Page:Diplomacy and the Study of International Relations (1919).djvu/55

 less equivocal treatment of this subject, Vattel starts impeccably from the position that good faith consists not only in the observance of promises, but also in not deceiving on any occasions that put us under any obligation to speak the truth; he throws over those writers, 'especially divines', who have made of truth a kind of deity, to which for its own sake, and without regard to consequences, we owe an inviolable respect; and he commends and takes his stand with those philosophers of 'more accurate ideas and more profound penetration' who acknowledge that truth, as the soul of human society, is in general to be respected, being the very basis of confidence in the mutual intercourse of men, but who ground the respect due to it on its effects. The word 'lies', accordingly, is to be given only to the words of him who speaks contrary to his