hood has had a habit of trembling every time he
heard certain words, needs these words, and needs to tremble. In this
way he is more disposed to listen to the one who encourages his fears
than to the one who would dispel his fears. The superstitious man wants
to be afraid; his imagination demands it. It seems that he fears nothing
more than having no object to fear. Men are imaginary patients, whom
interested charlatans take care to encourage in their weakness, in order
to have a market for their remedies. Physicians who order a great number
of remedies are more listened to than those who recommend a good
regimen, and who leave nature to act.

XII.--RELIGION ENTICES IGNORANCE BY THE AID OF THE MARVELOUS.

If religion was clear, it would have fewer attractions for the ignorant.
They need obscurity, mysteries, fables, miracles, incredible things,
which keep their brains perpetually at work. Romances, idle stories,
tales of ghosts and witches, have more charms for the vulgar than true
narrations.

XIII.--CONTINUATION.

In the matter of religion, men are but overgrown children. The more
absurd a religion is, and the fuller of marvels, the more power it
exerts; the devotee thinks himself obliged to place no limits to his
credulity; the more inconceivable things are, the more divine they
appear to him; the more incredible they are, the more merit he gives
himself for believing them.

XIV.--THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY RELIGION IF THERE HAD NEVER BEEN
ANY DARK AND BARBAROUS AGES.

The origin of religious opinions dates, as a general thing, from the
time when savage nations were yet in a state of infancy. It was to
coarse, ignorant, and stupid men that the founders of religion addressed
themselves in all ages, in order to present them with Gods, ceremonies,
histories of fabulous Divinities, marvelous and terrible fables. These
chimeras, adopted without examination by the fathers, have been
transmitted with more or less changes to their polished children, who
often do not reason more than their fathers.

XV.--ALL RELIGION WAS BORN OF THE DESIRE TO DOMINATE.

The first legislators of nations had for their object to dominate, The
easiest means of succeeding was to frighten the people and to prevent
them from reasoning; they led them by tortuous paths in order that they
should not perceive the designs of their guides; they compelled them to
look into the air, for fear they should look to their fe