The latter make a great deal of noise, no doubt; in fact, they alone are heard.

But if you knew of the ceaseless efforts and passionate striving of the others, those who remain silent, absorbed in their tasks.

And I know many of them: they are with their century, they have rejected none of its hopes, but are marching on to the coming century, resolved to pursue the work of their forerunners, ever going towards more light and more equity.

And just speak to them of the bankruptcy of science.

They'll shrug their shoulders at the mere idea, for they know well enough that science has never before inflamed so many hearts or achieved greater conquests! It is only if the schools, laboratories and libraries were closed, and the social soil radically changed, that one would have cause to fear a fresh growth of error such as weak hearts and narrow minds hold so dear!" At this point Francois's fine flow of eloquence was interrupted.