Montesquieu Quotes

Experience constantly proves that every man who has power is impelled to abuse it; he goes on till he is pulled up by some limits. Who would say it! virtue even has need of limits.

Wherever I find envy I take a pleasure in provoking it: I always praise before an envious man those who make him grow pale.

Happy the people whose annals are tiresome.

No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit at the expense of one's better nature.

If triangles had a god, he would have three sides.

There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.

You have to study a great deal to know a little.

[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind.

The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power. The mildness so frequently recommended in the Gospel is incompatible with the despotic rage.

What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune.

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.

The English are busy; they don't have time to be polite.

Man is a social animal formed to please in society.

When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a despotic government.

Life was given to me as a favor, so I may abandon it when it is one no longer.

Virtue is necessary to a republic.

Sometimes a man who deserves to be looked upon because he is a fool is despised only because he is a lawyer.

There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window.

The power of divorce can be given only to those who feel the inconveniences of marriage, and who are sensible of the moment when it is for their interest to make them cease.

The wickedness of mankind makes it necessary for the law to suppose them better than they really are.

If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.

A rational army would run away.

As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.

Man, as a physical being, is like other bodies governed by invariable laws.

It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.

There is hardly any grief that an hour's reading will not dissipate.

Great commanders write their actions with simplicity; because they receive more glory from facts than from words.

Trade is the best cure for prejudice.

Republics are brought to their ends by luxury; monarchies by poverty.

Vitam Impendere Vero (I consecrate my life to truth).

As virtue is necessary in a republic, and honor in a monarchy, fear is what is required in a despotism. As for virtue, it is not at all necessary, and honor would be dangerous there.

Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.

Liberty is the right of doing whatever the laws permit.

Nature is just to all mankind, and repays them for their industry. She renders them industrious by annexing rewards in proportion to their labor.

Fain would I glide down a gentle river, but I am carried away by a torrent.

The spirit of commerce... renders every man willing to live on his own property...& prevents the growth of luxury.

At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.

We ought to be very cautious and circumspect in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty.

Oh, how empty is praise when it reflects back to its origin!

Each citizen contributes to the revenues of the State a portion of his property in order that his tenure of the rest may be secure.

Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood.

Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty.

Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death.

Peace is a natural effect of trade.

Injustice towards others is a threat to everybody