ABSTRACT
Our age is very enlightened, but it is not therefore more just to great men. Although it is indebted to them for its most precious enlightenment, and happily benefits therefrom, yet, whether from envy or from ignorance, it cannot bear that anyone should praise them; and it is surprising that one should have to conceal himself in order to write their life, as if he were about to commit a crime; especially is this so if these great men have made themselves famous by views that are unusual and unknown to common souls. For then, under the pretext of doing honour to received opinions, however absurd or ridiculous, they defend their own ignorance, to which they sacrifice the sanest light of reason and, so to say, truth itself. But whatever risk one may run on such a thorny course, I would have profited little indeed from his philosophy whose life and maxims I take upon myself to write, if I were afraid to undertake it. I little fear the fury of the people, as I have the honour to live in a Republic which permits its subjects freedom of opinion, and where it would even be needless to wish to be happy, if people of tried probity would be 42regarded without jealousy. Even if this work, which I consecrate to the memory of an illustrious friend, be not approved by everybody, it will at least be approved by those who only love Truth and who have a kind of aversion for the impudent mob.
