m better. They will feel the uselessness of many
expensive practices, which do not at all contribute to public welfare;
they will blush at many pitiful quarrels, which will cease to disturb
the tranquillity of the States as soon as they cease to attach any
importance to them.

Princes! instead of taking part in the senseless contentions of your
priests, instead of espousing foolishly their impertinent quarrels,
instead of striving to bring all your subjects to uniform opinions,
occupy yourselves with their happiness in this world, and do not trouble
yourselves about the fate which awaits them in another. Govern them
justly, give them good laws, respect their liberty and their property,
superintend their education, encourage them in their labors, reward
their talents and their virtues, repress their licentiousness, and do
not trouble yourselves upon what they think about objects useless to
them and to you. Then you will no longer need fictions to make
yourselves obeyed; you will become the only guides of your subjects;
their ideas will be uniform about the feelings of love and respect which
will be your due. Theological fables are useful but to tyrants, who do
not understand the art of ruling over reasonable beings.

CXCVII.--FATAL EFFECTS OF RELIGION UPON THE PEOPLE AND THE PRINCES.

Does it require the efforts of genius to comprehend that what is beyond
man, is not made for men; that what is supernatural, is not made for
natural beings; that impenetrable mysteries are not made for limited
minds? If theologians are foolish enough to dispute about subjects which
they acknowledge to be unintelligible to themselves, should society take
a part in their foolish quarrels? Must human blood flow in order to give
value to the conjectures of a few obstinate visionists? If it is very
difficult to cure the theologians of their mania and the people of their
prejudices, it is at least very easy to prevent the extravagances of the
one and the folly of the other from producing pernicious effects. Let
each one be allowed to think as he chooses, but let him not be allowed
to annoy others for their mode of thinking. If the chiefs of nations
were more just and more sensible, theological opinions would not disturb
the public tranquillity any more than the disputes of philosophers,
physicians, grammarians, and of critics. It is the tyranny of princes
which makes theological quarrels have serious consequences. When kings
shall cease t