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Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.

Baron de Montesquieu

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Baron de Montesquieu
Political
Laws
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Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.
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Mediocrity is a hand-rail.
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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.
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A fondness for reading changes the inevitable dull hours of our life into exquisite hours of delight.
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When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.
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In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability.
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When one wants to change manners and customs, one should not do so by changing the laws.
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I shall be obliged to wander to the right and to the left, that I may investigate and discover the truth.
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I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.
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The severity of the laws prevents their execution.
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Fain would I glide down a gentle river, but I am carried away by a torrent.
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Vitam Impendere Vero (I consecrate my life to truth).
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Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.
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The life of man is but a succession of vain hopes and groundless fears.
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Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.
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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.
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Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order for him to have this liberty the government must be such that one citizen cannot fear another citizen.
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Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.
Baron de Montesquieu
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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