Justine

For although we may fully respect our social conventions, and dutifully abide by the restrictions which education has imposed on us, it may unfortunately happen that through the perversity of others we encounter only the thorns of life, whilst the wicked gather nothing but roses.

Consider carefully what I have said and then let me ask you if a man who – either for pleasure or interest – performs in France one of the virtues of China or Japan (but which in his own country is looked upon as a dishonourable act) should feel any remorse? Should he allow this vile distinction to prevent his action? And if he has a little philosophy in his spirit, will it be capable of making him feel remorse?

There is no action universally considered as a crime over the whole face of the earth.

Men are too vicious to attempt such a rehabilitation and too weak to succeed.

Your fortune was already in your hands! And has the chimerical virtue which you preferred above worldly success – has this virtue consoled you for all the sacrifices you have offered up to it?

I knew how to master my fate, to tread under my feet this phantom of virtue which leads either to the workhouse or to the gallows. I learned at an early age that religion, charity, and kindness were stumbling blocks to all who aimed at wealth and good fortune, and I consolidated my own on the debris of man’s prejudice. It was by mocking law, both human and divine, by always sacrificing the feeble when they crossed my path, by abusing the good faith and the credulity of others, by ruining the poor and robbing the wealthy that I have attained the precipitous temple of the divinity I worship. Why didn’t you imitate me?

The man who helps the poor works towards an equality which is dangerous to society. He encourages laziness and indolence, teaching the poor to steal from the rich – whenever it pleases the latter to refuse that assistance to which the former has become accustomed.’

Thus ingratitude instead of being a vice is truly the virtue of proud intellects – just as surely as kindness is that of weak ones. The slave preaches the virtues of kindness and humility to his master because as a slave he has need of them; but the master, better guided by nature and his passions, has no need to devote himself to anything excepting those things which serve or please him. Be as kind as you wish, if you enjoy such things – but don’t demand any reward for having had your pleasure.’

And even if the service had been rendered by an equal to an equal, never would the pride of an elevated soul allow itself to be degraded by the sentiment of gratitude. The man who receives from another is always humiliated in the receiving – and is not this very humiliation sufficient repayment for the service rendered?

Since I dominate you by means of my wealth and my strength, would it be natural for me to abandon my rights over you simply because you enjoyed helping me, or because your own peculiar reasoning suggested that you would find redemption in aiding me?