are the pleasures of the state in which we are not. And if we attained
to these pleasures, we should not be happy after all; because we
should have other desires natural to this new state.

    We must particularise this general proposition....

    110. The consciousness of the falsity of present pleasures, and
the ignorance of the vanity of absent pleasures, cause inconstancy.

    111. Inconstancy.- We think we are playing on ordinary organs when
playing upon man. Men are organs, it is true, but, odd, changeable,
variable with pipes not arranged in proper order. Those who only
know how to play on ordinary organs will not produce barmonies on
these. We must know where are.

    112. Inconstancy.- Things have different qualities, and the soul
different inclinations; for nothing is simple which is presented to
the soul, and the soul never presents itself simply to any object.
Hence it comes that we weep and laugh at the same thing.

    113. Inconstancy and oddity.- To live only by work, and to rule
over the most powerful State in the world, are very opposite things.
They are united in the person of the great Sultan of the Turks.

    114. Variety is as abundant as all tones of the voice, all ways of
walking, coughing, blowing the nose, sneezing. We distinguish vines by
their fruit, and call them the Condrien, the Desargues, and such and
such a stock. Is this all? Has a vine ever produced two bunches
exactly the same, and has a bunch two grapes alike, etc.?

    I can never judge of the same thing exactly in the same way. I
cannot judge of my work, while doing it. I must do as the artists,
stand at a distance, but not too far. How far, then? Guess.

    115. Variety.- Theology is a science, but at the same time how
many sciences? A man is a whole; but if we dissect him, will he be the
head, the heart, the stomach, the veins, each vein, each portion of
a vein, the blood, each humour in the blood?

    A town, a country-place, is from afar a town and a
country-place. But, as we draw near, there are houses, trees, tiles,
leaves, grass, ants, limbs of ants, in infinity. All this is contained
under the name of country-place.

    116. Thoughts.- All is one, all is different. How many natures
exist in man? How many vocations? And by what chance does each man
ordinarily choose what he has heard praised? A well-turned heel.

    117. The heel of a slipper.- "Ah! How well this is turned! Here is
a clever workman! How brave is this soldier!" This is the source of
our inclinations and of the choice of conditions. "How much this man
drinks! How little that one"! This makes people sober or drunk,
soldiers, cowards, etc.

    118. Chief talent, that which rules the rest.

    119. Nature imitates herself A seed grown in good ground brings
forth fruit. A principle instilled into a good mind brings forth
fruit. Numbers imitate space, which is of a different nature.

    All is made and led by the same master, root, branches, and
fruits; principles and consequences.

    120. Nature diversifies and imitates; art imitates and
diversifies.

    121. Nature always begins the same things again, the years, the
days, the hours; in like manner spaces and numbers follow each other
from beginning to end. Thus is made a kind of infinity and eternity.
Not that anything in all this is infinite and eternal, but these
finite realities are infinitely multiplied. Thus it seems to me to
be only the number which multiplies them that is infinite.

    122. Time heals griefs and quarrels, for we change and are no
longer the same persons. Neither the offender nor the offended are any
more themselves. It is like a nation which we have provoked, but
meet again after two generations. They are still Frenchmen, but not
the same.

    123. He no longer loves the person whom he loved ten years ago.
I quite believe it. She is no longer the same, nor is he. He was
young, and she also; she is quite different. He would perhaps love her
yet, if she were what she was then.

    124. We view things not only from different sides, but with
different eyes; we have no wish to find them alike.

    125. Contraries.- Man is naturally credulous and incredulous,
timid and rash.

    126. Description of man: dependency, desire of independence, need.

    127. Condition of man: inconstancy, weariness, unrest.

    128. The weariness which is felt by us in leaving pursuits to
which we are attached. A man dwells at home with pleasure; but if he
sees a woman who charms him, or if he enjoys himself in play for
five or six days, he is miserable if he returns to his former way of
living. Nothing is more common than that.