“Essay on the Generative Principle of Political Constitutions”
By J. de Maistre
Thesis: Maistre writes this criticism concerning the philosophes, French Revolution, and manufactured constitutions
- The greatest error – to believe that a political constitution could be created and written a priori
- Common belief - that a constitution was the work of the intellect
- 18th century didn’t produce any talent who did not make three things when he left school: an educational system, a constitution, and a world
- Believes that fundamental principles of political constitutions exist prior to all written laws; therefore, constitutional law is and can only be the development or sanction of a pre-existing and unwritten law
- He is a great fool, who believes himself to be able to establish a clear and lasting doctrine
- Whoever writes the laws or civil constitutions in the belief that he can give them adequate conviction and stability because he has written them, he disgraces himself, whether or no other people say so
- Showing an ignorance of nature of inspiration and delirium, right and wrong, good and evil
- Ignorance is shameful
- Man cannot create a constitution, and no legitimate constitution can be written
- Religion alone civilizes a nation
- If guidance of education is not returned to the priests, and if science is not uniformly relegated to a subordinate rank, evils await us
- Impiety became a true force in first half of eighteenth century
- It manifests itself everywhere
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