THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GENIUS 145 



regard to which our knowledge of the human 

 mind gives us the right to express an opinion. 

 There is .something which we are able to recog- 

 nise in its most diverse manifestations, some- 

 thing which belongs in equal degree to Galileo, 

 to Pascal, to Michelangelo and to Moliere; 

 something which constitutes the sublimity of 

 the poet, the profundity of the philosopher, the 

 fascination of the orator, the divination of the 

 savant. This common basis of all beautiful 

 and true works, this divine flame, this indefina- 

 ble breath which is the inspiration of science, 

 literature and art, we find in you, Monsieur: it 

 is genius. No one else has traversed with so 

 assured a step the circles of elemental nature; 

 your scientific life is like a luminous trail across 

 the great night of the infinitely small, in those 

 furthest depths of being, where life is born." 



After analysing the work of Pasteur, and 

 pointing out the strong continuity of his re- 

 searches, Renan spoke of his virtues. 



"Your austere life," he said, "wholly conse- 

 crated to disinterested research, is the best re- 



