For my part, I was so wearied with the first, that I could not hold out to the end; and the moment I left the theatre, I went into the Cafe de Procope, where I found Boissi, and others of my acquaintance, who had probably been as much fatigued as myself.  I there humbly or haughtily avowed myself the author of the piece, judging it as everybody else had done.  This public avowal of an author of a piece which had not succeeded, was much admired, and was by no means painful to myself.  My self-love was flattered by the courage with which I made it:  and I am of opinion, that, on this occasion, there was more pride in speaking, than there would have been foolish shame in being silent.  However, as it was certain the piece, although insipid in the performance would bear to be read, I had it printed:  and in the preface, which is one of the best things I ever wrote, I began to make my principles more public than I had before done.

I soon had an opportunity to explain them entirely in a work of the greatest importance:  for it was, I think, this year, 1753, that the programma of the Academy of Dijon upon the ’Origin of the Inequality of Mankind’ made its appearance.  Struck with this great question, I was surprised the academy had dared to propose it:  but since it had shown sufficient courage to do it, I thought I might venture to treat it, and immediately undertook the discussion.

That I might consider this grand subject more at my ease, I went to St. Germain for seven or eight days with Theresa, our hostess, who was a good kind of woman, and one of her friends.  I consider this walk as one of the most agreeable ones I ever took.  The weather was very fine.  These good women took upon themselves all the care and expense.  Theresa amused herself with them; and I, free from all domestic concerns, diverted myself, without restraint, at the hours of dinner and supper.  All the rest of the day wandering in the forest, I sought for and found there the image of the primitive ages of which I boldly traced the history.  I confounded the pitiful lies of men; I dared to unveil their nature; to follow the progress of time, and the things by which it has been disfigured; and comparing the man of art with the natural man, to show them, in their pretended improvement, the real source of all their misery.  My mind, elevated by these contemplations, ascended to the Divinity, and thence, seeing my fellow creatures follow in the blind track of their prejudices that of their errors and misfortunes, I cried out to them, in a feeble voice, which they could not hear:  “Madmen! know that all your evils proceed from yourselves!”

From these meditations resulted the discourse on Inequality, a work more to the taste of Diderot than any of my other writings, and in which his advice was of the greatest service to me.