Moral and Political Works

If it is now a question of passing from the true maxims of Theologians and Philosophers to those required in public affairs, there is no one who does not admit that a true frankness in all kinds of actions is the honor of man's nature. And certainly, this mixture of falsehoods is like alloy in a coin of gold or silver, which makes the metal become worse when it is more easily put into use. This makes me say that in any affair whatsoever, using artifices and detours is to imitate the serpent, which moves basely or villainously on its belly, and not on its feet. Also, there is no vice that renders a man full of infamy and shame to the same degree as perfidy and lying. On this subject, the judicious Montaigne, researching the cause of the disgrace and hatred that accompanies this Monster,