Jacqueline Pascal. Premières études sur les femmes illustres et la société du XVIIe siècle

Before he became a professor at the Sorbonne, Victor Cousin was an impoverished child. At 11, Cousin saved a boy from a bully, a deed for which the boy's mother rewarded him with a primary education at the Lycée Charlemagne. Cousin flourished as a scholar, going on to study philosophy and publish such works as On the True, the Beautiful, and the Good, which has seen 31 English editions. He exerted great influence on both French philosophy and education, and is generally credited with the widespread incorporation of philosophy into France's secondary curriculum. Among his other works is a history of philosophy which he prepared for the schools.