They are not only wise themselves, they make us wise. No one can be a master in conversation who has not learned much from woman; their presence and inspiration are essential to its success. Shenstone gave no bad account of his influence in his description of the French woman: " There is a quality in which no woman in the world can compete with her, — it is the power of intellectual irritation. She will draw wit out of a fool. She strikes with such address the cords of self-love, that she gives unexpected vigor and agility of fancy, and electrifies a body that appeared non-electric." Coleridge esteems cultivated women as the depositaries and guardians of " English undefiled; " and Luther commends that accomplishment of " pure German speech " of his wife. Madame de Stael, by the unanimous consent of all who knew her, was the most extra- ordinary converser that was known in her time, and it was a time full of eminent men and women; she knew all distinguished persons in letters or society, in England, Germany, and Italy, as well as in France, though she said with characteristic nationality, " Conversa- tion, like talent, exists only in France." Madame de Stael valued nothing but conversa- tion. And she said one day, seriously, to M. Mole, " if it were not for respect to human opinions, I would not open my window to see the Bay of Naples for the first time, whilst I would go five hundred leagues to talk with a man of genius whom I had not seen." Ste Beuve tells us of the privileged circle at Coppet, that, after making an excursion one day, the party returned in two coaches from Chambery to Aix, on the way to Coppet. The first coach had many rueful accidents to relate, — a terrific thunder-storm, shocking roads, and danger and gloom to the whole company. The party in the second coach, on arriving, heard this story with surprise; — of thunder-storms, of steeps, of mud, of danger, they knew nothing; no, they had forgotten earth, and breathed a purer air; such a conver- sation between Madame de Stael and Madame Recramier and Benjamin Constant and Schlegel ! they were in a state of delight. The intoxication of the conversation had made them insensible to all notice of weather or rough roads. 33 34 HOME DISSERTATIONS. Madame de Tasse said: "If I were queen, I should command Madame de Stael to talk to me every day." Conversation fills all gaps, supplies all deficiencies. Politics, war, party, luxury, avarice, fashion, are all asses with loaded panniers to serve the kitchen of Intellect, the king. There is nothing that does not pass into lever or weapon. A right speech is not to be distinguished from action. Courage to ask questions, courage to expose ignorance. The great aim is not to shine, not to conquer your companion, — then you learn nothing but conceit, — but to find a companion who knows what you do not; to tilt with him and be overthrown, horse and foot, with utter destruction of all your logic and learning. There is a defeat that is useful. Then you can see the real and the counterfeit, and will never accept the counterfeit again. You will adopt the art that has defeated you. You will ride to battle horsed on the very logic which you found irresistible. You will accept the fertile truth, instead of the solemn customary lie. Let nature bear the expense. The attitude, the tone, is all. Let your eyes not look away.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

They are not only wise themselves, they make us wise. No one can be a master in conversation who has not learned much from woman; their presence and inspiration are essential to its success. Shenstone gave no bad account of his influence in his description of the French woman: " There is a quality in which no woman in the world can compete with her, — it is the power of intellectual irritation. She will draw wit out of a fool. She strikes with such address the cords of self-love, that she gives unexpected vigor and agility of fancy, and electrifies a body that appeared non-electric." Coleridge esteems cultivated women as the depositaries and guardians of " English undefiled; " and Luther commends that accomplishment of " pure German speech " of his wife. Madame de Stael, by the unanimous consent of all who knew her, was the most extraordinary converser that was known in her time, and it was a time full of eminent men and women; she knew all distinguished persons in letters or society, in England, Germany, and Italy, as well as in France, though she said with characteristic nationality, " Conversation, like talent, exists only in France." Madame de Stael valued nothing but conversation. And she said one day, seriously, to M. Mole, " if it were not for respect to human opinions, I would not open my window to see the Bay of Naples for the first time, whilst I would go five hundred leagues to talk with a man of genius whom I had not seen." Ste Beuve tells us of the privileged circle at Coppet, that, after making an excursion one day, the party returned in two coaches from Chambery to Aix, on the way to Coppet. The first coach had many rueful accidents to relate, — a terrific thunder-storm, shocking roads, and danger and gloom to the whole company. The party in the second coach, on arriving, heard this story with surprise; — of thunder-storms, of steeps, of mud, of danger, they knew nothing; no, they had forgotten earth, and breathed a purer air; such a conversation between Madame de Stael and Madame Récamier and Benjamin Constant and Schlegel ! they were in a state of delight. The intoxication of the conversation had made them insensible to all notice of weather or rough roads. Madame de Tasse said: "If I were queen, I should command Madame de Stael to talk to me every day." Conversation fills all gaps, supplies all deficiencies. Politics, war, party, luxury, avarice, fashion, are all asses with loaded panniers to serve the kitchen of Intellect, the king. There is nothing that does not pass into lever or weapon. A right speech is not to be distinguished from action. Courage to ask questions, courage to expose ignorance. The great aim is not to shine, not to conquer your companion, — then you learn nothing but conceit, — but to find a companion who knows what you do not; to tilt with him and be overthrown, horse and foot, with utter destruction of all your logic and learning. There is a defeat that is useful. Then you can see the real and the counterfeit, and will never accept the counterfeit again. You will adopt the art that has defeated you. You will ride to battle horsed on the very logic which you found irresistible. You will accept the fertile truth, instead of the solemn customary lie. Let nature bear the expense. The attitude, the tone, is all. Let your eyes not look away.

Home dissertations