It is a capital maxim that one must never change ethos and manners in the despotic state ; nothing would be more swiftly followed by a revolution. That is because in these states there are, so to speak, no laws ; there are only ethos and manners, and if you overthrow those, you overthros everything.

Laws are established, ethos is inspired ; the latter adheres more closely to the general spirit, the former more to a particular institution ; but it is as dangerous, and more so, to overthrow the general spirit as to change a particular institution.

There is less communication in the countries where everyone, both as superior and as inferior, exercises and bears an arbitrary power, than in those where freedom reigns at all ranks. Therefore there is less change in manners and ethos. Manners which are more fixed are more similar to laws. Therefore a prince or a legislator there must go against the ethos and manners less than in any country on earth.

Women there are usually confined and have no tone to set. In other countries where they live alongside men, because of their desire to please, and the desire of others to please them as well, manners are continually changing. The two sexes spoil each other, each losing its distinctive and essential quality ; an arbitrary element comes into what was absolute, and manners change every day.