Page:Studies in socialism 1906.djvu/241

Rh human society, like that of earth itself, is fairly definitely established; there will be transformations, but not any vast metamorphosis. There will not be a social upheaval any more than there will be a geological upheaval.

"Human progress has entered upon its silent period, which is not the least productive. Pascal used to say, when he looked at the sky spread out above our heads: 'The eternal silence of those infinite spaces terrifies me.' For me, on the contrary, after these times of election excitement, of newspaper polemics and all our wordy agitation, it has a message of consolation and encouragement. The universe knows how to accomplish its work without any noise; no declamations echo in those heights, no flaming programme obtrudes itself among the tranquil constellations. I believe that French society has at last entered upon that happy stage where everything is accomplished quietly and without any jars, because everything is accomplished in its full maturity. There will be reforms, great reforms even, but they will come to pass without having been given a name, and they will not trouble the calm life of the nation any more than the dropping of ripe fruit troubles the still autumn days. Humanity will raise itself insensibly toward fraternal justice, just as the earth that bears us rises with a silent motion in the starry spaces."

"My dear fellow, I can hardly wait to answer you, I have so many things to say."