ASeniormagistrateofaFrenchtownhadthemisfortunetohaveawifewhowasdebauchedbyapriestbeforehermarriage，andwhosincecoveredherselfwithdisgracebypublicscandals：hewassomoderateastoleaveherwithoutnoise。Thisman，aboutfortyyearsold，vigorousandofagreeableappearance，needsawoman。heistooscrupuloustoseektoseduceanotherman’swife，hefearsintercoursewithapublicwomanorwithawidowwhowouldservehimasconcubine。Inthisdisquietingandsadstate，headdressestohisChurchapleaofwhichthefollowingisaprecis：
Mywifeiscriminal，anditisIwhoampunished。Anotherwomanisnecessaryasacomforttomylife，tomyvirtueeven。andthesectofwhichIamamemberrefuseshertome。itforbidsmetomarryanhonestgirl。Thecivillawsofto-day，unfortunatelyfoundedoncanonlaw，deprivemeoftherightsofhumanity。TheChurchreducesmetoseekingeitherthepleasuresitreproves，ortheshamefulcompensationsitcondemns。ittriestoforcemetobecriminal。
Icastmyeyesoverallthepeoplesoftheearth。thereisnotasingleoneexcepttheRomanCatholicpeopleamongwhomdivorceandanewmarriagearenotnaturalrights。
WhatupheavaloftherulehasthereforemadeamongtheCatholicsavirtueofundergoingadultery，andadutyoflackingawifewhenonehasbeeninfamouslyoutragedbyone’sown？
WhyisabondthathasrottedindissolubleinSpiteofthegreatlawadoptedbythecode，quidquidligaturdissolubileest？Iamallowedaseparationamensaetthoro，andIamnotalloweddivorce。
Thelawcandeprivemeofmywife，anditleavesmeanamecalledsacrament！
Whatacontradiction！whatslavery！andunderwhatlawsdidwereceivebirth！
WhatisstillmorestrangeisthatthislawofmyChurchisdirectlycontrarytothewordswhichthisChurchitselfbelievestohavebeenutteredbyJesusChrist：Whosoevershallputawayhiswife，exceptitbeforfornication，andshallmarryanother，committethadulteryMatt。xix。9。
IdonotexaminewhetherthepontiffsofRomeareintherighttoviolateattheirpleasurethelawofhimtheyregardastheirmaster。
whetherwhenastatehasneedofanheir，itispermissibletorepudiateherwhocangiveitone。Idonotinquireifaturbulentwoman，demented，homicidal，apoisoner，shouldnotberepudiatedequallywithanadulteress：
Ilimitmyselftothesadstatewhichconcernsme：Godpermitsmetoremarry，andtheBishopofRomedoesnotpermitme。
DivorcewasapracticeamongCatholicsunderalltheemperors。
itwasalsoinallthedismemberedstatesoftheRomanEmpire。ThekingsofFrance，thosecalledofthefirstline，almostallrepudiatedtheirwivesinordertotakenewones。AtlastcameGregoryIX。，enemyoftheemperorsandkings，whobyadecreemademarriageanunshakeableyoke。
hisdecretalbecamethelawofEurope。WhenthekingswantedtorepudiateawifewhowasanadulteressaccordingtoJesusChrist’slaw，theycouldnotsucceed。itwasnecessarytofindridiculouspretexts。Louistheyoungerwasobliged，toaccomplishhisunfortunatedivorcefromEleanorofGuienne，toallegearelationshipwhichdidnotexist。HenryIV。，torepudiateMargueritedeValois，pretextedastillmorefalsecause，arefusalofconsent。Onehadtolietoobtainadivorcelegitimately。
What！akingcanabdicatehiscrown，andwithoutthePope’spermissionhecannotabdicatehiswife！Isitpossiblethatotherwiseenlightenedmenhavewallowedsolonginthisabsurdservitude！
Thatourpriests，thatourmonksrenouncewives，tothatIconsent。
itisanoutrageagainstpopulation，itisamisfortuneforthem，buttheymeritthismisfortunewhichtheyhavemadeforthemselves。Theyhavebeenthevictimsofthepopeswhowantedtohaveinthemslaves，soldierswithoutfamiliesandwithoutfatherland，livingsolelyfortheChurch：butI，magistrate，whoservethestateallday，Ineedawifeintheevening。andtheChurchhasnottherighttodeprivemeofabenefitwhichGodaccordsme。Theapostlesweremarried，Josephwasmarried，andIwanttobe。IfI，Alsacian，amdependentonapriestwhodwellsatRome，ifthispriesthasthebarbarouspowertorobmeofawife，lethimmakeaeunuchofmeforthesingingofMisereresinhischapel。
NOTEFORWOMEN
Equitydemandsthat，havingrecordedthisnoteinfavourofhusbands，weshouldalsoputbeforethepublicthecaseinfavourofwives，presentedtothejuntaofPortugalbyaCountessofArcira。Thisisthesubstanceofit：
TheGospelhasforbiddenadulteryformyhusbandjustasforme。
hewillbedamnedasIshall，nothingisbetterestablished。Whenhecommittedtwentyinfidelities，whenhegavemynecklacetooneofmyrivals，andmyear-ringstoanother，Ididnotaskthejudgestohavehimshaved，toshuthimupamongmonksandtogivemehisproperty。AndI，forhavingimitatedhimonce，forhavingdonewiththemosthandsomeyoungmaninLisbonwhathedideverydaywithimpunitywiththemostidioticstrumpetsofthecourtandthetown，havetoansweratthebarbeforelicentiateseachofwhomwouldbeatmyfeetifwewerealonetogetherinmycloset。
havetoendureatthecourttheushercuttingoffmyhairwhichisthemostbeautifulintheworld。andbeingshutupamongnunswhohavenocommonsense，deprivedofmydowryandmymarriagecovenants，withallmypropertygiventomycoxcombofahusbandtohelphimseduceotherwomenandtocommitfreshadulteries。
Iaskifitisjust，andifitisnotevidentthatthelawsweremadebycuckolds？
InanswertomypleaIamtoldthatIshouldbehappynottobestonedatthecitygatebythecanons，thepriestsoftheparishandthewholepopulace。Thiswasthepracticeamongthefirstnationoftheearth，thechosennation，thecherishednation，theonlyonewhichwasrightwhenalltheotherswerewrong。
TothesebarbaritiesIreplythatwhenthepooradulteresswaspresentedbyheraccuserstotheMasteroftheoldandnewlaw，Hedidnothaveherstoned。thatonthecontraryHereproachedthemwiththeirinjustice，thathelaughedatthembywritingonthegroundwithhisfinger，thathequotedtheoldHebraicproverb-Hethatiswithoutsinamongyou，lethimfirstcastastoneather。thatthentheyallretired，theoldestfleeingfirst，becausetheoldertheywerethemoreadulterieshadtheycommitted。
ThedoctorsofcanonlawanswermethatthishistoryoftheadulteressisrelatedonlyintheGospelofSt。John，thatitwasnotinsertedthereuntillater。Leontius，Maldonat，affirmthatitisnottobefoundinasingleancientGreekcopy。thatnoneofthetwenty-threeearlycommentatorsmentionsit。Origen，St。Jerome，St。JohnChrysostom，Theophilact，Nonnus，donotrecognizeitatall。ItisnottobefoundintheSyriacBible，itisnotinUlphilas’version。
Thatiswhatmyhusband’sadvocatessay，theywhowouldhavemenotonlyshaved，butalsostoned。
ButtheadvocateswhopleadedformesaythatAmmonius，authorofthethirdcentury，recognizedthisstoryastrue，andthatifSt。Jeromerejectsitinsomeplaces，headoptsitinothers。that，inaword，itisauthenticto-day。Ileavethere，andIsaytomyhusband：Ifyouarewithoutsin，shaveme，imprisonme，takemyproperty。butifyouhavecommittedmoresinsthanIhave，itisformetoshaveyou，tohaveyouimprisoned，andtoseizeyourfortune。Injusticethesethingsshouldbeequal。
Myhusbandanswersthatheismysuperiorandmychief，thatheismorethananinchtaller，thatheisshaggyasabear。thatconsequentlyIowehimeverything，andthatheowesmenothing。
ButIaskifQueenAnneofEnglandisnotherhusband’schief？
