morals and politics。 Half…naked men with others
clothed in skins； assemble together under a large oak tree； in the
center of the group a venerable old man arises and makes an address；
using 〃the language of nature and Reason；〃 proposing that all should
be united； and explaining how men are bound together by mutual
obligations； he shows them the harmony of private and of public
interests； and ends by making them appreciate of the beauty of
virtue。＇11＇ All utter shouts of joy； embrace each other； gather round
the speaker and elect him chief magistrate； dancing is going on under
the branches in the background； and henceforth happiness on earth is
fully established。 … This is no exaggeration。 The National Assembly
addresses the nation in harangues of this style。 For many years the
government speaks to the people as it would to one of Gessner's
shepherds。 The peasants are entreated not to burn castles because it
is painful for their good king to see such sights。 They are exhorted
〃to surprise him with their virtues in order that he may be the sooner
rewarded for his own。〃＇12＇ At the height of the Jacquerie tumults the
sages of the day seem to think they are living in a state of pastoral
simplicity； and that with an air on the flute they may restore to its
fold the howling pack of bestial animosities and unchained appetites
III。 OUR TRUE HUMAN NATURE。
The inadequacy and fragility of reason in man。 … The rarity and
inadequacy of reason in humanity。 … Subordination of reason in human
conduct。 … Brutal and dangerous forces。 … The nature and utility of
government。 Government impossible under the new theory。
It is a sad thing to fall asleep in a sheep…shed and； on
awakening； to find the sheep transformed into wolves； and yet； in the
event of a revolution that is what we may expect。 What we call reason
in Man is not an innate endowment； basic and enduring； but a tardy
acquisition and a fragile composition。 The slightest physiological
knowledge will tell us that it is a precarious act of balance；
dependent on the no less greater instability of the brain； nerves；
circulation and digestion。 Take women that are hungry and men that
have been drinking； place a thousand of t