The stoics defined courage admirably: _Virtue combating for equity_. Civil courage might be defined: virtue defending the liberty and rights of citizens against tyranny, whether this tyranny be that of the masses or a despot's. As much courage, and perhaps more, is demanded in the first case as in the second; it is less easy to resist a crowd than a single man, were there nothing more to be feared than _unpopularity_, one of the disadvantages hardest to brave. How much more difficult when it comes to risking a popularity already acquired? Yet must one, if necessary, be able to make the sacrifice. True civil courage shows itself the same in all cases. Thus, Socrates, this type of civil virtue, as he was of all other virtues, refused, at the peril of his life, to obey the iniquitous orders of the tyrant Critias; and he resisted with no less courage the people, who, contrary to justice and law, asked for the death of the generals who conquered at Arginusæ. Another name presents itself to the memory, namely, that of Boissy d'Anglas, immortalized for the heroism he showed as president of the National Convention, the 1st Prairial, year II. (20 May, 1795). Assailed by the clamors of the crowd which had invaded the Assembly, threatened by the guns which were pointed at him, he remains impassible; and without even appearing to be aware of the danger he is running, he reminds the crowd of the respect due to national representatives. They cry: "We do not want thy Assembly; the people is here; thou art the president of the people; sign, says one, the decree shall be good, or I kill thee!" He quietly replied: "Life to me is a trifle; you speak of committing a great crime; I am a representative of the people; I am president of the convention;" and he refused to sign. The head of a representative of the people who had just been massacred by the populace for having attempted to prevent the invasion of the Convention, is presented to him on the end of a pike; he salutes it and remains firm at his post. This is a great example of civil courage. CHAPTER VIII. PROFESSIONAL DUTIES. SUMMARY. =Professional duties:= founded on the division of social work. =The absence of a profession--Leisure.=--Is it a duty to have a profession? Rules for the choice of a profession. =Division of social professions.=--Plato's theory; the Saint Simonian theory; Fichte's theory. Résumé and synthesis of these theories. =Mechanic and industrial professions.=--Employers and employees.--Workmen and farmers. =Military duties.= =Public functions.=--Elective functions; the magistracy and the bar. =Science.=--Teaching.--Medicine.--The arts and letters.