Although born in a prosperous realm, we did not believe that its boundaries should limit our knowledge, and that the lore of the East should alone enlighten us.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEUFalse 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.
More Baron de Montesquieu Quotes
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…when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can only come from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost.
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Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them; thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.
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Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.
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The false notion of miracles comes of our vanity, which makes us believe we are important enough for the Supreme Being to upset nature on our behalf.
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That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.
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There is still another inconvenieney in conquests made by democracies; their government is ever odious to the conquered states. It is apparently monarchical, but in reality it is more oppressive than monarchy, as the experience of all ages and countries evinces.
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Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty.
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Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half.
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Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty.
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If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.
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It is difficult for the united states to be all of equal power and extent.
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Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones.
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When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.
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There are countries where a man is worth nothing; there are others where he is worth less than nothing.
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When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU






