Baron de Montesquieu Quotes

When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.

Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one’s wit at the expense of one’s better nature.

I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.

It is requisite the government be so constituted as one man need not be afraid of another.

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.

Democracy is corrupted not only when the spirit of equality is corrupted, but likewise when they fall into a spirit of extreme equality.

Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.

I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.

There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines; they feel.

Wonderful maxim: not to talk of things any more after they are done.