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.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEUThe majority of men are more capable of great actions than of good ones.
More Baron de Montesquieu Quotes
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There are three species of government: republican, monarchical, and despotic.
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In a republic there is no coercive force as in other governments, the laws must therefore endeavor to supply this defect.
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If the triangles made a god, they would give him three sides.
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Liberty… is there only when there is no abuse of power.
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Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one’s wit at the expense of one’s better nature.
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Solemnity is the shield of idiots
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There are only two cases in which war is just: first, in order to resist the aggression of an enemy, and second, in order to help an ally who has been attacked.
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I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.
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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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An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.
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Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.
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The history of commerce is that of the communication of the people.
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At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.
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There is hardly any grief that an hour’s reading will not dissipate.
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Trade is the best cure for prejudice.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU