People conversed together only about philosophy, political economy and especially humanity, and the means for relieving the people, (le bon peuple), which two words were in everybody’s mouth.”  To this must be added equality; Thomas, in a eulogy of Marshal Saxe says, “I cannot conceal it, he was of royal blood,” and this phrase was admired.  A few of the heads of old parliamentary or seigniorial families maintain the old patrician and monarchical standard, the new generation succumbing to novelty.  “For ourselves,” says one of them belonging to the youthful class of the nobility,[49] “with no regret for the past or anxiety for the future, we marched gaily along over a carpet of flowers concealing an abyss.  Mocking censors of antiquated ways, of the feudal pride of our fathers and of their sober etiquette, everything antique seemed to us annoying and ridiculous.  The gravity of old doctrines oppressed us.  The cheerful philosophy of Voltaire amused and took possession of us.  Without fathoming that of graver writers we admired it for its stamp of fearlessness and resistance to arbitrary power. . . .  Liberty, what-ever its language, delighted us with its spirit, and equality on account of its convenience.  It is a pleasant thing to descend so long as one thinks one can ascend when one pleases; we were at once enjoying, without forethought, the advantages of the patriciate and the sweets of a commoner philosophy.  Thus, although our privileges were at stake, and the remnants of our former supremacy were undermined under our feet, this little warfare gratified us.  Inexperienced in the attack, we simply admired the spectacle.  Combats with the pen and with words did not appear to us capable of damaging our existing superiority, which several centuries of possession had made us regard as impregnable.  The forms of the edifice remaining intact, we could not see how it could be mined from within.  We laughed at the serious alarm of the old court and of the clergy which thundered against the spirit of innovation.  We applauded republican scenes in the theater,[50] philosophic discourses in our Academies, the bold publications of the literary class."- If inequality still subsists in the distribution of offices and of places, “equality begins to reign in society.  On many occasions literary titles obtain precedence over titles of nobility.  Courtiers and servants of the passing fashion, paid their court to Marmontel, d’Alembert and Raynal.  We frequently saw in company literary men of the second and third rank greeted and receiving attentions not extended to the nobles of the provinces. . . .  Institutions remained monarchical, but manners and customs became republican.  A word of praise from d’Alembert or Diderot was more esteemed than the most marked favor from a prince. . .  It was impossible to pass an evening with d’Alembert, or at the Hôtel de Larochefoucauld among the friends of Turgot, to attend a breakfast at the Abbé Raynal’s,