Author: Montesquieu

Quotes

Power ought to serve as a check to power.

Power ought to serve as a check to power.

- Montesquieu

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.

- Montesquieu

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

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

- Montesquieu

The less men think, the more they talk.

The less men think, the more they talk.

- 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.

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.

- Montesquieu

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.

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.

- Montesquieu

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

- Montesquieu

The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.

The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.

- Montesquieu

Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.

Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.

- Montesquieu

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