A Frightful Idea
Those who are subject to vulgar infatuation may exclaim:
"Montesquieu has said this! So it's magnificent! It's sublime!" As
for me, I have the courage of my own opinion. I say: What! You have
the nerve to call that fine? It is frightful! It is abominable! These
random selections from the writings of Montesquieu show that he
considers persons, liberties, property -- mankind itself -- to be
nothing but materials for legislators to exercise their wisdom upon.