The fireworks over, the company dispersed about the gardens and beneath the marble porticoes with the delightful liberty which reveals in the master of the house so much forgetfulness of greatness, so much courteous hospitality, so much magnificent carelessness. Well, I do not think we ought to consider ourselves unfortunate, for my part, at least. Epicurus was like M. Fouquet. That we are bad Frenchmen, lukewarm with regard to the king, deaf to the law. Listen, Conrart, this is the morality of Epicurus, whom, besides, I consider, if I must tell you so, as a myth.
Antiquity is mostly mythical.
Jupiter, if we give a little attention to it, is life. Alcides is strength. Alcides, that is, alce, vigor. Listen to one of his principal aphorisms. Well, that is a doctrine of Epicurus.