wing his duties which
nature prescribes to him, it is precisely in the same way as the
superstitious, whose invisible motives and sacred guides prevent him
not from going occasionally astray.

These reflections will serve to confirm what I have already said, to
prove that morality has nothing in common with religion; and that
religion is its own enemy, though it pretends to dispense with support
from other sources. True morality is founded on the nature of man; the
morality of religion is founded only on the chimeras of imagination,
and on the caprice of those who speak of the Deity in a language too
often contrary to nature and right reason.

Allow me, then, Madam, to repeat to you, that morality is the only
natural religion for man; the only object worthy his notice on earth;
the only worship which he is required to render to the Deity. It is
uniform, and replete with obvious duties, which rest not on the
dictation of priests, blabbing chit-chat they do not understand. If it
be this morality which I have defined, that makes us what we are,
ought we not to labor strenuously for the happiness of our race? If it
be this morality that makes us reasonable; that enables us to
distinguish good from evil, the useful from the hurtful; that makes us
sociable, and enables us to live in society to receive and repay
mutual benefits; we ought at least to respect all those who are its
friends. If it be this morality which sets bounds to our temper, it is
that which interdicts the commission in thought, word, or action, of
what would injure another, or disturb the happiness of society. If it
attach us to the preservation of all that is dear to us, it points out
how by a certain line of conduct we may preserve ourselves; for its
laws, clear and of easy practice, inflict on those who disobey them
instant punishment, fear, and remorse; on the other hand, the
observance of its duties is accompanied with immediate and real
advantages, and notwithstanding the depravity which prevails on earth,
vice always finds itself punished, and virtue is not always deprived
of the satisfaction it yields, of the esteem of men, and the
recompense of society; even if men are in other respects unjust, they
will concede to the virtuous the due meed of praise.

Behold, Madam, to what the dogmas of natural religion reduce us: in
meditating on it, and in practising its duties, we shall be truly
religious, and filled with the spirit of the Divinity; we shall