16.12. 12. Of natural Modesty.
All nations are equally agreed in fixing
contempt and ignominy on the incontinence of women. Nature has dictated
this to all. She has established the attack, and she has established too
the resistance; and having implanted desires in both, she has given to
the one boldness, and to the other shame. To individuals she has granted
a long succession of years to attend to their preservation: but to
continue the species, she has granted only a moment.
It is then far from being true that to be incontinent is to follow
the laws of nature; on the contrary, it is a violation of these laws,
which can be observed only by behaving with modesty and discretion.
Besides, it is natural for intelligent beings to feel their
imperfections. Nature has, therefore, fixed shame in our minds — a
shame of our imperfections.
When, therefore, the physical power of certain climates violates the
natural law of the two sexes, and that of intelligent beings, it belongs
to the legislature to make civil laws, with a view to opposing the
nature of the climate and re-establishing the primitive laws.
