For the better understanding of the first four books of this work, it is to be
observed that what I distinguish by the name of virtue, in a republic, is the love
of one’s country, that is, the love of equality. It is not a moral, nor a Christian,
but a political virtue; and it is the spring which sets the republican government
in motion, as honour is the spring which gives motion to monarchy. Hence it is
that I have distinguished the love of one’s country, and of equality, by the
appellation of political virtue. My ideas are new, and therefore I have been
obliged to find new words, or to give new acceptations to old terms, in order to
convey my meaning. They, who are unacquainted with this particular, have
made me say most strange absurdities, such as would be shocking in any part
of the world, because in all countries and governments morality is requisite.