Those who have few affairs to attend to are great speakers. The less men think, the more they talk. — Baron de Montesquieu Affair Copy Share Image
Coffee renders many foolish people temporarily capable of wise actions — Baron de Montesquieu Action Copy Share Image
It is requisite the government be so constituted as one man need not be afraid of another. — Baron de Montesquieu Government Copy Share Image
I should like to abolish funerals; the time to mourn a person is at his birth, not his death. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability. — Baron de Montesquieu Ability Copy Share Image
Wonderful maxim: not to talk of things any more after they are done. — Baron de Montesquieu Acceptance Copy Share Image
The Ottoman Empire whose sick body was not supported by a mild and regular diet, but by a powerful treatment, which continually… — Baron de Montesquieu Body Copy Share Image
In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it,… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community. — Baron de Montesquieu Ambition Copy Share Image
Wherever I find envy I take a pleasure in provoking it: I always praise before an envious man those who make him… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you. — Baron de Montesquieu Children Copy Share Image
Great commanders write their actions with simplicity; because they receive more glory from facts than from words. — Baron de Montesquieu Action Copy Share Image
The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom. — Baron de Montesquieu Crime Copy Share Image
I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have… — Baron de Montesquieu Beast Copy Share Image
Democracy has two excesses to avoid: the spirit of inequality, which leads to an aristocracy, or to the government of a single… — Baron de Montesquieu Aristocracy Copy Share Image
I acknowledge that history is full of religious wars: but we must distinguish; it is not the multiplicity of religions which has… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Brutes are deprived of the high advantages which we have; but they have some which we have not. They have not our… — Baron de Montesquieu Advantage Copy Share Image
The alms given to a naked man in the street do not fulfil the obligations of the state, which owes to every… — Baron de Montesquieu Alms Copy Share Image
If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier that other people, and… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and… — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty. — Baron de Montesquieu Democracy Copy Share Image
The less luxury there is in a republic, the more it is perfect. — Baron de Montesquieu Democracy Copy Share Image
An injustice committed against anyone is a threat to everyone. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality. — Baron de Montesquieu Character Copy Share Image
Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
Friendship is a contract in which we render small services in expectation of big ones. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
There is a very good saying that if triangles invented a god, they would make him three-sided. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
I shall be obliged to wander to the right and to the left, that I may investigate and discover the truth. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation. — Baron de Montesquieu Extremes Copy Share Image
Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
The life of man is but a succession of vain hopes and groundless fears. — Baron de Montesquieu Fear Copy Share Image
Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood. — Baron de Montesquieu Character Copy Share Image
Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things. — Baron de Montesquieu Funny Copy Share Image
It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power. — Baron de Montesquieu Copy Share Image
