Mary Wollstonecraft, An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution, 1794

We have probably derived our great superiority over those nations [les nations barbares, mais aussi la Grèce et la Rome antiques] from the discovery of the polar attraction of the needle, the perfection which astronomy and mathematics have attained, and the fortunate invention of printing. For, whilst the revival of letters has added the collected wisdom of antiquity to the improvements of modern research, the latter most useful art has rapidly multiplied copies of the productions of genius and compilations of learning, bringing them within the teach of all ranks of men : the scientific discoveries also have not only led us to new worlds ; but, facilitating the communication between different nations, the friction of arts and commerce have given to society the transcendently pleasing polilh of urbanity ; and thus, by a gradual softening of manners, the complexion of social life has been completely changed.

Nature having made men unequal, by giving stronger bodily and mental powers to one than to another, the end of government ought to be, to destroy this inequality by protecting the weak. Instead of which, it has always leaned to the opposite side, wearing itself out by disregarding the first principle of it’s organization.

When society was first subjugated to laws, probably by the ambition of some, and the desire of safety in all, it was natural for men to be selfish, because they were ignorant how intimately their own comfort was connected with that of others ; and it was also very natural, that humanity, rather the effect of feeling than of reason, should have a very limited range. But, when men once see, clear as the light of heaven, — and I hail the glorious day from afar ! — that on the general happiness depends their own, reason will give strength to the fluttering wings of passion, and men will “ do unto others, what they wish they should do unto them.”

We must get entirely clear of all the notions drawn from the wild traditions of original sin : the eating of the apple, the theft of Prometheus, the opening of Pandora’s box, and the other fables, too tedious to enumerate, on which priests have erected their tremendous structures of imposition, to persuade us, that we are naturally inclined to evil : we shall then leave room for the expansion of the human heart, and, I trust, find, that men will insensibly render each other happier as they grow wiser.

The french revolution is strong proof how far things will govern men, when simple principles begin to act with one powerful spring against the complicated wheels of ignorance ; numerous in proportion to their weakness, and constantly wanting repair, because expedients of the moment are ever the spawn of cowardly folly, or the narrow calculations of selfishness.

Racine, soon after, in elegant harmonious language painted the manners of his time, and with great judgement gave a picturesque ear to many unnatural scenes and factitious sentiments : always endeavouring to make his characters amiable, he is unable to render them dignified ; and the refined morality, scattered throughout, belongs to the code of politeness rather than to that of virtue. Fearing to stray from courtly propriety of behaviour, and shock a fastidious audience, the gallantry of his heroes interests only the gallant, and literary people, whole minds are open to different species of amusement.

At those moments he [le Régent, Philippe d’Orléans] would bestow the warmest praises on the english constitution and seemed enamoured of liberty, though authorising at the time the most flagrant violations of property, and despotic arts of cruelty. The only good he did his country arose from this frivolous circumstance ; for introducing the fashion of admiring the english, he led men to read and translate some of their masculine writers, which greatly contributed to rouse the sleeping manhood of the french.

He [Necker] retired to write his observations on the administration of the finances, which kept alive the spirit of inquiry, that afterwards broke the talisman of courts, and showed the disenchanted multitude, that those, whom they had been taught to respect as supernatural beings, were not indeed men — but monsters ; deprived by their station of humanity, and even sympathy.

Surely all the folly of the people taken together was less reprehensible, than this total want of discernment, this adherence to & prejudice, the jaundiced perception of contumelious ignorance, in a class of men, who from the opportunity they had of acquiring knowledge, ought to have acted with more judgment. For they were goaded into action by inhuman provocations, by acts of the most flagrant injustice, when they had neither rule nor experience to direct them, and after their temperance had been destroyed by years of sufferings, and an endless catalogue of reiterated and contemptuous privations.

The gaudy and meretricious pageantry of the court was now displayed, to intimidate the parliament, at what was termed a bed of justice, though in reality of all justice a solemn mockery ; and, whilst pretending to consult them, the edits were enregistered by a mandate of state.

The foibles of a rich man are always fostered, sometimes perhaps insensibly, by his numerous dependents and visitants, who find his table amusing or convenient. It is not then surprizing, that, with the abilities of a tolerable financier, he was soon persuaded, that he was a great author, and consummate statesman. Besides, when the manners of a nation are very depraved, the men who wish to appear, and even to be, more moral than the multitude, in general become pedantically virtuous ; and, continually contrasting their morals with the thoughtless vices around them, the artificial, narrow character of a sectary is formed ; the manners are rendered stiff, and the heart cold. The dupes also of their flimsey virtue, many men are harshly called hypocrites, who are only weak ; and popularity often turns the head giddy, that would have soberly fulfilled the common duties of a man in the shade of private life.