It is unreasonable ... to oblige a man not to attempt the defense of his own life. Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes From Baron de Montesquieu Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous. Baron de Montesquieu vanitygovernmentpride We ought to be very cautious and circumspect in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty. Baron de Montesquieu magicwisdomtwo Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels. Baron de Montesquieu lawmadegiving A man who writes well writes not as others write, but as he himself writes; it is often in speaking badly that he speaks well. Baron de Montesquieu speakwritingmen I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicalwisesuccess The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear. Baron de Montesquieu highwaysphilosophicalreason Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression. Baron de Montesquieu progressionsmoothcutting Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicalbirthmen In constitutional states, liberty is compensation for heavy taxes; in dictatorships, the subsititue is light taxes. Baron de Montesquieu libertystateslight In every government there are three sorts of power: the legislative; the executive in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive in regard to matters that depend on the civil law. Baron de Montesquieu threegovernmentlaw In a republic there is no coercive force as in other governments, the laws must therefore endeavor to supply this defect. Baron de Montesquieu republicgovernmentlaw It is difficult for the united states to be all of equal power and extent. Baron de Montesquieu equaldifficultunited-states An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicalfuturelife We must have constantly present in our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would no longer be possessed of liberty. Baron de Montesquieu independencedifferenceslaw False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared. Baron de Montesquieu laughterhappinessmen Thus the creation, which seems an arbitrary act, supposes laws as invariable as those of the fatality of the Atheists. It would be absurd to say that the Creator might govern the world without those rules, since without them it could not subsist. Baron de Montesquieu atheismatheistlaw Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies. Baron de Montesquieu republicluxurytyrants Countries are not cultivated in proportion to their fertility, but to their liberty. Baron de Montesquieu fertilitylibertycountry Better it is to say that the government most comfortable to nature is that which best agrees with the humor and disposition of the people in whose favor it is established. Baron de Montesquieu favorsgovernmentpeople The culminating point of administration is to know well how much power, great or small, we ought to use in all circumstances. Baron de Montesquieu administrationpoweruse
