Baroness Staël Holstein, i.e., Madame de Staël, Germany (London, 1813), tr. in three vols., vol. III., pt. three, ch. I., Of Philosophy, p. 1:
The world has been pleased, for some time past, to throw great discredit upon the very name of philosophy. The case is common with all those terms, the signification of which is capable of much extension: they become alternately the objects of benediction or blame among mankind, according to their use in fortunate or unhappy periods: but, in spite of the casual injustice or panegyric of individuals and of nations, philosophy, liberty, religion, never change their value. Man has spoken evil things of the sun, of love, and of life: he has suffered, he has felt himself consumed, by these lights of nature; but would he therefore extinguish them?
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