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have felt the highest pleasures of maternal love as night after
night I have thought of these things。 While writing this letter；
sentence by sentence； projecting my thoughts into the life you are
about to lead； I went often to my window。 Looking at the towers of
Frapesle； visible in the moonlight； I said to myself； 〃He sleeps；
I wake for him。〃 Delightful feelings！ which recall the happiest of
my life； when I watched Jacques sleeping in his cradle and waited
till he wakened； to feed him with my milk。 You are the man…child
whose soul must now be strengthened by precepts never taught in
schools； but which we women have the privilege of inculcating。
These precepts will influence your success； they prepare the way
for it； they will secure it。 Am I not exercising a spiritual
motherhood in giving you a standard by which to judge the actions
of your life； a motherhood comprehended； is it not； by the child？
Dear Felix； let me； even though I may make a few mistakes； let me
give to our friendship a proof of the disinterestedness which
sanctifies it。
In yielding you to the world I am renouncing you； but I love you
too well not to sacrifice my happiness to your welfare。 For the
last four months you have made me reflect deeply on the laws and
customs which regulate our epoch。 The conversations I have had
with my aunt； well…known to you who have replaced her； the events
of Monsieur de Mortsauf's life； which he has told me； the tales
related by my father； to whom society and the court are familiar
in their greatest as well as in their smallest aspects； all these
have risen in my memory for the benefit of my adopted child at the
moment when he is about to be launched； well…nigh alone； among
men； about to act without adviser in a world where many are
wrecked by their own best qualities thoughtlessly displayed； while
others succeed through a judicious use of their worst。
I ask you to ponder this statement of my opinion of society as a
whole； it is concise； for to you a few words are sufficient。
I do not know whether societies are of divine origin or whether
they were invented by man。 I am equally ignorant of the direction
in which they tend。 What I do know certainly is the fact of their
existence。 No sooner therefore do you enter society； instead of
living a life apart； than you are bound to consider its conditions
binding； a contract is signed between you。 Does society in these
days gain more from a man than it returns to him？ I think so； but
as to whether the individual man finds more cost than profit； or
buys too dear the advantages he obtains； concerns the legislator
only； I have nothing to say to that。 In my judgment you are bound
to obey in all things the general law； without discussion； whether
it injures or benefits your personal interests。 This principle may
seem to you a very simple one； but it is difficult of application；
it is like sap； which must infiltrate the smallest of the
capillary tubes to stir the tree； renew its verdure； develop its
flowers； and ripen fruit。 Dear； the laws of society are not all
written in a book； manners and customs create laws； the more
important of which are often the least known。 Believe me； there
are neither teachers； nor schools； nor text…books for the laws
that are now to regulate your actions； your language； your visible
life； the manner of your presentation to the world； and your quest
of fortune。 Neglect those secret laws or fail to understand them；
and you stay at the foot of the social system instead of looking
down upon it。 Even though this letter may seem to you diffuse；
telling you much that you have already thought； let me confide to
you a woman's ethics。
To explain society on the theory of individual happiness adroitly
won at the cost of the greater number is a monstrous doctrine；
which in its strict application leads men to believe that all they
can secretly lay hold of before the law or society or other
individuals condemn it as a wrong is honestly and fairly theirs。
Once admit that claim and the clever thief goes free； the woman
who violates her marriage vow without the knowledge of the world
is virtuous and happy； kill a man； leaving no proof for justice；
and if； like Macbeth； you win a crown you have done wisely； your
selfish interests become the higher law； the only question then is
how to evade； without witnesses or proof； the obstacles which law
and morality place between you and your self…indulgence。 To those
who hold this view of society； the problem of making their
fortune； my dear friend； resolves itself into playing a game where
the stakes are millions or the galleys； political triumphs or
dishonor。 Still； the green cloth is not long enough for all the
players； and a certain kind of genius is required to play the
game。 I say nothing of religious beliefs； nor yet of feelings；
what concerns us now is the running…gear of the great machine of
gold and iron； and its practical results with which men's lives
are occupied。 Dear child of my heart； if you share my horror at
this criminal theory of the world； society will present to your
mind； as it does to all sane minds； the opposite theory of duty。
Yes； you will see that man owes himself to man in a thousand
differing ways。 To my mind； the duke and peer owe far more to the
workman and the pauper than the pauper and the workman owe to the
duke。 The obligations of duty enlarge in proportion to the
benefits which society bestows on men； in accordance with the
maxim； as true in social politics as in business； that the burden
of care and vigilance is everywhere in proportion to profits。 Each
man pays his debt in his own way。 When our poor toiler at the
Rhetoriere comes home weary with his day's work has he not done
his duty？ Assuredly he has done it better than many in the ranks
above him。
If you take this view of society； in which you are about to seek a
place in keeping with your intellect and your faculties； you must
set before you as a generating principle and mainspring； this
maxim： never permit yourself to act against either your own
conscience or the public conscience。 Though my entreaty may seem
to you superfluous； yet I entreat； yes； your Henriette implores
you to ponder the meaning of that rule。 It seems simple but； dear；
it means that integrity； loyalty； honor； and courtesy are the
safest and surest instruments for your success。 In this selfish
world you will find many to tell you that a man cannot make his
way by sentiments； that too much respect for moral considerations
will hinder his advance。 It is not so； you will see men ill…
trained； ill…taught； incapable of measuring the future； who are
rough to a child； rude to an old woman； unwilling to be irked by
some worthy old man on the ground that they can do nothing for
him； later； you will find the same men caught by the thorns which
they might have rendered pointless； and missing their triumph for
some trivial reason； whereas the man who is early trained to a
sense of duty does not meet the same obstacles； he may attain
success less rapidly； but when attained it is solid and does not
crumble like that of others。
When I show you that the application of this doctrine demands in
the first place a mastery of the science of manners； you may think
my jurisprudence has a flavor of the court and of the training I
received as a Lenoncourt。 My dear friend； I do attach great
importance to that training； trifling as it seems。 You will find
that the habits of the great world are as important to you as the
wide and varied knowledge that you possess。 Often they take the
place of such knowledge； for some really ignorant men； born with
natural gifts and accustomed to give connection to their ideas；
have been known to attain a grandeur never reached by others far
more worthy of it。 I have studied you thoroughly； Felix； wishing
to know if your education； derived wholly from schools； has
injured your nature。 God knows the jo