Human Follies (La Bêtise Humaine.)

A young man on the cusp of adulthood receives a solemn yet practical lesson from his father, who has raised him alone after his mother’s early death. The father outlines the modest education he has provided, the modest fortune now entrusted to his son, and a careful budget that could sustain him for years. He stresses the importance of honesty, moderation, and the strange balance between avoiding both enemies and friends.

Eusebe, modest and introspective, admits his reading has been limited to the adventures of Robinson Crusoe and the classical tale of Telemachus. His father, half‑amused and half‑concerned, uses these choices to discuss ego, tenderness, and the value of literature. With the inheritance in hand, the father sends his son to Paris, urging him to observe the world without exploiting it, and to let the city become his first true classroom.