As soon as a writer has shown himself the possessor of gifts that may be of value to society, then society straightway sets to work to seduce and hinder him from diligently exercising them.

D'Alembert resisted these influences steadfastly.

His means were very limited, yet he could never be induced to increase them at the cost either of his social independence or of his scientific pursuits.

He lived for forty years under the humble roof of the poor woman who had treated him as a son.
"You will never be anything better than a philosopher," she used to cry reproachfully, "and what is a philosopher?
'Tis a madman who torments himself all his life, that people may talk about him when he is dead." D'Alembert zealously adhered to his destination.

Frederick the Great vainly tempted him by an offer of the succession to Maupertuis as president of the Academy of Berlin.