Montesquieu quotes - page 3

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts. (Montesquieu)
In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state. View quote
Montesquieu
Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied. View quote
Montesquieu
Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty. View quote
Montesquieu
Law should be like death, which spares no one. View quote
Montesquieu
But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go. View quote
Montesquieu
Peace is a natural effect of trade. View quote
Montesquieu
The severity of the laws prevents their execution. View quote
Montesquieu
The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests. View quote
Montesquieu
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. View quote
Montesquieu
Happy the people whose annals are tiresome. (Montesquieu)
Man, as a physical being, is like other bodies governed by invariable laws. View quote
Montesquieu
Weak minds exaggerate too much the wrong done to the Africans. View quote
Montesquieu
No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ. View quote
Montesquieu
There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion. View quote
Montesquieu
Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half. View quote
Montesquieu
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption. View quote
Montesquieu
Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free. View quote
Montesquieu
To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight. View quote
Montesquieu
The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear. View quote
Montesquieu
The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver. (Montesquieu)
It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires. View quote
Montesquieu
An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war. View quote
Montesquieu
Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it. View quote
Montesquieu
Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies. View quote
Montesquieu