Curzio Malaparte said this quote

May the new era be an era of liberty and respect for everyone--including writers! Only through liberty and respect for culture can Europe be saved from the cruel days of which Montesquieu spoke in the Esprit des lois: Thus, in the days of fables, after the floods and deluges, there came forth from the soil armed men who exterminated each other. Boook XXXII, Chapter XXIII.