Established for life in his
native town, in the midst of old colleagues, numerous relatives and
youthful companions, he esteemed their good opinion. Exempt from
vexatious or burdensome taxes, tolerably well off, owning at least his
own office, he was above sordid preoccupations and common necessities.
Used to old fashioned habits of simplicity, soberness and economy, he
was not tormented by a disproportion between his income and expenses,
by the requirements of show and luxury, by the necessity of annually
adding to his revenue. - Thus guided and free, the instincts of
vanity and generosity, the essence of French character, took the
ascendant; the councilor or comptroller, the King's agent, regarded
himself as a man above the common run, as a noble of the Third-Estate;
he thought less of making money than of gaining esteem; his chief
desire was to be honored and honorable; "he passed life comfortably
and was looked up to, . . . in the discharge of his duty, . . .
with no other ambition than to transmit to his children . . . .
along with their inheritance an unsullied reputation."[80] Among the
other groups of the bourgeoisie the same corporate system, the same
settled habits, the same security, the same frugality, the same
institutions, the same customs,[81] promoted the growth of nearly the
same sentiments, while the intellectual culture of these men was not
insignificant.
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