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

More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

Image
When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.
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
Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Luxury ruins republics poverty, monarchies.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Democracy has two excesses to avoid: the spirit of inequality, which leads to an aristocracy, or to the government of a single individual and the spirit of extreme equality, which conducts it to despotism, as the despotism of a single individual finishes by conquest.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Great commanders write their actions with simplicity because they receive more glory from facts than from words.
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
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.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines they feel.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
You have to study a great deal to know a little.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a despotic government.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Law should be like death, which spares no one.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
An injustice to one is a threat made to all
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute myself
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.
Baron de Montesquieu