ifherhusbandthePrinceofDenmark，whoisherHighAdmiral，doesnotoweherentireobedience？andifshewouldnothavehimcondemnedbythecourtofpeersifthelittleman’sinfidelitywereinquestion？Itisthereforeclearthatifthewomendonothavethemenpunished，itiswhentheyarenotthestronger。PhilsophicalDictionary：AdvocateADVOCATEAnadvocateisamanwho，nothavingasufficientfortunetobuyoneofthoseresplendentofficesonwhichtheuniversehasitseyes，studiesthelawsofTheodosiusandJustinianforthreeyears，sothathemaylearntheusagesofParis，andwhofinally，beingregistered，hastherighttopleadcausesformoney，ifhehaveastrongvoice。ThePhilosophicalDictionary：AncientsandModernsANCIENTSANDMODERNSThegreatdisputebetweentheancientsandthemodernsisnotyetsettled。
ithasbeenonthetablesincethesilveragesucceededthegoldenage。
Mankindhasalwaysmaintainedthatthegoodoldtimesweremuchbetterthanthepresentday。Nestor，intheIliad，wishingtoinsinuatehimselfasawiseconciliatorintothemindsofAchillesandAgamamemnon，startsbysayingtothem-Ilivedformerlywithbettermenthanyou。no，IhaveneverseenandIshallneverseesuchgreatpersonagesasDryas，Cenaeus，Exadius，Polyphemusequaltothegods，etc。
PosterityhaswellavengedAchillesforNestor’spoorcompliment。NobodyknowsDryasanylonger。onehashardlyheardspeakofExadius，orofCenaeus。
andasforPolyphemusequaltothegods，hehasnottoogoodareputation，unlessthepossessionofabigeyeinone’sforehead，andtheeatingofmenraw，aretohavesomethingofthedivine。
Lucretiusdoesnothesitatetosaythatnaturehasdegeneratedlib。
II。v。1159。Antiquityisfullofeulogiesofanothermoreremoteantiquity。
HoracecombatsthisprejudicewithasmuchfinesseasforceinhisbeautifulEpistletoAugustusEpist。I。liv。ii。。Mustourpoems，then，hesays，belikeourwines，ofwhichtheoldestarealwayspreferred？
ThelearnedandingeniousFontenelleexpresseshimselfonthissubjectasfollows：
Thewholequestionofthepre-eminencebetweentheancientsandthemoderns，onceitiswellunderstood，isreducedtoknowingwhetherthetreeswhichformerlywereinourcountrysidewerebiggerthanthoseofto-day。Intheeventthattheywere，Homer，Plato，Demosthenescannotbeequalledintheselattercenturies。
Letusthrowlightonthisparadox。Iftheancientshadmoreintellectthanus，itisthatthebrainsofthosetimeswerebetterordered，formedoffirmerormoredelicatefibres，filledwithmoreanimalspirits。butinvirtueofwhatwerethebrainsofthosetimesbetterordered？Thetreesalsowouldhavebeenbiggerandmorebeautiful。forifnaturewasthenyoungerandmorevigorous，thetrees，aswellasmen’sbrains，wouldhavebeenconsciousofthisvigourandthisyouth。DigressionontheAncientsandtheModerns，vol。4，1742edition。
Withtheillustriousacademician’spermission，thatisnotatallthestateofthequestion。ItisnotamatterofknowingwhethernaturehasbeenabletoproduceinourdayasgreatgeniusesandasgoodworksasthoseofGreekandLatinantiquity。buttoknowwhetherwehavetheminfact。WithoutadoubtitisnotimpossiblefortheretobeasbigoaksintheforestofChantilliasintheforestofDodona。butsupposingthattheoaksofDodonahadspoken，itwouldbequiteclearthattheyhadagreatadvantageoverours，whichinallprobabilitywillneverspeak。
Natureisnotbizarre。butitispossiblethatshegavetheAtheniansacountryandaskymoresuitablethanWestphaliaandtheLimousinforformingcertaingeniuses。Further，itispossiblethatthegovernmentofAthens，bysecondingtheclimate，putintoDemosthenes’headsomethingthattheairofClamartandLaGrenouillereandthegovernmentofCardinaldeRichelieudidnotputintotheheadsofOmerTalonandJeromeBignon。
Thisdisputeisthereforeaquestionoffact。Wasantiquitymorefecundingreatmonumentsofallkinds，uptothetimeofPlutarch，thanmoderncenturieshavebeenfromthecenturyoftheMedicisuptoLouisXIV。inclusive？
TheChinese，morethantwohundredyearsbeforeourera，constructedthatgreatwallwhichwasnotabletosavethemfromtheinvasionoftheTartars。TheEgyptians，threethousandyearsbefore，hadoverloadedtheearthwiththeirastonishingpyramids，whichhadabaseofaboutninetythousandsquarefeet。Nobodydoubtsthat，ifonewishedtoundertaketo-daytheseuselessworks，onecouldeasilysucceedbyalavishexpenditureofmoney。ThegreatwallofChinaisamonumenttofear。thepyramidsaremonumentstovanityandsuperstition。Bothbearwitnesstoagreatpatienceinthepeoples，buttonosuperiorgenius。NeithertheChinesenortheEgyptianswouldhavebeenabletomakeevenastatuesuchasthosewhichoursculptorsformto-day。
ThechevalierTemple，whohasmadeithisbusinesstodisparageallthemoderns，claimsthatinarchitecturetheyhavenothingcomparabletothetemplesofGreeceandRome：but，forallthatheisEnglish，hemustagreethattheChurchofSt。PeterisincomparablymorebeautifulthantheCapitolwas。
Itiscuriouswithwhatassurancehemaintainsthatthereisnothingnewinourastronomy，nothingintheknowledgeofthehumanbody，unlessperhaps，hesays，thecirculationoftheblood。Loveofhisownopinion，foundedonhisvastself-esteem，makeshimforgetthediscoveryofthesatellitesofJupiter，ofthefivemoonsandtheringofSaturn，oftherotationofthesunonitsaxis，ofthecalculatedpositionofthreethousandstars，ofthelawsgivenbyKeplerandNewtonfortheheavenlyorbs，ofthecausesoftheprecessionoftheequinoxes，andofahundredotherpiecesofknowledgeofwhichtheancientsdidnotsuspecteventhepossibility。
Thediscoveriesinanatomyareasgreatinnumber。Anewuniverseinlittle，discoveredbythemicroscope，wascountedfornothingbythechevalierTemple。heclosedhiseyestothemarvelsofhiscontemporaries，andopenedthemonlytoadmireancientignorance。
HegoessofarastopityusforhavingnothingleftofthemagicoftheIndians，theChaldeans，theEgyptians。andbythismagicheunderstandsaprofoundknowledgeofnature，wherebytheyproducedmiracles：buthedoesnotciteonemiracle，becauseinfactthereneverwereany。Whathasbecome，heasks，ofthecharmsofthatmusicwhichsooftenenchantedmanandbeast，thefishes，thebirds，thesnakes，andchangedtheirnature？
ThisenemyofhiscenturyreallybelievesthefableofOrpheus，andhasnotapparentlyheardeitherthebeautifulmusicofItaly，oreventhatofFrance，whichintruthdoesnotcharmsnakes，butdoescharmtheearsofconnoisseurs。
Whatisstillmorestrangeisthat，havingallhislifecultivatedbelles-lettres，hedoesnotreasonbetteraboutourgoodauthorsthanaboutourphilosophers。
HelooksonRabelaisasagreatman。HecitestheAmoursdesGaulesasoneofourbestworks。Hewas，however，ascholar，acourtier，amanofmuchwit，anambassador，amanwhohadreflectedprofoundlyonallhehadseen。Hepossessedgreatknowledge：aprejudicesufficedtospoilallthismerit。
TherearebeautiesinEuripides，andinSophoclesstillmore。buttheyhavemanymoredefects。OnedaressaythatthebeautifulscenesofCorneilleandthetouchingtragediesofRacinesurpassthetragediesofSophoclesandEuripidesasmuchasthesetwoGreekssurpassThespis。RacinewasquiteconsciousofhisgreatsuperiorityoverEuripides。buthepraisedtheGreekpoetinordertohumiliatePerrault。
Moliere，inhisgoodpieces，isassuperiortothepurebutcoldTerence，andtothedrollAristophanes，astoDancourtthebuffoon。
Therearethereforespheresinwhichthemodernsarefarsuperiortotheancients，andothers，veryfewinnumber，inwhichwearetheirinferiors。
Itistothisthatthewholedisputeisreduced。PhilosophicalDictionary：AnimalsANIMALSWhatapitiful，whatasorrythingtohavesaidthatanimalsaremachinesbereftofunderstandingandfeeling，whichperformtheiroperationsalwaysinthesameway，whichlearnnothing，perfectnothing，etc。！
