--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are…" description: "\"I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.\" — Baron de Montesquieu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png" --- # I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by… ![“I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.” quote by Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png) > “I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.” [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Governance works best when it avoids extremes and follows moderation. **In simple terms:** Moderation guides good governance. Key Takeaway Seek balanced policies. Themes politics philosophy moderation Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legislative drafting - conflict resolution - public policy Key Concepts virtue ethics social contract stability Questions to Reflect On - What extremes need addressing today? - How to ensure moderation doesn’t become complacency? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on moderation can ignore necessary radical reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Governed Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed-extremes-5279336/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-governed-1485725/) [Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderation/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Principals Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principals-moderation-5279334/) [Repeat Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeat-mankind-5279335/) [Repeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeats/) [Shall Repeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-repeat-1038196/) ## Related quotes > [Ah! I shall repeat it endlessly, the only misfortune is to be born!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/ah-i-shall-repeat-it-endlessly-the-only-misfortune-is-to-be-born/) [Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/) > [I shall repeat a hundred times; we really ought to free ourselves from the seduction of words!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-shall-repeat-a-hundred-times-we-really-ought-to-free-ourselves-from/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [If there is ever an amelioration of the condition of mankind, philosophers, theologians, legislators, politicians and moralists will find that the regulation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/if-there-is-ever-an-amelioration-of-the-condition-of-mankind/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The success of our admirable system is a conclusive refutation of the theories of those in other countries who maintain that a "favored few"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk-2/the-success-of-our-admirable-system-is-a-conclusive-refutation-of-the/) [James K Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk-2/) > [It requires time to bring honest Men to think & determine alike even in important Matters. Mankind are governed more by their feelings than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/it-requires-time-to-bring-honest-men-to-think-determine-alike-even-in/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Take mankind as they are, and what are they governed by? Their passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/take-mankind-as-they-are-and-what-are-they-governed-by-their-passions/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It is astonishing with how little wisdom mankind can be governed, when that little wisdom is its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/it-is-astonishing-with-how-little-wisdom-mankind-can-be-governed-when/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/mankind-are-governed-more-by-their-feelings-than-by-reason/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [An established government has an infinite advantage, by that very circumstance of its being established--the bulk of mankind being governed by authority, not reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/an-established-government-has-an-infinite-advantage-by-that-very/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The boundary of man is moderation. When once we pass that pale our guardian angel quits his charge of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/the-boundary-of-man-is-moderation-when-once-we-pass-that-pale-our/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Phillip, who is congenitally incapable of moderation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/phillip-who-is-congenitally-incapable-of-moderation/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as long as things are going tolerably well or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/there-has-been-a-tendency-through-the-years-for-reason-and-moderation/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) ## More by Baron de Montesquieu > [When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-the-savages-of-louisiana-wish-to-have-fruit-they-cut-the-tree-at/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/political-liberty-in-a-citizen-is-that-tranquillity-of-spirit-which/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/it-is-rare-to-find-learned-men-who-are-clean-do-not-stink-and-have-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Vitam Impendere Vero (I consecrate my life to truth).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/vitam-impendere-vero-i-consecrate-my-life-to-truth/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [A good writer does not write as people write, but as he writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/a-good-writer-does-not-write-as-people-write-but-as-he-writes/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [A rational army would run away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/a-rational-army-would-run-away/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/christianity-stamped-its-character-on-jurisprudence-for-empire-has/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Trade is the best cure for prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/trade-is-the-best-cure-for-prejudice/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-prejudices-of-superstition-are-superior-to-all-others-and-have/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Republics are brought to their ends by luxury; monarchies by poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/republics-are-brought-to-their-ends-by-luxury-monarchies-by-poverty/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/laws-in-their-most-general-signification-are-the-necessary-relations/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/politics-are-a-smooth-file-which-cuts-gradually-and-attains-its-end/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-crime-against-nature-will-never-make-any-great-progress-in/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [When a government is arrived to that degree of corruption as to be incapable of reforming itself, it would not lose much by being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-a-government-is-arrived-to-that-degree-of-corruption-as-to-be/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) [Explore all 142 Baron de Montesquieu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) ## More Extremes quotes > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [One should try to locate power at the extreme of its exercise, where it is always less legal in character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/one-should-try-to-locate-power-at-the-extreme-of-its-exercise-where/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-strongly-reject-any-conceptual-scheme-that-places-our-options-on-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [My childhood was extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/my-childhood-was-extreme/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [An excessive preponderance of an idealistic mood is harmful to society: it creates daydreaming, political Don Quixotism, hope for heavenly intervention. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-sienkiewicz/an-excessive-preponderance-of-an-idealistic-mood-is-harmful-to/) [Henryk Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-sienkiewicz/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I think the only real referent for anybody writing drama is probably Hamlet. You have the most extreme tragic drama, this sort of blood-boltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-think-the-only-real-referent-for-anybody-writing-drama-is-probably/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) [Browse all 1,963 Extremes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Baron de Montesquieu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are-governed-not-by-extremes-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Extremes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are-governed-not-by-extremes-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_extremes_i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are_2273767.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.” — Baron de Montesquieu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Baron de Montesquieu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I shall ever repeat it, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are-governed-not-by-extremes-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/i-shall-ever-repeat-it-that-mankind-are-governed-not-by-extremes-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```