Here then are the advantages of free states. Though a republic should be barbarous, it
necessarily, by an infallible operation, gives rise to LAW, even before mankind have made any
considerable advances in the other sciences. From law arises security: From security curiosity:
And from curiosity knowledge. The latter steps of this progress may be more accidental; but the
former are altogether necessary. A republic without laws can never have any duration. On the
contrary, in a monarchical government, law arises not necessarily from the forms of government.
Monarchy, when absolute, contains even something repugnant to law. Great wisdom and
reflexion can alone reconcile them. But such a degree of wisdom can never be expected, before
the greater refinements and improvements of human reason. These refinements require curiosity,
security, and law. The first growth, therefore, of the arts and sciences can never be expected in
despotic governments.b
I.
XIV.14