Page 1403 - les-miserables

CHAPTER II

BADLY SEWED

But the task of sages is one thing, the task of clever men is
another. The Revolution of 1830 came to a sudden halt.
As soon as a revolution has made the coast, the skilful
make haste to prepare the shipwreck.
The skilful in our century have conferred on themselves
the title of Statesmen; so that this word, statesmen, has end-
ed by becoming somewhat of a slang word. It must be borne
in mind, in fact, that wherever there is nothing but skill,
there is necessarily pettiness. To say ‘the skilful’ amounts to
saying ‘the mediocre.’
In the same way, to say ‘statesmen’ is sometimes equiva-
lent to saying ‘traitors.’ If, then, we are to believe the skilful,
revolutions like the Revolution of July are severed arteries;
a prompt ligature is indispensable. The right, too grandly
proclaimed, is shaken. Also, right once firmly fixed, the
state must be strengthened. Liberty once assured, attention
must be directed to power.
Here the sages are not, as yet, separated from the skilful,
but they begin to be distrustful. Power, very good. But, in
the first place, what is power? In the second, whence comes

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