has to struggle with outward obstacles imposed by governments which
misunderstand their own function. For such governments an now witness a shining
example of how freedom may exist without in the least jeopardising public
concord and the unity of the commonwealth. Men will of their own accord
gradually work their way out of barbarism so long as artificial measures are not
deliberately adopted to keep them in it.
I have portrayed matters of religion as the focal point of enlightenment, i.e.
of man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. This is firstly because
our rulers have no interest in assuming the role of guardians over their
subjects so fir as the arts and sciences are concerned, and secondly, because
religious immaturity is the most pernicious and dishonourable variety of all.
But the attitude of mind of a head of state who favours freedom in the arts and
sciences extends even further, for he realises that there is no danger even to
his legislation if he allows his subjects to make public use of their own reason
and to put before the public their thoughts on better ways of drawing up laws,
even if this entails forthright criticism of the current legislation. We have
before us a brilliant example of this kind, in which no monarch has yet
surpassed the one to whom we now pay tribute.
But only a ruler who is himself enlightened and has no far of phantoms, yet who
likewise has at hand a well-disciplined and numerous army to guarantee public
security, may say what no republic would dare to say: Argue as much as you like
and about whatever you like, but obey! This reveals to us a strange and
unexpected pattern in human affairs (such as we shall always find if we consider
them in the widest sense, in which nearly everything is paradoxical). A high
degree of civil freedom seems advantageous to a people's intellectual freedom,
yet it also sets up insuperable barriers to it. Conversely, a lesser degree of
civil freedom gives intellectual freedom enough room to expand to its fullest
extent. Thus once the germ on which nature has lavished most careСman's
inclination and vocation to think freely--has developed within this hard shell,
it gradually reacts upon the mentality of the people, who thus gradually become
increasingly able to act freely Eventually, it even influences the principles of
governments, which find that they can themselves profit by treating man, who is
more than a machine, in a manner appropriate to his dignity.