What！thatbirdwhichmakesitsnestinasemi-circlewhenitisattachingittoawall，whichbuildsitinaquartercirclewhenitisinanangle，andinacircleuponatree。thatbirdactsalwaysinthesameway？Thathunting-dogwhichyouhavedisciplinedforthreemonths，doesitnotknowmoreattheendofthistimethanitknewbeforeyourlessons？Doesthecanarytowhichyouteachatunerepeatitatonce？doyounotspendaconsiderabletimeinteachingit？haveyounotseenthatithasmadeamistakeandthatitcorrectsitself？
IsitbecauseIspeaktoyou，thatyoujudgethatIhavefeeling，memory，ideas？Well，Idonotspeaktoyou。youseemegoinghomelookingdisconsolate，seekingapaperanxiously，openingthedeskwhereIrememberhavingshutit，findingit，readingitjoyfully。YoujudgethatIhaveexperiencedthefeelingofdistressandthatofpleasure，thatIhavememoryandunderstanding。
Bringthesamejudgmenttobearonthisdogwhichhaslostitsmaster，whichhassoughthimoneveryroadwithsorrowfulcries，whichentersthehouseagitated，uneasy，whichgoesdownthestairs，upthestairs，fromroomtoroom，whichatlastfindsinhisstudythemasteritloves，andwhichshowshimitsjoybyitscriesofdelight，byitsleaps，byitscaresses。
Barbariansseizethisdog，whichinfriendshipsurpassesmansoprodigiously。
theynailitonatable，andtheydissectitaliveinordertoshowthemesentericveins。Youdiscoverinitallthesameorgansoffeelingthatareinyourself。Answerme，machinist，hasnaturearrangedallthemeansoffeelinginthisanimal，sothatitmaynotfeel？hasitnervesinordertobeimpassible？Donotsupposethisimpertinentcontradictioninnature。
Buttheschoolmastersaskwhatthesoulofanimalsis？Idonotunderstandthisquestion。Atreehasthefacultyofreceivinginitsfibresitssapwhichcirculates，ofunfoldingthebudsofitsleavesanditsfruit。willyouaskwhatthesoulofthistreeis？ithasreceivedthesegifts。theanimalhasreceivedthoseoffeeling，ofmemory，ofacertainnumberofideas。Whohasbestowedthesegifts？whohasgiventhesefaculties？Hewhohasmadethegrassofthefieldstogrow，andwhomakestheearthgravitatetowardthesun。
Animals’soulsaresubstantialforms，saidAristotle，andafterAristotle，theArabschool，andaftertheArabschool，theangelicalschool，andaftertheangelicalschool，theSorbonne，andaftertheSorbonne，nobodyatall。
Animals’soulsarematerial，cryotherphilosophers。Thesehavenotbeeninanybetterfortunethantheothers。Invainhavetheybeenaskedwhatamaterialsoulis。theyhavetoadmitthatitismatterwhichhassensation：butwhathasgivenitthissensation？Itisamaterialsoul，thatistosaythatitismatterwhichgivessensationtomatter。theycannotissuefromthiscircle。
Listentootherbrutesreasoningaboutthebrutes。theirsoulisaspiritualsoulwhichdieswiththebody。butwhatproofhaveyouofit？whatideahaveyouofthisspiritualsoul，which，intruth，hasfeeling，memory，anditsmeasureofideasandingenuity。butwhichwillneverbeabletoknowwhatachildofsixknows？Onwhatgrounddoyouimaginethatthisbeing，whichisnotbody，dieswiththebody？Thegreatestfoolsarethosewhohaveadvancedthatthissoulisneitherbodynorspirit。Thereisafinesystem。Byspiritwecanunderstandonlysomeunknownthingwhichisnotbody。Thusthesegentlemen’ssystemcomesbacktothis，thattheanimals’soulisasubstancewhichisneitherbodynorsomethingwhichisnotbody。
Whencecancomesomanycontradictoryerrors？Fromthehabitmenhavealwayshadofexaminingwhatathingis，beforeknowingifitexists。Theclapper，thevalveofabellows，iscalledinFrenchthesoulofabellows。
Whatisthissoul？ItisanamethatIhavegiventothisvalvewhichfalls，letsairenter，risesagain，andthrustsitthroughapipe，whenImakethebellowsmove。
Thereisnotthereadistinctsoulinthemachine：butwhatmakesanimals’
bellowsmove？Ihavealreadytoldyou，whatmakesthestarsmove。Thephilosopherwhosaid，Deusestanimabrutorum，wasright。butheshouldgofurther。PhilosophicalDictionary：AntiquityANTIQUITYHaveyousometimesseeninavillagePierreAoudriandhiswifePeronellewishingtogobeforetheirneighboursintheprocession？Ourgrandfathers，
theysay，weretollingthebellsbeforethosewhojostleusto-dayownedevenapig-sty。
ThevanityofPierreAoudri，hiswifeandhisneighbours，knowsnothingmoreaboutit。Theirmindskindle。Thequarrelisimportant。honourisinquestion。Proofsarenecessary。Ascholarwhosingsinthechoir，discoversanoldrustyironpot，markedwithanA，firstletterofthenameofthepotterwhomadethepot。PierreAoudripersuadeshimselfthatitwashisancestors’helmet。InthiswaywasCaesardescendedfromaheroandfromthegoddessVenus。Suchisthehistoryofnations。suchis，withinverysmallmargins，theknowledgeofearlyantiquity。
ThescholarsofArmeniademonstratethattheterrestrialparadisewasintheirland。SomeprofoundSwedesdemonstratethatitwasnearLakeVenerwhichisvisiblyaremnantofit。SomeSpaniardsdemonstratealsothatitwasinCastille。whiletheJapanese，theChinese，theIndians，theAfricans，theAmericansarenotsufficientlyunfortunatetoknoweventhattherewasformerlyaterrestrialparadiseatthesourceofthePhison，theGehon，theTigrisandtheEuphrates，or，ifyoupreferit，atthesourceoftheGuadalquivir，theGuadiana，theDouroandtheEbro。forfromPhisononeeasilymakesPhaetis。andfromPhaetisonemakestheBaetiswhichistheGuadalquivir。TheGehonisobviouslytheGuadiana，whichbeginswithaG。TheEbro，whichisinCatalonia，isincontestablytheEuphrates，ofwhichtheinitialletterisE。
ButaScotsmanappearswhodemonstratesinhisturnthatthegardenofEdenwasatEdinburgh，whichhasretaineditsname。anditistobebelievedthatinafewcenturiesthisopinionwillmakeitsfortune。
Thewholeglobewasburnedonceuponatime，saysamanversedinancientandmodernhistory。forIreadinanewspaperthatsomeabsolutelyblackcharcoalhasbeenfoundinGermanyatadepthofahundredfeet，betweenmountainscoveredwithwood。Anditissuspectedeventhattherewerecharcoalburnersinthisplace。
Phaeton’sadventuremakesitclearthateverythinghasboiledrighttothebottomofthesea。ThesulphurofMountVesuviusprovesinvinciblythatthebanksoftheRhine，Danube，Ganges，NileandthegreatYellowRiveraremerelysulphur，nitreandGuiacoil，whichonlyawaitthemomentoftheexplosiontoreducetheearthtoashes，asithasalreadybeen。
Thesandonwhichwewalkisevidentproofthattheearthhasbeenvitrified，andthatourglobeisreallyonlyaglassball，justasareourideas。
Butiffirehaschangedourglobe，waterhasproducedstillfinerrevolutions。
Foryouseeclearlythatthesea，thetidesofwhichmountashighaseightfeetinourclimate，hasproducedmountainsofaheightofsixteentoseventeenthousandfeet。ThisissotruethatsomelearnedmenwhohaveneverbeeninSwitzerlandhavefoundabigshipwithallitsriggingpetrifiedonMountSt。Gothard，oratthebottomofaprecipice，oneknowsnotwhere。
butitisquitecertainthatitwasthere。Thereforemenwereoriginallyfish，quoderatdemonstrandum。
Todescendtoalessantiqueantiquity，letusspeakofthetimeswhenthegreaterpartofthebarbarousnationslefttheircountries，togotoseekotherswhichwerehardlyanybetter。Itistrue，iftherebeanythingtrueinancienthistory，thatthereweresomeGaulishbrigandswhowenttopillageRomeinthetimeofCamillus。OtherGaulishbrigandshadpassed，itissaid，throughIllyriaonthewaytohiretheirservicesasmurdererstoothermurderers，inthedirectionofThrace。theyexchangedtheirbloodforbread，andlaterestablishedthemselvesinGalatia。ButwhoweretheseGauls？weretheyBerichonsandAngevins？TheywerewithoutadoubtGaulswhomtheRomanscalledCisalpines，andwhomwecallTransalpines，famishedmountain-dwellers，neighboursoftheAlpsandtheApennines。TheGaulsoftheSeineandtheMarnedidnotknowatthattimethatRomeexisted，andcouldnottakeitintotheirheadstopassMountCenis，asHannibaldidlater，togotostealthewardrobesofRomansenatorswhoatthattimeforallfurniturehadarobeofpoorgreystuff，ornamentedwithabandthecolourofoxblood。twolittlepummelsofivory，orratherdog’sbone，onthearmsofawoodenchair。andintheirkitchensapieceofrancidbacon。
