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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

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Abuse Evil Men
The English are busy folk; they have no time in which to be polite.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Busy Polite Time
…when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can only come from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Corruption Law Republic
Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one’s wit at the expense of one’s better nature.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Favors Talking Wit
Injustice towards others is a threat to everybody
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Clever Injustice Threat
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

Another Execute Impossible Maxims
Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Anger Men Society
Republics are brought to their ends by luxury; monarchies by poverty.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Luxury Poverty Republic
Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Certain Foolishness Kind
Virtue is necessary to a republic.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Republic Virtue
Nature is just to all mankind, and repays them for their industry. She renders them industrious by annexing rewards in proportion to their labor.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Nature Proportion Rewards
Men in excess of happiness or misery are equally inclined to severity. Witness conquerors and monks! It is mediocrity alone, and a mixture of prosperous and adverse fortune that inspire us with lenity and pity.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Inspire Men Mixtures
What unhappy beings men are! They constantly waver between false hopes and silly fears, and instead of relying on reason they create monsters to frighten themselves with, and phantoms which lead them astray.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Fear Men Silly
The severity of the laws prevents their execution.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Execution Law Philosophical
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
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.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Law Real War

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.

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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.

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