You can well see that these denominations have become idle and that the work of classifying, whatever method one desired to use, would be impracticable.

Men are only over or under one another because of more or less reason or morality.  Instruction which develops only egoistic sensuality is not as good as the ignorance of the proletarian, honest by instinct or by custom.  This compulsory education which we all desire through respect for human rights, is not, however, a panacea whose miracles need to be exaggerated.  Evil natures will find there only more ingenious and more hidden means to do evil.  It will be as in all the things that man uses and abuses, both the poison and the antidote.  It is an illusion that one can find an infallible remedy for our woes.  We have to seek from day to day, all the means immediately possible, we must think of nothing else in practical life except the amelioration of habits and the reconciliation of interests.  France is agonizing, that is certain; we are all sick, all corrupt, all ignorant, all discouraged:  to say that it was written, that it had to be so, that it has always been and will always be, is to begin again the fable of the pedagogue and the child who is drowning.  You might as well say at once.

It is all the same to me; but if you add:  That does not concern me, you are wrong.  The deluge comes and death captures us.  In vain you are prudent and withdraw, your refuge will be invaded in its turn, and in perishing with human civilization you will be no greater a philosopher for not having loved, than those who threw themselves into the flood to save some debris of humanity.  The debris is not worth the effort, very good!  They will perish none the less, that is possible.  We shall perish with them, that is certain, but we shall die while in the fulness of life.  I prefer that to a hibernation in the ice, to an anticipated death.  And anyway, I could not do otherwise.  Love does not reason.  If I asked why you have the passion for study, you would not explain it to me any better than those who have a passion for idleness can explain their indolence.

Then you think me upset, since you preach detachment to me?  You tell me that you have read in the papers some extracts from my articles which indicate a change of ideas, and these papers which quote me with good will, endeavor to believe that I am illuminated with a new light, while others which do not quote me believe that perhaps I am deserting the cause of the future.  Let the politicians think and say what they want to.  Let us leave them to their critical appreciations.  I do not have to protest, I do not have to answer, the public has other interests to discuss than those of my personality.  I wield a pen, I have an honorable position of free discussion in a great paper; if I have been wrongly interpreted, it is for me to explain myself better when the occasion presents itself.  I am reluctant to seize this