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d'Alembert； on mathematics； the 〃 Langue des Calculs〃 and the
〃Logique〃 by Condillac； and； a little later； the 〃Exposition du
système du Monde〃 by Laplace； and 〃Discours généraux〃 by Bichat and
Cuvier； all are based on this method＇12＇。 Finally； this is the method
which Condillac erects into a theory under the name of ideology； soon
acquiring the ascendancy of a dogma； and which then seems to sum up
all methods。 At the very least it sums up the process by which the
philosophers of the century obtained their audience； propagated their
doctrine and achieved their success。
III。 ITS POPULARITY。
Owing to style it becomes pleasing。 … Two stimulants peculiar to
the 18th century； coarse humor and irony。
Thanks to this method one can be understood； but； to be read；
something more is necessary。 I compare the eighteenth century to a
company of people around a table； it is not sufficient that the food
before them be well prepared； well served； within reach and easy to
digest； but it is important that it should be some choice dish or；
better still； some dainty。 The intellect is Epicurean； let us supply
it with savory； delicate viands adapted to its taste； it will eat so
much the more owing to its appetite being sharpened by sensuality。
Two special condiments enter into the cuisine of this century； and；
according to the hand that makes use of them； they furnish all
literary dishes with a coarse or delicate seasoning。 In an Epicurean
society； to which a return to nature and the rights of instinct are
preached； voluptuous images and ideas present themselves
involuntarily； this is the appetizing； exciting spice…box。 Each guest
at the table uses or abuses it； many empty its entire contents on
their plate。 And I do not allude merely to the literature read in
secret； to the extraordinary books Madame d'Audlan； governess to the
French royal children； peruses； and which stray off into the hands of
the daughters of Louis XV；＇13＇ nor to other books； still more
extraordinary；＇14＇ in which philosophical arguments appear as an
interlude between filth and the illustrations； and which are kept by
the ladies of the court on their toilet…tables； under the title of
〃Heures de Paris。〃 I refer here to the great men； to the masters of
the public intellect。 With the exception of Buffon； all put pimento
into their sauces； that is to say； loose talk or coarseness of
expression。 We find this even in the〃 Esprit des Lois；〃 there is an
enormous amount of it； open and covered up； in the 〃Lettres Persanes。〃
Diderot； in his two great novels； puts it in by handfuls； as if during
an orgy。 The teeth crunch on it like so many grains of pepper； on
every page of Voltaire。 We find it； not only piquant； but strong and
of burning intensity； in the 〃Nouvelle Hélo？se；〃 scores of times in 〃
Emile；〃 and； in the 〃Confessions；〃 from one end to the other。 It was
the taste of the day。 M。 de Malesherbes； so upright and so grave；
committed 〃La Pucelle〃 to memory and recited it。 We have from the pen
of Saint…Just； the gloomiest of the 〃Mountain；〃 a poem as lascivious
as that of Voltaire； while Madame Roland； the noblest of the
Girondins； has left us confessions as venturesome and specific as
those of Rousseau＇15＇。 … On the other hand there is a second box；
that containing the old Gallic salt； that is to say； humor and
raillery。 Its mouth is wide open in the hands of a philosophy
proclaiming the sovereignty of reason。 Whatever is contrary to Reason
is to it absurd and therefore open to ridicule。 The moment the solemn
hereditary mask covering up an abuse is brusquely and adroitly torn
aside； we feel a curious spasm； the corners of our mouth stretching
apart and our breast heaving violently； as at a kind of sudden relief；
an unexpected deliverance； experiencing a sense of our recovered
superiority； of our revenge being gratified and of an act of justice
having been performed。 But it depends on the mode in which the mask
is struck off whether the laugh shall be in turn light or loud；
suppressed or unbridled； now amiable and cheerful； or now bitter and
sardonic。 Humor （la plaisanterie） comports with all aspects； from
buffoonery to indignation； no literary seasoning affords such a
variety； or so many mixtures； nor one that so well enters into
combination with that above…mentioned。 The two together； from the
middle ages down； form the principal ingredients employed by the
