BARON CUVIER. 87 



boursj a natural disposition to love our fellow-creatures, to 

 rejoice in their joy, and weep for their sorrows. This sym- 

 pathy, this soothing feeling, which religion calls charity, is 

 to be found in all pure and unperverted hearts, though it 

 is not equally developed, equally energetic in all. We feel 

 that which we owe to each other, not only justice, but suc- 

 cour to the extent of our ability. Do not to others that 

 which you would not they should do unto you ; and do to 

 others as you would they should do unto you. These are 

 very simple rules, to be comprehended even by children, 

 and recognized by them as equitable and necessary ; they 

 are the foundation of all morahty, and why are they not 

 always followed 1 It is because we are blinded by our pas- 

 sions, our inclinations, and our interests. We have just 

 said that God has given us the feeling of love towards 

 our neighbours, but he has also given us a love for our- 

 selves, for our own preservation ; this sentiment is not less 

 natural than the other, and is not wrong, because it is ne- 

 cessary ; it even teaches us several virtues, such as tempe- 

 rance for the sake of health, prudence to avoid danger, and 

 courage for the means of extricating ourselves from diffi- 

 culty. God tells us to love our neighbour as ourselves, that 

 is, to tell us to love ourselves : but when this love of self is 

 carried to excess, then it is that it merits the odious appella- 

 tion of egotism ; then it prompts us to sacrifice others to 

 ourselves, to wish to enrich ourselves by their losses, to 

 reckon others as nothing when our own satisfaction is con- 

 cerned ; then does it become a guilty feehng ; then does it 

 lead us to injustice and crime. It is even sad and foolish 

 to love ourselves only ; and if we have never done any 

 thing for others, how can we expect gratitude and help 

 from them ? ' C'est n'etre bon a rien, de n'etre bon qu'a 

 soi.'* He who stifles in himself the feehng of compassion, 

 and only obeys the dictates of self-love, is a dangerous be- 

 ing in society, and who ought to be reproved and punished 

 in society at least by contempt. We may say, that almost 

 all the evil we commit arises from egotism ; whilst the 

 greater part of our good actions is inspired by love for 

 our fellow-creatures. Therefore, the l)est system of educa- 



* It is to be good for nothing to be only good to one's self. 



