Drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom of Montesquieu, renowned for his profound insights into governance and human nature, we embark on a journey of exploration into the realm of thought-provoking quotes. Montesquieu's words resonate across centuries, offering timeless pearls of wisdom that continue to enrich our understanding of society, politics, and the human condition.
In this article, we delve into the profound depth of Montesquieu's quotes, unraveling the layers of meaning and significance they hold for contemporary discourse. Join us as we traverse the corridors of history and philosophy, guided by the timeless wisdom encapsulated in Quotes By Montesquieu, seeking to glean insights that transcend the boundaries of time and space.
Quotes By Montesquieu (2024)
Explore the profound insights and timeless wisdom of Montesquieu through this curated collection of quotes that delve into governance, human nature, and the complexities of society.
"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy."
"To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them."
"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice."
"Useless laws weaken the necessary laws."
"The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver."
"Liberty is the right to do what the law permits."
"The less men think, the more they talk."
"The corruption of each government almost always begins with that of its principles."
"Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through."
"In republics, men are sometimes made happy by a great misery."
"False happiness renders men stern and proud."
"The more equal people are, the more their character depends on personal qualities."
"The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded."
"In republics, it is easier to persevere in your resolution than in monarchies."
"The flattery of posterity is not worth much more than contemporary flattery, which is worth nothing."
"The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny."
"The happiness of every society depends on the virtue of the sovereign."
"It is the duty of the judge to ensure justice, but not to establish it."
"A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century."
"False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared."
"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under cover of law and with the colors of justice."
"The injustice done to an individual is sometimes of service to the public."
"Liberty is the right to do what the laws allow."
"In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed."
"The deterioration of a government begins almost always by the decay of its principles."
"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not as dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy."
"The natural effect of commerce is to bring peace."
"Laws are like spiders' webs which, if anything small falls into them they ensnare it, but large things break through and escape."
"It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption."
"In a large republic, the public good is sacrificed to a thousand views; it is subordinate to exceptions, and depends on accidents."
"There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice."
"Useless laws weaken necessary laws."
"Laws are the conditions under which men, naturally independent, united themselves in society."
"In the state of nature, indeed, all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law."
"I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise."
"In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous."
"The severity of the laws prevents their execution."
"To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight."
"The corruption of each government almost always begins with that of principles."
"We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death."
"The happiness of the people depends on the virtues of their rulers."
"In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing."
"A nation may lose its liberties in a day, and not miss them in a century."
"The greater the number of laws, the more corrupt the government."
"In the state of nature… all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law."
"In a free state, every man can think what he wants and say what he thinks."
"In a country where virtue and liberty are understood, where both are practiced, where neither is impeded, the people ought to be happy."
"In republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority."
"I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage."
"The Spirit of the Laws is to make the laws serve the nation."
"False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated."
"When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing."
"Laws are necessary to civil society, because society establishes a relation between one citizen and another, and between the whole body of the society and each individual citizen."
"We ought to have a consideration for all things and all persons."
"The happiness of the people depends on their being able to defend themselves against the government."
"I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should appear like a fool but be wise."
"Laws are the necessary conditions of civil liberty; they are the barriers to which the people can be restrained by a government."
"In most things, success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed."
"A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired."
"The general spirit of the laws in democratic countries is favorable to the concentration of property."
"To act with power is like holding a loaded gun, with your finger on the trigger."
"In republics, it is necessary for the government to endeavor to extend the spirit of the laws."
"In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state."
"The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions."
"Commerce is the great civilizer."
"In proportion as the manners, customs, and laws of a nation are good, in proportion will the people of that nation be virtuous."
"It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled until those of mature age are already sunk into corruption."
"Men are virtuous because they are afraid of the law, but seldom do they become virtuous because they are persuaded that it is right."
"Every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go."
"No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ."
"Laws are like clothes, which, as soon as they become used, are estimated by their wearers according to their fashion."
"Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty."
"If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman."
"The violence of either grief or joy can burst the heart and make us cry out."
"If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are."
"Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free."
"The freer the state, the more laws."
"All things must be done through government, but it is better that individuals do them by themselves."
"A prince who loves and fears religion is a lion who stoops to the hand that strokes or to the voice that appeases him."
"In a monarchy, the king must do justice, but in a republic, the people must do justice."
"Great things are not accomplished by idle dreams, but by years of patient study."
"The English people believes itself to be free; it is gravely mistaken; it is free only during the election of members of parliament."
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal."
"The liberty of a citizen is the guardian of all other liberties."
"In republics, men must learn the art of combination in a free government."
"Laws should be clear, uniform, and precise."
"In the state of nature…all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law."
"The corruption of each government begins almost always with that of its principles."
"I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve."
"There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws, not from fear, but from a sense of duty."
"The English think they are free. They are free only during the election of members of parliament."
"An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war."
"The use of liberty is to correct vices, and to restrain crime."
"The political liberty of the subject is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of his safety."
"The more one judges, the less one loves."
"Happiness is an agreeable sensation, arising from contemplating the misery of others."
"It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can be borne with less important objects in view; for the press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master."
"All things are made sacred by relation to it,—the very crime of the guilty, the majesty of the sovereign, and the probity of the just man."
"The greater the state, the more wrong and cruel its patriotism, and the greater is the sum of suffering upon which its power is founded."
"Laws are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things."
In the mosaic of philosophical discourse, "Quotes By Montesquieu" stands as pillars of enlightenment, guiding seekers of knowledge through the labyrinth of human understanding. Through the lens of Montesquieu's wisdom, we have explored the intricacies of governance, society, and the human condition, gaining profound insights that resonate across time and space. As we reflect on the myriad perspectives encapsulated within his quotes, we recognize the enduring relevance and significance of his contributions to the intellectual landscape.
