A rational army would run away. Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes From Baron de Montesquieu The history of commerce is that of the communication of the people. Baron de Montesquieu commercecommunicationpeople The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions. Baron de Montesquieu degreesdifferentknowing Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things. Baron de Montesquieu lawrelation The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind. Baron de Montesquieu superstitionsprejudicemind Wherever I find envy I take a pleasure in provoking it: I always praise before an envious man those who make him grow pale. Baron de Montesquieu envypraisemen Brutes are deprived of the high advantages which we have; but they have some which we have not. They have not our hopes, but theyare without our fears; they are subject like us to death, but without knowing it; even most of them are more attentive than we to self-preservation, and do not make so bad a use of their passions. Baron de Montesquieu passionknowingself The state is the association of men, and not men themselves; the citizen may perish, and the man remain. Baron de Montesquieu citizenssocietymen I never listen to calumnies, because if they are untrue I run the risk of being deceived, and if they be true, of hating persons not worth thinking about. Baron de Montesquieu haterunningthinking It is unreasonable ... to oblige a man not to attempt the defense of his own life. Baron de Montesquieu defensereasonmen The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed. Baron de Montesquieu knowingsuccesslong The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquillity, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality... are felt. Baron de Montesquieu richesorderlong Liberty is the right to do what the law permits. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicallibertylaw There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death. Baron de Montesquieu birthshouldmen Liberty is the right of doing whatever the laws permit. Baron de Montesquieu happy-independence-daylibertylaw I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve. Baron de Montesquieu fearlessphilosophicalreading When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness. Baron de Montesquieu foolishnesswit There are bad examples which are worse than crimes; and more states have perished from the violation of morality than from the violation of law. Baron de Montesquieu moralityexamplelaw Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicalsuccesstime Man is a social animal formed to please in society. Baron de Montesquieu societyanimalmen Virtue is necessary to a republic. Baron de Montesquieu republicvirtue