TheGauls，whoweredyingofhunger，notfindinganythingtoeatinRome，wentoffthereforetoseektheirfortunefartheraway，aswasthepracticeoftheRomanslater，whentheyravagedsomanycountriesoneaftertheother。asdidthepeoplesoftheNorthwhentheydestroyedtheRomanEmpire。
And，further，whatisitwhichinstructsveryfeeblyabouttheseemigrations？
ItisafewlinesthattheRomanswroteathazard。becausefortheCelts，theVelchesortheGauls，thesemenwhoitisdesiredtomakepassforeloquent，atthattimedidnotknow，theyandtheirbards，howeithertoreadorwrite。
ButtoinferfromthatthattheGaulsorCelts，conqueredafterbyafewofCaesar’slegions，andbyahordeofBourguignons，andlastlybyahordeofSicamores，underoneClodovic，hadpreviouslysubjugatedthewholeworld，andgiventheirnamesandlawstoAsia，seemstometobeverystrange：thethingisnotmathematicallyimpossible，andifitbedemonstrated，Igiveway。itwouldbeveryunciviltorefusetotheVelcheswhatoneaccordstotheTartars。PhilosophicalDictionary：ArtsARTSTHATTHENEWNESSOFTHEARTSINNOWISEPROVESTHENEWNESSOFTHE
GLOBE
Allthephilosophersthoughtmattereternal。buttheartsappearnew。
Thereisnotone，eventotheartofmakingbread，whichisnotrecent。
ThefirstRomansatepap。andtheseconquerorsofsomanynationsneverthoughtofeitherwindmillsorwatermills。Thistruthseemsatfirsttocontradicttheantiquityoftheglobesuchasitis，orsupposesterriblerevolutionsinthisglobe。Theinundationsofbarbarianscanhardlyannihilateartswhichhavebecomenecessary。Isupposethatanarmyofnegroescomesamonguslikelocusts，fromthemountainsofCobonas，throughtheMonomotapa，theMonoemugi，theNosseguais，theMaracates。thattheyhavetraversedAbyssinia，Nubia，Egypt，Syria，AsiaMinor，thewholeofourEurope。thattheyhaveoverthrowneverything，ransackedeverything。therewillstillremainafewbakers，afewcobblers，afewtailors，afewcarpenters：thenecessaryartswillsurvive。onlyluxurywillbeannihilated。ItiswhatwasseenatthefalloftheRomanEmpire。theartofwritingevenbecameveryrare。almostallthosewhichcontributedtothecomfortoflifewererebornonlylongafter。Weinventnewoneseveryday。
Fromallthisonecanatbottomconcludenothingagainsttheantiquityoftheglobe。For，supposingeventhataninfluxofbarbarianshadmadeusloseentirelyalltheartseventotheartsofwritingandmakingbread。
supposing，further，thatfortenyearspastwehadnobread，pens，inkandpaper。thelandwhichhasbeenabletosubsistfortenyearswithouteatingbreadandwithoutwritingitsthoughts，wouldbeabletopassacentury，andahundredthousandcenturieswithouttheseaids。
Itisquiteclearthatmanandtheotheranimalscanexistverywellwithoutbakers，withoutnovelists，andwithouttheologians，witnessthewholeofAmerica，witnessthreequartersofourcontinent。
Thenewnessoftheartsamongusdoesnotthereforeprovethenewnessoftheglobe，aswasclaimedbyEpicurus，oneofourpredecessorsinreverie，whosupposedthatbychancetheeternalatomsindeclining，hadonedayformedourearth。Pomponacesaid：Seilmondononeeterno，pertuttisantiemoltovecchio。PhilosophicalDictionary：AstrologyASTROLOGYAstrologymayrestonbetterfoundationsthanMagic。ForifnoonehasseeneitherGoblins，orLemures，orDives，orPeris，orDemons，orCacodemons，thepredictionsofastrologershaveoftenbeenseentosucceed。
Ifoftwoastrologersconsultedonthelifeofachildandontheweather，onesaysthatthechildwilllivetomanhood，theothernot。ifoneannouncesrain，andtheotherfineweather，itisclearthatoneofthemwillbeaprophet。
Thegreatmisfortuneoftheastrologersisthattheskyhaschangedsincetherulesoftheartwereestablished。Thesun，whichattheequinoxwasinAriesinthetimeoftheArgonauts，isto-dayinTaurus。andtheastrologers，tothegreatill-fortuneoftheirart，to-dayattributetoonehouseofthesunwhatbelongsvisiblytoanother。However，thatisnotademonstrativereasonagainstastrology。Themastersoftheartdeceivethemselves。butitisnotdemonstratedthattheartcannotexist。
Thereisnoabsurdityinsaying：Suchandsuchachildisborninthewaxingofthemoon，duringstormyweather，attherisingofsuchandsuchstar。hisconstitutionhasbeenfeeble，andhislifeunhappyandshort。
whichistheordinarylotofpoorconstitutions：thischild，onthecontrary，wasbornwhenthemoonwasfull，thesunstrong，theweathercalm，attherisingofsuchandsuchstar。hisconstitutionhasbeengood，hislifelongandhappy。Iftheseobservationshadbeenrepeated，iftheyhadbeenfoundaccurate，experiencewouldhavebeenableaftersomethousandsofyearstoformanartwhichitwouldhavebeendifficulttodoubt：onewouldhavethought，withsomelikelihood，thatmenareliketreesandvegetableswhichmustbeplantedandsownonlyincertainseasons。Itwouldhavebeenofnoavailagainsttheastrologerstosay：Mysonwasbornatafortunatetime，andneverthelessdiedinhiscradle。theastrologerwouldhaveanswered：
Itoftenhappensthattreesplantedintheproperseasonperish。Iansweredtoyouforthestars，butIdidnotanswerfortheflawofconformationyoucommunicatedtoyourchild。Astrologyoperatesonlywhennocauseopposesitselftothegoodthestarscando。
Onewouldnothavesucceededbetterindiscreditingtheastrologerbysaying：Oftwochildrenwhowereborninthesameminute，onehasbeenking，theotherhasbeenonlychurchwardenofhisparish。fortheastrologercouldverywellhavedefendedhimselfbypointingoutthatthepeasantmadehisfortunewhenhebecamechurchwarden，astheprincewhenhebecameking。
AndifoneallegedthatabanditwhomSixtusV。hadhangedwasbornatthesametimeasSixtusV。，whofromapig-herdbecamePope，theastrologerswouldsayonehadmadeamistakeofafewseconds，andthatitisimpossible，accordingtotherules，forthesamestartogivethetriplecrownandthegibbet。Itisthenonlybecauseahostofexperiencesbeliedthepredictions，thatmenperceivedatlastthattheartwasillusory。butbeforebeingundeceived，theywerelongcredulous。
OneofthemostfamousmathematiciansinEurope，namedStoffler，whoflourishedinthefifteenthandsixteenthcenturies，andwholongworkedatthereformofthecalendar，proposedattheCouncilofConstance，foretoldauniversalfloodfortheyear1524。ThisfloodwastoarriveinthemonthofFebruary，andnothingismoreplausible。forSaturn，JupiterandMarsweretheninconjunctioninthesignofPisces。AllthepeoplesofEurope，AsiaandAfrica，whoheardspeakoftheprediction，weredismayed。Everyoneexpectedtheflood，despitetherainbow。SeveralcontemporaryauthorsrecordthattheinhabitantsofthemaritimeprovincesofGermanyhastenedtoselltheirlandsdirtcheaptothosewhohadmostmoney，andwhowerenotsocredulousasthey。Everyonearmedhimselfwithaboataswithanark。A
Toulousedoctor，namedAuriol，hadagreatarkmadeforhimself，hisfamilyandhisfriends。thesameprecautionsweretakenoveralargepartofItaly。
AtlastthemonthofFebruaryarrived，andnotadropofwaterfell：neverwasmonthmoredry，andneverweretheastrologersmoreembarrassed。Neverthelesstheywerenotdiscouraged，norneglectedamongus。almostallprincescontinuedtoconsultthem。
Ihavenotthehonourofbeingaprince。butthecelebratedCountofBoulainvilliersandanItalian，namedColonne，whohadmuchprestigeinParis，bothforetoldthatIshoulddieinfalliblyattheageofthirty-two。
Ihavebeensomaliciousastodeceivethemalreadybynearlythirtyyears，whereforeIhumblybegtheirpardon。PhilosophicalDictionary：Atheism，Part1ATHEISMSECTION1OFTHECOMPARISONSOOFTENMADEBETWEENATHEISMANDIDOLATRY
ItseemstomethatintheEncyclopedicDictionarytheopinionoftheJesuitRicheome，onatheistsandidolaters，hasnotbeenrefutedasstronglyasitmighthavebeen。opinionheldformerlybySt。Thomas，St。
GregoryofNazianze，St。CyprianandTertullian，opinionthatArnobiussetforthwithmuchforcewhenhesaidtothepagans：Doyounotblushtoreproachuswithdespisingyourgods，andisitnotmuchmorepropertobelieveinnoGodatall，thantoimputetotheminfamousactions？
opinionestablishedlongbeforebyPlutarch，whosaysthathemuchpreferspeopletosaythereisnoPlutarch，thantosay-’Thereisaninconstant，choleric，vindictivePlutarch’。opinionstrengthenedfinallybyalltheeffortofBayle’sdialectic。
Hereisthegroundofdispute，broughttofairlydazzlinglightbytheJesuitRicheome，andrenderedstillmoreplausiblebythewayBaylehasturnedittoaccount。
Therearetwoportersatthedoorofahouse。theyareasked：’Canonespeaktoyourmaster？’’Heisnotthere，’answersone。’Heisthere，’
answerstheother，’butheisbusymakingcounterfeitmoney，forgedcontracts，daggersandpoisons，toundothosewhohavebutaccomplishedhispurposes。’
Theatheistresemblesthefirstoftheseporters，thepagantheother。
Itisclear，therefore，thatthepaganoffendstheDeitymoregravelythandoestheatheist。
WithFatherRicheome’sandevenBayle’spermission，thatisnotatallthepositionofthematter。Forthefirstportertoresembletheatheists，hemustnotsay-Mymasterisnothere：heshouldsay-Ihavenomaster。
himwhomyouclaimtobemymasterdoesnotexist。mycomradeisafooltotellyouthatheisbusycompoundingpoisonsandsharpeningdaggerstoassassinatethosewhohaveexecutedhiscaprices。Nosuchbeingexistsintheworld。
Richeomehasreasoned，therefore，verybadly。AndBayle，inhissomewhatdiffusediscourses，hasforgottenhimselfsofarastodoRicheomethehonourofannotatinghimverymalapropos。
PlutarchseemstoexpresshimselfmuchbetterinpreferringpeoplewhoaffirmthereisnoPlutarch，tothosewhoclaimPlutarchtobeanunsociableman。Intruth，whatdoesitmattertohimthatpeoplesayheisnotintheworld？Butitmattersmuchtohimthathisreputationbenottarnished。
ItisnotthuswiththeSupremeBeing。
Plutarchevendoesnotbroachtherealobjectunderdiscussion。ItisnotaquestionofknowingwhooffendsmoretheSupremeBeing，whetheritbehewhodeniesHim，orhewhodistortsHim。Itisimpossibletoknowotherwisethanbyrevelation，ifGodisoffendedbytheemptythingsmensayofHim。
Withoutathought，philosophersfallalmostalwaysintotheideasofthecommonherd，insupposingGodtobejealousofHisglory，tobecholeric，tolovevengeance，andintakingrhetoricalfiguresforrealideas。Theinterestingsubjectforthewholeuniverse，istoknowifitbenotbetter，forthegoodofallmankind，toadmitarewardingandrevengefulGod，whorecompensesgoodactionshidden，andwhopunishessecretcrimes，thantoadmitnoneatall。
Bayleexhaustshimselfinrecountingalltheinfamiesimputedbyfabletothegodsofantiquity。Hisadversariesanswerhimwithcommonplacesthatsignifynothing。ThepartisansofBayleandhisenemieshavealmostalwaysfoughtwithoutmakingcontact。TheyallagreethatJupiterwasanadulterer，Venusawanton，Mercuryarogue。But，asIseeit，thatisnotwhatneedsconsideration。OnemustdistinguishbetweenOvid’sMetamorphosesandthereligionoftheancientRomans。ItisquitecertainthatneveramongtheRomansorevenamongtheGreeks，wasthereatemplededicatedtoMercurytherogue，Venusthewanton，Jupitertheadulterer。
ThegodwhomtheRomanscalledDeusoptimus，verygood，verygreat，wasnotreputedtoencourageClodiustosleepwithCaesar’swife，orCaesartobeKingNicomedes’Sodomite。
CicerodoesnotsaythatMercuryincitedVerrestostealSicily，althoughMercury，inthefable，hadstolenApollo’scows。TherealreligionoftheancientswasthatJupiter，verygoodandveryjust，andthesecondarygods，punishedtheperjurerintheinfernalregions。LikewisetheRomanswerelongthemostreligiousobserversofoaths。Religionwasveryuseful，therefore，totheRomans。TherewasnocommandtobelieveinLeda’stwoeggs，inthechangingofInachus’daughterintoacow，intheloveofApolloforHyacinthus。
OnemustnotsaythereforethatthereligionofNumadishonouredtheDeity。Foralongtime，therefore，peoplehavebeendisputingoverachimera。
whichhappensonlytoooften。
Thequestionisthenaskedwhetheranationofatheistscanexist。itseemstomethatonemustdistinguishbetweenthenationproperlysocalled，andasocietyofphilosophersabovethenation。Itisverytruethatineverycountrythepopulacehasneedofthegreatestcurb，andthatifBaylehadhadonlyfiveorsixhundredpeasantstogovern，hewouldnothavefailedtoannouncetothemtheexistenceofaGod，rewarderandrevenger。
ButBaylewouldnothavespokenofHimtotheEpicureanswhowererichpeople，fondofrest，cultivatingallthesocialvirtues，andaboveallfriendship，fleeingtheembarrassmentanddangerofpublicaffairs，infineleadingacomfortableandinnocentlife。Itseemstomethatinthiswaythedisputeisfinishedasregardssocietyandpolitics。
Forentirelysavageraces，ithasbeensaidalreadythatonecannotcountthemamongeithertheatheistsorthetheists。AskingthemtheirbeliefwouldbelikeaskingthemiftheyareforAristotleorDmocritus：
theyknownothing。theyarenotatheistsanymorethantheyarePeripatetics。
Inthiscase，Ishallanswerthatthewolveslivelikethis，andthatanassemblyofcannibalbarbarianssuchasyousupposethemisnotasociety。
andIshallalwaysaskyouif，whenyouhavelentyourmoneytosomeoneinyoursociety，youwantneitheryourdebtor，noryourattorney，noryourjudge，tobelieveinGod。OFMODERNATHEISTS。REASONSOFTHEWORSHIPPERSOFGOD
Weareintelligentbeings：intelligentbeingscannothavebeenformedbyacrude，blind，insensiblebeing：thereiscertainlysomedifferencebetweentheideasofNewtonandthedungofamule。Newton’sintelligence，therefore，camefromanotherintelligence。
Whenweseeabeautifulmachine，wesaythatthereisagoodengineer，andthatthisengineerhasexcellentjudgment。Theworldisassuredlyanadmirablemachine。thereforethereisintheworldanadmirableintelligence，whereveritmaybe。Thisargumentisold，andnonetheworseforthat。
Alllivingbodiesarecomposedoflevers，ofpulleys，whichfunctionaccordingtothelawsofmechanics。ofliquidswhichthelawsofhydrostaticscausetocirculateperpetually。andwhenonethinksthatallthesebeingshaveaperceptionquiteunrelatedtotheirorganization，oneisoverwhelmedwithsurprise。
Themovementoftheheavenlybodies，thatofourlittleearthroundthesun，alloperatebyvirtueofthemostprofoundmathematicallaw。HowPlatowhowasnotawareofoneoftheselaws，eloquentbutvisionaryPlato，whosaidthattheearthwaserectedonanequilateraltriangle，andthewateronaright-angledtriangle。strangePlato，whosaystherecanbeonlyfiveworlds，becausethereareonlyfiveregularbodies：how，Isay，didPlato，whodidnotknowevensphericaltrigonometry，haveneverthelessageniussufficientlyfine，aninstinctsufficientlyhappy，tocallGodtheEternalGeometer，tofeeltheexistenceofacreativeintelligence？
