Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire
page 83 of 338 (24%)
page 83 of 338 (24%)
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them? to assemble the states of the human race. But from the manner in
which men are made, it would be a fresh contradiction if they were to agree. Assemble all the rabbits of the universe, there will not be two different opinions among them. I know only two kinds of immutable beings on the earth, mathematicians and animals; they are led by two invariable rules, demonstration and instinct: and even the mathematicians have had some disputes, but the animals have never varied. The contrasts, the light and shade in which public men are represented in history, are not contradictions, they are faithful portraits of human nature. Every day people condemn and admire Alexander the murderer of Clitus, but the avenger of Greece, the conqueror of the Persians, and the founder of Alexandria; Cæsar the debauchee, who robs the public treasury of Rome to reduce his country to dependence; but whose clemency equals his valour, and whose intelligence equals his courage; Mohammed, impostor, brigand; but the sole religious legislator who had courage, and who founded a great empire; Cromwell the enthusiast, a rogue in his fanaticism even, judicial assassin of his king, but as profound politician as brave warrior. A thousand contrasts frequently crowd together, and these contrasts are in nature; they are no more astonishing than a fine day followed by |
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