- And,
on the other hand, the better side of their original nature has had no
chance to develop itself, for lack of use. Separated from the other,
these two parts of its nature have not acquired the sentiment of
community; they do not know, like their brethren of the prairies, how
to help each other and subordinate private interests to the interests
of the flock. Each pulls his own way, nobody cares for others, all
are egoists; social interests have miscarried. - Such is Man
nowadays, a disfigured slave that has to be restored. Our task,
accordingly is two-fold: we have to demolish and we have to construct;
we must first set free the natural Man that we may afterwards build up
the social Man.
It is a vast enterprise and we are conscious of its vastness.
"It is necessary," says Billaud-Varennes,[20] "that the people to
which one desires to restore their freedom should in some way be
created anew, since old prejudices must be destroyed, old habits
changed, depraved affections improved, superfluous wants restricted,
and inveterate vices extirpated."
But the task is sublime, as the aim is "to fulfill the desires of
nature,[21] accomplish the destinies of humanity, and fulfill the
promises of philosophy".
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