Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/89

Rh upon a level, no one can prefer himself to another; men being here all slaves, they can give themselves no preference at all.

Besides, as honor has its laws and rules, as it knows not how to submit, as it depends in a great measure on a man s own caprice, and not on that of another person, it can be found only in countries in which the constitution is fixed, and where they are governed by settled laws.

How can a despotic prince bear with any such thing as honor? Honor glories in contempt of life, and here the prince s whole strength consists in the power of taking it away. How can honor ever bear with a despotic prince? It has its fixed rules, and constant caprices, but a despotic prince is directed by no rule, and his own caprices destroy all others.

Honor therefore, a thing unknown in despotic governments, where very often they have not so much as a fit word to express it, is the prevailing principle in monarchies; here it gives life to the whole body politic, to the laws, and even to the virtues themselves.

S virtue is necessary in a republic, and in a monarchy honor, so fear is necessary in a despotic government: with regard to virtue, there is no occasion for it, and honor would be extremely dangerous.

Here the immense power of the prince is devolved intirely upon those to whom he is pleased to intrust Rh