Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- VOL I Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- VOL II Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- LETTER I The Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER II The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER III The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER IV The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER V The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER VI The Viscountess's Answer
- LETTER VII The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER VIII The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER IX Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER X The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XI The Copy of Mons. de Lagaraye's Letter to Porphiry
- LETTER XII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XIII Madame d' Ostalis to the Viscountess de Limours
- LETTER XIV The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XV The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XVI The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER XVII Madame d' Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XVIII The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER XIX The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XX The Chevalier Herbain to the Baroness
- LETTER XXI Madame d' Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XXII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXIII The Baroness to Madame d' Ostalis
- LETTER XXIV Mons. d' Aimeri to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXV Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XXVI Mons. d' Aimeri to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXVII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXVIII Madame de Germeuil to Madame de Valcy
- LETTER XXIX Madame de Valcy to Madame de Germeuil
- LETTER XXX Madame d’ Almane to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXXI Mons. de Lagaraye to Porphiry
- LETTER XXXII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXXIII The same to the Viscountess
- LETTER XXXIV The same to the same
- LETTER XXXV The Baron to Mons. d’ Aimeri
- LETTER XXXVI The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XXXVII Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XXXVIII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XXXIX The same to the same
- LETTER XL The Baron to Mons. d’ Aimeri
- LETTER XLI The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XLII The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XLIII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XLIV Madame d’ Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XLV Mons. d’ Aimeri to the Baron
- LETTER XLVI The Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XLVII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- VOL III ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Course of Reading pursued by Adelaide, from the Age of six Years, to Twenty-two
- Index
- Endnotes
LETTER XI - The Copy of Mons. de Lagaraye's Letter to Porphiry
from VOL II - Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- VOL I Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- VOL II Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education
- LETTER I The Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER II The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER III The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER IV The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER V The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER VI The Viscountess's Answer
- LETTER VII The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER VIII The Baron to the Viscount
- LETTER IX Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER X The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XI The Copy of Mons. de Lagaraye's Letter to Porphiry
- LETTER XII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XIII Madame d' Ostalis to the Viscountess de Limours
- LETTER XIV The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XV The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XVI The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER XVII Madame d' Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XVIII The Baroness's Answer
- LETTER XIX The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XX The Chevalier Herbain to the Baroness
- LETTER XXI Madame d' Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XXII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXIII The Baroness to Madame d' Ostalis
- LETTER XXIV Mons. d' Aimeri to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXV Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XXVI Mons. d' Aimeri to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXVII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXVIII Madame de Germeuil to Madame de Valcy
- LETTER XXIX Madame de Valcy to Madame de Germeuil
- LETTER XXX Madame d’ Almane to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXXI Mons. de Lagaraye to Porphiry
- LETTER XXXII The Baroness to Madame de Valmont
- LETTER XXXIII The same to the Viscountess
- LETTER XXXIV The same to the same
- LETTER XXXV The Baron to Mons. d’ Aimeri
- LETTER XXXVI The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XXXVII Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XXXVIII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XXXIX The same to the same
- LETTER XL The Baron to Mons. d’ Aimeri
- LETTER XLI The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XLII The Viscountess to the Baroness
- LETTER XLIII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- LETTER XLIV Madame d’ Ostalis to the Baroness
- LETTER XLV Mons. d’ Aimeri to the Baron
- LETTER XLVI The Count de Roseville to the Baron
- LETTER XLVII The Baroness to the Viscountess
- VOL III ADELAIDE AND THEODORE
- Course of Reading pursued by Adelaide, from the Age of six Years, to Twenty-two
- Index
- Endnotes
Summary
Well, my dear Porphiry, you are going to profess yourself a man of letters! I certainly shall not oppose that design. False devotion or bigotry can alone condemn it. You have learning, a feeling heart, and have read a great deal; – leave then your closet, shut your books, and study mankind; unless you acquire a perfect knowledge of the human heart, you will write nothing but what is trifling or imperfect. See men of all ranks; examine them in all the different situations, from the humble labourer to the exalted courtier. Know them accurately; and do not despise amiable infants. As a painter, copy the striking and natural features they present; as a philosopher, observe the seed, from which spring all the virtues and passions of man. Be particularly assiduous in separating our natural faults and inclinations from that croud of irregularities and vices we derive from education. A mere scholar should remain in his study: an author should live in the great world. – If he dedicates to society four hours of the day, there will still remain time enough to reflect on what he has seen. But all this is insufficient; – you, my dear Porphiry, must still preserve your sensibility and your principles – if your heart and manners be corrupted, you will never produce a work of genius. From wit alone may slow amusing things, those works of a moment, made to dazzle but not to last; read with eagerness, praised and quoted during three months, and then consigned to oblivion. It was not to his wit, that Pierre Corneille was indebted for his fame; – it was his greatness of soul, that acquired him his surname, and the admiration of his contemporaries, and of posterity. Oh, my Porphiry! be honest, indulgent, and beneficent, that thy writings may inspire men with the love of virtue. There will then not be found (in them) exaggeration nor inconsistency; for he who is inspired by love of truth, can never contradict himself.
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- Adelaide and Theodoreby Stephanie-Felicite De Genlis, pp. 211 - 212Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014