A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1

Carmina de coelo possunt de duecere lunam. Pale Phoebe, drawn by verse, from heaven descends. --DRYDEN'S VIRGIL.

In short, the alphabet was the origin, of all man's knowledge, and of all his errors.

ABBE.

The word abbe, let it be remembered, signifies father. If you become one you render a service to the state; you doubtless perform the best work that a man can perform; you give birth to a thinking being: in this action there is something divine. But if you are only Monsieur l'Abbe because you have had your head shaved, wear a small collar, and a short cloak, and are waiting for a fat benefice, you do not deserve the name of abbe.

The ancient monks gave this name to the superior whom they elected; the abbe was their spiritual father. What different things do the same words signify at different times! The spiritual abbe was once a poor man at the head of others equally poor: but the p