There are other causes, which discourage the rise of the refined arts in despotic governments;
though I take the want of laws, and the delegation of full powers to every petty magistrate, to be
the principal. Eloquence certainly springs up more naturally in popular governments: Emulation
too in every accomplishment must there be more animated and enlivened: And genius and
capacity have a fuller scope and career. All these causes render free governments the only proper
nursery for the arts and sciences.
I.
XIV.15