登陆注册
4606300000288

第288章

"By all the pleasure which the philosopher can procure when he is conscious of having obtained them by his own exertions, and especially by getting rid of the many prejudices which make of the majority of men a troop of grown-up children."

"What is pleasure? What is meant by prejudices?"

"Pleasure is the actual enjoyment of our senses; it is a complete satisfaction given to all our natural and sensual appetites; and, when our worn-out senses want repose, either to have breathing time, or to recover strength, pleasure comes from the imagination, which finds enjoyment in thinking of the happiness afforded by rest. The philosopher is a person who refuses no pleasures which do not produce greater sorrows, and who knows how to create new ones."

"And you say that it is done by getting rid of prejudices? Then tell me what prejudices are, and what must be done to get rid of them."

"Your question, my dear girl, is not an easy one to answer, for moral philosophy does not know a more important one, or a more difficult one to decide; it is a lesson which lasts throughout life. I will tell you in a few words that we call prejudice every so-called duty for the existence of which we find no reason in nature."

"Then nature must be the philosopher's principal study?"

"Indeed it is; the most learned of philosophers is the one who commits the fewest errors."

"What philosopher, in your opinion, has committed the smallest quantity of errors?"

"Socrates."

"Yet he was in error sometimes?"

"Yes, in metaphysics."

"Oh! never mind that, for I think he could very well manage without that study."

"You are mistaken; morals are only the metaphysics of physics; nature is everything, and I give you leave to consider as a madman whoever tells you that he has made a new discovery in metaphysics. But if I

went on, my dear, I might appear rather obscure to you. Proceed slowly, think; let your maxims be the consequence of just reasoning, and keep your happiness in view; in the end you must be happy."

"I prefer the lesson you have just taught me to the one which M.

Baletti will give me to-morrow; for I have an idea that it will weary me, and now I am much interested."

"How do you know that you are interested?"

"Because I wish you not to leave me."

"Truly, my dear Vesian, never has a philosopher described sympathy better than you have just done. How happy I feel! How is it that I

wish to prove it by kissing you?"

"No doubt because, to be happy, the soul must agree with the senses."

"Indeed, my divine Vesian? Your intelligence is charming."

"It is your work, dear friend; and I am so grateful to you that I

share your desires."

"What is there to prevent us from satisfying such natural desires?

Let us embrace one another tenderly."

What a lesson in philosophy! It seemed to us such a sweet one, our happiness was so complete, that at daybreak we were still kissing one another, and it was only when we parted in the morning that we discovered that the door of the room had remained open all night.

Baletti gave her a few lessons, and she was received at the opera;

but she did not remain there more than two or three months, regulating her conduct carefully according to the precepts I had laid out for her. She never received Narbonne again, and at last accepted a nobleman who proved himself very different from all others, for the first thing he did was to make her give up the stage, although it was not a thing according to the fashion of those days. I do not recollect his name exactly; it was Count of Tressan or Trean. She behaved in a respectable way, and remained with him until his death.

No one speaks of her now, although she is living in very easy circumstances; but she is fifty-six, and in Paris a woman of that age is no longer considered as being among the living.

After she left the Hotel de Bourgogne, I never spoke to her.

Whenever I met her covered with jewels and diamonds, our souls saluted each other with joy, but her happiness was too precious for me to make any attempt against it. Her brother found a situation, but I lost sight of him.

同类推荐
  • 遇恩录

    遇恩录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幼幼集成

    幼幼集成

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 千里命稿

    千里命稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 要略

    要略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说频婆娑罗王经

    佛说频婆娑罗王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 网游之有狐来袭

    网游之有狐来袭

    狐小木:我想要装备!GM:这个不行。狐小木:那我要钱!GM:这个也不行……狐小木:那要你干嘛使?GM:你猜!为什么在游戏里大开金手指还要苦逼兮兮的被GM严加管制?狐小木也一度认为她很倒霉。可是打架有人撑腰,打输了还能读档再来,这是分分钟要走上人生巅峰的节奏啊!这是个在逗逼、傻逼、装逼模式中自由转换的少女,艰难开始她一统江湖之路的故事!
  • 上仙她又去历劫了