French cuisine in the composition of its most agreeable dainties； …
fables； tales； witticisms； jovial songs and waggeries； the eternal
heritage of a good…humored； mocking people； preserved by La Fontaine
athwart the pomp and sobriety of the seventeenth century； and； in the
eighteenth； reappearing everywhere at the philosophic banquet。 Its
charm is great to the brilliant company at this table； so amply
provided； whose principal occupation is pleasure and amusement。 It is
all the greater because； on this occasion； the passing disposition is
in harmony with hereditary instinct； and because the taste of the
epoch is fortified by the national taste。 Add to all this the
exquisite art of the cooks； their talent in commingling； in
apportioning and in concealing the condiments； in varying and
arranging the dishes； the certainty of their hand； the finesse of
their palate； their experience in processes； in the traditions and
practices which； already for a hundred years； form of French prose the
most delicate nourishment of the intellect。 It is not strange to find
them skilled in regulating human speech； in extracting from it its
quintessence and in distilling its full delight。
IV。 THE MASTERS。
The art and processes of the masters。 … Montesquieu。 … Voltaire。
… Diderot。 … Rousseau。 … 〃The Marriage of Figaro。〃
In this respect four among them are superior； Montesquieu；
Voltaire； Diderot and Rousseau。 It seems sufficient to mention their
names。 Modern Europe has no greater writers。 And yet their talent
must be closely examined to properly comprehend their power。… In tone
and style Montesquieu is the first。 No writer is more master of
himself； more outwardly calm； more sure of his meaning。 His voice is
never boisterous； he expresses the most powerful thoughts with
moderation。 There is no gesticulation； exclamations； the abandonment
of impulse； all that is irreconcilable with decorum is repugnant to
his tact； his reserve； his dignity。 He seems to be always addressing
a select circle of people with acute minds； and in such a way as to
render them at every moment conscious of their acuteness。 No flattery
could be more delicate； we feel grateful to him for making us
satisfied with our intelligence。 We must possess some intelligence to
be able to read him； for he deliberately curtails developments and
omits transitions； we are required to supply these and to comprehend
his hidden meanings。 He is rigorously systematic but the system is
concealed； his concise completed sentences succeeding each other
separately； like so many precious coffers or caskets； now simple and
plain in aspect； now superbly chased and decorated； but always full。
Open them and each contains a treasure； here is placed in narrow
compass a rich store of reflections； of emotions； of discoveries； our
enjoyment being the more intense because we can easily retain all this
for a moment in the palm of our hand。 〃That which usually forms a
grand conception；〃 he himself says； 〃is a thought so expressed as to
reveal a number of other thoughts； and suddenly disclosing what we
could not anticipate without patient study。〃 This； indeed； is his
manner； he thinks with summaries； he concentrates the essence of
despotism in a chapter of three lines。 The summary itself often bears
the air of an enigma； of which the charm is twofold； we have the
pleasure of comprehension accompanying the satisfaction of divining。
In all subjects he maintains this supreme discretion； this art of
indicating without enforcing； these reticences； the smile that never
becomes a laugh。
〃In my defense of the 'Esprit des Lois；〃' he says； 〃that which
gratifies me is not to see venerable theologians crushed to the ground
but to see them glide down gently。〃
He excels in tranquil irony； in polished disdain；＇16＇ in disguised
sarcasm。 His Persians judge France as Persians； and we smile at their
errors； unfortunately the laugh is not against them but against
ourselves； for their error is found to be a verity＇17＇。 This or that
letter； in a sober vein； seems a comedy at their expense without
reflecting upon us； full of Muslim prejudices and of oriental
conceit；＇18＇ reflect a moment； and our conceit； in this relation；
appears no less。 Blows of extraordinary force and reach are given in
passing； as if thoughtlessly； against existing institutions； against
the transformed Catholicism which 〃in the present state of Europe；
cannot last five hundred years；〃 against