“Thus the creation, which seems an arbitrary act, supposes laws as invariable as those of the fatality of the Atheists. It would be absurd to say that the Creator might govern the world without those rules, since without them it could not subsist.”
- January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755
- French
- Political Philosopher, Jurist, Author of The Spirit of the Laws
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Quote
“Thus the creation, which seems an arbitrary act, supposes laws as invariable as those of the fatality of the Atheists. It would be absurd to say that the Creator might govern the world without those rules, since without them it could not subsist.”
Explanation
Montesquieu argues that even divine creation must operate under consistent and rational laws, not arbitrary whims. Though creation may appear spontaneous or mystical, it presupposes a structured order—rules so stable and predictable that even atheists, who believe in fate or natural determinism, acknowledge them. In this sense, he equates divine governance with rational lawfulness, rejecting the idea that a just Creator would or could rule through chaos or unpredictability.
This view reflects Montesquieu’s broader Enlightenment commitment to reason, natural law, and the harmony between faith and logic. Rather than pitting religion against science, he suggests that true belief in a Creator is compatible with the recognition of universal principles—laws that sustain both the physical and moral world. These laws are not signs of limitation but of divine wisdom and necessary structure.
In contemporary terms, this quote speaks to debates about the compatibility of science and religion. Montesquieu bridges the gap, suggesting that divine action and natural order are not opposites, but complements. A world governed by law is one that can be studied, understood, and trusted—not just by scientists and atheists, but also by the faithful who see those laws as reflections of a rational Creator.
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