PART III

And finally, as it is not enough, before commencing to rebuild the house
in which we live, that it be pulled down, and materials and builders
provided, or that we engage in the work ourselves, according to a plan
which we have beforehand carefully drawn out, but as it is likewise
necessary that we be furnished with some other house in which we may live
commodiously during the operations, so that I might not remain irresolute
in my actions, while my reason compelled me to suspend my judgement, and
that I might not be prevented from living thenceforward in the greatest
possible felicity, I formed a provisory code of morals, composed of three
or four maxims, with which I am desirous to make you acquainted.

The first was to obey the laws and customs of my country, adhering firmly
to the faith in which, by the grace of God, I had been educated from my
childhood and regulating my conduct in every other matter according to the
most moderate opinions, and the farthest removed from extremes, which
should happen to be adopted in practice with general consent of the most
judicious of those among whom I might be living. For as I had from that
time begun to hold my own opinions for nought because I wished to subject
them all to examination, I was convinced that I could not do better than
follow in the meantime the opinions of the most judicious; and although
there are some perhaps among the Persians and Chinese as judicious as
among ourselves, expediency seemed to dictate that I should regulate my
practice conformably to the opinions of those with whom I should have to
live; and it appeared to me that, in order to ascertain the real opinions
of such, I ought rather to take cognizance of what they practised than of
what they said, not only because, in the corruption of our manners, there
are few disposed to speak exactly as they believe, but also because very