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Nicole’s treaty  Of Grandeur examines the sources and forms of nobility. After presenting “Christian grandeur” (political power participates in God’s power; political order as an “admirable invention” ; Pascal and Nicole), the author redefines grandeur in terms of function. Tackling the difficult issue of the great Christian, Nicole sees him as a model and a minister ; he denounces the betrayal of the great ones and insists on the difficult salvation for the great one. The great one’s theoretical definition as a high servant elected by God reveals itself as exclusive of day to day reality, when considered as a minister as well as when considered as a model.