“Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance… the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason.”
- January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755
- French
- Political Philosopher, Jurist, Author of The Spirit of the Laws
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Quote
“Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance… the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason.”
Explanation
Montesquieu distinguishes religious diversity from the root cause of religious conflict: intolerance. He argues that the mere existence of multiple faiths does not inevitably lead to violence. Instead, it is the refusal to accept the legitimacy of others’ beliefs—the spirit of intolerance—that transforms differences into bloodshed. This was a bold assertion in an age still reeling from Europe’s brutal religious wars, such as the Thirty Years’ War and the French Wars of Religion.
By calling intolerance “the total eclipse of human reason,” Montesquieu emphasizes how it blinds individuals and societies to rational thought, empathy, and coexistence. Enlightenment thinkers like him championed reason as the path to progress, justice, and peace. Intolerance, by contrast, represents a regression—a darkness that smothers dialogue, curiosity, and mutual respect. For Montesquieu, true enlightenment requires pluralism, not uniformity.
Today, the quote is especially relevant in a world marked by sectarian violence, identity politics, and rising religious nationalism. Religious harmony is achievable when tolerance, not dogma, is the guiding principle. Montesquieu’s insight remains vital: it is not belief, but the inability to accept others’ beliefs, that destroys peace—and reason itself.
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