Writing from Rheims to Tempier, his trusted confidant, Eugene continues to reflect on the pompous behavior of the dignitaries attending the consecration of the king.<\/p>\n
\nIt is a good thing for you, my dear Tempier, that I write you only after having discharged my melancholy humor into the two letters that I have just written for Aix and Paris. If that is all the world can offer in the way of beauty, however much its brilliance and ravishing fantasies may be seductive to others. I am only more confirmed than ever in the scorn that all of it deserves and has always inspired in me, in passing through these splendid chambers, these superb porticoes, the church itself which seems to have changed its purpose for the occasion, no longer being the house of God but the sumptuous temple of vanity\u2026<\/strong><\/h5>\n
My reflections continued further when I considered those who flock here; without looking beyond people of my own rank, what a pity to see such vanity. Their eager gaze is fixed on ribbons and sashes; blue, red and violet make all eyes open wide. They praise, admire, go into raptures. As for me – say not a word of this – mentally stripping these people of their liveries, I disdain, I pity them or am indignant. Do not think, however, that my stoicism renders me unjust; no! I give homage as I go to virtue when I meet it, but rarely is it such as I expect, such as I love.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Henri Tempier, 27 May 1825, EO VI n 179<\/em><\/p>\n
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\u201cGod created the world out of nothing; so as long as we are nothing, he can make something out of us.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Martin Luther<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Writing from Rheims to Tempier, his trusted confidant, Eugene continues to reflect on the pompous behavior of the dignitaries attending the consecration of the king. It is a good thing for you, my dear Tempier, that I write you only … Continue reading