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In the actual state of social relationships, the forms (formes, Fr.) of politeness are necessary as a subsitute to benevolence.

African Spir

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African Spir
Social
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The more a man is successful in getting out (or coming out) from his own individuality, of his egoist self, and to control (or dominate) the instincts of his physical nature, the more his character, by rising above material contingencies, widen, become free and independent.
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We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.
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As long as men will not be freed from their errors and delusions, humanity will not be able to go towards (marcher vers, Fr.) the accomplishment of its true destinies.
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If pity was always equally alive and acting in all individuals and in all circumstances, we could do away with moral. Unfortunately, it is not compassion, but rather it's contrary, selfishness, that act most strongly in us.
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Whether we had a (good) moral intuition more developed, we would be as much morally disgusted by the rapacity of those who try to benefit from, and monopolize (or secure or corner), having no consideration (regardless or irrespective of) for others (autrui, Fr.), than we physically are by a sickening (or nauseating) smell.
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To reform society, and with it humanity, there is only one mean to transform the mentality of men, to direct them (les orienter, Fr.) in a new spirit.
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It is not on the ruin of liberty that we may (in the future... - pourra, Fr.) build justice.
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There are some who esteem that it is a naivety to believe that a moral regeneration may be possible (soit possible, Fr.) now, if this was not the case, it would not be worth the trouble that humanity continue to vegetate without aim.
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Nothing is more stimulating and more salutary to (or for) the inner (or inward) development than the exemple of men devoted to the good. It is in the company of men pursuing a same ideal that the still weavering (or unsteady) soul can set oneself (se fixer, Fr) and stick to (or attach to) everything that is noble and generous.
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To sacrifice the moral to the physical, as is done in these days, is to sacrifice reality for a shadow.
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There is a radical dualism between the empirical nature of man and its moral nature.
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If the present civilisation does not acquire some stable moral fondations (bases morales stables, Fr.), its existence will hardly be more assured than that of the civilisations that have preceeded it, and which have fallen (or collapse, or failed).
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There is only one thing in the world that is really valuable, it is to do good.
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The basic notion of justice, is that the rights of everybody are equals, in principle. In the rights of others, we have to respect our own rights. It is only in that condition that we can reasonnably require that it be respected by others.
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Experience shows that what great role pratice and experience play in education pratice, the prolonged exercice lead to habit: exemple suggests imitation. Habit can become a second nature, but, wrongly directed (or guided), it may also heighten (or intensify) unfortunate tendencies and be an obstacle to progress.
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Up to here, in general, we have mainly stuffed the brain of the young people with a indigestible multitude of varios notions, without thinking about enough of the prime necessity to form their character.
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There are (or is) indeed no contradiction between science and religion, the fields of which are different, and which, far from mutually fighting and persecute, must, on the contrary, complete each other.
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Nothing that rest on some contradictory basis shall succeed or last in the long run (ne saurait réussir ou durer, à la longue, Fr.) all that involve (or imply...) a contradiction is fatally destined, early or late, to disintegrate and disappear.
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Men spend their life down here in the worship of petty (or mean) interests and the search of perishable things, and with that (et avec cela, Fr.) they pretend to perpetuate for all eternity their self (moi, Fr.) so hardly worthy (digne, Fr.) of it.
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It depends on ourselves to be to each others, either a blessing or a torment.
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