29.18. 18. Of the Ideas of Uniformity.
There are certain ideas of
uniformity, which sometimes strike great geniuses (for they even
affected Charlemagne), but infallibly make an impression on little
souls. They discover therein a kind of perfection, which they recognize
because it is impossible for them not to see it; the same authorized
weights, the same measures in trade, the same laws in the state, the
same religion in all its parts. But is this always right and without
exception? Is the evil of changing constantly less than that of
suffering? And does not a greatness of genius consist rather in
distinguishing between those cases in which uniformity is requisite, and
those in which there is a necessity for differences? In China the
Chinese are governed by the Chinese ceremonial and the Tartars by
theirs; and yet there is no nation in the world that aims so much at
tranquillity. If the people observe the laws, what signifies it whether
these laws are the same?
