Here a great many truths will not appear till we have seen
the chain which connects them with others. The more we enter
into particulars, the more we shall perceive the certainty of the
principles on which they are founded. I have not even given
all these particulars, for who could mention them all without a
most insupportable fatigue?

The reader will not here meet with any of those bold flights
which seem to characterize the works of the present age. When
things are examined with never so small a degree of extent, the
sallies of imagination must vanish; these generally arise from
the mind's collecting all its powers to view only one side of the
subject, while it leaves the other unobserved.

I write not to censure anything established in any country
whatsoever. Every nation will here find the reasons on which
its maxims are founded; and this will be the natural inference,
that to propose alterations belongs only to those who are so
happy as to be born with a genius capable of penetrating the
entire constitution of a state.

It is not a matter of indifference that the minds of the people
be enlightened. The prejudices of magistrates have arisen from
national prejudice. In a time of ignorance they have commit-
ted even the greatest evils without the least scruple; but in an
enlightened age they even tremble while conferring the greatest
blessings. They perceive the ancient abuses; they see how they
must be reformed; but they are sensible also of the abuses of a
reformation. They let the evil continue, if they fear a worse;
they are content with a lesser good, if they doubt a greater.
They examine into the parts, to judge of them in connection;
and they examine all the causes, to discover their different effects.

Could I but succeed so as to afford new reasons to every man
to love his prince, his country, his laws; new reasons to render
him more sensible in every nation and government of the bless-
ings he enjoys, I should think myself the most happy of mortals.

Could I but succeed so as to persuade those who command
to increase their knowledge in what they ought to prescribe, and
those who obey to find a new pleasure resulting from obedience
-- I should think myself the most happy of mortals.

The most happy of mortals should I think myself could I
Contribute to make mankind recover from their prejudices. By
prejudices I here mean, not that which renders men ignorant

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