when I remember all the attempts which are made to judge the modern republics by the assistance of those of antiquity, and to infer what will happen in our time from what took place two thousand years ago, I am tempted to burn my books, in order to apply none but novel ideas to so novel a condition of society.
eta gero, pentsatzen dudanean oraindik ere zenbat ahalegin egiten den egungoak antzinako haien bidez epaitzeko eta, duela bi mila urte gertaturikoan oinarrituz, gaur egun gertatuko dena aurrikusteko, orduan neure liburuak erretzeko tentazioa izaten dut, hain gizarte-egoera berriari ideia berriak bakarrik aplikatzeko.