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I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute myself.

Baron de Montesquieu

Honor is unknown in despotic states.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Despotism Honor States
When a government is arrived to that degree of corruption as to be incapable of reforming itself, it would not lose much by being new moulded.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Corruption Degrees Government
The English are busy; they don’t have time to be polite.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Busy English Polite Time
As virtue is necessary in a republic, and honor in a monarchy, fear is what is required in a despotism. As for virtue, it is not at all necessary, and honor would be dangerous there.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Despotism Honor Political Republic
Experience constantly proves that every man who has power is impelled to abuse it; he goes on till he is pulled up by some limits. Who would say it! virtue even has need of limits.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Abuse Men Power
In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Institutions Shapes States
At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Country Debt World
Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Certain Foolishness Kind
A rational army would run away.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Army Running War
There are countries where a man is worth nothing; there are others where he is worth less than nothing.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Country Men Nothing Worth
Sometimes a man who deserves to be looked upon because he is a fool is despised only because he is a lawyer.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Despise Fool Law Men
Life was given to me as a favor, so I may abandon it when it is one no longer.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Favors Given May
A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Freedom Liberty Missing
Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Luxury Republic Tyrants
A good writer does not write as people write, but as he writes.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

People Style Writing
Law should be like death, which spares no one.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Law Spare

I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute myself.

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I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute myself.

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