Joseph de Maistre: Essay on the Generative Principle of Political Constitutions

De Maistre critiques the philosophes, the French Revolution, and manufactured constitutions in his Essay on the Generative Principle of Political Constitutions.

The greatest error of the century is to believe that a theoretical political constitution could be written and prove effective.

De Maistre believed that a political constitution written a priori would never last. He believed that the fundemental principles of political constitutions exist prior to all written law. He thought that the man who believed himself to be able to write a clear and lasting doctrine alone was a GREAT FOOL even if that doctrine was approved by the whole body of common people. He thought this because imperceptible growth is the true promise of durability of all things.

Note: de Maistre believed man cannot write a constitution and no legitimate constitution can be written.

De Maistre assailes the philosophes for attacking religion.

Religion alone civilizes nations. If religion was removed from education, education would poison the country rather than advance it. De Maistre believed that science should be relegated to a position of importance below religion.