Spinozahimselfadmitsit。Itisimpossibletostriveagainstthistruthwhichsurroundsusandwhichpressesonusfromallsides。REASONSOFTHEATHEISTS
Notwithstanding，Ihaveknownrefractorypersonswhosaythatthereisnocreativeintelligenceatall，andthatmovementalonehasbyitselfformedallthatweseeandallthatweare。Theytellyoubrazenly：
Thecombinationofthisuniversewaspossible，seeingthatthecombinationexists：thereforeitwaspossiblethatmovementalonearrangedit。Takefouroftheheavenlybodiesonly，Mars，Venus，MercuryandtheEarth：letusthinkfirstonlyoftheplacewheretheyare，settingasidealltherest，andletusseehowmanyprobabilitieswehavethatmovementaloneputthemintheirrespectiveplaces。Wehaveonlytwenty-fourchancesinthiscombination，thatis，thereareonlytwenty-fourchancesagainstonetobetthatthesebodieswillnotbewheretheyarewithreferencetoeachother。LetusaddtothesefourglobesthatofJupiter。therewillbeonlyahundredandtwentyagainstonetobetthatJupiter，Mars，Venus，Mercuryandourglobe，willnotbeplacedwhereweseethem。
AddfinallySaturn：therewillbeonlysevenhundredandtwentychancesagainstone，forputtingthesesixbigplanetsinthearrangementtheypreserveamongthemselves，accordingtotheirgivendistances。Itisthereforedemonstratedthatinsevenhundredandtwentythrows，movementalonehasbeenabletoputthesesixprincipalplanetsintheirorder。
Takethenallthesecondarybodies，alltheircombinations，alltheirmovements，allthebeingsthatvegetate，thatlive，thatfeel，thatthink，thatfunctioninalltheglobes，youwillhavebuttoincreasethenumberofchances。multiplythisnumberinalleternity，uptothenumberwhichourfeeblenesscalls’infinity，’therewillalwaysbeaunityinfavouroftheformationoftheworld，suchasitis，bymovementalone：thereforeitispossiblethatinalleternitythemovementofmatteralonehasproducedtheentireuniversesuchasitexists。Itiseveninevitablethatineternitythiscombinationshouldoccur。Thus，theysay，notonlyisitpossiblefortheworldtobewhatitisbymovementalone，butitwasimpossibleforitnottobelikewiseafteraninfinityofcombinations。ANSWER
Allthissuppositionseemstomeprodigiouslyfantastic，fortworeasons。
first，thatinthisuniversethereareintelligentbeings，andthatyouwouldnotknowhowtoproveitpossibleformovementalonetoproduceunderstanding。
second，that，fromyourownavowal，thereisinfinityagainstonetobet，thatanintelligentcreativecauseanimatestheuniverse。Whenoneisalonefacetofacewiththeinfinite，onefeelsverysmall。
Again，Spinozahimselfadmitsthisintelligence。itisthebasisofhissystem。Youhavenotreadit，anditmustberead。Whydoyouwanttogofurtherthanhim，andinfoolisharroganceplungeyourfeeblereasoninanabyssintowhichSpinozadarednotdescend？Doyourealizethoroughlytheextremefollyofsayingthatitisablindcausethatarrangesthatthesquareofaplanet’srevolutionisalwaystothesquareoftherevolutionsofotherplanets，asthecubeofitsdistanceistothecubeofthedistancesoftheotherstothecommoncentre？Eithertheheavenlybodiesaregreatgeometers，ortheEternalGeometerhasarrangedtheheavenlybodies。
ButwhereistheEternalGeometer？isHeinoneplaceorinallplaces，withoutoccupyingspace？Ihavenoidea。IsitofHisownsubstancethatHehasarrangedallthings？Ihavenoidea。IsHeimmensewithoutquantityandwithoutquality？Ihavenoidea。AllthatIknowisthatonemustworshipHimandbejust。NEWOBJECTIONOFAMODERNATHEIST
Canonesaythatthepartsofanimalsconformtotheirneeds：whataretheseneeds？preservationandpropagation。Isitastonishingthenthat，oftheinfinitecombinationswhichchancehasproduced，therehasbeenabletosubsistonlythosethathaveorgansadaptedtothenourishmentandcontinuationoftheirspecies？havenotalltheothersperishedofnecessity？ANSWER
Thisobjection，oft-repeatedsinceLucretius，issufficientlyrefutedbythegiftofsensationinanimals，andbythegiftofintelligenceinman。Howshouldcombinationswhichchancehasproduced，producethissensationandthisintelligenceashasjustbeensaidintheprecedingparagraph？Withoutanydoubtthelimbsofanimalsaremadefortheirneedswithincomprehensibleart，andyouarenotsoboldastodenyit。Yousaynomoreaboutit。Youfeelthatyouhavenothingtoanswertothisgreatargumentwhichnaturebringsagainstyou。Thedispositionofafly’swing，asnail’sorganssufficestobringyoutotheground。MAUPERTUIS’OBJECTION
Modernnaturalphilosophershavebutexpandedtheseso-calledarguments，oftentheyhavepushedthemtotriflingandindecency。TheyhavefoundGodinthefoldsoftheSkinoftherhinoceros：onecould，withequalreason，denyHisexistencebecauseofthetortoise’sshell。ANSWER
Whatreasoning！Thetortoiseandtherhinoceros，andallthedifferentspecies，areproofequallyintheirinfinitevarietyofthesamecause，thesamedesign，thesameaim，whicharepreservation，generationanddeath。
Thereisunityinthisinfinitevariety。theshellandtheskinbearwitnessequally。What！denyGodbecauseshelldoesnotresembleleather！
Andjournalistshavebeenprodigalofeulogiesabouttheseineptitudes，eulogiestheyhavenotgiventoNewtonandLocke，bothworshippersoftheDeitywhospokewithfullknowledge。MAUPERTUIS’OBJECTION
Ofwhatusearebeautyandproportionintheconstructionofthesnake？
Theymayhaveuses，somesay，ofwhichweareignorant。Atleastletusbesilentthen。letusnotadmireananimalwhichweknowonlybytheharmitdoes。ANSWER
Andbeyousilenttoo，seeingthatyoucannotconceiveitsutilityanymorethanIcan。oravowthatinreptileseverythingisadmirablyproportioned。
Somearevenomous，youhavebeensoyourself。Herethereisquestiononlyoftheprodigiousartwhichhasformedsnakes，quadrupeds，birds，fishandbipeds。Thisartissufficientlyevident。Youaskwhythesnakedoesharm？Andyou，whyhaveyoudoneharmsomanytimes？Whyhaveyoubeenapersecutor？whichisthegreatestofallcrimesforaphilosopher。
Thatisanotherquestion，aquestionofmoralandphysicalill。Forlonghasoneaskedwhytherearesomanysnakesandsomanywickedmenworsethansnakes。Iffliescouldreason，theywouldcomplaintoGodoftheexistenceofspiders。buttheywouldadmitwhatMinervaadmittedaboutArachne，inthefable，thatshearrangesherwebmarvellously。
OneisboundthereforetorecognizeanineffableintelligencewhichevenSpinozaadmitted。Onemustagreethatthisintelligenceshinesinthevilestinsectasinthestars。Andasregardsmoralandphysicalill，whatcanonesay，whatdo？consoleoneselfbyenjoyingphysicalandmoralgood，inworshippingtheEternalBeingwhohasmadeoneandpermittedtheother。
Onemorewordonthissubject。Atheismistheviceofafewintelligentpersons，andsuperstitionistheviceoffools。Butrogues！whatarethey？
rogues。PhilosophicalDictionary：Atheism，Section2ATHEISM，SECTIONIILetussayawordonthemoralquestionsetinactionbyBayle，toknowifasocietyofatheistscouldexist？Letusmarkfirstofallinthismatterwhatistheenormouscontradictionofmeninthisdispute。
thosewhohaverisenagainstBayle’sopinionwiththegreatestardour。
thosewhohavedeniedwiththegreatestinsultsthepossibilityofasocietyofatheists，havesincemaintainedwiththesameintrepiditythatatheismisthereligionofthegovernmentofChina。
