Thusourfirstinterestandourfirstdutyistoenlightenourselvesonthissubject, , Imakeavastdifferencebetweenthosewhostrivewithalltheirpowertoinformthemselves, andthosewholivewithouttroublingorthinkingaboutit.
Icanhaveonlycompassionforthosewhosincerelybewailtheirdoubt, whoregarditasthegreatestofmisfortunes, andwho, sparingnoefforttoescapeit, makeofthisinquirytheirprincipalandmostseriousoccupations.
Butasforthosewhopasstheirlifewithoutthinkingofthisultimateendoflife, andwho, forthissolereasonthattheydonotfindwithinthemselvesthelightswhichconvincethemofit, neglecttoseekthemelsewhere, andtoexaminethoroughlywhetherthisopinionisoneofthosewhichpeoplereceivewithcreduloussimplicity, oroneofthosewhich, althoughobscureinthemselves, haveneverthelessasolidandimmovablefoundation, Ilookupontheminamannerquitedifferent.
Thiscarelessnessinamatterwhichconcernsthemselves, theireternity, theirall, movesmemoretoangerthanpity; itastonishesandshocksme; , onthecontrary, thatweoughttohavethisfeelingfromprinciplesofhumaninterestandself-love; forthisweneedonlyseewhattheleastenlightenedpersonssee.
Wedonotrequiregreateducationofthemindtounderstandthathereisnorealandlastingsatisfaction; thatourpleasuresareonlyvanity; thatourevilsareinfinite; and, lastly, thatdeath, whichthreatensuseverymoment, mustinfalliblyplaceuswithinafewyearsunderthedreadfulnecessityofbeingforevereitherannihilatedorunhappy.
