Quote

What unhappy beings men are! They constantly waver between false hopes and silly fears, and instead of relying on reason they create monsters to frighten themselves with, and phantoms which lead them astray.

Baron de Montesquieu

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Baron de Montesquieu
Fear
Silly
Waver
Reason
Unhappy
Astray
Men
False
Frighten
Constantly
Relying
Lead
Phantoms
Beings
Hopes
Instead
Monsters
Create
Fears

More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

Image
I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
I should like to abolish funerals the time to mourn a person is at his birth, not his death.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
A fondness for reading changes the inevitable dull hours of our life into exquisite hours of delight.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There is as yet no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from legislative power and the executrix
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Life was given to me as a favor, so I may abandon it when it is one no longer.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
The less men think, the more they talk.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Solemnity is the shield of idiots
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Vanity and pride of nations vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit at the expense of one's better nature.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
In republican governments, men are all equal equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything in the latter, because they are nothing.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.
Baron de Montesquieu