end that, being without a resting-place and without repose.
420. If he exalt himself, I humble him; if he humble himself, I exalt him;
and I always contradict him, till he understands that he is an
incomprehensible monster.
421. I blame equally those who choose to praise man, those who choose to
blame him, and those who choose to amuse themselves; and I can only approve
of those who seek with lamentation.
422. It is good to be tired and wearied by the vain search after the true
good, that we may stretch out our arms to the Redeemer.
423. Contraries. After having shown the vileness and the greatness of
man.--Let man now know his value. Let him love himself, for there is in him
a nature capable of good; but let him not for this reason love the vileness
which is in him. Let him despise himself, for this capacity is barren; but
let him not therefore despise this natural capacity. Let him hate himself,
let him love himself; he has within him the capacity of knowing the truth
and of being happy, but he possesses no truth, either constant or
satisfactory.
I would then lead man to the desire of finding truth; to be free from
passions, and ready to follow it where he may find it, knowing how much his
knowledge is obscured by the passions. I would, indeed, that he should hate
in himself the lust which determined his will by itself so that it may not
blind him in making his choice, and may not hinder him when he has chosen.
424. All these contradictions, which seem most to keep me from the knowledge
of religion, have led me most quickly to the true one.
SECTION VII: MORALITY AND DOCTRINE
425. Second part.--That man without faith cannot know the true good, nor
justice.
All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means
they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and
of others avoiding it, is the same desire in bo