If you run after wit, you will succeed in catching folly. Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes From Baron de Montesquieu There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window. Baron de Montesquieu doedoorswindow 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 politicalhonorwould-be Happy the people whose annals are tiresome. Baron de Montesquieu vacanthistorypeople Virtue has needs of limits. Baron de Montesquieu virtuelimitsneeds Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have their laws: the Deity His laws, the material world its laws, the intelligences superior to man their laws, the beasts their laws, man his laws. Baron de Montesquieu naturegodscience When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty. Baron de Montesquieu enforcementlibertylaw The wickedness of mankind makes it necessary for the law to suppose them better than they really are. Baron de Montesquieu wickednessmankindlaw [The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind. Baron de Montesquieu kingsbelievereligion The spirit of commerce... renders every man willing to live on his own property...& prevents the growth of luxury. Baron de Montesquieu luxurygrowthmen When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy. Baron de Montesquieu nerddemocracypeople Trade is the best cure for prejudice. Baron de Montesquieu curesprejudicetrade The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power. The mildness so frequently recommended in the Gospel is incompatible with the despotic rage. Baron de Montesquieu libertystrangerchristian Each citizen contributes to the revenues of the State a portion of his property in order that his tenure of the rest may be secure. Baron de Montesquieu citizensmayorder Fain would I glide down a gentle river, but I am carried away by a torrent. Baron de Montesquieu carried-awaygentlerivers 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 foollawmen Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood. Baron de Montesquieu jurisprudenceconnectionscharacter The Ottoman Empire whose sick body was not supported by a mild and regular diet, but by a powerful treatment, which continually exhausted it. Baron de Montesquieu ottomanssickpowerful The English are busy; they don't have time to be polite. Baron de Montesquieu politebusy Laws undertake to punish only overt acts. Baron de Montesquieu law Christians are beginning to lose the spirit of intolerance which animated them: experience has shown the error of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, and of the persecution of those Christians in France whose belief differed a little from that of the king. They have realized that zeal for the advancement of religion is different from a due attachment to it; and that in order to love it and fulfil its behests, it is not necessary to hate and persecute those who are opposed to it. Baron de Montesquieu hatekingschristian
