Quote

In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

Baron de Montesquieu

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Baron de Montesquieu
States
Politics
Men
Law
Recover
State
Equality
Society
Protection
Born
Continue
Makes
Equal
Nature
Lose
Cannot
Loses

More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

Image
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
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
The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
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
Image
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
Image
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
Image
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
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
There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.
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
The false notion of miracles comes of our vanity, which makes us believe we are important enough for the Supreme Being to upset nature on our behalf.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There are countries where a man is worth nothing there are others where he is worth less than nothing.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Luxury ruins republics poverty, monarchies.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
It is not the young people that degenerate they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines they feel.
Baron de Montesquieu