A minor determine of the 18th century can educate a lesson to right now’s rulers of the deep or shallow state of nearly all international locations. René-Louis de Voyer, Marquis d’Argenson (1694-1757) was an early Enlightenment determine, good friend of Voltaire, and, for a short while, minister of Louis XV.
In his memoirs, he wrote (Vol. 5, p. 372, of the 1858 version)–my translation follows the unique French:
Il est temps de prendre ce parti. Toutes les autres nations nous haïssent et nous envient. Et nous, ne les envions level si elles s’enrichissent : tant mieux pour elles et aussi pour nous ; elles nous prendront davantage de nos denrées, elles nous apporteront davantage des leurs et de leur argent. Détestable principe que celui de ne vouloir notre grandeur que par l’abaissement de nos voisins ! Il n’y a que la méchanceté et la malignité du coeur de satisfaites dans ce principe, et l’intérêt y est opposé.
Laissez faire, morbleu! laissez faire!
It’s time make that selection. All different nations hate us and envy us. However let’s not envy them in the event that they get wealthy. Good for them, and good for us to. They may take extra of our merchandise and produce us extra of theirs and of their cash. It’s a despicable precept to need our greatness solely via decreasing our neighbors! Solely wickedness and malevolence of the center are gratified by this precept, and curiosity is its reverse.
Laissez faire, for God’s sake ! Laissez faire !
We should always forgive d’Argenson’s collectivist approach of talking (the “nations” who hate, for instance). On this, he isn’t worse than most of right now’s rulers and “their” individuals.
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DALL-E bought my concept to think about d’Argenson on the primary attempt however with many errors together with the candles dangerously near bookshelves and the anachronistic desk lamp. Little question that historians of 18th-century France will uncover different anachronisms. D’Argenson, who was round 45 when he wrote the quoted passage, additionally seems a bit younger (though I admit I don’t fairly keep in mind how one seems at that age). He additionally doesn’t appear to be the true d’Argenson, however that’s DALL-E’s customary observe. Furthermore, the robotic made a typo in “morbleu” and I used to be unable to have “him” right it. Nonetheless not unhealthy for a digital machine! Actually higher than a pocket calculator. Maybe he ought to run for workplace?
How DALL-E imagines d’Argenson, with one huge anachronism and a typo in “morbleu”
