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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1450-1660] Renaissance » Montaigne

Montaigne

Essayes: Of Custome, Law Should Not Easily Be Changed

[1575] Montaigne, "Of Custome" in Essayes, trans. John Florio,trans. John Florio, ([Originally written in French, 1575; Published 1580-1595; 1st English Edition: Florio's translation of 1603] Worlds Classic Edition: 1904, 1906; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

Some mothers thinke it good sport to see a childe wring off a chickens necke, and strive to beat a dog or cat. And some fathers are so fond-foolish that they will conster as a good Augur or fore-boding of a martiall minde to see their sonnes misuse a poore peasant, or tug a lackey, that doth not defend himselfe; and impute it to a ready wit, when by some wily disloyaltie, or crafty deceit, they see them cousin and over-reach their fellowes: yet are they the true seeds or roots of cruelty, of tyranny, and of treason. In youth they bud, and afterwards grow to strength, and come to perfection by meanes of custome. And it is a very dangerous institution, to excuse so base and vile inclinations, with the weaknesse of age and lightness of the subject. (112)