按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
detect this in the vehement tone； in the embittered style； and in the
sombre eloquence of the new doctrine。 Fun and games are no longer in
vogue； a serious tone is maintained； people become exasperated； while
the powerful voice now heard penetrates beyond the drawing…room； to
the rude and suffering crowd to which no word had yet been spoken；
whose mute resentment for the first time finds an interpreter； and
whose destructive instincts are soon to be set in motion at the
summons of its herald。 Rousseau is a man of the people； and not a
man of high society。 He feels awkward in a drawing…room。＇33＇ He is not
capable of conversing and of appearing amiable； the nice expressions
only come into his head too late； on the staircase as he leaves the
house； he keeps silent with a sulky air or utters stupidities；
redeeming his awkwardness with the sallies of a clown or with the
phrases of a vulgar pedant。 Elegance annoys him； luxury makes him
uncomfortable； politeness is a lie； conversation mere prattle； ease of
manner a grimace； gaiety a convention； wit a parade； science so much
charlatanry； philosophy an affection and morals utter corruption。 All
is factitious； false and unwholesome；＇34＇ from the make…up； toilet and
beauty of women to the atmosphere of the apartments and the ragouts on
the dinner…table； in sentiment as in amusement； in literature as in
music； in government as in religion。 This civilization； which boasts
of its splendor； is simply the restlessness of over…excited； servile
monkeys each imitating the other； and each corrupting the other to；
through sophistication； end up in worry and boredom。 Human culture；
accordingly； is in itself bad； while the fruit it produces is merely
excrescence or poison。 Of what use are the sciences？ Uncertain
and useless； they afford merely a pasture…ground for idlers and
wranglers。＇35＇
〃 Who would want to pass a lifetime in sterile observation； if
they； apart from their duties and nature's demands； had had to bestow
their time on their country； on the unfortunate and on their friends！〃
Of what use are the fine arts？ They serve only as public flattery
of dominant passions。 〃The more pleasing and the more perfect the
drama； the more baneful its influence；〃 the theater； even with
Molière； is a school of bad morals； 〃inasmuch as it excites deceitful
souls to ridicule； in the name of comedy； the candor of artless
people。〃 Tragedy； said to be moralizing； wastes in counterfeit
effusions the little virtue that still remains。 〃 When a man has been
admiring the noble feats in the fables what more is expected of him？
After paying homage to virtue is he not discharged from all that he
owes to it？ What more would they have him do？ Must he practice it
himself？ He has no part to play； he is not a comedian。〃 The
sciences； the fine arts； the arts of luxury； philosophy； literature；
all this serve only to effeminate and distract the mind； all that is
only made for the small crowd of brilliant and noisy insects buzzing
around the summits of society and sucking away all public substance。
As regards the sciences； but one is important； that of our duties；
and； without so many subtleties and so much study； our innermost
conscience suffice to show us the way。 As regards the arts and
the skills； only those should be tolerated which； ministering to our
prime necessities； provide us with bread to feed us； with a roof to
shelter us； clothing to cover us； and arms with which to defend
ourselves。 In the way of existence that only is healthy which
enables us to live in the country； artlessly； without display； in
family union； devoted to cultivation； living on the products of the
soil and among neighbors that are equals and with servants that one
trusts as friends。＇36＇ As for the classes； but one is
respectable； that of laboring men； especially that of men working with
their own hands； artisans and mechanics； only these being really of
service； the only ones who； through their situation； are in close
proximity to the natural state； and who preserve； under a rough
exterior； the warmth； the goodness and the integrity of primitive
instincts。 Accordingly； let us call by its true name this
elegance； this luxury； this urbanity； this literary delicacy； this
philosophical eccentricity； admired by the prejudiced as the flower of
the life of humanity； it is only mold and mildew。 In like manner
esteem at its just value the swarm that live upon it； namely； the
indolent aristocracy； the fashionable world； the privileged who direct
and make a display； the idlers of the drawing room who talk； divert
themselves and regard themselves as the elect of humanity； but who are
simply so many parasites。 Whether parasitic or excretory； one attracts
the other； and the tree can only be well if we get rid of both。
If civilization is bad； society is worse。 ＇37＇ For this could not
have been established except by destroying primitive equality； while
its two principal institutions； property and government； are
encroachments。
〃He who first enclosed a plot of ground； and who took it into his
to say this belongs to me； and who found people simple enough to
believe him；＇38＇ was the true founder of civil society。 What crimes；
what wars； what murders； what misery and what horrors would have been
spared the human race if he who； pulling up the landmark and filling
up the ditch； had cried out to his fellows： Be wary of that impostor；
you are lost if you forget that no one has a right to the land and
that its fruits are the property of all ！〃 The first ownership
was a robbery by which an individual abstracted from the community a
portion of the public domain。 Nothing could justify the outrage；
nothing added by him to the soil； neither his industry； nor his
trouble； nor his valor。 〃In vain may he assert that he built this
wall； and acquired this land by his labor。 Who marked it out for him；
one might ask； and how do you come to be paid for labor which was
never imposed on you？ Are you not aware that a multitude of your
brethren are suffering and perishing with want because you have too
much； and that the express and unanimous consent of the whole human
species is requisite before appropriating to yourself more than your
share of the common subsistence？〃
Underneath this theory we recognize the personal attitude； the
grudge of the poor embittered commoner； who； on entering society；
finds the places all taken； and who is incapable of creating one for
himself； who； in his confessions； marks the day when he ceased to feel
hungry； who； for lack of something better； lives in concubinage with a
serving…woman and places his five children in an orphanage； who is in
turn servant； clerk； vagabond； teacher and copyist； always on the
look…out； using his wits to maintain his independence； disgusted with
the contrast between what he is outwardly and what he feels himself
inwardly； avoiding envy only by disparagement； and preserving in the
folds of his heart an old grudge 〃against the rich and the fortunate
in this world as if they were so at his expense； as if their assumed
happiness had been an infringement on his happiness。〃 ＇39＇ Not
only is there injustice in the origin of property but again there is
injustice in the power it secures to itself； the wrong increasing like
a canker under the partiality of law。
〃Are not all the advantages of society for the rich and for the
powerful？＇40＇ Do they not absorb to themselves all lucrative
positions？ Is not the public authority wholly in their interest？ If a
man of position robs his creditors or commits other offenses is he not
certain of impunity？ Are not the blows he bestows； his violent
assaults； the murders and the assassinations he is guilty of； matters
that are hushed up and forgotten in a few months？ Let this same
man be robbed and the entire police set to work； and woe to the poor
innocents they suspect！ Has he to pass a dangerous place； escorts
overrun the country。…If the axle of his coach breaks down everybody
runs to help him。 Is a noise made at his gate； a word from him
and all is silent。 Does the crowd annoy him； he makes a sign and
order reigns。 Does a carter chance to cross his path； his
attendants are ready to knock him down； while fifty honest pedestrians
might be crushed rather than delaying a rascal in his carriage。
All these considerations do not cost him a penny。； they are a rich
man's entitlements and not the price for being rich。 What a
different picture of the poor ！ The more humanity owes them the more
it refuses them。 All doors are closed to them even when they have the
right to have them opened； and if they sometimes obtain justice they
have more trouble than others in obtaining favors。 If there is statute
labor to be carried out； a militia to raise； the poor are the most
eligible。 It always bears burdens from which its wealthier neighbor