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Charles。＇8＇ He is not even qualified to comprehend the great
discoverers of his age； Laplace； Monge； Lavoisier； or Fourcroy； on the
contrary； he libels them in the style of a low rebellious subordinate；
who； without the shadow of a claim； aims to take the place of
legitimate authorities。 In Politics； he adopts every absurd idea in
vogue growing out of the 〃Contrat…Social〃 based on natural right； and
which he renders still more absurd by repeating as his own the
arguments advanced by those bungling socialists； who； physiologists
astray in the moral world； derive all rights from physical
necessities。
〃All human rights issue from physical wants＇9＇。。。 If a man has
nothing； he has a right to any surplus with which another gorges
himself。 What do I say？ He has a right to seize the indispensable；
and； rather than die of hunger； he may cut another's throat and eat
his throbbing flesh。 。 。 。 Man has a right to self…preservation；
to the property； the liberty and even the lives of his fellow
creatures。 To escape oppression he has a right to repress； to bind
and to massacre。 He is free to do what he pleases to ensure his own
happiness。〃
It is plain enough what this leads to。 … But； let the consequences be
what they may； whatever he writes or does； it is always in self…
admiration and always in a counter sense； being as vain…glorious of
his encyclopedic impotence as he is of his social mischievousness。
Taking his word for it； his discoveries in Physics will render him
immortal＇10＇：
〃They will at least effect a complete transformation in Optics。 。 。
。 The true primitive colors were unknown before me。〃
He is a Newton； and still better。 Previous to his appearance 〃the
place occupied by the electrical fluid in nature； considered as an
universal agent； was completely ignored。 。 。 I have made it known
in such a way as to leave no further doubt about it。〃＇11＇ As to the
heat…engendering fluid； 〃that substance unknown until my discovery； I
have freed the theory from every hypothesis and conjecture； from every
alembic argument； I have purged it of error； I have rendered it
intuitive； I have written this out in a small volume which consigns to
oblivion all that scientific bodies have hitherto published on that
subject。〃＇12＇ Anterior to his treatise on 〃Man；〃 the relationships
between moral and physics were incomprehensible。 〃Descartes；
Helvetius； Hailer； Lecat； Hume； Voltaire； Bonnet； held this to be an
impenetrable secret； 'an enigma。'〃 He has solved the problem； he has
fixed the seat of the soul； he has determined the medium through which
the soul communicates with the body。＇13＇ … In the higher sciences；
those treating of nature generally； or of human society； he reaches
the climax。 〃I believe that I have exhausted every combination of the
human intellect in relation to morals； philosophy and political
science。〃＇14＇ Not only has he discovered the true theory of
government； but he is a statesman； a practical expert； able to
forecast the future and shape events。 He makes predictions； on the
average； twice a week； which always turn out right； he already claims；
during the early sessions of the Convention； to have made 〃three
hundred predictions on the leading points of the Revolution； all
justified by the event。〃＇15＇ In the face of the Constituents who
demolish and reconstruct so slowly； he is sufficiently strong to take
down； put up and complete at a moment's notice。
〃If I were one of the people's tribunes＇16＇ and were supported by a
few thousand determined men； I answer for it that； in six weeks； the
Constitution would be perfected； the political machine well agoing；
and the nation free and happy。 In less than a year there would be a
flourishing； formidable government which would remain so as long as I
lived。〃… If necessary； he could act as commander…in…chief of the army
and always be victorious： having twice seen the Vendeans carry on a
fight he would end the war 〃at the first encounter。〃＇17＇ 〃If I
could stand the march； I would go in person and carry out my views。
At the head of a small party of trusty troops the rebels could be
easily put down to the last man； and in one day。 I know something of
military art； and； without boasting； I can answer for success。〃 On
any difficulty occurring； it is owing to his advice not having been
taken； he is the great political physician： his diagnosis from the