    上仙她又去历劫了

    (强强爽文)【更新缓慢(随缘)】顾云隐,十三重天的上仙殿下,平日也闲着没事干,打遍十三重天无敌手,后来因为太无聊了,就下凡玩玩。过奈何桥打翻了孟婆汤,索性就不喝了,锁了仙格就带着记忆投胎成了明御国七王爷的独生女。自此开挂过了一生,不管是灵宠还是修为,我们都要有上仙该有的排面,该厉害的时候就要厉害。如果没有遇到他的话……可是说是完美开挂的一生了。“诶,你等等,跑这么快干嘛,来陪我一起坐坐吧。”某无节操但是脸是真的长得很好看的男的说。“给爷爬!!!不要跟着爷!!!”顾卿尘觉得自己可能是上辈子欠了他的。“嗯,你就是欠了我的。”长的很好看的男的说,“上仙啊,跟了小仙保准你以后在天上没人敢拦着。”“我现在也没人敢拦着!你走开啊啊啊啊!”某女觉得自己迟早会被此人气死。“或许有一天,你会记起来的。”他嘴角扬起一个好看的弧度,“我找到你了。”
  • 大光明法王

    大光明法王

    人类统治了史诗大陆的南方,野蛮人则占据了莱茵北岸,而在帝国内部,教廷和皇室的斗争越发的激烈,哥顿前朝覆灭的往事即将重演。在这个时候,被封印的精灵王欧罗菲尔终于和他的后人相遇,于是一个传奇时代又开启了……
  • 藏在尘埃里的星星

    藏在尘埃里的星星

    她本不该存在于这里,于是只能去尘埃里;她遇见光,便以为是未来,那道光却刺到了她的眼,然后离开;在她生命中的另一道光,她却迟迟没有发现。后来,她看到,原来每一道光都曾保护过她,只是她没有看清自己要的光是什么,才会迷茫,孤独。
  • 故事会(2017年8月上)

    故事会(2017年8月上)

    《故事会》是中国最通俗的民间文学小本杂志,是中国的老牌刊物之一。先后获得两届中国期刊的最高奖——国家期刊奖。1998年,它在世界综合类期刊中发行量排名第5。从1984年开始,《故事会》由双月刊改为月刊,2003年11月份开始试行半月刊,2007年正式改为半月刊。现分为红、绿两版,其中红版为上半月刊,绿版为下半月刊。
  • 网游之新界传说

    网游之新界传说

    落魄的人生不是生活的终点,是生命走向辉煌的开端。看落魄小子一段不一样的另类成长轨迹,见证一片辉煌人生。
  • 凤临天下:废材逆天

    凤临天下:废材逆天

    雇佣兵首领重生为仙门弃女,所幸老天没让九凤临绝望,获得‘逆袭宝典’。激活召唤术、掠夺术……召唤神兽当坐骑,掠夺他人物品……
  • 跨世记

    跨世记

    假如可以随心所欲的弥补过去的遗憾,是否人生就没有了遗憾?从时空追溯开始,跨越独立而羁绊的无数世界,萧然有幸成为其中的命运架构师...从跨越时空开始,穿行在时间线交叉穿插的因果之中,是走钢丝,也是命运的导师......各人命运的羁绊,碰撞出因果交汇的火花,波澜壮阔的无数世界,用无尽的魅力极尽诱惑之能事,让深陷其中之人欲罢不能……(保证完本)
  • 笑傲江湖(第四卷)(纯文字新修版)

    笑傲江湖(第四卷)(纯文字新修版)

    《笑傲江湖》系海外新派武侠小说代表作之一,其不仅靠跌宕起伏、波谲云诡的情节引人入胜,更能于错综复杂的矛盾冲突中刻画人物性格,塑造出数十个个性鲜明、生动感人的文学形象。如豁达不羁、舍生取义的令狐冲;娇美慧黠、挚情任性的任盈盈;阴鸷狡诈、表里不一的岳不群;桀骜不驯、老谋深算的任我行;冰清玉洁、相思痴恋的仪琳;虚怀若谷、萧条离奇的冲虚以及逃避纷争、寄情于各自喜好的“江南四友”,打诨插科的“桃谷六仙”,皆可为武侠小说的人物画廊增添异彩。
  • 三国杂事

    三国杂事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。