There are countries where a man is worth nothing; there are others where he is worth less than nothing. Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu More Quotes From Baron de Montesquieu What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune. Baron de Montesquieu cowardiceenvyfortune Those who have few affairs to attend to are great speakers. The less men think, the more they talk. Baron de Montesquieu talkingmenthinking I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there. Baron de Montesquieu descriptionparadisesensible If the triangles made a god, they would give him three sides. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicaltwo-sidesgod The majority of men are more capable of great actions than of good ones. Baron de Montesquieu majoritydeedsmen It is requisite the government be so constituted as one man need not be afraid of another. Baron de Montesquieu governmentmenneeds If triangles had a god, he would have three sides. Baron de Montesquieu trianglesthreegod Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half. Baron de Montesquieu philosophicalparislunch This punishment of death is the remedy, as it were, of a sick society. Baron de Montesquieu remedypunishmentsick The pagan religion, which prohibited only some of the grosser crimes, and which stopped the hand but meddled not with the heart, might have crimes that were inexplicable. Baron de Montesquieu heartmighthands 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 mixturesmeninspire The love of study is in us the only lasting passion. All the others quit us in proportion as this miserable machine which holds them approaches its ruins. Baron de Montesquieu ruinsmachinespassion In bodies moved, the motion is received, increased, diminished, or lost, according to the relations of the quantity of matter and velocity; each diversity is uniformity, each change is constancy. Baron de Montesquieu diversitymovementbody Very good laws may be ill timed. Baron de Montesquieu very-goodlawmay In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability. Baron de Montesquieu shouldmatterdresses Injustice towards others is a threat to everybody Baron de Montesquieu threatinjusticeclever A fondness for reading changes the inevitable dull hours of our life into exquisite hours of delight. Baron de Montesquieu delightreadingdull Friendship is a contract in which we render small services in expectation of big ones. Baron de Montesquieu contractsexpectationsfriendship Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty. Baron de Montesquieu republicpoliticswisdom When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them. Baron de Montesquieu humansguaranteesbrain