beginning of the Revolution is always correct； his prognosis
infallible； his therapeutics efficacious； humane and salutary。 He
provides the panacea and he should be allowed to prescribe it； only；
to ensure a satisfactory operation； he should himself administer the
dose。 Let the public lancet； therefore； be put in his hands that he
may perform the humanitarian operation of bloodletting。 〃Such are my
opinions。 I have published them in my works。 I have signed them with
my name and I am not ashamed of it。 。 。 。 If you are not equal to
me and able to comprehend me so much the worse for you。〃＇18＇ In other
words； in his own eyes； Marat is in advance of everybody else and；
through his superior genius and character； he is the veritable savior。
Such are the symptoms by which medical men recognize immediately one
of those partial lunatics who may not be put in confinement； but who
are all the more dangerous；＇19＇ the malady； as they would express it
in technical terms； may be called the ambitious delirium； well known
in lunatic asylums。 Two predispositions； one an habitually
perverted judgment； and the other a colossal excess of self…
esteem；＇20＇ constitute its sources； and nowhere are both more prolific
than in Marat。 Never did a man with such diversified culture； possess
such an incurably perverted intellect。 Never did a man； after so many
abortive speculations and such repeated malpractices； conceive and
maintain so high an opinion of himself。 Each of these two sources in
him augments the other： through his faculty of not seeing things as
they are； he attributes to himself virtue and genius； satisfied that
he possesses genius and virtue； he regards his misdeeds as merits and
his whims as truths。 … Thenceforth； and spontaneously； his malady
runs its own course and becomes complex； to the ambitious delirium
comes the persecution mania。 In effect； the evident or demonstrated
truths which he advances should strike the public at once； if they
burn slowly or miss fire； it is owing to their being stamped out by
enemies or the envious； manifestly； they have conspired against him；
and against him plots have never ceased。 First came the philosophers'
plot： when his treatise on 〃Man〃 was sent to Paris from Amsterdam；
〃they felt the blow I struck at their principles and had the book
stopped at the custom…house。〃＇21＇ Next came the plot of the doctors：
〃they ruefully estimated my enormous gains。 Were it necessary； I
could prove that they often met together to consider the best way to
destroy my reputation。〃 Finally； came the plot of the Academicians；
〃the disgraceful persecution I had to undergo from the Academy of
Sciences for two years； after being satisfied that my discoveries on
Light upset all that it had done for a century； and that I was quite
indifferent about becoming a member of its body 。 。 。 。 Would it
be believed that these scientific charlatans succeeded in underrating
my discoveries throughout Europe； in exciting every society of savants
against me； and in closing against me all the newspapers？〃＇22＇ …
Naturally； the would…be…persecuted man defends himself； that is to
say； he attacks。 Naturally； as he is the aggressor； he is repulsed
and put down； and； after creating imaginary enemies； he creates real
ones； especially in politics where； on principle； he daily preaches
insurrection and murder。 And finally； he is of course prosecuted；
convicted at the Chatelet court； tracked by the police； obliged to fly
and wander from one hiding…place to another； to live like a bat 〃in a
cellar； underground； in a dark dungeon；〃＇23＇ once； says his friend
Panis； he passed 〃six weeks sitting on his behind〃 like a madman in
his cell； face to face with his reveries。 … It is not surprising
that； with such a system； the reverie should become more intense； more
and more gloomy； and； at last settle down into a confirmed nightmare；
that； in his distorted brain； objects should appear distorted； that；
even in full daylight men and things should seem awry； as in a
magnifying； dislocating mirror； that； frequently； on the numbers （of
his journal） appearing too blood…thirsty； and his chronic disease too
acute； his physician should bleed him to arrest these attacks and
prevent their return。＇24＇
But it has become a habit： henceforth； falsehood grow in his brain as
if it was their native soil； planting himself on the irrational he
cultivates the absurd； even physical and mathematical。 〃If we include
everyone；〃＇25＇ he says； 〃the pa