"This noble passion is indeed always engraved upon their hearts; but imagination and education mould it a thousand ways."

— Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689-1755)


Date
1721, 1722
Metaphor
"This noble passion is indeed always engraved upon their hearts; but imagination and education mould it a thousand ways."
Metaphor in Context
A Thirst after glory is not different from instinct, which every creature hath for its own preservation. We seem to extend our existence, when we can make it to be remembered by others; this is a new life which we acquire, and which becomes as precious to us as that which we received from heaven.

But as all men are not equally fond of life, neither are they equally sensible to glory. This noble passion is indeed always engraved upon their hearts; but imagination and education mould it a thousand ways.

This difference, which is founded between man and man, is more perceivable between nation and nation.

[Le désir de la gloire n'est point différent de cet instinct que toutes les créatures ont pour leur conservation. Il semble que nous augmentons notre être, lorsque nous pouvons le porter dans la mémoire des autres: c'est une nouvelle vie que nous acquérons, et qui nous devient aussi précieuse que celle que nous avons reçue du ciel.

Mais comme tous les hommes ne sont pas également attachés à la vie, ils ne sont pas aussi également sensibles à la gloire. Cette noble passion est bien toujours gravée dans leur cœur; mais l'imagination et l'éducation la modifient de mille manières.

Cette différence, qui se trouve d'homme à homme, se fait encore plus sentir de peuple à peuple.]
(Letter LXXXIX, Usbek to Ibben, at Smyrna.)
Provenance
Searching at OLL
Citation
12 entries in the ESTC for this title (1722, 1730, 1731, 1736, 1751, 1759, 1760, 1762, 1767, 1773, 1775).

The earliest English-language issue is Persian Letters, trans. John Ozell, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1722). <Link to ECCO>

Searching The Complete Works of M. de Montesquieu, 4 vols. (London: T. Evans, 1777) at Online Library of Liberty <Link to OLL>. French text from Project Gutenberg.
Date of Entry
08/09/2013

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.