Have the princes who believe themselves interested in propagating the
prejudices of their subjects, reflected well upon the effects which are
produced by privileged demagogues, who have the right to speak when they
choose, and excite in the name of Heaven the passions of many millions
of their subjects? What ravages would not these holy haranguers cause
should they conspire to disturb a State, as they have so often done?
Nothing is more onerous and more ruinous for the greatest part of the
nations than the worship of their Gods! Everywhere their ministers not
only rank as the first order in the State, but also enjoy the greater
portion of society's benefits, and have the right to levy continual
taxes upon their fellow-citizens. What real advantages do these organs
of the Most High procure for the people in exchange for the immense
profits which they draw from them? Do they give them in exchange for
their wealth and their courtesies anything but mysteries, hypotheses,
ceremonies, subtle questions, interminable quarrels, which very often
their States must pay for with their blood?