AssuredlytheyarequitemistakenabouttheChinesegovernment。theyhadbuttoreadtheedictsoftheemperorsofthisvastcountrytohaveseenthattheseedictsaresermons，andthateverywherethereismentionoftheSupremeBeing，ruler，revenger，rewarder。
Butatthesametimetheyarenotlessmistakenontheimpossibilityofasocietyofatheists。andIdonotknowhowMr。Baylecanhaveforgottenonestrikingexamplewhichwascapableofmakinghiscausevictorious。
Inwhatdoesasocietyofatheistsappearimpossible？Itisthatonejudgesthatmenwhohadnocheckcouldneverlivetogether。thatlawscandonothingagainstsecretcrimes。thatarevengefulGodwhopunishesinthisworldortheotherthewickedwhohaveescapedhumanjusticeisnecessary。
ThelawsofMoses，itistrue，didnotteachalifetocome，didnotthreatenpunishmentsafterdeath，didnotteachthefirstJewstheimmortalityofthesoul。buttheJews，farfrombeingatheists，farfrombelievinginavoidingdivinevengeance，werethemostreligiousofallmen。NotonlydidtheybelieveintheexistenceofaneternalGod，buttheybelievedHimalwayspresentamongthem。theytrembledlesttheybepunishedinthemselves，intheirwives，intheirchildren，intheirposterity，evenuntothefourthgeneration。thiscurbwasverypotent。
But，amongtheGentiles，manysectshadnocurb。thescepticsdoubtedeverything：theacademicianssuspendedjudgmentoneverything。theEpicureanswerepersuadedthattheDeitycouldnotmixHimselfintheaffairsofmen。
andatbottom，theyadmittednoDeity。Theywereconvincedthatthesoulisnotasubstance，butafacultywhichisbornandwhichperisheswiththebody。consequentlytheyhadnoyokeotherthanmoralityandhonour。
TheRomansenatorsandknightswereveritableatheists，forthegodsdidnotexistformenwhoneitherfearednorhopedanythingfromthem。TheRomansenateinthetimeofCaesarandCicero，wasthereforereallyanassemblyofatheists。
Thatgreatorator，inhisharangueforCluentius，saystothewholesenateinassembly：Whatilldoesdeathdohim？werejectalltheineptfablesofthenetherregions：ofwhatthenhasdeathdeprivedhim？ofnothingbuttheconsciousnessofsuffering。
DoesnotCaesar，thefriendofCataline，wishingtosavehisfriend’slifeagainstthissameCicero，objecttohimthattomakeacriminaldieisnottopunishhimatall，thatdeathisnothing，thatitismerelytheendofourills，thatitisamomentmorehappythancalamitous？AnddonotCiceroandthewholesenatesurrendertothesereasons？Theconquerorsandthelegislatorsoftheknownuniverseformedvisiblythereforeasocietyofmenwhofearednothingfromthegods，whowererealatheists。
FurtheronBayleexamineswhetheridolatryismoredangerousthanatheism，ifitisagreatercrimenottobelieveintheDeitythantohaveunworthyopinionsthereof：inthatheisofPlutarch’sopinion。hebelievesitisbettertohavenoopinionthantohaveabadopinion。butwithalldeferencetoPlutarch，itwasclearlyinfinitelybetterfortheGreekstofearCeres，NeptuneandJupiter，thantofearnothingatall。Thesanctityofoathsisclearlynecessary，andoneshouldhavemoreconfidenceinthosewhobelievethatafalseoathwillbepunished，thaninthosewhothinktheycanmakeafalseoathwithimpunity。Itisindubitablethatinacivilizedtown，itisinfinitelymoreusefultohaveareligion，evenabadone，thantohavenoneatall。
Itlooks，therefore，thatBayleshouldhaveexaminedratherwhichisthemoredangerous，fanaticismoratheism。Fanaticismiscertainlyathousandtimesmoredeadly。foratheisminspiresnobloodypassion，whereasfanaticismdoes：atheismisnotopposedtocrime，butfanaticismcausescrimestobecommitted。FanaticscommittedthemassacresofSt。Bartholomew。Hobbespassedforanatheist。heledatranquilandinnocentlife。ThefanaticsofhistimedelugedEngland，ScotlandandIrelandwithblood。Spinozawasnotonlyatheist，buthetaughtatheism。itwasnotheassuredlywhotookpartinthejudicialassassinationofBarneveldt。itwasnothewhotorethebrothersDeWitinpieces，andwhoatethemgrilled。
Theatheistsareforthemostpartimpudentandmisguidedscholarswhoreasonbadly，andwhonotbeingabletounderstandthecreation，theoriginofevil，andotherdifficulties，haverecoursetothehypothesisoftheeternityofthingsandofinevitability。
Theambitious，thesensual，havehardlytimeforreasoning，andforembracingabadsystem。theyhaveotherthingstodothancomparingLucretiuswithSocrates。Thatishowthingsgoamongus。
ThatwasnothowthingswentwiththeRomansenatewhichwasalmostentirelycomposedofatheistsintheoryandinpractice，thatistosay，whobelievedinneitheraProvidencenorafuturelife。thissenatewasanassemblyofphilosophers，ofsensualistsandambitiousmen，allverydangerous，whoruinedtherepublic。Epicureanismexistedundertheemperors：
theatheistsofthesenatehadbeenrebelsinthetimeofSyllaandCaesar：
underAugustusandTiberiustheywereatheistslaves。
Iwouldnotwishtohavetodealwithanatheistprince，whowouldfindittohisinteresttohavemegroundtopowderinamortar：Ishouldbequitesureofbeinggroundtopowder。IfIwereasovereign，Iwouldnotwishtohavetodealwithatheistcourtiers，whoseinterestitwouldbetopoisonme：Ishouldhavetobetakingantidoteseveryday。Itisthereforeabsolutelynecessaryforprincesandforpeoples，thattheideaofaSupremeBeing，creator，ruler，rewarder，revenger，shallbedeeplyengravedinpeople’sminds。
Baylesays，inhisThoughtsontheComets，thatthereareatheistpeoples。TheCaffres，theHottentots，theTopinambous，andmanyothersmallnations，havenoGod：theyneitherdenynoraffirm。theyhaveneverheardspeakofHim。tellthemthatthereisaGod：theywillbelieveiteasily。
tellthemthateverythinghappensthroughthenatureofthings。theywillbelieveyouequally。Toclaimthattheyareatheistsistomakethesameimputationasifonesaidtheyareanti-Cartesian。theyareneitherfornoragainstDescartes。Theyarerealchildren。achildisneitheratheistnordeist，heisnothing。
Whatconclusionshallwedrawfromallthis？Thatatheismisaveryperniciousmonsterinthosewhogovern。thatitisalsoperniciousinthepersonsaroundstatesmen，althoughtheirlivesmaybeinnocent，becausefromtheircabinetsitmaypiercerighttothestatesmenthemselves。thatifitisnotsodeadlyasfanaticism，itisnearlyalwaysfataltovirtue。
Letusaddespeciallythattherearelessatheiststo-daythanever，sincephilosophershaverecognizedthatthereisnobeingvegetatingwithoutgerm，nogermwithoutaplan，etc。andthatwheatcomesinnowisefromputrefaction。
Somegeometerswhoarenotphilosophershaverejectedfinalcauses，butrealphilosophersadmitthem。acatechistproclaimsGodtothechildren，andNewtondemonstratesHimtothelearned。
Ifthereareatheists，whommustoneblame，ifnotthemercenarytyrantsofsouls，who，makingusrevoltagainsttheirknaveries，forceafewweakmindstodenytheGodwhomthesemonstersdishonour。Howmanytimeshavethepeople’sleechesbroughtoppressedcitizenstothepointofrevoltingagainsttheirking！
Menfattenedonoursubstancecrytous：Bepersuadedthatashe-asshasspoken。believethatafishhasswallowedamanandhasgivenhimupattheendofthreedayssafeandsoundontheshore。havenodoubtthattheGodoftheuniverseorderedoneJewishprophettoeatexcrementEzekiel，andanotherprophettobuytwowhoresandtomakewiththemsonsofwhoredomHosea。ThesearetheverywordsthattheGodoftruthandpurityhasbeenmadetoutter。believeahundredthingseithervisiblyabominableormathematicallyimpossible。unlessyoudo，theGodofpitywillburnyou，notonlyduringmillionsofthousandsofmillionsofcenturiesinthefireofhell，butthroughalleternity，whetheryouhaveabody，whetheryouhavenot。
