Maximes et Réflexions morales
REFLECTIONS; OR, SENTENCES AND MORAL MAXIMS
Nos vertus ne sont, le plus souvent, que de vices déguisés.
Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.
1
Ce que nous prenons pour des vertus n'est souvent qu'un assemblage de diverses actions et de divers intérêts, que la fortune ou notre industrie savent arranger; et ce n'est pas toujours par valeur et par chasteté que les hommes sont vaillants, et que les femmes sont chastes.
1.--What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions anddivers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage to arrange;and it is not always from valour or from chastity that men are brave,and women chaste.
"Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave; Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, His pride in reasoning, not in acting, lies." Pope, Moral Essays, Ep. i. line 115"
2
L'amour-propre est le plus grand de tous les flatteurs.
2.--Self-love is the greatest of flatterers
3
Quelque découverte que l'on ait faite dans le pays de l'amour-propre, il y reste encore bien des terres inconnues.
3.--Whatever discoveries have been made in the region of self-love,there remain many unexplored territories there.
[This is the first hint of the system the author tries to develope. Hewishes to find in vice a motive for all our actions, but this does notsuffice him; he is obliged to call other passions to the help of hissystem and to confound pride, vanity, interest and egotism with selflove. This confusion destroys the unity of his principle.--Aimé Martin.]
4
L'amour-propre est plus habile que le plus habile homme du monde.
4.--Self love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world.
5
La durée de nos passions ne dépend pas plus de nous que la durée de notre vie.
5.--The duration of our passions is no more dependant upon us than the duration of our life.
[Then what becomes of free will?--Aimé; Martin]
