Re: Re: Truth & Justice Petition

can keep it. Saint Thomas did not
keep it. Mathematics keep it, but they are useless on account of their
depth.

62. Preface to the first part.--To speak of those who have treated of the
knowledge of self; of the divisions of Charron, which sadden and weary us;
of the confusion of Montaigne; that he was quite aware of his want of method
and shunned it by jumping from subject to subject; that he sought to be
fashionable.

His foolish project of describing himself! And this not casually and against
his maxims, since every one makes mistakes, but by his maxims themselves,
and by first and chief design. For to say silly things by chance and
weakness is a common misfortune, but to say them intentionally is
intolerable, and to say such as that...

63. Montaigne.--Montaigne's faults are great. Lewd words; this is bad,
notwithstanding Mademoiselle de Gournay. Credulous; people without eyes.
Ignorant; squaring the circle, a greater world. His opinions on suicide, on
death. He suggests an indifference about salvation, without fear and without
repentance. As his book was not written with a religious purpose, he was not
bound to mention religion; but it is always our duty not to turn men from
it. One can excuse his rather free and licentious opinions on some relations
of life; but one cannot excuse his thoroughly pagan views on death, for a
man must renounce piety altogether, if he does not at least wish to die like
a Christian. Now, through the wh