I would get them to love one another, to consider themselves brethren, to respect all religions, and each to live peaceably in his own religion.  To ask any one to abandon the religion in which he was born is, I consider, to ask him to do wrong, and therefore to do wrong oneself.  While we await further knowledge, let us respect public order; in every country let us respect the laws, let us not disturb the form of worship prescribed by law; let us not lead its citizens into disobedience; for we have no certain knowledge that it is good for them to abandon their own opinions for others, and on the other hand we are quite certain that it is a bad thing to disobey the law.

“My young friend, I have now repeated to you my creed as God reads it in my heart; you are the first to whom I have told it; perhaps you will be the last.  As long as there is any true faith left among men, we must not trouble quiet souls, nor scare the faith of the ignorant with problems they cannot solve, with difficulties which cause them uneasiness, but do not give them any guidance.  But when once everything is shaken, the trunk must be preserved at the cost of the branches.  Consciences, restless, uncertain, and almost quenched like yours, require to be strengthened and aroused; to set the feet again upon the foundation of eternal truth, we must remove the trembling supports on which they think they rest.

“You are at that critical age when the mind is open to conviction, when the heart receives its form and character, when we decide our own fate for life, either for good or evil.  At a later date, the material has hardened and fresh impressions leave no trace.  Young man, take the stamp of truth upon your heart which is not yet hardened, if I were more certain of myself, I should have adopted a more decided and dogmatic tone; but I am a man ignorant and. liable to error; what could I do?  I have opened my heart fully to you; and I have told what I myself hold for certain and sure; I have told you my doubts as doubts, my opinions as opinions; I have given you my reasons both for faith and doubt.  It is now your turn to judge; you have asked for time; that is a wise precaution and it makes me think well of you.  Begin by bringing your conscience into that state in which it desires to see clearly; be honest with yourself.  Take to yourself such of my opinions as convince you, reject the rest.  You are not yet so depraved by vice as to run the risk of choosing amiss.  I would offer to argue with you, but as soon as men dispute they lose their temper; pride and obstinacy come in, and there is an end of honesty.  My friend, never argue; for by arguing we gain no light for ourselves or for others.  So far as I myself am concerned, I have only made up my mind after many years of meditation; here I rest, my conscience is at peace, my heart is satisfied.  If I wanted to begin afresh the examination of my feelings, I should not bring to the task a purer love of truth;