Full Idea
Just as the purpose of education in monarchies is to ennoble men's hearts, so its purpose in despotic states is to debase them. In despotic states education must be servile.
Gist of Idea
In monarchies education ennobles people, and in despotisms it debases them
Source
Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 04.03)
Book Reference
Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.137
A Reaction
This is an early insight into the way that all social institutions, such as education, are largely pawns of a larger political system.