Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.
African SpirThe more gifted by nature is a man, the more is deplorable the abuse that he does by using them to shameful ends. A swindler (or crook) of higher condition is more blameworthy than a vulgar scoundrel; an intelligent eveil-doer, having benefited from a higher education, represent a more saddening phenomenon ("phรฉnomรจne", Fr.) than an unfortune illiterate fellow having commited an offence.
African SpirIt goes without saying that only inner greatness possess a true value ("une valeur vรฉritable,", Fr.) . Any attempt to rise up (or at rising up, - "s'รฉlever", Fr.) outwardly above others, or to want (or wish) to impose one's superiority, denote a lack of moral greatness, since we do not try to replace ("supplรฉer", Fr.) in that way (.... in French "par lร ", Fr.) to what, if we did really possess it, would have no need whatsoever to flaunt itself.
African SpirA good man ("un homme de bien", Fr.) never wholly perishes, the best part of his being outlives (or survives) in eternity.
African SpirMan is in pursuit of two goals: he is looking for happinesse and, being by essence empty ("รฉtant vide par essence", Fr.), he is trying to fill (or take up, - "remplir", Fr.) his life; the latter reason play a more considerable role than we ordinarily think. What we take for vainglory, ambition, love of power and riches (or wealth), is often, indeed, a need to mask this emptiness, a need to let one's hair down (or to live it up), to put oneself on a false scent or trail. (de se donner le change", Fr.)
African SpirThe distinction between right and wrong ("la distinction du bien et du mal", Fr.), is nothing else than their unyielding (or implacable) opposition; thus the moral consciousness is an innate and intimate revelation of the absolute, which goes beyond (or goes pass, or exceed) every empirical data (or given information). It is only on these principles that we will be able to establish ("pourront รชtre รฉdifiรฉes", Fr.) the real basis of morality.
African Spir