Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/29

Rh "When we criticise a work, and particularly a large work, we ought to endeavour to obtain a particular knowledge of the science of which it treats, and carefully to read the approved authors who have already wrote on that science, to the end that we may be enabled to see if the author has deviated from the common and received manner of treating the subject.

"When an author explains himself by his words, or by writings, which are the image of words, it is contrary to reason to quit the exterior signs of his thoughts, in order to search into his thoughts themselves; because there are none besides himself who know his thoughts: it is much worse when his thoughts are good, and they attribute to him those that are bad.

"When we write against an author, and become incensed against him, we should prove the qualifications by the things, and not the things by the qualifications.

"When we find in an author a good intention in general, we shall be more rarely deceived, if in certain places which appear equivocal, we judge according to Rh