Spirit of the Laws

I do not intend to offend the public
Plato thanked the Gods that he was born in same age with Socrates
- I thank the Supreme that I was born in France
I hope my readers will judge my book in its totality
- I have first of all considered mankind
  - From my first principles naturally arise particular cases that are seen in histories of nations
- Every particular law is connected with another law
When looking at antiquity, I assumed the spirit of the ancients to match their situation.
I have not drawn my principles from my prejudices, but from the nature of things.
Many truths will not appear till we have seen the chain which connects them with others.
- The more we enter into particulars, the more we shall perceive the certainty of the principles on which they are founded.
- I have not even given all these particulars, for who could mention them all without a most insupportable fatigue?
The works of the present age are characterized by bold fights.
- You will not see them in this work.
When things are examined with ever so small a degree of extent, the sallies of imagination must vanish;
- these generally arise from the mind’s collecting all its powers to view only one side cf the subject, while it leaves the other unobserved.
I do write to censure anything established in any country.
- Every nation will here find the reasons on which its maxims are founded.
- This will be the natural inference, that to propose alterations, belongs only to those who are so happy as to be born with a genius capable of penetrating into the entire constitution of a state.
- It is not a matter of indifference, that the minds of the people be enlightened.
- The prejudices of the magistrate have arisen from national prejudice.
- In a time of ignorance they have committed even the greatest evils without the least seruple;
- but in an enlightened age they even tremble, while conferring the greatest blessings.
- They perceive the ancient abuses; they see how they must be reformed; but they are sensible also of the abuses of the reformation.
They let the evil continue, if they fear a worse.
They are content with a lesser good, if they doubt of greater.
They examine into the parts, to judge of them in connection, and they examine all the causes to discover their different effects.

I would be happy if I could:
- give new reasons to every man to:
  - love his prince, his country, his laws;
  - render him more sensible in every nation and government of the blessings be enjoys
- to persuade:
  - those who command, to increase their knowledge in what they ought to prescribe
  - those who obey, to find a new pleasure resulting from their obedience; I should think myself the most happy of mortals.
- contribute to make mankind recover from their prejudices.
  - By prejudices, I here mean, not that which renders men ignorant of some particular things, but whatever renders them ignorant of themselves.
It is in endeavouring to instruct mankind, that we are best able to practise that general virtue, which comprehends the love of all.
Man is a flexible being.
- By conforming to the thoughts and impressions of others, he is equally capable of knowing his own nature.
- He can lose the very sense of his own nature, when this idea is banished from his mind.
Often have I begun, and as often have I laid aside this undertaking.
I wrote this without any fixed plan.
I do not know rules nor exceptions.
I have found the truth, only to lose it again.
- But when I re-discovered my first principles, every thing I sought for appeared.
In 20 years, I have seen my work begun, growing up, advancing to maturity, and finished.

If this is successful, it is because of the grandeur and majesty of the subject.
However I do not think that I have been totally deficient in point of genius.
I admire so many great men both in France, England and Germany that have said before me.
- But I have not lost my courage.
- I have said with Correggio, And I also am a^[3] painter.

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