Theseinconceivableabsurditiesrevoltweakandrashminds，aswellaswiseandresoluteminds。Theysay：OurmasterspaintGodtousasthemostinsensateandthemostbarbarousofallbeings。thereforethereisnoGod。buttheyshouldsay：thereforeourmastersattributetoGodtheirabsurditiesandtheirfuries，thereforeGodisthecontraryofwhattheyproclaim，thereforeGodisaswiseandasgoodastheymakehimoutmadandwicked。Itisthusthatwisemenaccountforthings。Butifabigothearsthem，hedenouncesthemtoamagistratewhoisawatchdogofthepriests。andthiswatchdoghasthemburnedoveraslowfire，inthebeliefthatheisavengingandimitatingthedivinemajestyheoutrages。PhilosophicalDictionary：AuthorityAUTHORITYWretchedhumanbeings，whetheryouweargreenrobes，turbans，blackrobesorsurplices，cloaksandneckbands，neverseektouseauthoritywherethereisquestiononlyofreason，orconsenttobescoffedatthroughoutthecenturiesasthemostimpertinentofallmen，andtosufferpublichatredasthemostunjust。
AhundredtimeshasonespokentoyouoftheinsolentabsurditywithwhichyoucondemnedGalileo，andIspeaktoyouforthehundredandfirst，andIhopeyouwillkeeptheanniversaryofitforever。IdesirethattherebegravedonthedoorofyourHolyOffice：
Heresevencardinals，assistedbyminorbrethren，hadthemasterofthoughtinItalythrownintoprisonattheageofseventy。madehimfastonbreadandwaterbecauseheinstructedthehumanrace，andbecausetheywereignorant。
TherewaspronouncedasentenceinfavourofAristotle’scategories，andtherewasdecreedlearnedlyandequitablythepenaltyofthegalleysforwhoevershouldbesufficientlydaringastohaveanopiniondifferentfromthatoftheStagyrite，whosebookswereformerlyburnedbytwocouncils。
Furtheronafaculty，whichhadnotgreatfaculties，issuedadecreeagainstinnateideas，andlateradecreeforinnateideas，withoutthesaidfacultybeinginformedbyitsbeadleswhatanideais。
Intheneighbouringschoolsjudicialproceedingswereinstitutedagainstthecirculationoftheblood。
Anactionwasstartedagainstinnoculation，andpartieshavebeensubpoenaed。
AttheCustomsofthoughttwenty-onefoliovolumeswereseized，inwhichitwasstatedtreacherouslyandwickedlythattrianglesalwayshavethreeangles。thatafatherisolderthanhisson。thatRheaSilvialosthervirginitybeforegivingbirthtoherchild，andthatflourisnotanoakleaf。
Inanotheryearwasjudgedtheaction：Utrumchimerabombinansinvacuopossitcomederesecundasintentiones，andwasdecidedintheaffirmative。
Inconsequence，everyonethoughtthemselvesfarsuperiortoArchimedes，Euclid，Cicero，Pliny，andstruttedproudlyabouttheUniversityquarter。PhilosophicalDictionary：AuthorsAUTHORSAuthorisagenericnamewhichcan，likethenameofallotherprofessions，signifygoodorbad，worthyofrespectorridicule，usefulandagreeable，ortrashforthewastepaperbasket。
Wethinkthattheauthorofagoodworkshouldrefrainfromthreethings-fromputtinghisname，saveverymodestly，fromtheepistlededicatory，andfromthepreface。Othersshouldrefrainfromafourth-thatis，fromwriting。
Prefacesareanotherstumbling-block。The’I，’saidPascal，ishateful。
Speakaslittleofyourselfaspossible。foryoumustknowthatthereader’sself-esteemisasgreatasyours。Hewillneverforgiveyouforwantingtocondemnhimtohaveagoodopinionofyou。Itisforyourbooktospeakforyou，ifitcomestobereadbythecrowd。
Ifyouwanttobeanauthor，ifyouwanttowriteabook。reflectthatitmustbeusefulandnew，oratleastinfinitelyagreeable。
Ifanignoramus，apamphleteer，presumestocriticizewithoutdiscrimination，youcanconfoundhim。butmakerarementionofhim，forfearofsullyingyourwritings。
Ifyouareattackedasregardsyourstyle，neverreply。itisforyourworkalonetomakeanswer。
Someonesaysyouareill，becontentthatyouarewell，withoutwantingtoprovetothepublicthatyouareinperfecthealth。Andaboveallrememberthatthepubliccarespreciouslittlewhetheryouarewellorill。
Ahundredauthorsmakecompilationsinordertohavebread，andtwentypamphleteersmakeexcerptsfromthesecompilations，orapologyforthem，orcriticismandsatireofthem，alsowiththeideaofhavingbread，becausetheyhavenoothertrade。AllthesepersonsgoonFridaytothepolicelieutenantofParistoaskpermissiontoselltheirrubbish。Theyhaveaudienceimmediatelyafterthestrumpetswhodonotlookatthembecausetheyknowthattheseareunderhanddealings。
Realauthorsarethosewhohavesucceededinoneoftherealarts，inepicpoetry，intragedyorcomedy，inhistoryorphilosophy，whohavetaughtmenorcharmedthem。Theothersofwhomwehavespokenare，amongmenofletters，whatwaspsareamongbirds。PhilosophicalDictionary：BanishmentBANISHMENTBanishmentforaperiodorforlife，punishmenttowhichonecondemnsdelinquents，orthoseonewishestoappearassuch。
Notlongagoonebanishedoutsidethesphereofjurisdictionapettythief，apettyforger，amanguiltyofanactofviolence。Theresultwasthathebecameabigrobber，aforgeronabigscale，andmurdererwithinthesphereofanotherjurisdiction。Itisasifwethrewintoourneighbours’
fieldsthestoneswhichincommodeusinourown。
Thosewhohavewrittenontherightsofmen，havebeenmuchtormentedtoknowforcertainifamanwhohasbeenbanishedfromhisfatherlandstillbelongstohisfatherland。Itisnearlythesamethingasaskingifagamblerwhohasbeendrivenawayfromthegaming-tableisstilloneofthegamblers。
Iftoeverymanitispermittedbynaturalrighttochoosehisfatherland，hewhohaslosttherightofcitizencan，withallthemorereason，chooseforhimselfanewfatherland。butcanhebeararmsagainsthisformerfellow-citizens？
Thereareathousandexamplesofit。HowmanyFrenchprotestantsnaturalizedinHolland，EnglandandGermanyhaveservedagainstFrance，andagainstarmiescontainingtheirownkindredandtheirownbrothers！TheGreekswhowereintheKingofPersia’sarmiesmadewarontheGreekstheirformercompatriots。OnehasseentheSwissintheDutchservicefireontheSwissintheFrenchservice。Itisstillworsethantofightagainstthosewhohavebanishedyou。for，afterall，itseemslessdishonesttodrawtheswordforvengeancethantodrawitformoney。PhilosophicalDictionary：BankruptcyBANKRUPTCYFewbankruptcieswereknowninFrancebeforethesixteenthcentury。
Thegreatreasonisthattherewerenobankers。Lombards，Jewslentonsecurityattenpercent：tradewasconductedincash。Exchange，remittancestoforeigncountrieswereasecretunknowntoalljudges。
Itisnotthatmanypeoplewerenotruined。butthatwasnotcalledbankruptcy。onesaiddiscomfiture。thiswordissweetertotheear。OneusedthewordruptureasdidtheBoulonnais。butrupturedoesnotsoundsowell。
ThebankruptciescametousfromItaly，bancorotto，bancarotta，gambarottaelagiustizianonimpicar。Everymerchanthadhisbenchbanco
intheplaceofexchange。andwhenhehadconductedhisbusinessbadly，declaredhimselffallito，andabandonedhispropertytohiscreditorswiththeprovisothatheretainedagoodpartofitforhimself，hefreeandreputedaveryuprightman。Therewasnothingtobesaidtohim，hisbenchwasbroken，bancorotto，bancarotta。hecouldeven，incertaintowns，keepallhispropertyandbaulkhiscreditors，providedheseatedhimselfbare-bottomedonastoneinthepresenceofallthemerchants。
ThiswasamildderivationoftheoldRomanproverb-solvereautinaereautincute，topayeitherwithone’smoneyorone’sskin。Butthiscustomnolongerexists。creditorshavepreferredtheirmoneytoabankrupt’shinderparts。