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The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition. :: body :: book xv.: in what manner the laws of civil slavery are relative to the nature of the climate. :: chap. VI.: the true origin of the right of slavery.
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All Collections > The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition. > Volume I. > body > book x.: of laws, in the relation they bear to offensive force. > chap. XI.: of the manners of a conquered people.
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The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition.
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Volume I.
Body
BOOK X.: OF LAWS, IN THE RELATION THEY BEAR TO OFFENSIVE FORCE.
CHAP. XI.: Of the Manners of a conquered People.

CHAP. XI.: 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,†294 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.