"And you reader for without a reader there is no writer you are half of my work. Without you I am only sounding brass; with the aid of your attention I will speak marvels. Do you see this passing whirlwind called SOCIETY from which burst forth with startling brilliancy lightnings thunders and voices? I wish to cause you to place your finger on the hidden springs which move it; but to that end you must reduce yourself at my command to a state of pure intelligence. The eyes of love and pleasure are powerless to recognize beauty in a skeleton harmony in naked viscera life in dark and coagulated blood: consequently the secrets of the social organism are a sealed letter to the man whose brain is beclouded by passion and prejudice. Such sublimities are unattainable except by cold and silent contemplation. Suffer me then before revealing to your eyes the leaves of the book of life to prepare your soul by this sceptical purification which the great teachers of the people Socrates Jesus Christ St. Paul St. Remi Bacon Descartes Galileo Kant etc. have always claimed of their disciples."