Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/502

450 But in a despotic government it is equally pernicious whether they reason well or ill; their reasoning is alone sufficient to shock the principle of their government.

Many people who have no desire of pleasing, abandon themselves to their own particular humour; most of those who have wit and ingenuity are ingenious in tormenting themselves; filled with a contempt or disgust for all things, they are unhappy amidst all the blessings that can possibly contribute to their happiness.

As no subject fears another, the whole nation is proud; for the pride of kings is founded only on their independence.

Free nations are haughty; others may more properly be called vain.

But as these men who are naturally so proud, live much by themselves, they are commonly bashful when they come among strangers; and we frequently see them behave for a considerable time with an odd mixture of pride and ill placed shame.

The character of the nation is more particularly discovered in their literary performances, in which we find the men of thought and deep meditation.

As society gives us a sense of the ridicules of mankind, retirement renders us more fit to reflect on the folly of vice. Their satyrical writings are sharp and severe, and we find amongst them many Juvenals, without discovering one Horace.

In monarchies extremely absolute historians betray the truth, because they are not at liberty to speak it; in states remarkably free, they betray the truth because of their liberty itself, which always produces divisions, every one becoming as great a slave to the Rh