the illusion (traduction de l'article en français)

The illusion, so much in policy than in the life in general, is seen negatively at our time. One opposes it purely and simply to reality, one associates it the lie, if not the error. They are not completely false. The writer Remy de Gourmont, who writes at the end XIXe century, however proposes a more moderate evaluation of it and the surpassing of oneself associateassociates it:"It should be recognized that, if this illusion of self-esteem has great disadvantages, if it distorts our critical judgement, not only on ourselves, but on the others, if it involves us with false estimates, it has, in counterpart, of great advantages" the illusion which accompanies the man during the life, says Mr. Cornetz, is a condition necessary of existence, an invaluable product of the vital instinct "the man which is over-estimated is also that which is able to be surmounted. It is necessary, with the great play of the life, to rely on oneself. If one estimated oneself only at his right value, one would not estimate oneself enough. If one did not agree a force higher than his real force, one would never dare to undertake the impossible one: however there is perhaps only the impossible one which is worthy to be undertaken. At the pure practical point of view, if the goal to reach were not embellished by the illusion, would one never start itself? It is good that after a failure the man can say himself, in all naivety: "I could have acted" It differently is not true, undoubtedly; but that can create in the future a great truth. The error is a large generator of truths. The truth of today has its root in the error of yesterday. The illusions often created real forces "You could better do," known as the teacher with his pupil. He thus puts in the spirit of the child a belief, an idea which will generate a hope immediately and, in the future, a force." (Remy de Gourmont, "the illusion of the player", in the work of the same author: Philosophical walks. [ Second series ], Paris, Mercury of France, several editions until our days. Text of the public domain)