Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/35

Rh "They might have remarked in disputes and conversations what happens amongst that part of mankind whose spirits are rough and untractable: as they do not combat to assist, but to throw each other to the earth, they fly from truth, not in proportion to the greatness or littleness of their souls; but to the greater or the less degree of that caprice or inflexibility which constitutes their characters. The contrary happens to those to whom nature or education have given a sweetness of temper: as their disputes are mutual helps, as they center in the same object, as they think differently only that they may arrive at the same sentiments, they find truth according to their abilities.

"When a man writes on religious subjects, he ought not to depend so far on the piety of his readers, as to say what is contrary to good sense; because, to gain credit with those who have more piety than knowledge, he will gain discredit from those who have more knowledge than piety.

"And as religion, when let alone, is capable of. defending herself, she loses more when ill defended, than when she is not &quot; defended at all. Rh