Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.

Hear, O child of tomorrow, the wisdom of Montesquieu, who saw with clear eyes the nature of human life together: “Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.” These words shine like a lamp in the darkness, showing us that a society is not merely the gathering of individuals, but the sacred bond that unites them. A single stone is not a temple, but when joined with others it becomes a dwelling place for the divine. Likewise, man alone is fragile and fleeting, but men bound together form the enduring strength of society.

Consider this: a thousand men may stand in a field, but unless they are joined in purpose and law, they are not yet a society. They are but a crowd, scattered like dust by the wind. It is only when they weave bonds of trust, customs, and shared duty that a people is born. Montesquieu, in his reflections on law and governance, sought to teach that the essence of human flourishing lies not in solitary lives, but in the union that gives meaning to those lives.

Look to the story of the American Revolution. The thirteen colonies were at first a collection of men and towns, diverse in faith, trade, and custom. Yet when faced with the tyranny of empire, they did not stand as scattered individuals, but forged a union under the Declaration of Independence. By binding themselves to a common destiny, they became a society—greater than the sum of its parts, able to birth a nation that would endure for centuries. This is Montesquieu’s wisdom alive: men alone cannot endure, but in union they shape the world.

But beware, O listener, for not every union creates justice. History teaches that men can join hands in cruelty as well as in compassion. Recall the apartheid system in South Africa: individuals of privilege bound themselves together to preserve power over others. Their society was real, but it was built upon exclusion and oppression. Here lies the danger—society is indeed the union of men, but the spirit of that union determines whether it gives life or brings ruin.

Therefore, let us ask: what makes a union noble? It is not merely agreement, nor is it blind obedience. It is the weaving together of freedom, justice, and mutual respect. When men join only for gain, society collapses in greed. When they unite only in fear, society rots in tyranny. But when they bind themselves in the pursuit of common good, then society becomes a fortress against chaos and a garden where humanity may flourish.

Take this lesson into your own life: you are not society by yourself. Your strength grows when you reach beyond yourself and join in service, in dialogue, in the building of community. Speak with your neighbors, defend the weak, work together for the betterment of all. These simple acts are the stones by which society is built. To live only for yourself is to remain a single stone lying in the dust. To live with others in justice is to help raise a cathedral that endures beyond your years.

Thus, carry Montesquieu’s teaching in your heart: do not mistake the crowd for a society, nor the individual for the whole. Remember always that society is the sacred union of men—woven in trust, strengthened by law, and crowned by justice. And let your life be a thread in this great tapestry, that future generations may inherit not just a gathering of men, but a true society, strong, enduring, and worthy of their devotion.