BookXXIX。OftheMannerofComposingLaws1。OftheSpiritofaLegislator。Isayit，andmethinksIhaveundertakenthisworkwithnootherviewthantoproveit，thespiritofalegislatoroughttobethatofmoderation；political，likemoralgood，lyingalwaysbetweentwoextremes。[1]Letusproduceanexample。
Thesetformsofjusticearenecessarytoliberty，butthenumberofthemmightbesogreatastobecontrarytotheendoftheverylawsthatestablishedthem；processeswouldhavenoend；propertywouldbeuncertain；thegoodsofoneofthepartieswouldbeadjudgedtotheotherwithoutexamining，ortheywouldbothberuinedbyexaminingtoomuch。
Thecitizenswouldlosetheirlibertyandsecurity，theaccuserswouldnolongerhaveanymeanstoconvict，northeaccusedtojustifythemselves。
2。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Cecilius，inAulusGellius，[2]speakingofthelawoftheTwelveTableswhichpermittedthecreditortocuttheinsolventdebtorintopieces，justifiesitevenbyitscruelty，whichhinderedpeoplefromborrowingbeyondtheirabilityofpaying。[3]Shallthenthecruellestlawsbethebest？Shallgoodnessconsistinexcess，andalltherelationsofthingsbedestroyed？
3。ThattheLawswhichseemtodeviatefromtheViewsoftheLegislatorarefrequentlyagreeabletothem。ThelawofSolonwhichdeclaredthosepersonsinfamouswhoespousednosideinaninsurrectionseemedveryextraordinary；butweoughttoconsiderthecircumstancesinwhichGreecewasatthattime。Itwasdividedintoverysmallstates；andtherewasreasontoapprehendlestinarepublictornbyintestinedivisionsthesoberestpartshouldkeepretired，inconsequenceofwhichthingsmightbecarriedtoextremity。