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LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 



3. To love of wisdom. 



Wisdom, according to Lamarck, consists in the 

 observance of a certain number of rules or virtues. 

 These we cite in a slightly abridged form. 



Love of truth in all things; the need of improving 

 one's mind; moderation in desires; decorum in all 

 actions; a wise reserve in unessential wants; indul- 

 gence, toleration, humanity, good will towards all 

 men ; love of the public good and of all that is neces- 

 sary to our fellows; contempt for weakness; a kind 

 of severity towards one's self which preserves us 

 from that multitude of artificial wants enslaving 

 those who give up to them ; resignation and, if pos- 

 sible, moral impassibility in suffering reverses, in- 

 justices, oppression, and losses; respect for order, 

 for public institutions, civil authorities, laws, moral- 

 ity, and religion. 



The practice of these maxims and virtues, says 

 Lamarck, characterizes true philosophy. 



And it may be added that no one practised these 

 virtues more than Lamarck. Like Cuvier's, his life 

 was blameless, and though he lived a most retired 

 life, and was not called upon to fill any public station 

 other than his chair of zoology at the Jardin des 

 Plantes, we may feel sure that he had the qualities 

 of courage, independence, and patriotism which 

 would have rendered such a career most useful to 

 his country. 



As Bourguin eloquently asserts: " Lamarck was 

 the brave man who never deserted a dangerous post, 

 the laborious man who never hesitated to meet any 

 difficulty, the investigating spirit, firm in his convic- 



