11. Of the Manners of a conquered People. The Spirit of the Laws | ||
10.11. 11. Of the Manners of a conquered People.
It is not sufficient in those conquests to let the conquered nation enjoy their own laws; it is, perhaps, more necessary to leave them also their manners, because people in general have a stronger attachment to these than to their laws.
The French have been driven nine times out of Italy, because, as historians say, [8] of their insolent familiarities with the fair sex. It is too much for a nation to be obliged to bear not only with the pride of conquerors, but with their incontinence and indiscretion; these are, without doubt, most grievous and intolerable, as they are the source of infinite outrages.
Footnotes
11. Of the Manners of a conquered People. The Spirit of the Laws | ||