It would be very foolish to write for the common man or to attempt to cure his prejudices all at once.  We write but for those who read and reason; the people read but little, and reason less.  Sensible and peaceable people enlighten themselves; their light spreads itself gradually, and in time reaches the people.  On the other hand, those who deceive men, do they not often take the trouble themselves of undeceiving them?

CXCVI.—­FUTILITY AND DANGER OF THEOLOGY.  WISE COUNSELS TO PRINCES.

If theology is a branch of commerce useful to theologians, it has been demonstrated to be superfluous and injurious to the rest of society.  The interests of men will succeed in opening their eyes sooner or later.  The sovereigns and the people will some day discover the indifference and the contempt that a futile science deserves which serves but to trouble men without making them better.  They will feel the uselessness of many expensive practices, which do not at all contribute to public welfare; they will blush at many pitiful quarrels, which will cease to disturb the tranquillity of the States as soon as they cease to attach any importance to them.

Princes! instead of taking part in the senseless contentions of your priests, instead of espousing foolishly their impertinent quarrels, instead of striving to bring all your subjects to uniform opinions, occupy yourselves with their happiness in this world, and do not trouble yourselves about the fate which awaits them in another.  Govern them justly, give them good laws, respect their liberty and their property, superintend their education, encourage them in their labors, reward their talents and their virtues, repress their licentiousness, and do not trouble yourselves upon what they think about objects useless to them and to you.  Then you will no longer need fictions to make yourselves obeyed; you will become the only guides of your subjects; their ideas will be uniform about the feelings of love and respect which will be your due.  Theological fables are useful but to tyrants, who do not understand the art of ruling over reasonable beings.

CXCVII.—­FATAL EFFECTS OF RELIGION UPON THE PEOPLE AND THE PRINCES.

Does it require the efforts of genius to comprehend that what is beyond man, is not made for men; that what is supernatural, is not made for natural beings; that impenetrable mysteries are not made for limited minds?  If theologians are foolish enough to dispute about subjects which they acknowledge to be unintelligible to themselves, should society take a part in their foolish quarrels?  Must human blood flow in order to give value to the conjectures of a few obstinate visionists?  If it is very difficult to cure the theologians of their mania and the people of their prejudices, it is at least very easy to prevent the extravagances of the one and the folly of the other