‘Certainly, there is no better way of relaxing the vigour of men’s courage than to occupy their minds with peaceful and sedentary exercises, and idleness cannot enter civilized States in a more subtle or dangerous disguise than that of literature. Lazy and idle persons have in part ruined commerce and agriculture, which are the cause of the weakness of our condition and the cowardice of our age.’ (J. L. de Balzac, _Le Prince_, 1631. He then admits literature and the sciences to the State insofar as ‘they strengthen and embellish the Mother-country’.) On the other hand, a master from the great period of French literature writes a eulogy of the life of the mind at the expense of the active mind, which I hardly think would be accepted by many of the moderns who venerate that period (I am especially thinking of those who admire the thought of Georges Sorel). ‘In France great strength of character and width of mind are needed if a man is to reject offices and employments and thus consent to remain at home and do nothing. Scarcely anyone possesses sufficient merit to play this part with dignity, nor sufficient resources to fill up the void of time without what the vulgar call “business”. But the wise man’s idleness needs only a better name, and we ought to say that one who meditates, talks, reads and is calm, is working.’ (La Bruyère, _Du Mérite personnel_.) Note P (Page 122) _The ‘Manifesto of the Party of Intelligence’ (Figaro, 19th July, 1919)._ This manifesto, signed by fifty-four French writers, several of whom are among the teachers most respected by their fellow-citizens, is of the greatest importance to the present inquiry. In addition to the strange passage on the Church’s mission which I quoted above, it contains things like this:-- ‘Nationalism, which the conceptions of the intelligence impose on political conduct as well as on the order of the world, is a reasonable, humane system, and French in addition.’ And further on:-- ‘When a literature becomes national does it not acquire a more universal significance, a more humanly general interest?’ And again:-- ‘We believe--and the world believes with us--that it is part of the destiny of our race to defend the spiritual interests of humanity.... We are solicitous for Europe and all the humanity remaining in the world. French humanity is the sovereign protector of this.’ And above all:-- ‘Victorious France means to take her place again in the order of the mind, the only order whereby a legitimate domination may be exercised.’ Hence the desire to found (the manifesto itself underlines the words): ‘_The intellectual Federation of Europe and the world under the aegis of victorious France, the guardian of civilization._’